- Turf Talk
Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Turf Talk
Img_capt = The cover of Turf Talk's Album
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Demar Bernstine
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin =Vallejo, California
Instruments =
Genre =West Coast Hip Hop ,Hyphy
Occupation(s) =
Years_active =
Label = Sick Wid It/30/30
Associated Acts =E-40 ,Droop-E
Notable_albums =
Notable_songs =
Related_acts =
URL =Turf Talk (born Demar Bernstine, 1979 in
Vallejo, California ), is aBay Area rapper at the forefront of thehyphy movement. His unique style of delivery has earned both local [http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/2005-04-27/music/hearsay4.html] and national [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/arts/music/19sann.html?pagewanted=print Bay Area Rap World Takes In the Brash and the Eccentric - New York Times ] ] acclaim. Turf Talk is the protégé and cousin of platinum-sellingBay Area pioneer and legendE-40 , and is signed to his mentor's Sick Wid It/30/30 Records.Growing Up
Although born in his now native Vallejo, Turf Talk moved to
Southern California at an early age and grew up in Pomona,Los Angeles and later Rialto, inSan Bernadino . He was expelled from school during his childhood and spent a period of home learning during which he started to write rhymes.Turf Talk told UK-based rap periodical "
Hip Hop Connection "Hip-Hop Connection #203, July 2006] that he "came from living in hotel rooms.. for four to five years". The rapper returned to theBay Area in 1999 to pursue his career under cousinE-40 inVallejo . He is now based in Millersville,Vallejo .Turf Talk quotes his influences as "
E-40 and The Click,Too Short , and thenThe Dangerous Crew , andMac Mall ".Career
Originally rapping under the name Killa Kane, Turf Talk would first appear alongside Mac Shawn, another younger cousin of
E-40 , on the compilation CD "Worldwide Bosses & Playas" in 2001. His breakthrough came in 2003 performing the hook for theMTV -airedE-40 track "Gasoline", B-side to the single "One Night Stand".Turf Talk would go on to appear in three tracks on
E-40 's 2003 album "Breakin News " as well as cement his growing reputation in the Bay Area's new movement by guesting in style on the official remix to The Federation's seminal hit "Hyphy".In 2004 Turf Talk released his highly anticipated debut album "The Street Novelist" featuring his mentor
E-40 , The Federation and a range ofSick Wid It Records ' artists. The CD included theRick Rock produced smash "It's Ah Slumper" and one of the final guest appearances of the legendaryMac Dre .In 2005 Turf Talk released "Turf Talk Brings The Hood: Colabilation" part album, part compilation of tracks recorded with both long-time and up-and-coming
Sick Wid It Records collaborators. The CD included the popular local hit "Turf Talk Iz Back".In the early hours of Thursday July 14th 2005, Turf Talk suffered several shots to the face from a low caliber pellet shotgun, after being apparently targeted leaving a recording studio in Tuolumne Street,
Vallejo . He was treated at the Sutter Solano Medical Center and made a quick and full recovery.On July 30th, 2005 at the Masonic Center on Nob Hill,
San Francisco , Turf Talk was announced as New Artist (Rookie) of The Year 2005 in the inauguralBay Area Rap Scene (B.A.R.S.) Awards [ [http://www.barsawards.com/ psychic vue cinema award video at barsawards.com ] ] . He beat strong competition from bothMistah F.A.B. andYa Boy .Boosted by the signing of mentor
E-40 toLil Jon 's multi-platinum BME/Warner imprint, Turf Talk announced plans to release his new studio album "West Coast Vaccine: The Cure" in 2006, featuring almost exclusive production by rap heavyweightsRick Rock andLil Jon . The CD has since been delayed to early 2007.In 2006 Turf Talk secured further exposure by appearing on
E-40 's BME debut andBillboard 200 success story "My Ghetto Report Card " as well asMTV 'sHyphy music insight "My Block: The Bay". His influence on the Hyphy movement was featured in Hip Hop magazines "The Source" and "XXL".In the summer of 2006 Turf Talk extended his cross-genre, national and international reputation after being invited to feature on the
DJ Shadow Hyphy -influenced new release "3 Freaks". This led to anMTV music video alongsideKeak Da Sneak , as well as a supporting role in a tour of Europe and Japan.The tour climaxed with a performance in front of over 25,000 at the
Wireless Festival inLondon 's Hyde Park on June 23rd, Turf Talk appearing alongside Bay Area emceesMistah F.A.B. and Nump, in a line up which included worldwide superstars such asMassive Attack ,Pharrell ,Gnarls Barkley andDamian Marley .tyle
Turf Talk's unusual delivery is an important part of his act. The self-styled "devastating mouthpiece", he combines a distinctive
drawl with fierceinterjections usingmulti-track recording . TheNew York Times described that "he has a high, pinched voice, less cartoonish than his cousin [E-40] and more ferocious".The rapper himself ascribes his fast-changing flow to building a character for his listeners, complete with
ad-libs , and to developing a range of marketable styles. "I'm always thinking about new ways to rap on different beats and new sounds, just something different to the human ear." [ [http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=turftalk Exclusive Hip Hop News, Audio, Lyrics, Videos, Honeys, Wear, Sneakers, Download Mixtapes ] ]Discography
Albums
*2004: "
Street Novelist "
*2005: "Turf Talk Brings The Hood Colabilation "
*2007: ""
*2007: "Hyphy Ain't Dead " (withMistah F.A.B. )Guest appearances
*2001: "Worldwide Bossin We Be Flossin" (
Mac Shawn feat. Turf Talk as Killa Kane)
*2003: "Gasoline" (E-40 feat. Turf Talk)
*2003: "Hyphy (Remix)" (The Federation feat. Turf Talk)
*2006: "Muscle Cars" (E-40 feat. Turf Talk &Keak Da Sneak )
*2006: "3 Freaks" (DJ Shadow feat. Turf Talk &Keak Da Sneak )Trivia
In 2005 Turf Talk appeared on the reality television show "
Judge Joe Brown ". He was contesting a claim by a former female associate that he failed to pay insurance costs associated with a vehicle acquired for him by the plaintiff and wrecked in a car accident.Turf Talk lost the televised court case but used the appearance to promote his debut CD.
References
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