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Do they care that we drove all night for a ten-minute set? – Poise

Long awaited and much anticipated, the new mixtape from Austin emcees, 2020 (a.k.a. Ike of Mike & Ike) and Poise, has arrived. Released in advance of Poise’s upcoming full-length album, the mixtape features 14 full-length tracks and some single verses and skits, all mixed by DJ Diamond Tip. Production is jacked from a variety of sources, and mostly soul-sampled. Some of the beats are fairly well-known (e.g. Rick Ross’ “Blow” and Busta Rhymes’ “NY Shit”), and others are more obscure, but still tight. 

As a duo, Poise and 2020 work well together, kicking a lot of slick, witty lines back and forth: Cold like frozen water or a father/Who just lost his only daughter.  Why bother? The music is definitely worth a listen, and hopefully both will be releasing other projects soon.

Download
20/20 and Poise – Bullets (Mixed by Dj Diamond Tip)

Links
www.2020andPoise.com 

About 20/20 and Poise:

A producer first, 20/20 is one of those behind the scenes people that always seems to be on the scene. Better known to many as Ike, from Mike and Ike, 20/20 has worked with many Texas artists as a producer (Global, DOS, Crew 54, Hero and Rad, Mic Skills, Mirage, Southbound, and more). As a young and emerging emcee, 20/20 has been contributing plenty of verses as of late on various albums and mixtapes as well (The Projeckt, Latchkey’s “Indy Route Austin” Compilation, Hero and Rad “Resilience”, Crew 54 “Crew Deep”, Mic Skills “Defiant”, and more) . With various projects under his belt as a producer and emcee, and as a pseudo-member of various groups, 20/20 along with Dj Diamond Tip have opened up for many touring acts, including Slick Rick, Guru, Neyo, Canibus, Black Sheep, Juelz Santana, Oneself, Boot Camp Clik, Rakim, Method Man, and Lil Wayne.

Originally from the midwest, Poise brought his lyricism and high energy act to Texas a few years ago and he hasn’t looked back. First featured on Mike and Ike’s “Classic Sound”, Poise has remained on the radar as someone to expect great things from. His ability to balance mainstream appeal with raw underground lyricism and delivery has many anxiously awaiting studio material. Poise has shared the stage with 20/20 and Diamond Tip on several different occasions both as an opening act (Guru, Neyo, Canibus, Black Sheep, Juelz Santana, Oneself,Rakim, Method Man, and Lil Wayne.) and as the main act across Texas, gaining recognition and respect for their talent and high energy live performances. Having collaborated with 20/20 for a few years now the two have developed a unique chemistry, building a sound that is distinctivley “20/20 and Poise.”

In 2008, having built a catalogue of original material, both as solo artists and as a duo, 20/20 and Poise decided to get together with Diamond Tip and work on some promotional material to lead up to Poise’s solo album, which features both production and vocals from 20/20.

20/20 and Poise – Words Are Weapons (Bullets Version)

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20/20 and Poise – Words Are Weapons (Bullets Version)

20/20 and Poise – Ready (Bullets Version)

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20/20 and Poise – Ready (Bullets Version)

Two more songs to post off of “Bullets”. 20/20 and Poise are dropping their mixtape tonight in Austin at the Eclectic Styles of Summer Fashion Show at Aces Lounge, 222 E 6th St. Free CDs to everyone that comes through the door before 10pm, make sure y’all make it out to the event, should be a big one.

About 20/20 and Poise:

A producer first, 20/20 is one of those behind the scenes people that always seems to be on the scene. Better known to many as Ike, from Mike and Ike, 20/20 has worked with many Texas artists as a producer (Global, DOS, Crew 54, Hero and Rad, Mic Skills, Mirage, Southbound, and more). As a young and emerging emcee, 20/20 has been contributing plenty of verses as of late on various albums and mixtapes as well (The Projeckt, Latchkey’s “Indy Route Austin” Compilation, Hero and Rad “Resilience”, Crew 54 “Crew Deep”, Mic Skills “Defiant”, and more) . With various projects under his belt as a producer and emcee, and as a pseudo-member of various groups, 20/20 along with Dj Diamond Tip have opened up for many touring acts, including Slick Rick, Guru, Neyo, Canibus, Black Sheep, Juelz Santana, Oneself, Boot Camp Clik, Rakim, Method Man, and Lil Wayne.

Originally from the midwest, Poise brought his lyricism and high energy act to Texas a few years ago and he hasn’t looked back. First featured on Mike and Ike’s “Classic Sound”, Poise has remained on the radar as someone to expect great things from. His ability to balance mainstream appeal with raw underground lyricism and delivery has many anxiously awaiting studio material. Poise has shared the stage with 20/20 and Diamond Tip on several different occasions both as an opening act (Guru, Neyo, Canibus, Black Sheep, Juelz Santana, Oneself,Rakim, Method Man, and Lil Wayne.) and as the main act across Texas, gaining recognition and respect for their talent and high energy live performances. Having collaborated with 20/20 for a few years now the two have developed a unique chemistry, building a sound that is distinctivley “20/20 and Poise.”

In 2008, having built a catalogue of original material, both as solo artists and as a duo, 20/20 and Poise decided to get together with Diamond Tip and work on some promotional material to lead up to Poise’s solo album entitled “Lifeguard”, which features both production and vocals from 20/20.

Poise ft. Dj Diamond Tip – Heavyweight Champion (Produced by Decap)

Download Poise ft. Dj Diamond Tip – Heavyweight Champion (Produced by Decap)

BigBadMedium has an exclusive download from Austin based artist, Poise, produced by Decap. Poise is currently gearing up to release Bullets, a mixtape also featuring 20/20 and Dj Diamond Tip. Heavyweight Champ is a promotional track leading up up to his full LP, entitled “Lifeguard”, which features both production and vocals from 20/20. Poise recently launched his new MySpace page, visit him and keep up to date on the latest.

More About Poise
Originally from the midwest, Poise brought his lyricism and high energy act to Texas a few years ago and he hasn’t looked back. First featured on Mike and Ike’s “Classic Sound”, Poise has remained on the radar as someone to expect great things from. His ability to balance mainstream appeal with raw underground lyricism and delivery has many anxiously awaiting studio material. Poise has shared the stage with Diamond Tip on several different occasions both as an opening act (Guru, Neyo, Canibus, Black Sheep, Juelz Santana, Oneself,Rakim, Method Man, and Lil Wayne.) and as the main act across Texas, gaining recognition and respect for their talent and high energy live performances. Having collaborated with Texas based producer and emcee, 20/20 for a few years now the two have developed a unique chemistry, building a sound that is distinctively “20/20 and Poise.”

20/20 and Poise – ATX (Bullets Version)

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20/20 and Poise – ATX (Bullets Version)

ATX STAND UP!!

About 20/20 and Poise:

A producer first, 20/20 is one of those behind the scenes people that always seems to be on the scene. Better known to many as Ike, from Mike and Ike, 20/20 has worked with many Texas artists as a producer (Global, DOS, Crew 54, Hero and Rad, Mic Skills, Mirage, Southbound, and more). As a young and emerging emcee, 20/20 has been contributing plenty of verses as of late on various albums and mixtapes as well (The Projeckt, Latchkey’s “Indy Route Austin” Compilation, Hero and Rad “Resilience”, Crew 54 “Crew Deep”, Mic Skills “Defiant”, and more) . With various projects under his belt as a producer and emcee, and as a pseudo-member of various groups, 20/20 along with Dj Diamond Tip have opened up for many touring acts, including Slick Rick, Guru, Neyo, Canibus, Black Sheep, Juelz Santana, Oneself, Boot Camp Clik, Rakim, Method Man, and Lil Wayne.

Originally from the midwest, Poise brought his lyricism and high energy act to Texas a few years ago and he hasn’t looked back. First featured on Mike and Ike’s “Classic Sound”, Poise has remained on the radar as someone to expect great things from. His ability to balance mainstream appeal with raw underground lyricism and delivery has many anxiously awaiting studio material. Poise has shared the stage with 20/20 and Diamond Tip on several different occasions both as an opening act (Guru, Neyo, Canibus, Black Sheep, Juelz Santana, Oneself,Rakim, Method Man, and Lil Wayne.) and as the main act across Texas, gaining recognition and respect for their talent and high energy live performances. Having collaborated with 20/20 for a few years now the two have developed a unique chemistry, building a sound that is distinctivley “20/20 and Poise.”

In 2008, having built a catalogue of original material, both as solo artists and as a duo, 20/20 and Poise decided to get together with Diamond Tip and work on some promotional material to lead up to Poise’s solo album entitled “Lifeguard”, which features both production and vocals from 20/20.

Earlier this year, Austin based artists, Poise and 20/20, contacted me about an upcoming promotional mixtape entitled “Bullets”. I had worked with both artist in the past, but when they contacted me about this project I was pretty busy with other things and wasn’t sure about working with a “Bullets” theme. I try not to do too many stereotypical “rap music” projects, because most of them tend to ask for pretty standard and formulaic artwork, so when I first heard the name for this project I was thinking that it would be more of the same. However, after a few conversations with them and after hearing the songs, I realized that that the “Bullets” theme they were going for was a bit different and I was going to have a little bit of freedom interpreting the subject.

Front Cover Artwork For 20/20 and Poise – Bullets

It might have been easier to go with a stereotypical idea of ultraviolent imagery, but instead I took an approach of necessary violence, whether good or bad. The front cover ends up being pretty standard, but the photography, by Dallas’s D.Brown, really helped it out a lot and to introduce a “bullets” theme I incorporated some steel/metal textures into the “logo” along with some smoke, dirt and broken glass towards the lower right hand side.

Back Cover Artwork For 20/20 and Poise – Bullets

The back of the packaging and the disc keep the “necessary violence” theme, with imagery from the American Revolution, the Cuban Revolution, the Vietnam War and World War II. Early drafts included an image of a child soldier from the Mexican Revolution, but the idea was shot down because, despite not being a typical rap mixtape, the content was not a political statement and an image of a child soldier may have been misinterpreted and the music’s actual message lost.

CD Artwork For 20/20 and Poise – Bullets

The disc itself had to be two colors only, so to stay with a metallic/metal “bullets” theme, I chose PMS 871 M (metallic gold) and pantone black. For the disc I brought back some of the war/revolution imagery and the name of the mixtape along with some of the smoke/dirt from the cover. For the first printing of the mixtape I think they had to go with a simple text on disc variation of the artwork, so hopefully there’s a second printing so I can see how the black and gold  printed.

I have’t seen a printed copy yet, so hopefully it came out well. Everone can pick up a free copy on April 17th and the Eclectic Styles of Summer Fashion Show. 20/20 and Poise will be releasing the mixtape there and I’ll be posting up some tracks from the mixtape and web exclusives leading up to the release.

The 20/20 and Poise MySpace page, designed by Sons of Nero is now up as well, make sure you check it out and add them as your friends to stay connected and hear about new songs, downloads and shows.

Tracklisting
1. Intro
2. Reppin Time
3. Interlude – Bullets
4. Never Know
5. Cold As Ice
6. Next
7. Guess Who’s Back
8. Words Are Weapons
9. V.I.P.
10. Interlude – 20/20
11. Ready
12. We Gonna Make It
13. Say Yes
14. Real Hip Hopper
15. Stay Fly
16. Interlude – Poise
17. Dreams
18. Dear Summer
19. Interlude – ATX
20. ATX
21. Outro

Links
2020 and Poise on MySpace
Dj Diamond Tip

20/20 and Poise – “Fly (Bullets Version)”

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The sun is out the birds are chirpin’ and the warm weather stuntin’ season begins! Rebecca Powe and Arika Haynes have put brought together a group of emerging designers and shops to showcase their latest work, including Carol Chavana, 3rd ID Clothing, Urban Posh and EmaQlate.

Kid Slyce will be rockin the party, b-boy Blitz and Urban Transit Dance Cru will be kickin it and 20/20 and Poise will be performing with Dj Diamond Tip and giving out free copies of  their new mixtape, ”Bullets”.

It all goes down, Friday April 17 at Aces Lounge (222 E 6th St, Austin, TX) I’m sure more information is to come, but mark the date on your calendar now!

Links
RSVP on Facebook

Eclectic Styles of Sumer Performers and Designers