Karlos 'Mr Sicc' Diamond, Otara's favourite son and New Zealand's realist MC is about to embark on a mission to bring the harsh realities of Otara's dark streets to speakers near you.
Born and raised on the South Auckland streets of Otara, Mr Sicc has endured the harsh realities of hood life sporting the scars from battles both won and lost. It's this life and environment that fuels the fiery rappers ability to tell graphic stories of poverty, prejudice and triumph over adversity with conviction and honesty unparalleled in Hiphop from New Zealand.
“Mr Sicc brings serious gangsta heat that reminds us the whole world has a ghetto... Including New Zealand”
- Davey D - Hiphop Journalist/Radio personality (Oakland, CA)
Mr Sicc began recording underground tapes with his former partner in rhyme Face-Killa (Tuface) some 10 years ago. Those now-legendary tapes were the blueprint to a new generation of rappers from South Auckland and caught the ear of Otara rap pioneer Ermehn, who introduced Mr Sicc and Face-Killa to in-studio recording - the result was the 2000 recorded, 2005 released 'The Path of Blood' (Sony/BMG).
“After hearing so many flossy rhymes from MC's with unrealistic stories and goals, it's refreshing to hear a real life MC like Sicc - gritty street tales with an edgy urgency”
- DJ Sir-Vere - DJ/Journalist/TV Personality/Local Hiphop Pioneer
(Auckland, New Zealand)
Soon after the recording of 'The Path of Blood', Face-Killa entered a 4 year prison term and disheartened with the constant delays in the release, Mr Sicc felt he was back to where he started. Mr Sicc continued doing features on various projects before he began work on his debut Street Album - 2006's “The Flea Market” - a collection of demo tracks that were used to test the ears of listeners and serve as yet another learning curve for Mr Sicc.
“The Flea Market is crazy from beginning to end!”
- T La Rock - Hiphop Pioneer (Bronx, NYC)
Shortly after the release of “The Flea Market” Mr Sicc was invited to perform at the first annual Urban Music Awards in Sydney, Australia alongside Yukmouth of The Luniz, Ganxsta Ridd of The Boo Yaa Tribe and Monsta Ganja. This served as the beginning of a two and a half month journey around Australia recording and performing with the aforementioned - Another important learning curve.
Mr Sicc received high praises from the American artists and whilst in Australia completed several tracks for his 'Pre-album' - “Home Invasion."
With the 'Official Pre-Album' - “Home Invasion” - Mr Sicc continued to illustrate how he has advanced in strides above his peers locally, and internationally with tracks covering a myriad of topics from police brutality, parental neglect and absence, street life and political agendas.
In 2008, Mr Sicc released "Old School Machete Funk" where he introduces his long time friend J-Dubb over a selection of modified Funk beats to critical acclaim in local publications.
Currently preparing a new CD release titled "Fucking Up The Nation" and late this year his highly anticipated reunion album "From Hell..." with former partner in rhyme Face-Killa. All building up to his highly anticipated full-length double album “Cannibal Music” in 2011, which marks not only the first double Hiphop album in New Zealand history, but also a bold leap for quality and content within the Hiphop community as a whole.
Securing collaborations with some of the worlds greatest Hiphop talents - both underground and mainstream like Paul Wall, M.O.P, Macy Gray, Mistah F.A.B, Bizarre and Kuniva of D12 and more - that will surely shock fans and industry personalities alike not to mention an even more refined, and driven Mr Sicc.
Production duties from Jarred Gosselin, E-Swift, Mykill Miers, Domingo, D/R Period, Vinny Idol and more, alongside local producers Rahxx and P-Money provide Mr Sicc with a canvas backdrop to display his aggressive, passionate lyrical brushstrokes - “Cannibal Music” will redefine Hiphop in New Zealand once more.
Mr Sicc is going to be a serious problem.... For interviews or general enquiries please contact:
Mark Thomson
CEO StateHouse Records
[email protected]
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