NEW YORK (Hyphen-One Official Website) - One of the most exciting young hip-hop and rap artists to come out of the East Coast in years, Hyphen-One's moniker is unforgettable and the philosophy behind it speaks of a wisdom far beyond his 22 incredible years. "When we die, our tombstone will have a birth date and a death date, with our whole life represented in the middle of the two numbers by a hyphen," he says. "This is the concept behind my name. Come celebrate life with me!"
But Hyphen-One is more than simply a multi-talented, brilliantly poetic force of musical nature that bucks the usual trend by often singing his raps and creating rich harmonies with his ad-libs. His positive energy, class and generous community spirit˜which he brings to all of his artistic and charitable endeavors˜will help usher in an age when artists once again double as great role models.
Currently in studio hard at work crafting his debut album for Qwilite Entertainment with label owner, veteran songwriter/producer Quincy Patrick, the Denville, New Jersey native has just dropped "Closer," a engaging and colorful reworking of the group Surface's 1989 hit featuring a newly recorded chorus section by the original members.
The track, currently being pushed across the board to urban, R&B and pop radio, is also available on most major internet sites, including itunes. "Closer" and the feel-good "Get Up" can also be downloaded from the label's website www.qwiliteentertainment.com. He recently completed the filming of the video for "Closer," which was shot at various places around his neighborhood in New Jersey. Hyphen-One's full-length debut is scheduled for released in mid-2006.
And that's just scratching the surface, literally. In addition to being an accomplished DJ since age nine, the 22-year-old has been an independent graffiti artist since the day as a freshman in high school when he put a piece on the New Jersey state highway sound barrier. 'spray paint was the first medium I ever worked in with art," he says of his multitude of works on freights, bridges, sound barriers and other large walls throughout his home region.
Hyphen-One's first art show in August 2005 in Ocean City was a sellout, and he's currently receiving many portrait commissions. Through his local hip-hop performances, he's helped raise thousands of dollars to fund new facilities (including a basketball court) in his community, and raised money for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
Even all these years later, he's still partial to the old school hip-hop artists whose rhymes and grooves fueled his own restless creative energy˜LL Cool J, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Big Daddy Kane, Mobb Deep, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest and of course, The Beastie Boys. As a DJ, Hyphen-One's involvement in hosting community shows began after numerous parties and barbecues in his family's backyard. Something of a social outcast at school, he remembers retreating to the locker room and scribbling down the first verses he ever wrote, while cliques were gathering elsewhere.
"I started taking music seriously in 2001 when I was very successful at a high school talent show, where I freestyled about all the people in the crowd," he says. "That was my first time ever onstage. It turned out to be so well accepted that I felt this was something I could really make a career out of. From that point on, I began going to various studios, recording as many original songs as possible. After a year of being in the studio, I met some musicians who were interested in starting a live hip-hop band with me as the lead MC.
"I understood how much more energetic shows are with bands as compared to shows just with a DJ and an MC," Hyphen-One adds. "I believe that this made for a show that was comparatively more entertaining than a typical hip hop show."
Hyphen-One rocked with the band Daylow for a year, passing out demos to anyone who would listen, which ultimately included Quincy Patrick, who immediately signed the upstart artist to his new Qwilite Entertainment label. "I came to him with 35 songs, and we"ve pretty much been in the studio ever since, fine tuning my stuff and working on other joints together," he says. "I"m really excited about this project and the opportunity to share my positive vision with the world.
"Expression is really what my life is all about," Hyphen-One adds. "I think the reason I"m more about being uplifting than negative is because there's something more real about good genuine thought, and something more real about love than hate. Tying in with the inspiration for my professional name, I consider myself a celebration of life through art and creativity. As an artist, that extends to my responsibility to be involved in my community and give back in any way I can."
