Performance Photos from SXSW
25.03.2010
Archive for March, 2010
Written by Aleon Craft
Produced by SMKA
Art by Esperanza
The Prologue is a two-part introduction into Aleon Craft (the artist) and The Solar-Hop Chronicles (a collection of his music to be released in the future). The Prologue Pt. 1 (Released Monday, March 15th) is the first installment of the 2 part project (Part 2 out Monday, April 19th). Independently, The Prologue Pt. 1, and Pt. 2, is an incomplete representation of Craft. Part 1 & 2 are two sides of the same coin. Each project depicts a different side of Craft, and together they represent the range of music that he creates. The project is split into 2 parts so that the listener can properly digest the music, and ideally have a better understanding of Aleon Craft, the artist. Aleon Craft’s The Prologue will be release, in full, on April 26th.
Rewind a few years ago, Craft was better known as “Big Marc,” of Da Backwudz. The southern rap duo was signed to a major label (Universal/Rowdy Records), and he was working with some of the biggest producers and artists in hip-hop (ex. Nas, DJ Toomp, George Clinton, Organized Noise, Slim Thug, Dallas Austin, and many more). Fast-forward to today, Aleon Craft, now a solo artist, has recently joined forces with SMKA (Marketing/Music Producers) and Esperanza (Branding/Visual Artists) to chronicle his work and life stories. Craft has spent the past few years navigating the galaxy as an independent artist, and experimenting with music. The Prologue Parts 1 & 2 are a collection of song that showcase the re-creation and re-introduction of the independent artist, Aleon Craft…and the project he is currently working on: The Solar-Hop Chronicles.
Aleon Craft beamed down to join his fellow ATLiens at the “We Put the A in Austin” SXSW Fundraiser. On Friday night at Apache Cafe, Atlanta’s finest rocked the stage to raise funds to send an Atlanta music collective to Austin, TX for the SXSW Music Festival. “We Put the A in Austin” represents the full spectrum of Atlanta’s underground/indie music scene and will include a range of acts from Aleon Craft, Donnis, and Pill to Ocha La Rocha, The 54, and Brittany Bosco.
The A-Town love was apparent throughout the night as collaborations and guest appearances were frequent. Aleon Craft closed his set with “Donkey Kong“, joined by most of the artists there. He commanded the stage solo for most of the set backed by the spaced out funk production of SMKA. Along with Esperanza, Fadia Kader, Stadium Dan, and 4th Ward Heroes, SMKA is part of the team sending this collective to Austin.
RH First Look: Aleon Craft
10.03.2010
Last fall I made a trip out to Atlanta. While I was in town I asked a few people about artists that were “bubbling” as the tastemakers say… One name was repeated a little bit more than others, and I got a real vision of things when this young man’s music came on at the club… Everybody went nuts. The person I speak of is Aleon Craft, who retooled the spelling of his name a little bit, the direction of his music, and the mentality of his hustle from the harder way to the smarter way. Craft says, “I’ve more so just started moving smarter and strategically…. I have grown and matured, mentally and musically.”
That growth was in part manifested by a unique collaboration with Atlanta’s Symphony Orchestra, a musical partnership that was perhaps as unexpected as musical partnerships go. Craft spoke to us about working with the symphony, his not so out of this world partnership with SMKA, and more in this new RH First Look.
RubyHornet: I’m told that this is sort of like a reintroduction for you, and in the last couple months you kind of halted things to restart them? If that’s the case, what are some things you’re changing and what brought on the attitude to chill? We’re kind of taught to always, always be hustling, grinding etc… But it seems you have to hustling the right way?
Aleon Craft: I haven’t necessarily halted the grind. I’ve more so just started moving smarter and strategically. And yes, this is a reintroduction of myself. I have grown and matured, mentally and musically.
RubyHornet: Your name, Aleon Craft, very interesting… When did you pick up the name, and am I right to think it’s meant to communicate that your music is out of this world, or perhaps given to you by a higher power it is in a sense an “alien craft”.
Aleon Craft: That name just came to me during one of my nightly, star gazing, sessions. Aleon Craft is a term that simply lets you know that my craft/art is outside the box; limitless like the universe; not of this world; alien.
RubyHornet: Where did your relationship with SMKA start as far as producers/emcees? It’s really a cool thing when an artist vibes so much with a producer, and sadly something that not every emcee/producer gets to enjoy… Almost the way they picked those flying dog type things in “Avatar”, it just has to be a mutual choice. What makes the connection w/you and SMKA so smooth?
Aleon Craft: We meet through music. The 808 Experiment Vol. 1., the song “Caddy’s”. And with 808 Blake being a Decatur dude like myself, we had to vibe out and see what we could come up with…you feel me? It helps when everyone involved has the same goals, which in our case is good music. Staying humble and focused.
RubyHornet: You were featured on CNN with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. What’s the response been like, good and bad? I’m sure you had congratulators, but were there others that talked s**t about it, or made you feel like you were selling out?
Aleon Craft: The response has been overwhelming. I still can’t believe I was a part of that. An amazing experience. If there were people who talked s**t about it, that’s good, too. They’re still doing what I need them to do. Listen.
RubyHornet: Conversely, were you nervous at all about it, from a style standpoint, or just stepping out of your comfort zone?
Aleon Craft: Not really nervous. More so, anxious.
RubyHornet: When I visited Atlanta in the beginning of September, the DJ played one of your records in the club (I don’t even think it was out at the time/may not be out even now). The club went nuts, and I get the feeling that you’re well known and respected in the ATL. Where do you feel you stand in ATL’s music scene?
Aleon Craft: I feel I’m standing strong. Standing strong. Just staying humble and focused.
The Prologue Pt. 1 (out Monday, March 15th) is the first installment of the 2 part project introducing Aleon Craft and the Solar-Hop Chronicles (Part 2 out Monday, April 19th). Rewind a few years ago, Craft was better known as “Big Marc,” of Da Backwudz. The southern rap duo was signed to a major label (Universal/Rowdy Records), and he was working with some of the biggest producers and artists in hip-hop (ex. Nas, DJ Toomp, George Clinton, Organized Noise, Slim Thug, Dallas Austin, and many more). Fast-forward to today, Aleon Craft has recently joined forces with SMKA (Music Producers) and Esperanza (Visual Artists) to chronicle his work and life stories. Craft has spent the past few years, as an independent artist and exploring the galaxy, experimenting with music. The Prologue is a collection of songs, written by Aleon Craft, that showcases the re-creation and re-introduction of the artists, Aleon Craft.
Released the song a couple days ago, and it has quickly spread over the internet. The song, as expected, has received mixed reviews. Its a Solar-Hop version of an American classic. Graphics provided by Esperanza!!!
Check it out…
just to name a few
ALEON CRAFT – THE PROLOGUE PT. 1 (March 15th)
“The Way You Do The Things You Do” was originally written, for Motown Records, in 1964 by Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rodgers. The lyrics of the song were created during a game the two played to pass time on the tour bus. The song later become The Temptations first chart topping single (#11 on Billboard top 100), after many other attempted flops. It can be said that it was this song that propelled The Temptations into the national spotlight, and music history. As a fan of Motown, Aleon Craft ‘s 2010 version of “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” is the Solar-Hop ode to The Temptations, produced by 808 Blake (of SMKA). Aleon Craft laces the track with his harmonies and a 16 bar verse. This imaginative rendition transforms the Motown standard into a southern, Solar-Hop banger.
