Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Quanstar: Momentum: as reviewed by Pedro 'DJ Complejo' Hernandez
Quanstar is the true definition of a hustler. By that I don't mean that his music brags about how much he hustles, how he always hustles, or even mentions the word "hustle." Instead, Quanstar's work ethic says everything that needs to be said about his work ethic. His name may be unfamiliar to the masses, but that has not kept the man from releasing multiple albums and EPs, music videos, and touring consistently to promote his music. His music doesn't reflect the desperate delusions of a man trying to rap for a big hit or ringtone sales, but instead conveys his love for hip-hop and his determination to make quality music. "Momentum" is the latest EP from Quanstar and delivers another small, but potent, dose of dope hip-hop.
The EP's name doesn't convey much about the music contained, but reflects the fact that Quanstar wanted to release this music ASAP rather than wait to compile an album's worth of material. While the EP lacks a cohesive purpose, the individual songs overcome any thematic shortcomings. "I'm Through" is a short barrage of punch lines and positive advice that serves as an appropriate intro. "Higher Standards" is a clever proclamation of Quanstar's abilities as an emcee as he declares "higher standards, giving these niggas nosebleeds" on the hook. "On My Brain" is a reflective track where Quanstar details some of the struggles he has faced as an artist. "She Did Me Wrong" features one of the EP's dopest beats with a warm, soulful sample looped over soft piano keys. The instrumental serves as the perfect backdrop for Quanstar to reflect on young love and the problems that can come with it. "Christmas List" is the EP's strongest track as Quanstar finds a strong way to convey his sorrow:
"A couple months ago Dale died in Iraq
Two weeks before he was supposed to come back
Married about a year, newlywed to the widow
Still can't believe it so she staring out the window
Never got a chance to see his daughter
The only thing she'll know is a picture of her father
Never learned a lesson he'd have taught her
Shaking and trembling, barely even hold a glass of water
Eyes swollen up, blood red, bone dry
First couple of weeks only thing she did was cry
Mother came down to help with the baby
Only time she cool is when you rocking little Katie
Thought it was right so he took another tour
Pissed because she shouldn't have let him out the door
Does it even ever get better than this?
Wrote "bring him back" on your Christmas list
And please cruel world don't look at me
I'm a shell of the person that I used to be
Because God don't love me, that much clear
And wonder why Santa won't come around here
It's "happiness" on my Christmas list
And I still didn't get that wish"
Presenting sorrow, sadness, and disappointment in adulthood through the concept of unfulfilled Christmas wishes is very unique and clever. The EP ends on a strong note with "I Need You," an up tempo track about perceptions with an eerie, robotic beat.
Overall, "Momentum" is a dope EP from a passionate artist. That said, the last three tracks are definitely stronger than the first three. One minor gripe with the project is just the vocal quality of Quanstar's vocals on most tracks. They don't sound unprofessional at all, but do lack something in terms of mastering that make them sound at odds with the beats on some songs. Oddly enough, the distortion effect used on "I Need You" is just right to mesh his vocals with that particular song. Despite that small issue, Quanstar's passion and lyrics shine through on this EP and he gives us plenty of dopeness to hold you over for his next project. Knowing his work ethic and passion, that next project should be right around the corner.
Music Vibes: 6.5 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 6.5 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 6.5 of 10
Originally posted: October 4th, 2011
source: www.RapReviews.com
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Rapper gives poetry program a twist - Bennington Banner
RAPPER GIVES POETRY PROGRAM A TWIST
BENNINGTON - Atlanta rapper Quanstar brought a different culture to Bennington last week through written and spoken words as a guest teacher in a summer poetry class.
After two weeks of focusing on slam poetry and more traditional poetic styles in the summer program, Quanstar introduced the class to rap and asked members to write songs that flowed with musical beats. "I want them to enjoy it and do something fun, but I want them to experience the art of song writing and what goes into doing this," he said.
As a recorded emcee, as well as a publicist, songwriter and movie producer, Quanstar also gave participants in the free program an inside look at the music business, which he said is focused on money and has little concern about messages it promotes.
"Any company, but record companies specifically, since the '40s have been out for money and absolutely nothing else," Quanstar told the class. "You got the record labels telling you you've got to do music like this, because, to be perfectly honest with you, it's what sells and record labels are in it to make money. They're not in it to make social change, and they shouldn't be; they're a business."
A number of students disagreed, saying businesses have a responsibility to inspire social change as well as consumers. While the rapper from Compton, Calif., agreed with the premise, he said it's up to the artist to determine what they want to promote.
"Those are the questions as artists that we deal with - should we do this or should we do that - on a daily basis," Quanstar said.
Slam poetry and rap was chosen as the main focus of the program to draw students into a class that teaches poetry - a topic that by itself didn't draw much interest, said Robert Marine, director of summer and after-school programs for the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union, which sponsored the four-week program through a grant.
"Get them involved"
"I want to get them involved in poetry, and I want to do more than that. I want to get them involved in expressing themselves, a way for kids to talk about things that interest them or bother them, and through slam, that's what it's all about," Marine said. "This is a great way for youth to talk about the things that bother them in their life or things they want to improve ... I think that slam poetry, hip-hop and rap give them an avenue where they feel comfortable expressing their ideas and who they are and finding their individuality and personality."
Individuality is part of the focus of slam poetry and hip-hop, said the program's first instructor Kiah Morris, who was involved with a group that promotes urban arts and culture to youth in Chicago called Kuumba Lynx before moving to Bennington.
Through the program, Morris said he tried getting students to expand their writing comfort zone and their confidence.
"I hope they get not only a confidence of how they can use their voice, but also that they see themselves as poetic artists and learn that their voice is valued," she said.
The second week was led by Jessica Marine, Robert Marine's daughter, who focused on poetic literature and structure.
This week, published poet Clara Rose, of Brattleboro, is teaching the class, which is held at Southern Vermont College.
Unlike many Mosaic programs, the poetry session has also been available to the community as a whole in addition to students.
BENNINGTON - Atlanta rapper Quanstar brought a different culture to Bennington last week through written and spoken words as a guest teacher in a summer poetry class.
After two weeks of focusing on slam poetry and more traditional poetic styles in the summer program, Quanstar introduced the class to rap and asked members to write songs that flowed with musical beats. "I want them to enjoy it and do something fun, but I want them to experience the art of song writing and what goes into doing this," he said.
As a recorded emcee, as well as a publicist, songwriter and movie producer, Quanstar also gave participants in the free program an inside look at the music business, which he said is focused on money and has little concern about messages it promotes.
"Any company, but record companies specifically, since the '40s have been out for money and absolutely nothing else," Quanstar told the class. "You got the record labels telling you you've got to do music like this, because, to be perfectly honest with you, it's what sells and record labels are in it to make money. They're not in it to make social change, and they shouldn't be; they're a business."
A number of students disagreed, saying businesses have a responsibility to inspire social change as well as consumers. While the rapper from Compton, Calif., agreed with the premise, he said it's up to the artist to determine what they want to promote.
"Those are the questions as artists that we deal with - should we do this or should we do that - on a daily basis," Quanstar said.
Slam poetry and rap was chosen as the main focus of the program to draw students into a class that teaches poetry - a topic that by itself didn't draw much interest, said Robert Marine, director of summer and after-school programs for the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union, which sponsored the four-week program through a grant.
"Get them involved"
"I want to get them involved in poetry, and I want to do more than that. I want to get them involved in expressing themselves, a way for kids to talk about things that interest them or bother them, and through slam, that's what it's all about," Marine said. "This is a great way for youth to talk about the things that bother them in their life or things they want to improve ... I think that slam poetry, hip-hop and rap give them an avenue where they feel comfortable expressing their ideas and who they are and finding their individuality and personality."
Individuality is part of the focus of slam poetry and hip-hop, said the program's first instructor Kiah Morris, who was involved with a group that promotes urban arts and culture to youth in Chicago called Kuumba Lynx before moving to Bennington.
Through the program, Morris said he tried getting students to expand their writing comfort zone and their confidence.
"I hope they get not only a confidence of how they can use their voice, but also that they see themselves as poetic artists and learn that their voice is valued," she said.
The second week was led by Jessica Marine, Robert Marine's daughter, who focused on poetic literature and structure.
This week, published poet Clara Rose, of Brattleboro, is teaching the class, which is held at Southern Vermont College.
Unlike many Mosaic programs, the poetry session has also been available to the community as a whole in addition to students.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Quanstar 4/11 reviewed by Patrick Taylor
When Radiohead released "In Rainbows" as a pay-what-you-want download in 2007, people lauded it as the future of the record industry. Who needs labels when artists can reach the fans directly, and Radiohead's success seemed like proof that this was a viable business model. What people forgot was that Radiohead are one of the world's most popular bands, and the reason for their popularity has at least something to do with the close to two decades of major label support for the band. Ask the struggling indie artist with an album on iTunes how many copies they've sold, and they'll tell you that it isn't so easy when you don't have years of a major label's advertising budget behind you. The other thing the indie artist will tell you is that doing it yourself is a hell of a lot of work. Quanstar, who has been releasing his own material and booking his own shows for a few years now, loves the freedom of being an indie artist, but acknowledges that it takes a lot of hustle to get yourself heard.
His new pay-what-you-want EP "4/11" might make less of an impact on the market than "In Rainbows" did, but it's not for lack of trying. The Compton MC has put out several albums, mixtapes, live recordings, and a documentary, all by himself. This site was impressed by last year's "The Underdog" and Quanstar doesn't disappoint with this follow up.
He starts off by personifying cocaine on "Yayo," showing the destruction the drug has caused:
"Most of my soldiers were dead or in jail
Fighting for my attention to get them out of this hell
Prisoners in their own homes
Cities turned into war zones
Women sell their babies so with me they'll be alone, man
Fuck the community let me get what's due
And you'll be good for a little while 'til I'm through with you too"
"Groove With You" starts with Quanstar rapping "Let me dispel a few myths/Most rappers you meet ain't really got shit." He goes on to describe the grind of being an indie rapper, but keeps it on the positive rather than complaining. After all, if he didn't like what he was doing, he wouldn't spend so much time doing it.
"Come Back To Us" is a cautionary tale about success. Quanstar describes a rapper being ruined by a shitty label deal and the party lifestyle, a football player being ruined by steriods, and a whiz kid stockbroker being ruined by the allure of wealth. "Don't fly too fast/you might run out of gas hit the earth with a crash" raps Quanstar, sounding like the wise older brother. It's a role he takes on for much of the album. His flow is steady and unhurried, and his rhymes offer lessons about making it in the industry and admissions of his own shortcomings as a husband.
Quanstar has grown man beats to go with his grown man rhymes. Most of the songs sample 80s quiet storm R&B. Anita Baker even gets a feature on "What's Wrong." That may sound cheesy, but the tracks are flipped just enough to make them work, and the result is the perfect sound for cruising. Quanstar mixes it up on a few tracks, getting screwed and chopped on "Sure You Want It," and coming harder on "Underground Rap Star" featuring Tea Bag Da Herbalist (good rapper, terrible name).
"4/11" is a solid collection of grownup rap. While its low-key vibe and quiet storm samples don't make for the most dynamic music, it's worth a trip to Quanstar Music to give it a listen. If you like what you hear, give the man a few dollars for the download: he works hard enough for it.
Music Vibes: 7 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 7 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 7 of 10
Originally posted: April 19th, 2011
source: www.RapReviews.com
His new pay-what-you-want EP "4/11" might make less of an impact on the market than "In Rainbows" did, but it's not for lack of trying. The Compton MC has put out several albums, mixtapes, live recordings, and a documentary, all by himself. This site was impressed by last year's "The Underdog" and Quanstar doesn't disappoint with this follow up.
He starts off by personifying cocaine on "Yayo," showing the destruction the drug has caused:
"Most of my soldiers were dead or in jail
Fighting for my attention to get them out of this hell
Prisoners in their own homes
Cities turned into war zones
Women sell their babies so with me they'll be alone, man
Fuck the community let me get what's due
And you'll be good for a little while 'til I'm through with you too"
"Groove With You" starts with Quanstar rapping "Let me dispel a few myths/Most rappers you meet ain't really got shit." He goes on to describe the grind of being an indie rapper, but keeps it on the positive rather than complaining. After all, if he didn't like what he was doing, he wouldn't spend so much time doing it.
"Come Back To Us" is a cautionary tale about success. Quanstar describes a rapper being ruined by a shitty label deal and the party lifestyle, a football player being ruined by steriods, and a whiz kid stockbroker being ruined by the allure of wealth. "Don't fly too fast/you might run out of gas hit the earth with a crash" raps Quanstar, sounding like the wise older brother. It's a role he takes on for much of the album. His flow is steady and unhurried, and his rhymes offer lessons about making it in the industry and admissions of his own shortcomings as a husband.
Quanstar has grown man beats to go with his grown man rhymes. Most of the songs sample 80s quiet storm R&B. Anita Baker even gets a feature on "What's Wrong." That may sound cheesy, but the tracks are flipped just enough to make them work, and the result is the perfect sound for cruising. Quanstar mixes it up on a few tracks, getting screwed and chopped on "Sure You Want It," and coming harder on "Underground Rap Star" featuring Tea Bag Da Herbalist (good rapper, terrible name).
"4/11" is a solid collection of grownup rap. While its low-key vibe and quiet storm samples don't make for the most dynamic music, it's worth a trip to Quanstar Music to give it a listen. If you like what you hear, give the man a few dollars for the download: he works hard enough for it.
Music Vibes: 7 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 7 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 7 of 10
Originally posted: April 19th, 2011
source: www.RapReviews.com
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