“These songs are a representation of how you feel when you take time off from your job, specifically in the summer”, Reid said. “The sun is shining, people are out, and you feel good when you wake up in the morning minus all the bulls**t.  Of course it’s even better when those days fall on payday, because you can then get started with a little more money in your pocket.”

Omari “Oman” Sanders, the label's Co-Executive Producer, said that listeners will be impressed with the music selection and anticipate the selected releases each month. "Thad Reid epitomizes the everyday person," Sanders said. "Everyday people typically work hard, get paid every two weeks and live for the weekend. This series is a tribute to the common man and woman who isn't always recognized."
 
Thad Reid -- who first gained national attention with well known underground hip-hop artist Doujah Raze, has been on a tear recently with his critically acclaimed single, “The Reason” which reached #3 on the grassroots/mix show radio charts and prompted Jango.com to list Reid as one of their top emerging artists in their “Airplay” marketing campaign.  Aside from a massive 25,000 downloads of his recent digital releases, the self proclaimed “Voice of the Commonwealth” has been featured in a wide array of online outlets, including DJBooth.net, Allhiphop.com, KevinNottingham.com, Strivin.com, Gigacrate.com, HipHopupdate.com, HipHopchronicle.com, WYDUblog.com and ABC Radio Network’s Fame Games’ MeerMusic.com.

http://www.hip-hopkings.com/2009/05/thad-reid-inte...

Hip-Hop Kings Interview!

Since my other favorite thing besides music is sports, I thought I'd comment on this "epidemic".

First of all, let me start by saying that I don't watch a lot of baseball.  I  tend to watch the bulk of it near the end of the season, and of course the post-season.  I do however, watch a lot of Sportscenter so it keeps me abreast of what's going on in the sport.  Unless you've been stuck in your closet, you have already heard about A-Rod and his latest fiasco.

I said a long time ago that I figured ALOT of players were using performance enhancing drugs in baseball during the time frame in which the league was trying to re-establish itself after the lockout.  I mean hell, they weren't even testing for it.  It would be foolish to think that someone could put on 30-35lbs of pure muscle in a 4-5 month time frame, and not be helped by something.  Of course people saw this coming.  Baseball DEFINITELY saw it.  But hey, as long as players were hitting home runs and putting fans back in the stands, it really didn't matter to them.

Due to the overwhelming amount of players that were using steroids at the time, I don't think we should persecute A-Rod, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds or any of those players for doing what they did.  I mean if the rest of the league is juiced up and I'm not, then how is that fair?  They just did what they had to do because frankly, I think it was "league standard".

So my argument is this...If Roger Clemens is juiced and he's pitching against Barry Bonds who is juiced and Barry hits a homerun, then in an EVEN competition Barry got the best of Roger.  Neither one has a sizeable advantage because they are both playing on a "level playing field".  Keep in mind that there are things that HGH cannot improve.  Batspeed and hand-eye coordination are two.  Both part of which is a skill set.  Something you either develop or just have naturally.  Now if Clemens is pitching against Barry and one is juiced and the other is not, then we have a problem.

Look at it in another way.  If you are playing a video game on expert and your boy is playing on easy, than its obvious who's gonna win the battle.  But if you're both playing on expert, then whoever has the best skillset is gonna get the win.  Same thing here.  Yea, it was technically illegal, but everybody else is on easy so why not move up and make things even.  A-Rod and Barry are great players.  Though Barry's career is virtually over, A-Rod will remain a great player for years to come. He still has the skill set.  Now that everybody is back on expert, he will prove that. I respect the man for coming out and telling the truth.  At least give him that.  Roger Clemens lied about it and still is.  Mark Mcgwire plead the fifth.  As for Barry, I like him as a player so anything I say will be biased but I will say that he knew what was going on.  He just filtered the truth, lol.

Bottom line is that baseball will probably never recover from this.  This whole notion of "America's game"  is B.S.  America's game is football, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.  Even the NBA is back.  So let's  just these guys do what they do and see what they can do on the expert level.

Reid

Read it Here:

http://kevinnottingham.com/myblog/2009/02/04/get-t...

"The Reason" #2 most added song in grassroots radio!

http://www.rapattacklives.com/charts_361.htm

Check out my latest feature what people are saying about my latest single on DJBooth.net!

http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/thad-reid-the-reason/

WPGC 95.5's DJ Heat has dropped her latest project "DC Mumbo Sauce Mixtape Vol. 3" featuring yours truly!  This tape also has some of DC's best up and coming artist so click below to download and help support independent music!

http://www.zshare.net/download/50975334b6562380/

Check out my feature on DJ Booth.net:

First a little background...

Since the birth of hip-hop, audiences everywhere have entrusted DJs with providing the soundtrack to their lives. Unfortunately, the legacy of the DJ has been lost in the digital world – that's why we've created DJBooth.net, your online DJ. We're dedicated to bringing together a global community of users united around a common passion, the music we all love.

Link to feature
http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/thad-reid-ft-akshan-cruzin/

Rapattacklives.com, Issue 326  Top 30

    

10 1 ALL NATURAL The All All Natural Inc   

 7 2 THAD REID They Don't Like Me FTP Records   

 9 3 CAEN PROJECT Main Concern Caen Project   

 4 4 ARASH Rise SoFull Ent.   

 11 5 BEKAY I'm The Reason CoalMine   

 12 6 GURU Jazzy Ways 7 Grande   

 14 7 FOUL MOUTH JERK F/ MASTA ACE Small Town USA GFE Music   

 17 8 MEKKA DON U Know Mekka Don M.O.V.E. Records   

 24 9 STATIK SELEKTAH 6 In The Morning Show Off / Brick   

 13 10 MAJOR LEAGUE F/STREETS BUCHANNON Fly With The Time EP/NewRealm Records     

 18 11 TRUTH UNIVERSAL Work Dragon's Breath   

 19 12 KID CUDI Day N Night Fool's Gold   

 26 13 LUPE FIASCO Hip-Hop Saved My Life  Atlantic Records   

 NEW 14 ORBITRON F/GEOLOGIC (BLUE SCHOLARS) Freedom Song BeaconSkillz   

 15 15 ONE PHAM Hustelen Fa Sho Records   

 16 16 SUSPENS F/BOY LEED & KAR-LETHAL BRIGANTE' Lord Forgive Em Suspens Recording   

 NEW 17 9TH WONDER & BUCKSHOT F/ TALIB & TYLER WOODS Hold It Down Duck Down   

 23 18 ATMOSPHERE Shoulda Known Rhymesayers   

 1 19 BRAILLE The IV Syntax   

 21 20 KASH ADDICTZ F/ SCARFACE We Connected Kash Addictz Records   

 20 21 J BANKS    Touch It    Blac Note   

 27 22 RAS CEYLON Betta B Ready Throwback Records   

 2 23 KIDZ IN THE HALL Drivin Down The Block ML/Duck Down   

 8 24 TORAE Somethin' To See Internal Affairs / Soulspasm   

 30 25 SULLEE Today Old South End Records   

 NEW 26 SNEAKY PETE U Don't Know ConfidentChill Records   

 NEW 27 MC ESOTERIC God Less Fly Casual   

 28 28 PLANTLIFE Lovetoy Decon   

 29 29 MIDKNIGHT My Homegirl Me & My Manz Ent.   

 NEW 30 JOSH BOOTS No Show Sox Arctic Flo

  

 

 

Record Breaker Charts                        April 28, 2008

  

   1, All Natural, The All, All Natural Inc

   2, Thad Reid, They Don't Like Me, FTP Records

   3, CAEN Project, Main Concern, CAEN Project

   4, Arash, Rise, SoFull Ent. 5, Bekay, I'm The Reason, Coalmine

   6, Guru, Jazzy Ways, 7 Grand Records

   7, Foul Mouth Jerk, Small Town USA, GFE Ent.

   8, Aaron LaCrate & Debonair  Samir, Know How Them (Gutter Remix), Delicious

   9, Bizzy Bone, A Song For You, After Platinum10, Truth Universal, Work,

  11, Keelay & Zaire, Cali 2 NY, OM Recordings

  12, Mekka Don, U know Mekka Don, M.O.V.E. Records

  13, Major League, Fly With The Time, New Realm

 14, J Banks, Touch It, Blacnote Records

 15, Kid Cudi, Day N Night, Fools Gold

 16, Statik Selektah, 6 In The Morning, Show Off/Brick Records

 17, Suspens, Lord Forgive Em, Suspens Recordings

 18, Affiliate, Dope Boy For Real, Flophouse

 19, One Pham, Hustlen, Fasho Records

 20, Tableek, Ruff, Vienna Int.

 21, Plantlife, Lovetoy, Decon

 22, Kash Addicts, We Connected, Kash Addicts Records

 23, Lupe Fiasco, Hip Hop Saved My Life, Atlantic Records

 24, J The S, Pump, Greater Good

 25, Midknight, My Homegirl, Me & My Manz Ent.

 26, Ras Ceylon, Betta B Ready, Throwback Records

 27, Orbitron, Freedom Song, BeaconSkillz   

 28, Sneaky Pete, U Don't Know, ConfidentChill Records   

 29, Sullee, Today, Old South End Records

 30, Josh Boots, No Show Sox, Arctic Flow

With a nickname as profound as "The Voice Of The Commonwealth", Thad Reid is sure to offer a lot more than typical lyrics. Born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, this MC has been making music since the age of 17.

In 2006, effected by personal loss, he released his first album "Memorial Day". In 2007 he followed up with the hit single, "Top Of The Heights" which peeked at the 2 spot on college charts.

With drive, grind and support his latest release "No Beat Is Safe 2.7" has dropped and the first single "They Don't Like Me" produced by Ologist, debuted at 18 on the college charts and debuted on grassroots radio as the 1 added song beating out Rakim "It's Nothing" for top honors.

Thad Reid, the "Voice of The Commonwealth", is working to get heard beyond his home state, using lyrics and beats to paint the picture that shows this VA emcee is reaching and finding new heights.

Can you explain more about how you received the nickname "Voice Of The Commonwealth"?

Well "Voice Of The Commonwealth" is a moniker I gave myself that was thought of to represent the diverse class of people that live in the state of Virginia. It's really about the people. Whether if you're in the streets, at a 9-5, into the church, a positive person or a negative person I feel as if everyone is trying to reach a common goal and that is financial stability. That being said, the things that we go through to achieve that goal are pretty remarkable and these stories need to be heard. I'm going to be that voice that gives it to you.

In a time that seems to be "music for money", you have chosen to give your music away for free, why was this choice important to you?

It was important because at the end of the day, I just want to be heard. My main goal right now is to get listeners and because the market is so saturated with garbage, most people are not going to be receptive to purchasing something they barely know anything about. At least if I give it away, I'll have a good chance of getting a spin in the deck or Ipod. The money will come later.

What do you feel makes you stand out the most from other artists in VA?

I would have to say the versatility of the music. When you listen to a Thad Reid project, you're going to get a variety of different styles and tracks. It's basically just a reflection of what we go through as human beings. Nobody is ever the same 24/7. Sometimes we're happy, sometimes we're pissed, sometimes we're sad. We all go through a variety of moods and my music is just a reflection of that.

Your first album in 2006 "Memorial Day" was inspired by a tragic car accident which took the life of two of your friends, is this still something that motivates you when you are working on new music and if so how?

Yeah it definitely still motivates me because it was a turning point in my life. It showed me how quickly things can be taken from you or how quickly you can leave this earth. I definitely think I'm here now for a reason and that alone is motivation enough for me to continue with the music.

Your new single "They Don't Like Me" is in rotation on college stations, debuting at 18 on the college radio charts and you have received support from college radio on your past projects, What is the importance of college radio support to you?

Very important and truth be told, one the most important aspects in my music push. Nobody would even know who Thad Reid was without the support of the college DJs. The response has been incredible and I really appreciate them for their support. Hopefully we can make some things happen in '08.

Was there a specific inspiration for your new single: "They Don't Like Me"?

The inspiration behind "They Don't Like Me" is just flat out haters. The ones who's main goal in life is to demean and minimize any accomplishment that you may receive. The ones with no real life. We should all be able to relate to that. Especially in the black community. Hating is running rampant

The visual promo for the single "They Don't Like Me" features a story board which depicts frames of the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote was that concept yours?

It was actually myself and The Ologist [producer of the track] who came up with the idea. We wanted to do something a little different than the proverbial hard pose and ice grill, so we bounced around some ideas and came to the conclusion that no one was a bigger hater than Wile E. Coyote. Not even Wendy Williams. Ok, maybe that's going a little far [laughs].

Sketch, known best as a battle emcee and Akshan, a reggae artist,(who both hail from your home state of VA) are featured on several tracks with you on you latest release "No Beat Is Safe 2.7", how did you link up with these two very diverse artists?

Well I've known Akshan for over 10 years and he's a real good friend of mine. We link up and do music just off the strength. Sketch was somebody that was introduced to me through a mutual friend. I've known him for a minute too, like 5 or 6 plus years. We had collabed up quite a bit in the past, and the songs always came out real hot. It even got to a point where I was asking him to jump on damn near half my tracks! Eventually we all teamed to do a song and it was basically a wrap. The chemistry was off the chain and we immediately formed FTP.

From your first release "Memorial Day" in 2006 to your current 2008 release "No Beat Is Safe 2.7", what, if anything, has changed about your sound or style?

I would say confidence, swag. Just my overall sound is better. I think before I always went with the safe flow, and my delivery was very hard/aggressive because I wanted to prove a point that I was nice. Now that my swag is right, I experiment with the flow a lot, the delivery is a lot smoother and the lyric game has stepped up. Just an overall better grade of music. In a nutshell I think I just became more comfortable with who I was as an artist.

Who are some of the producers that you worked with on other projects?

I've worked with some very good up and coming producers such as The Ologist ("Memorial Day", "No Beat Is Safe Vol. 2" and "2.7"), B Keyz (upcoming projects), Disko Dave ("Memorial Day", "Top of The Heights"), Storm Elements ("No Beat Is Safe Vol. 2" and "2.7"), Kevlar ("Memorial Day"), Digger from Bring It Back Ent. ("Memorial Day"), Eso Teriq ("2.7"), Solo D (upcoming projects) and E-Minah (upcoming projects) to name a few.

Who are some of your musical icons or inspirations?

It's a combination of greats and current artists that's out right now. B.I.G., Jay-Z, Pac, Redman, Nas, Big L, 50 Cent, Young Jeezy, T.I... I even gotta throw my man Devin in there. Basically, the guys who make me want to go out and make good, timeless Hip-Hop music.

Who are 3 artists you want to work with, that you haven't yet?

That's a tough one but if I had to narrow it down to 3. I would go with Kanye West, Pharrell and Devin The Dude, big fan of his music.

For an up and coming producers who might want to submit beats to you, is there anything specific you look for? Or stay away from?

Generally I like beats with a lot of instrumentation, melody, change-ups. I don't want something that's just a loop and drums. Produce the track. If it's a sample chop it up and add some elements to it. Give me a bass line or something. And for real it doesn't matter what style it is because if it..s hot, I can work with it.

If someone could only get the chance to hear one record that you have done, which would you pick to have them listen to? And why?

I would have to say "Ups And Downs" because in my opinion it..s my most complete song. The concept was hot, the rapping was hot, the singing, the beat, the sequence. It just all came together perfectly. But let me add that the second record I would have them listen to is "They Don't Like Me". Matter of fact, that just happens to be my new single. Y..all should go get it, it..s free.

Give us 5 adjectives that you feel best describe your music?

I would have to say meaningful, versatile, polished, laid back and just flat out good.

- By So Sincere