LAFAYETTE
@THEPROLEGENDMOVEMENT
78Following
78Followers
Jacksonville, FL USA
Joined Mar 3, 2009
By Heather Lovejoy
The Prolegend Movement is more than a rap group, say founders Laf Legend and Mass Pro. It's also an effort to inspire youths and better the community, a positive life philosophy - a movement
And they invite people to join.
The two hip-hop artists/multi-instrumentalists sat down for lunch with the Times-Union last week to talk about their music, mission and The Prolegend Movement, which also includes J.Co and Lankdizzim.
Their latest album, "Black Diamondz," should be available later this summer, and the mixtape is already downloadable through datpiff.com. Check the "keywords" box and search for "prolegend."
Mass Pro and Laf Legend said their purpose goes beyond music, and their goals go beyond selling a few records.
"You can entertain, but you can uplift at the same time," Mass Pro said.
Some of their efforts come when they're offstage and outside the studio. In between their day jobs and making music, they participate in community clean-ups, speak at schools and volunteer whenever possible.
Because the group's members are in their late 20s and early 30s, they can reflect on personal mistakes and hopefully help kids avoid them, they said.
"It's not just about us," Laf Legend said. "Maximizing your art is not only getting people's attention, but then pointing them in a direction."
Their lyrics are gritty and no-nonsense, though, not preachy and unrealistic. They want an emotional response, said Laf Legend, and what they write often reflects their experiences growing up in Northwest Jacksonville, one of the city's roughest neighborhoods. So don't expect all their songs to be church- or grandmother-proof.
"The money thing - some people complain and say that's all we're talking about in some songs," Mass Pro said. "What they don't see is that the money is the metaphor for whatever you want."
They're urging people to do things themselves, to go out and take hold of their aspirations, they said.
What you won't hear are glorified accounts of violent, graphic killing, Laf Legend said. No matter what mainstream radio and TV tells you, that's not a requirement in rap music. "Kids these days have a bleak outlook," Laf Legend said, and The Prolegend Movement doesn't want to perpetuate it.
When he gives talks at schools, he tells kids: "Take advantage of every opportunity you get. Don't let anything stop you."
As for the music - hip-hop is the movement's fuel, after all - Laf Legend and Mass Pro started their work separately, but teamed up after high school and started Prolegend as a production company. In 2003, they got serious about making their own music, they said, and eventually recruited J.Co and Lankdizzim, Laf Legend's younger brother.
During the past few years, Jacksonville's scattered and inconsistent scene has presented obstacles, and the hip-hop hotbed Atlanta has been their "second home." The scene has improved here, they said, but independent artists could still benefit by unifying. Most area musicians have to act as their own promoters, and it can be hard to get the word out without support from peers.
But they said the challenge is just part of the game.
"We're kind of immune to 'hard,' from where we come from," Laf Legend said.
My Music
Daily Bread Mixtape
Jul 15, 2011
Daily Bread Mixtape is on it's way
New Single for TheProlegendMovement
Jul 15, 2011
Check out the Brand New Single by The Prolegend Movement "She Likes it"
The Prolegend Movement the Florida Times Union
Jul 13, 2010
2
By Heather Lovejoy The Prolegend Movement is more than a rap group, say founders Laf Legend and Mass Pro. It's also an effort to inspire youths and better the community, a positive life philosophy - a movement And they invite people to join. The two hip-hop artists/multi-instrumentalists sat down for lunch with the Times-Union last week to talk about their music, mission and The Prolegend Movement, which also includes J.Co and Lankdizzim. Their latest album, "Black Diamondz," should be available later this summer, and the mixtape is already downloadable through datpiff.com. Check the "keywords" box and search for "prolegend." Mass Pro and Laf Legend said their purpose goes beyond music, and their goals go beyond selling a few records. "You can entertain, but you can uplift at the same time," Mass Pro said. Some of their efforts come when they're offstage and outside the studio. In between their day jobs and making music, they participate in community clean-ups, speak at schools and volunteer whenever possible. Because the group's members are in their late 20s and early 30s, they can reflect on personal mistakes and hopefully help kids avoid them, they said. "It's not just about us," Laf Legend said. "Maximizing your art is not only getting people's attention, but then pointing them in a direction." Their lyrics are gritty and no-nonsense, though, not preachy and unrealistic. They want an emotional response, said Laf Legend, and what they write often reflects their experiences growing up in Northwest Jacksonville, one of the city's roughest neighborhoods. So don't expect all their songs to be church- or grandmother-proof. "The money thing - some people complain and say that's all we're talking about in some songs," Mass Pro said. "What they don't see is that the money is the metaphor for whatever you want." They're urging people to do things themselves, to go out and take hold of their aspirations, they said. What you won't hear are glorified accounts of violent, graphic killing, Laf Legend said. No matter what mainstream radio and TV tells you, that's not a requirement in rap music. "Kids these days have a bleak outlook," Laf Legend said, and The Prolegend Movement doesn't want to perpetuate it. When he gives talks at schools, he tells kids: "Take advantage of every opportunity you get. Don't let anything stop you." As for the music - hip-hop is the movement's fuel, after all - Laf Legend and Mass Pro started their work separately, but teamed up after high school and started Prolegend as a production company. In 2003, they got serious about making their own music, they said, and eventually recruited J.Co and Lankdizzim, Laf Legend's younger brother. During the past few years, Jacksonville's scattered and inconsistent scene has presented obstacles, and the hip-hop hotbed Atlanta has been their "second home." The scene has improved here, they said, but independent artists could still benefit by unifying. Most area musicians have to act as their own promoters, and it can be hard to get the word out without support from peers. But they said the challenge is just part of the game. "We're kind of immune to 'hard,' from where we come from," Laf Legend said. View article at http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/music/2010-06-30/story/prolegend-movement-more-rap-group
Black Diamondz
Dec 16, 2009
1
Black Diamondz..... Parental advisory praise worthy a voice ...a vision The Prolegend Movement Pro Laf Lank Jco ....hosted by The Ceo of Point Blank Entertainment featuring appearances by Mr. AL Pete, TC, Lyric Raines, Fathom, Boss Lady BLondie..... More than Music its a Mooovment!!!!!
Comments
6
THEPROLEGENDMOVEMENT
Dec 16, 2009
What's up Ya'll I know we ain't Checked in in a minute....Black Diamondz is ready will be availible for Download Christmas Day check our other websites for details....www.facebook.com/TheProlegendMovement and hit us on twitter @TheProlegendMov
performance4
Nov 08, 2009
GET SIGNED!!! If you are truly serious about your music career check out my page and visit us at http://www.myperformancetour.com or call 1.866.931.3978. We are bringing the major record labels to you in Daytona Beach, FL! Check us out now for details!
THEPROLEGENDMOVEMENT
Sep 30, 2009
Come hang with The Prolegend Movement, Mic Flow and Dj Spin of the Slip n Slide Dj's!! This is a great place to unwind and grab 2 4 1 drinks all night long!!! Brothers Cafe 700 Edgewood Ave. Paxon Shopping Center 9pm-2pm No cover Everyone in for free!!!
iam2qt2nvufoolz
Sep 24, 2009
OH MY MUTHA FREAKIN CHOCOLATE ! ! ! WHERE THE f*** HAVE YOU TWO BEEN? I MISS YOU GUYz... THE LAST TIME A CHIC SEEN YA WAS @ BEAVER STREET. I AM SO STOKED (like de white boiz).
my two sweetiez done grown up... BROADz ALREADY KNO SO I DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT IT...
HIT A CHIC UP SOMETIME... LAF, YA KNO JOHN HERE 4 A WHILE
theciphershow
Mar 22, 2009
Lets stay in contact, maybe we can surpase all that and discuss how we can promote you on our show. But First,
TAKE OUR VIDEO ;link AND SPREAD IT AROUND THE NET. WE NEED TO MAKE THE MYSPACE CHARTS SO WE CAN START CREATING SOME JOBS. WE WILL ALSO BEGIN SELLING FRANCHISES OF THE CIPHER SHOW SO YOU CAN START GETTING PAID FROM OUR SHOW! THE CIPHER SHOW IS MORE THAN A TV SHOW, ITS A MOVEMENT FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.
RISE OF THE CIPHER SHOW: (EPISODE 1) LINK:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54096649
All comments (6)
What's good! Thanks for becoming a fan, I really appreciate all the love you show me, the level of success, and the compliments i've recieved lately has been unbelievable! If you'd like to follow my progress on soundclick, as well as recieve notification whenever I upload a new beat (Which will sometimes be free to these special users) Please subscribe to my mailing list! Peace and love...and good luck in whatever your endeavors may be. -Matt Houston