This is an interview I did with Aaris Schroeder from UBO magazine who is by the way one of the flyer cheif editor chicks I have ever seen. I was expecting Jonah Jamison from Spiderman. (you know I had to fuck with you a little bit Aaris. lol) But check it out. The url is http://ubomagfeatures.blogspot.com/ .. skip links for text browsers -->skip to main | skip to sidebar UBO Magazine: Feature Stories .. google_ad_section_start --> Friday, June 8, 2007 Feature: E. Grizzly; Album: "Hip-Hop is Dead!" The Mix Tape Vol. 1 Feature: E. Grizzly Album: Hip-Hop is Dead! The Mix Tape Vol. 1 By Aaris A. Schroeder Editor-In-Chief April 16, 2007 Erik Grizzly, also known as E. Grizzly makes his conscious effort towards hip-hop in Miami, FL with his album, "Hip-Hop Is Dead," under Puerto Roc Records who heads one-half of the production team but originated his musical path in Philadelphia during '01. "It started with my ex-girl from high school. I wrote her this love poem when I was 14 [media] and she went crazy. I think I lost my virginity because of that poem. So I just kept writing poems for her because she was such a giver afterwards and then all that made me start writing rhymes. It all started with a girl," elucidates E. Grizzly. E. Grizzly started off murdering other emcees in his rhymes with the release of an album, produced in Philly entitled, "Anti-Matter," under A-Type Tactiks, an independent label that is involved with the "Hip-Hop Is Dead" movement. The album was released before he moved to FL. in '03. "There's so much freaking garbage out there it's ridiculous. It's not all about money, cars, hoes, etc. I don't necessarily want to be rich off the music. That would be cool if it happened but that is not why I make music," explains E. Grizzly. Performing all over FL, E. Grizzly still takes it up to New York and Philly a few times a year to perform where he originated. Pushing the "Hip-Hop Is Dead," effort has lead 25-year-old E. Grizzly down a political and litigating process as himself and Puerto Roc Records begin a nasty lawsuit to trademark the term. According to E. Grizzly, Def Jam never licensed the phrase, "hip-hop is dead" and since Jonathan, also known as "Dj Primo" Padilla, CEO/President of Puerto Roc Records had created flyers, stickers and t-shirts with the phrase on it to represent the last 20 years in hip-hop. In April '06, Padilla and E. Grizzly filed for a trademark application to have the rights to use the phrase exclusively for the artist's album title not to mention awards that had been given to the artist after the album had been released. Soon after the album release, NAS came forward to explain that he was releasing his album entitled, "Hip-Hop Is Dead," Sept. '06. Padilla and E. Grizzly "feel strange having a pending trademark litigation case against one of their favorite emcees that they grew up listening to but have faith everything will work out in the end," according to a press release from Puerto Roc Records. "It's a bunch of music business bullshit because NAS is one of my favorite emcees but that is what it is," explains E. Grizzly. E. Grizzly has performed pretty much the entire east coast. Selling over 5000 copies of his album in the last year, the effort has assisted this urban artist to win "Best Independent Artist" and nominated for "Best Breakthrough Record" for "Hip-Hop Is Dead," at the 16th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards in '06. E. Grizzly will spit at hip-hop shows, small spoken word joints, gangsta-rap orientated venues and folk-music spots. "I know if the poetry crowd likes one of my songs then it is a good song. They are the hardest crowd to please," says E. Grizzly. "Revolution Will Be Televised," will drop fall '07 under Puerto Roc Records. The new album will feature different independent poets, folk singers, emcees

This was an article in the Sun Sentinel newspaper that I never got to post as a blog. It was printed back in December in the Homegrown section. Good looking out on the interview Beth. The url is: http://www.southflorida.com/music/sfl-homegrown.pg,0,546137.photogallery?coll=sfe-guide-4promos&index=28 E. Grizzly E. Grizzly MP3: E. Grizzly -- Change the World When E. Grizzly takes over the mike, he doesn't rap about expensive jewelry and cars. "Most people don't have all that," he said. "I'm basically a regular guy. I try to make music that speaks for the people." A Philadelphia native of Puerto Rican descent, Grizzly has been spreading his hip-hop message for the common man to average Joes for 11 years. Grizzly, whose real name is Erik Tirado, said he earned his nickname on the streets of his hometown. "It's an urban term up North," he said. "Get on your grizzly. It means working hard to make money." After moving to Miami in 2003, Grizzly continued to stay busy by performing at clubs and signing with the Miami-based record label Puerto Roc Records. His recently released CD, Hip Hop Is Dead, earned Grizzly the shout out rap artist of the year at the 16th annual Los Angeles Music Awards. The honors, presented by LAmusiconline.com, were handed out Nov. 9. Grizzly said another CD with Puerto Roc Records, The Revolution Will Be Televised, is due out in March. Grizzly is booked 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Thursday at the Voices and Vibes open mike showcase at Troy's Package & Lounge, 2990 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-791-0120. Grizzly also frequently performs at the spoken word open mike nights on Wednesdays at Power Studios, 3701 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-576-1336. Visit egrizzly.com and myspace.com/erikgrizzly. (File photo) Nov 30, 2006 Copyright © 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Indie Unplugged Miami was a show that was recorded on July 14th, 2007 at The Wallflower Gallery in downtown Miami. Some of the most popular indie artists from South Florida performed including Fitzroy, Raffa and Rainer, Rachel Goodrich, Rabbit in a Hat, Alucard, E. Grizzly, Michelangelo, Adolfo and many more. The artists made enough money July 14th to pay for all the expenses, to pay for the recordings, and also to print a promotional CD of the concert. There are no labels truly helping them make this CD. There's no management, no promoters, it’s basically artists helping artists and all the fans who paid to see it happen. Indie Unplugged Miami will be released September 15th, 2007 but it will not be sold in stores. It will be a limited pressed CD and the only way you can get the album would be to contact the artists who performed. All of the artists perform in South Florida frequently so you can go to one of their shows to pick up a CD or you can send them a message to buy it online with their info below. I'm sure they will appreciate it. Peace. Myspace.com/indieunpluggedmiami

Other websites where you can catch E. Grizzly www.egrizzly.com cdbaby.com/egrizzly myspace.com/erikgrizzly isound.com/e_grizzly rippyfest.com/egrizzly ubl.com/artists/egrizzly my.rawkus.com/profile/egrizzly artistserver.com/EGrizzly mzeus.com/artist/EGrizzly beatmaka.com/e_grizzly grizzly.dmusic.com decentx.com/egrizzly betarecords.com/erikgrizzly musicforte.com/member/egrizzly soundlift.com/e_grizzly beatbuggy.com/artists/egrizzly nowhereradio.com/egrizzly besonic.com/E-Grizzly acidplanet.com/artist.asp?AID=565644&T=764136 egrizzly.passthemic.com artistopia.com/egrizzly arkade.com/EGrizzly purevolume.com/egrizzly egrizzly.livedigital.com audiostreet.net/egrizzly kvibe.com/egrizzly indie911.com/users/egrizzly unknownstyle.com/egrizzly www.garageband.com/artist/egrizzly soundsauce.net/egrizzly indiecore.com/artists/egrizzly musicfreedom.com/egrizzly musicianmp3.com/artist/EGrizzly myrealtalent.com/members/355 okayplayer.com/reviews/index.php/weblog/more/hip_hop_is_dead_mixtape/ members.soundclick.com/E%2E+Grizzly unsignedbandnetwork.com/bands/310 osrecords.com/cgi-bin/showProfile.pl?artistid=2380933 buscamp3.com.br/artists_profile_home.asp?id=60194 europamp3.org/groups/E%2e%20Grizzly/index artists.cpu.ie/bands/2490 musicplaces.com/members/1581 projectoverseer.biz/music/members/416/ indiereview.net/bands/371 musicnoyz.com/artists/bands/305 eatthismusic.com/bin/band_ad.php?732

E. Grizzly edged out thousands of rappers internationally to win top honors as the independent rap artist of the year for his album Hip-hop is dead! at the 16th Annual International Los Angeles Music Awards. The LA Music Awards are the largest, and longest running award show for independent artists. The award show took place in Hollywood, CA, on November 9th, 2006. The winners were selected through blind judging which means the judges were asked to grade music without knowing who the artist was. "It's kind of hard to believe," says E. Grizzly whose real name is Erik Tirado. "I just love to make music. I didn't expect to get an award for it." E. Grizzly, who lives in Miami, FL, was also nominated for best breakthrough album of the year for his album Hip hop is dead! You can learn more about E. Grizzly at http://grizzly.dmusic.com/ or egrizzly.com You can also contact Jonathan "PriMo" Padilla, President and CEO Puerto Roc Records at puerto_rocrecords@yahoo.com or via Office: 786-380-7623, Fax: 786-524-0101, Cell: 305-479-1453. Jonathan "PriMo" Padilla President/CEO Puerto Roc Records www.puertorocrecords.net Office: 786-380-7623 Fax: 786-524-0101 Cell: 305-479-1453 Hip Hop Is Dead! www.egrizzly.com http://www.myspace.com/erikgrizzly