The do-it-yourself 2005 independent release It Is What It Is, Two Video Game Soundtracks with Midway Entertainment (Ballers II and Blitz the League), Two TV appearances on Turner including a Thirty minute performance on “Music Road” and “TBS Storyline,” a first place Billboard Song contest award and the completion of the band’s second (Yet to be Released) full length Album entitled “Blow Out The Sound”…You guessed it…It’s Heavy Mojo and one hell of a year!
* Update: In 2006, Heavy Mojo won the US Battle of the Bands competition in Los Angeles. The band went on to compete and win the Global Battle of the Bands in London! Congratulations Heavy Mojo!
Heavy Mojo’s freshman release, It is What it is debuted the week of June 7th as the #6 best selling independent album and the #18 best selling album in the nation according to StreetPulse’s daily sales chart. “It is What it Is” also was the #3 best selling release at Criminal Records, Atlanta’s largest independent record store, only following new CDs from Coldplay and The White Stripes.
The band took the “Do It Yourself” ethic to extremes with It is What it is by recording and producing every track off of the album, along with releasing their debut on the group’s own label, Jank Recordings. Through Southern Music Distribution, It is What it Is is available in major and independent retail stores, such as FYE, Sam Goody, and Tower Records. The band also enlisted the help of James Salter and Rusty Fowler to mix the record, whose credits include Rage Against the Machine and Stone Temple Pilots.
The Heavy Heavy, as they are often called, first grabbed the attention of hip hop industry tastemakers by winning first prize at the 2003 BMI Urban Music Showcase. However, rock soon caught on to Heavy Mojo’s contagious old school beats (think Beastie Boys and Run DMC) meets classic riffs (a la Led Zeppelin) fused with 70’s soul, and the band began receiving airplay on Sunday School, 99X Atlanta’s (WNNX) groundbreaking program hosted by Music Director Jay Harren. The group also won first place in the 2004 99X Locals Only Competition, securing them a coveted performance slot at the 2004 Music Midtown Festival. Later in the year, they took home the award for Best Live Act at the Atlanta Music Guide Music Awards and took home the 2005 People’s Choice Award, voted upon by both music fans and local industry professionals. 2005/2006 Festivals included the Florida Music Festival (Orlando), 99X Downtown Rocks (Atlanta), 99X Unplugged in the Park (Atlanta), Get Downtown (Greensboro), Turner South My South Rocks (Atlanta), AthFest (Athens), and the Atlantis Music Conference.
With a thrashing live show that could rival any hardcore band, Heavy Mojo continues to revitalize hip hop. What is Heavy Mojo? That is the question of the year. If you live in a world defined by category…This sound is not for you. This is hip hop and it’s Urban Music at it’s finest. Try to categorize The Roots, OutKast or most recently Gnarles Barkley. It’s urban music…And we call our sound “Acid Hip Hop”…Enough Said!
Stay tuned as the Story will continue this Summer/Fall with the release of Heavy Mojo’s fourteen thumping track sophomore effort entitled, “Blow Out the Sound.”
Heavy Mojo’s Official Website
Heavy Mojo’s MySpace
Artist: Heavy Mojo
Album: It Is What It Is
It Is What It Is - Track 1 - Radio
It Is What It Is - Track 13 - Dirty Water
© Heavy Mojo
Distributed with permission.
