“Hip-Hop ain’t about all that nonsense you see on TV or hear on the radio. Real Hip-Hop comes from the soul.†This is one of the many quotes concerning true Hip-Hop that The Cable Car Stars live by. You see, whether you slip the headphones over your ears, attend one of their soul-filled sets, or simply click a link to their world-wide Myspace Music page, you’re definitely in for something more than sippin champagne and twenties on the floor. As Azuré, D’Mize, R-Tistik, Rasikh, and Mr. DJ B-EZ make up The Cable Car Stars, they strive for truth in Hip-Hop and for bringing back a soulful and lyrical sound to the now sluggish and money crazed culture. As one of the most well known and rapidly growing groups, the mighty CCS crew holds their underground Hip-Hop style at a national level.
Originally from the Bay Area, California, The Cable Car Stars hooked up in early 2005. Rasikh and Azuré (previously Magik*) originated from a duo while D’Mize and R-Tistik broke away from a group. The four emcees had a very similar taste in conscious hip-hop and the same positive method of writing. After dabbling in the height of the Hyphy movement in ’05 and releasing their first mixtape and project ever as a group, the mighty CCS saw substantial success throughout ’06 with a string of club shows, decent sales, and occasional late night rotation of their first single “Hyphy Like Me†on local stations KMEL and KYLD. As ’07 came with a rush, the fresh four were now all graduated from high school and in their first year of college. As they were split up, dispersed from Davis to San Diego, making music became that much harder. Despite only seeing each other during school breaks, they rose above expectations and put out the singles that skyrocketed their careers. "Missing Love" and "Her Appeal" saw over 40,000 plays to date combined. Within 2007, the mighty CCS crew saw their fan base double, added a new member, and received a full schedule of shows, but most importantly, found their sound. The crew was lost in a mixture of mainstream sound, hyphy, underground content, and singy hooks. But with the release of their two power singles, they began to pursue a soulful sound with underground hip-hop content. As the shows started piling in, like any other indie hip-hop act, they found trouble moving the crowds. The four went back to the lab and put together song line-ups that were beefed up in bass and had an underground heart-felt swing. As they observed premier acts like The Roots, Lupe Fiasco, Zion I, and others, the then incomplete CCS started their search for a DJ. After browsing through the hundreds of DJ profiles online, they came across one name that stood out. Mr. DJ B-EZ’s name was scattered all throughout the bay area on event banners, club flyers, and internet bulletins galore. All four knew the name and decided to meet with the ever-so popular DJ. Long story short, after exchanging mad compliments, a couple myspace messages, and a meeting at a coffee shop, the Cable Car Stars became a group of five. Until June, the crew hopped all across the bay area from San Francisco to Santa Clara rocking rowdy to open minded crowds of every kind. As June hit, the crew hooked up with the legendary DJ Icewater and took all their beats, notepads, and passion into Corner Store Studios in Oakland. Day in and day out, the crew spent the hot summer working on their project aggresively. As September drifted along and the four split up for school once again, they dropped their anticipated first LP, "We Have The Signature Sound". With features from San Jose to San Diego, the soulful content is full of grace.
With 2008 upon us, the Cable Car Stars are cooling out across California writing diligently, rocking true hip-hop shows, and enjoying life. Under the new management of The Luna Co., their fit to come to your city and make you throw your hands up. "We’re brothers! We’ve been through everything together from car crashes and booing to major laughs and crowds chanting CCS.", says D’Mize of the crew. The five youngsters have massive dreams and a reputation to keep up, but don’t get them wrong, at the same time their just a group of music loving friends in their early twenties. You can find them anywhere in the east bay cracking jokes over burgers to yelling at each other playing wii. Real hip-hop lives in us. So give the songs a listen and drop a comment! They love making relationships with all their supporters. HANDS UP!
CCS* Bay to LA
Producers
DR. CSK | Golden Child | Jedisociety
Oliver & P-LO | Nefarious
Don Lorenzo | Azuré
Management
The Luna Co.
Photography
Sui Jeneris
Sound
The Corner Store Studios | Blooming Soul Studios
Fabric Friends
The Imaginary Zebra | DLE Clothing
Webmasters
Justin Park | Benson Chou
Aaron Hong
