If hip-hop were Baskin Robbins, what flavor emcee would you choose? There's East Coast Cross Movement, West Coast Gospel Gangstaz, and jazzy 4th Ave. Jones to name a few.

I'm always down to try a different flavor, so I got in line to hear a new emcee named Treasure. I saw Treasure- a.k.a. Energy Live- perform at a Christian dance club. As the crowd received their sample, it was obvious that he was not going to be just the flavor of the month.

The 20-year old from the Washington, D.C. area is the newest addition to the Rahab Record family, but Treasure is no amateur when it comes to music.

Teaching himself piano at six years old, Treasure surrounded himself with music and developed a talent of making beats and writing hip-hop lyrics.

At the age of 16, Treasure came together with rapper Enyaphace to form the rap duo Battalion. The two performed together for two years with Treasure concentrating on beats and Enyaphace penning lyrics. When Enyaphace recorded a solo project, Treasure continued to write music, but wasn't expecting to  record a project himself. After meeting Rahab Record president Eric Campbell, Treasure decided it was time to work on his album. And he has been working, as all cuts were written and produced by Treasure himself. He doesn't believe in samples, so all songs are original. Treasure says that versatility flows in the album; some joints are jazzy, some are straight up East Coast.

Many compare his voice with that of rapper Jay-Z, but that is where the similarities end. While the media portrays hip-hop as the root of all evil, and gangsta and porn rap are hot on the charts, Treasure has a different outlook. "It's not the style, it's the words behind the style. If you're singing about some negative stuff over music, you'll get that spirit. The Bible says the power of life and death are in the tongue, so words are powerful. You can speak life. You can speak death."

What is it that Treasure is speaking? The Word of God, over original beats.

Do you have the fever for a new flavor? Several cuts off Treasure's soon to be released album can be downloaded for free at www.Rahab.com. If you are a regular of MP3.com, you can also find him there.

The CD entitled "Stand Firm" will be for sale on the Internet. Watch the Rahab website for the release Date.

 

 

 
published by Hip Hop Zone, syndicated through One Mind Magazine on 3/11/01 
Treasure Stands Firm
by: Soldya