Artist: Introspect
Title: Reflect
Year: 2006Reflect CD1) Reflect 2) HHI Pt.1 (interlude) 3) Introspect 4) Recognize 5) The Sacrifice (ft. Rebeca Valdez) 6) Switch Lanes 7) Gotta Be (ft. Jenna G) 8) HHI Pt.2 (interlude) 9) 52 Cards 10) Windy Day 11) Bruce Portego Skit 1 12) You & I (ft. Robyn Newman) 13) Bruce Portego Skit 2 14) Battlegrounds 15) Bounce 16) HHI Pt. 3 (interlude) 17) Soldiers Composition (ft. iQ - Introspect, GQ stylez, iNA, Punjaican) 18) Goes Around Comes Around (ft. Robyn Newman, Khalel) BONUS TRACKS: 19) Hip-Hop-Inomix 20) Gotta Be ft. Jenna G (Acoustic)Click to Purchase Online Introspect "REFLECT" is available @ HMV stores all over Canada.
CD BIO
Introspect / Reflect / March 21, 2006
A reflection throws back light, heat and sound. It refracts the image and reveals the surface of its subject. At times, the content beyond the surface is even more enlightening then the initial image may appear to infer. Stefan Tochev aka Introspect (or Intro) is a new, Canadian, Hip Hop awakening. Creating his talent from pure passion and dedication there are no fallacious smoke and mirrors to Introsskills. His name was given to him based on his reputation to create consistently deliberate and thoughtfully centred rhymes. His content is his core, and not commercially created for any sense of gain. Hip Hop to me is an artistic impression, its a way of life, its a movement.
Predisposed to rhyme from childhood and drawn to Hip Hop as his personal form of expression, Intro has built his music career and his life on intelligence and expression and he has always remained incredibly focused. Now, 24 years old, an honours graduate in Sociology from the University of Guelph and poised to attain his Masters degree, Intro is also concurrently, the 2005 Rhythm of The Future Talent Search winner (for song, The Sacrifice). 91.5 The Beat sponsored the event, and the win snagged Intro20$k in recording time which he used to help craft his debut full length album, Reflect set to drop in Canada on March 14, 2006 via Addictive Records/Fontana North (formerly Maple Music)/Universal Music Canada. He has also held the ..1 ranking on goldmic.com as battle champion retaining back-to-back tournament wins. His name and reputation yield limitless praise from various internet postings, to Ian Steaman, former GM of Tommy Boy Musics Urban division who declared; "Stefan, I've been playing this CD on repeat for the last couple of weeks and I've gotta say that there's a lot of good things to be said about your music"
Intro is still a man and a musician who charts his own path. Flying in the face of what is easily accessible and commercially attainable with most Hip Hop artists, and who would be considered his competition, Intro doesnt waste timing comparing himself to other mcs. Rather, as he focuses on his own goals and ventures and through his level of conscious expression, Intro gives equal respect to women and all races. He also aligns himself with positivity and employs highly intelligent lyrical rhymes in completely unpretentious ways. He never misses an opportunity to challenge stereotypes and construe his point loud and clear. My music brings forth a positive vibe that encourages hard work and determination in order to succeed and achieve. This vibe can be sensed through my voice, lyrics, presence, flow, concepts, delivery and so much more. There isnt enough of that in the music industry today.
The title track of the 20 song strong album, Reflect kicks off The hate is so great, but the love is even greater It is an album-opening freight train of pure flow and emotion from the first note of the acoustic guitar lines. The song grows into a fully orchestrated arrangement and lyrically it doesnt stop to make room for a chorus and doesnt miss having one. It just builds and builds, setting the pace, and the expanse of possibilities for the songs to follow it.
Another track, Recognize, keeps an emphatic orchestrated tempo throughout. Intros lyrics are frenetically paced and are personal freestyle musings on what it takes to get record labels to notice and take a chance on a young struggling artist that doesnt fit the mold of what is considered commercially viable in music today. Intro comments, If I changed myself completely in order to make it in the music industry and didnt it would be a very hard lesson to swallow. But, the Canadian music scene today is so unique; we have many diverse artists (k-os, Kardinal Offishall, Knaan) who bring something new to the table. That is exactly what I am doing with my music bringing something new and fresh.
The Sacrifice (feat. Rebecca Valdez) is the song that wrapped up the competition on 91.5 The Beat for Intro. It is a balanced viewpoint rhyme about the toil success can take on a relationship noting that, ...you gotta make a sacrifice in order to gain something. Winning the 91.5 The Beat competition was a huge gateway of opportunity for Intro, giving him the means, as Intro states himself the vital component to making the album with the $20,000 top prize in studio time. The moment that he heard about the contest Intro knew The Sacrifice would be the song that was going to win it. Still, he waited and finally entered the song in the contest the day before the deadline closed. He made the top 3, then, he took the win. Intro met Rebecca (as well as the other female collaborators on the disc: Jenna G and Robyn Newman) through chance encounters in the studio, but immediately felt connections with each of them regarding the tracks and where the song at hand needed to go.
Aside from the direct and strong lyrical content, unique concepts and vibrant ideas combine with lush orchestration and unparalleled instrumentation to fill out the entire Reflect experience. At one point, a full on, power chord laden guitar riff rips along as Intro fills in the lyric lines. Intro, defies categorization to anyone else making Hip Hop today in Canada or Internationally, and has made an album that demonstrates his ability and strong skills. He tells it like it is, wielding intelligence and instrumental intuition with deft application and announces himself as a true force to contend with, and, that hes not interested in taking any easy path to success. In fact, hes already well on his way to blazing his own. The track 52 Cards is a perfect example of Intros stand out and unique song writing. A hyper-intellectual, lyrical explosion. Its a creation that needs to be heard, to be believed. Then put on repeat. A truly original song concept.
Introis constantly creating, writing and revising. He warehouses hundreds of verses, choruss and creatives just patiently waiting for the proper outlet and way to utilize them. His unlimited capacity for songs and constant creation is likely one of the reasons Intro showcased an unprecedented 20 tracks on his Reflect debut. Album cut Windy Day, kicks in, steep with an enlightened philosophy and muses on all assorted happenings and obstacles that occur in life. Lyrically, it reflects on Intros family and inspirations and demonstrates beautifully, his fine instinct for flow. Try to grab life by the wings, suitable like how an angel sings over strings. We try to be kings and forget about the peasants. I wanna wake up like I was opening the presents. Being in the presence of constant negativity, is killing me, softly. Its lyrically costly. Its sad that this industry is at its epitome. Cause half these artists lack the creativity.
Destiny, opportunity and great timing have a way of rewarding and finding true vision and talent. Intro has encountered all of the above in his career to date. But, thats not to say that Intro hasnt expected this to happen. In fact hes seen all of this for himself already with great patience. I definitely believe you have to manifest your goals before they happen. The ultimate goal for me, career wise, is to do something that I enjoy and more importantly something that will help others. Intro concludes, My music/vibe brings forth a consciously fresh and positive movement that is greatly needed today; in order to create an equilibrium within a game that is outweighed heavily by its negative content.
And now, Introspect is ready to share it all with you
INTROSPECT / REFLECT / MARCH 21, 2006
http://www.intro-spect.net
For further information, please contact;
Vee Popat / vee@anger-management.ca
addictive records/anger-management
http://www.anger-management.ca
Request the first single from "REFLECT", "You and I" by Introspect on 91.5 The Beat.Phone Requests:
Contest / Request Line - (519) 571-2328 (BEAT)
Toll Free - (866) 583-2328 (BEAT)
E-mail Requests:
Mocha (Music Director) - mocha@915thebeat.com
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