More Artist Details
Since high school Rashenal has been an Emcee writing lyrics and making hip hop music. Since college Rashenal is a Software Engineer that writes automated test software for ground satellite equipment, and now he releases his debut full length album Human Block Tuesday August 25th, 2009 on independent hip hop label Earsweat Records. The Human Block project has been a long time in the making, created over different periods of time and through different connections to different people. More of a concept album than a standard hip hop record, Human Block is about all human connections and how they mold and shape each and every one of our lives.
It is a bit ironic that for a day job, 26 year old Phoenix born Rashenal writes software that in its most basic essence is the connection between human and computer. Even more specifically test equipment device drivers and test modules that connect to each other and pass data back and forth, and then for a night job to write lyrics to his producers beats that connect him with his listeners. Also worth noting that software has a structure to it and music of course does as well, so there are some interesting parallels that you can definitely hear in the music if you are listening for it.
All through college Rashenal continued to make music and found that the genuine reason that he does it is because he loves to do it and create as an artist. He and his crew Wild Life Refuge created Earsweat Records in 2005 and since have released various projects including his Day Birth EP in 2008. Rashenal was also selected and featured by URB Magazines Next 1000 for his Day Birth EP. Human Block is the follow up full length release with crewmate Jelts who produced every track on the album. Rashenal says, “Human Block is a concept that unfolds from the start to the completion of the album. Exploring the most basic forms of human connection and how human lives are shaped around these connections. I really enjoyed making this record and am excited to finally get to officially release it…”
Along with releasing their crews projects Earsweat Records also runs/operates a weekly Tuesday night hip hop event in Tempe, Arizona called Gallery Blu re:DEF (GB) that showcases lots of local and often touring hip hop acts. GB actually just had its two year anniversary show where Rashenal and his fellow crewmates all performed live to celebrate.