TRIPLE SEVEN "Brand New Old School" MUSIC VIDEO
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777 pronounced Triple Seven
Born Michael A. Gardner in the Bronx in the late 70s to Jamaican immigrants, 777s ears have been surrounded by music of various genres since birth. His father rotated in an out of various reggae bands and sound systems as a saxophonist and selector and lent his musical influence to his youngest son 777, who quickly gravitated towards the b-boy circles and the emerging hip-hop culture that was being invented in his neighborhood at that time.
He is a living definition of the term b-boy. He learned to dance when he learned to stand on his feet, he learned to write graffiti when he learned to pick up a pen, and most importantly, he learned to rhyme when he learned to talk. During his early years he took notes from neighborhood locals such as Professor Grif of Public Enemy, KRS-One, Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh, who were busy building the foundations of what we now know as hip-hop. Seven developed his own style - providing the invaluable background for the identity the young artist would later create for himself.
A move to Miami at the age of 14 provided another stepping stone for the emerging MC and already competitive b-boy, who quickly linked with the world renowned Street Masters Crew. Under the moniker Kamikaze, 777 and the Street Masters ran from clubs to concerts to b-boy jams, and soon realized that they had an advantage to other crews because their new member from New York could win over crowds by rocking the mic while he and others danced. B-boy battles soon turned into freestyle battles, and local Miami crews took notice of 777s mic skills, inviting him regularly to join their own. Naturally, 777 gravitated to the most-well known on the streets, the Unknown Fleet- headed by the world famous DJ Craze, who helped him gain notoriety as an MC and polish his skills through endless rhyme sessions.
Amidst the shows and parties, the natural elements that came along with the hip-hop lifestyle began to catch up with the teenage artist. After a few brushes with the law, 777, at age 18, began to keep to himself, locking himself into his room and stockpiling an arsenal of lyrics and poems while attempting to avoid trouble. His well-versed compositions spread quickly through the streets and opportunities to work with more well-known artists began to present themselves. A close friend gave him the number to his cousin Napolean in Los Angeles, whose crew, the Outlawz, were still making noise after the murder of their leader and gangster-rap kingpin Tupac Shakur.
Continuing a relationship with Napolean over the telephone for over a year, 777 decided that change would be a positive step in his career and he took the leap by moving to LA to work with the Outlawz. In 2002 he appeared on the Outlawz sophomore release Novacaine alongside the late Tupac and the rest of the group, solidifying himself as a second generation Outlaw, and making his presence felt on the West Coast. His alliance with the Outlawz quickly generated a fan base. During his time in LA, 777 frequented shows and battles such as the B-Boy Summit, which had gained international recognition, and were fueling a west coast hip-hop revolution. 777s ability to dance and rhyme quickly attracted the leaders of this movement, the Black Eyed Peas, and their manager Polo Molina, who produced the events.
Realizing his authentic style and truly unique hip-hop upbringing, Molina began to back 777, booking him to open for the Black Eyed Peas at numerous concerts. Within a year, 777s career took off to another level. He is now the premier host for b-boy jams and underground hip hop shows around the world. Be a Christos and Paper were featured on the television series The Twilite Zone in 2002. In 2004, Will.I.am of the Black Eyed Peas featured him on his solo project Must Be 21 with the track Its Okay. His track Brand New Old School was featured in the 2004 hit movie Be Cool, the follow up to the blockbuster hit Get Shorty (starring John Travolta, Bernie Mac, Mark Whalberg, and Andre 300). Most recently, 777 inked an endorsement deal with Snickers to appear as a break-dancer in a series of commercials and print ads for their upcoming urban ad campaign.
The year is now 2006. Hip-hop has been the most popular genre of music for over a decade, and 777 has developed into a well-versed and well-traveled professional in the art with contacts and relationships that can be compared to none. He is a living embodiment of the 4 elements of hip-hop and the generation from which it was born. His story and songs are compelling. His backing comes from the forefathers who built the hip-hop generation as well as those who currently carry the torch and continue to spread the movement across the world. 777 is here and the masses will know about him soon.
