Dom [Public Axis]

"..I see a propensity for obesity, poverty, a yin for fairytales... Folks puttin' in what few bucks they have into little wicker baskets being passed around.... If the "common good" has gotta' make up fairytales then it's no good for anybody." - Det. Rustin Cole [HBO's True Detective] *PENNSYLVANIAN AS FUCK* ...............The premature autobiography and biased professional manifesto of a dreamer. I grew up in the outskirts of Pittsburgh, then moved cross-state for undergrad @ Villanova business school. By junior year, I was designated the official (and only) 'hip-hop journalist' for a regional music mag, Origivation, through which I met some of the most interesting personalities in Philadelphia's pre-Live Nation hiphop scene. (An interview with The Last Emperor- "Unsigned Hype" alum and former Dr. Dre signee- endures as one of coolest conversations I've ever had)... Working for Goodie Goodie Prod as a Promotions Manager alongside Mr. Jim Redz was dope. Blowing up the Electric Factory for Blackstar, Common, Wu-Tang Clan, The Roots, Hieroglyphics, etc: of course... Spending a every Friday/Saturday in the dead fucking cold of winter... not so much but there was promise. However, Clear Channel's swift monopolization of Philly's best music venues (circa 2005) raped many well-respected concert promoters of their livelihoods... Operating independently- under the radar of the big-corporate fuckheads (yes, you too, Live Nation) and their sleeper-cells of hipsters- along with DJs Jim Redz, John Khan, and Nex Millen was a blessing in disguise that resulted in banging shows with Sean Price/ Heltah Skeltah, Joell Ortiz, Blu, Louis Logic, Pack FM, Copywrite, Reef the Lost Cauze and many others between 2006 and 2009... The people who rode with the 2-year monthly at Medusa Lounge, and blacked out at the parties with Jim and I- that I remember most... I was also doubling as a Project Manager for an online advertising company. The ad industry operates in an eerily similar fashion as the rap game, so much that it helped me thrive in a corporate, white collar environment. I used the money to get involved with specific artists/groups from the ground up- the first being MAGr, whose 2009 debut "No News is Good News" has been a slowly-growing cult classic. It features production from Hudson Mohawke... before he moved from Scotland and made remixes for Rhianna; a classic verse/cameo from Blu- just months prior to his cover shoot of XXL's [best ever] Freshman Class [w/ Curren$y, Asher Roth, Wale, Corey Gunz, B.o.B]. And over 4 years later, I'm still told from acqaintences.. still get grabbed by random fans who recognize the name on my biz card.. and still receive emails from European fans in Poland, etc who all say "No News" is among the top-five underrated hip-hop albums of all time... In my opinion, it's *the* most underrated hip-hop album of all-time.... I've been behind the scenes on plenty other dope movements and projects, but this year the best is yet to come... In the meantime, enjoy the rants and videos.