For Immediate Release
Contact: Mehka, edandchief@gmail.com



Scratch-N-Sniff Music recording artist Haj reviewed in Performer magazine

Charlotte NC and Scratch-N-Sniff Music's Haj released his album "Outside Myself" and the critics are loving it! Check out his review in Performer magazine

http://performermag.com/sep.recordedreviews.0807.php


If you like good hip-hop, check out myspace.com/haj2 and add Haj as a friend!

*30*


Haj

Outside Myself

Produced by Ryan “Ry-Star” Young for

Hand Me Down Soundz | Recorded and

mixed by Scott Slagle at Asylum Digital

Recording Studios in Charlotte, NC |

Mastered by Dave Harris at Studio B

Mastering in Charlotte, NC




On his sophomore LP, Outside Myself, Charlotte-native MC haj let’s his listeners know early on that although his style may be from the oldschool, his music is not to be categorized into a cell. Over a funk-looped sample layered with a rhythmic bass line and swaggering high-hats, he raps, “Outside of the box is where you’ll find me / Those confined to it can step behind me,” on the third track “I Got Options.”

But haj doesn’t strictly focus on battle raps and witty wordplay. The soft-spoken MC steers away from chauvinistic, testosterone-filled stage personalities of many rappers these days, revealing his more vulnerable and sensitive side on songs like “Strive” and “Situation.” “Strive” deals with the everyday struggles of getting by with little money and lots of bills and the reccurring doubts of making it big, while “Situation” tells of the responsibilities and challenges in being a father of two and a husband at an early age.

Haj’s vocals are mostly accompanied and guided by long-time producer and friend Ry-Star, with a few songs created and arranged by Scott Slagle. Overall, the beats on the album reflect an early 1990s-era hiphop influence with a combination of samples and keyboard sounds. Yet Ry-Star manages to venture into other avenues of hip-hop with “Clap Ya Hands” and “Music (Life Line).” On “Music,” Ry-Star’s production flourishes the most with 808 drums gliding over a ‘70s soul-groove sample, joined by additional melodic vocals of LaVita Harris and Lloyd Williams. On this song, where the music truly grabs hold of the listener more than anywhere else on the LP, haj falls short of doing the same, stepping in and out with short verses and an even shorter presence.

“Outside Myself” has its ups and downs. Although the production varies from song to song, haj’s presence remains the same: in the music, yet outside of himself. (Scratch N Sniff Music)



www.myspace.com/haj2


-Wahid Khoshravani