Libretto

One of the most important developments in Portland music has been the local
and national success of Libretto and Lifesavas. They're longtime Portlanders
steady grindin' with their crew, Misfit Massive, since the mid-'90s. But
their 2003 release, Spirit in Stone (Quannum), put them in the worldwide
underground, and exposed them to parts of the city that might not have known
their music otherwise (aka much of white Portland). In a segregated city
that seems to only talk to one another about racism when someone dies, the
sheer uniting force of Libretto & Lifesavas' larger presence--and
message--has been an important one for the spiritual well being of Portland.
And, put simply, the talented Misfit Massive crew--which includes
Libretto, the three Lifesavas (Vursatyl, Jumbo, and Shines), Sly Da Brown
Hornet, Dubb-Flexx aka Wolverine, --is defining the Portland hiphop sound in
the early oughties. Each artist has his own style--but when you work
together for upwards of 10 years like they have, you start out friends and
end up brothers. They help each other out as individuals, as only a family
can. As Libretto puts it, "Lifesavas represent that underground raw, head
knockin' lyrics. But when me and my man Dubb hook up, we be coming with that
whole gangsta whatever you wanna call it, but at the same time, I'm droppin'
that wisdom on 'em. So that's how hot our arsenal is... I kinda look at us
like the Wu-Tang--we got too many styles. Anyway you come at us, you gonna
get served a nice dish."
Libretto is next in line for liftoff. Fresh off a shot on the West Coast
opening shows for Talib Kweli, he released "Volume" b/w "Slum Funk," a new
12" released by LA punk/hiphop label Dim Mak in June 2004. Now the big debut
of "Illoet The Last Element" filled with 14 tracks of pure soul, hip hop and
urban resonance from the streets of Watts LA to Portland OR. With a hot
grimy-soul production by Jumbo and Dubb-Flexx, and featuring a vocal turn
from Jumbo and Vurs, the single "Volume" trots Libretto's low, stern
delivery and rubber band styles out for show. He reaps elements from both
coasts, and knowledge from his life experiences. His father, an ex-Black
Panther, came from New York; Libretto grew up in Watts. They both moved here
in the mid-'90s, a history he tells on "Slum Funk": "Ain't no civilians
livin' inside these buildings/ everybody's ready, willing to leave your
blood spillin'/'95 came/and pops wanted to switch lanes/and move me to the
503... bomb threat: cassettes I spread throughout the projects" and
throughout his debut album.
"I do what I do," he explains. "I can come complicated, or I can come for
you smart-dumb cats. On the album, it's all comin' out. They can't put me in
no box. Only thing I haven't done yet is make some booty-shaking music...
which is part of me I can't do," Libretto laughs.
For years, we've been hearing "hiphop's gotta change"--that it needs
shaking up. Lately, it seems there's been an urgency--and you can hear the
change.
"It's a 9-1-1 on hiphop, no doubt. I think we need to dig back in, man, go
look at Krush Groove, go look at Style Wars, and then go into the studio and
make that stuff; don't forget where you came from."
- excerpt taken from Portland Mercury written by Julianne Shepherd

Dim Mak Releases:
DM060: Libretto featuring Lifesavas "Volume" BUY 12"
DM073: Libretto "Illoet"; LP/CD

Press

Urb April 2005

Updated 3/3/06
Modern Fix 46
Libretto: ILLOET The Last Element
Emerging as a strong voice yearning to have his stories heard, the MC known as Libretto is set to break out on his own path to success on his latest release, "ILLOET The Last Element." Coming straight outta Portland, Oregon Libretto's been an original member of the legendary Pacific Northwest's Misfit Massive Crew (which also includes the members of the Lifesavas.) Since the nineties, Libretto's been chumming out beats and razor sharp rhymes for about ten years now. With heavy nuances of P-funk and tribal-like drumbeats, the fourteen tracks on "ILLOET" definitely deliver some of the most original hip-hop to come out of the West Coast without brandishing firearms on every fucking track. Smoke weed, not each other. Big ups to Libretto and the Misfit Massive Crew.

If you can read german, check out this review

DIM MAK HIP HOP DIM MAK HIP HOP
LIBRETTO is on tour with LYRICS BORN.

LIBRETTO w/Lyrics Born:
MON 03/07 Missoula, MT @ The Other Side
TUE 03/08 Bozeman, MT @ The Zebra Cocktail Lounge
WED 03/09 Jackson Hole, WY @ Mangy Moose
THU 03/10 Salt Lake City, UT @ Ego's
FRI 03/11 Ft. Collins, CO @ The Aggie Theatre
SUN 03/13 Boulder, CO @ The Fox Theatre
MON 03/14 Breckenridge, CO @ Sherpa and Yetis
TUE 03/15 Vail, CO @ 8150

You can check out Libretto's New Album "ILLOET THE LAST ELEMENT" and all other Libretto merch here
Free mp3 available as well!

Updated 10/25/05
Modern Fix 46
Review: Illoet
Dim Mak hits hard again proving itself as one of the most eclectic and daring independent labels. More known for thier rock acts, Libretto is one of thier first forays into the hip-hop game. Like his other artists, Label Head and Steve, Aoki has picked another winner. Part of the Misfits Massive Crew (Sly Da Brown Hornet, Dubb-Flexx, Jumbo the Garbageman, Vursatyl, and Reverend Shines), Libretto brings true West Coast Cali funk. As a debut album, Illoet has a good mix of tracks that make you nod your head and tracks that make you think. Keep an eye on Dim Mak for more quality independent music.

Updated 6/07/05
Modern Fix 47
Libretto: looking at the globe
Words: Gordon Downes
Portland, Oregonisn't exactly considered the "Strong Island" of the West Coast, as far as the breeding grounds for new MC's and crews. However, as of late, an elite and extremely talented group of rouge MC's have been making a concerted effort to make Portland's hip-hop scene as viable as the bullet that Slick Rick used to shoot his cousin.
One of those rhyme slayers is a Portland native and Dim Mak recording artist known simply as Libretto. Libretto was cool enough to recently take some time to sit down and talk with Modern Fix about his hometown's underground hip-hop scene, and explain how exactly he landed a record deal with indie-heave weight Dim Mak records.
Much of the country sees Portland as a large city for indie-rock- coming from the hip-hop world of Portland, what are your feelings about Portland's identity as a hub of music and culture?
I think Portland's hip=hop culture still has a way to go. There is a lot of talent, but the energy needs to be more focused. Cats just want to get the "hood" fame, instead of looking at the globe. Which will only take you to the edge of the curb. P.O does have potential to be a music hub on the west coast, tho...just gotta stay focused.
Tell me some of the good things about Portland that most people don't know about?
A lot of people don't know that the sales tax in Portland is, ZERO! You can't actually drink the water out of the faucet, unlike my hometown of Watts, LA. Last but not least, there are more African Americans in the city then just the athletes on the Portland Trailblazers.
What's happening with your crew, Misfit Massive?
Yeah, i'm currently on tour with Lyrics Born right now. They Rhythm Monsta Wolveryne who produced some tracks on "Ill-oet" just finished up his solo project. Which by the way is another "classic" Misfits production. Featuring Jumbo & Vursatyl, others and myself. Lifesavas are currently working on their new project. And I start recording the new Libretto album in the summer some time.
What brought you to Dim Mak?
Nothing actually brought me to Dim Mak, I was invited. The owner of Dim Mak Records sister heard my first 12" "Dirty Thangs" and brought it to her brother's indie-rock label. He was feeling it. Decided he wanted me to jump moff his new imprint out of Dim Mak, the hip-hop side of the label, Dim Mak Massive! The rest is history.
Ant tour plans in the immediate future?
Yes, future tour spots in Toronto, Canada and Japan for the Mt. Fuji Festival. As well as domestic runs TBA.

Updated 3/30/05
Urb March 05
Words: Joshua Glazer
Illoet Review: Portland G-funk impressively reps both Watts and Killafornia

So far, LA's Dim Mak record label has meade its name in uber-hipster parties (complete with their own Harmony Korine-esque photographer documenting the scene) and records from indie-disco-punk acts like Bloc Party and Die Monitr Batss. But in their surprisingly deep catalog lies Portland-based Libretto, a soul-drenched hip-hop son who ads a surprisingly un-ironic button to the Dim Mak jacket.
The son of an ex-Black Panther raised in Watts, Libretto has more then parental affiliation in common with Tupac, his smooth deep voice throwing rhythms over some serious G-funk provided by fellow Misifit Massive crewmember Jumbo(Lifesavas) and Dubb-Flex. He speaks of his teenage cross-country rite of passage on "Slunfunk," where he recalls, "95 came/and pops wanted to switch lanes/and moved me to the 503." Even club grinder "Show Me Love" has double the soul of your average crunk, proving this to be more then an average thing.

Updated 2/7/05
Frequency Magazine
Libretto Aims High with New Album and Unique Hip Hop Sound
Click here for the article

Updated 1/17/05
Libretto voted #10 on Free Times' 2004 in Hip Hop list!

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