Disclaimer: really, No Jive talk!
In no way is this an attempt by us to feed our own egos or make our music seem bigger than it is. This will be more like a "board" to show what people have said about our releases. The words you see here are in no way tampered with as to misrepresent the person or persons who wrote them. For your peace of mind, I will also include contact numbers and/or websites! Check back soon.
FILES IN THE ATTIC
ATAK Three emcees from sunny Southern California (San Diego, to be exact) drop this little treat which is loaded with 15 tracks: 5 full songs, 6 rhyming interludes and 4 other interlude tracks. Has underground hip-hop finally moved out of the basement? You be the judge. ATAK
Vice Magazine: Beats & Rhymes Subdivision's "Files in the Attic" is dope...some kids outta San Diego with a cool vibe. -March 1999 Vice Magazine
Basement Tapes San Diego has been producing alot of phat underground shit lately, and this isn't an exception. Subdivision made a dope tape including a few freestyle sessions. My favorite cut is "Def, Dumb, and Blind"..."On The Mic", "Emcee" and "Gallactics" are tight tracks as well. My only real criticism of this tape is all the skits/interludes that don't add anything to this phat tape, and don't need to be here. But these cats definately got talent, so expect nothing but good things from them in the future, whether or not they blowup. Files in the Attic gets ****1/2. Basement Tapes
Observatory swivel 3 people moving in the same direction is hard work and patience. Humdrum, Incyte, and e.v.s. have done nicely. "Files in the attic" is a demonstration of music synchronized by 3 individuals who work well with one another. Experimentation is always a plus for new artists on the street. They have included tradition with personality keeping it non-commercial with the classic hip hop vibe. These artists stand in a category of making music live with their ideas.
Point Blank Distribution This is a new crew that came to our attention through our mail order dept. Scott (you know who you are) hooked us up with a little gem that is bringing more flavor from the Mecca called San Diego, Ca. Our tape is no longer available through this catalog, but feel free to check their site at:
Thalandz.com Sub-Division is a local crew that resides in San Diego. evs, Humdrum & Incyte put together a dope 4-track project of tight cuts, interludes and freestyles. Some fave cuts on this cassette are "gallactics," "e's pager," & "on the mic." $6 bucks for a dope tape... Tha Landz
THE APPETIZER EP
ATAK A few of San Diego's finest pop another gem onto your plate; this time you get to munch on 8 tracks which includes an intro, an instrumental, a live DJ track and 5 songs. ATAK
Basement Tapes The Appetizer is just a taste of the full course meal that's coming and will definately leave you hungry for more. Basement Tapes
Vice Magazine: Beats & Rhymes In the "rappers you haven't heard yet" category, I gotta give props to the following underground releases: Jeff Spec's It's Simple, Subdivision's The Appetizer EP, Babylon's Point's For Demonstration Use Only, and Double Helix's DNA-lysis. -April 2000 Vice Magazine
DJF Productions This three man crew out of San Diego, California delivers their new 8 track EP titled "The Appetizer". Evs and crew definately represent Hip Hop lovely on this ep. There are some really tight tracks on the ep like "Provoke", "Pocket Lint" and "The Charlie Brown Song". There is also dj track by member Kid Dragon titled "Kid Dragon's Fire" that was from the Wake Up Show with Sway and King Tech. Overall, I'm feelin this tape and yall should too. It's now available online so check for it, and for more information to purchase the tape, then check out their website. DJF Productions
Peep the interview DJF had with us here.Tarmedia Subdivision/Commonwealth a hip hop collective out of San Diego, bring you the Appetizer EP(KNOWJIVE Cassette/CD). Eight tracks of cutting edge/futuristic Hip Hop, turntablism and jazz(?) Their DIY nature and "Appropriate" production, makes this EP a must for that rare(rare) collector of Hip hop. Subdivision consists of evs(production/emcee), incyte(emcee), Humdrum (emcee) and newly acquired Kid Dragon(Turntables). On first listening these adjectives come to mind: Bold, intelligent, sarcastic, fearless, sweet.
Subdivision could be described as the Dream warriors meets De La Soul in a Abstract Tribe Unique setting.: All wrapped up in a world of vast awareness and wisdom. evs brings you stellar production and abstract arrangements, while Incyte and sometimes Humdrum deliver the vocal philosophy of the attic: A place (above the "underground") & sometimes KKSM 1320 am Radio(San Marcos), where the crew spins anything from DJ Shadow, to The Living Legends to Portishead. Kid Dragon(Turntablist) brings much wrath to this already unstoppable unit. With the addition of Humdrum, Commonwealth become Subdivision. Things get more complex, since Commonwealth, when teamed up with Tar Baby become The Davidsons. Don't take my word: here's a sample of "No Worries" in real audio. Tarmedia
Hip Hop Infinity In the fine tradition of Unknown Entity, Hue of Intuition, Icons, and Orko the Sykotic Alien, the collective known as Subdivision represent the hip hop hotbed of San Diego to the fullest! Composed of Commonwealth (Incyte and evs), Humdrum, and the incredibly talented DJ Kid Dragon, Subdivision have created a fine piece of independent hip hop with The Appetizer EP.
Though they may share their city of origin with the groups mentioned above, if I was asked which artists Subdivision most reminded me of, I'd have to say Freestyle Fellowship. The production on The Appetizer has an old school, west-coast flavor, reminiscent of To Whom It May Concern. The three emcees who compose Subdivision are less abstract than the FF, but still share vocal similarities. Check the Aceyalone-like opening verse on "The Charlie Brown Song," for example.
"Provoke," a solo track by Humdrum, features a dusty drum loop and gritty bass line, much like some old school FF. "L.I.F.E." features some ill horns, and the excellent chemistry of Commonwealth emcees, Incyte and evs. "No Worries" is the album's best produced track, featuring an excellent piano arrangement, along with rugged drums, and a grainy bass loop.
But the EP's best song is saved for last, as DJ Kid Dragon gets busy on "Kid Dragon's Fire" Much of the material presented on this track was taken from Dragon's appearance on the Wake Up Show, as he impressed even DJ Rev with his turntable artistry. He cuts up Rage Against the Machine, before *gasp* dropping the needle on *gasp, gasp* Vanilla Ice! What ensues is one of the most innovative and entertaining segments of turntable composition I've ever heard, as Kid Dragon introduces us to "scratch rapping," composing the lyrics to "Ice, Ice Baby" ( which we all know far too well) with his scratches-- this is dope! It even gets the thumbs up from Ron Jeremy, who lends his voice to the track.
Overall, this is one of the better underground EP/ albums I've received in the past several months. If you are a fan of old school, west-coast production, then you'll love this joint. Subdivision's emcees also pack insightful lyrics ("what I would do to have you in my soul... bliss..") and entertaining flows into the eight tracks presented here. But on the real, "Kid Dragon's Fire" alone is worth the price of the CD. Hip Hop Infinity
4th-District.com The group known as Subdivision comes straight out of San Diego to deliver the goods. Composed of Humdrum, evs, Incyte and Kid Dragon, this group is giving their neck of the woods a good name. Though some of the material is older and unreleased, listeners will no doubt be satisfied with the result.
After a short intro entitled, �Rap Crap II�Focused Words�, the EP jumps right away to �Provoke�. On this cut, Humdrum gets raw over a deep bassline. His steady flow matches well with the production, which is the real highlight, as it keeps the listener at attention the entire time. This track is followed by �Pocket Lint�. An unreleased track by Subdivision, the group muses with a comfort level that makes you know they enjoy sharing the mic. The jazzy feel of �L.I.F.E.� follows next. The pounding bass rumbles through the speakers as Commonwealth (evs and Incyte) rip the verses. The horns are used effectively, giving it a smooth, laid back feel.
As the next side opens up, the finely executed �No Worries� hits first. With excellent production, this song from way back in 1996 is a real crowd pleaser. The slow pace of the track works with the styles of the mc�s. �The Charlie Brown Song� has Subdivision rocking an upbeat, happy production gem. The piano is executed to its fullest effect. As the song gets halfway through, the group proclaims when asked the subject matter of the song, �There is none!� This track works ultimately because it�s fun music. Without trying to be all-too complex, the group makes music they enjoy making, and it shows quite clearly in the music.
The final effort on this EP is the introduction of Subdivision�s new DJ, Kid Dragon in "Kid Dragon's Fire". Letting loose with some superb turntable theatrics, he shows why the liner notes to this EP are filled with a long list of turntablism awards. The highest work on this display just after porn king Ron Jeremy lends a short cameo. Kid Dragon absolutely tears up the turntable to the tune of Vanilla Ice�s (un)classic �Ice, Ice, Baby�. It really is something to behold.
Just as the title suggests, this EP is simply an appetizer. Comprised of only really 5 tracks (two of which are new) it serves as a sampling for something greater. This EP succeeds because it�s fun. Instead of trying to bombard the listener, the EP is confident that listeners will be pleased with the chemistry of the artists. Subdivision shows that hip-hop doesn�t have to be spiteful or overly competitive, as the corner of the EP states explicitly, �humble hip-hop�. And that�s refreshing. 4th-District.com
Urban Smarts An appetizer is something that's coming up before a meal. Those little meat balls, cheese balls, salt bakeries, whatever's nice and fits in your hands, and does not let you chew too long, so that you can still talk to the other people chewing next to you. An appetizer will never seize your hunger, and that's also not it's goal. Actually the opposite: it has to get you even hungrier for something that's coming up later. And that's what this EP does.
After the intro, first up to bat is Humdrum's "Provoke", a track the liner notes call the 'raw 4-track version'. The bass line hums on the low ends, and Humdrum flows without giving his lungs much time to breathe between each line, spit with confidence. He's on some "step aside or get sprayed by my jet stream" tip. "Pocket Lint" has to be a track that everybody can relate to, cause everybody will have a day, where he's "I got no money, I'm collecting pocket lint". San Diego's Subdivision kicks these rhymes to some horns, some funky drums, as well as a dope hook, and the whole combination of this track shows how dope a concept can be. And the thoughts that went into this cut, into the chit chat conversation, makes this track a winner that should get so much more shine than it actually gets. Dope track. The compilation character of this tape continues with Commonwealth's "L.I.F.E." track. The beat goes the same route as the track before this one, again a horn carries the track. And while this is not "Elevator Music", as the forthcoming album will be called, it's still smooth and just makes every gray day a little friendlier. And the outro to this track, the jazzyness, makes us feel the appreciation these artist have for music. And finally there's "Chill". A hugely dope Evs produced beat, that somewhat gives away their Cali roots, without screaming it too loud.
An appetizer will get you hungrier for something that's coming up later. On the p side, things start up with "No Worries" by Commonwealth. And while this track is already 4 years old, it does not ask for a modern days update, but can be enjoyed just as much in this form. Not allowing themselves to babble, they kick rhymes like "in the future, the only certainty are death, taxes and change", while a piano and another horn fight for the status of being more melancholy. Subdivision return with "The Charlie Brown Song". This almost uptempo piano gives this track a very humorous and funny feel. And this is convincing you of the huge amount of ideas these guys have, that they execute them well, and that they succeed in giving us a little something different. And well, maybe it's a little unfair having this beat taking away so much of the attention away from the emcees, but as they say themselves too, this song does not have a topic anyways, sort of. And to give this tape it's final underground status, they put Kid Dragon's appearance on the "Wake Up" show on it. First doing some heavy scratching, over bare drums, things get ugly with very fast cutting during part two , and the overkill is when he flips his 'scratch rapping' style over the infamous "Ice Ice Baby" track.
Again, the title says it. This is only an appetizer, so don't expect a multiple course meal. But just like them nasty little cheese things, they get your mouth all watery, and you can't wait to get the genuine deal. And while they are delicious, they are not as satisfying as a big bowl of spaghetti would be. But an appetizer is by definition only an appetizer if a meal is coming up later on. So keep up your hunger. Urban Smarts
Rebirthmag The California hip-hop scene is usually divided into two areas, Los Angeles and the Bay Area. However, San Diego is slowly developing its own identity, and Subdivision is one of the city�s emerging groups. Consisting of emcees Humdrum, Incyte, e.v.s. (who also handles production duty), and deejay Kid Dragon, the group has just released it�s second project, The Appetizer EP.
The EP starts with an introduction of sorts, and then continues into "Provoke." The only member featured on this battle track is Humdrum, and he rides a simple yet catchy beat. You can immediately detect the low quality, and the liner notes help explain that this album was recorded a "four-track and a busted-ass keyboard." Still, the song is decent. The same cannot be said about "Pocket Lint." I don�t know who the first emcee is, but he (or she, it�s hard to tell) sounds terrible, resonating through a high, nasal voice supplemented by sub-par lyrics. The beat is boring and repetitive; it rarely deters from the base two-bar loop. The song discusses the financial difficulties that the group has, and although the track is not very good, there is one brief moment where one of the emcees states, "I might have sense but it�s not a state of currency." However, that is the only moment of the track that deserves praise. The next track is "L.I.F.E." which has a better concept and construct than it�s predecessor, but the backdrop is still only mediocre.
Producer e.v.s. is highlighted on "Chill," an instrumental track that somewhat serves as an interlude. The production here is not exactly something I would place as an instrumental. The beat is not terrible, but the "busted-ass keyboard" definitely has its affect on the overall sound of the music. Incyte and e.v.s. - known together as Commonwealth - combine on "No Worries." Yet again, the beat is dull, and it is the emcees that keep this joint afloat. On "The Charlie Brown Song" the keyboard sequence is annoying and the horn is terribly placed, but the emcees' humor makes this track tolerable. "Kid Dragon�s Fire" is the gem of the album. It showcases the group�s DJ, Kid Dragon, on the turntables during a visit to the Wake Up Show. For the first few minutes, Dragon entertains us with some simple scratches, but then he flips into something that is just unbelievable. He plays the beat to "Ice, Ice Baby," but instead of hearing Vanilla Ice�s voice, we hear Dragon scratching the lyrics. He forms his scratches to make them sound like the words, a technique Dragon has dubbed "scratch-rapping." This is one of the most inventive and creative things I�ve heard from two turntables.
And there you have it folks, The Appetizer EP from Subdivision. What brings this EP down is the production. You could possibly blame it on the equipment, because "busted-ass keyboard[s]" are not likely to produce quality beats. Throughout the entire EP, the beats were simple and mundane; if not for the emcees, this project would have been a complete failure. Humdrum, Incyte, and e.v.s. are witty and humorous, bringing a wide range of topics to the short player. Hopefully the group is able to mature and grow production-wise, and improved production will also enhance their lyrical performances.
SHADES OF GREY
Below the Surface Very tight tape from the southern california dolemite..8 dope tracks, really fresh production, some conscious lyrics, good price as well buy it up.... BTS
ATAK i met this guy this weekend and he was a really wonderful guy. henceforth, you should support his art. ATAK
La2thebay.com What can i say...good humble hip hop. A beautiful melodic soundscape and excellent writing/ MCing/ production skills make this solo effort by evs of Subdivision a definate underground gem. LA2thebay
DIYhiphop Southern California's EVS (you may have caught him as part of Subdivision) goes for delf on the eight-song affair Shades of Grey. EVS' goal with this release was to illuminate the different emotions humans deal with over the course of their lives, positive and negative. While he doesn't give perfect articulation to what we all feel but can't communicate, he does succeed in creating some solid work that truly does reflect a range of feelings without coming off as unfocused.
I'm just guessing here, but I think EVS recorded this tape in the aftermath of a breakup, because he seems preoccupied with the emotional issues that come from the dissolution of a relationship-distrust, melancholy, resentment, loss, and so forth-and does in fact discuss girls on several cuts. Not to say we the listeners are forced to hear him deal with his breakup on tape, but relationship woes are the only issues that get touched on more than once, so they seem to be his point of departure. But E doesn't just wallow in the rainstorms; he's also a cheerful rhymer who is just as apt to be happy with the findings of his analysis as he is to be disappointed. This is an important balance many MCs can't seem to find, and it's to EVS' credit that he strikes it so effortlessly.
On the skills side of things, E delivers his rhymes well, using crisp, functional cadences to make his points, but staying shifty enough that his patterns don't lull you to sleep. Just when you think you've got his flow pinned, he'll turn on the heel of an odd internal rhyme and head off in a different direction. Heady stuff without being gaudy. Beatwise, nothing here is going to leap out and grab you, but it's not supposed to. It provides the aural mood for EVS lyrics just fine and still manages to swing nicely off some Meters-ish drums and solid programming. You'll nod your head to the beat and stroke your chin at the lyrics. Nice.
EVS' goal sounds simple-to discuss the common human experience-yet it's quite lofty, for who among us can truly speak for all of us? E doesn't deign to speak for each and every person, but he has dropped a sincere, solidly executed, enjoyable tape that most of us can relate to in some way. That in itself makes this worth at least a listen. DIYhiphop
Urban Smarts Between being unheard and finding an appreciative audience, often only lies a tape. Frowned upon by the digital dupes, the tape always had and must have a special value to all hip hop fans. What would have been without mixtapes, or even more important, without the Cold Crush shows on tape, that went ghetto gold long before King Tim or 'the rockin' to the bang bang boogie' ever were released? The first hip hop recording was on a tape. So getting a recording that's strictly on the tape tip should be reminding you of this tradition and value much more than have you go 'dude's shit is so wack, he can't afford the pressing'. If this site proofs anything, then that there's a whole lot of dope stuff out there, that hits you from very unexpected places. And sometimes that stuff is on a tape. So don't judge the present by the wrapping. You knew that too.
This Subdivision human being returns on the solo path with the introspective "Shades Of Grey", a tape consisting of 8 self produced tracks and a whole lot of emotion. This starts with "Weight", that EVS opens with "I'm a lover of love but a hater of fate." With a flute moving this forward, the burden it carries can be too much for some strained shoulders, and EVS does not claim to be no colossus. We are going through a different chapter of the same book on "Soul Searchin'". The production of this is so well advanced, it's tragic it is not enhance by the best possible quality of the recording. Actually what's already evident is, that the fully thought out structures and characters the beats have, are of the kind, so much more likely to be hard from an artist that does not have to answer to any label, monetary or group members demands.
Being a watcher, EVS is able to do "Observation", but this also needs him to be a reporter, that can explain to us what's between the world's life lines. We are still wondering though, if he isn't talking so much more to himself than to us, that just accidentally seem to be hearing this. The piano and horns on this track once more result in a mighty good beat, that carries the cluster of thoughts with an ease and complete comfort. Finishing Side A, "Beauty" features Deeskee on the cuts. Just one more track that has us appreciate this more and more by the moment.
"Expectations" combines a cool guitar with an unneeded string section, while EVS unbothered by that continues with his session of turning his eyes inside out to look into the inside of him and to tell us what he sees. Maybe he's calling himself shorter than his full size would allow him too, and that only follows what other people are doing so quickly. Meaning that just like Jonny Cash (of broke-ass.com) says: 'people hate on everything, just give 'em a chance'. So some people are downplaying everything and you will never be able to live up to their demands. But ignore them, as their shoe sizes are different and their eyes will always be pointed in a different angle and direction than yours. EVS has found a person to share his space with though, when he connects with Mane-One, to do "Analytical Terms". We however are already progressing to the doper and dope "The Morning After", that's a pleasant waking up, much more than a day defining hang over. Again a piano is grabbing our attention first and moves forward in an almost dull fashion, what can be compared to the way one can smile and be content inside. The morning does also reflect the waking up of ones own conscious and acceptance of self introspectivity. However, this is also outspoken in a political kind of way. With "Breath Of Fresh Air" the recordings is about to end, and the smoothness of this gives us a kind farewell. There's a horn suddenly appearing and in the true sense, will blow you away.
One should feel uncomfortable to critique such an effort, because there's too much of a person in it, and so eventually one would critique the person. Or one would critique and review the diary he writes, his true believes and the way he sees the world. That is a not remotely excusable thing to do, there's no right in the world to do that. How can we dissect the being of a person? We can and will not. But we will end this here with saying that this tape has been a complete pleasure to listen to. With all that garbage that gets glossy releases nowadays, it's tragic that such dope music does not.Urban Smarts
Hip Hop Infinity It's been a while since South-California's Subdivision released their dope EP, The Appetizer. What makes this hiatus seem even longer is the title of the aforementioned recording-- one would reckon that the trio were ready to serve us the main course already, right? Regardless of what the real reasons for their absence are, one thing is for certain: group member evs has been sharpening his skills, and gathering experiences to write about on the self-produced Shades of Grey.
The first of the eight songs, "Weight," features a misty, beautiful flute, some delicate drums and not much else. Still, evs' reflective vocals could carry even the plainest of tracks, as he explores some of the unpleasant emotions we all have to confront at some points of our lives. evs' delivery is solid, though Shades of Gray, in all its introspectiveness, concentrates more on his abilities as a writer than his proficiencies in conveying his words.
Although evs has made some dope beats in the past, with this release he truly establishes himself as a potent producer. Ignore the weak sound quality, and you'll find some true gems. One of my favorite cuts, beat-wise, and possibly rhyme-wise too, is "Breath of Fresh Air," featuring rugged drums, a guitar loop, faint keys, and an irresistibly fresh saxophone that is wisely placed, making the dope hook even better. evs' involved poetics are skillfully written as usual: "I wrote an open letter in my memory, in assembly of emotions, untouched, discussed, and discarded, bearing arguments/ undeniably, unreliable in the garden of my somber suffering/ when the soil is no longer under your soul, it's solitude that seeps through, simply to remind you of futility/ pardon my humility, I've bargained with negligence much too often."
"Soul Searchin'" is another remarkably intricate piece of work. The complex piano is highly dope, and the melancholy strings improve the song even more. Yet again, evs shows us that he's an excellent writer. "Observation" is similarly nice-- it has evs musing over the organic sounding beat. Considering the personal nature this tape has, the lack of guests doesn't surprise at all. Deeskee provides the scratches on "Beauty," and "Analytical Terms" features a passable, yet not too memorable appearance from Mane-One. Neither of these songs are on a par with evs' best work, but that is understandable since the majority of the tracks are of such high quality.
evs uses the brevity of Shades of Grey to his full advantage, as underground releases of this type rarely have such a feel of completeness. Most will surely be content with evs' debut, but after listening through the eight songs, you will likely have a few wishes: First of all, better recording equipment wouldn't only make evs' music more accessible, but it would bring out the absolute best in the production, as well. And although this is a topically diverse project, it would be interesting to hear evs expand his subject matter even further and possibly try something new, style-wise. All criticism aside, evs has delivered a fine piece of hip hop any fan of honest, soulful music should be able to appreciate.HHI
Hip Hop Section (France)
REVIEW OF SHADES, THERAPY & ODDS..
For reasons which you always do not include/understand, certain objects remain attached to one period of your life. And for reasons which you always do not include/understand, you trailed this blue slap in his black and white packing in each T.E.R. which you took last year, so that your ear-phones could remember it. Perhaps, it is its cover cut out with the hand, perhaps it is the weakness of the recording, but there is something of a simplicity lost in Shades Of Grey of EVS, a trick which makes you think that you can do as much of it, like a promise of sentences to say or songs to fredonner. Or perhaps it is because EVS deposits often introspective texts and evokes varied sentimental landscapes... The kind of shivers which you felt only by listening to Gil Scott-Heron and Minnie Riperton...
This year you have the impression that two years passed. You listenings new efforts of the rappeur/productor of San Diego: Odds & Ends (edition hyper limited) and Therapy?
The formula did not change on Odds & Ends : a side lo-fi developed, silky samples, a too perfect harmony counterbalanced by a mechanical flow calms but cordial, few guests (one finds there in particular Humdrum, another member of Subdivision). Some samples (' Bullshit' and ' Slacker ') approaches things already heard on ' Culture' of Micranots and ' Worth the wait' of Mocha coffee Only and the dialogue drawn from Pulp Fiction is undoubtedly roasted. However, always this discrete charm of the forgotten voices...
Therapy...? is an entirely instrumental slap which smells the ruffled magnetic tape good. A mine of harmonious samples. The band of a film which could be the tien. Now, it is not any more remained but to speak.
nICO , October 2002
Hip Hop Section