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ASHKON An extraordinarily gifted performer, Ashkon is without question Grad School Music’s most well-rounded talent. In addition to an impressive hip-hop resume, Ash has also played front-man to several bands whose genres have run the gamut from pop-punk to neo-soul. This is to say nothing of an accomplished acting career which has landed him onstage in roles ranging from musical theatre to challenging character driven drama. In spite of these varied talents and interests, Ashkon remains a Bay Area born and bred hip-hopper at heart. Therefore, it should be no surprise that his first real shot at stardom comes in the form of The Final Breakthrough. Like eclectic artists Andre 3000 and Kanye West, Ashkon demonstrates an ability to master a certain style and then surprise fans with something utterly new. In The Final Breakthrough, he has created an album which respects the tenets of the contemporary hip-hop landscape without being trapped by it clichés and fleeting trends. While influences like Tupac and Eminem are apparent throughout the album, so are those of legendary bands like Tower of Power and even bluesmen like Bobby Bland. This is all fearlessly blended through progressive, musically ambitious arrangements to create the album’s unique sound. The album’s lyrical content is just as broad. Whether spouting an unabashed party anthem or a sweeping indictment of the American political status-quo, Ashkon comes across as doggedly honest and entirely at home in his subject matter. It is with great pride and faith in this project that we here at Grad School Music cordially invite you to listen. Myspace:
www.myspace.com/ashkon1 |