CaliFlorida Productions Inc & Block Starz Music Present:
Antagonist
"Walk Hard - The Anthony Masters Story"
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Antagonist
ENGINEERED & MIXED BY: Antagonist
LABEL: CaliFlorida Productions Inc. / Billionaire Boys Club/ Ray Ping Yu Records
SPONSOR: Block Starz Music Inc.
RELEASE DATE: August 4, 2010
FORMAT: EP/Mixtape (Promotional Only)
PLAYTIME: 1:07:26
1. Welcome Back Intro (Produced by Hoodfamous)
2. Never Again (Produced by Anno Domini)
3. Hold My Hand (Produced by Adlib)
4. Pretty Ladies (Produced by JacoJack)
5. Chip on My Shoulder (Produced by Frontier)
6. Crazy Bitch (Produced by Kevin Rudolf)
7. Drank (Produced by Antagonist)
8. California Girl (Produced by Antagonist)
9. Pussy (Produced by Clinton Sparks)
10. The Natural (Produced by Antagonist)
11. They're Watchin (Produced by Antagonist)
12. Salami (Produced by Polow Da Don)
13. Happy Hour (Produced by Antagonist)
14. Yacht Money (Produced by Antagonist)
15. Where She Go (Produced by Antagonist)
16. A Reflection (Produced by Hi-Tek)
17. Roughneck (Produced by MoSS)
18. Tropical Depression (Produced by Antagonist)
19. Walk Hard (Produced by Antagonist)
No DJ, no guest appearances, and a slick level of production akin to a retail release, that's three things that you don't often see in a promotional mixtape nowadays. Antagonist has often walked against the grain on his rise through this industry, and this time around it's no different. A talented producer, artist, and song-writer, Antagonist let's his brightest assets shine on "Walk Hard" as his productions and lyrical prowess blend together in a mesh of self-produced orchestrations, independent soundscapes, and even some obscure industry gems. Antagonist has always come across as a person who has something to prove, and his projects have the feel of artful puzzles, put together with skill and precision. You can tell that these aren't the run of the mill tracks, just thrown together as a cheap ploy for attention and profit. This is a man who takes his craft, and the art of sound very seriously. "Walk Hard" starts off with a bang with the Hoodfamous produced intro "Welcome Back", an electro-southern banger which re-introduces Antagonist to those who may have forgot about him in his brief 10 month hiatus between projects. "Some of ya'll tried to shelf me, refused to sell me, this is dedicated to those who never felt me..." Antagonist belts out to all the doubters that he is here to stay, and by the sheer inflection of his voice, he obviously means it. The usual suspects, independent producer heavy-weights Anno Domini, Adlib, JacoJack, and Frontier have once again lent phenomenal instrumentals to this project as well, and have solidified themselves as a strong production team behind Antagonist.
Antagonist has always had a knack for blending genre's, and his stylistic voice sounds comfortable over anything you throw his way. He continues this tradition on "Walk Hard" by concocting a gem called "California Girl" over the instrumental for Three Doors Down song "Superman". A punk-hip-hop mishmash that echoes that golden California punk sound made famous by bands like NOFX & Bad Religion, it's amazing that Ant can make something like this sound at home on a hip hop record. I know he has talked in the past of releasing projects in other genre's, and I can only hope that we see some more work like this out of Ant as he matures, and continues to broaden his musical tentacles. Matter of fact he has often sited Greg Graffin of Bad Religion as an influence, and especially admires how Greg went beyond music and became a professor at UCLA.
Continuing onward through this stellar playlist, Antagonist continues to offer strong vocal performances over instrumentals by some industry vets While some artists come off as plagiarists when they do this, Antagonist somehow manages to demonstrate that both his productions and lyrics can stand behind those who command far bigger commissions than he. "Pussy" produced by Clinton Sparks, "Roughneck" produced by MoSS, and "A Reflection" produced by Hi-Tek, are three songs that illuminate Antagonist's ability to shine on instrumentals crafted by seasoned hit-makers. Producers take notice, give this man beats!!!
Not to be outdid by the few guest producers, the highlight is Antagonist's own self-crafted production on this project, which show that he's been working hard to elevate and reinvent his sound. The newest beats Antagonist has showcased here, ooze with style, and provide the backdrop for some of the purest music he has ever written. "The Natural" is exactly as the title suggests, a stripped-down Antagonist bearing his soul over a wailing orchestra soundtrack of horns, choir and dark synths. "Yacht Money" comes across as a tongue-in-cheek ode to the Fruity Loops type production that's dominating the airwaves nowadays, and makes a strong statement that whatever is in demand, Antagonist can supply. "Where She Go" is a poignant ode to the females that have come and gone through Ant's life, and the infectious vibe of "Happy Hour" plays out like the theme-song to a night at your favorite watering hole.
"Walk Hard" just might be the perfect EP. The project as a whole is wonderful, and with the brilliant use of the comedy by the same name, really plays out like a cinematic experience. There are songs for the mainstream, for the hip hop purist, there's songs for the women, matter of fact there's a little something for everybody. Topics jump around from the deep to the hilarious, and although he mentions them plenty, Antagonist never gets caught up in the cliche rhyme topics that cripple other emcees. One of the greatest things about this EP is that Antagonist has finally come into his own shoes so to speak, and developed his own voice and style. It's been great watching Antagonist's huge growth spurt over the past couple of years, and hopefully he'll soon reap the rewards that he is so deserving.
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www.califloridaproductions.com
FOR INFORMATION ON BOOKING/PRODUCTION/VERSES/ETC: ANTAGONIST DIRECT AT: califloridaproductions@gmail.com or call the business line (424) 354-0698
FOR ALL PRESS INQUIRIES: ANTAGONIST DIRECT AT: califloridaproductions@gmail.com
