Immortal Technique

Immortal Technique is a Latino rapper and political activist born in Lima, Peru and raised in Harlem, New York. Most of his lyrics focus on political issues. The views expressed in his lyrics are largely a mixture of commentary on issues such as politics, poverty, religion, social class, socio-philosophy, and racism. He is notable for his aggressive hardcore knowledgeable lyricism, fiery passion, ferocious complex battle-like rhymes, and prestige speeches.

He has been offered a deal with a Sony development plan and Def Jam Recordings, but he has never signed to any. Immortal Technique has voiced a desire to keep control over his production, and has stated in his music that record companies, not artists themselves, profit the most from mass production and marketing of music. He is now president of his own independent label, Viper Records.

Immortal Technique is one of the leading pioneers of independent Hip-Hop and has gained an abundant strong fan/support base through his music, message, movement, and activism, and his influence has spanned globally, all without any corporate control.

QUICK BIO TABLE
BIRTH NAME: Felipe Coronel
BORN: Lima, Peru
ORIGIN: Harlem, New York
OCCUPATIONS: Emcee, Activist
YEARS ACTIVE: 2000-present
LABELS: Viper Records (President)
WEBSITE
TWITTER
FACEBOOK
YOUTUBE

BIO  Immortal Technique was born in a military hospital in Lima, Peru. His family immigrated in 1980 to Harlem to escape the ongoing internal conflict in Peru. During his teenage years he was arrested multiple times due in part to what he has said was "selfish and childish" behavior. He attended Hunter College High School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Shortly after enrolling in Pennsylvania State University, he was arrested and charged with assault-related offenses due to his involvement in an altercation between some fellow students and drug dealers. The charges stemming from this incident led to his being incarcerated for a year. After being paroled, he took political science classes at Baruch College in New York City for two semesters at the behest of his father, who allowed Technique to live with him on the condition that he go to school Although he was able to rhyme since childhood, it was Technique’s frustrations about his incarceration, sociopolitical issues and the need to provide income for his family that were the motivations driving him to think of music as a career. Honing his song writing skills in jail, and unable to find decent wage-paying employment after his release, Technique began selling his music on the streets of New York while battling with emcees whenever the opportunity arose. This, coupled with his victories in numerous freestyle rap competitions of the New York underground hip hop scene such as Rocksteady Anniversary, Braggin Rites and others, led to his reputation as a ferocious battle emcee.

Revolutionary Vol. 1 and Revolutionary Vol. 2 albums
In 2001, Immortal Technique released his first album Revolutionary Vol. 1 without the help of a record label or distribution, instead using money earned from his rap battle triumphs. Revolutionary Vol. 1 also contained the underground classic "Dance With The Devil" track. In November 2002, he was listed by The Source as the month's featured "Unsigned Hype", which highlights artists that are not signed to a record label. The following year, in September 2003, he received the coveted "Hip Hop Quotable" in The Source for a song entitled "Industrial Revolution" from his second album. Consequently, since he did not have a record deal or distribution at the time, Immortal Technique is the only rapper in history to have a "Hip Hop Quotable" while being unsigned. He released his second album Revolutionary Vol. 2 in 2003. In 2004, Viper Records and, in 2005, Babygrande Records have re-released Immortal Technique's debut, Revolutionary Vol. 1, to make it available to a wider audience. "Point of No Return" from Revolutionary Vol. 2 was used as the entrance theme for Rashad Evans during the UFC 88 Main Event between Chuck Liddell and Rashad Evans.

"Bin Laden" song, This Revolution movie and "Impeach the President" song
The summer of 2005 saw the release of "Bin Laden", a vinyl single 12" featuring Mos Def and DJ Green Lantern. The single also contained a remix of the song featuring two other rap legends: Chuck D of Public Enemy and KRS-One. For many, the issue became more controversial in the history of Hip Hop because he blamed the Reagan administration (which provided military training to the mujahideen in Afghanistan) and George W. Bush for the attacks of September 11, 2001. Later on, Technique explained his thoughts in regards to conspiracy theories on 9/11 in "Cause of Death" and "The 4th Branch" tracks on Revolutionary Vol. 2.

A few months earlier that year, Immortal Technique appeared (as himself) in a documentary film entitled This Revolution, which was recorded during the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York. The tape contains the protests surrounding the convention in the form of a documentary. It also featured Viper Records affiliates, AKIR and producer SouthPaw in roles.

Since then Immortal Technique has taken control of Viper Records and has signed a distribution deal with Babygrande Records/Koch, with entitlement of full control, to vent to their next album. SouthPaw has managed to establish himself as A&R of Viper Records.

In early 2006, the song "Impeach the President," featuring Dead Prez and Saigon turned up in the mixtape Alive on Arrival to DJ Green Lantern. This is a simple version of The Honeydrippers, 1973, in which Immortal Technique asks listeners to organize a vote of censure against George W Bush.

The 3rd World album
Immortal Technique's third studio album, The 3rd World was released on June 24, 2008. It was given an Underground Gold Award selling over 54,000 copies. He is set to release his next albums, Revolutionary Vol. 3 and The Middle Passage, is set to come out in late 2010.

Charitable work with Omeid
In June 2008, Immortal Technique partnered with Omeid International (non–profit human rights organization) to lend his support. He dubbed his charitable work as "The Green Light Project." With the profits of The 3rd World album, Technique traveled to Kabul, Afghanistan to help Omeid build an orphanage without any corporate nor external funding. The orphanage was a success and is housing over 20 orphan children from Kabul.

"Democratie Fasciste (Article 4)" song
In April of 2009, a new song leaked on the internet named "Democratie Fasciste (Article 4)" by Brazilian-French rapper Rockin' Squat which featured Immortal Technique. The official release of the song and Rockin' Squat's album Confessions D'un Enfant Du Siècle Volume 2 was on May 12, 2009. The instrumental from the song was sampled from Wendy Rene - "After Laughter". The song expresses the inequalities of the Third World and revolutionary events throughout history against tyranny and oppression. The song contains lyrics in English (Immortal Technique), French (Rockin' Squat) and brief shout outs in Spanish (Immortal Technique). This song is Technique's first official international collaboration.

"Voices of the Voiceless" song
In early 2009, it was announced that there would be a collaboration between Technique and U.K. underground artist Lowkey, on a single called "Voices of the Voiceless". On September 11, 2009, a snippet of the song was released on YouTube. The preview was released ahead of its September 21 launch on iTunes, as part of a web-campaign that included updates, promotion and links on forums, E-Magazines and several social networking sites. The song's lyrics cover a broad range of issues that are familiar to listeners of both artists – racism, world revolution, war, socialism, government control, rape, famine, colonialism, classcism, self-determination and the war in Iraq.

Social and Political Views
Immortal Technique's music is inspired by historical and often political figures such as Ali, Malcolm X, Che Guevara, César Chávez, Augusto César Sandino, Marcus Garvey, Túpac Amaru II, Jose Carlos Mariategui, W. E. B. Du Bois, Karl Marx, Toussaint L'Ouverture, Harriet Tubman, Emiliano Zapata, Confucius, Plato, and Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Films
Immortal Technique appeared as himself in a docudrama film entitled This Revolution, which was recorded during the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York. The tape contains the protests surrounding the convention in the form of a documentary. It also featured Viper Records affiliates Akir and producer SouthPaw in roles.

The (R)evolution of Immortal Technique is a documentary about Immortal Technique released on DVD on July 10, 2012 on Viper Records. It was also showcased at the Harlem Film Festival in Sept. 2011.

12" Vinyl Singles
2003     Industrial Revolution / Peruvian Cocaine
    * Released: 2003
    * Label:Uncle Howie Records

2004     The Point Of No Return / Internally Bleeding / Caught In A Hustle
    * Released: Uncle Howie Records
    * Label: Uncle Howie Records

2005     Bin Laden (Remix/Pt. 2) feat. Chuck D & KRS One / Bin Laden feat. Mos Def (Original)
    * Released: 2005
    * Label: Babygrande, Viper Records

DISCOGRAPHY

Revolutionary Vol. 1 (2001)
Label: none (2001),
Viper Records (re-released 2005)
Purchase

Revolutionary Vol. 1 is the debut album by Immortal Technique, released in 2001 and re-pressed in 2004. The first edition had no distribution and no bar code; it was sold by the artist on the streets and at his shows. The album re-press was manufactured with a bar code and is being distributed worldwide by Nature Sounds through Viper Records. His classic and most famous track, "Dance with the Devil" contains a hidden track featuring Diabolic.

Track List
   1. Creation & Destruction
   2. Dominant Species
   3. Positive Balance feat. Big Zoo
   4. The Getaway
   5. Beef & Broccoli
   6. No Me Importa
   7. Top of the Food Chain feat. Poison Pen (remix)
   8. The Poverty of Philosophy
   9. Revolutionary
10. Spend Some Time (remix)
11. Dance with the Devil (feat. Diabolic on hidden track)
12. The Prophecy
13. Understand Why
14. No Mercy
15. The Illest feat Jean Grae, PH (formerly known as Pumpkinhead)
16. Speak Your Mind

Production
    * Marley Marl – track 1
    * Rheturik – track 2
    * 44 Caliber – track 3, 6, 11, 12, 14, 15
    * SouthPaw and Akir – track 4
    * Jean Grae – track 5, 9
    * Stelf Index – track 7
    * SouthPaw – track 8
    * G. Bennet – track 10
    * A. Cohen – track 13
    * Immortal Technique – track 16

Revolutionary Vol. 2 (2003)
Label: Viper Records
Purchase

Revolutionary Vol. 2 is the second album released by Immortal Technique released on September 18, 2003 through Viper Records. It is considered as one of the best Hip-Hop albums ever made due to its concepts, positive critical reception, independent sales, and influence, without any help nor marketing from a major label nor corporation.

The CD included Immortal Technique's phone number. It was endorsed by Mumia Abu-Jamal, who introduces the album and also provides a speech about hip hop's relationship to Homeland security. Revolutionary Vol. 2 challenges the United States government, especially the Bush Administration. In an attempt to reveal the hypocrisy of American jingoism, he makes reference to Project MKULTRA, the Patriot Act, Acid rain, American companies with Nazi ties, the Catholic Church's platform of non-involvement during the The Holocaust, and the Church calling Muhammad a "terrorist" amongst many other accusations.

Track List
1. "Revolutionary Intro" (feat. Mumia Abu-Jamal)
2. "The Point of No Return"
3. "Peruvian Cocaine" (feat. Pumpkinhead, Diabolic, Tonedeff, Poison Pen, Loucipher, C-Rayz Walz)
4. "Harlem Streets"
5. "Obnoxious"
6. "The Message and the Money"
7. "Industrial Revolution"
8. "Crossing the Boundary"
9. "Sierra Maestra"
10. "The 4th Branch"
11. "Internally Bleeding"
12. "Homeland and Hip Hop" (feat. Mumia Abu-Jamal)
13. "The Cause of Death"
14. "Freedom of Speech"
15. "Leaving the Past"
16. "Truth's Razors"
17. "You Never Know" (feat. Jean Grae)
18. "One" (remix) (feat. Akir)

Production Credits
    * SouthPaw – track 2-6, 15-18
    * Metaphysics – track 7
    * Danja Mowf – track 8, 10, 14
    * Domingo – track 9, 11
    * 44 Caliber – track 12
    * Omen – track 13

Song Descriptions
In "The Point of No Return", Immortal Technique discusses the origin of Latinos, "just like the Spanish exterminating Taínos, raping the black and Indian women..." and mentions the Templar Knights taking Jerusalem and figuring out what was buried under Solomon's Temple. He raps about Mary Magdalene giving birth to the children of Jesus and about the depleted uranium scandal. He quotes Scarface and New Jack City in "Peruvian Cocaine", describing the journey that cocaine takes as it reaches American cities. Each MC featured on the track takes on the role of a character involved in the drug flow, including a Coca field worker, a Peruvian drug kingpin, a corrupt leader of Peru, an American CIA Agent, an American drug dealer, a corrupt policeman, and a prisoner incarcerated for drug trafficking.

One of the more graphic songs on the album, "Obnoxious," contains some of the most offensive subject matter. "I'm going to prank call (1-800) cop shot just for kicks, payback for every time that they called me a spic, and Puerto Rican chicks tell me that I fuck like I'm loco, and Dominican women call me the rompe toto". Along with its humor and vulgarity, the song is also very political and attacks multiple angles of popular culture. The song was noted in several magazines as one of the most downloaded Hip Hop songs on the Internet in 2004, only beaten out by Eminem and The Neptunes. At the end of the track Immortal Technique is dismissing 50 Cent with references to the song Wanksta by 50 Cent

"The Cause of Death" suggests that the United States government was not only aware of, but indirectly responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks. Immortal Technique also discusses the seven-headed dragon of the Book of Revelation, rapping that he will reveal "George Bush and Bin Laden as two separate parts of the same seven headed dragon".

In "You Never Know", Immortal Technique laments a missed opportunity at love as well as huge tragedy which he experienced personally, with Jean Grae singing the chorus.

"Harlem Streets", "Leaving The Past", and "You Never Know" are known for using a Spanish guitar and containing passionate sentimental poetry in his lyrics.

"Sierra Maestra" was the only instrumental track with a Latin sound to it.

The 3rd World (2008)
Label: Viper Records
Purchase

The 3rd World is the third album by Immortal Technique, released on June 24, 2008, on Viper Records. The album was mixed as a mixtape by DJ Green Lantern, although an unmixed version is available on iTunes. The 3rd World peaked at number 99 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The album features an array of respected Hip Hop artists with relatively improved production from his previous albums. Although it is considered more as a mixtape, the album encompasses a conceptional theme directly relating to the album’s title. He compares his experiences and knowledge about the music industry, American society, wealth and power, politics, esoteric topics, US-Latin America relationships, and pop culture in regards tot he the Third World.

Technique appears more mature, intelligent, and serious in this album. His style remains the same - raw, not compromised, and uncensored.

The CD contains 3 hidden tracks - one hidden preceding the first track, one hidden following the 8th track, and one hidden following the last track.

Track List
0. "Apocalypse Remix" (feat. Akir and Pharoahe Monch)
[hidden track; rewind CD player back from the beginning of track 1]
1. "Death March"
2. "That's What It Is"
3. "Golpe de Estado" (feat. Veneno and Temperamento)
4. "Harlem Renaissance"
5. "Lick Shots" (feat. Chino XL and Crooked I)
6. "Apocrypha" (instrumental skit)
7. "The 3rd World"
8. "Hollywood Driveby" (feat. Sick Jacken and Cynic)
8.5. "Watchout Remix" [hidden track following track 8]
9. "Reverse Pimpology" (feat. Mojo)
10. "Open Your Eyes" (speech)
11. "Payback" (feat. Diabolic and Ras Kass)
12. "Adios, Uncle Tom" (feat. Poison Pen) (skit)
13. "Stronghold Grip" (feat. Poison Pen and Swave Sevah)
14. "Mistakes"
15. "Parole" (Evil Genius mix)
16. "Crimes of the Heart" (feat. Maya Azucena)
16.5. "Rebel Arms" (feat. J. Arch and Da Circle)
[hidden track following track 16]

Production Credits
    * Fyre Dept. – track 0 (hidden track)
    * DJ Green Lantern – track 1, 4, 7, 15
    * Spictacular – track 2
    * SouthPaw – track 3, 5, 16
    * Sick Jacken – track 6
    * Shuko – track 8, 16.5 (hidden track)
    * Southpaw and DJ GI Joe – track 8.5 (hidden track)
    * Metaphysics – track 9
    * Mesone and SouthPaw – track 10
    * Bronze Nazareth – track 11
    * SouthPaw and Immortal Technique – track 12
    * Buckwild – track 13
    * Scram Jones – track 14

The Martyr (2011)
Label: Viper Records
Free Download

The Martyr is an LP by Immortal Technique released on October 27, 2011 as a free digital download. It is a collection of previously unreleased and never before heard music from the artist.

HHUG interview with Immortal Technique

Track List
1. Burn This
2. The Martyr (prod Southpaw)
3. Angels & Demons feat. Dead Prez, Bazaar Royale (prod DJ Green Lantern)
4. Rich Man's World (1%) (prod Shuko)
5. Toast to the Dead (prod J.Dilla, with Cuts by DJ Green Lantern)
6. Eyes in the Sky feat. Mojo (prod Southpaw)
7. Goonies Never Die feat. Diabolic, Swave Sevah, Gomez (prod Southpaw)
8. Natural Beauty feat. Mela Machinko (prod Slimfass)
9. Running Nowhere - interlude (prod Southpaw)
10. Civil War feat. Killer Mike, Brother Ali, Chuck D (prod Southpaw)
11. Mark of The Beast feat. Akir, Beast 1333 (prod The Molemen with cuts by DJ DP-One)
12. Black Vikings feat. Styles P, Vinnie Paz, Poison Pen (prod Southpaw)
13. Conquerors (with Dr. John Henrik Clarke) (prod by Engineer)
14. Young Lords feat. Joell Ortiz, Pumpkinhead, CF, Panama Alba (prod Southpaw)
15. Ultimas Palabras (prod Immortal Technique, Southpaw)
16. Sign of the Times feat. Cetan Wanbli, Lockjaw Nakai, Cornel West (Prod Southpaw)

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