Material Theory
Union, NJ | Established. Jan 01, 2006 | INDIE
Music
Press
Room With A View” (feat. Kid Don)(Prod. by 808 Mafia), is the lead single from the Material Theory debut EP, “Blunt Promises”, set for release in Q4 of 2016. With 10 years of experience in crafting records, dealing with artistic relationships, learning to value losses, and recognizing when to celebrate a win, Material Theory is still under the Freshset Music brand, representing the full embodiment of the duo, eXceL and Kfrxsh’s, respective views of the hip-hop world: unfettered music, fashion, collaborative artistry, and adaptability of the ever evolving culture, culminating in music you can feel, and moments you’ll remember.
Material Theory
Listening to “Room With A View”, it’s so overwhelmingly clear how much more skilled is employed here. And it immediately occurred to me within 8 bars that Material Theory isn’t for black kids, and it isn’t for white kids. Material Theory isn’t Rap music, Hip hop music, or any other little boxed music title…its life music. So you just need to let yourself slip into an ecstasy, and have a conversation with the lyricists.
Material Theory’s picturesquely honest rhymes and penchant for colorful storytelling paired with Purps of 808 Mafia’s skillful mastery of the boards will connected with listeners ranging from the most ardent hip-hop head to the indie rock fan who barely acknowledges rap’s existence.
And while Material Theory has shared the breakup saga that plagues many groups who’ve been around for a decade or more, they seem to have grown stronger for it. The two have managed to evolve and progress naturally over the years while still staying true to the initial idea behind what Material Theory started out being under a different guise.
The flows are silky smooth, while the vocals stay tight and melodic over a chilled beat that sets the mood and tone. Smooth and melodic to the ears, mind and body, this duo here will no doubt soon be capturing attention. Their performances lend a sense of urgency, purpose and energy to the track that is seen throughout. “Room With A View” (feat. Kid Don)(Prod. by 808 Mafia), will appeal to the underground just as much as it will excite the mainstream.
The topic is great and relatable, the lyrics are clever, the hooks are catchy without being cheesy and the beat is fire. Contrary to what some people might believe becoming more popular doesn’t always mean underground heads won’t like you anymore. The key to the door of both worlds is to keep it real – and think that is exactly what Material Theory is doing here. - Jamsphere Magazine
Discography
Blunt Promises - 2016.
Photos
Bio
In the ever shifting climate of the Hip-Hop world, Material Theory stands as an embodiment of several aspects of the culture: lyricism, fashion, self-reflection, and experimentation. Though young, Material Theory presents themselves as big league contenders with seasoned sonic grace and precision. Their debut EP, Blunt Promises, releasing in the late summer of 2016, demonstrates as much, and delivers a cohesive sonic experience from it's spiraling intro, “Dawn”, to the sensually intimate closeout, “Dusk”. The concept of the project represents the hardships associated with advancing through life, love, and relationships, while maturing as part of a 21st century society. Tackling unrequited emotion, loneliness and longing, the carefree consciousness of youth, and the pressure to conform to societal norms, Blunt Promises is an extended metaphor, a period piece of a new generation. The EP is enveloped in a sound Material Theory has dubbed, “Turnt Vocals”: passionate, exuberant, melodic, forceful, and heavily filtered vocals that serve as the driving force of each record. Blunt Promises features industrial influenced backgrounds, soft and airy melodic harmonies, hard, crisp kick drums, and heavy, booming bass lines that resonate in your chest cavity. Forcing legato melodies and staccato rap flows into collusion, Material Theory has intertwined delicate R&B; grooves with immersive Rap patterns, coining the term Rhythm & Rap. Coupled with stellar production provided by Purps of 808 Mafia, Adot The God, Lexi Banks Music Group, and a host of other producers, Material Theory has crafted an addictively pleasant sonic appeal, and promises to deliver in the bluntest way possible. Beginnings The foundations of Material Theory were laid in 2006 when eXceL's father, and manager of Material Theory, Kevin Nelson, discovered a CD-R disc hidden inside of a dictionary while trying to define a word. This CD-R contained several songs that eXceL secretly recorded in the basement of their home, and planned to distribute to classmates at his school. Kevin was impressed with the music discovered, and presented eXceL with an opportunity to elevate his music to the next level, promising to back him with funding and encouragement. eXceL accepted the offer under one stipulation: his two friends, Kfrxsh and Wildboy Blaow, would be included in the offer; together they would forge a group. Kevin accepted the stipulation, and the group, 3 Talented Guys, better recognized as 3.T.G., was born. The boys were excited at the prospect laid in front of them but soon hit stagnancy, struggling to solidify their sound and vision. After a few months, Kevin decided the time had arrived to shake things up; he joined the trio, turning them into a quartet, and re-branded them Just F.A.M. Kevin would sing the majority of the group's choruses, adding vocal legitimacy to the young group's records, and providing them with the urgent direction and filtering they would later benefit from. Just F.A.M. functioned as a direct foil of 3.T.G., strong, practiced, and focused. They burst out of the gates garnering unabated attention, something not expected in the least. The Birth of Freshset Music In 2010, Kevin made his departure from the group to focus on pushing them from behind the scenes, as by this point in time the boys had matured into men, capable of crafting melodies and records in their own right. Kevin's departure resulted in the group losing their main vocalist, a void filled cooperatively by eXceL and Kfrxsh, who had been penning choruses for Just F.A.M. towards the latter end of its campaign; this dynamic would prove to stand the test of time. A trio once more, the group rebranded themselves as FS, short for Freshset, and Kevin established the independent record label, Freshset Music. FS released their debut mixtape, Equavilation City, in May of 2011 to positive response and steadily pushed forward, recording hundreds of songs from 2011-2013 while planning their sophomore effort. Enter Material Theory In the Summer of 2013, Wildboy Blaow enlisted in the United States Air Force, a move that would reduce FS to a duo. His sudden departure subtly shifted the dynamics of the group, and though eXceL and Kfrxsh initially kept the name FS, they decided a full reset and re-brand the best possible move. After a brief hiatus from performances, social media, and music in general, eXceL and Kfrxsh reemerged in April 2014 as Material Theory, complete with an entirely new philosophy, outlook on their music, and most importantly, a new sound.
Band Members
Links
