Sometimes Its Hard Enough....

Reluctantly, I quote Eminem...On the Eight Mile soundtrack, he has a verse that states "sometimes its hard enough just dealing with real life." I can relate. With young daughters at home, a demanding job and all of the other rigors of real life, it seems harder than ever to be an artist. At the same time, I just don't feel like myself if I am not creating. If there is not a least 10 song ideas orbiting in my mind and at least one making its way onto paper and then into a track - I am just not happy. Whenever I get a little space in my schedule, whenever I go for a long drive or a long bike ride, my mind always jumps back to music and the other creative ventures that are to come. If you are reading this blog - chances are you know what I am talking about. Hopefully, 2009 brings some great new songs and writings. The concepts are all there screaming for the light of day. VZ

Back to Lab

Back to the Lab...I am back in the lab working with Scotty Beam at Listen Vision (listenvision.com) on several new tracks for album #2. A few people who have heard the tracks have remarked that the lyrical work surpasses the raps on Definition of Alive. We hope to have some early previews for Lost Man / Vertical Zar faithfuls real soon. Unfortunately and fortunately, real life has been real busy on a lot of fronts in the last few months, not the least of which is the scheduled arrival of baby #2 in mid-August. Very excited about that and the inspiration that he or she will surely bring.

In the mean time, Lost Man artist Danny Range is also logging time with Scotty Beam and DJ Boom at Listen Vision on his debut album. A few of Range's tracks and a bio should be up on the Lost Man site shortly.

Notes from the underground - Dumi from OUO and Zimbabwe Legit is about to strike again with album #2 from Zimbabwe Legit, House of Stone, due out in Fall 2007. Check out myspace.com/zl for details. Word is that the album is no joke. Also, Eddie Black and the Question Mark Asylum crew are reunited and working on a new album. Black has been a little tight with previews of the tracks but I am told they are hot.

All artists - keep creating and progressing.

Vertical Zar

Jump to #21 On College Radio Charts

More good news ... Definition of Alive saw another jump to #21 on CMJ's College Radio Hip Hop Charts during the week of April 8.