Botanica All-Stars


artist: Botanica All-Stars | location: worldwide | performance: Live Multi Media

The All-Stars are the collective of the hip hop record label, Botanica del Jibaro, comprised of the label's DJs, designers (visual, graphic and clothing), producers and MCs.
16 Oct 2006 by la mano fria


Andy K


artist: Andy K | location: Dresden, Germany | performance: Painting, murals

The artist Andy K aka Andre' Krommer was born 1967 and one of founding fathers of graffiti in, what was once known as, East Germany. Also an origianl member of the infamous Bandits crew which started in Dresden and now spreads across Europe. A freelance artist with Airbrush-Design, Grafix, Webdesign, graffiti since 89'. He is one of the very few designers/artists asked to join the Beta Bodega Coalition, along side La Mano Fria on the record labels Botanica del Jibaro and Arepaz. Andy also works closely with our family at Project: Mooncircle and Subversiv Rec.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


Antennae


artist: Antennae | location: Miami, USA | performance: Not Available

Three man crew transmission of 1 MC and 2 producers. Now disbanded Antennae was MC Stres on the mic and Manuvers & Induce on the drum pads. Before the transmission broke up we were able to record their master piece album known as "Exit". For more information see: Stres, Manuvers.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


Climber


artist: Climber | location: Japan-USA | performance: 2 Producers Live, DJ

The 2 man team of DJ Tosh and Shift flip samples and break beats which rival any DJ and production crew out there. DJ Tosh was born in Japan and Shift born in America, crossed pathes in high school in Santiago, Chile. On the other side of the globe, their music has caught the ear of many DJ's from Japan to UK, Giles Peterson from BBC 1 radio in London being the most noteworthy. Their seamless melting of obscure and known records from many years of digging worldwide makes Climber the producers MC's are calling up for beats and remixes.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


Epstein


artist: Epstein | location: Atlanta, USA | performance: Live, DJ, VJ

Roberto Carlos Lange aka Epstein collects sonic dust, flipping and molding it into a rusty boom bap that will snap your neck. Born in the US, Epstein is the second son born to Ecuadorean immigrants who chose the South Florida area to raise their family. This dual culture understanding allows him to pull from a wide range of sounds, from vintage South American pop to obscure southern African American music. Epstein has become a unique beatsmith who has performed across Europe all the way to Japan and back to his base in "Hot"-lanta.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


DJ Killer


artist: DJ Killer | location: Osaka, Japan | performance: DJ, Clothing Design

As the Botanica family stretches the globe, Japan has become one of our strong bases. This is where we met DJ Killer, one of the hardest working people in the Osaka scene. Not only a DJ and promoter of underground music and events, but also a clothing designer thats been creating her own unique take on urban street wear. Her brand "Killer" since the early 90's, was inpired by various trips to NYC. A true underground veteran, she works at the "no promotions, word of mouth" shop Loser which has been around since 1996. By night the shop transforms into a ground zero and breeding ground up and coming DJs in Osaka as they clear the merchandise and bring out the turntables. More over, Killer and La Mano Fria have started to collaborate on projects which combine graphic and clothing design at a time when Botanica del Jibaro and all of Beta Bodega Coalition add new medias and dimensions to bring forth its message. Killer's work was on display as part of La Mano Fria's exhibit, "Jibaro Times: La Mano Fria Report", in Tokyo at Uplink Factory in August 2005. Her work can be seen at future collaborative exhibits in Porto, Portugal in October 2005 and again in Tokyo in January 2006.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


La Mano Fria


artist: La Mano Fria | location: unknown | performance: DJ, Visuals, Graphics

La Mano Fria is a graphic artist, record selector, a label owner, a visual soldier against the global and false democratic system which engulfs the world today and most important a simple worker. Son of Colombian and Costa Rican immigrants that fled their country to settle in the urban jungles of NYC in the late 60's, he was born in 1973 in a mainly South American community of Queens, NYC. Later moving to Miami and South Florida, before the record label his involvement in the Miami scene ranged from organizing events to involvement with pirate radio stations. As a visual artist, La Mano Fria influences are traced to all types of sounds (latin, hip hop, electronic, techno, roots reggae, etc.), old punk rock record covers, Cuban OSPAAAL posters, and NYC graffiti movement as well as his own experiences of being a immigrants struggling and being on the go in the US. Founder of the Beta Bodega Coalition (Beta Bodega, Rice and Beans and Botanica del Jibaro and Arepaz record labels), La Mano Fria has always fused his ideas and work with those of artists to form a creative relationship and record label which is unique. Through his travels, he now is expanding into the realm of books, video, a clothing line and art exhibitions. The point is to use multi media as a tool which can give and voice and shine light on issues and voices that are commonly ignored.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


Manuvers


artist: Manuvers | location: Miami, USA | performance: Live, DJ

Manuvers yet another Chilean producer who's laid back and soulful production has earned him the nickname "da smooth brotha". Born in Chile, Manuvers was raised in the cultural mesh known as Miami where he developed his love for hip hop culture. Manuvers can be found in Miami DJing at a club or festival in Santiago to Berlin dropping sets that range from rugged party sure-shots for the brothers to soulful smooth vibes that get the sisters in the zone. Manuvers is currently in the studio with various MCs from Miami, Santiago and Buenos Aires as well as working at Botanica del Jibaro's allied label Counterflow Recordings.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


Serum


artist: Serum | location: Miami, USA | performance: Live MC

Whether commandeering a spray can and an outline or rocking a mic and a crowd, Serum manifests a rugged, overpowering and commanding vibe, all his own. However besides destroying walls and microphones, his specialty is actually feasting on wack MCs. Serum (together with his boy Wreckognize) is among Miami's most notorious battle MCs. From South Florida to Scribble Jam in Ohio, he's left a trail of bones, rubble and MCs with shattered dreams which has earned him the name Tyranno-Serum-Rex. Son of Haitian immigrants and and native of Miami, his written assault could already be felt on various projects such as on the Deaf to the General Public, Evolver and his debut on the infamous Counterflow series, The Vapors Project. He's also been featured on the albums of Manuvers and Climber. One half of the deadly duo Mekanikal Mystik, Serum has proved that a battle MC can actually spit something of lyrical substance contrary to the norm.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


Soarse Spoken


artist: Soarse Spoken | location: Miami, USA | performance: Live MC

Soarse Spoken spits a bilingual shower of verbal ammo, pulling up a voice too many of us forget we have; one that is raw, uncompromising, and too powerful to be ignored. Born in Medellin, Colombia in 1979, Soarse knows first hand the flames of poverty and hunger that run rampant in a country that has been destabilized and devastated by the institutions and puppets of a corrupt global capitalist system. It's this realness, this fire, that has allowed Soarse to work with trailbazing producers ranging from Prefuse 73 to the Miami/Tokyo team, Climber. And to rock crowds from the Sonar 2004 festival in Barcelona, Spain to grimy street corner cyphers of dirty Miami Dade. Founder of the notorious Leadership Midnight crew and a contributor to the news section with his live transmissions from Colombia. Check out Soarse's thoughts in our 'NEWS' section.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


Seven Star


artist: Seven Star | location: Miami, USA | performance: Live MC

Seven Star, the name alone could not be better suited. The number associated with the gods. Seven, of Puerto Rican decent, started his out many years as a religious MC. When the time came to proceed beyond his religous beliefs and begin his individual evolution his journey really began. To hear Seven Star is to hear the mind and wisdom of the elders speak through his mouth piece. Touching on all subjects relating to humanity from man-women realtionships to the injustices bestowed on the natives of the island once known as Borike’n. His message is universal and his flow and delivery will amaze, whether spoken or written. His honesty will make you think and react in the tradition of his role models such as Malcolm X, Cobain, KRS-1 and Ginsberg. Seven star has a lot to say. Seven Star can be found also on allied label Counterflow and you can read some of his thoughts in his monthly post "The Lamarckian Chronicles" in our 'NEWS' section.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


Solo-man Spectrum


artist: Solo-man Spectrum | location: Miami, USA | performance: Live MC

Jawara Imo Mc Pherson lays out his anger torwards the injustices of Uncle Sam and the rest of his puppets on stage and takes out a couple wack MCs in the process. Like most children of immigrants in South Florida, his roots are in the Carribean (Jamaica) but his reality and struggle from day one was right here in Miami. His existance is that of a soldier who's lost all his troops and now is forced into a solo mission of survival. Besides his occasional teaming up with MC battle monster Serum as part of Mekanikal Mystik, Solo-man can be found writing, battling MCs, at the club with a drink he snuck in from liquor store kicking game the ladies, being harrassed by Miami Dade police and working a 9 to 5 job or the streets of the magic city to keep stay hustling in this system. For more information see: Mekanikal Mystik.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


Stres


artist: Stres | location: Miami, USA | performance: Live MC

MC Stres is a true lyrical channel, pulling the energy from his African ancestors and letting their lessons be taught through his voice. Hailing from one of the oldest African American neighborhoods in Miami (Richmond Heights), Stres has been refining and defining the marriage of deep thought and MCing for over 10 years, inspiring countless of Miami crews (they know who they are!). Traveling extensively though out Europe and Japan with the Botanica del Jibaro and allied Metatronix label, Stres is what is known as an MC's MC, who challenges mankind to examine life and systems built by man and to thus evolve not conform. The list of projects he's been a part of Miami is endless (Antennae, Spirit Agent, Evolver, etc...) as well his ocean of words and soul. For more information see: Antennae.
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


Gordon


artist: Gordon | location: Dresden, Germany | performance: DJ
08 Sep 2005 by la mano fria


DJ Tosh


artist: DJ Tosh | location: Yokohama, Japan | performance: DJ

DJ Tosh, born in Japan, grew up in Santiago, Chile and hid out for a few years in Seattle and Miami. Now back in Japan and based out of Yokahama, Tosh rocks parties in Tokyo and throughout the island with his extensive library of classic hip hop and vintage funk collection. When he's not in a club, he's in his studio making those hot beats and connecting overseas via the internet to Miami to his partner in the production group Climber. For more information see: Climber
26 May 2005 by la mano fria