SYD | La Familia Muzik

Biography
It’s the year 2000SYDney. Where hip-hop collides with the Caribbean. Where Christ converges with the culture.
SYD was raised in a Christian home with strong Christian values. Nonetheless, life was far from perfect. Born with a heart defect, SYD constantly battled his condition until the age of 16. In spite of his physical and spiritual needs, he ran from God rather than embracing him. SYD recounts, “After my last open-heart surgery while I was sitting in the hospital bed, I realized I couldn’t keep running anymore. It was by his grace that I was even alive.” From that moment onward, SYD turned his life over to Christ’s will.
Nonetheless, SYD’s musical origins were not always rooted in Christ. He first began dabbling with his gift while in middle school before becoming a Christian. He and his brother formed a group called Dokside (pronounced Darkside) and recorded vocals over their favorite beats on an old tape recorder. As time passed, his talent and interest in music grew. He joined a group called Holokost, using his skills for the very opposite purpose for which they were intended. A former gang member, SYD’s lyrical content expressed his inner hate, anger, and despair. The group disbanded and SYD found himself under the tutelage of a local deejay both musically and spiritually. Soon after, he was introduced to fellow La Familia artist Carlito P. The two emcees created the group Caribbean Outreach and began performing in small local venues. Finally, the group, now renamed S.O.W. (Seeds of Worship) added male vocalist Ryan Horton. The group disbanded in 2006 though all three members are current solo artists under La Familia Muzik. To date, SYD has had the privilege of opening for artists such as Gotee recording artists KJ-52 and Paul Wright, Crossmovement and Crossmovement Records artists Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Lecrae, and Flame, as well as other national acts such as Group 1 Crew, Trip Lee, Urban D., and DecembeRadio among others and continues to tour both within his homestate of Florida and nationally.
Combining the reggae influences of his island heritage (St. Thomas and Dominica) with the hip-hop sound he learned by listening to artists such as Nas and Jay-Z, SYD offers the best of both worlds. Even more importantly within his music, SYD offers the hope of Christ’s redemptive power. “God is fulfilling his purpose in my life everyday whether through my music or just through my daily walk. My life is evidence of God’s mercy. Now, I’m taking the gift I’ve received and bringing it to those that I love, those that I’ve had to leave behind, and even to those that will only meet me behind a microphone.” It’s the year 2000SYDney. Hope still lives.
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The Hunger's Back
Following his national/international debut Pressure in 2007, La Familia Muzik artist SYD announces the release of his 2nd solo project, The Hunger’s Back on June 10, 2008.
“It’s a new me,” exclaims SYD. “In putting together Pressure I felt I was on the ropes. Against the clock. Since Pressure was released, I’ve been robbed at gunpoint and in a serious car accident. My perspective on making music has changed.”
With guest appearances by Urban D., Carriers of the Cross, and Tony Stone among up-and-coming emcees such as Eshon Burgundy and Carlito P. and employing the production talents of J. Pierre (Viktory/2Five) alongside La Familia Muzik producers Don Tony, Foolish, and Verse, SYD delivers his strongest effort to-date.
Featuring a diverse range of musical styles, SYD serves up a high-energy album (on tracks such as the lead single “The Hunger’s Back”, the techno-influenced “New Fastness” or the southern snap of “Vet”) laced with a lyrical content that draws the listener back to the root of the message of the cross (as heard in the singles, “Holy God” or “Everything You Are”).
An album that inspires. An artist whose passion bleeds through his music. A message whose impact is eternal. The perspective has changed. The focus is clearer than ever. The Hunger’s Back.
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PRESSURE
“Music is last and God is first. I’m giving the best while you’re getting the worst.” A bold statement from an aspiring musician, yet nothing states more clearly SYD’s stance on music, his faith, and the state of hip-hop today.
The album Pressure delivers the internal struggle of a young man. Life situations pull him in one direction. His faith draws him in another. His mind speaks one message of despair and struggle while his heart hears the voice of another message, a message of hope and freedom. Enter SYD.
During the past year while writing and recording this album, SYD has continued to tour across his home state of Florida as well as in venues throughout the eastern region of the Untied States. Within the past 6 months alone, he has shared the stage with artists such as KJ-52, Cross Movement, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Group 1 Crew, Lecrae, Flame, Trip Lee, Paul Wright, and DecembeRadio. In short, working alongside some of the best in reaching out to a people through his music and message.
As one engages the 18 tracks found within SYD’s solo effort, Pressure, one can hear the adrenaline rush in tracks such as “Start It Up” or “Move!” or hear the voice of frustration in the song “Man Behind the Muzik.” One can hear the desperation in a track such as “Judah” or hear the passion of a broken heart in “Get To You.” An album of substance as well as an album to be casually enjoyed. High-energy dance tracks, thought-provoking hip-hop ballads, and aggressive lyrics that reveal the heart of SYD. The pressure builds and as you press play, prepare for its release.