Although hip-hop has become a family friendly phenomenon in the last ten years, it still delivers its fair share of controversy. The latest example of this being The East Coast Avengers (ECA), an underground hip hop group that is speaking out against right wing conservative news in a bold manner.
They have proved to become the 2008 version of NWA with their marquee single, “Kill Bill O’Reilly”.
The song, which calls for Fox News to stop broadcasting altogether and for Bill O’Reilly to be executed, has been applauded by the hip hop community, condemned by the “right-wing blogoshere” and has gotten the ECA a spot in Keith Olbermann’s “Worst Person in the World” TV segment.
“We may hate the guy, but we don’t actually want to kill Bill O’Reilly,” says ECA emcee Trademark. “Anyone that thinks that is completely missing the point of what we are saying. Our message may be strong and may shock certain people, but we are saying what we believe. People are blind to the pollution in our news and media. Bill O’Reilly is a prime example of that. At one time he was a real reporter that covered the fall of the Berlin Wall and several other important world events. Now he just transmits propaganda. That has to stop.”
In October of 2008 the ECA released their first album, titled Prison Planet. In addition to the O’Reilly song, the album contains tracks that express complete disdain for the American Government (“Worst Things First”) and a vision of a government- plotted assassination of President Obama (“The Day Hope Died”).
If you separate the controversy from the ECA you are left with a solid group of artists. All the members of the ECA are accomplished and respected members of the hip hop community: Esoteric is one-half of the cult group 7L and Esoteric, Trademarc is the cousin of WWE wrestler John Cena, and helped make Cena’s theme song and DC the MIDI Alien is a talent responsible for producing ECA and several other New England groups (Army of the Pharaohs, Granite State, Akrobatik, and Terminology).
When you push past the lyrics and themes of Prison Planet, you hear high caliber intelligent rhymes backed by ear thumping beats. That is what makes the ECA so interesting. They have a tremendous amount of talent, and if they toned down their messages, they would undoubtedly gain much more popular acclaim. They might even get a deal with a major record label. However, that is just the opposite of what they want.
“I worked on the John Cena track at a major studio,” says Trademarc, “ and I have to say that I didn’t like it very much because we were very restricted in what we could say. I much prefer working with our current label (Brick) because we have the freedom to do what we want.”
Unlike most projects that are formed by pre-existing artists, the ECA is not calling it quits after one album. As a matter of fact, they are just getting started.
“We are planning at least two more albums, and are about to get into our second pretty soon,” states Trademarc. “ We are doing it with a hip-hop legend that will definitely blow people away. The theme of record will be focused on speaking out against organized religion. That establishment has been dividing people for too long.”
That should ease the anger and outrage of the “right wing blogosphere.”
For all you left-wingers and revolutionaries out there, the ECA is just up your alley. They provide the perfect soundtrack to your plotting moments reform and revolution. But even if you voted for Bush, come from the South or flat out don’t like controversial topics, with one listen to Prison Planet you won’t be able to deny the talent and ability that this trio possesses.
Be sure to check the album and upcoming tour dates here.
