Bringing it to the (turn)table
A hip-hop infused group with local members is stepping it up at two competitions

By Fred Durso Jr.
Review Staff Writer



The Burndown All-Stars might be infectious. With chill lyrics and feverish performances, it's no wonder audiences sweat during their shows. It might also be the reason the group has swollen to an astounding 13 - and counting- members.

With this many people each bringing their unique styles, the hip-hop collective has not gone unnoticed. Billboard magazine editors picked the best musicians from 1,100 entries for the Independent Music World Series, a competition giving unsigned artists the chance to perform in front of industry officials and score some prizes. Each artist had to submit three original tracks.

Burndown was among the six finalists chosen to compete in the Northeast showcase today, Oct. 26, at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. Doors open at 8 p.m. with the music starting at 8:30.

The group also took first place Monday during the second round of a battle of the bands, unaffiliated with the Northeast showcase, at the Trocadero. After another performance at the venue Dec. 3, followed by a national competition in Los Angeles, the group could snag a $1 Million recording contract with BoDog Music.

"We fit into the way music has changed...in the last few years the way other bands can't," Randall "JawnZap7" Quinn, an emcee with the group, said. "If you look at the average iPod, it's got tons of different types of music. I think if you took your iPod, shook it up and threw it on the table, that's us."

Hip-Hop is the name of their game, but each member has a different definition. Some infuse rock, others reggae, with eight emcees spouting lyrics, while the remainder use guitars, bass, drums, turntables and samples to complement the words.

This blend is what started the group a few years ago.

Burndown is "a collective of different bands and emcees from Philadelphia." emcee Brian "Syne" Brink, also of the hip-hop/reggae group Dialects, said. Bandmates "would all essentially take the best of the best from those groups and combine them in a recording atmosphere."

Almost as powerful as the group's lyrical abilities is the high-energy stage presence, that at times, is so fluid, it's like watching a well-choreographed street theater. As soon as one rapper finishes his set, another jumps on stage.

With two CD's out and another on the way, BurnDown is a labor of love, despite the minor problems associated with coexisting in a 13 member group.

"Essentially, how BurnDown works is you show up long enough, you put in your dues long enough and you're a part of the team," Brink, of 23rd and Tasker streets, said.

.....

The Independent Music World Series created by Disk Makers, an independent CD and DVD manufacturer. Beginning in 1995, the event also occurs in the Midwest, West, and Southeast regions, with individual winners at each.

Since Disk Makers' "bread and butter is doing independent CD manufacturing for indie artists," the competition is a "feel-good" opportunity to let their music be heard, Andre Calilhanna. series director, said.

During the Philly show, nearly a dozen judges- many of whom have ties to the music industry- rates bands on five criteria: overall vibe, songwriting, vocal/lead instrument performance, musical performance and originality.

While past winners have gotten record deals, all contestants are placed on a compilation CD distributed to industry professionals. radio stations and record stores.

"We're getting a pretty diverse group of bands on stage," Calilhanna added. "These artists get to perform in front of other artists they would normally never get to play with."

Competing against four performers from New York and one from North Jersey, BurnDown is happy to battle it out on their home turf. The grand prize includes a digital audio workstation with stereo monitors, musical instruments, a year membership to the online record store CD Baby and a cash prize of $5,000. "They gave us a 20-minute slot, so that's a little over a minute per member of the band," disk jockey Dave Cramske, of Fourth and Moore Streets, said.

Though BurnDown's members considerthemselves family, seeing eye-to-eye isn't always easy. Many perform in in other groups- make stage-sharing amongst BurnDown members a common dilemma.

"With 13 people, everyone just needs to have patience, because things can't always happen the second you want it to." Dru "Arcane" Bayly, also of the group Dialects, said.

However, the music makes up for the occasional squabble. During weekly rehearsals, members discover what fusions and lineups flow best.

"SSometimes it's not happy, it doesn't work, and you're arguing and fighting, but, in the end, everybody is ultimately out for the same goals," Brink said.

Quinn said a killer stage show is a good way to "wipe the slate clean." Since he has been in the company of this talent, the emcee has seen his lyrics soar.

"Because there are so many people involved, because there are so many ideas going on, it constantly pushes you step your game up," Quinn, of 29th and Moore streets, said. "I'm a way better rapper now than I was a year ago."

A high-intensity favorite among the local members is "Silence the Violence," written by the Dialects in response to crime plaguing the city.

"A lot of emcees in BurnDown have lyrics that are consciously trying to touch people rather than having the part vibe," Cramske, said.

All the guys have a vast knowledge of the Philly music scene, but credit the groups original members- Dave "Quicks" McHale, Rocco "RokBottom" Rosini, Carlos "Carlito Attack" Brown and Ty "Kuf Knotz" Green- for placing their mark on local music.

Chosen to participatein the Northeast showcase solely on its sound, the group is is ready to show judges its best side- and win the top spot.

"We feel our live show is our best attribute- and they chose us from our recordings," Brink said.