Ok, when they first asked me I thought to myself, oh sh**, now I gotta listen to rap crap. The first song they sent me was titles “Rock Star”. I hesitantly imported it into WinAmp and forced myself to hit the play button. What I got was totally unexpected!

I’m actually sitting here listening to the song over and over again as I write this article. You know, I’m not sure if I should jump in the Mosh Pit or dive onto the Dance Floor and just get down with the tune.

It’s almost like tasting a local brew and sloshing it around in your mouth trying to pick the ingredients. I can’t quite tell if I’m listening to an upbeat version of a Korn song or one of MMG’s tunes. Hold on, maybe it’s Eminem, no…. Alice In Chains…. Crap, maybe Twizted. Ok, now I’m totally confused. All I can really say is it is a different sound and I actually like it.

Alright, my player just switched to “War Zone”, which reminds me of a traditional Rap Song. Hold on, unlike hood rap it actually is talking about HOPE, not screwing your girl over and over again. So, I’m restarting the song for another listen and each time it gets better and better.

I remember when Hip Hop was real and decent. Although my main focus is Alternative Rock I am always open to new music. In these 2 songs Mirage really strikes me as a couple of guys talking about life, not a bunch of bull****. The problem they are going to have in today’s world is the fact all the local promoters have distanced themselves from Hip Hop due to the violent nature of the new music. The liabilities of promoting the music far outweighs the benefits. I mean, look at the problems we have had in The Ville with people getting shot and stabbed at Hip Hop venues. It’s a total shame because I would love to go see these guys perform with Reggie from MMG, who is another Local Hip Hop Artist who keeps his music real. Bumb rap (no pun intended guys) for Mirage. The more I listen the more I love the music.

They gave me permission to put these two songs in the article for you to listen to. Once I get my copy of the new album I’ll gladly tell all of you how to buy it too.

Have a listen for yourselvesI put both songs together in a podcast type file.

I ripped their bio from the myspace page: http://myspace.com/seethemirage for all of you to read. Hop on over and check them out sometime.

About Mirage:

If you ask people nowadays what kind of music they like, most of them will say “I like a little bit of everything.” If you listen closely you’ll notice artists fitting multiple genres but truly only one style is their strong suit. There are exceptions to this rule and although most have fallen flat there are those rarities that do it signaturely. Enter: Mirage.

Mirage is group from Louisville, KY comprised of the poetic flow master Trajik and the mood changing, rock influenced Upryze. They introduce a style known as both Theatrical Rap and Street Rock. Some have said they sound like Eminem, Korn, Insane Clown Posse, Disturbed and Twizted, just to name a few. Backed by real life lyrics and occasionally smashing humor it’s easy to see hear why they do not fit the simple, lack-of-thought lyrics that one usually hears in rap and rock such as sex, drugs, more money than you, and I’m better than everyone else.

Mirage has had success performing for the nightclub Petrus, private birthday parties and were even guests at Thunder Over Louisville, 2009 for Thorntons annual Thunder Blast event. For a while they were helping to promote famous Mentalist Joe Riggs. Mirage has had reviews by industry giant Shout! Radio Services, one of the top five internet radio stations in the world and reviews from National Promoters such as Terry Harper. WB’s Da Show, hosted by Big Goldie, was so impressed with their debut performance that he whipped the television camera out on them during their act on stage. Their successful allure grabbed the attention of Wes Simkins co-owner of AcousticAlternative.com in such a strong way that Wes brought the two on board to help start an unsigned artist radio station of all music genres soon to be revealed.

Trajik has had personal success with his music being featured on the You Tube video series of famous Mentalist Joe Riggs. He gets his inspiration from life, family, and tragedy. With a wife and two girls he knows what it’s like to struggle to support family while simultaneously keeping a grip on his dream to entertain people everywhere. When you listen to his poetry backed by unique and moving music it’s easy to feel the “been there, know that” feeling.

Upryze was a rocker with his band Scatterstone. He has received reviews for his music by Billy Mallery, famous Hollywood Composer and Hover records. Being the cousin of Trajik and seeing his potential to add positive momentum to the world he combined forces with him earning a positive review by nationally acclaimed beat maker/producer Mister KA for Richardson Music Group.