Hip Hop Congress

IsWhat?!

It was Nice & Smooth who once talked about combining the old and the new, and one of the endearing things (if any) about hip-hop music is that it used to acknowledge the old in the hopes of creating something new. These days it’s more “every man for himself” and admitting you want to be revolutionary, when actions truly speak louder than words.

The Life We Chose is not only those actions, but reactions to what has come and gone in the music. ISWHAT?! are a project consisting of Napoleon Maddox on rhymes and jazz musician Jack Walker. Together with other musicians and DJ’s in the studio they’ve created something that is on the adventurous and dare I say daring side of hip-hop, not unlike some of DJ Spooky’s projects in the past. There’s a jazzy vibe throughout the songs courtesy of Walker, who throws out hints of John Coltrane, Led Zeppelin, and Pharoah Sanders in his sax playing. Napoleon is one of those guys who writes and rhymes with intellect, being careful and select with his words and precise in his flows, bringing into mind such sages as Black Thought, Mos Def, and Phonte.

The title of the album explains things briefly, as these songs are in the hip-hop key of life, exploring personal and world problems, social equality, the state of the world, and the unpredictable world of the music industry. For those who miss a time when jazz and hip-hop were joined at the hip, this revives that feeling that has never really left, it just found a nice home in some out of the way venue in an obscure funky alley somewhere. (John Book of Okayplayer.com)

City, State: Cincinnati, Ohio

Influences: Public Enemy, Nina Simone, Elvin Jones, Doug E Fresh

Website: iswhatmedia.com / myspace.com/iswhatsince1997 / sonicbids.com/iswhat

Contact Info: 513.226.4111 / 513.410.1831 / napoleon.maddox@uc.edu / iswhat3rio2000@hotmail.com

Media:
“Nice production, and I love the beatboxing and lyrics. It has that jazzy blues feel. We need more music like this.” – DJ Solo – WECI – Richmond, IN (Earlham College)

“That IsWhat?! is a MONSTER!!! It’s in the bag for the show.” – DJ Oxygen – WUSB – Stony Brook, NY (University of Stony Brook)

“I like the IsWhat?! album a lot–it’s got some really interesting tracks that come together to make a solid album.” – Adam L. – WMHB – Waterville, ME (Colby College)

“That IsWhat? CD is banging!!!! Is there vinyl? The playlsit from Friday’s show will be up this week…got it in there!” – DJ Kayote – KUNM – Albuquerque, NM (University of New Mexico)

“The Voice Within is dope. I’ve been spinning that consistently for the last few weeks.” – DJ Kevvy Kev – KZSU – Stanford, CA (Stanford University)