INTRO
Tha Truth is a conscious/political underground hip hop artist and "rap-tivist" (rapper-activist) known around the Philadelphia area for battling inequality, poverty, discrimination, and injustice. Since 2006 he has released three underground political rap albums that attack the forces that maintain the status quo.
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Tha Truth has performed in countless venues at concerts, colleges, demonstrations, conferences, and benefits. Among these appearances Tha Truth performed at "The People's March for Peace and Justice" in Newark, NJ where he shared the stage with Amy Goodman of "Democracy Now!" and Congressman Jon Conyers (one of the initators of HR 676/the Universal Health Care bill). He was also featured as a special guest performer along with M-1 of Dead Prez at the 2008 People's Peace Conference at Rutgers University Law School in Newark, NJ.
Tha Truth performed at the ISO Conference at Columbia University in New York City, the Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW) benefit concert in Philadelphia, and at the Worker's World National Convention in New York twice. Additionally, Tha Truth performed in the "Drop Beats Not Bombs" concert at Rutgers University, the Veterans for Peace National Convention at The University of Maryland, and the Green Party National Conference at NC Central University in North Carolina.
In other appearances, Tha Truth performed at Rowan University, the University of Pennsylvania, two benefits for Philly Jobs with Justice, and he was also one of the artists who took part in the "Rock the Rulers" concert outside the Capitol Building in Washington, DC during the Troops Out Now encampment protest of 2007. He has also performed at the annual Philadelphia May Day Demonstration twice.
On the day before the 2008 Election, Temple University's radio station interviewed Tha Truth and asked him to speak to the students about the issues. Tha Truth's song "U.S. Drug War," was included on the official American Drug War Movie Mixtape CD release.
Environmental benefit events Tha Truth has been featured in include concerts at Pennsylvania's Cedar Brook Middle School Earth Day Festival, "Arts in The Park" in Elkins Park, PA, and the Brown Bear Music Festival to expose pollution in the Monoshone Creek in Philadelphia.
THA TRUTH'S CD RELEASES
In 2006 Tha Truth released his first album "Tha Civil Rights Movement," which was followed in 2007 by "Tha Civil Rights Movement Part II." 2008 saw the release of his "Tha People's Music" album. On "Tha People's Music," Tha Truth, inspired by Howard Zinn's famous book "A People's History of the US," detailed the real story behind U.S. history, starting with Columbus' theft of Native land in 1492. Tha People's Music also addressed poverty, immigrant rights, healthcare, war resistance, military recruitment, the prison system, the environment and many other political issues.
"Tha Mis-Education of the Masses" was released on May 19th (Malcolm X's birthday). Tha Truth chose this release date to honor Malcolm X and also Harvey Milk (whose birthday is May 22nd). This CD makes the same points as his previous projects, while adding sarcasm, humor, metaphors, a variety of diversified beats comprised from Middle Eastern live percussion/drums, native flutes, acoustic and rock guitars, reggaeton, and more DJ scratching and mixing.
The song "It's Like" is composed entirely of metaphors. Most of these 45 metaphors (technically similes) in the song have double meanings such as the line "A lot of people acting green like a grass hopper - but won't admit tanks ain't green - to be Frank like Sinatra," or "Greed should be locked up. It leaves a Pitt in my stomach like Angelina knocked up." Another is aimed at the government's handling of Hurricane Katrina as he raps "I resist Uncle Sam like Geronimo and his band – my theories hold water – unlike FEMA's dams."
The names of the songs on this CD make it clear that the album covers a wide range of topics such as healthcare, immigration, bigotry, Palestine, the environment, the educational system, apathy, poverty, and a lot more. "Tha Mis-Education of the Masses" album also features Tha Truth rapping in Spanish, at different speeds, and alongside collaborating artists like Ryan Harvey, T.O, and Optimus of Boston's Foundation Movement. On the song "The Struggle (La Lucha) Tha Truth sums up his lyrical message, "There's no argument that stands up against human decency – how can we have a world – where people are starvin- and obesity."
Due to his concerns for environmental justice "Tha Mis-Education of the Masses" CD comes in packaging made from recycled paper and a tray holding the CD in place made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
SUMMARY
Tha Truth began writing rhymes in 1998 but it took the influence of a conscious rap artist he befriended to begin questioning his lyrics, which were more of the gangsta rap variety in the late 90's. As he grew, he learned there were answers to his questions about injustice in society, and he began to articulate political insight and struggle into his music. With each CD he aims to evolve with his insight, lyricism and his overall musical production.
TO ORDER a CD DIRECTLY FROM THA TRUTH:
Go to www.PayPal.Com and send money ($12 including shipping) to the email address below: thatruthmusic@yahoo.com. Indicate on form which album you would like. Or, To order by phone directly call 856.465.3660
THA PEOPLE'S MUSIC & THA MISEDUCATION OF THE MASSES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM and ITUNES.COM
TO LISTEN TO MORE SAMPLES and/or to buy Tha MisEducation and/or Tha People's Music CD from an Independent (non corporate) music store, click on any of the links below or visit www.thatruthmusic.com:
BOOKING INFO:
THA TRUTH is available for live performances, speaking engagements, panel discussions, workshops, & interviews.
For serious booking inquiries email: thatruthmusic@yahoo.com
For real news check out DemocracyNow.org and
