3Face
Location:
London, UK
Biography:
The varied nature of 3Face’s music s his trademark. from the gritty realism of his angst-riddenn tales of inner city life to the laid back lucidity of his RnB enthused grooves and the unequivocal Soul of his debut release ‘Different World.’ Hw is at times shocking, at times thoughtful but always real, honest and true to his roots in the heart of LDN. Equally adept at riding his first love garage/ Grime sound to spitting hip hop bars to jumping on the occasional bashment riddim, it is the variety and quality of his content combined with a unique, unmistakeable flow, backed up by the production that sets 3Face apart from his peers.
As a youth, 3face would tour the youth clubs of London, making mixtapes with the Technics – Shure combo and taping them for school friends. This stage of his life developed his stage confidence and llowed him the experience of clashing other MCs. In 1995, when he was 14, 3Face was tearing up the Kool Skool MC competitions, and has a permanent slot on local community station fundamental FM. It was then that he discovered the pirate station. He was hooked after first performing sets on the legendary Delight FM 103 and started to meet other heads on the scene – DJs, vocalists and other MCs. He soon clubbed up with steppa D and Shados, 2 talented, up and coming DJs, gaining permanent residencies.
At this stage, 3face was writing lyrics in his homework books during detention, and it was the little details like being pulled aside after shows and being told that he had torn up the mic that gave him the buzz to keep at it. His crew worked hard at the radio stations, gaining the promotion and recognition, doing graveyard sets from 4-6 am as well as their own residencies.. He played all the big sets – Freeze, Rinse, Deja and his name pread fast. The first time he cut his first dub and got his vocals on acetate, it was £30 well spent – 3face was addicted. Beginning to rite lyrics, short 16 bar vocals, he was prolific, resulting in his forming Nuworld with four of his boys. As NuWorld, they did bootlegs, singles, LPs, did PAs, did mixtapes at raves and freestyled for days.
In 2002, 3Face linked up with Shados’ boys at GoldSeal. |they formed a production outfil under the ‘Insomniakz’ name and released several successful singles. This pushed him to enter the 21st Century by going online with MajorFM.com. Alongside NuWorld and armed with GoldSeal dub plates, 3face began reaching wider audiences and was approached by the team behind MyBoyZ mixtapes – raw, tough production alongside razor sharp lyrics made NuWorld the pick of the bunch on these best selling, London-wide compilations. Needing a recording studio quickly, 3Face and the GoldSeal guys pooled their financial and physical resources and worked round the clock to build the Gold Seal Studios, which is now a cornerstone of the West London Hip Hop and Grime industry.
Since 2005, 3Face has been working on his live shows to keep his profile high, playing at a variety of venues all over the Lonsonarea, from upmarket West End clubs to the grimiest underground venues London has to offer. He has also jumped on the heavily rotated ‘southside allstarz’ beat that was a Channel U favourite. He finished his ‘Streets of Rage’ mixtape which is in all good record shops now. His debut release ‘Different World’ was then been cleared, finished and hit the stores in March 2006, shooting the video for this track and another Reggae/Hip Hop fusion in November, wit releases in early 2007. 3Face is now working 24/7 on his music, completing his debut album, doing what he loves wih his beats in one hand and his mic in the other.
Review:
At last, 3Face’s debut vinyl promo ‘Different World’ is out, courtesy of West London’s Gold Seal Recordings. The track demonstrates exactly wat sets this talented wordsmith apart from the rest. 3Face makes a difference as an artist wearing his heart on his sleeve in a scene saturated with ‘bling’, parodied by chav culture and held back by misogyny and Gangsta stereotyping. 3Face is a storyteller of the highest calibre and relates to the everyman with his social narrative. ‘Different World’ is the fusion of intelligent songwriting and catchy, soul infused production.
The AA side ‘Crunked Out’ refix showcases producer of the moment black jack on the buttons and the formidable talents of 3Face, Nolay, N.A.S.T.Y. Jack, wretch 32, Tinchy Stryder and scorcher on vocal duties. The video has been shot and is de for an April release date.
“This is formidable stuff. Led by 3Face’s incisive and emotional lyrical story, the mamoth beats and that memorable Motown hook ensure thisis a bonafide anthem.” – DJ MAG
Links:
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/3face
Website - http://www.3face.net
Gold Seal Recordings - http://www.goldsealrecordings.com