The "Heat" of the city, the pulse of good music (Rap + Production)

15 MP3 Songs
HIP HOP/RAP: Hip Hop, HIP HOP/RAP: Rap



Details:
"I'm trying to bring heat to the local hip-hop scene and get us the much needed exposure. " says Michael "Titanium Frame A.K.A. Skills Lane" Kennedy, 23. Entertainer, emcee, and producer - these words merely touch the surface of Frame's many talents. He is the full package. Is Frame just another face in the game, not by far. Frame is a multi-faceted individual who has conceived not one, but two personas for his fans to feast on. Frame has the arrogant stage presence and vicious rhyme flows that have made several artists grasp their infamous reputation. In the close backdrop, Skills provides the sonic soundscape, to complement Frame's various thoughts and ideas. Together Titanium Frame and Skills Lane form the perfect team. The message comes through in his debut album The Bottom Line. This album will give listeners a sneak-peek into how Frame sees life and the game called rap.

Frame's early beginnings were at the tender age of eight, when he was challenged to rap by an acquaintance of his older brother. From that point, the addiction to the rhyming and attention that accompanied it began. For the years to come Frame slowly cultivated this art, many times in absence of an actual person. "I was too shy to do it in front of anybody, so I would spit in front of an imaginary crowd, or I would sneak my big brothers L.L. Cool J. tapes (we weren't allowed to listen to rap our house)". Determined to be a known emcee, in 1991 Frame joined a Christian rap group known as C.H.B. (Christian Homeboys). Made up of childhood friends, he was no longer under the oppression of his shy exterior. His raw talent impressed his friends and immediately Frame joined their group. But after a year and a half, the group lost its edge and went their separate ways.

Although he still had the flame in him to spark the masses, he still suffered from stage fright; with his friends the rush wasn't as intense as it was alone. So he took time off, just with the occasional freestyle to him going. That is until his chance meeting with an up and coming energetic emcee by the name of Jus an M.C. (who would later become Joe Good). This changed the way Frame felt about emceeing. Frame donned the persona "Masta Chi" while another emcee; Sket (Godemis) got together to form a group by the name Qui-Lo (The Enemy). Their goal: to change the status quo of the hip-hop scene that was evolving in Kansas City. Their strategy: war tactics and razor sharp wordplay. This caught the attention of the Topeka, KS group by the name of D.V.S. Mindz and their record label, No Coast Records. The two groups had synergy that was unprecedented which resulted in Qui-Lo receiving a record deal with No Coast in 1999. Sadly 8 months after getting their deal, and completing their self titled debut album. The group disbanded, leaving Frame's life at a standstill, "I felt like my life was ending, ya know? I think I took it the hardest out of everyone". The passion for blazing the mic was gone for the time being, which resulted in him adopting a new passion, producing. "I admit at first it did it just to be doing something in hip-hop, but after I decided it was time for me to do this here for real - It became my mission to be the best at what I do and start taking my respect, since nobody wanted to give it to me.

Now a more refined, more disciplined, more mature Frame he's showing the game that the heat is missing. From a timid eight year old "wanna be rap artist" through an emerging high school rapper, Frame is now a self-producing artist knows how to work with the chemistry of production and capture the sparks of a spontaneous free-style session. Let it be known, this artist will soon not be forgotten. Recognize, and give respect where it's due.