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857 is a racially diverse, innovative hip-hop quartet from Long Island, NY that creates music WITHOUT the guns, violence, misogyny, and other negativities widely supported by the hip-hop industry that are often criticized by fans of "real hip-hop".
The members Tur-Bo, Y.K.C, AL-G, and The 23rd Stallion have been close since childhood and began making music out of a shared love for true hip-hop and disgust with the industry's current marketing trends and direction. Recognizing the diminishing sales of the hip-hop genre as a whole, 857 believes that the only way hip-hop is going to survive and evolve is if it introduces a variety of different types artists representing many different perspectives and images.
So.....to make sure that hip-hop gets to its next much needed stage-of-evolution, 857 makes it their business to restore the originality, creativity, and variety that hip-hop used to offer from the late 80's to early-90's (hip-hop's most innovative periods).
This philosophy is deeply embedded within their music since it embodies all the elements of hip-hop that they've enjoyed and always appreciated, combined to form a new style and sound. To describe this sound more clearly, you could say that 857 carries the spirit of old school hip-hop mixed with contemporary beats and rhymes, which is why their style is categorized with hip-hop acts like Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Outkast, The Fugees, and Jurassic 5.
The diversity possessed by 857 makes it easy for them to create many different kinds of songs across a wide variety of topics. Whether it's party anthems, role-playing, storytelling tales, personal reflections, political and media controversies, relaxed vibes, or experimental tracks, 857's got it covered. Unlike most of today's hip-hop acts, this versatility makes 857's music not only effective but very unpredictable especially when they mix styles with other genres such as rock, reggae, jazz, and spoken word.
Overall, their witty, creative, lyrical talents along with the insane instrumentals provided by the multi-talented methodical mastermind, AL-G, allow 857 to demonstrate a sound, style, and energy that's nonexistent in today's 'bling-bling' materialistic hip-hop world.
Other stuff
857 has performed in many different venues including clubs, festivals, colleges, showcases, lounges, etc. A few notable venues include the Downtown, Downtime, Southpaw, popular to those who live in the NYC area.
In addition, 857 has also performed on live television, internet television, and has been featured in publications such as Newsday, Daily News, Good Times Magazine, and Inside Connection to name a few.
To date 857 has also received air-play from several non-commercial, internet, and college radio around the country and overseas.
