NY's The Longshots Print
Written by Keith ID1232   
Wednesday, 20 April 2005 17:00

Longshot Bio

Long Shot:  1. An entry, as in a horse race, with only a slight chance of winning. A bet made at and against great odds. B. A risky venture that will pay off handsomely if successful.

Every few years, Hip-Hop music gets lackadaisical. Beats get recycled and emcees plagiarize each other, leaving the art form unable to evolve. the best artists get lazy and churn out lackluster material while the newcomers opt for a quick paycheck, never pushing the envelope. Then suddenly, there's a call for change. The streets go looking for new representatives to speak on their behalf, new kings to crown, new vibes to resurrect the art before it flatlines. This year, the streets have begun to buzz about the new verbal athletes expected to carry the torch to the next level: THE LONGSHOTS

Comprised of Crayon and Rock Shabazz, the Longshots have created a serious buzz in the underground and it's steadily surging to the mainstream. Their name only conjures recognition amongst the true purists but many are now wondering: Who are the Longshots? In an era where publicity stunts pass for skills, they infuse top-notch lyricism with classic New York City beats to create a sound reminiscent of golden age Hip-Hop with a fresh, modern twist. They speak on real-life urban narratives about ghetto survival, not exaggerated to satisfy the pop masses.

Crayon is a native New Yorker. Born and raised in Jamaica Queens'' notorious Southside, he quickly became involved in the culture of the streets, whose soundtrack was Hip-Hop. Influenced by the bigger-than-life personas of Queens mic legends, he started rhyming for his peers. A true showman, his early styles were more party oriented and battle raps, the two styles that are the biggest crowd pleasers. His ability to verbally paint vivid pictures in colorful fashion earned him the moniker he holds today.

The more nomadic Rock Shabazz moved to the legendary neighborhood of Hollis Queens in his teens. Known for his street smarts, he navigated around New York's inner cities and survived its concrete jungles, searching for a chance to shine. His early rap styles were more political and some battle, but his exposure to life's harsh realities allowed him to display a wide array of street knowledge in his raps.

Ironically, they never crossed paths in Queens, but in Long Island, where they decided to join forces while working odd jobs. In its infancy, the Longshots roster took many shapes, including as many as four members until it was trimmed to a solid two. They paid dues, battling and recording in Newark, Harlem, Brooklyn and Far Rockaway's Edgemere projects, where a stroke of luck allowed them to record over a track by renowned beatsmith Ayatollah.

The Longshots quickly converted the beat into a gem and quickly pressed up the record independently, calling it "1st Brick". It would be a complement  to the New York anthem they were recording called "If you with me" (ironically, the beat was made by London, UK-bred Funky DL)

The single quickly got high praise from college radio dj's , placing high on their charts and racking up honors.


-#1 rapAttackLives conference call picks
-#1 HIpHopNews.de single of the week (germany)
- top 10 underground TechNitions

The Longshots then took their act to the stage, performing at venues such as E.O.W. (End OF The Weak) and Mindspray, making strong impressions at emcee competitions in the underground circuit.

Watch for more on this artist here --------to be continued...