Hip Hop group Knotz make film to promote music
JULY 25, 2010 insomniacmagazine.com
Are you using your new film “War Gods” as a way to promote your music.
Mikal: Yes we are always promoting Knotz’s music in anyway we can. We actually have a music video called “Watch Ya Step” off of our “Formula” album coming out based off the short film “War Gods.”
It’s cross promotional because people will see the video and want to see the film and if you see the film and like it you will want to see and hear more from Knotz. Plus, we always like to be different and try new things that other artist aren’t doing. Every rapper has a hood flick, we want something more; we want to display our talents in filming, editing, directing, acting and art in general.
We are an unusual team because we do everything in house pretty much just like when we started out way back. We are launching a web site very soon called Station VM that will stream indie and main stream videos, movies and much more on several different channels on the site. The site will be different from an MTV or BET because it will have a variety of music, you may not even catch the same video more than two or three times a day.
In regards to the film, the goal is to entertain people who are looking for something new from Knotz, as well as to gain new fans while creating a buzz for our brand and music. We also want to inspire others to try new things. Dread Child and his extraordinary team also write storyboards, edit, film and direct videosa. We feel the industry can use a fresh face, new views and ideas on the scene. Videos need a twist, but the videos now are all predictable. We intend to take a few of our short films to festivals and upload them online on a variety of different sites, including our own soon to come Station Vm. War Gods is approximately 30 minutes long but there will definitely be a follow up.
What’s it about?
Dread Child: It’s a story about a warlord who is hunting three wild fugitives who happen to have something he wants to possess. The only thing is…the fugitives are very intelligent, highly skilled in violence and mayhem, and are as ruthless as the warlord. So what you have is an action-packed cat and mouse chase in a jungle.
How long did it take to shoot?
Dread Child: We shot a lot of scenes first just to make the trailers and the teaser in five hours, plus extra time for b-roll footage. We made two trailers and a longer teaser to really make a buzz for the “Whatchya Step” video, which will have scenes from the movie and tell more of the story. We really didn’t expect a crazy demand for a short, but the people want it…so over the next two weeks we will shoot to complete the movie and video.
Other than the film, what else are you doing to promote your music?
Mikal: The original grass roots street team, radio, and print interviews, online at Knotzmusic.com, and many other sites: itunes.com, Twitter of course, Myspace.com, Facebook.com, etc. Knotz also does promotional events and shows. We are currently working on putting together a mini tour for Dread Child’s album “The Ladder”. It’s a lot of work.
Can you discuss this single?
Dread Child: My single is called “I Don’t Make Believe” featuring Nature (formerly of the Firm) one of QB’s finest emcees. It’s produced by Don Wil. It’s still the Knotz’s raw sound. The track theme is real life…it’s a banger. The B- side, or follow up track is “It Ain’t Safe” produced by me. It’s very lyrical for those who appreciate skills.
Mikal: You’ll get it first Iz. Dread Child and Nature have plans to shoot that video shortly and I’m sure it will be crazy.
Do you have any shows coming up?
Mikal: Currently we’re recording so we aren’t touring, but we always do shows throughout the year. We have a show August 6th at the Denim Lounge in Brooklyn, NY for Dromanoti and Success Club’s DVD release party. We are always open to performing; that’s our first love so if you’re reading and looking to book an act that brings a stage show and crowd interaction link up with us through our website.
What else are the Knotz up to?
Mikal: Dread Child is putting finishing touches on “The Ladder.” We’re working with and are in talks with several artists right now such as Icarus, Nature, Royal Flush, Absolute (Lex-R7), Snake II’z and Dromanoti. Our new mix tape “Combat-N-Bombs” is on its way shortly. It’s gonna be crazy. We have new exclusive music from Knotz and the Damali Family, Shea Avis, Gritty, Juelz Santana, Snake II’z, M.O.P, Dromanoti, Chop Divise, Ed Vance and more.
We are also working closely with a new energy drink company, Swagger. Big shouts to Team Swagger, Omar, David and Mikey. Vendors if you want to carry a new product that is picking up in sales every week, check ‘em out at Swaggerpa.com- “Swagger Get Some”. Always a lot on our plate. Soon the radio promotion for Dread Child’s new single will start and it’s off to the races again, no sleep! With that being said we are always looking for new opportunities and ventures, so if Knotz has something you may need, feel free to contactus and anything can happen.
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)
