Distant Relatives (band)

Distant Relatives
Distant Relatives in 2010
Background information
Origin	San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA
Genres	Hip hop, Underground hip hop
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Illusive Records, Distant Relatives Music
Associated acts	The Grouch (rapper), Eligh, Zion I
Website	distantrelatives.net
Members
Vocab Slick (2003-present) Maynee (2006-present) DJ Ricky Switch (2006-present) Emotionall (2003-2006) DJ Boogie The Mann (2005-2006)

Distant Relatives is an American hip hop group based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The group consists of rappers Maynee born Joseph Carter) & Vocabulary Slick (born Brian Gibson) and DJ Ricky Switch (born Ricky Gregg).

History

Formation and For The Passion (2003-2006)

Distant Relatives was formed in 2003 by founding members Vocabulary Slick and Emotionall who met as young children. Following the group’s first recording sessions which were recorded in collaboration with the group’s first DJ, DJ Boogie The Mann, Emotionall was deported to Mexico. For The Passion was released independently in the Northern California Bay Area to local acclaim but no real national attention. Shortly thereafter, DJ Boogie The Mann and Distant Relatives parted ways so that DJ Boogie The Mann could pursue a rap career. Just before Emotionall was deported to Mexico, Maynee, who had been featured on For The Passion’s “Up The Ladder” and “Keep The Flow” was recruited as an official member of the group. With Maynee & Vocabulary Slick, the group toured the state of California extensively in support of their album For The Passion (2006), playing hundreds of shows in the Lake Tahoe / Reno, Santa Cruz, San Francisco and North Bay Area markets. Based on the model used by California rap group Living Legends, Distant Relatives built their fan base by selling CDs hand-to-hand during their tours, selling more than 5,000 units directly.^[1]

DJ Ricky Switch and Protecting The Name “Distant Relatives” (2007-2010)

In the wake of DJ Boogie The Mann’s departure from the group, Distant Relatives sought a DJ to replace him. After posting a listing on craigslist.org, DJ Ricky Switch, who had moved to the San Francisco bay area from Portstewert, Ireland, answered the ad and was the group’s DJ the very next day at a gig in Mountain View, CA. This incarnation of Distant Relatives - Vocabulary Slick, Maynee and DJ Ricky Switch remained for the group’s follow-up albums, 2007's The Ethx of Distant Relatives and 2011’s This Changes Everything.

In the spring of 2007, Distant Relatives recorded an album entirely produced by Fremont, CA-based producer Ethx called The Ethx of Distant Relatives which they released for free, pressing and distributing more than 10,000 copies of the album independently.

As the group started production on their second album, rapper Nas & reggae artist Damien “Jr. Gong” Marley released and promoted an album titled Distant Relatives. While they have been referred to as “Distant Relatives”, the duo is officially named Damien “Jr. Gong” Marley & Nas and no legal action has been taken by either group in defense of the groups’ names.

This Changes Everything (2011)

In March 2011, Distant Relatives released their second studio album, This Changes Everything^{[iTunes 1]} featuring production by bay area producers Eleven.30 and Rick Vargas. The album featured guest appearances by Zumbi of Zion-I and The Grouch (rapper) & Eligh of Living Legends. Prior to the album's release, "Celebrate" featuring The Grouch & Eligh debuted on iTunes with instrumental and edited versions.^[2] Another song from This Changes Everything, "Rusty Shack" was featured as a part of iTunes' Indie Spotlight showcase in March, 2011.^[3] In May 2011, Thizzler.com wrote about the album, stating that "The Bay Area needs more groups like Distant Relatives that have a positive message with real skill."^[4]

Discography

Albums

• 2006: For The Passion
• 2011: This Changes Everything

For the Passion Tracklisting

#	Title	Songwriter(s)	Producer(s)	Performer(s)	Length
1	intro / Musica	Orlando De Los Santos	Starski & Hutch	Emotionall	1:05
2	For the Passion	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos	Woody Of Furious Minds	Vocab Slick, Emotionall	3:28
3	Ladies and Gentlemen	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos	Starski & Hutch	Vocab Slick, Emotionall, DJ Boogie The Mann (scratches)	3:52
4	Keep The Flow	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos, Joseph Carter, Gary Mitchell	The Kali Assassin	Vocab Slick, Emotionall, Maynee & Archie Ripple	4:00
5	Let It Ride	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos	The Kali Assassin	Vocab Slick, Emotionall, DJ Boogie The Mann (scratches)	4:20
6	These Days	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos	Starski & Hutch	Emotionall, Thelonious Jordan, DJ Boogie The Mann (scratches)	3:48
7	Interlude	Orlando De Los Santos	Emotionall	Emotionall	0:30
8	L.O.D. / Lack Of Dedication	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos	Starski & Hutch	Vocab Slick, Emotionall	3:50
9	Up The Ladder / Get Up	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos, Joseph Carter	Woody Of Furious Minds	Vocab Slick, Emotionall, Maynee, DJ Boogie The Mann (scratches)	3:55
10	Control	Brian Patrick Gibson	Starski & Hutch	Vocab Slick, Emotionall	4:18
11	My World	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos, Gary Mitchell	Woody Of Furious Minds	Vocab Slick, Emotionall, Archie Ripple, DJ Boogie The Mann (scratches)	4:43
12	Vocab Intro	Brian Patrcik Gibson	The Kali Assassin	Vocab Slick	0:55
13	Where U At?	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos	The Kali Assassin	Vocab Slick, Emotionall	3:05
14	Pro Athletes	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos	Woody Of Furious Minds	Vocab Slick, Emotionall	2:55
15	Entro	Orlando De Los Santos	The Kali Assassin	Emotionall	3:06
16	Get Off The Next	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos, Gary Mitchell	The Kali Assassin	Vocab Slick, Emotionall, Archie Ripple, Tim Brown (scratches)	3:06
17	TODAYWELLTALK ABOUTHEKIDWHOCALLS HIMSELFARAPPER	Orlando De Los Santos	The Kali Assassin	Emotionall, Vocab Slick	3:07
18	Star	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos, Big Tweez	Tweez	Vocab Slick, Emotionall, Big Tweez	3:51
19	Roll Up Ya Sleeves	Brian Patrick Gibson, Orlando De Los Santos	The Kali Assassin	Vocab Slick, Emotionall, Starski	3:07
20	4 Twenty (Bonus)	Brian Zaragoza	Lexosyl	Boogie The Mann	3:30

This Changes Everything Tracklisting

#	Title	Songwriter(s)	Producer(s)	Performer(s)	Length
1	Introduction	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee	1:27
2	Gotta Give	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee	3:22
3	Dream On	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter, Stephen Gaines	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee, Zumbi of Zion-I	2:54
4	Young Saga	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee, Lavish (vocals), Anata De Tally (violin)	4:22
5	Death To A Taxi	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee	4:08
6	Pressures	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee	3:39
7	Blues Too	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee	3:40
8	Move	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music & Joseph Ibarra	Vocab Slick, Maynee	3:52
9	Sorta Like	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee	3:22
10	Boondox Intro	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee	0:42
11	Where I Live	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee	3:44
12	Rusty Shack	Brian Patrcik Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee	3:22
13	Melody Interlude	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee	0:26
14	Celebrate	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter, Corey Scoffern, Eligh Nachowitz	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick, Maynee, The Grouch, Eligh, Ryan Scott (trumpet)	4:33
15	Gods Recipe	Brian Patrick Gibson, Joseph Carter	Rick V. & Eleven.30 for PopWorks Music	Vocab Slick & Maynee	5:21
16	Long Way (Bonus)	Oscar De Los Santos	Suker for DVC Records	Emotionall	5:32

Singles

• 2011: "Celebrate" ft. The Grouch (rapper) & Eligh of Living Legends

References

1. ^ "Distant Relatives". Clear Channel Publishing. http://www.x103.com/new2/artists/i/200177. Retrieved 11 April 2011. 
2. ^ "Celebrate (iTunes Single)". iTunes. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/celebrate-feat-the-grouch/id387082045. Retrieved 11 April 2011. 
3. ^ "Indie Spotlight: Hip-Hop - March 2011". "Rusty Shack". iTunes. http://itunes.apple.com/us/playlist/indie-spotlight-hip-hop-march/id426073675. Retrieved 11 April 2011. 
4. ^ "What's Slappin' In My Trunk". Thizzler.com. http://www.thizzler.com/blog/2011/5/12/whats-slappin-in-my-trunk.html. Retrieved 12 May 2011. 

1. ^ "This Changes Everything". iTunes. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/this-changes-everything/id423067146. Retrieved 11 April 2011. 

External links

• distantrelatives.net [1]
• myspace.com/distantrelativesmusic [2]