FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bay Area Label Hard Knock Records exposes another side of the Hyphy Movement.

May 15, 2006 (Oakland, CA) The Oakland based indie label will bring another dimension to the hyphy movement with the release of two groundbreaking records this summer: The first release, SpreadtheWord is by one of the Bay’s premier spoken word poet and MC, Ise Lyfe. His new politically- charged, soulful LP brings a much needed undertone of social awareness and responsibility to the Hyphy movement. The second release is by a Bay Area based veteran MC Rico Pabon’s (formerly of the hip-hop group Profits of Rage) solo project Louder than Fiction.

 “People who try and separate the hyphy movement from the bays underground movement are not taking into account that both movements are a manifestation of struggle, pride and a rebellion against a system that doesn’t acknowledge our voice,” explains Nick Huff, label CEO and co-founder. “Ise and Rico’s music is cut from the same cloth of struggle, survival, beauty, and rebellion that has spawned this cultural phenomenon.”

Huff has been in the trenches for sometime. While gaining experience in promotions and marketing at Sony Music in Los Angeles in 2001, Huff was also building his label. In 2003, he released the first and critically acclaimed Hard Knock Records release, “What About Us?,” one of the first compilations to speak out against the war in Iraq and the ramifications it would have on our communities.  The compilation not only gained acclaim for the quality of the music but also for putting on artists that at the time weren’t know for their conscious lyrics such as The Frontline, Bosko and The Piper. In 2005, Huff left his 9 to 5 at Sony to dedicate all of his time and energy to his label.

“My experience at a major label was eye opening,” admits Huff, “I learned a great deal about the business side, but I also saw firsthand how limiting it can be for an artist when the bottom line comes before artistic and creative expression.”

“Hard Knock Records is a great addition to the Hyphy craze out here,” states Hip Hop Legend Davey D.  “The bay has always been home to political labels and artists, like Paris, The Coup, Franti, Zion I and Jello Biafra to name a few”