North and Agony

You can view the North & Agony Interview by Sulaah at Kafou Inc.
You can preview all the tracks from the album 'Diplomacy is Over', and can also purchase the album at My Global Sound
North & Agony began their quest to be categorized as two of Hip-Hop's finest in 1994, which some say was the peak of quality in music that at times today seems to be a forgotten art. Learning from a long line of lyrically successful and unsuccessful emcees, North & Agony both fell in love with "Lady Hip-Hop" at a young age.

Born in New York and of Puerto Rican descent, both moved to Miami with their families where they met in middle school. Both had a passion for music, so they started rhyming in hallways, between classes, during lunches, and sometimes during classes (missing classes). A lack of Hip-Hop on commercial radio in Miami inspired the two to search for music in the underground markets, which in turn helped in developing their foundation for their future skills. Mixtapes, underground, and college radio provided fuel for the fire to rhyme for years to come. Their connection with Hip-Hop led to both of them seeking higher learning in their fields.

Today, both North & Agony write, produce, record, and mix their own material...individually. North & Agony also help other local artists by producing, recording, and doing mixes for them as well. The "do for self" attitude has never been the motto of the duo; "help others as well as yourself" is more of the direction the two have taken in their attempt for success. At the end of the day, it's all about Hip-Hop. Now the lucrative industry of the commercialization of Hip-Hop has provided many with the means to have financial success. Unfortunately, the balance of talented artist versus average rappers has been weighing down more to the ladder. This unbalance has motivated North & Agony to fill the ever growing void of talent in the industry.

As part of their attempt to put skills back in the art, North & Agony have raised the bar on the Miami music scene. The second you hear North & Agony, is the second you hear the difference. Now that mixtapes, underground, and college radio have begun to support the movement, North & Agony have decided to take it to the next level... commercial radio. In the never-ending politics of commercial radio, unsigned acts holding a spot would seem nearly impossible in today's market, nearly. North & Agony have been able to infiltrate two Clear Station owned stations through sheer talent. Without even meeting radio personalities in West Palm Beach's (FL) X102fm, North & Agony held the number 5 spot on their Local Love Sunday Show and were in steady rotation every Sunday at that station.

In Miami, 103.5 The Beat, the largest Hip-Hop station in the area, has begun to embrace their unsigned local talent. As you wont hear every emcee that can rap on the radio, 103.5 The Beat gave North & Agony a spot 3 times a week at 6pm rush hour time and has played many drops they have blessed for other DJs at the station. Despite the many attempts from radio personnel to keep unsigned artists off the radio, the public has spoken, and North & Agony will continue to have a voice. With their current momentum moving in the positive direction, North & Agony are heading with their heads high towards changing the balance back to the way it used to be.