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Believe the Hype
by Quentin B. Huff Pop Matters Review - When you hear 40 Watt Hype¹s Strong Feet on the Concrete, you might wonder, ³Is there anything this band can¹t do?² You wouldn¹t be the only one. The Fresno, California-based band has been praised as one of the best unsigned acts in the United States. Meanwhile, the band¹s frequent description as a cross between the Roots and Santana could work as a snippet of 40 Watt Hype¹s musical sophistication, songwriting skills, and strong live presence. The praise is well-founded, as the group¹s 16-track release, Strong Feet on the Concrete, stomps forward with grooves rooted in hip-hop, R&B, funk, Latin vibes, and jazz. You¹ll want to see 40 Watt Hype perform this material in person, as the Roots and other hip-hop artists have demonstrated that concert rap can be compelling when backed up by live instrumentation. The membership roster for Strong Feet includes Brian Robinson (a.k.a. MC Vagabond), Aaron Wall (a.k.a. MC Awall), Enrique Gonzalas on guitar, Sean Alderette rocking the drums, Bronson Garza working the bass, Jared Dyar on percussion, Adan Infante on trombone, and David Hull playing the keys. In 2002, the group released the flavorful Advanced Techniques in Modern Sound. A year later, they followed up with Grand Unification Theory, which was followed in 2005 by the CD/DVD package Live & Direct: Sight & Sound. Complex Magazine-“Hip-hop neophytes 40 Watt Hype have the underground buzzing. These hip-hop true school disciples are know for slamming, high energy shows!” Esquire Magazine- “40 Watt Hype is an eight piece Latin-jazz group that has no trouble packing every gig.” CD Baby - "Hip hop: Bass? Check, Drums? Check, Trombone? Dropping rhymes with a live band can be a soft spot for some fans, who feel the true form should rely on drum machines and the ones and twos. Recently this feeling seems to be shifting and it's groups like this that are leading the way. Kicking the bass and drums hard but also utilizing rhythmic guitar, jazzed out keys, slip slappy congas and the afore mentioned trombone, these cats lay down a patchwork any MC would love to put his moniker on. So, its not surprising the vocals here are on point with the music, riding catchy hooks and then splitting verses that are inherently synchronized with the feel of the rhythm section. The recording and production here are dead on as well, creating the vibe of a live show where every hand in the place is in the air." Blender Magazine- “One of the Top 8 Unsigned Acts in the Country.” |
IQ magazine in Albuquerque, NM - "The type of hip hop that 40 Watt Hype plays could only come from the state of California...." click here to read full article Newspaper in Flagstaff, AZ - "Imagine a compilation album featuring the talents of Santana, Black Eyed Peas and the Roots..." click here to read full article Now
available at: Stream sample mp3s and buy full mp3s
Bathtub Music “I’ve seen these guys twice live, once was when they were opening for the Roots at the Leavey Center, where the crowd was cheering for them as loudly as for the Roots. Needless to say they are INCREDIBLE. Their music blends amazingly: Think the lovechild of the Roots and Santana. I’ve paid twice the money for CDs that weren’t half this good. Buy it. You won’t regret it.” The Reverend, Music Director at Mondosphere’s KFRR “40 Watt Hype delivers catchy hooks on top of infectious, hypnotizing beats…a fresh, original sound.” Joe Moore, Station Manager KFSR College Radio “…One of the most creative and exciting groups we’ve heard.. their Latin rhythms are as infectious as they are authentic….” N.L. Belardes, Chicano writer “….White meets Black meets Chicano meets ‘unity’ in a multi-cultural abnd with rural-urban street talk, songwriting, and production that would make Ricky Ricardo turn in his grave and wish his big Cuban Buena Vista social hour was hip to this scene.” |
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The
Source - "40 Watt Hype returns to deliver instrument-laden
sounds on its third studio album, Strong Feet on the Concrete.
Tracks like the rap-critical "Controversy" prove that
the group's MCs can rhyme."
