issue 34 working _ Layout 1 8 / 1 / 2013 8:04 PM Page 36
Breakin it with
Down aka Tom Noonan
T-Noonz
Purple Drank
I was asked to introduce my-self, and I will. But what you need to know about at this very moment is more about what is important to me then it is about my profile. It’ s about the music. What is most important to know about me is how much I really, truly, deeply love Hip-Hop. Out of all the musical jolts I have received in my relatively few years floating through nothingness on this large rock we call earth; none have moved my soul like hip-hop has. Everyone has experienced that feeling I ' m describing, movement of the soul. The one you feel when you find that perfect song that rocks you to your very core, makes your hairs stand on end, and makes you want to scream, cry, and laugh at the same time. Yes? Well I( and you I would assume) have enjoyed that feeling numerous times, from many forms of music. But in this case my connection with Hip-Hop flows more fluidly than any other genre. For instance The Roots- Act Too is guaranteed to get my heartbeat elevated EVERY SINGLE TIME I hear it.( and now.. of course, I must listen to it). I really hope the readers of Cider Mag also share this connection with Hip-Hop, and for those who don ' t.. I hope to show you how you might.
One thing to consider is Hip-Hop can transcend into any form of music, even country, Yes.. I said country. You can sample any sound you can hear, and you can rap over any beat, or even sometimes without one if you prefer acapella. Now Free-styling( inventing rhyming lyrics as you flow) is something special, and not everyone can do it unless they practice, like any other instrument. The only thing I can compare it to is a spontaneous
instrumental solo, relaxed and aware, fluid but mechanic, prepared for the next move but somehow unaware of the one after. But perhaps I ' m becoming a little too philosophical, and I don ' t want to drag on without some pudding.
I have lived in the North East for my entire life, and in New England for almost all of it, and let me tell you.. We have some damn good Hip-Hop of a high quality, just like everything else we produce. The list of legends goes on when you hit Boston or NYC, but I would like to lean towards the legends of the past, and to be from the twin states, although I may venture out of state lines from time to time. I will feature local artists who I am a fan of, I will feature artists who are friends, Ill give you reports on great shows, great festivals, great albums, and I ' ll open up a window into the on goings of our underground Hip-Hop community. I will begin all this by introducing my latest favorite Purple Drank.
photo: BVTPHOTOS
Picture a Funky / Hip Hop / R & B / Suave / High Character cocktail that can move you with their own brand, or have you joining in with classics new and old, and there you have Purple Drank! They are lead by two Burlington heavyweights, DJ Dakota( vocals / turntables) and Manus( vocals). Both highly experienced emcee, they are confi
photo: BVTPHOTOS
dent veterans on the mic, and can conduct an entire show without a dull moment.
This group is versatile, these two can perform on their own( with DJ Dakota on the turn tables) or backed with A highly skilled band of musicians.
While fully loaded, they are bolstered by members of The Grippo Funk Band, Dr. Ruckus, and Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band with Max Bronstein-( Guitar), Giovanni Rovetto-( Bass), Mike Fried-( Keys), Dan Ryan( Drums), and Daiki Hirano( Percussion). I have been lucky enough to attend a few shows of theirs, and I have been
highly entertained each time.
Purple Drank has an extensive list of songs in their arsenal, and will surprise you with their variety and ability to perform so many different styles of music to such high standards. They pump out enough funky positive energy to get a wallflower to peel themselves off the plaster and get loose on the dance floor.