INTROSPECT
Introspect / "Reflect"
A reflection throws back light, heat and
sound. It refracts the image and reveals the surface of its subject. At
times, the content beyond the surface is even more enlightening then
the initial image may appear to infer. Stefan Tochev aka Introspect (or
Intro) is a new, Canadian, Hip Hop awakening. Creating his talent from
pure passion and dedication there are no fallacious smoke and mirrors
to Intro'sskills. His name was given to him based on his reputation to
create consistently deliberate and thoughtfully centred rhymes. His
content is his core, and not commercially created for any sense of
gain. "Hip Hop to me is an artistic impression, it's a way of life,
it's a movement."
Predisposed to rhyme from childhood and drawn
to Hip Hop as his personal form of expression, Intro has built his
music career and his life on intelligence and expression and he has
always remained incredibly focused. Now, 24 years old, an honours
graduate in Sociology from the University of Guelph and poised to
attain his Masters degree, Intro is also concurrently, the 2005 'Rhythm
of The Future Talent Search' winner (for song, The Sacrifice). 91.5 The
Beat sponsored the event, and the win snagged Intro20$k in recording
time which he used to help craft his debut full length album, Reflect
... set to drop in Canada on March 14, 2006 via Addictive
Records/Fontana North (formerly Maple Music)/Universal Music Canada. He
has also held the #1 ranking on goldmic.com as battle champion -
retaining back-to-back tournament wins. His name and reputation yield
limitless praise from various internet postings, to Ian Steaman, former
GM of Tommy Boy Music's Urban division who declared; "Stefan, I've been
playing this CD on repeat for the last couple of weeks and I've gotta
say that there's a lot of good things to be said about your music"
Intro
is still a man and a musician who charts his own path. Flying in the
face of what is easily accessible and commercially attainable with most
Hip Hop artists, and who would be considered his competition, Intro
doesn't waste timing comparing himself to other mc's. Rather, as he
focuses on his own goals and ventures and through his level of
conscious expression, Intro gives equal respect to women and all races.
He also aligns himself with positivity and employs highly intelligent
lyrical rhymes in completely unpretentious ways. He never misses an
opportunity to challenge stereotypes and construe his point loud and
clear. "My music brings forth a positive vibe that encourages hard work
and determination in order to succeed and achieve. This vibe can be
sensed through my voice, lyrics, presence, flow, concepts, delivery and
so much more. There isn't enough of that in the music industry today."
The
title track of the 20 song strong album, Reflect kicks off "The hate is
so great, but the love is even greater"... It is an album-opening
freight train of pure flow and emotion from the first note of the
acoustic guitar lines. The song grows into a fully orchestrated
arrangement and lyrically it doesn't stop to make room for a chorus and
doesn't miss having one. It just builds and builds, setting the pace,
and the expanse of possibilities for the songs to follow it.
Another
track, Recognize, keeps an emphatic orchestrated tempo throughout.
Intro's lyrics are frenetically paced and are personal freestyle
musings on what it takes to get record labels to notice and take a
chance on a young struggling artist that doesn't fit the mold of what
is considered commercially viable in music today. Intro comments, "If I
changed myself completely in order to make it in the music industry and
didn't, it would be a very hard lesson to swallow. But, the Canadian
music scene today is so unique; we have many diverse artists (k-os,
Kardinal Offishall, Knaan) who bring something new to the table. That
is exactly what I am doing with my music; bringing something new and
fresh."
The Sacrifice (feat. Rebecca Valdez) is the song that
wrapped up the competition on 91.5 The Beat for Intro. It is a balanced
viewpoint rhyme about the toil success can take on a relationship
noting that, "...you gotta make a sacrifice in order to gain
something." Winning the 91.5 The Beat competition was a huge gateway of
opportunity for Intro, giving him the means, as Intro states himself
"the vital component" to making the album with the $20,000 top prize in
studio time. The moment that he heard about the contest Intro knew The
Sacrifice would be the song that was going to win it. Still, he waited
and finally entered the song in the contest the day before the deadline
closed. He made the top 3, then, he took the win. Intro met Rebecca (as
well as the other female collaborators on the disc: Jenna G and Robyn
Newman) through chance encounters in the studio, but immediately felt
connections with each of them regarding the tracks and where the song
at hand needed to go.
Aside from the direct and strong lyrical
content, unique concepts and vibrant ideas combine with lush
orchestration and unparalleled instrumentation to fill out the entire
Reflect experience. At one point, a full on, power chord laden guitar
riff rips along as Intro fills in the lyric lines. Intro, defies
categorization to anyone else making Hip Hop today in Canada or
Internationally, and has made an album that demonstrates his ability
and strong skills. He tells it like it is, wielding intelligence and
instrumental intuition with deft application and announces himself as a
true force to contend with, and, that he's not interested in taking
any easy path to success. In fact, he's already well on his way to
blazing his own. The track 52 Cards is a perfect example of Intro's
stand out and unique song writing. A hyper-intellectual, lyrical
explosion. It's a creation that needs to be heard, to be believed. Then
put on repeat. A truly original song concept.
Introis constantly
creating, writing and revising. He warehouses hundreds of verses,
chorus's and creatives just patiently waiting for the proper outlet and
way to utilize them. His unlimited capacity for songs and constant
creation is likely one of the reasons Intro showcased an unprecedented
20 tracks on his Reflect debut. Album cut Windy Day, kicks in, steep
with an enlightened philosophy and muses on all assorted happenings and
obstacles that occur in life. Lyrically, it reflects on Intro's family
and inspirations and demonstrates beautifully, his fine instinct for
flow. "Try to grab life by the wings, suitable like how an angel sings
over strings. We try to be kings and forget about the peasants. I wanna
wake up like I was opening the presents. Being in the presence of
constant negativity, is killing me, softly. It's lyrically costly. It's
sad that this industry is at its epitome. Cause half these artists lack
the creativity."
Destiny, opportunity and great timing have a
way of rewarding and finding true vision and talent. Intro has
encountered all of the above in his career to date. But, that's not to
say that Intro hasn't expected this to happen. In fact he�s seen all
of this for himself already with great patience. "I definitely believe
that you have to manifest your goals before they happen. The ultimate
goal for me, career wise, is to do something that I enjoy and more
importantly something that will help others." Intro concludes, "My
music/vibe brings forth a consciously fresh and positive movement that
is greatly needed today; in order to create an equilibrium within a
game that is outweighed heavily by its negative content."
And now, Introspect is ready to share it all with you...
Audio:
52 Cards
Battlegrounds
Hip Hopinomix
Reflect
Soldier's Composition ft. iQ
Souled Out ft. Khalel
The Sacrafice ft. Rebecca Valdez
Website: www.intro-spect.net
Introspect on Myspace
Introspect on Soundclick
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