Artist: L PRO (Portland, OR)

Free EP: Equilibrium

Stream / Download: http://lpro.bandcamp.com/album/equilibrium

About the EP:

"Equilibrium, the new EP from Portland emcee LeMont Boyd (AKA L Pro) and native producer 5th
Sequence, is a tasty sample of what to expect from their upcoming full-length Vertigo.

Older heads may remember L Pro as L Profound, his teenage pseudonym as a member of the duoGrassrootz, along with beatmaker D-Wyze. Their 1998 debut, Uncharted Regions, garnered positive national attention, yet they soon disbanded due to D-Wyze relocating to California. Meanwhile Boyd's subsequent setbacks—including a divorce and being stabbed in the face—kept him away from music for some time.

His collaboration with Soul Plasma on 2003's Simply Soul marked a determined return to form that has continued ever since. If Equilibrium is any indication, L Pro and 5th Sequence are primed to resurrect the template of Pete Rock and CL Smooth, combining thought-provoking lyrics over jazzy samples and raw head-nod beats." - Portland Mercury Press

Bio:

After moving from San Diego, California as a teenager; L PRO entered the music scene with his first record "Uncharted Regions" produced by D-Wyze in 1996. This album featured guest appearances by the Lifesavas, Cool Nutz, Destro Destructo of Oldominion and others.

Ultimately, this album proved to be a well rounded album and received accolades from XXL magazines Adisa Banjoko who noted, "These cats are nice, real nice; from the opening track Navigation to Four O’clock in the morning and No Matter, you can tell that D-Wyze and L Profound ain’t new to this." Banjoko continues with... "They have true skills and lace the album with a tone of positivity that doesn’t come off as corny or condescending."

After the release of Uncharted Regions, Grassrootz disbanded and Dwyze travelled to California to continue his work as a producer. Co-producing the joint, Spark the Underground, in Long Beach, California. In the following years, L PRO experienced some personal setbacks which included a divorce, being stabbed in the face which left a scar and having little resources to continue his music career. All of these factors ultimately kept him out of the studio for a time. After some time, L PRO connected with Portland Emcee Soul P and after being asked to return to the studio for collaboration; L PRO returned to the studio with Soul P and was featured on Soul P's Simply Soul, and subsequent record Soul Affect.

Feeling rejuvenated, L PRO was back in the studio to work on the biographical "Chronicles" with producer Arkitek and executive producer Rev. Shines of the Lifesavas. This record featured guest appearances from Libretto, Destro, and Syndel of Sirens Echo. This record proved to be a solid joint and left many wanting more from this emcee. Notably, this record was full of emotion and description of the trials L PRO experienced over the previous five years. Not long after the release of Chronicles, L PRO started his work with producer 5th Sequence.

L PRO and 5th Sequence had plans to work together several years prior but were never ever to connect. The two were able to reconnect after 5th Sequence contacted him and the two started to work together on a single entitled, “Walk of Life”. Both were impressed with each other’s skills and as a result, Walk of Life proved to be the first song toward what is Vertigo, a full length record from the two being released in late 2011. This collaboration proved to be the beginning the "Vertigo" Full length project; A collection of hard hitting drums, solid lyrical skills and thought provoking concepts.

Prior to the release of Vertigo, L PRO and 5th Sequence have decided to release “Equilibrium”, a collection of raw beats, lyrics and a glimpse of what is to come with the pending release of Vertigo. With the release of Equilibrium, L PRO remains committed to bringing quality music and cementing his place in as one of the hottest emcees coming out of the Northwest.

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