Stat Quo

Posted April 8, 2009

Audio

01. Intro
02. Swaggin On The Beat – prod by Dub Z
03. I Like That – prod by Ill Tone
04. Barack Skit
05. Badman – prod by DJ Pain
06. Push Me Away – prod by Kevin Rachwel
07. Get High – prod by Mista Encore
08. Pain Goes On – prod by Divided Soul Ent. & DJ Dirty D
09. Real Talk – prod by Lyr1kz
10. The Mirror In Me – prod by Kevin Rachwel
11. Mary Jane – prod by Kevin Rachwel
12. In The Ghetto – prod by Mista Encore

Press: Interviews, Articles & Reviews

Of all the young stars on the rise, few have been able to garner an international fan base without an official album, and even fewer attain the loyalty to carry them through significant changes in their careers. Atlanta native Stat Quo has been one of the most revered emcees in recent years in his rise to fame, and is now re-emerging as a prodigal son to the independent roots of earnest music and lyrical ingenuity that his fans know and love.

After a highly-publicized stint with Eminem’s Shady Records and Dr. Dre’s Aftermath label, and dozens of critically-acclaimed mixtapes between 2003 and 2008, Stat Quo is preparing the release of his first full-length album, due out in Fall 2009. In the meantime, Stat Quo has teamed with Gracie Productions and EMI for the April 21 release of Smokin’ Mirrors. Utilizing fresh-faced producers and zero guest spots, the street album is the first of two original projects that Stat will offer to fans as preludes to his debut album.

The past few years have been a vigorous learning process for Stat Quo with regard to business, and many aspiring artists in his shoes may have come out of such a whirlwind of speculation with a heavy heart. Despite the disappointing break with Shady/Aftermath, Stat Quo has taken his career changes as a time to find the true artistry within himself, and has found his own ways to promote the music.

“It was difficult to leave, because they had me tied up in paperwork for a year,” Stat Quo says of his departure from Shady/Aftermath. “I got some ill feelings because I had so much loyalty to them. I felt that based on the situation that they were in with Interscope as far as Shady and Aftermath, I knew that they couldn’t put a record out on me before they put out the Dre, Eminem or the 50 Cent projects. They knew that too, so when it came around and I was asking to be let go, I just don’t think they moved with the sense of urgency of somebody that you really got love for, so that I could go ahead and do what I needed to do. By the time they came around to it, the momentum I had died down and I had to build everything back up to get my name out here.”

Through it all, Stat Quo is thankful for the media and loyal fans who have given him the opportunity to grow without the hype of the big machine. “If I go to the grocery store or McDonalds and people know me and my music, the first question they ask is, ‘When are we gonna get an album from you?’ That wears and tears on you when you work as much as I do on creating music. I’m in the studio at least three or four times a week, and maybe more sometimes. What I’m doing now is making my music available to hold fans over until I come with that full-length project.”

Stat Quo has put out several mixtapes, and has hundreds of original songs already recorded as he prepares for the April 21 digital release of his first prelude album. “Smokin’ Mirrors is all original beats and is a sign of things to come,” explains Stat. “It’s kind of like a preview for a movie, but not necessarily telling you what the movie is about. The significance of the title Smokin’ Mirrors is sometimes when you stand in front of the mirror, reality gets f**ked up when it’s clouded with smoke, and you lose focus of who you are in a situation. It’s basically trying to see who you are through the mirror, and that can apply to any one of us.”

In keeping with his revitalized perspective on music, Stat has opted to keep his production lean and mean with new talent. Producers from his own Sperry Park Productions camp contributed, including Lyrics and Illtone out of Buffalo, New York and Kevin Rockwell out of Atlanta.

“If anybody knows me and the music I’ve been putting out, I was always affiliated with a situation and doing songs with different artists,” Stat Quo explains. “People always told me, ‘I want an album from you Stat’, so I said with this project I’m gonna give them all of me. So many artists depend on the producer to make the music incredible, and they want to lean on somebody just because they’ve got a name. I want to show the game that there’s so many up-and-coming producers that are hot, and not getting a chance because everybody pretty much runs to the same people. What’s crazy is I found these producers through outlets like Twitter, Myspace and Facebook. We give everybody an opportunity to send their beats in, and we sit down and listen. We listen to all of it, because I know how it feels to send somebody something trying to at least get an opinion back. I feel like if you make hot music consistently you’re Dr. Dre in training, you’re DJ Premier or Kanye West and you just haven’t gotten the opportunity.”

Once Smokin’ Mirrors is released, Stat Quo will continue to record as he finalizes an overseas tour and some dates in the U.S. When all is said and done, 2009 will be the year that Stat Quo found himself, and gave fans the opportunity to welcome him for his true creative gifts. “I want people to recognize that I’m the total package, and I’m destined to be a legend in this game,” he says. “I want people to get past where I’m from and just see me as one of the best to ever do it. When people say I’m the best, then my mission is complete, and until they say that, I’m gonna keep creating.”

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