Pharoahe Monch W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) Tour

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Pharaoahe Monch

The wave of Hip-Hop runs through all of us with certain keys touching all of us at certain levels. Where some flood the masses with a river of average music, Pharoahe Monch, throughout his storied career, has always chosen to attempt to reach the souls of Hip-Hop folk with high caliber lyricism over a wide variety of music inspired by some of the greatest musicians of all time. “Music is dear to me,” says Monch, “it is the soundtrack to our history. So many legends have partaken in it since its inception.”

An artist from birth, the Queens, NY born and bred emcee began his experience with expression as a visual artist, putting his heart and soul on canvass. An artist with new brushes, Monch found a partner in rhyme, Prince Poetry, and began painting on the canvass of Hip-Hop with a critically acclaimed run as the legendary Organized Konfusion, bursting on the scene with the creative and inventive “Who Stole My Last Piece of Chicken”. The group took off with the remix of “Fudge Pudge” featuring O.C., the only guest appearance on their self-produced, self-titled debut. The album was critically lauded for the duo’s inventive rhyme schemes, jazz related production and densely packed lyricism that challenged their listeners and stretched the boundaries of conventional Hip-Hop.

From there, the duo took another creative leap forward with sophomore release Stress: the Extinction Agenda. Following their third release, The Equinox, a high concept album with narratives and a running storyline that, while intensely creative, was not as well received as their previous work, Organized disbanded, leaving Pharoahe Monch to create on his own canvass and express himself as a soloist which he did with aplomb on 1998’s highly touted Internal Affairs. “Simon Says”, the crowd moving hit powered by a Godzilla movie sample, itself became a monster single, propelling Monch to commercial success.

Now 2011, Pharoahe Monch stands ready for W.A.R. (We Are Renegades), taking a stand for higher thought and for the love of the art in Hip-Hop culture; standing firm against the commoditization of the music and so many lowbrow approaches to the art form. “This is a science and it filters into our being. This is what W.A.R. is about. This record is my truth as it was written when I made it,” says Monch. “I would like this album to be on a frequency to let you open the doors to your God-self. I want this harmony to give you goose bumps and raise the hairs on your arms. W.A.R. is a coat of arms against the destruction of art”.

Armed with an enormous array of skill, talent, and most important, love and soul, Pharoahe Monch sets out to wage war under the flag of his newly created company W.A.R. Media in a partnership with Duck Down Music for real Hip-Hoppers and that percentage of Hip-Hoppers that connect to this music on that primal level. Are you ready for W.A.R.?

Chima Anya

Chima Anya is a name familiar to anyone with a serious interest in Hip-hop in the UK. His debut mixtape came to national attention with support from Kiss, Choice, 1xtra and Radio 1, all while practising full time as a medical doctor.

Having shared stages with legends such as Amp fiddler, KRS 1, Jay Electronica and Dead Prez it’s no surprise that when asked Chima states his greatest joy comes from performing. Always engaging, energetic and charismatic, Chima also fronts his own genre-leading 4 piece electronic / hip-hop outfit; a group that can only be described as a “must see”.