Underground Parliament Blogspot

2012 Status and Projects

2012-03-03T08:42:00.001-08:00

Greetings friends! Here’s what Underground Parliament has in store for 2012:

So far:

All tracks available for free download in high quality mp3 on reverbnation:

http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/artist_songs/314503

Digital album [Lost In Transition: 01] available for purchase on bandcamp for support:

http://www.undergroundparliament.bandcamp.com

All tracks posted on official youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/benningtonvibes

Collection of photos added to official website:

http://www.undergroundparliament.com/photos.php

New banner image added to facebook bandpage app:

http://www.facebook.com/undergroundparliamentmusic/app_178091127385

Coming soon:

All tracks will be available on iTunes and AmazonMP3 for spring 2012.

New official video by Underground Parliament is currently in the works. The video is planned to be followed by a collection of tracks to be released as an EP for 2012.

More updates coming soon…

Working on 2 New Tracks

2011-09-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

Hey guys,

It’s been a minute since our last update here on this blog. During this time, both Eksperiens and I have had a few opportunities to address in relation to our music careers.

In addition to all that, since the time of our previous blog, Eksperiens has been in the lab working on new remixes for a number of your favorite tracks from the debut. We also completed producing and writing a couple of hot new songs titled “Radio B-boys”, and “Untouchables”. We have planned to record these tracks sometime within the next few weeks; yet not sure about the time of their release.

“Radio B-boys” is a track for all you breakers out there who for so long have been thirsting for a high-energy, yet modern-sounding break-dancing joint with an 80’s twist. Well guys, you got it!

“Untouchables” is a track with somewhat of a different feel than the usual underground joints you would expect from UP. The overall concept and vibe of this track are a bit difficult to describe, but what I can say is, it has more of a crisp and glossy look than the usual grimy underground image you may be used to. It is nonetheless, blazing hot… otherwise it would not be UP ;) It also should stand as a reflection of UP’s versatile ability and universal taste in music.

As for the solo records, they are still in the works, but not anything that will be released in the near future. The overall vision for these projects is not too clear at this point.

Finally, I would like to thank all of you for your continuous support! Your emails, and comments are mad appreciated! In case I haven’t had the chance to get back to some of you, I am trying my best to respond to each one of your messages and requests. I don’t ignore anyone, other than obvious spammers.

When you get the chance, follow us on our Facebook fan page:

http://www.facebook.com/undergroundparliamentmusic

More exclusive media, photos, free downloads, and other stuff coming soon ;)

Thank You For Your Support!

2011-06-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

Greetings dear friends! Hope all has been well with all of you :)

Both Eksperiens and I would like to take this time to thank everyone who supported Lost In Transition: 01. We are grateful for all of your positive reviews and feedback, as well as the few constructive criticisms from some of you “audiophiles” on the album’s production and mixing quality. Thank you for keeping us inspired and helping us grow :)

As for that follow-up record mentioned in the previous blog, it is still in the works. Since the release of the album, we have also considered a few additional projects, including the possibility of releasing our own solo records.

Once again, thank you for all of your support, and please be sure to spread the word about Underground Parliament to everyone you know. Let’s keep real hip hop alive!

Sincerely,

Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

Official Website Launched!

2011-05-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

Hey guys,

Our official website is now launched, published, and live:
www.undergroundparliament.com

Since the site just recently came out of construction, there are still a few technical issues and updates to be addressed, but nothing to hold back its full activity and functions. We will be updating the site periodically with media, news, and information as we see fit… so visit us periodically as time allows.

In case you have not had the chance to listen to and/or support the album, you can do so by simply clicking on the “Music” tab on the navigation bar, where you will have the chance to listen to the entire album, prior to your support.

P.S. For all iTunes/iPad/iPhone/iPod heads, the album is also available on iTunes for your convenience. The iTunes links is also provided among the other store links under the “Music” tab.

For everyone who has supported the album within the last 2 weeks, both Eksperiens and I would personally like to express our appreciation :)

And now, for all you real underground hip hop junkies: Alright guys, check this out… Eksperiens and I have agreed on the possibility of releasing an exclusive record as a follow-up to Lost In Transition: 01. This will be a treat for all you hardcore, underground, college radio, raw and unsaturated hip hop fans ;) As always, I will keep everyone updated on the progress.

Peace, love, and respect!

Debut Album Released!

2011-05-24T23:06:00.000-07:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

Alright friends, the album is now officially released :)

About two weeks before the release, we leaked out a few joints on a number of sites, including Soundcloud and ReverbNation, for those of you following the movement closely.

At first, the record was directly uploaded and made available for purchase on Bandcamp on May 17, 2011. At the same time through our distribution offer, we were able to spread the release to over 40 different retailers across the nation, in an unexpectedly short amount of time… much appreciated guys :) So far, the release is live on AmazonMp3, Last.fm, iTunes, and awaiting Napster, Rhapsody, Nokia, Fox, and more…

As I mentioned in a previous blog, a limited number of physical copies are also on the way for local distribution, mail orders, and things of that sort. On that note, you will soon be able to order physical copies, and other merchandise directly from us, through an on-demand service.

That’s pretty much all I have for now until further notice. Hope everyone enjoys the album :)

Peace!

Update on Delayed Release

2011-05-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

In retrospect to a previous blog on the album being delayed:

While in the process of re-mixing a few tracks prior to finalizing our sessions, our entire setup suddenly froze and stopped working. To make a long story short [and I won’t get into any details], we were no longer able to access anything anymore, in what appeared to be a total loss of 5 years worth of work… [all backups included]. This was the reason for pushing back the original release date.

Since then, most files, folders, sessions, and stems have been recovered [for both, the beats and the vox]. But there is still some recovery work to be done, in what has now become an anxiety-filled environment.

The overall reason for things going bad had to do with an overheating system [especially the particular hard drive we were directly operating from].

Since then, we have managed to keep the equipment running a bit cooler than before, and have a mid-sized oscillating fan facing directly at the main drive, as it needs constant cooling. I also want to mention that, the main PC tower is starting to make some strange ass noises that are getting louder and louder by the day. Some scary shit I tell you!

So all said and done, this is not what we expected to happen right-smack-in between the final mixing process for the album; but, it is what it is! All we can do now is hope for the best, as we proceed to overcome this crappy, unexpected event. Hella dumb and uncalled for!

In the next blog, I will continue to discuss how this event has led us to consider converting from a PC to a Mac setup.

Update on T3 OST Submission

2011-04-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

During an exclusive interview last October, we had mentioned that we were going through the process of submitting one of our songs for the Transformers 3 Official Soundtrack. As promising as everything was beginning to appear, in late February we were notified that the sample from the original master could not be used for the purposes of this submission.

However, we did receive an offer from the original owner of the sample to recompose the same track. There was no talk of any possible monetary exchange to clear the sample. At this point, our only option was to recompose the track, send it to the owner’s record label for a second listen, and once cleared, to resubmit the song for the T3 Official Soundtrack.

Since then, the track has been recomposed, and though it did make the cut to appear on the album, it will neither be resubmitted to the original owner, nor for the soundtrack. Besides, the T3 Official Trailer was already released on YouTube by ClevverTV last December.

So in short, due to sample clearance and deadline issues, the track will not be released in its original form, nor will it be resubmitted for the soundtrack. Perhaps, the song was destined to remain as an undiscovered treasure in the underworld.

Possible Delay on Debut Release

2011-03-26T00:41:00.000-07:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

We have recently come to find out that, the release of [Lost In Transition: 01] may be delayed due to a number of circumstances at hand. The tentative release date set for 04.01.2011 could get pushed back for a short amount of time— a blend of unexpected events :(

Until soon… Minus 1

Record Release Camping

2011-03-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

Speaking In General

While most musicians/recording artists often choose to celebrate the release of their album[s] in way of a “record release party”, we on the other hand have decided to do things a little bit differently [and no… not just for the sake of trying to be different] :D

Record release parties have long been stitched into the tradition of music for many decades, and have proven not only to serve as pleasure-filled functions, but as promotional, business related events as well.

Our Current Outlook

As for us, the notion of recognizing the release of our very first record has nothing to do with the idea of advertisement, or any business related ventures—it is all for the sake of an accomplishment, as celebrated among close family and friends [not much different from typical birthdays, graduation parties, and the sorts].

Furthermore, this also has nothing to do with our current number of fans, predicted number of record sales, or anything like that. In fact, without even having a record out, we have already reached a world-wide audience across the United States, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and so on. This has also been the main reason for putting together an album—otherwise, why even release an album if no one asked for it; with no form of anticipation?

At this point, our following seems to be gradually spreading fine across the globe, rather than existing heavily in one centralized location on a local level. At any rate, this to us is a sign of an ongoing trajectory towards that independently created, funded, distributed, and managed dream of reaching out to the entire world. If our fans only knew how much we love and appreciate their comments and support, and the vital role they play in keeping us motivated and inspired... wow!

The Release Party

So, for being slept on locally [for the most part] and with no centralized fan base, a “record release party” [in its traditional sense] is not something we considered suitable for us at this time. Instead, we decided to plan out a full-blown camping trip with dozens of our closest friends [I haven’t called all of you yet, so don’t be mad at me already :D].

The location will be near a lake that has been formed upon an actual volcano crater, at 11,000 feet elevation [so this is no public campsite… pure wilderness with mountain lions and everything]… and the only way to get up there is by Jeeps, Hummers, and 4-Runners… otherwise, forget it! :D A place where the snowcaps never melt; and the temperatures drop about 30 degrees by simply moving under the shade of a tree! Average daily climates around that time of year are 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Barbeques, brews and whatever else, for 2 nights and 3 days, in one of the most beautiful [rarely visited] sites in California.

Peace!

UP Speaks on Musical Sound Quality

2011-02-21T11:39:00.000-08:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

Musical Sound Quality

I have been a lover of music ever since I can remember [same as most of you out there]. But it was not until I started getting into writing and recording music [as a lyricist/recording artist], that I began to think about the notion of “sound quality”. As most of you might agree, there is almost always a noticeable difference between the overall recording quality of known, famous, mainstream or whatever artists… and ones that are up-and-coming, unknown, low budget, local and whatever else… sort of artists.

In this case, although we may be discussing the idea of “sound”, I personally have understood and explained this dilemma in a “visual” way: Consider the difference between the visual quality of a motion picture film, and that of a sitcom or soap opera. Notice how a motion picture film has a distant, grainy, sort of quality that makes it what it is—and notice how a sitcom or soap opera has a close, clean and glossy look, as if captured with a HD handheld camcorder, giving it that cheap homemade look.

Well, for decades I was on a quest to find that motion picture look when it came to my own sound quality. Having talked to a number of DJ’s and producers, the only answer I ever got was something in the line of “… major recording artists have access to million dollar studio equipment” or “… the original recording has to go through some long and complex filtration process to bring it to that industry standard sound quality you may be looking for” and all kinds of other stuff.

In feeling more and more hopeless, to the point of wanting to give up on recording all together, I had the pleasure of speaking to a talented DJ/Producer [who also happens to be a very close and dear friend of mine] about all this. His reply to me was in this exact quote: “… it’s never about how expensive your equipment is… it’s all about having the right equipment, and what you can do with them.” He also went on further to explain that the “style of hip hop sound” we were into required certain equipment that would get the job done [but that it would be totally up to our own imagination, talent, and effort to bring it to that level].

Based on my friend’s suggestion, it was not until Eksperiens and I built our own studio, and began recording our own sound that everything changed. During this experimental process, it did not take long for both of us to realize that the quest for that “industry standard” sound had come to an end. In a relatively short amount of time, we noticed that with the correct writing ability, vocal delivery, delay, reverb, and track mixing on our part, yet with the right equipment, that “million dollar studio sound” had gradually laid in the palms of our own hands :)

Not long after this, Eksperiens also began to take interest in producing our own beats… which then naturally led to the entire recording and mixing process of our songs. We are now able to put our own ideas together, and Eksperiens executes these ideas in almost an effortless fashion [as he is now my favorite producer/engineer] :) What a blessing!

Our Current Sound Quality

Throughout this five-year-long journey of ours, Eksperiens and I have come to a certain agreement towards the overall sound quality of our music [especially regarding our upcoming debut album]. Even though we now have the ability to produce “industry standard” quality of music, we have come to the realization that just about 50% raw and homemade quality [in contrast to the motion picture quality] is still required to make our music sound the way we want. In other words, our particular type of music requires a 50% “garage-band” sort of element [for lack of a better word] to live to its fullest potential. Hence, the 50% refers to the degree of quality for each track, and not the number of tracks on the record. This is perhaps something that the listener [especially music critics] will notice throughout the entire composition. Furthermore, they may also notice that not all the songs on the album were produced with the same sound quality, as if each song was recorded in a completely different environment; yet all gathered together to form a compilation record—that is exactly the point! This allows each song to maintain its own integrity to its own particular mood that it yearns to portray, rather than having to conform to the quality of every other song on the record.

Update on Lost In Transition

The album is now recorded and going through the final mixing process! I will keep everyone updated during each step towards the release :) Thanks guys!

Pre-Debut Video Track Releases: Side-Note

2011-02-12T21:58:00.000-08:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

Every once in a while we get inspired enough to write and produce an entire song in merely a few hours. Then, we slap everything together real quick and release the track exclusively on YouTube just for the fun of it [we love and appreciate comments more than anything] :) Thus far, all the tracks we have released on YouTube are of this nature. It is also true that, some of these tracks will be re-released on the album, in their properly mixed, mastered, and enhanced versions.

Furthermore, some songs have even gone through complete makeovers. For example, our verses for “As a Child Growing Up” have since been re-recorded; and the original instrumental for “Dark Road” has completely transformed into something with more of a jazzy feel; and the original instrumental for “Requiem” has also changed into a much heavier/deeper felt beat. The new versions of these songs will only be released on the debut and available for digital distribution worldwide.

So, the current [pre-debut] versions of our songs [as posted on YouTube] are by no means official—they are 2-3 hour rough drafts towards the final product ;)

Lost In Transition Digital Release

2011-02-08T14:41:00.000-08:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

As we get closer and closer to the completion of “Lost In Transition”, an overwhelming combination of excitement and anxiety has started to creep in for both of us. Perhaps, the excitement has to do with the sheer excitement of bringing this 5-year-long project to its closure; and the anxiety seems to have much to do with meeting the deadlines as set forth by ourselves.

Another issue we have come across has to do with the number of tracks predicted for the album vs. the 80 minute duration of a physical CD. If we had only decided on releasing the album in digital format, then the number of tracks for the release would not have been relevant. However, since the release of a physical CD has been planned as a follow-up to the official digital release, a number of tracks might not make the cut for the album :( This really sucks! But knowing us, we cannot hold back on anything, so perhaps these [left-over] tracks will be released and available for download at some point… yet separate from the album.

As mentioned before, feature artists on this album will include: Canibus, Rasco, Juice, Eternia, St.Laz, Opium, Influence, Papyrus, Donnunaki, Q.Yada, Shylock, and AudioInklined.

Thus far, we have exclusively leaked a couple of beta tracks [not yet mixed and mastered] on YouTube: “Die Rhyma” and “Fading Hearts” just for the pleasure of our dear fans… I mean, why not? :) You can leave your comments on our label’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/benningtonvibes and add us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/undergroundparliamentmusic

More updates to come as we progress and see this project to its completion.

An Update on the Title and Release of Debut Album

2010-11-21T21:48:00.000-08:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

Title

After months of deliberation, both Eksperiens and I made our final decision to call the debut album “Lost In Transition”. This came about from our numerous conversations on not just the current state of hip hop, but the status of all contemporary genres of music at large. We both believe that western music in general has been in the process of overcoming a strange but major transitional process for the past ten or so years… especially hip hop! Where it is going, or what it will become, we have no clue.

Undeniably however, more and more listeners have become aware of the fact that, most music of any genre sounds just about the same now-a-days; to the point where one artist or band is not really distinguishable from another. As dope, and as awesome, and as talented as they may be, not many artists possess their own signature sound anymore. To us, this appears as a symptom of a major change that lies ahead of the current state of music. The title “Lost In Transition” is a sort of statement about all this.

Since the album is being released right in the midst of this transition process, and since the musical content of the album is a blend of various themes and styles of underground, old-school, new-school, mainstream, and whatever else, it stands on it’s own as a lost, but original hip hop sound, that is like no other! In short, this album finds its originality in its own state of being lost.

Tentative Schedule

The current plan is to complete all recordings before the end of December 2010. All songs will be mixed down, copyrighted, published, and distributed to numerous online retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, Napster, and a few others during the month of February 2011. March 2011 will consist of photo shoots and completing the album art. Thus far, we have set forth April 1, 2011 as the tentative release date for the album [if all goes as planned]. More updates coming soon…

Underground Parliament Speaks on the Upcoming Album

2010-10-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

By Minus 1 and Eksperiens of Underground Parliament

So, what’s new with Underground Parliament?

[Minus 1]: Well, at the time being for the most part, we’ve been putting the final touches on the album. We’re still waiting for a few feature verses to come in… got a lot of nice treats on the album… be on the lookout for that. Another reason I can easily say why it’s been taking so long is because both, Eksperiens and I are a couple of perfectionists. When it comes to mixing, production, post-production, mastering, you name it, basically, we like to get everything exact and on point. That’s another reason why it’s been taking us a while… for the album to come out. But it’s on its way.

Who can we expect to be featured on the album?

[Eksperiens]: There’s going to be a few kats on the album. A few collaborations… featuring Eternia, she is a female emcee from Canada, the dopest female emcee you’ve ever heard… she’s really nice on the mic. We’ve got another joint called Street Runner that’s going to feature Opium and St.Laz from New Industry. We’re working on a track with Cali Agents… almost done. Another feature… just recently… that’s pretty much finished… needs to be polished or what not is the one with Canibus. Also, another joint basically with the whole squad, local kats, pretty much people we know and hang out with… they cause some verbal assaults too… they’re pretty phat. So the album is going to have quite a few treats for, you know… all hip hop fans and hip hop junkies.

Who is producing the album?

[Minus 1]: Well, this album is fully produced by ourselves [Underground Parliament]. As far as the ideas, themes, lyrics, the entire imaginary process behind the project is basically, you know… Eksperiens and Minus 1. And when it comes to the instrumentals, mixing, post-production work, and overseeing the entire project, it’s been no other than Eksperiens himself. He oversees everything and is the executive producer of the album, and all other tracks that will be released outside the album as well.

How and when will the album be released?

[Eksperiens]: We’re planning to release the album sometime in 2011. It will be digitally distributed through iTunes, Amazon, Walmart, Target, and a few other major retailers and distributors. There are a few other recordings to be finished, and polished, but other than that the album is mostly done. After that, all we really have to do is to go through the legal process of copyrighting and you know… stuff like that. And so for that reason, we can’t really set an exact date on it. But as soon as we get closer to the release date, we will definitely keep you guys posted. Kind of anticipate on releasing it right around tax season when people get their tax returns, so you can treat yourself to the album. There are a few other projects aside from the album that we’ve been working on, which might actually appear on the album. One of which is called Supernature. We're going through the process of submitting it for the Transformers 3 Soundtrack. This was initially just another track to be worked on along with a couple of throwaway lyrics; but then one thing led to another, and the rest is history. If you guys hear this track, you’ll notice how it’s got Transformers written all over it. And so we just decided to give it a shot and a… try to get that red carpet treatment [haha…].

A Q&A With Underground Parliament

2010-09-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

How did you come up with this name?

For us, the term "underground" has a slightly different meaning than how it is popularly used today. The term refers back to a time when hip hop music [at large] was considered "underground music" due to no radio play... the time when no emcee was allowed to grab a mic, unless if handed to by the dj... the time when more than one's reputation was at stake for coming wack on the mic... for us, the term does not mean something in the way of "anti-mainstream-ism", but rather, a reflection back towards the foundation of the culture in its early movements. The term "parliament" in itself refers to a national representative body having supreme legislative powers within the state. For us it simply means a collective body having supreme legislative powers over its own music. In short, no one can dictate the terms on how our music should be made... we do everything our own way, on our own terms!

How, do you think, does the internet [or mp3] change the music industry?

With the internet at hand, we now have the opportunity to promote and distribute our music across the globe without any help from major labels and/or promoters.

Would you ever sign to a major label?

Most likely not. Too many major labels try to dictate the terms on what your music should sound like... not to mention placing artists under various scrutinizing legal contracts! We make music based on our own taste, skill, and knowledge, and no amount of money or fame could ever change that about us. We favor pleasure over business, and art over all else! If people feel our music to the point of fame and fortune, then so be it, and if not, then we just didn't get lucky... that's all! But then again, this would depend on the circumstances at hand, and the overall terms of the contract...

What are your musical influences?

We are influenced by all genres of music, but hip hop is what we make best!

Where do you consider home?

Well, in retrospect to our migratory upbringing; we truly do not have a particular city, state, province, country, or continent that we call home. In fact, the universal sound of our music has a lot to do with this fact…

The Symbol

What does the outer circle represent?

The circle is a representation of a cipher surrounding an action packed emcee battle. It also represents a self-contained world in which day to day human battles take place. Furthermore, it signifies the confinement of human artistry within the forces of censorship and mass media.

What about the content?

The content reflects an italicized version of the letters U and P, as they stand symmetrical towards one another in shaping Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. The UP symmetry is an expression of two self-same individuals sharing one exact vision, as defined by the circular dot in between. The dot also forms the head of the Vitruvian Man.

Any other way to look at the symbol?

From a top-3-dimentional-standpoint, the Vitruvian Man stands tall and free with open arms, while his feet are deeply planted in the surface of the circle.

So, what is the overall meaning of the symbol?

The overall meaning of the symbol is open for deeper interpretation through one’s own imagination.

The Making of Stuck Off the Realness Video [Exclusive]

2010-09-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

By Minus 1 of Underground Parliament

Hey there folks!

The official video for Stuck off the Realness was shot in San Francisco, CA, USA. This was an independent effort by Eksperiens and I [Minus 1]; and the entire thing was taken in a matter of 5 to 6 hours [tops].

The people in the video were not part of the act and were randomly caught in real life... and there were no rehearsals or 2nd takes conducted on any of our parts.

I captured Eksperiens’ verse with the camera in one hand, and the boom box [blasting] in the other, facing him while I walked backwards and him towards me. And he did the same for me [vice-versa]. We used a tripod for the scenes with both of us in them.

The turntable scene was captured in a local DJ’s basement. The funny thing is, I forgot to take with me the Mobb Deep record for the hook, and had to use an Akbar record instead… how cool is that? ;)

For the multiple scenes, we took turns and changed clothes in Eksperiens’ car while it was parked on the side of Market Street... btw, we also got slapped with a $70 parking ticket, courtesy of SFPD :(