Byrd Gang 'self-titled' album

Hip Hop has been the catalyst for many artists to diversify and broaden their careers. You can add Jim Jones to the determined and elite list of artists who have upgraded their resumes to executive and entrepreneur. The Dipset member recently formed his Byrdgang Records with Asylum Records and is releasing his first project, BYRDGANG on July 1st. “It all came to me,” explains Jones in reference to Byrdgang members. “I didn’t hand-pick nothing. It all came to me like a gift from God.”

The diverse mixture of artistry consists of Jim Jones, Noe, Oshy, Mel Matrix, Freekey Zekey, Chink Santana and Sandman. They’ve already impacted the streets and clubs with their undeniable hit “Byrdgang Money.” The group’s debut hit displays the group’s contagious swagger that has hip hop lovers joining the movement and agreeing it’s all about getting money. The song has successfully struck heavy rotation across the country and has already been dubbed the summer hit for 2008.

Their official first single, “S.P.L.A.S.H.” features fellow Dipset member Juelz Santana. The acronym is best described in the most eloquent style only Byrdgang can illustrate, (Swagg Personifies Lavish Arrogant Sheik Hustlers).

Earlier this year, Byrdgang lost one of its soldiers when rising phenom and Jones' protégé Stack Bundles was murdered. A blow without a doubt, his death was somber and motivating at the same time to the group who spent literally two years with Stack working on this upcoming album. “He had the whole package,” says Jones. “The swag, the walk, the way he talked. He just reminded me of me. I told him, I’m almost out the game and I need somebody that’s gonna do that thing for me, and he was with it. He will be missed day in and day out.”

With tributes and shout outs to Stack throughout the Byrdgang LP, the street and music legion share intricate tales of life, the pursuit of money and power, and the pitfalls along the way. As mirrors to their own lives, Byrdgang provides powerful wordplay, imagery, entertainment and insight for those sharp enough to seek it. Their long-awaited debut is guaranteed to put NY back on the scene and remind everyone why we all love this thing called hip-hop.

In addition to the release of the album, the group is preparing to release a DVD movie in conjunction with the album. Filming begins this month. The group is also preparing to embark upon a tour to local group homes and youth centers in New York, Baltimore and Washington D.C. this summer.

biography
Familia. A group banded together by tradition, lineage, characteristics, occupation or origin. In the volatile and unpredictable path of life, sometimes all there really is at the end of the day is family. Entourages and crews appear and dismantle faster than wildfire, but only a strong unit can withstand the fickle and tumultuous road of this business of entertainment. Almost like the pages out of some epic storybook, five determined men unite after battling injustice, poverty, incarceration, death and everything in between. As an ensemble, they again faced tragedy with the murder of one of their own, but just like a true squadron; this Dipset offspring triumphed over the insurmountable odds steadily stacked against them. Here to resurrect the raw, nitty gritty definition of hip-hop are the untouchables: Jim Jones, Mel Matrix, NOE, Freekey Zekey and Chink Santana. Welcome to the ByrdGang.

“ByrdGang is a savior to a lot of young people comin up,” explains Jones, CEO of Diplomat Records. “These people you see around me, they all have felonies, they’ve all been incarcerated, so for them to be here and to be able to do photo shoots for an album that’s gonna be in stores is crazy. Like this is big business. As much as people say we’re doing wrong, we only doing right by doing this music.”

And right they are. After the undeniable chart reign of Jim Jones’ ‘We Fly High’ last year, ByrdGang is gearing up for their similar takeover of the industry. Slated for a July release, their self-titled debut gives a glimpse into the lyrical genius and colorful lives of this band of five. On the heels of his success with “Hustler’s P.O.M.E”, a new clothing line, documentary, reality show, independent film and an A&R position at Warner Music Group, 31-year-old Jones is the quintessential leader of this literal army.

“It all came to me,” explains Jones in reference to ByrdGang members. “I didn’t hand-pick nothing. It all came to me like a gift from God.”

First off in this extended family is longtime Capo (Jim Jones) associate, Mel Matrix. This Bedstuy, Brooklynite used to run the streets and in effect suffered all the repercussions of someone vying to survive in a world with limited opportunities. In and out of juvenile detention centers, correction facilities and the like, Mel only began rhyming two years ago. In fact, Jones himself wasn’t aware of his musical abilities until an infamous freestyle session on a tour bus. A self-proclaimed aggressive MC, this 27-year-old admits that his flow is a positive stress reliever, and an emotional situation every time he steps into the booth.

“When I write, I’m talking straight from the heart, stuff I’ve been through,” he says. “I live what I talk about. That’s what separates ByrdGang from everyone else. A lot of artists talk about the streets but they never really lived that life. We lived the life, but at the same time, we’re happy to get away from the life. Ain’t nothing fabricated; we all came from nothing trying to get to something.”

Assisting on this voyage to glory is Diplomat Records’ President Freekey Zekey. Working diligently behind-the-scenes for a decade when Cam’ron first signed on as an artist, and as a close friend of Jones since the 3rd grade, Zekey is quick to lend a business hand to his comrades’ latest endeavor.

“People hear gang and they think ruckus, they think violence,” explains Zekey, 30. “Nah, a gang is a unit of family, a brotherhood. Brothers from different mothers that all unite as one and crush anything in their path that don’t have nothing to do with success when it comes to them. And that’s just the love and loyalty we live by.”

Hailing next from Baltimore, Maryland – better known as murder land – NOE began spitting verses and battling kids for money on the street at the ripe age of 13. After local shows, his own run-ins with the law and eventual writing gigs for Bad Boy artists Diddy and Danity Kane, 29-year-old NOE is ready to match his persona to his lyrical skills. Already stirring controversy because of his literal gift and curse - his similarity to Jay-Z - NOE wastes no time in defending his style.

“At first I was a little nervous cause everybody didn’t respond to me right away cause I come to NY sounding like Jay, but I wasn’t from here,” he explains. “But once people started listening and were like ‘that’s the kids voice’ and started listening to what I was saying, it all made sense.”

As one of the only people unafraid to take a chance on him, Jones instantaneously signed NOE, whose name stems from the nickname ‘no money’ back when he was homeless. But homeless no more, these days NOE is busy basking in the success of his own single garnering extensive radio play, ‘Headlights’, while he finalizes work with the rest of the gang for their fall release.

And finally, there’s the musical genius of a 28-year-old Southeast DC native with the natural ability to play every instrument known to man outside of a violin and saxophone. Garnering notoriety at home with a Go-Go ensemble called the Junkyard Band, whose members created music with simple buckets and cans, Chink Santana eventually transformed his humble passion (after endless vigor and determination) into chart-topping hits like Fat Joe’s ‘What’s Luv’. Despite signing with Murder Inc. for several years, and producing nearly every Ashanti record and countless other infamous tracks for everyone from Toni Braxton to Keyshia Cole, Santana says being inducted into the ByrdGang fam was only the right progression for his fledging career.

“It’s growth, plain and simple,” says Santana who took his name after another multi-talented icon named Carlos Santana. “I’m playing all the instruments on the album, I’m writing, I’m producing, doing hooks, fine-tuning other people’s beats, doing whatever to make sure we sound right. I’m doing more artistry cause there’s a place for it, and I’m ready to expose myself and put my name out there like I’ve never done before.”

Money, power and success – definitely not for the meek. But with tremendous victory, comes some form of suffering. Earlier this year, ByrdGang lost one of its soldiers when rising phenom and Jones' protégé Stack Bundles was murdered. A blow without a doubt, his death was somber and motivating at the same time to the group who spent literally two years with Stack working on this upcoming album. Originally linking up with Jones several years back, Stack didn’t officially sign under his wing until a few years later.

“He had the whole package,” says Jones with obvious pain still in his eyes. “The swag, the walk, the way he talked. He just reminded me of me. I told him, I’m almost out the game and I need somebody that’s gonna do that thing for me, and he was with it. He will be missed day in and day out.”

With tributes and shout outs to Stacks throughout the ByrdGang LP, the street and music legion share intricate tales of life, the pursuit of money and power, and the pitfalls along the way. As mirrors to their own lives, ByrdGang provide powerful wordplay, imagery, entertainment and insight for those sharp enough to seek it. Their long-awaited debut is guaranteed to put NY back on the scene and remind everyone why we all love this thing called hip-hop.

“Even though its ’07, the sound takes you back a bit,” adds Jones, who also has is own project in the works. “It’s reminiscent of NWA, Pac, that real hard, hard music that makes you get your feelings involved. A lot of people today forget where music came from. But music means something to somebody, and we really still into being the soundtrack to the streets. Music they hustle to or do they dirt to, or music they listen to doing their 9-5, or in their headphones on their way to work cause it means so much to them. So they could feel our struggle and relate it to theirs.”

ByrdGang ... solid, defiant, impervious and flying ever so high...

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Byrd Gang - self-titled