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Wickedstock VI Draws National
Attention
By Randy Chandler
For Saginaw-based rap group Project: Deadman, the last couple of years have been a whirlwind of activity, picking them up like a tornado and flinging their sound and presence across he nation. Not bad for something that initially began as a humble side project for Steve Shippe, AKA Prozak, who, at the time, was a member of pioneering Horrorcore outfit Bedlam.
"When this all started, I just wanted to
do something a little different than what I had going in Bedlam," Prozak
noted in a recent conversation. " I went to a few different people to
help with beats, like Gee Pierce. When I started working with
Mike E. Clark, the idea of forming a whole new thing kinda took
over. It became bigger than just a side project-it deserved to be its
own thing."
The fruit of their labors, a CD entitled
"Self-Inflicted", was first released n 2004 on MSC/ B4 Edge
Records. The release garnered extensive airplay in underground markets
and soon won them a rabid fan base that seemed to stretch around the
globe. Sony took note of this, and soon the CD was being
distributed nationwide under their Red imprint.
"It's in all the major chains," Prozak
continues,"Best Buy, Media Play, Sam Goody. You can even download the
S*** off itunes!"
Designed as " what would happen if you
took a rap group, a rock group, and a good horror flick, threw it in a
blender, and served it cold", the disc is an unrelenting and unsettling
blast of evil, twisted tales combined with eerie soudscapes that
effortlessly conjure up images of coming face-to-face with your darkest
fears and succumbing to them. It's a potent mix, one that has the
potential to leave one shaking, much like a top-notch thriller should
do. It is pure escapism, for those who prefer their darkness with a
psychotic edge. For the most part, this is something that both bands and
fans understand.
"Self-Inflicted" has managed to land PDM
the opening slots on three national tours, gigging alongside rap
luminaries Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, and Tech N9ne, and
ultimately logging over 140 shows across the nation.
When asked if any particular cities held
a special place in his memory, he is quick to rattle them off: "San
Antonio, Denver, and Portland, Oregon. These were places that just
surprised the s*** out of us. You wouldn't expect a big audience for
this stuff in those places, but they were off the hook! People knew the
words and everything!" Any stories from the road that you'd like to
share? "None that you could print!"
Not content to sit back and revel in
past achievements, Prozak is already looking ahead to the next release.
"We're actually putting out two releases this year-a national release,
the followup to "Self-Inflicted", and a second disc that will be sold
thru the underground, at shows and off the website." PDM will also
contribute a song to the soundtrack of the upcoming film,"Locked Away".
It should also be noted that "Self-Inflicted" managed to snag the #84
slot on Billboards top 200 albums of 2005-an auspicious start to a
hellacious career.
For the immediate future, Prozak's
thoughts rest squarely on the upcoming WICKEDSTOCK event that
will be taking place at Shooters' newly finished concert hall on
the night of Feb. 12. "It takes a lotta work to put something
like this together,"Prozak laughs. But remember, this was the guy who
brought Bone Thugs N' Harmony to the Watering Trough a while back!
This will be the 6th Annual
Wickedstock, carrying on in the tradition that started at Harpos
just 6 years ago. "It started huge, and it just keeps growin'", he
smiles.
In addition to homecoming kings PDM, the night will see performances by Tech N9ne, King Gordy (famed in the Eminem biopic 8Mile), ROC from former Bedlam cohorts House of Krazees, as well as a host of other rap and horrorcore artists.
It's crazy," he notes." We got people
coming from all over the country to this event-people from as far away
as New York, Maine, Washington-people are flying in just for this event.
We told 'em on the website to book your motels now, cuz come showtime,
there might not be any rooms left-it's gonna be that huge."
"I invite anyone to come out and
challenge the crowd we bring," Prozak says -and the look in his eyes
tells you he means it. "Last year, at a show in Detroit, the ****ing BBC
flew in a film crew to tape the gig!"
Asked about former Bedlamite Curt D.,"Prozak
responds,"We're cool. I just talked to him the other day. Being inBedlam
was a cool experience. Life just takes you in different directions
sometimes, y'know what I'm saying? It's all good."
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