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“Music
that can’t be tainted by garbage but can be laced with
street eloquence will definitely catch someone’s
attention.” SINISTER QUIN.
The
hip-hop scene is saturated with a variety of controversial
influences and life styles. Generations have grown up with
gangster rap and the violence that ensues both the lifestyle
and the industry.
There are very few styles in hip-hop that inspire a
generation to rise above or self examine itself. Music and
lyrics should intermingle and be of a positive force thus
inspiring people in their daily lives.
Is
there any music today that one can honestly say provokes
them to take a deeper look at themselves and at the
environment in which they live?
Enter
SINISTER
QUIN…merging
from Los Angeles, California with a distinct sound that goes
beyond west coast…this duo’s style and flair is no doubt
on the verge of creating a stir with their thought provoking
tracks.
Their music and lyrics are focused on positive reinforcement
addressing contemporary issues and current events that
affect the community.
SINISTER
QUIN
(Winston E. Butts (the Wiz) and Searcy Jackson (Quin)) want
to make a difference through their music and lyrics. The two
cousins came together to create music that people can
identify with and to prove that, no matter what the odds,
anything is possible!
SINISTER
QUIN's
debut CD “DO YOU KNOW WHO I BE” offers the listener a brand
of music that reaches beyond just the typical genre of hip
-hop and rap. Lyrics that people of all walks of life can
identify with and music that tempts the palate of lovers of
funk, jazz, R&B, soul and even classical.
As each track finishes The Wiz’s versatility in musical
styles makes you want to listen to the next track, and the
next track until the whole CD has been heard and then play
it all over again!! Quin’s deep, rhythmic lyrics take you
into another time and place. His choice of vocabulary is
cleverly matched to the music.
The
first track “DO
YOU KNOW WHO I BE” explores the question of what is real
and what is an illusion. An issue we all question at some
time in our lives. Who is the real me?
Another
thought provoking track is “DEADBEAT”. A plea to God
“to help me be a better man, father and role model” and
for men to be accountable for their actions. Get caught up
in the sensitive
nature of “CONSEQUENCES”, “SMILE NOW, CRY LATER” and
“GOT TO GET AWAY”. The realities of life! A great play
on words!” DANCE FLOOR DIPPIN” is bound to get the dance
floors jumping and for a fun track listen to “JIMMY
BOND”. A spoof on the character James Bond. There are 4
more tracks of great listening for all music lovers.
WHO
IS SINISTER QUIN?
Quin
was born in South Central, Los Angeles, the youngest of 3
children, and raised by his mom. It was his mom’s job to
discipline and teach him values that would help him survive
out on the streets. His father had left when he was young.
His story is typical of most single parent families living
in this area. Life
was tough and he had to survive on the streets.
His
grandmother played a major role in helping him become who he
is today. As a young boy words played an important role in
his life. From his mother teaching him not to use words he
didn’t know the meaning of, to his grandmother having
serious talks with him about not becoming physical. She
would say “you don’t have to put your hands on people,
just whoop them with your pen”. At the time he asked
himself ‘how do you whoop them with a pen?”
Even
as a youngster, Quin had a passion for expressing himself,
both through drawing and writing. Through his thirst for
knowledge and the quest to self educate he was able to
develop his skill for writing. He soon realized that he
could influence and inspire people through his words.
However, he was still unclear how he could use his pen as a
weapon?
He
started rapping to artists like “Sugar Hill Gang”
(Rappers Delight). He would learn the songs then rap along
with the artist. After a while he started making up his own
lyrics. No rule just rhyme ! Often stuck for many hours in
L.A. traffic with no radio (because somebody had stolen it),
he became pretty good at free styling. Being raised on the
streets of LA gave Quin plenty of material and soon he was
telling his own stories. By then he had lost close friends
to violent crimes. Some were very talented rappers who never
got the opportunity to shine as their lives were cut short.
He wanted the opportunity to tell people his story.
It
didn’t take him long to realize he needed music to get his
words out to the public. It was not easy to find the right
musical partner.
Until
...he was introduced to his cousin, the Wiz.
The
Wiz
is no newcomer to the entertainment arena. He has a wealth
of musical experience having worked with the great Barry
White, Donna Summers, Coolio, CeCe Winans, El
Debarge, Jody Watley, Angela Bofield, Otis Day & the
Nights and
many
others.
His
career started at the age of 8 when his parents bought him
his first drum set. Once he mastered the  art
of ‘music’ he was allowed to play in his father’s
church choir. He went on to play gospel gigs and church
radios.
Unable to read music he could not join the high
school marching band, but he had the ability to play
anything he heard and so his teacher decided to give him an
audition. It was with the marching band that he learnt to
recognize different rhythms and time signatures that then
led him on to learning the bass guitar. He went on to play
in a jazz band and graduated to play piano and xylophones.
He formed his own band and played at jazz gigs around Los
Angeles.
Today his music is influenced by jazz-fusion, and
such artists as Parliament, Gap Band and Roger. The current
CD has some great sounds reflecting these influences
including strings, funk and swinging rhythms. Not only is he
a talented musician but he can also sing. His vocals can be
heard on a number of tracks on the CD.
When
Quin discovered that the Wiz had all this talent he took the
opportunity to ask him to read some of the songs he had
written. As Quin remembered it, “the Wiz had that look on
his face as if to say, “Oh Lord, here we go again, another
rapper”, but he was my newly discovered cousin and so he
felt an obligation to at least read my work.”
Of
course the rest is history!
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outcome of the footage is striking. 
mainstream
of Hip-Hop music videos in that no exploitive
visuals of chauvinism and degradation of women,
violence and drugs are glorified. In essence it
is dealing with reality in a real sense as opposed to a
hip hop gangsta fantasy.
