Turf Talk
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| Turf Talk | ||
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 The cover of Turf Talk's Album
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Demar Bernstein | |
| Origin | Vallejo, California | |
| Genre(s) | Hip Hop, Hyphy | |
| Label(s) | Sick Wid It/30/30 | |
Turf Talk (born Demar Bernstein, 1979 in Vallejo, California), is a Bay Area gangsta rapper at the forefront of the hyphy movement. His unique style of delivery has earned both local[1] and national[2] acclaim. Turf Talk is the protégé and cousin of platinum-selling Bay Area pioneer and legend E-40, and is signed to his mentor's Sick Wid It/30 30 Records.
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[edit] Growing Up
Although born in his now native Vallejo, Turf Talk moved to Southern California at an early age and grew up in Pomona, Los Angeles and later Rialto, in San Bernadino. He was expelled from school during his childhood and spent a period of home learning during which he started to write rhymes.
Turf Talk told UK-based rap periodical Hip Hop Connection[3] that he "came from living in hotel rooms.. for four to five years". The rapper returned to the Bay Area in 1999 to pursue his career under cousin E-40 in Vallejo. He is now based in Millersville, Vallejo.
Turf Talk quotes his influences as "E-40 and The Click, Too Short, and then The Dangerous Crew, and Mac Mall"[4].
[edit] Career
Originally rapping under the name Killa Kane, Turf Talk would first appear alongside Mac Shawn, another younger cousin of E-40, on the compilation CD Worldwide Bosses & Playas in 2001. His breakthrough came in 2003 performing the hook for the MTV-aired E-40 track Gasoline, B-side to the single One Night Stand.
Turf Talk would go on to appear in three tracks on E-40's 2003 album Breakin News as well as cement his growing reputation in the Bay Area's new movement by guesting in style on the official remix to The Federation's seminal hit 'Hyphy'.
In 2004 Turf Talk released his highly anticipated debut album The Street Novelist featuring his mentor E-40, The Federation and a range of Sick Wid It Records' artists. The CD included the Rick Rock produced smash It's Ah Slumper and one of the final guest appearances of the legendary Mac Dre.
In 2005 Turf Talk released Turf Talk Brings The Hood: Colabilation part album, part compilation of tracks recorded with both long-time and up-and-coming Sick Wid It Records collaborators. The CD included the popular local hit Turf Talk Iz Back.
In the early hours of Thursday July 14th 2005, Turf Talk suffered several shots to the face from a low caliber pellet shotgun, after being apparently targeted leaving a recording studio in Tuolumne Street, Vallejo. He was treated at the Sutter Solano Medical Center and made a quick and full recovery.
On July 30th, 2005 at the Masonic Center on Nob Hill, San Francisco, Turf Talk was announced as New Artist (Rookie) of The Year 2005 in the inaugural Bay Area Rap Scene (B.A.R.S.) Awards[5]. He beat strong competition from both Mistah F.A.B. and Ya Boy.
Boosted by the signing of mentor E-40 to Lil Jon's multi-platinum BME/Warner imprint, Turf Talk announced plans to release his new studio album West Coast Vaccine: The Cure in 2006, featuring almost exclusive production by rap heavyweights Rick Rock and Lil Jon. The CD has since been delayed to early 2007.
In 2006 Turf Talk secured further exposure by appearing on E-40's BME debut and Billboard 200 success story 'My Ghetto Report Card' as well as MTV's Hyphy music insight My Block: The Bay. His influence on the Hyphy movement was featured in Hip Hop magazines The Source and XXL.
In the summer of 2006 Turf Talk extended his cross-genre, national and international reputation after being invited to feature on the DJ Shadow Hyphy-influenced new release 3 Freaks. This lead to an MTV music video alongside Keak Da Sneak, as well as a supporting role in a tour of Europe and Japan.
The tour climaxed with a performance in front of over 25,000 at the Wireless Festival in London's Hyde Park on June 23rd, Turf Talk appearing alongside Bay Area emcees Mistah F.A.B. and Nump, in a line up which included worldwide superstars such as Massive Attack, Pharrell, Gnarls Barkley and Damian Marley.
[edit] Style
Turf Talk's unusual delivery is an important part of his act. The self-styled devastating mouthpiece, he combines a distinctive drawl with fierce interjections using multi-track recording. The New York Times described that he has a high, pinched voice, less cartoonish than his cousin [E-40] and more ferocious.[6]
The rapper himself ascribes his fast-changing flow to building a character for his listeners, complete with ad-libs, and to developing a range of marketable styles. "I'm always thinking about new ways to rap on different beats and new sounds, just something different to the human ear."[7]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Street Novelist (2004)
- Turf Talk Brings The Hood Colabilation (2005)
- West Coast Vaccine: The Cure (2007)
[edit] Noted Appearances
- Mac Shawn - Worldwide Bossin We Be Flossin as Killa Kane (2001)
- E-40 - Gasoline (2003)
- The Federation - Hyphy (Remix) (2003)
- E-40 - Muscle Cars (2006)
- DJ Shadow - 3 Freaks (2006)
[edit] Trivia
In 2005 Turf Talk appeared on the reality television show Judge Joe Brown. He was contesting a claim by a former female associate that he failed to pay insurance costs associated with a vehicle acquired for him by the plaintiff and wrecked in a car accident.
Turf Talk lost the televised court case but used the appearance to promote his debut CD.
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/2005-04-27/music/hearsay4.html
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/arts/music/19sann.html?pagewanted=print
- ^ Hip-Hop Connection #203, July 2006
- ^ Hip-Hop Connection #203, July 2006
- ^ http://www.barsawards.com/
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/arts/music/19sann.html?pagewanted=print
- ^ http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=turftalk
