FAMILY MAN - Azeem
Released October 2002
record
Catalog # : BHH2054

Side A
1. FAMILY MAN - Azeem vs. Hydroponic Sound System
2. RUBBER GLUE - Azeem

Side B
1. WHAT WE DO IT LIKE (radio version) - Hydroponic Sound System vs. The Burn Unit
2. LIVE FROM THE BARBERSHOP - Hydroponic Sound System vs. The Burn Unit

A2 and B1 taken from the compilation CD: The Real Deal

The second 12" single from Bomb's full length compilation The Real Deal is a soundclash between the tight Dallas production duo of Hydroponic Sound System and some of the illist lyricists on the indie hip-hop scene today.

"Family Man" features Bay-area master craftsman Azeem spittin' lyrical gems in his trademark sing-song style over a fat Hydro track that combines the nasty funk sound of late 60's New Orleans with dubbed out keys and delays. "Rubber Glue" is featured on The Real Deal and Azeem's hilarious vocals are perfectly suited for DJ Zeph's funky horn laced beats. "Rubber Glue" has been previously released on Azeem's full length album Craft Classic (Stray) and the song reached #2 on CMJ rap chart.

The B-side is kicked off with a radio-edit of the blazin' joint "What We Do It Like" from The Real Deal as well as Hydro's 2000 full-length CD Routine Insanity on Sound Evolution/Universal. The Burn Unit (Dallas) sets the joint on fire with sick wordplay over dusty organs and punchy drums. The new joint "Live From The Barbershop" again matches the Burn Unit's clever lyrics and strong delivery with a production sound that recalls New York's golden era of the early 90's.

Hydroponic Sound System released Routine Insanity in November of 2000 to glowing critical reviews that compared it to classics like 3 Feet High and Rising and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (XLR8R issue #47) and made year-end Top Ten lists in The Village Voice (critic Havelock Nelson) and The Dallas Morning News (Chris Vognar). They've also generated a buzz in club circles with songs on Derrick Carter releases and a new remix for JT Donaldson on the house label icon. Azeem is well known up and down the West Coast for his stint in Spearhead as well as his solo debut album Craft Classic (Stray) and his EP Garage Opera (Heratik). The Burn Unit are four brilliant MCs featuring Blaze Battle finalist Headkrack - nighttime radio personality on Dallas's 97.9 The Beat as well as an accomplished lyricist who was featured on K-Otix's full-length debut on the Bronx Science label and had his own release "Clear" on Landspeed. Former Mad Flava frontman Cold Cris, M*Y*K and Slickmouth round out the quartet who are blowing up the Dallas scene.