East Coast Synth-Hop, from three very different perspectives. Simply put, and always straight to the point, decidedly âTristateâ independent producer/rapper Frank Marina comes through with 'The Drop' - feat. Maimon (CT) and A Butta (Harlem, NYC).

18 MP3 Songs
HIP HOP/RAP: White-Boy Rap, HIP HOP/RAP: East Coast



Details:
âIt is a thematic album about the last year and a half of my life.â

Simply put, and always straight to the point, decidedly âTristateâ producer/rapper Frank Marina finally comes through with The Drop, the very first full-length album independently released by the joint venture of S.W.E. Music and Lonely Cichlid Music.

By combining an honest, poetic rap style based on personal ups-and-downs, with the necessary lyrical prowess of Connecticut-based rapper Maimon and Harlem NYCâs own A Butta, The Drop showcases fresh east-coast talent from three very different perspectives. By ignoring all rules of caution and conformity, Marina, a current music major at Seton Hall University, along with Seton Hall alumnus producer/engineer Chris Russomanno, has crafted an aural experience that will emotionally connect with the fans, while keeping their heads banginâ at the same time.

Motivated by positive feedback from the people around them, Marina (whose real name is Joey Di Gioia) and Russomanno set out to create the perfect balance between intelligent, storytelling hip hop and infectious, synth-driven hooks and beats --- of course, with a little humor thrown in at times.

âI wanted to bring Seton Hallâs community of hip hop artists and listeners from around the world together,â Marina says. âChris came on and put his heart and soul into it. I give him a lot of credit.â

Love? was destined to be the album's obvious first single, and deals with *that* relationship we have all been through. According to Di Gioia, the song is . . . "fuckin' about . . . fuckin." He goes on to say, "This song has always been special to me, but it's the only song on the album I don't want left open to interpretation. Take whatever you want from my music. But 'Love' the noun, verb, or whatever . . . and the song, is just a wolf in sheep's clothing, a white-bred disguise for fuckin'."

One of Marinaâs favorite songs on the album, Clean âem Up, is about the end of the world, and paints a picture that resembles a chaotic chess game amongst superpowers. âIt is just about humanity. It is what is going to happen no matter what your politics is.â

Di Gioia created his âFrank Marinaâ moniker by combining his fatherâs first name and his motherâs maiden name. His friends would call him by it when he would do mafia impressions.

The album is currently for sale through cdbaby.com and on Frank Marinaâs Myspace page (www.myspace.com/frankmarina). Be on the lookout for the much-anticipated full-length debut from Maimon, due out late 2006, as well as other sure-to-be-classic summer bangers and web exclusives from S.W.E. Music/Lonely Cichlid Music.

And remember . . . donât cop that slop. Cop that Drop . . . featuring Frank Marina, Maimon, and A Butta.