Chicago, IL (Chi-Roc Entertainment) -
Chicago hip-hop artists have gotten a bad rap and Faheem Shabazz, president of the Chi-Rock nation who goes by BigFa, wants to prove the claims wrong.
Shabazz auditioned 50 local groups, picked the 12 best and released a 19-cut CD that's aimed at establishing Chicago as a real contender in the rap game.
The CD, called, CRU: Chicago vs. the Industry, is the first of a three-volume set to be released over 2006.
Faheem says, "Kanye and Common are cool but they don't embody Chicago street music. This is a gangsta city with something to say to the industry."
Faheem has been a part of the "Chi-Roc Hip Hop Nation" since he and some of his friends formed the organization in 1985 on the far south side of Chicago (www.officialchi-rocknation.com). Twenty years later, at age 37 he serves as the group's president. Ironically, he just won a trademark dispute between Carl Mitchell, the Atlantic recording artist known as "Twista" over who has the use of the "Chi-Rock" name.
One of his inspirations for the CD, BigFa admits, came when the hip hop artist 50 Cent emerged "This cat dissed Ja Rule for singing and he's singing harder than him, but he ain't the only Hollywood gangsta that's mentioned on the CD. There are several on the menu."
"Chicago has been played bogus for years by the music industry and rap pioneers and magazines have even been bold enough to say that Chicago has no real talent," BigFa says. "I am promoting the underground rappers from Chicago that are talented but overlooked by the industry. We finished the CD in 12 hours and some of our material is better than the crap you hear on the radio that took those stars weeks to do."
One of the featured artists on CRU which stands for Chicago Rappers United, is H20.
BigFa uses his praise of H20 to take on the Hollywood rappers: "My man "H20" the freestyle king, headlines the assault on these Hollywood puppets. I want to warn you though, this ain't for the soft at heart. This is real gangsta and there is a parental advisory sticker that should be heeded. Clap back if you want to but keep it on wax."
The CD is available through TowerRecords.com, E-Music, CDBaby, Apple iTunes, Napster and various other online music sources, BigFa says.
A federal trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, was filed by Faheem under United States Trademark Serial Application No. 78/751,401 for the mark CHI-ROCK.
