Immortal Technique

Infobox musical artist
Name = Immortal Technique

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Background = solo_singer
Born = February 19, 1978
Birth_name = Felipe Coronel
Origin = Harlem, NYC, United States
Genre = Hip hop
Occupation = Rapping
Activism
Years_active = 2001 – present
Label = Viper Records
Associated_acts = Dead Prez, Eminem
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/immortaltechnique myspace.com/immortaltechnique]

Felipe Coronel, better known as Immortal Technique, is a Hip hop MC and political activist. He is of Afro-Peruvian and Indigenous Peruvian descent cite web | title =Afro-Peruvian | publisher =/www.mundoandino.com | url =http://www.mundoandino.com/Peru/Afro-Peruvian | accessdate =2008-07-01 ] and was raised in Harlem, New York. [cite web| last =Springer Jr | first =Anthony | title =Immortal Technique - The 3rd World | publisher =Hiphop Dx | date = June 27, 2008 | url =http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/reviews/id.968/title.immortal-technique-the-3rd-world | accessdate =2008-07-01 ] 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 and racism. He also focuses on the harsh resulting realities of crime in the housing projects of New York City's slums.

Although he has been offered a deal with at least one major record label, [Citation |last=Banter |first=Bruce |title=Immortal Technique Interview |url=http://www.playahata.com/pages/interviews/interview_immortaltechnique.htm |accessdate=2007-09-29] he has never signed to any. Immortal Technique has voiced a desire to keep control over his production, [Citation |last=Frederick |first=Brendan |title=Immortal Technique Rock The Boat (Part I) |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=887 |accessdate=2007-09-29] and has made statements in his music that he is very aware that it is record companies, not the artists themselves, who profit the most from mass production and marketing of music.

Biography

Early life

In the early 1980s, Coronel moved with his family to Harlem from his native Peru which was going through an internal war at the time. During his teenage years he was arrested multiple times and eventually incarcerated. After being paroled, he began to become a notable figure in underground New York hip hop with much success as a battle rapper.cite web| | title =Official Biography | publisher =Viper Records | | url =http://www.viperrecords.com/imtech/bio.shtml | accessdate =2008-06-19 ]

"Revolutionary", Volume 1 and 2

In 2001, Immortal Technique released his first album "Revolutionary Vol. 1" without the help of a record label or distribution, instead using money he had made from winning various rap battles. 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 finally released his second album "Revolutionary Vol. 2" in 2003 under Viper Records/Nature Sounds distribution on CD and double LP. 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" and "Impeach the President"

was released on June 24, 2008. He is set to release his next album, "The Middle Passage". cite web| last =Sick | first =Collins | title =Immortal Technique: Rock the Boat Part II | publisher =XXL Magazine | date =2006-4-9 | url =http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20060409134218441 | accessdate =2008-06-19]

ocial and Political Views

Immortal Technique provides listeners of his music with his views on politics, sociology, and religion. Many of his views align closely with Socialism, and empowering the common people, as can be heard in multiple songs, including "The Poverty of Philosophy" from "Revolutionary Vol. 1", a reference to the book authored by Karl Marx. He tackles many modern political and social issues in his songs, addressing events such as the killing of the prominent Black Panthers member Fred Hampton by the FBI, 9/11, the shooting of Amadou Diallo by the NYPD, Palestinian rights in Israel, and the CIA backed killing of revolutionary leader and doctor Che Guevara – to name but a few. He has described himself as a "socialist guerrilla". Immortal Technique's music is inspired by historical and often political figures such as Malcolm X, Che Guevara, César Chávez, Augusto César Sandino, Marcus Garvey, and Túpac Amaru II. [http://www.latinrapper.com/featurednews18.html Immortal Technique – Essence of Revolution] . LatinRapper. Accessed July 28 2007.]

Immortal Technique is also a co-founder of the Grassroots Artists MovEment (G.A.ME), which provides healthcare for the underground artists with which it works. [ [http://www.kickgame.com/GAboutG.A.ME.html About G.A.ME] . Kickgame. Accessed September 5 2007.]

Discography

*2001: "Revolutionary Vol. 1"
*2003: "Revolutionary Vol. 2"
*2008: "The 3rd World"
*TBA: "Revolutionary Vol. 3"
*TBA: "The Middle Passage"

References

External links

*MySpace|immortaltechnique
* [http://www.immortal-technique.com/ official website]
* [http://www.viperrecords.com/ Viper Records website]
* [http://www.immortal-technique.net/forum/ immortal-technique.net message board]
* [http://www.immortaltechnique.co.uk/ immortaltechnique.co.uk message board]
* [http://immortaltech.im.ohost.de/ Immortal Technique News & Discography Site]
* [http://common-line.com/2008/03/up-close-with-hip-hop-artist-immortal.html/ Interview with Immortal Technique]
* [http://www.thathottness.com/blog/the-interview-immortal-technique/ The Interview: Immortal Technique (ThatHottness.com)]

Persondata
NAME= Immortal Technique
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Coronel, Felipe
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Rapper, activist
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH= New York City, New York, United States
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=