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While most of today's artists choose style over substance, the music of
A-Alikes represents the everyday struggles of Black and Brown youth in
Amerikkka's ghettos. A-Alikes means people of like minds and
experiences, studying and learning life together - "A-Alikes be-Alike
and see Alike." This perfectly describes Illuminessence "Ness" (a/k/a
"P. Red") and Karaam (a/k/a "A-Black"). Comrades since 1996, they share
the same vision. Their music is a tool to spark Black Revolution;
socially, politically and economically.
Ness and K's musical and personal influences have shaped the diverse
A-Alikes sound. From hip hop greats (Tupac Shakur, Wu-Tang, Rakim, Kool
G. Rap & Notorious B.I.G.) to revolutionaries (Malcolm X, Huey P.
Newton, & Assata Shakur) their music is the latest development in a
long line of classic hip-hop. Groups like this only come around once
every few years.
A-Alikes are creating a serious buzz in the music industry. Their first
independent single "Walk With A Bop" was a hit in England. It gained
heavy rotation for both the song and video. In March 2003, they gained
international exposure by being selected in The Source Magazine's
highly respected Unsigned Hype column (for the best unsigned hip-hop
acts). The duo followed up that success by dropping the Unsigned Hype
Mix CD. Hosted by DJ Butta, and featuring dead prez, it has sold over
5,000 units.
In the Summer of 2003, A-Alikes were featured on New York's popular
Future Flavors radio show hosted by hip-hop legends Marley Marl and
Pete Rock on Power 105.1 FM. As members of People Army/RBG, this
talented duo have traveled and performed extensively individually and
together with their comrades dead prez on Lyricist Lounge Tour 2003
(featuring Killa Mike and Youngbloodz), as well as opening for the
R.B.G. shows.
Always on the grind, A-Alikes unleashed several projects in 2004. They
kicked off the year by releasing the adrenaline pumping 12" single,
"F.T.P." on Sure Shot Recordings. It was accompanied by a raw music
video. "F.T.P." received major love from the college radio DJ circuit.
A-Alikes stirred up the streets again with their independent CD, Live
Or Die which was released in the US & overseas.
Live or Die was featured in The Source Magazine "Tale of The Tape"
(June 2004) for one the best independent CDs of the month. Live or Die
was "Album of the Month" in Germany's BackSpin Magazine. They were also
featured in the following: Blow! DVD Magazine, XXL, The Ave Magazine,
Allhiphop.com, Europe's Blues And Soul Magazine and Trace.
The videos for "We Got Room", "F.T.P.", "So Good" received heavy
rotation on MTV Europe and Channel U. They ripped down the stage in
Toronto, Canada at the Hip-Hop Unity Fest 2004 along with Jeru Da
Damaja, CL Smooth and Royce The 59".
Live Or Die was the first release from their start-up label, Guerilla
Nation. Guerilla Nation is an outlet for A-Alikes and their comrades to
keep spreading the seed; furthering the movement. Not just limited to
music, these young entrepreneurs are manufacturing their own apparel
and DVDs.
Their street album Guerilla Nation Vol. 1 was released May 2005. It
boasts a number of talented acts such as R.B.G. comrades: M-1 (dead
prez), P.O.W., Tahir, Bang, and N.I.M.R.O.D. The disc also features
Guerilla Nations first signed artist, I.G. Over 4,000 CDs have been
sold nationally. Bringing the heat in Summer 2005, A-Alikes were
featured along with the entire R.B.G collective on the Birth of a
Nation album. This powerful album will set off the RBG movement
worldwide.
A-Alikes electrifyed crowds in 2005 on "Tha Awakening Tour" with: D/R
Period, Pitch Black, Smoothe Da Hustler, K-Cino and other celebrity
guests. The promising duo have current features on www.baghatvinyl.com
and rapreviews.co.uk. They also represent on the upcoming Outlawz and
dead prez mixtape collaboration Can't Sale Dope Forever .The 2006
Ready to take the music industry by storm, Guerilla Nation Records
signed a joint venture deal with Nervous Records in the Spring of 2005.
Nervous Records, once the home of legendary acts such as Black Moon,
Smif-N-Wessun and Funkmaster Flex, plan to shake up the game with the
A-Alikes. The new album I Eat U Eat will be released in April of 2006.
This ground breaking project shall features RBG-affiliated acts and
production by: D/R Period, Black Jeruz (G-Unit), Saukretes, stic.man
(dead prez), Tahir, to mention a few.
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