"Re-wire, re-tool, re-vive, re-education", the statement that best describes the artistry of Core Rhythm. Hailing from New York City, Core since 2004 has made his passion for the preservation and progression of Hip Hop and The Black artistic aesthetic felt. Drawing his influences from many different sources such as The Wu Tang Clan, Madlib, Jimi Hendrix, David Axelrod, Amiri Baraka, Antonin Artuad, Sun Ra and many more, Core stands tall as an example of the African American experience that this nation has conveniently chosen to ignore. "The Black man is not a monolith and right now the Black Hip Hop artist is being presented for the most part as a monolithic entity, Im trying to flip that," says Core in a documentary currently being filmed about his artistic movement.
Core feels the way to alter this trend is through form as well as function. Feeling the need to stay socially and politically conscious, but understanding that artistically, the creation of the art of Hip Hop has to be maintained at a high level. It cannot conform to the shallow and mundane standards the pop charts have carved out for this socially deep rooted music. Core refuses to be boxed in. Almost like a sneak attack, in 2006 Core released his manifesto-like debut album NAT TURNER RELOADED to critical acclaim (its was voted 6 on the rapreviews.com Top 10 list of 2006), it also gained street classic status in some local New York circles. With tracks ranging from deep social commentary such as "LIVE FROM BAGHDAD" (a song showing both sides of the Iraq war), to lyrical exploits such as "SLANGUAGE" and "ATOMIC WEIGHT", to personal journeys such as " THE ROAD" and "RISE", never does Core make the same track twice and even when the tracks can feel like there going in one direction they can quickly become something completely different in a drumbeat. His soundscapes are dark, but full of inner light, rough and raw, but built with delicate care.
The Core Rhythm sound is an expression of the emotional complexity of modern black life viewed through the looking glass of a young man who questions everything, accepts nothing, but is still willing to explore all as long as Hip Hop can accompany him on the journey. Having performed at venues such as Southpaw, The Knitting Factory, The Bowery Poetry Club, The Jazz Gallery, Sin-e, The Whitney Museum and numerous others, Core is quickly becoming a mainstay in the N.Y. independent Hip Hop scene. He's performed on the same bill with Hip Hop legends such as O.C., The JUGGAKNOTS, C RAYZ WALZ and WORDSWORTH, musicians such as MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO, JASON LINDER and DANA LEONG while recording with the likes of artists such as the Legendary GRANDMIXER DXT, Core in a short time has garnered respect among fans and peers alike. Most recently Core has been on his job spreading his movement not only with the mic but also in the realms of production, he made necks snap with his fierce remix of BISC 1's "CRUMBS" featured on THE STAY UP PROJECT MIXTAPE, also contributed two tracks to underground mainstay CREATURE on his new record HUSTLE TO BE FREE, one them being the lead single GET UP AND GO. He also has tracks appearing on projects for artists HOMEBOY SANDMAN, HIRED GUN, BABA ISRAEL and others. He has/will be appearing on the mic on projects of various artists such as DANA LEONG, BABA ISRAEL AND YAKO, HIRED GUN, RABBI DARKSIDE and lastly, but most definitely not least he is putting the finishing touches on his new record, a fierce collaboration with soon to be legendary producer ZQ entitled RONIN due out sometime in spring 2008, It will be the next chapter in his ongoing saga. As you can see Core Rhythm is making his presence felt, make sure you keep your eyes locked.
