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URB.COM: Detroit Makes Progress

Real Detroit: Making the Grade

Rap N Blues:  Exclusive Interview with Progress Report

Biography

Whoever said progress is a slow process wasn’t talking about hip-hop. The culture created for and by a youthful generation has grown up, got rich, and re-created itself dozens of times. Despite its many incarnations, hip-hop still remains the voice of a generation. But, what is that voice saying right now? Cultural critics have often paused mid-stream to evaluate hip-hop. The question is constantly being asked, “Where is hip-hop going?” But, a culture for the people is going wherever those people are going; therefore, a progress report on hip-hop has to start within.

When D. Allie and Eddie Logix came together to form the rap group, Progress Report, their goal was to reflect on their own lives through the medium that best appealed to them, hip-hop music. “The album (self-titled) is coming from the perspective that hip-hop is a huge part of our lives.” States Allie, “This album is a reflection of our lives, our pasts.” Both members of other rap collectives, United States of Mind and MidCoast Most, respectively, D. Allie and Eddie Logix came together to create this fusion project after being inspired by each other’s work. D. Allie had already released two prior projects, The Cooperative and Live at The Get Up and Eddie Logix had been gaining momentum as a sought after producer. He handles the boards for the entire album as well as showcasing his lyrical dexterity as an emcee.

Progress Report, the album, features songs that are heavily inspired by the group’s musical influences. The son of a guitarist, D. Allie enlisted his father to play on several songs which add a rock & roll edge to the music, while producer, Eddie Logix illustrates his crate-digging skills with carefully selected and placed samples that enhance each track. “This album means a lot to me, as does every project that I get involved with. But this one in particular is a little bit different in the sense that it’s the first project I’ve done outside of my other group MidCoast Most where I not only made the beats, but also contributed lyrically to every track,” says Logix, “the Progress Report project was that much more personal since it gave me the chance to share more of my own thoughts and experiences.”

Growing up in and around Detroit, it is easy to see how the gritty urban environment influenced Progress Report as a group and as an album. This One’s For You, is an ode to the city that they both love, while Shine is a tribute to the kind of night that everyone loves, when you are looking great, the party is great, and everything in your life seems perfect, if only for a little while; “It’s looking like one of them nights/when the vibe is right, we gon’ do the d**n thing tonight/’cuz tonight’s the night/and if you feelin’ alright/come on Shine.” One of the album’s highlights is It’s All Your Fault, an ode to ex-girlfriend’s everywhere. From the first line, “She said, ‘It’s not you, it’s me,’” the song captures the listener’s attention with its honesty and emotion.
Progress Report is a great album, it captures the ups and downs of life, because in real life, everything isn’t all good or all bad, sometimes it just is what it is… Life.

More about D. Allie:

D. Allie believes music is one of the most powerful mediums that exist today.  Growing up in and around Detroit, somewhere in his heart he always knew that this was his calling. He does not believe one needs some kind of crazy story or marketing scheme to make it in this industry.  He comes from a good family, he has lived in the suburbs, got good grades, went to college, and graduated.  However, with the ups come the downs and he has had his struggles like everyone else.  With a broad range of musical influences, and the ability to talk about an array of subjects, D. Allie puts his life into the music and feels that his music has the ability to reach people regardless of race, class, or any other label people use to divide. Allie is also a part of the hip-hop collective, USM (United States of Mind), a collective of diverse, yet like-minded individuals who have come together to advance today’s stagnant hip-hop culture. The collective consists of five emcees (Asylum 7, Metasyons, Draztik, 5-Ill, & D. Allie) and two dj’s/producers (Crate Digga & Sleepy Biggs). They have shared the stage with many of hip-hop’s elite, such as Zion I, OneBeLo, Ill Bill, Sean Price, R.A. The Rugged Man, Blueprint, and Souls of Mischief. USM were honored as The Best Hip-hop Group in Detroit in 2008.

“Be yourself and let the music be the music”- D. Allie

More about Eddie Logix:

Eddie Logix is a Producer, MC, and Audio Engineer. He is also 1/3 of the hip-hop group, MidCoast Most; with rappers, Nonsense and Bum. The group’s mission aims to essentially bridge the gap between underground and commercialized Hip-hop music by presenting their listeners with real and ground-breaking lyrical talent, undeniable production, memorable song structure, social topics, urban cultural aspects, and mass appeal, altogether creating high quality music for everyone to value. Some past Eddie Logix releases include: MidCoast Most – Worth the Weight LP (2005) and Asylum 7 & Eddie Logix – Lights Out @ the Power Grid (2008). Past and present production credits include: D. Allie (before Progress Report), Metasyons, Asylum 7, Mobil, Illite, Magestik Legend, Big A, Aztek the Barfly, Pony Boy, Noafex, Abrasive Method, Dante LaSalle, Mixo, Doc Waffles, RABS, BME, Damo, and Sean Dalon just to name a few. As well as non-local artists such as Warpath (Indianapolis, IN), Omar Offendum (Los Angeles, CA), DENT (Denver, CO), and Rraahh Foundashun (Denver, CO).

“I make music simply because it is the most predominant train of thought running through my mind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Music is my source of happiness, and there is truly nothing else i could see myself doing with my life.” –Eddie Logix