Check out the new video from justin Smith an Elise Testone

“A Long Time Ago”
Directed & Filmed by – Matt Shelly
Edited by – smd.
Performed by JUSTIN SMITH

All lyrics and music written by Justin Smith

Copyright 2012.

SONG: A Long Time Ago – Single

Check out the new video from justin Smith an Elise Testone

This is a live performance in the green room before a show, we were just running through the song for practice.

SONG: Reaching Out
ALBUM: Sinner’s Prayer, Justin Smith

Check out the new video from justin Smith.
Feat. Jesse Ingalls of Ben Harper & Relentless 7on bass & keys

Recorded & Produced by Danny Kalb @ Bright Street Recording, Hollywood, CA

Video: Recorded by Jan Hermann Von Bayern, Edited by Jan Hermann Von Bayern & Azel Hutto

I am extremely exited that “CAROUSEL” is now available for you to hear and to get your hands on.  I was in a good place when I wrote this collection of songs.  I wrote them in about a 2 month period right before and after my son was born.  The album was recorded in full in 7 studio days. Jeremy “Finesse” Roberson (Villanova) played drums and Reggie Sullivan (John Saterfield Band) played upright bass on the album.  I want to thank them for helping me bring these songs to life and for having my back.  These songs sound exactly like I was hearing them in my head and I’m glad that you can hear them the same way I did.  My goal as far as producing the album was simple, don’t over-produce it.  The recordings are raw and real, there was no auto-tune or anything of that nature used during these recordings.  ”CAROUSEL” is my 4th solo album and 7th album collectively and I am happy to say that it is the closest I have come to capturing what I truly feel Folk Hop Music is.  FEEL THE MUSIC.

My son is now 4 months old and he is teaching me everyday how to be a father.  He was the inspiration for my new album “CAROUSEL” and he actually makes his debut performance on one of the songs. I’ll let everyone in on a secret so you can hear him sing (it’s just crying to most but it’s beautiful to me). There is a hidden track at the end of the album called “Lullaby”. Just let the last song, “The Chase” continue playing when it ends. It makes me happy that he would sing on the album. I also don’t believe in advertising my child on the internet so you can’t find any pics of him anywhere, but his first picture for the public eye is published in the album artwork.

-Justin

Be sure to go over to the Albums page and pick up a copy of my new Album Carousel! Click here to do that now!

Justin Smith | Carousel

Carousel
Justin Smith
© Copyright-Justin Smith(837101263658)
Record Label: Jus Productions

Download Album (MP3) – $10.00

Buy CD – $14.00

You will have noticed that I have a new website up and running, it was designed by Brandon Sharpe over at Bdesign Creative. Also I have had my Myspace Page updated with some new photos of myself. Be sure to go over there and check out everything, and drop me a comment or two. Also be sure to check out all my friends in other bands and groups from my area.

Be sure to check back regularly to get updates on my prgress with my new album comign out in April called | CAROUSEL.

Feel The Music,
Justin Smith

CLICK BELOW ON THE STREAMPAD MUSIC PLAYER TO PREVIEW MY UP COMING ALBUM!. | Take a listen to : Carousel | Guns & Guitars | Good Morning Beautiful.

JUSTIN SMITH, CAROUSEL (to be released in april)

Feel The Music,
Justin Smith

Justin Smith and the Folk Hop Band is not satisfied with revolutionizing a genre, they created their own. The sound is unlike anyone else as the band fuses elements of hip hop and acoustic rock. A full band echoes a solid sound as Justin raps over top delicately placed background vocals and acoustic melodies. The music tells us stories from his worldview and with impressive spirituality. Coming from a grassroots fan base in South Carolina, Justin Smith is bringing sincerity back to Hip Hop.

The group sound is hard to describe. The positive folk style rap sounds a lot like Kanye West or the Black Eyed Peas (after adding Fergie, but before she stole the band). The musical side is a lot like Jack Johnson, and if you wanted to compare his style to a commercial product, it is a lot like the Black Eyed Peas/Jack Johnson collaboration “Gone Going”. The band brings much more to the table than sweet music; they have a powerful spiritual and community message. female background vocals provided by Elise Testone give each song a simultaneous pop and soul feel. When Daniel Strickland chimes in his own vocals it sometimes comes off as a very Linkin Park feel in their dynamic. The band is about as eclectic as a band can be without losing their own signature sound.

Live the band has a solid rock performance thet gives their rap styling a platform to stand upon. This saves them from that flat live sound suffered by so many hip hop artists. They play with power and give off a cool, save-the-world through-music vibe. The positive vibe of the music is inspiring, yet refuses to be preachy and the occasional poppy single gets everyone in the crowd singing along before the second chorus. As justin says in “Watered Down”, “I love my music like I love my drinks, if it gets watered down go ahead and pour it down the sink”. Justin Smith and the Folk Hop Band are a genuinely awe inspiring live act without watering down their mission.

The new album by Justin Smith titled “Sinner’s Prayer” is full of repentance from one who has sinned. This is not a religious album for the pious, but those who have been or are down with the sinners. The band plays to all of their talents vocally and instrumentally and the mix is solid. The stand out track is “Good Morning Beautiful” and it has a sweet radio love song sound that makes the girls weak in the knees. “There Was A Time”, and “Who’s That Man” are rife with sociopolitical messages and the medium for delivery is structured flawlessly.

Justin Smith and the Folk Hop Band have mass appeal without selling out their soul. They have potential not only to be hip hop stars, but revolutionaries in the vein of Kanye West, Common, Mos Def, or Talib Kweli. They bring positive vibes to an oppressed culture that wants a better life. Justin Smith is as honest and true as though you were talking to him as a best friend. “Sinner’s Prayer” is one of my favorite new albums and has already enjoyed a nice reception on my own radio program.

so we have made my son to be’s name official

Bradyn Oliver Smith,
so his initials are BOS,  so everyone will call him, BOSS

Feel The Music,
Justin Smith