press kit - Truth Universal

504.481.5959 / www.truthuniversal.com
Venue Capacity:
Charts:
Gypsy Tea Room, Dallas,TX -Capacity 300
Club Harlem Toronto, ON Capacity 300
Zen Sushi, Silverlake, CA -- Capacity 350
House of Blues(Parish Room), NOLA -- Capacity 400
House of Blues(Main Room), NOLA -- Capacity 800
Blind Pig, Ann Arbor MI -- Capacity 400
Independent, Austin, TX -- Capacity 300
White Rabbit, San Antonio -- Capacity 1000
Back Alley Social Club, Austin, TX -- Capacity 450
Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta, GA -- Capacity 250
Vino’s Pizza, Pub & Brewery, Little Rock, AR -- Capacity 550
AC Supper Club, Los Angeles, CA -- Capacity 300
Hidden House, Phoenix, AZ -- Capacity 50
Sports on Congress, Tucson, AZ -- Capacity 250
Remy Lounge, Manhattan, NY -- Capacity 250
Nuyorican Poets Cafe, New York, NY -- Capacity 200
Guerilla Business:
CMJ Hip Hop Chart -- #12 PEAK (8 weeks on)
Rapnetwork Record Breakers Chart -- #2 PEAK
Rapattacklives.com -- #1 PEAK
Self Determination:
CMJ Hip Hop Chart -- #7 PEAK
Truth Universal / 504.481.5959 / www.truthuniversal.com
Biography
Born in the Diego Martin, Trinidad, Truth Universal became a New Orleans
residentat age four. In the Crescent City, he grew up on hip hop, brass
bands, calypso, bass music, reggae, soul, jazz, and gospel.
“Some of my first memories include going to the mall and my Mama
buying me my first tape, which was the Fat Boys’ first album,” Truth
says. “I also remember the Merly Merl’s (this cat named Merlin from a
neighborhood close by mine) mixtapes, going by my friend Ralph’s house
across the street and listening to his 12 inches, and digging in the
dumpster at Read Supermarket for boxes to break on. Back then I wanted
to DJ more than anything else. My family never could afford to buy me
any 1200s.”
Through the years, he carefully studied the unspoken rules and examples
set forth by the early practitioners of hip hop. “I began dabbling in
rhyming,” Truth recalls. “In 1991, per the suggestion of a friend, I started
writing and really started taking it seriously.”
Truth Universal’s ideals of hip hop preservation, contination and
nonconformity, coupled with his social dialogue, make presence. “The
reason my music sounds like it does is a conscious effort to keep it in the
vein of what influenced me to hip hop and a natural black music
progression,” he explains. “I would just call it traditional. I’m very
mindful of the structure, feel, the DJ presence and a degree of provocative
content.”
TU dropped his first 12” single – “Natural Disaster”/”Put It On Your
Mind”/”Dashiki Dialogue” and EP – “Plantation Graffiti: The Naked Truth
Dressed to Kill” in 2000 and 2001 respectively and he entered a contest
called the Mic Check 2000. Even though he didn’t win, this performance
served to establish his presence on the New Orleans scene and win the
respect of his peers. With his political messages, traditional Hip Hop
sensibilities, and progressive lyrical content, Truth Universal has remained
a consistent talent and a true voice from the South for over a decade. Truth
released his full-length debut, “Self-Determination,” in 2008 to critical
acclaim, including coverage in Source Magazine, OkayPlayer.com, and
countless others. Truth is a leader of the New Orleans Hip Hop scene, an
outspoken voice for social change and consciousness, and an invaluable
member of the New Orleans cultural economy and the greater
international Hip Hop community.
Truth Universal / 504.481.5959 / www.truthuniversal.com
Discography
Guerrilla Business LP
Truth Universal Music / Select O Hits | July 2010
CMJ Hip Hop Chart -- #12 PEAK (8 weeks on)
Rapnetwork Record Breakers Chart -- #2 PEAK
Rapattacklives.com -- #1 PEAK
Mind Frame 12”
Truth Universal Music / Select O Hits | July 2010
Hard Truth Soldiers Vol 2 (Compilation)
Guerrilla Funk Recordings and Filmworks, LLC | May 2009
Self Determination LP
Truth Universal Music / Select O Hits |April 2008
CMJ Hip Hop Chart -- #7 PEAK
Move the Crowd Mixtape
Truth Universal Music | Fall 2006
“…traditional hip-hop sound and production, accordingly planting a political message in that habitat in the tradition of Public Enemy, KRS One, and Poor Righteous Teachers.” | Review, Okayplayer.com
Restless Natives (Compilation)
Dragon’s Breath | 2006
“Another major talent displayed on this comp is Truth Universal, who contributes to “Introduction” and gives a
solo joint, appropriately titled simply “Heat.” A lyricist that claims he’s “still more against the grain than the
Atkins diet,” Truth embodies that ‘I’m different and proud of it’ vibe of the whole disc, while giving us a complete
package by using his commanding vocal presence to spit a little on everything from politricks and economics to
upliftment.” | Review, Rapreviews.com
Hard Truth Soldiers Vol 1 (Compilation)
Guerrilla Funk Recordings | Feb 2006
Decolonization Mixtape
Truth Universal Music | 2005
“Truth hits it right on, in the last track, calling what he makes ‘grown folks’ hip hop. His music is not for the ignorant, socially unaware youngsters that do not want to make a difference. One of the biggest questions in hip hop
is ‘What do you represent?’ Truth Universal represents a higher echelon of knowledge. In ‘Mind Frame,’ which
features Zion I, he includes a vocal sample: ‘We pride ourselves on the high moral standards of our program’
which reflects the vision he conveys through his music.” | Anna Farinas, review of Decolonization Mixtape
New Orleans’ Finest Remix/Statistically Speaking/Kamau 12”
Truth Universal Music / Advanced Ideas Music | January 2003
“Quality, politically conscious hip hop music from Louisiana. No dirty in this southern-based hip hop crew’s four track
single which features four songs that will break any present stereotypes that you may have about southern hip hop.
From the title track to “Statistically Speaking,” a frank song about the plight of the black males from the streets to the
penitentiary system, Truth Universal brings a good release worth checking out.” | Raze, Insomniac Magazine, Issue
#21
Four Track Mind/New Orleans’ Finest 12”
Truth Universal Music / Advanced Ideas Music | May 2001
Plantation Grafitti: The Naked Truth Dressed to Kill EP
Truth Universal Music / Advanced Ideas Music | April 2001
“The thing that first caught my attention with this New Orleans hip-hop release was the excellent DJ skills. The
scratching is fantastic and well-used, dancing cuts across the tracks and keeping the listener bouncing to the funktified
beats. Once you absorb the dope wax-work, you’ll notice that the rhyming skills are on point as well. The lyrics are
intelligent, with amazing flows of enlightment that dance from the CD to the speakers to your brain. This is an
impressive indie hiphop release.” | Craig Mazer, Impact Press, August/September 2001 issue
Dashiki Dialogue/Put It On Your Mind/Natural Disaster 12”
Truth Universal Music | September 2000
Truth Universal / 504.481.5959 / www.truthuniversal.com
Stage Plot
Variations
DJ Rig:
(1) Rane TM57 Mixer
(2) Technics 1200s Turntables
(1) Pioneer Denon CDJ
(1) Boom Microphone
1
Back up Vox
Lead Vox
DJ Rig:
(1) Rane TM57 Mixer
(2) Technics 1200s Turntables
(1) Pioneer Denon CDJ
(1) Boom Microphone
Screen
Projector
Singer
2
Back up Vox
Lead Vox
Truth Universal / 504.481.5959 / www.truthuniversal.com
Congas
3
Truth Universal / 504.481.5959 / www.truthuniversal.com