Behind the scenes in Burke, VA - November 23, 1994
Just a bunch of the original @teamdemomusic kids being dope. This room is what later would become Studio A of Depth Charge Recording. This session was for Chaz the Natural's joint, "Heavens to Merkatroid." People in this video: Chaz the Natural, Props the Optical (aka @cozyteamdemo,) @djdialtone_teamdemomusic, Ill-Legit (aka @sureshot_la_rock,) and @misterwise. In those days, we tracked our music to a four-track Fostex tape machine. Tracks one and two were for the stereo music, tracks three and four were for vocals, scratches etc. Wise would then mix everthing to DAT tape. The walls are covered with carpet because we didn't have much of a budget for sound treatment. But there was a carpet store across the street and they would let us have their discontinued samples and installation leftovers. While not ideal, it served as decent sound absorption to help deaden the room.
Team Demolition - The Demolition Orange Tape, features choice cuts from the Lower Life Forms, Props the Optical, Chaz the Natural and Kreative Natives. Originally released in March 1995 at the Howard Hip Hop Conference, only 300 cassettes were ever produced. The album has been remastered and is available on all streaming services NOVEMBER 4TH and includes two bonus tracks. Please check it out!
#dmvhiphop #dmvhiphophistory #behindthescenes #TeamDemolition #TeamDemo #LowerLIfeForms #90shiphop
Past Depth Charge Catalog Now Available on Major Streaming Platforms
More of the Depth Charge Recordings catalog is now available on major streaming platforms like #Spotify #AppleMusic and #Tidal.
Lower Life Forms - "The Whole Universe is Ours" (1997)
Zechariah Wise - "The Mister Wise Album" (2010)
Mister Wise - "The Way of the Doh Doh" EP (2013)
Mister Wise - "If They Don't Hear Us Now" EP (2016) {previously only available on Soundcloud}
Coming soon.... Team Demolition "The Essential Team Demo," a compilation of remastered joints from 1997-2004, including five previously unreleased tracks.
Looking for original physical vinyl and cds as well as exclusive content? Visit depthcharge.com.
#dmvhiphop #undergroundhiphop
Classic behind the scenes footage circa November, 2004 at the original Depth Charge Studios location in Burke, VA. This is one many @teamdemomusic / @illaghee2k sessions (which we humorously refer to as, "spills of blood.")
The clip begins with some ritual incantations celebrating the dopeness of "Illa-ocrates," which would later be featured on Illa's album, "Bullet and a Bracelet." Later we playback and plan further production of the still never released, "Boss Like Me," after Illa lays the hook.
@misterwise on the console, @cozyteamdemo on camera and dance moves, @djdialtone_teamdemomusic in the building and with the camera work at the end.
#behindthescenes #studio #DMVHipHop #Brooklynhiphop #hiphophistory #dmv #throwback
Mister Wise of the Lower Life Forms Unboxes “The Whole Universe is Ours” Vinyl and CD Album
Depth Charge Studios in collaboration with Back 2 Da Source Records, is proud to announce the release of the Lower Life Forms “The Whole Universe Ours” album on limited edition vinyl and compact disc.
After the release of the Lower Life Forms debut 12 inch single, “Open Invitation/ Independence Day” in March of 1997 on Depth Charge Recordings, the Lower Life Forms planned to release the full album in August of that year, but the project was tabled to push singles with their crew, Team Demolition, as well as other Team Demo produced projects. The 12 inch single became a collector’s item but the album never made it outside the crew’s inner circle. Now this limited pressing is available to 90s underground hip hop enthusiasts. The album can also be streamed on all major platforms.
Here, Mister Wise (aka Zechariah Wise) unboxes his personal copies and holds the physical vinyl album for the first time.
We have been notified by the label that this album is completely sold out. Depth Charge does not offer physical copies in our store, but the album is available for digital download and can be streamed on all major platforms.
In 1997, the Lower Life Forms made DMV Hip Hop history with the release of their 12 inch single, “Open Invitation/ Independence Day,” but their full length album, “The Whole Universe is Ours,” was never fully released. Depth Charge Studios is proud to announce that the digitally re-mastered album is now available on all streaming platforms. Jump in the time machine and take a ride with us.
Zechariah Wise and DJ Dialtone began making music together while still in grade school in the Washington, DC suburb of Burke, Virginia. In late 1991, they formed the Lower Life Forms. After a year of cutting demos and performing up and down the Northeast corridor, the Life Forms were spotted by Ahmed and Otis (dancers for the legendary group, 3rd Bass) who signed them to a management deal. The Life Forms were soon spending significant time in New York - cultivating relationships with artists such as Kurious Jorge and Zev Love X (MF Doom.) The Life Forms began cutting an album for a major label release in 1994, but the distribution fell through shortly thereafter. In response, Wise founded Depth Charge Recordings, as a label and recording studio operation to serve as home base for the Lower Life Forms as well as their crew, Team Demolition. In March of 1997, Depth Charge released the Lower Life Forms first and only 12 inch single, “Open Invitation/ Independence Day,” with plans to release the full length album, “The Whole Universe is Ours,” later that year. However, after a small promo release, Wise decided to shelve the album in favor of pushing Team Demolition single and album projects. After years of requests from underground hip hop enthusiasts, Wise transferred the original TWUIO tapes into the digital realm and re-mastered the album for a long overdue commercial release.
Zechariah Wise and DJ Dialtone are still active as producers and collaborate on projects with their long time musical partner, J. Cosell, as the production company, Team Demo. In rec
#Covid19 Mesaage from @misterwise.
#WashYourHands
