The stage was set, the energy was live, and master of rhymes, Billy Conahan, did not disappoint. Sullivan Hall in NYC was the place to be on Thursday night, October 11th- which saw the release of Billy’s 1st official mixtape release, “Episode I.” For those of us who came out to celebrate such an important mark in Billy’s career, we are fortunate enough to say that we were able to witness history in the making- the first of many great things to come from this guy. It’s a real pleasure to see the places he is going with his music- always changing and experimenting, while still paying homage to the influences of the past. Billy, along with super-talented musicians, Laurie Anne Creus (vocals/keyboard), Pete O’Neil (Bass), Rahn Brosh (drums), and Randy Conrado (guitar) completely owned the stage, and delivered such a mind-blowing performance, that it had the audience clamoring for one more song before the end of the show.
What I really want to know is “How is it possible that this kid’s flow has gotten better since the last time I’ve seen him?” His performance and his delivery just seem to keep growing and evolving….suggesting that there is no limit to how far this kid could go in the rap game. I’ve always said that an artist has my respect when he/she really makes you listen and really think about what it is that they’re saying….and that is definitely true in Billy’s case. His unique style and clever wordplay is what makes him stand out, and truly sets him apart from that of his contemporaries.
“Episode I” is a 27-minute look into the mind of Billy Conahan. His thought-provoking rhymes and catchy hooks are a perfect mesh of one another, complementing each other from one track to the next. Sampling songs from The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Snow,” to Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” (Re-named “Poke Her Face”) and putting his own spin on them is what Billy does best. “Glen Close” is the story a relationship that eventually turned deadly when he least expected it- playing off the plot of the 1987 movie, “Fatal Attraction.” “The Message” allows listeners the chance to look through his eyes and see a glimpse of what life has been like from his perspective. He speaks of those he has lost and the lessons learned in growing from a boy to a man.
Talent is something that never goes out of style, and obviously, this kid’s talent and capacity for expression cannot, and will not be denied. With just merely a pen and a pad, he breathes new life into Contemporary Hip-Hop and sets the bar for what rappers out there should be trying to do: Connect with their audience through the means of art.
If you're a true lover of REAL Hip-Hop, Download “Episode I” NOW at the following links:
http://billyconahan.bandcamp.com/
http://www.datpiff.com/mixtapes-detail.php?id=404505
For more info on Billy, check out these links:
http://www.youtube.com/billyconahan
http://soundcloud.com/billyconahan
For Press and Booking info, go to: http://billyconahan.com/contact/
Until Next Time….