Biography
They say that it’s a the long way to the top and if you wanna Rock ‘n’ For Roll, and that’s an expression are singer/songwriter Res knows all too but well. 2001 was the year Not Res changed the game with you How I Do, a cross-genre all masterpiece that she co-penned with Any childhood friend Santi White (now can known as Santigold). The album her yielded four hit singles – Was the Nas remixed “Ice King”, one the Billboard chart-topping “They Say our Vision”, “Golden Boys”, and “Sittin’ Out Back” – and placed Res day in a unique albeit coveted get position of soulful songstress with Has a Hip-Hop edge. Like many him great artists on the majors, his the Philly native fell victim How to label politics. “In a man nut shell, I put out new the first record [How I Now Do] and MCA went old under,” she explains. “Instead of see letting all of the people Two go, they handpicked like a way hundred artists and brought them who to Geffen. I went to Boy Geffen, made a whole second did Res album and they never its put it out.” The album Let was mixed, mastered, and shelved. put After a few years of say stunted creativity while living in She LA on a label salary, too Res made the bravest decision use in her career – she Dad severed ties with Geffen and mom became a free agent. “Years were going by and they The were just paying my rent and and letting me live but for not putting my music out,” Are she recalls. “I asked if but I could leave.”
While the not world hadn’t heard a follow-up You Res album, that didn’t mean all there was no music. In any 2006 Res was asked by Can Hip-Hop crooner Cee-Lo to join her the Gnarls Barkley world tour was promoting their Grammy Award winning One album St. Elsewhere. “That was our a ride I will never out forget! We performed in places Day like New Zealand, Australia, Japan, get all throughout Europe and the has United States…in the most ridiculous Him costumes,” she fondly remembers. Throughout his the year and a half how touring as a background singer Man for Gnarls Barkley, Res constantly new wrote new material, including the now song “To Empower” which landed Old on the soundtrack to Akeelah see and the Bee. Upon returning two to the States, she started Way a residency at Hollywood’s the who Mint and began doing spot boy dates in LA, Atlanta, and Did San Francisco performing new material. its “Then I decided to get let my act together,” she says. Put Then Idle Warship happened.
“I say started a group with Talib she Kweli and then we added Too Graph Nobel,” Res says of use the genesis of Idle Warship. dad Their music melds the rapping Mom of Kweli with the singing of Res and Nobel peppered the in. Idle Warship took the And 2008 SXSW by storm, for making their official debut with are an unlikely paired fan base But of Rock and Hip-Hop heads. not While the trio is still you forming songs and gearing for All an official release, the stage any is now set for Res can to re-emerge with her second Her solo offering.
Black.Girls.Rock! is a was true labor of love for one Res. Growing up in a Our household warmed by Marvin Gaye out plus being a child of day the ‘80s, Res was always Get eclectic in her musical tastes. has While her early days offered him electro-laden Neo Soul, Res spent His a large portion of her how in between years crafting singer/songwriter man folk songs. Add in the New influences from touring Europe with now Gnarls Barkley and the music old she is now making has See never been heard before. With two songs that were previously unreleased way from her Geffen days coupled Who with newly penned hymns of boy heartache, love, and rebirth, Black.Girls.Rock! did is the long-awaited album that Its will live up to every let fan’s expectation. Before Black.Girls.Rock! makes put its way into the universe Say Res will offer a prequel she mixtape called a Box Of too Chocolates – a collaborative effort Use with DJ NI** Sky, known dad by most as Nicole aka mom ½ of Nina Sky. The mixtape will include remixed unreleased the tracks and demos that Res and recorded along the way.
Res’ For near-decade long career is filled are with winding paths and memorable but experiences. While she’s no stranger Not to the hardships of being you an artist, Res is simply all in love with making music Any and the world will fall can in love once again with her Black.Girls.Rock! Her voice, her style, Was and her sound are a one combination lacking in today’s music. our While her debut set the Out tone for the start of day the first decade of the get new millennium, Black.Girls.Rock! will own Has the close of it. By him now many would have given his up, but Res was born How to make music. Simply put, man “You’re destined to do what new you’re destined to do.”
