Apathy

Being the "King of Connecticut" might not be hip-hop's most illustrious title, but there isn't a state, country or world wide web where Apathy's rap royalty doesn't reign supreme. For nearly 15 years, the Demigodz and Get Busy Committee co-founder has wowed audiences and hip-hop purists around the globe with his breathtaking brand of ferocious and multi-stylistic lyrics. While his production is too often slept on, beat placements with Cypress Hill and others, as well as his work with GBC, Ap's work behind the boards is getting extremely hard to ignore. 

With the backing of Top Spin Media and Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda, the Get Busy Committee featuring Apathy, producer-du-jour Scoop DeVille and Style of Beyond's Ryu made plenty of noise in 2010. Recorded in Los Angeles, GBC's debut album, Uzi Does It, allowed the members of GBC to write more than just verses and push both their creativity—inside the studio and out. The album's throwback-to-the-future single "Chillin Out Maxin" and lo-fi dance cut "I Don't Care About You" perfectly synched with Kogi Truck parking lot BBQs and koalas holding Uzis on t-shirts. The free download "Dancin' On Your Grave" and its remix featuring Paul Wall, Murs and Xzibit, as well as a follow-up full-length coming at the start of 2011 promises that GBC isn't going anywhere anytime soon. 

After experimenting with song structure, Apathy says that his third album, Honkey Kong, will be a return to the harder bubblegoose-weathered hip-hop that purist fans have memorized. Scheduled for a 2011 release with appearances from Evidence, Chino XL,Bishop Lamont and more, Ap will once again be handling the bulk of the production. He's also been ghostwriting for "active hip-hop legends." And if that wasn't enough, the long awaited return of the Demigodz, Apathy and Celph Titled's heralded crew and record label, is also on deck. 

Apathy made his debut in 1997, on Jedi Mind Tricks' classic first full-lenth, The Pyscho-Social LP, and followed it up with The Godz Must Be Crazier EP, alongside business partner and friend Celph Titled in 2002. It was also Jedi Mind Trick's Vinnie Paz that linked Apathy up with Army of the Pharoahes, an underground hip-hop who's who of emcees that included Esoteric, Celph, Outerspace, Jus Allah, and more. On the solo tip, Apathy had a four-plus-year stint with Atlantic Records (which curiously yielded two incredible mixtapes, It's The Bootleg Motherfucka, Vol. 1 and Where's Your Album?, but no official release), before returning to his independent roots. He released Eastern Philosophy, officially his debut album, in 2006 through Babygrande Records and another mixtape, Baptism by Fire, in 2007 on his own Demigodz imprint. His purposefully misleading Wanna Snuggle? was released in 2009 and featured J-Live, Phonte, B-Real, Chip Fu, and others. Apathy has toured the U.S., Europe and Australia, sharing the stage with Snoop Dogg, Linkin Park, Cypress Hill, Ghostface Killah, and more. He may be the King of Connecticut, but the sun never sets on Apathy's throne.


Celph Titled

The over-the-top, bazooka wielding action star of hip hop, charismatic Floridian word master Celph Titled began his professional entrance into the rap game as a teenage lyricist and local production staple during the late 90's indie 12-inch vinyl boom. Being a member of, and producing for, a number of boundary-pushing Tampa rap crews at the time, he networked heavily to take his music worldwide and began contributing beats and rhymes to a non-stop tirade of vinyl singles during a time when the 12-inch single market was key in building a cult fan base. Now embarking on a focused solo career with over ten years of industry know-how, respect, international touring and die hard loyal fans, the "Celph"-made independent pastor of punchlines sets out to solidify his stamp on the scene as a major factor once and for all.

Celph Titled was born in Tampa, FL and grew up in the heart of Hillsborough County's rapidly expanding multicultural landscape. The product of an Ybor City Cuban-American mother and a German-Scottish father, Celph's folks always encouraged his knack for creative expression. In the 80's, young parents that videotaped all the classic videos on MTV and an uncle in a popular local rock band had a big impact on the scope of Celph's musical inspirations. "My dad used to show me all the classic videos; 'Thriller', 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' and everything else from Herbie Hancock to ZZ Top, so I was always glued to MTV. Then one day I saw a Fat Boys video it was over. I knew I loved this music," Celph recalls fondly. After penning some of his own lyrics and making beats with minimal equipment, he began recording demos in the early 90's on his uncle's 4-track machine. When asked to describe that particular time in his life, Celph states, "I knew from that point on that I wanted to be a recording artist and I never stopped chasing that goal. I was quite the mischievous kid but it soon became clear that hip hop was my calling."

Still a teen fresh out of high school, Celph's relentless hustle and talent were noticed when he was courted by an independent record company to relocate to New York City and begin working as an in-house producer and A&R. This was the move that would change his life and give him the platform to establish a name in underground hip hop. The now-defunct BUDS International and Bronx Science Records released all of Celph's early records on vinyl, including his original group, Equilibrium, and singles from career-long partner-in-rhyme, Apathy. After soaking up the NYC scene for a few years, the hard work and dues-paying finally began to pay off as publications, websites, taste-makers and even major record labels began taking notice of the pale-skinned Latino and his associates. As a leading member of two legendary crews, The Demigodz and Jedi Mind Tricks' Army of the Pharaohs collective, Celph became a fan-favorite for his standout quotable-filled performances and hard-hitting East Coast-style production featured on the crews' respective blockbuster releases. In addition, Grammy-winner Mike Shinoda, of Linkin Park fame, invited Celph to join his Los Angeles cohorts, Styles of Beyond (S.O.B.), as an official part of 2005's Fort Minor project, released on Linkin Park's Machine Shop/Warner Bros imprint and executive produced by Shawn Carter a/k/a Jay-Z. Aside from his appearance on that album, and his jaw-dropping verses on the industry-approved DJ Green Lantern Invasion "Fort Minor: We Major" mixtape, Mr. Titled embarked on a nationwide tour with FM in 2006. Following the tour, Celph released a unique compilation entitled, "The Gatalog." The impressive quadruple-disc set captured a long discography of Celph's guest appearances and freestyles, going all the way back to his early releases from 1998. The comp was a great success, continuing to buzz and remain a top-seller consistently, even years after its release. The word of mouth spread vigorously and it became the catalyst in generating a tidal wave of demand for a proper solo debut from Celph Titled. It was a plan that worked better than ever, as it set up the enterprising MC to have the privilege of releasing an official debut to a thriving fanbase that already viewed him as a seasoned veteran.



After the release of "The Gatalog" and a move back to his Gulf Coast hometown, Celph spent three years working with iconic 'Diggin' In The Crates (D.I.T.C.)' multi-platinum producer, Buckwild, on what would become his October 26, 2010 debut album, "Nineteen Ninety Now" on No Sleep Recordings. Spearheaded by longtime friend James "DL" Ellison, the project set out to be a first of its kind, utilizing never-before-released tracks made in 1994 and 1995 and creating new songs out of them with the stylings of present day. As a true scholar of the 90's golden era of rap, Celph explains, "This is the project I've always wanted to do. To have my debut produced by a legend like Buckwild can't be topped in my mind. My first album is always going to be looked at as a masterpiece by my fans. It reminds you of the techniques no longer used in today's hip hop and it takes you right back to that feeling, even if it's just for one album." With a critically acclaimed solo album under his belt, Celph Titled is now an independent mogul and a monster force to be reckoned with. To feed the fans' rabid appetite to be a part of his movement, he has created his own brand called Mad Ammo, which will represent not only his apparel line but also the next wing of the Demigodz/Pharaohs family.