Paradise Movement

Call it “indie-rap” or “hipster-rap” or whatever invented term you’d prefer, but don’t sleep on this group, for real. There are no gimmicks or cheap tricks here; the York, PA hip-hop trio have been turning heads with their electronic and dance-infused hip hop, bringing PA natives out to the dance floor and bringing hip-hop heads out from hiding. Rapper Johnny Free brings wit and humor with sharp flow, while Ralph Real and DJ Pherensik round out the group with smooth vocals and live instrumentation. On a mission to bring people of all musical tastes out to the dance floor, Paradise Movement is ready to bust out of PA and onto the national scene any day now.-Urb.com"Paradise Movement is Hip-Hop for those who remember what it's like to have both fun and a sense of adventure. Dig in!"
-Louis LogicPARADISE MOVEMENT are proof that, not only can lightning strike twice, but that the second shot can be even more electrifying than the first.In early 2008, the York, PA hip-hop group shook the indie-rap underground with the release of its debut album, Freshman 15, a relentlessly creative effort that, while ferociously sincere and genuinely affecting, still sounds like the soundtrack to a kegger. The lyrics are provocative and smart, winking and menacing, delivered with bravado and flair. But for every fierce diatribe (“Shoots & Ladders,” “Get Out”) or brokenhearted lament (“Back Home”), there’s a track like “Freestyle,” a playful street-corner battle-track in which the MCs lay into each other with tongues planted firmly in cheeks.Reaction to the album was overwhelmingly positive, with comparisons drawn to everyone from COMMON to BONE THUGS to SAGE FRANCIS, and soon MOVEMENT members Johnny Free, Ralph Real and DJ Pherensik found themselves sharing stages with the likes of THE WU-TANG CLAN, LOUIS LOGIC & J.J. BROWN, REEF THE LOST CAUZE, THE HIEROGLYPHICS and JAY-Z protégée and Roc-A-Fella artist FREEWAY – accomplishments made all the more remarkable when considering that PARADISE MOVEMENT were working in a musical vacuum.The fact is, there was no hip-hop scene in York, PA. Consequently, PM were left with no choice but to start their own. The duo quickly turned rock clubs into hip-hop hangouts where music fans of every stripe flocked to see what all the fuss was about. PARADISE MOVEMENT simultaneously infiltrated the rock scene, joining, if not headlining, countless pop, emo and hardcore shows in famed area clubs like the Chameleon and the Dragonfly, alongside bands such as THE PINK SPIDERS. Slowly but surely, hip-hop fans started appearing out of the ether like bears from hibernation. It just goes to show, if you build it …Behind the compelling music are two equally compelling artists. One is hard-pressed to find a man less likely to bear the hip-hop torch than Free. From the outside, he’s way more Jack Black than Black Star. But with skill and imagination, he deftly transcends the pitfalls of being a Caucasian rapper, embracing the art form so seriously, convincingly and imaginatively that one's ears end up every bit as transfixed as one's eyes. By his side is Real, a hook man with a golden baritone voice that in the early 2000s established him as a formative R&B singer and led to extensive touring in the U.S. and Africa.Now, with snowballing momentum, PARADISE MOVEMENT are unloading their second thunderclap in the form of their second full-length record, slated for a Spring 2009 release. Proving that their first outing was no fluke, Johnny Free, Real and collaborator DJ Pherensik have crafted an optimistic, kinetic album that hip-hoppers and hipsters alike will revere, balancing electronic hooks with live instrumentation for a production comparable to that of the new N.E.R.D. and SANTOGOLD records.The tracks’ fresh sound is all the more credit to Free and Real, who produced nearly every track on the album themselves. In essence, they’re their own Timbaland. The exception to the rule is cameo work by D.C. producer/rapper Oddisee, whose work with everyone from TALIB KWELI to BILAL has earned him praise as “the next J. Dilla.”“We wanted to make an album that was radio-ready and geared for the club, but still just as much a respectable rap record at the same time,” Johnny says. “The lyrical content has matured, but don’t get me wrong, the songs on this album are catchy as hell and will have your girlfriend wishing you were a better dancer ”“We are taking it to the top this time with a new outlook and a fresh sound that will show the world just how serious we are.”Whether they’re playing with major-label rock bands or Def Jam superstars, whether they’re making a social statement or just trying to get asses on the dance floor, PARADISE MOVEMENT are doing it bigger and better the second time around. Anyone scared of lightning should be warned not to stand anywhere close.-For Booking and Professional Inquiries please email: [email protected] OR Call: 717-434-0510. Please include information such as Date, Time, Venue, Estimated Attendance, Set Length, Etc.