Respecta.is - The Ultimate Hip Hop Portal

Featured Material vol.1 (2001)
Featured Material vol.2 (2003)
Featured Material vol.3 (2004)

whutduzFMstand4? That is the question that PackFM hopes you will seek to answer on his debut full-length project whutduzFMstand4? This young Brooklyn MC is already off to an exceptional start in his musical career, and he is ready to take on the world. In 1997 his first recorded song, "Hit List", was played on New York's Hot 97's now defunct Home Jams show. The song became an underground hit, and was played for four consecutive weeks during the final month of the Home Jams show. It created considerable buzz among underground Hip Hop heads in New York. In May of '98 he also appeared on the B-side single "Lifestyles of the Poor Wit' a Fortune", which was released by Ope Entertainment. "I was influenced by acts like A Tribe Called Quest, EPMD, and Big Daddy Kane," explains PackFM, "so every time I make a song my goal is to make music the way they imagined Hip Hop to be fifteen years later" PackFM began his distinguished battle career early, including such titles as "88HipHop MC Battle Champion", which he held for four undefeated months until retiring and being placed in their Hall Of Fame. He was the last man standing out of 32 MC's in the legendary "Braggin' Rites" tournament. In 1999 he swept the competition at "Next Generation Battle" at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. He also won the TDK sponsored "24 Hour MC Battle" an astounding three months in a row, and was featured along with previous winners in XXL Magazine.

In 2000, PackFM collaborated with Tonedeff to compete in the Napster/Rapstation.com "Power To The People And Beats" contest. Their track was chosen among the top six out of over 80 contestants. That same year he was a finalist in the Rock Steady Crew's annual MC Battle, and then placed 2nd out of 100 MCs in the Source Magazine's "Unsigned Hype Live MC Battle Tournament". After that huge accomplishment, he took a long break from battling, only to return for a triumph in the 2003 "Everlast Harlem Lyricist Championship". Countless victories in the battle circuit caught the attention of a few independent filmmakers. PackFM was featured in the award-winning Dutch documentary Kika NY, and appeared in the acclaimed independent film Freestyle alongside Pharoahe Monch, Mos Def, Supernatural, The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac. Freestyle aired on VH1's HipHop Week and was featured in the Sundance Film Festival in 1999, and received praise from the critics for it's raw portrayal of hardcore battle emcees.

Although an accomplished battle rapper and performer, PackFM is out to prove that there are still talented live MC's who can make classic songs. "I haven't been in a battle in well over a year, but people still remember me from the battles rather than my records," he says. "So many people feel that MC's who are good at battling and freestyling are incapable of making records, which isn't always true...there is so much more that I'm capable of." Not only has PackFM proven his talents in the battle circuit, but he has consistently shown his ability to move the crowd on stage, performing alongside some of Hip Hop's finest, including M.O.P., Ghostface Killah, Rahzel, Masta Ace, Brand Nubian, the Beatnuts, Slick Rick and Common, just to name a few.

Often described as witty and crafty, his clever lyricism has been featured on various projects and 12"s, including his debut SOLO 12" single, "Freestyle Marathon". He came together with Tonedeff, Substantial and Session as Extended F@mm to release the highly acclaimed EP Happy F*ck You Songs. The EP created such a strong buzz, it earned the foursome a feature in "Off the Radar" in The Source Magazine's March 2003 issue. He was also featured prominently in spots on MTV's Hip Hop Week with Wordsworth and fellow QN5 label mates Tonedeff and Mecca. Additionally he has headlined and released a popular series of mixtapes entitled Featured Material, Volumes 1 and 2. Featured Material Volume 3 drops mid July 2004, and features Jean Grae, Last Emperor, Bad Seed, Tonedeff and J.U.I.C.E.

Days before the QN5 Megashow in 2005, PackFM twisted his ankle and performed at the show in the center of the audience with a cane. The passion and the fire caught the ears and eyes of label executives, and a bidding war ensued with a number of labels, both independent and major. The winner was Avatar Records, and PackFM inked a distribution deal. So why did PackFM turn down a major label deal? “I knew that if I fucked with them Id be shelved,” he advises. “My main goal was to put a record out.” In the midst of the bidding, PackFM was handpicked by none other than P. Diddy to appear on the videogame Marc Eckos Getting Up with the remixed track Click Clack and Spray. PackFMs hardwork was beginning to finally pay off.

After years of funding, hand delivering, self-promoting and booking, PackFM is delivering his solo masterpiece to the masses. The blood, sweat, and tears alone put into this record make it an automatic classic. whutduzFMstand4? is the sharpest glimpse into the future of Hip-Hop music. Featuring the already classic battlecry Stomp, along with the lyrically breathtaking I Cant Win, whutduzFMstand4? speaks to anyone in every way. The album is not just a new phase in the life of a legendary lexicon, but a warning to all MCs, both mainstream and underground to seriously step up their game.

Following the release of whutduzFMstand4?, PackFM will embark on a worldwide tour to both promote his masterpiece and feed his hunger for live performance.

I Fucking Hate Rappers is the bold title of PackFM’s new collaborative album with producer Domingo. With the release of a new t-shirt that promotes the album, fans can proudly wear the title on their chests. But, it seems the title means much more to Pack now that he’s completed the album and is prepping for its release.

/Hip Hop News/ April 7th, 2009
More after jump

“The main theme is basically this: In a world where everybody and their mailman raps, how do you stay true to what you do, not follow trends for trend sake? I think ‘Sire’ says it all because one day rapping won’t be cool to do at all. How many of these cats will still do it simply because they love it?”

So, what can fans expect from this album?

“The number one goal with this album is to make straight up Hip Hop music. It’s about taking the craft of being an emcee serious. So the rhymes are skillful and well thought out. And with Domingo, you have that street Hip Hop sound that is getting lost in Hip Hop today, which is one reason why I hate rappers,” he added. “These days it seems like they try so hard not to be Hip Hop. If I hear one more rap record where the rapper doesn’t rap, somebody is getting punched in the mouth.”

He went on to say that stepping out of the box is fine, as long as one remembers where they came from.

“You have rappers who really can’t sing and they say, ‘I’m more than a rapper.’ No, you’re not. So you get these guys who are viewed by the public as the new wave of Hip Hop and they decide to take that opportunity to appeal to alternative rock fans…badly. Like Hip Hop isn’t good enough anymore. But I love cats like Pharoahe Monch and Tonedeff and even Mos Def, because no matter what they do to step outside the box, they bring it back to the core of Hip Hop.”

The album, I Fucking Hate Rappers, is due out in late Spring or early Summer.