Immortal Technique

I have an Immortal Technique t-shirt and on the back it says “Only the realest feel this” and this isn’t no typical rap braggadocio, its the truth! Immortal Technique is an inspiration to me not just because of his insane lyrical and freestyle abilities but because of what he is doing with his music. To me he is the most important artist of our generation, i see him as a modern day John Lennon, Fela Kuti or Bob Marley.  For me it is so important to see an artist have a message in their music and even more important to see an artist use their power to create change because far too many people lose their vision as soon as they get a shot at money, power and fame.  Immortal Technique is definitely one of the rappers that is committed to his vision along with some of my other favourites like KRS-One, Dead Prez, Chuck D, Mos Def, Black Thought, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Brother Ali, Talib Kweli, K’naan, Michael Franti and Nas.

“The ancient Sassinid Wall overlooks Kabul City, and when the wind blows you can hear the past speak from beyond the grave.”

Short Bio: If you don’t know this guy’s story look into it because its quite incredible. I will give a brief summery of his life to this point from what i remember.  He was born in Lima, Peru but was raised in Harlem, New York.  He was sent to jail for a year on assault-related offences due to his involvement in an altercation between some fellow P.S.U. students and drug dealers.  In jail it seems like he did nothing but read and write, which you can hear in his lyrics which reference everything imaginable.  After being released he enrolled in a political science course and began entering and winning freestyle battles all over new york.

He was named “Unsigned Hype” in the source and was offered some major label deals from Sony and Def Jam, which he turned down preferring to keep creative control and ownership over his music.  He went on to put out two classic albums, Revolutionary Vol. I & II. I first heard him on a DJ Green Lantern song called “Bin Laden” which featured Mos Def and Eminem.  He has since released an an album with Green Lantern called ‘The Third World’, the profits of the album as well as touring and merchandise was used to set up an orphanage with Omeid International (a Non–Profit Human Rights Organization) in Kabul, Afghanistan which is now housing over twenty children. He is currently working on his long awaited album called ‘The Middle Passage’.