Artist description Live Hip-Hop: 3 emcees, 3 instrumentalists

Music Style Progressive Hip-Hop

Similar Artists the MetaphorX trio sound like Mos Def, The Roots, Eminem, and Jay Z (if they ever joined forces)

Artist History Since their inception, MetaphoRxhas been finding new means of expression through the mediumof hip-hop. A live rap act with instruments, they follow in the innovative tradition of the Rootsand A Tribe Called Quest. MetaphoRx has performed at Spiral Lounge, Nuyorican Poets Cafe,and most recently at CBGB’s. They have an upcoming engagement at CBGB’s this fall, as wellas dates at Club SPEEED and an outdoor music festival sponsored by Columbia University. Their 1999 studio track Kamikaze proved that the group could be as dynamic on a recording asthey are live.In 1998, the group that would later be called METAPHORx was started by three buddingrappers: Infinit, Statik B, and Suspence. The group quickly developed a small following amongtheir friends at Hunter College High School (where 6 of the 7 MetaphoRx heads attended), and astyle of their own. That style has matured with time, and each emcee also maintains anindividual approach to rap which combines in what Suspence calls “The MetaphoRx Xperience.”After a series of changes in personnel, MetaphoRx now possesses their permanent roster ,3 emcees and a four-piece band , the sound and the face that they want to show the world. Theinstrumental combination of Supremo (drums), TripleBeam (bass), BlueNote (keyboard), andMP (saxophone) forms the backbone of the MetaphoRx sound. When they play together, theband provides an energy and spontaneity that simply cannot be duplicated by any pre-recordedinstrumental.The group’s individual members are diverse, and represent a true cross-section of NewYork’s youth. MetaphoRx represents the product of their collaboration, the sum of theirdifferences. With a talented corps of artists and a dedicated fan base, MetaphoRx is ready to taketheir music as far as it can go.The RappersInfinit is the group’s resident comedian and freestyle king, incorporating his sharp wit andextensive vocabulary into all of his spontaneous flows. Infinit’s influences include Mos Def,Redman, Jay-Z, Thirstin Howl III, and Common. His rhyming style stands out from that of histwo peers, and each of his verses is laced with fierce punchlines, metaphors, and outstandingword-play. His lyrics can be either raw or thoughtful, but they are always fresh and uncalculated.Statik B’s verses can only be described as unstoppable verbal assaults. The speed at which thismicrophone master can spin out perfect rhymes makes listeners wish he had a rewind button. Hisability to rapidly switch between subjects while maintaining the intensity of his wit makes Statika true rap craftsman. When this devoted, hard-working emcee is not perfecting his technique, heis pursuing his hip-hop dreams in other venues ‹ working at his job with TheSource.com,checking out underground groups such as the Hieroglyphics and the Arsonists, or chilling withhis older brother, a professional DJ. Suspence perfectly rounds out the lyrical trio, adding a command of verbal imagery and aninexhaustible supply of metaphors that make him the acknowledged poet of the group. At 18,Suspence is the youngest member of MetaphoRx, but he has been involved with music for mostof his eighteen years. Highly influenced by emcees such as O.C., Mos Def, and Redman as wellas Reggae artist and cousin Capleton, and Bob Marley, Suspence’s love for music was reflectedin his DJing and emceeing at parties at the mere age of 13, and since then, Suspence has maturedinto a mesmerizing vocalist whose every syllable builds the tension, drama, and energy of a song. A proud Queens native, Suspence also brings a strong and unifying personality to the group. Ifthe MetaphoRx rappers were a Trinity, Suspence would have to be the Holy Spirit.The BandSupremo, in addition to being the MetaphoRx drummer/producer, and a classically trained violinist,Supremo acts as the band’s private beat factory, producing a limitless supply of hypnoticbackgrounds. Supremo has musicians on both sides of his Cuban/Venezuelan family, and neverhesitates to represent his Latin roots through his compositions. He provides MetaphoRx with adriving beat and a focused approach to hip-hop instrumentals.TripleBeam infuses the group’s beats with his unique basslines, which blend traditional hip-hopbass with jazz, funk, and Latin rhythms. A sensitive, experienced musician, as well as a DJ forWKCR-FM, he always seems to know just what to play and when. It may walk softly, butTriple’s bass carries a big punch.Then there’s MP’s smooth, skilled alto saxophone cuts through the mix and gives MetaphoRx beats anoriginal flavor. Whether grooving on a laid back track or wailing on an up-tempo number, MPadds a finishing touch to the MetaphoRx masterpiece.MetaphoRx, baby. “Rx for short.”

Group Members Suspence, Statik B, Infinit, Supremo, and Triple Beam

Instruments Live band consists of Drums, Bass, and Keyboards

Press Reviews Metaphorx Has Mega Potential By Russell S. Boston, MA www.ytrybe.com A crisp, futuristic flute sample wafts through the smoky air above the crowd's nodding heads. A funky live breakbeat reverberates from wall to wall as a thumping bass line shakes the floor. This is the familiar instrumental introduction to "Kamikaze," the first single from one of New York's up-and-coming, underground hip-hop groups, Metaphorx. Like the Roots and other live instrumental hip-hop acts, the Metaphorx play with live musicians at their shows, creating a chill, vibrant atmosphere for all in attendance. They recently performed at the Spiral, a venue in NY that the group has played several times over the past two years. Despite the dismal, rainy weather, almost one hundred loyal followers packed the small club to watch the stage get lit-up with dope rhymes, tight music, and raw freestyles. At a Metaphorx show, there is simply no rest for the ears - rhymes are constantly falling all around as the mic is passed rapidly between the emcees. They incorporate serious issues and humor in their lyrics, conveying a unique attitude that makes their music downright fun to be a part of. The three rappers' individual styles are quite distinct. Suspence tends to drop the most serious, fluid lines, while Static B verses are rhythmic and punchy. The verbal stylings of Infinite, perhaps the craziest emcee of the three, can best be described as wild, raw, and uncalculated. Put all these guys together and the situation becomes unpredictable, as they spontaneously burst into interactive freestyles, often grabbing people out of the crowd to come onstage and rhyme with them... The show got started with the bassist (Triple B), keyboardist (BlueNote), saxophonist (MP), and drummer/producer (Supremo) busting into an upbeat instrumental version of a Tribe Called Quest's "Can I Kick It?" Shortly thereafter, the three emcees appeared, all smiles, and got the crowd hyped. The lyrical onslaught soon began, as the band gradually built into the familiar chords of "Rx," the group's feel-good anthem. Traces of the funky, organic sounds of Arrested Development could be heard in "Unexpected," a song that the crowd really started getting into. One of the highlights of the show came at the midpoint, when the band grooved into a cover of "The Next Movement," a smash hit of the Philly-based Roots. Infinite and Suspence traded lively freestyles over the free-flowing rhythmic builds and peaks laid down by the drums and bass... It was refreshing to see the group's musical musical influences portrayed so clearly onstage - these guys were more than willing to acknowledge the wisdom of innovative hip-hop predecessors which had helped shape their style. After the Roots medley, a surprise guest was brought onstage to deliver a poignant a capella rhyme about the importance of recognition of New York's underground hip-hop scene - a cause that the Metaphorx fully endorse. Later in the set, a live string sample pounded out the introduction to "Way More," an up-tempo joint that showcased the high-speed verbal skills of Infinite and Static B. The energy of their rhymes was only matched by their energy on the stage, as they darted from one end to the next, weaving around each other physically and lyrically. The final jam of the night, "One Two," was no doubt the most powerful of them all. A hard-driving bass line started the song, and a funky, rhythmic riff on the keys soon entered above it. As the building continued, the drums gradually faded in, until they were breathing a thick and heavy beat into the song. Soon after the saxophone came screaming in, all of the instruments cut out except for the bass - at this point, it was all about intense freestyles, where one emcee would try to top another in spur-of-the-moment, rapid-fire verbal battles. After a ten-minute build in intensity, the song exploded into silence, and the crowd erupted in appreciation. There's no doubt that we'll be hearing more beats and rhymes from this Queens-based hip-hop outfit very soon.

Location New York, New York - USA

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