EASTERN CONFERENCE RECORDS TOUR

feat.

THE HI & MIGHTY

THE SMUT PEDDLARS (Rawkus)

COPYWRITE

CAGE

Saturday 4th May 2002

POD, Harcourt St.

Doors 7:30pm

Eastern Conference Records was formed in New York in late 1996 by 'Philly boys' Mr. Eon and DJ Mighty Mi - otherwise known as The High & Mighty. Touring to promote the new album Eastern Conference Allstars pt II (which features Jurassic 5, Kool Keith and Dilated Peoples amongst others); this tour features Rawkus stars Smut Peddlars, The Hi & Mighty, Cage and Copywrite of Def Jux's The Weathermen in an interactive non-stop 90 minute show.

www.easternconferencerecords.com                www.MHZsite.com

Tickets €12 including booking fee from Ticketmaster and usual outlets. 

BIOG

The High and Mighty. It's the classic hip-hop story. It's about paying your dues and developing your own style. It's about innovative, press-it-yourself rap on the verge of breaking commercial. It's about street-credible beats and lyrics produced proudly and properly by--gulp--two white boys from Philly?!

Understand, the street is a lot more finicky than it used to be--and a lot more complex. By releasing a series of superb records on their own label, Eastern Conference, The High and Mighty have carved their own niche, created their own fan base. Here comes the elevation: Landspeed Records is teaming with Eastern Conference to make sure the rap world hears, sees and feels The High and Mighty. Their time is now; they've earned it. It's a story as old as rap itself; to understand we have to go back to the beginning.

Nineteen-Eighty was the first year that Eric Meltzer (a.k.a Mr. Eon of "the High") and Milo Berger (a.k.a. DJ Might Mi of "The Mighty") heard the music that would become an obsession. While rap was being born in New York City, Philly was a mere two hours down the Jersey Turnpike. And Philly was listening hard, becoming the second major city to embrace the exciting art form and its new roster of stars.

Unlike most artists in this business, Eric can take it back to the essence of this shit; ain't no new jacks here. Throughout the '80s, the duo soaked up vinyl and folklore, attending key early rap events such as the pivotal Fresh Fest. But it was attending the April '87 Beastie Boys/Public Enemy show at the Philadelphia Spectrum that marked a turning point for the pair. Watching talented white rappers--Jewish city kids like themselves--rock an entire stadium was inspirational to Milo and Eric.

A High School talent show in the Spring of 1987 became the duo's performance debut under the name The Freshman 3. Eric and another friend rapped over the instrumental to "Public Enemy #1" while Milo controlled the sound. Soon the emerging DJ/producer was inspired to buy his first real piece of equipment, an ELI mixer. And he practiced diligently until he could effectively scratch KRS-One saying "burger" when E screamed "tell 'em your last name!"

While attending college at Boston University, Mighty Mi became a popular club DJ, developing his skills by rocking parties week after week around Boston. Meanwhile, Eric was writing rhymes and creating a vocal style. He soon took the name Mr. Eon which represents eternity. As a group. Eon and Mighty Mi decided on the name High and Mighty for its obvious implications.

When the duo moved to New York City, it was clear hip-hop was on the agenda. Mighty Mi continued to sharpen his DJ skills, becoming a regular on the New York party circuit, blowing up celebrity filled events at trendy clubs like Life and Cheetah. Meanwhile Mr. Eon developed the atmospheric flow he's now known for. The two would meet at Mi's crib uptown to record and experiment; bits and pieces of equipment were assembled into what is now called The Muthafuckin' Spot On Lexington, a top-notch recording facility which is still homebase for all the artists on Eastern Conference.

Longtime vinyl consumers, High and Mighty decided to try their hand at the old "press it up yourself game." They formed Eastern Conference and in November of '96 dropped "Hands on Experience" b/w "Cranial Lumps" and "It's All For You." The record, an ode to masturbation, got enough love and moved enough copies that they did it again. This time they released it under the name Eastern Conference All Stars with the songs "All in Together" b/w "Captivating Cultivating" and "Know A Little N--." The radio play and sales continued to build momentum and soon The High and Mighty dropped "Open Mic Night" b/w "The Meaning." Acclaim started pouring in from vinyl-loving DJs and sharp journalists around the country and the world. The next EC release, Smut Peddlers "One by One'" b/w "The Hole Repertoire," featured Mr. Eon trading rhymes with Cage, an innovative underground MC from the New York area best known for his ongoing beef with Eminem. The songs were funky as hell, and they got noticed.

The next release was by Virginia-based freestyle legend Mad Skillz, who covered Slick Rick's "Lick the Balls" b/w "Conceited Bastard." The record got shine on Funkmaster Flex's show on Hot 97, increasing the profile of the label. The group began performing locally in Philly, Boston, DC, Chicago, LA, and embarked on European tour hosted by underground fixture Bobbito. The duo's credits and underground rep accumulated: Eon rhymed on the underground hit "Big Daddy Anthem: while Mi did production for Mobb Deep ("Godfather Part III" remix), Ghostface Killah "All That I Got" remix) and "The Legendary Street Team" by MOP & Kool G Rap.

By the time they dropped the original "B-Boy Document" single in late 1998, featuring El P, Mike Zoot and Mos Def, it was obvious this crew was ready to take it to the next level. With over 75,000 records sold independently, and a few dozen live shows under their belt (including visits to Norway, Sweden, Holland, Germany and Denmark) The High and Mighty were officially one of the hottest groups of the underground. Leaked copies of their debut album, Home Field Advantage, garnered critical acclaim and established them on the top of the underground. In early 1999, they landed a label deal with critically acclaimed Rawkus Records and put out Home Field Advantage commercially. The album went on to sell 100,000 worldwide and will be remembered as a funny, funky, revealing statement by two real rap fans who create music with the same formula they like to listen to: from the heart.

Now after two and a half years and after a collaboration with label mate Cage for the Smut Peddlers Porn Again album (Rawkus 2000), as well as a compilation called Eastern Conference All-stars PT II (which featured underground heavyweights: Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, Big Daddy Kane, Royce 5'9, Kool Keith, etc.), the duo are back with their highly anticipated next release: The Air Force One EP. Right off the cover you can see the Philly duo is back dropping you into the stock room of your illest Foot Locker circa 1988. The 10 track EP is a continuation of the classic Home Field Advantage. Mister Eon and Mighty Mi show their hearts are still in it as they display their new millennium 88’ styles. Mighty Mi comes with back-breaking beats on tracks such as "2 Minute Drill", "Mighty Mi In the Land of Deadstock" and "More In Outs". With additional production from Ayatollah, Reef, and J-Zone the EP represents the illest in what a drum machine and instruments can do. On the lyrical side Mister Eon comes with that off the wall smoked out look at the world. On "IIladel Jackmove" Eon pays homage to some of his favorite old school Philly rappers, mimicking some of their classic records. Copywrite, Cage, RA the Rugged Man, and Havoc from Mobb Deep come along for this ride into the High & Mighty realm of Hip Hop. The Air Force I EP promises to deliver the same monstrous beats and grimy voiced lyrics you've come to expect from the Illadel duo as well as some new twists and turns. So put on your Air Force I's and bop down the street with this sure to be classic hip hop music.