Juice is a name that is synonymous with underground ciphers, open mics and battles all across the nation. His legendary punch lines have blessed battles for well over a decade now, and people are still talking about the beating he laid down on Eminem back in '97. At times Juice has been so on point with his rhymes that people have accused him of writing his freestyles, which prompted him to write the classic "Freestyle or Written." The MC has been recognized globally as one of the greatest battle rappers of all time, so why can't he seem to release a decent solo album?
For freestyle MCs, the art of rhyming is intimately tied to the moment, and that doesn't always translate well in the studio. The aesthetics are different, the rush of the crowd isn't there; all that's really left is the rapper and his personal style. It's just as difficult for fans to accept that their favorite freestyle MC might be trying something different. As a result of these issues, Juice had a tough time bringing his talent to a larger audience. Enter The Machine.
The Machine is a collective of Chicago musicians whose stories are as diverse as their talents. The band leader is Russoul, a former Chicago Idol winner who has performed with Common, Kanye, Erykah Badu and many more. Also in the band is saxophonist Aaron Getsug, who was named one of the five best jazz musicians in Chicago by the Tribune; electric pianist Brian Felix, founder of the Om Trio; bassist Tim Lincoln, who has worked with the likes of ESPN; and drummer Brian Abraham, who just got done working with Umphrey's McGee. Together, The Machine gives Juice a proper soundscape for him to tap into a part of his talent that many fans have been waiting for. Many critics felt like Juice should have turned to a live band several years ago, but if he did that, he probably wouldn't have so many frustrations to write about now. (Jeff Min)
For more information, visit their website: http://www.myspace.com/juiceandthemachine
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