New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The rapper from Columbus, OH known as Thump has released his debut full-length rap album, appropriately titled "Tales for Heads." The album is comprised of 15 original tracks for a total of more than the standard LP's 45 minutes worth of playing time. A complex, remarkable narrative of humanity with insight and compassion beyond that which is commonly exhibited in any of the contemporary arts today, "Tales for Heads" is urban poetry for the thinking person set against some of the most solid beats mixed in the last decade.
Thump, who is currently finishing his senior year at Capital University studying music education, cites as main artistic influences the likes of Atmosphere, Busdriver, Doseone, Aesop Rock, El-P, Ant, Blueprint, Camu Tao, as well as "every video game composer ever." Also, his humanistic bent and perspective, as well as his style of lyrical composition, place him in the austere company of rappers like KRS-One, Spearhead (Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy) and the great Tupac Shakur.
In addition to writing and performing his music, Thump incredibly records, engineers, produces, mixes and even masters his material for distribution to fans worldwide. Nevertheless, one gets the distinct impression that inspiration and clarity of vision take up the lion's share of Thump's creative process. One sign is his readiness and precision in discussing his aims for "Tales for Heads."
"I conceived this record while thinking about people," he writes. "I've always played this game where I make up stories about strangers based on their appearance, whether it be dress, attitude, posture, or whatever other clues. I decided to write down some of these stories, and my concept was that a choice that may have seemed small at the time could have had a drastic effect on one's life."
In this manner Thump spits the stories of individuals with the delicate, surgical care of a literary genius. His eloquence is more Fitzgerald than Hemingway, and often surprisingly heavy in tone - more
Ice Cube than Jay-Z. As a slight improvement on 'Cube, though, Thump often accomplishes intense levels of gravity without the need for a 'Parental Advisory, Explicit Lyrics' tag, making his music accessible to a far wider audience.
"I like to imagine this album represents the experience of being on a public bus and seeing all these different people," he continues. "Some are delighted, some are disheveled, some are in pain, and some are just angry. What they all have in common is that they are still here. Every one of those people on that bus has found a reason to live, whether it be through sheer faith or just the desire to be with a loved one. This album is called 'Tales for Heads' to allude to those seemingly worthless choices which it explores."
"Tales for Heads" by Thump is available online worldwide beginning early August of 2013.
The LP "Tales for Heads" is distributed globally by MondoTunes (www.MondoTunes.com) and is available at iTunes or www.top40-charts.com for convenient purchase and download.
