Sharp Magazine Feature (Pocono Record) 
Knotz to Play Rare Local Show 
By The Roadie 
Feb. 22, 2008 

OTTER LAKE — Rock music has Van Halen.

Pop music has the Bee Gees.

Jazz has the Marsalises.

But when it comes to family affairs in rap music — short of the limited '90s association between Dr. Dre and step-brother Warren G — there don't seem to be a set of brothers, sisters, cousins or even step-brothers that have come forged their way to the top.

What, Puffy's brother can't rhyme? How come Snoop hasn't gotten his kids into the recording studio yet, wouldn't that make a great episode of "Fatherhood"?

Maybe that's where Knotz comes in...

Jenesis Magazine Interview
Knotz: Under the Radar
by Thomas Agnew
January 2008 Issue

Click here to read the article...


An'R Magazine Feature Article
KNOTZ
By Norman McCourt 
August 2007 Issue

The KNOTZ musical style is best described as the fusion between hard-hitting hip-hop street lyricism and official rude-boy dance hall flavor. Members include Megaton, Dreadchild, and Aswad Mikal. Influenced by such rap greats as KRS-1, Redman, and Public Enemy, Knotz has carved out their own niche in the hip-hop scene by becoming the leaders of the “anti-bling” movement. As Aswad Mikal stated in a recent Music Phone Book article, "We spit for the masses, and the masses will never be able to relate to having big rims, platinum chains and grills, and money that never ends." Knotz offerings include the hardcore mid-tempo track “Black Rain” featuring an eerie hook by Jazz singer Najwa warning the listener that “...the darkness lies in here” and the up-tempo “Up” track which challenges those in the hip-hop game to up their money and up their minds.

Knotz is best known for their Download CD (2000) which sold over 5,000 units and was featured on more than 47 underground and college radio stations generating a large fan-base known as the Ruffians. Ruffians are loyal KNOTZ fans who often travel to see them perform live. In addition to the retail sales and radio success of Download, one particular track on the CD entitled “Move” was also featured on Insomniac Magazine’s EP, Strategic Infiltration. They are the 2007 Independent Artist Registry’s "IndiE Award" winners and are featured in the 2007 East Coast Edition of the Music Phone Book. Knotz also inked a deal this year with Turmic Records in Sweden for worldwide digital distribution. The Antidote EP was officially released in August, 2007 and generated more than 1,000 Nielsen Soundscan units sold within the first two weeks following release.

Junior's Cave Artist Spotlight
Music Spotlight: Knotz
By Isaac Joseph Davis Junior
June 21, 2007

One of the coolest aspects of this next group is that the three members are all blood brothers. KNOTZ, which is the group’s name, consists of Dreadchild, Megaton, and Aswad Mikal the Black Angel. But don’t let this fool you, the hip hop have been performing for several years now. In fact, one of their biggest breaks came in a large stage performance in 1995 at the RCA Dome...

Music PhoneBook  Feature Article
East Coast 2006 IAR Winner: Knotz
Rapping for the love of music, not the bling
By Josh Bashara

This edition of the Music Phone Book is proud to announce Knotz as winner of the 2006 East Coast Independent Artist Registry. Out of all the entries received this year, dozens of unsigned artists proved themselves highly talented, although Knotz ultimately fought its way to the top. Taking the crown as one of the best indie hip-hop groups we've seen, Knotz exemplify both superior musical talent and the drive it takes to succeed...

Music PhoneBook Aswad Mikal Interview
Winning Advice
Q&A with Knotz's Aswad Mikal on making it in the music business and winning the IAR
By Josh Bashara

Music Phone Book: So how's it feel to be the winner of the 2006 East Coast IAR? 

Aswad Mikal: This is big - it will broaden our fan base more than we can imagine. Every credential you earn helps your music career. But it's even better to know that there are people who believe in your music like the IAR did ours. I know there were so many talented musicians whose music passed through that office... and for ours to come...

Knotz Review
The Knotz are an up and coming group that makes me proud to have been a resident of the Keystone State. People underestimate the hip-hop coming out of PA. Sure, we all love the Roots, and there are a few other key artists from Philly (excluding the Fresh Prince, Will Smith) who have done justice to the musical heritage of the state, but very few ever get the recognition they deserve. The Knotz represent the organic, yet authentically street coded experience which few can replicate or express musically. Their beats are ecclectic, but firmly rooted in the New York style of production so prevalent in East Coast rap.

The trio brings diversity in style and expression, incorporating reggae and rasta dialects into verses reminiscent of early Wu-Tang or an underground Talib Kweli. The quality of recording is good, but could use some improvement-still its rawness is part of its charm. One can easily hear that while their recordings effectively convey their sound and message, they seem like the kind of group that would absolutely kill it on stage. Their energy is almost too much to be bounded by recording booths or condensor mics, and personally, the best hip-hop artists are those who can rock a live show- it is an experience you can't put a price on.

I would love to see the Knotz make their way down to New Orleans and play a large, but intimate venue like Tipitina's or the Hangar. Either way, the Knotz got it going on and we can only hope that the industry will soon break out of their obtuse obsession with club bangars and cheesy R&B and open up the doors to this type of hard-hitting hip-hop. 

Ben Brubaker - Nola Hope Blog

Black Rain Review
Knotz drops some hard lyrics and beats on their new single CD "Black Rain feat. Najwa." Black Rain features intelligent lyrics mixed with gansta rap and some comedic metaphor lyrics. On the single the group uses beautiful and erie sounds of women's voices for backups. Knotz laces their tracks with samples and cuts that raise the mind's curiosity to hear even more. If you like "The Roots", "Dialated Peoples", or "50 cent" you will love Knotz. Purchase one of their Cd's and hear for yourself! 

Josh B. for RadioIndy


Gover Cu*tz Review
Wow! This joint is fire! The beat so damn mean and the vocal delivery is nuts. I love the lyrics. This is probably the best Katrina song I ever heard. Please give us some more. All the mcee's killed it but I personally think that money who went second is insane. Get back at us.
 
professional Critic - Taxi 

Atlantis Music Conference & Festival 2005 Wraps - But Not Before We Got The Buzz Behind The Music
We found a group of music hopefuls in the demo critique session with WHTA Program Director Jerry Smokin B and Sahpreem King (Gotta Get Signed Artist Consulting, Inc.). While some walked away disappointed, groups Inspirience (Atlanta), Knotz (Poconos), as well as a buzzing artist from Lithonia received promising accolades for their demos. 

Yalanda Lattimore - DryerBuzz.com 

Knotz"A Knotz Project"-Damali Records
There is nothing better than a group of hungry emcees who obviously put their all into their music. The group Knotz, rhyme as if they were Sally Struthers' kids. Every bar passionatley verbalized with most of them describing gunplay, weed and/or how they will fuck you up. They spit raps to a futuristic-type backdrop. All of these beats seem purposely drafted to generate a "cyber" or "StarWars" feel that's representative of the interplanitary image they're embracing. If "DownLoad" is indicative of a generation of emcees from a parallel universe, then those in this project should be viewed as the torchbearers of a potential new brand of hiphop. This project could be "Out of this world" once perfected. 

Titan Barksdale - Insomniac Magazine 


Various Artists • Strategic Infiltration 12" • Insomniac • 
This opens with a bumpin' track from Jace, the perfect hip-hop tune to set a party off or to get you amped for a night out at a club. It's followed by a very simple but completely funky instrumental track from DJ Inc., perfect for spitting your own rhymes over. Next up on the A-side is "Dissect the Style", a track from Wizone and Kool Keith (with badass drum and bass production by Ming & FS). This is definitely the highlight of the record because the flows are dope, the beats are out of control and the bassline is downright sick. On the flip side are two more solid cuts, one featuring Cold Shoulder and the other featuring Knotz, both strong hip-hop offerings, but nothing compared to "Dissect the Style." For a 12" hip-hop EP, this is off the hook. (CM)