Press Release: Voices from the Frontline
CROSSCHECK RECORDS ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF
VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE
HIP HOP CD FEATURING
ALL ORIGINAL MATERIAL
FROM MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN
CURRENTLY SERVING IN IRAQ
A Portion Of The Proceeds From Every CD Will Go To Benefit
Non-Profit Organization ‘Operation AC’
To Provide Soldiers In Iraq With Non-Combat Necessities
Crosscheck Records announces the April 25, 2006 release of Voices From the Frontline, an album of all original material from US military personnel currently serving in Iraq. Featuring twelve musical tracks and twelve spoken word vignettes recorded by men and women on active duty, the CD offers an insider’s view into the often difficult, emotional, and unblinking reality of life for American troops stationed in Iraq. Crosscheck Records has teamed up with the non-profit organization Operation AC to donate a portion of the proceeds from Voices From The Frontline in order to supply soldiers with non-combat supplies.
Moved by the film Last Letters From Home, a documentary about troops that were killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Voices From the Frontline producer Joel Spielman was inspired to search out additional accounts of men and women in combat. What he found was an entire subculture of rappers in Iraq. It quickly became apparent that hip hop had evolved into the voice of this war, giving soldiers the opportunity to express their feelings on a level not formerly seen. The CD features some of the most talented and charismatic freestyle rappers that are currently serving.
Spielman found that soldiers on base and on the streets of Iraq frequently turned to freestyling poetry rhymes to pass the time and relieve stress. Rapping organically evolved from a way to entertain into an integral outlet for expressing feelings such as grief, frustration, confusion, loneliness and pride. One artist, Prophet, who also acts as a semi- narrator throughout the CD, tells a story about being out on a convoy in which a fellow soldier dies and returning to camp not knowing how to deal with it. He and a friend start rhyming, spitting the words and emotions out as fast as they could, explaining that it was “the only way to extinguish the pain you felt.”
Voices From the Frontline tells the stories of several soldiers in their own words. In the opening track, “First Time,” rappers Mike Watts and Quentin Givens matter-of-factly ask the question at the core of every soldier facing deployment: “Will I come back alive or will I come back dead?” The soldiers speak about keeping it together to get the job done, letters home to loved ones, saluting those who lost their lives, the close calls dealing with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), the support of their families, the fight to stay alive, the guilt of not seeing a child grow up, the inner conflict and loyalty they feel. In “Condolence,” a performer who goes by the name Amp writes a letter to a woman apologizing for his role in her loss he asks God “if there’s a spot for me in heaven, could you give it to her?”
The female perspective from the frontline comes from Kisha Pollard and Mischelle Johnston. In “Girl at War,” Kisha speaks about what it’s like to be a woman doing her military job and earning the respect of her fellow soldiers. “And you look at me up ‘n down cause you’re thinking I’m weak, ‘til you see me in Iraq and I’m patrolling the streets.” She brings up the fact that she can get shot “just as well as a boy.” “Desert Vacation” is one of two R&B songs on the album, written and sung by Mischelle Johnston who finds herself a “bird in a cage waiting for my ticket out.” She sings about the frustration of events turning out differently than she expected.
Overall, the men and women on Voices From the Frontline aren’t using their art to make a statement for or against the war. They just want to be heard, their experiences shared. These are their stories and their expression of what it is like to fight, to work, to live, and to cope with life on the frontlines in Iraq. It is clear that they appreciate life despite their daily struggles, the overwhelming challenges, and the loss of fellow soldiers. Through it all, they manage to find the strength and courage that it takes to do what they do.
A portion of the proceeds from every purchase of Voices From the Frontline will go to Operation AC which is responsible for sending our U.S. troops any non-combat items they may need such as boots, socks, gloves, and morale raising items such as Christmas trees. The non-profit organization also sponsors an “adopt a soldier” program to bring civilians into the effort. It is their mission to make life as safe and easy as possible for U.S. soldiers and Marines during deployment. Please visit www.operationac.com to learn more.
VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE
HIP HOP CD FEATURING
ALL ORIGINAL MATERIAL
FROM MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN
CURRENTLY SERVING IN IRAQ
A Portion Of The Proceeds From Every CD Will Go To Benefit
Non-Profit Organization ‘Operation AC’
To Provide Soldiers In Iraq With Non-Combat Necessities
Crosscheck Records announces the April 25, 2006 release of Voices From the Frontline, an album of all original material from US military personnel currently serving in Iraq. Featuring twelve musical tracks and twelve spoken word vignettes recorded by men and women on active duty, the CD offers an insider’s view into the often difficult, emotional, and unblinking reality of life for American troops stationed in Iraq. Crosscheck Records has teamed up with the non-profit organization Operation AC to donate a portion of the proceeds from Voices From The Frontline in order to supply soldiers with non-combat supplies.
Moved by the film Last Letters From Home, a documentary about troops that were killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Voices From the Frontline producer Joel Spielman was inspired to search out additional accounts of men and women in combat. What he found was an entire subculture of rappers in Iraq. It quickly became apparent that hip hop had evolved into the voice of this war, giving soldiers the opportunity to express their feelings on a level not formerly seen. The CD features some of the most talented and charismatic freestyle rappers that are currently serving.
Spielman found that soldiers on base and on the streets of Iraq frequently turned to freestyling poetry rhymes to pass the time and relieve stress. Rapping organically evolved from a way to entertain into an integral outlet for expressing feelings such as grief, frustration, confusion, loneliness and pride. One artist, Prophet, who also acts as a semi- narrator throughout the CD, tells a story about being out on a convoy in which a fellow soldier dies and returning to camp not knowing how to deal with it. He and a friend start rhyming, spitting the words and emotions out as fast as they could, explaining that it was “the only way to extinguish the pain you felt.”
Voices From the Frontline tells the stories of several soldiers in their own words. In the opening track, “First Time,” rappers Mike Watts and Quentin Givens matter-of-factly ask the question at the core of every soldier facing deployment: “Will I come back alive or will I come back dead?” The soldiers speak about keeping it together to get the job done, letters home to loved ones, saluting those who lost their lives, the close calls dealing with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), the support of their families, the fight to stay alive, the guilt of not seeing a child grow up, the inner conflict and loyalty they feel. In “Condolence,” a performer who goes by the name Amp writes a letter to a woman apologizing for his role in her loss he asks God “if there’s a spot for me in heaven, could you give it to her?”
The female perspective from the frontline comes from Kisha Pollard and Mischelle Johnston. In “Girl at War,” Kisha speaks about what it’s like to be a woman doing her military job and earning the respect of her fellow soldiers. “And you look at me up ‘n down cause you’re thinking I’m weak, ‘til you see me in Iraq and I’m patrolling the streets.” She brings up the fact that she can get shot “just as well as a boy.” “Desert Vacation” is one of two R&B songs on the album, written and sung by Mischelle Johnston who finds herself a “bird in a cage waiting for my ticket out.” She sings about the frustration of events turning out differently than she expected.
Overall, the men and women on Voices From the Frontline aren’t using their art to make a statement for or against the war. They just want to be heard, their experiences shared. These are their stories and their expression of what it is like to fight, to work, to live, and to cope with life on the frontlines in Iraq. It is clear that they appreciate life despite their daily struggles, the overwhelming challenges, and the loss of fellow soldiers. Through it all, they manage to find the strength and courage that it takes to do what they do.
A portion of the proceeds from every purchase of Voices From the Frontline will go to Operation AC which is responsible for sending our U.S. troops any non-combat items they may need such as boots, socks, gloves, and morale raising items such as Christmas trees. The non-profit organization also sponsors an “adopt a soldier” program to bring civilians into the effort. It is their mission to make life as safe and easy as possible for U.S. soldiers and Marines during deployment. Please visit www.operationac.com to learn more.
posted by Deshair @ 4/14/2006 06:24:00 AM
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