Colorado to Cali

Courtesy of Mike Merriman

By Paul DeCarlo
On-line Forty-Niner

What the Colorado natives, The Procussions have lost in altitude, the hip-hop trio hopes to gain in exposure by planting their sound firmly in the Southland.

"As Iron Sharpens Iron," the first full-length album for The Procussions (in stores Oct. 21), blasts back to a bygone era, touting sharp and spiritual lyrics along with instrumental interludes laid out nicely to add melodic balance.

All three members including Nate Harvey III (Resonant), Jason Medeiros, (Mr. J) and producer Brian Roberson (Stro the 89th key) come off as hip hop purists, a testament to the movement and its foundation.

"I think we would all like to be relevant," said Roberson, citing the group's commitment to underground beats and rhymes. "When people hear our music it definitely serves a purpose."

By performing with hip-hop heavies like Mos Def, Mixmaster Mike of the Beastie Boys and The Pharcyde, the group has become increasingly well connected. For their record release party Wednesday, The Procussions will perform at the Temple Bar in Santa Monica with area notables L.A. Symphony, Pigeon John, DJ Rhettmatic of the Beat Junkies and some very special guests.

The trio also was voted best hip-hop group in Colorado, taken by a 2002 poll in the Denver Post. One strong single off the new album, "Leave Her Alone," has crate diggers drooling, and recently peaked at number four on Rap Attack's DJ charts.

Their debut LP is a product of Basementalism Records, a former college radio program started by Harvey and Mike "Adict" Merriman, the group's manager.

With original motives to shop the album around to major record labels, The Procussions changed course and decided to do things their way.

"Instead, we want to try to feed ourselves for a little bit," Medeiros said. "Learn the business, learn how to get fed and then, hopefully, we will get a little bit more respect."

The members all met in Colorado Springs in 1998 while in school at Pike's Peak Community College and continued to move the dream forward to its current nest in Pasadena.

Though the group's overall success remains to be seen, the seeds of something special may have already taken root.
 
 

EVENTS LISTING

What: The Procussions record release party
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Temple Bar
1026 Wilshire Blvd.,
Santa Monica, Ca
Information: (310) 393-6611