Untitled

Let the light guide you towards the beard.

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:24:46 -0400

Let the light guide you towards the beard.

88tillinfinityy: Conquering in the Snow: Educated Consumers...

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:04:24 -0400

Conquering in the Snow: Educated Consumers Interview

88 has had the opportunity to have a one-on-one interview with lyricist Seez Mics from the rap duo Educated Consumers who have just released a new album earlier this year called “Winning Winter”

When we voyaged into new millennium, there emerged Educated Consumers: a hip-hop duo composed of beats that can be identified as, as Q-Tip put it, “with a kick, snare, kicks and high hat/ skilled in that trade of the old boom bap”, produced by Jay Bombbeat, and lyrics that closely observe the internal and external worlds of individuals and society, written and delivered by Seez Mics.

Seez Mics is a cool and funny dude with a lot of insights to share on how Educated Consumers first started back in 2000, how they have progressed, Seez’s influences, and the story behind their album “Winning Winter”, take a look.

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88: How did Educated Consumers come to be in this vast, infinite universe?

Seez Mics: I had made a name for myself in the D.C. scene starting in 1997. I did well in battles, open mics, and performing with a group. A big part of the scene back then was record collectors, affectionately known as “diggers” because they would dig in crates for records to sample. Jason was a well known party DJ and digger, so a mutual friend introduced us on the strength of our individual reps and what he thought we’d be able to accomplish together. I was in college when Jason and I met, and college radio was my first exposure to independent rap acts like Atmosphere, Freestyle Fellowship, etc. I dubbed Jason and I Educated Consumers based on the idea of indie/DIY genres, specifically when it came to rap.

88: Atmosphere and Freestyle Fellowship were some of the first indie rap acts you’ve encountered. What are some other acts and did these initial encounters influence you as an artist? If so, would you care to elaborate?

Seez Mics: Well, I’m 33, so my adolescent years were right on the cusp of the digital age taking over. The explosion of the internet made a DIY approach to creating and disseminating music much easier. When I was 16, I started going to open mics and cyphers in DC. All the people I looked up to were a bit older than me and still used the older techniques of marketing and promotion, so I learned a lot about the spirit of rap while seeing how hard you have to work in order to make any kind of money from it. Then, I started getting involved in the indie scene and the digital revolution made it… I guess easier isn’t the word, but it was just this new thing that the “masters” hadn’t figure dout how to manipulate yet, so an artist with integrity and drive could make money from it. I was a big Atmosphere fan and my crew opened for them when they played at my college in 2001. I was taken aback by how ar-tight their merch game was, that they had a tour manager, that the whole thing was videotaped, and to top it off, Slug was a very cordial person. I also met Eyedea & Abilities that night and it was the same thing: they handle the art and be nice to the fans, the manager handles the money. It was my first exposure to a well-oiled machine. This other MC at the show said, “We’re just as talented as them, why aren’t we touring?” And it clicked for me: talent only goes so far, it has to be paired with equally driven and smart business.

Read the rest of the interview here.

Thanks to the hard work from Double J of Foundation Media and...

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:28:58 -0400

Thanks to the hard work from Double J of Foundation Media and the good people at Crushkill Recordings, the title track from our most recent album “Winning Winter” peaked at #1 on indie rap’s two most significant charts: issue #523 of RapAttackLives.com and the May 14, 2012 Record Breakers chart.

The singles from “Aisle 2″, “Write/Hear”, and “Hello Big Mama” all achieved success on the CMJ charts, and we are proud to say that the momentum built from those records has snowballed (GET IT!?!?) into our first #1 single.

As always, you can hear and purchase the #1 record of all time “Winning Winter” from our Bandcamp page or MichealLarsen.com and please spread the word!

Educated Consumers. Busdriver. What better way to cap off...

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:30:33 -0400

Educated Consumers.

Busdriver.

What better way to cap off Memorial Day weekend?

No seriously, if you think of a better way just tell us and we’ll ruin any chance of it happening so you’ll come to the show.

Music videos, live performance footage, and prank calls. Just...

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:25:25 -0400

Music videos, live performance footage, and prank calls. Just like god intended it.

Seez Mics of Educated Consumers will be performing a song at the...

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:01:00 -0400

Seez Mics of Educated Consumers will be performing a song at the Def Jam tribute May 12 @ Lincoln Theater.

FB invite :http://on.fb.me/DefJam25DC
Tix: http://bit.ly/DefJamTix

The good Seez giveth candy unto the children.

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:32:27 -0400

The good Seez giveth candy unto the children.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:05:41 -0400

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

When I was 14, I got a job so I could buy food. My favorite...

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:56:50 -0400

When I was 14, I got a job so I could buy food.

My favorite place to buy food from was a sub shop across the street from the grocery store where I worked.

I ate so many cold cut subs that they briefly changed the name to the Cole Cut.

Seriously.

Head life coach.

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:43:12 -0400

Head life coach.

Seez Mics poetry book “easier dead than numb” is...

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:45:54 -0400

Seez Mics poetry book “easier dead than numb” is available here:
http://tinyurl.com/SFReasierdeadthannumb

The new Educated Consumers album “Winning Winter” is...

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:21:49 -0400

The new Educated Consumers album “Winning Winter” is available via Crushkill Recordings here: http://tinyurl.com/WinningWinter

The Waiting Room - Educated Consumers

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:14:03 -0400

The Waiting Room - Educated Consumers

Write/Hear - Educated Consumers

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:11:31 -0400

Write/Hear - Educated Consumers

Hello Big Mama - Educated Consumers

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:11:00 -0400

Hello Big Mama - Educated Consumers

Educated Consumers - Seez Mics and J Bombbeat

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:09:52 -0400

Educated Consumers - Seez Mics and J Bombbeat