D.C. Trio Likeblood Changing Hip-Hop With “#dabiness”

When families come together, reunions happen, old friends reunite, love takes over and lives are never the same. Photos from the past cast off that same effect, allowing the greatest feelings of anxiety and a longing for one another to set in. When families comes together, the lonely, empty feelings of love ones who have passed on have a tendency to be replaced by joy, laughter and happiness which instantly consumes the surroundings. Strangers would be the first to say, “these people are “likeblood”. “I like the atmosphere, the conversation, the surroundings”. I feel just ‘likeblood’ here”. Believe it or not, there are many families who can’t say they experience the kind of welcome and warmth that happens in family reunions, or even family get -togethers, because many have grown too far apart due to small disagreements, which rip at the core of their existence. With all negativity aside, Eric “Yung E.” Mann, Andre “Dre Strong” Strong and Mbea “Mbea Da1” Bassil, better known as “Likeblood”, bring the elements of family back to music, with a Hip-Hop flavor rivaled by few and embraced by many with their Soblu Music Group project “#dabiness”, their latest release.

It’s been a few years since the formation of this soulful Rap trio, but after witnessing their performance and listening to their music, it’s easy to see why people are so in tune to their sound, style and swagger. Although the guys are of no relation to each other, they are Likeblood. Everything about them makes you want to gravitate to their music because they’re representing true chemistry in the purest of forms. “We grew up together”, says Yung E. “Yea, Dre and I met years ago. Dre and I were in the 6^th grade together. Mbea came along in the 5^th grade. We all became friends and started putting this together back in 1998. My brother gave us the name, and we took it to the streets”. Although it took the guys a while to arrive on the scene as a bonified group of emcees, ready, willing and able to take Hip-Hop to a new level, it was not until 2006, that they would catch the eye of Soblu Music Group, who not only liked their music, but cast them in their first film, “ Jazz In The Diamond District”. The film starred actors Wood Harris (“Next Day Air”) and Clifton Powell (“Next Friday”). Likeblood were also heavily involved in creating the music for the film’s soundtrack. “It was great to be apart of the film, “Jazz In The Diamond District”, continues Dre. “ We portrayed members of the band in the film, where the main character joined a Go-Go Band in the area. We also did all of the soundtrack, which was co-produced by Chucky Thompson.”

In March of 2009, the guys dropped their first single from the film’s soundtrack, “ Red Carpet”, which made industry bigwigs take a long look at what the trio was doing. The video garnered airplay on BET’s 106&Park, as the new joint of the day, thereafter receiving airplay on MTV Jams, Music Choice, Fuse, VH-1 and BET.com “The industry is really different right now, “ interjects Yung E. “Back in the day, we made a lot of classy tunes, and now all of that has changed. The music is really different now. The sound is different. A lot of it has to do with technology. Since we’re in the era of Itunes and all the websites, it use to be that you made a album and prayed that a few songs would make it in the top ten. Now all you have to do is release one song and let it sell on something like Itunes, and you’re in the game. And now consumers are more so buying what they want instead of having to purchase a whole album. We’ve always made music that was commercial (mainstream) to touch on subjects that relate to everyone. We find that connection and try to embrace it. We love using the computer because it’s allowing us to reach our fans on a whole different level. Things are changing fast, and the fact that you can produce your own product, and sell it the way you want to sell it is incredible. On the flip side it’s getting harder to get into the industry, so we’re adapting to the new standards- the computer, and websites that allow artists to do what they do best.”

Back in November of 2009, Lifeblood hit the road with legendary rapper Raekwon the Chef (formally of the Wu-tang Clan) on his “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. 2” Tour, as an opening act. The tour started in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, continuing on to Atlanta, Chicago, New York and various other cities around the country. “It’s been a lot of fun to be on tour”, explains Mbea. We’re really getting to see what people like to listen to, and get into. We can’t put a label on our music. It’s real Hip-Hop, and that’s what our fans are appreciating. The response has been really great. We spit lyrics to the music, and it’s teaching us to be masters of ceremony. The fans are rally embracing us right now. In Washington, DC, everyone goes by where they are from and we do the same”. “We all love different genre’s of music”, adds Dre. “Our material is a mixture of club beats and Hip-Hop and people are really loving us right now. Some people get it twisted when we say Likeblood, but yea we are like family. No gangs. No negative messages, but like a family would be and that’s what we represent”. In the past, the trio has performed with a variety of artists including, LeToya Luckett, Rich Girl, Ace Hood, New Boyz, Dorrough, Rich Boy, Lil Scrappy and Bun B.

Likeblood is currently promoting “ Money Over Here”, which is a street savvy tune ready to rock radio and the club scene. The song features R&B Singer, Bobby V. “Yea we went to Patch Works Studios to do this one”, says Dre in Closing. “The track was already done. He did the hook and it came out well. It’s also doing very well in sales”. Check out www.likeblood.com to see photos and video clips from behind the scenes at the making of “Money Over Here”. Likeblood’s album “#dabiness” comes out in the Spring.