RISING PATH "RISING PATH" LP REVIEW

With a debut album that tallies over 14 features from a bevy of Twin Cities legends, the “Rising Path” LP shares the most absolutely stacked lineup on an album this year. This album does not feel like a producer/vocalist duo project, but a compilation that dabbles over a vast spread of different sounds and styles with a heavy chunk of local flavor. The self-titled album acts as a variety show where Quentdiggy (vocals) takes the role of host and grandmaster of this event, and James Adamiak is wonderfully fitted as the director of the orchestration. Quentdiggy uses his soothing, but persuasive voice in seemingly sporadic points in the album as he bows out for healthy amounts and gives his supporting cast plenty of stage time.
Adamiak uses his Golden Era influence throughout the album but, in no way, sacrifices the diversity within the overall sound. Adamiak shares a buffet of different styles that seem particularly arranged to culminate in a cohesive sound throughout. The use of countless live instruments is a refreshing frequency. From rich guitar bridges to soothing horns, the amount of live feel in this album is very much prominent.
Aside from the overall sound, let's talk about the features. Here’s a comprehensive list of all the incredibly talented artists in this album:

Also, check out their music video to the intro track, “It’s All About You:”

Vocal Prohphet, Khujo Goodie, Mujah Messiah, Just Wulf, Carnage the Executioner, A Scratch, Mariah Rose, Momma Rose, ACKronem, Soul Reflect, Cristos, Juice Lord, KJ

This list of features bolsters an immense chunk of the hip-hop community. Not only is it a hodge podge of Twin Cities Hip-Hop, it crosses many sub communities within our grand landscape of the genre. With this ensemble of artists, the variety, content, and sound almost seem limitless.
Some of this variety seems to be organized in 2-3 song vignettes. “Pepper Spray” and “I Know” are related to each other. “Pepper Spray” is the anthem. This joint acts as a George Floyd tribute and a police brutality condemnation. Your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper Mujah Messiah delivers a methodical and crisp verse while Khujo Goodie gives some southernplayalistic flavor on the hook.
”I Know” provides a faster tempo and the slick and slippery drums are complemented by West Coast style bell synths. This track has a feel of a cypher as the verses come rapidly. Together Just Wulf and Carnage the Executioner give my favorite 2 verse stretches in the album. Carnage holds down the anchor and ends the song on a witty bar that gives me a chuckle every time. He spits:

“Your Idea of ham look more like you’re going turkey bacon.”

“Sweet Escape” and “Moving up” also fit together seamlessly. With a summer time feel, Mariah Rose shares a voluptuous vocal performance that would fit right in during a jazzy singer lounge. “Moving Up” takes a look at, well, moving on. One of my favorite female artists in the Twin Cities, Momma Rose, makes an appearance on the chorus and verse respectively. Her voice uplifts Quentdiggy’s with her high, but soothing vocal performance.
Tracks six, eight, ten, and eleven are the only four tracks on the album where Quentdiggy is alone. These tracks act as intermissions in the album where the grandmaster of the show takes back control of the project and steers in its intended direction.
Track ten “Party Time” and track eleven “Tossin’ and Turnin” fit together. “Party Time” hosts a funky beat that is reminiscent of an Ant production from the “Strickly Leakage” era. Quentdiggy gives equally funky bars as he dives into a tight, but fun lyrical performance. “Tossin’ n Turnin’” provides and evokes a polarizing emotion differing in a more serious and ghostly vocal performance from Quentdiggy.
“Throwing Hands” and “5G” (tracks seven and nine) go by in similar formula of a posse cut in the beginning of the project. This track hosts ACK, Soul Reflect, and Cristos. Ack and Soul Reflect each deliver a rapid, but methodical verse while Cristos delivers heavy bars that feel like an east coast boxers uppercut.
“5G” has an instrumental that sounds like some down-low-west-coast-pimp-shit. It gives me an instant nostalgia of ScHool Boy Q’s “Habits and Contradictions.” Mujah Messiah and this beat were meant to be, as he delivers one of the top verses in the project.
The “Rising Path” LP has an emotionally provoking final track. With a comforting acoustic guitar riff and soft drums; Quentdiggy delivers a gentle, but profound, vocal performance pertaining to love and everything in between.
In some ways, Rising Path’s debut album has a secondary purpose: It serves an important role as a high variety, compilation-like project. The amount of talented artists that spread across this golden soundtrack gives a taste into many flavors this music community has to offer.

The “Rising Path” LP dropped on September 15th. Listen/Purchase this dope project here:

<a href="https://risingpathmusic.bandcamp.com/album/rising-path">Rising Path by Rising Path</a>

Rising Path:
Ryan "Quentdiggy" Long (he/him) - Singer, MC, Songwriter
James Adamiak (he/him) - Producer & MC

(Melodic Noise) How's your day going?
(Rising Path) Every day above ground is a blessing!

(MN) What is your formed/origin story?
(RP) Quentdiggy had this group in high school called the Herbalistic Clique that I always looked up to. Fast forward 15 years later, Quentdiggy was a teacher, I was a recovering addict with about 1 year clean at the time. I wanted to start a new project and he was interested in the project as well. We started a band called Ninja Thunderbolt which was a lot of fun but we parted ways 4 years later. After a couple years apart we started working together again, but we wanted to make a collaborative, with an open door to other musicians and so Rising Path was born. We began to make songs that had real potential, and we began to work with artists we never imagined we could/would. In 9 months, we looked back and had a 14 track album that is supper passionate and well done. We are so proud of this effort

(MN) Genre?
(RP) Soul & Hip Hop

(MN) Label?
(RP) Independent

(MN) What is the story behind the album's name?
(RP) We made this self titled because it really represents who we are. It signifies our formation & introduction to the world. We feel we are on a Rising Path literally. Everything is going in the right direction. Blessings upon blessings!!!

(MN) Lyrically what stands out on the album?
(RP) Working with Muja Messiah was eye-opening. His wordplay and mix of humor with serious topics blew us both away. Other than that a particular favorite is Khujo Goodie and his verse in Pepper Spray, and Quent just kills it lyrically overall.

(MN) What was the inspiration behind the album?
(RP) It started as just making music, but as we worked with the artists, genres started to blend, and hits came out of the woodwork. The album began to inspire itself (if that makes sense.) We did really want to push our boundaries as writers and performers, and succeeded in that. We created something memorable and potent. We want to create something worthy of nostalgia.

(MN) What do you hope people take away from the album?
(RP) The feels. It is such an emotional album, from the high, bouncy "It's all about you" to the meloncholy "Wearing out my Welcome." The album takes you on a journey. I want people to take us seriously, because we feel like if you just take a listen you'll be hooked! We will put this music up against anything and feel confident in its chances. It's not often you pull off a masterpiece. Now we just need everybody to hear it and exposure!.

(MN) What did you learn about yourselves as you were making this project?
(RP) I learned just how prolific we could be and to never doubt ourselves, our abilities, or what we are capable of pulling off. We learned that we can hold our own with some of the biggest in the game, and not to ever question our gifts. We've also learned that you have to keep working, you can't take nights off. It did not come without a ton of hard work, late nights, phone calls, connections, networking, and being willing to show up on top of our game. We're that motivated. I've learned that we're not just hungry, we're starving, and we're not going to stop until everybody knows who Rising Path is.

(MN) Who did your album art and how did you choose it?
(RP) We love street art and we contacted Deih, a painter/muralist, in Spain about a potential commission. Since we don't speak the same language we sent him some transcripted song lyrics and we found that our music and his art share many themes: A deep connection with other worlds, Self knowledge, transformation, exploration, & improvement. Many times his art tells the story of a lone figure at peace in a strange and unpredictable world, & I think everyone can connect with that on some level. We certainly did.

(MN) What's your favorite part about the recording process?
(RP - James) I love songwriting and riffing off each other about potential lyrics. I also love structuring the songs and working with singers.
(RP - Ryan) I have always believed that there is a life in a song that is just waiting to be born, and the only way to bring it into this world is through true collaboration and allowing the creative process to reveal itself.

(MN) When did you know the album was done?
(RP) When we finished the video for "It's all about you" I think we both knew we had completed it. That kind of endcapped the year for us. These 14 songs were a brilliant, white hot 9 months. We feel like resting after how hard we've been working and yet we have so much more to do.

(MN) Are you locals or transplants?
(RP) We are both born and raised in Minnesota.

(MN) What are some of your influences and Minnesota influences?
(RP) Seven Seconds, Ice T, Public Enemy, Black Sheep, The Cure, Bob Marley, Jane's Addiction, Aesop Rock, Krs one, The beach boys, Sade, Boot Camp Click, Nas, The Roots, Sonic Youth, The Flaming lips, Beck, Cocteau Twins, Ministry, The Church, Prince, MJ, Fugazi, Nirvana, Walt Mink, Trip Shakespeare, De la soul, Carnage the executioner, Justin Warfield, The Goats, Funkdoobiest, Jeru the Damaja, Nonphixion, Eyedea, The Jets, The Sundays, Black Uhuru, Pixies, Sugarcubes, Tom Waits, and too many more to name.

(MN) Who are some of your favorite current Twin Cities artists?
(RP) Maria Isa, Andre Mariette, Carnage, Tek, Nur-D, Lazenlow, J Plaza, Why Khaliq Cashinova, Slum Chronic, Ack, Ice God the Macgyver, Muja Messiah, Finding Novyon, Bobby Raps, Just Wulf, Blood $moke Body, Psymun, Mike the Matyr, Lady Midnight, Uncle T, Juice Lord, CMJ, Slow ya Roll, Shrimpnose, David Kellner, Gorilla Monsoon, Meta Sota, Big Rich, Reed Benjamin, Tufawon and countless others

(MN) What is your favorite venue to play and see shows at in Twin Cities?
(RP) 7th street entry, Turf club, & recently the Black Dog Cafe are some of our favorite venues to perform at. You cant beat 1st ave main room to see shows.

(MN) What can fans expect when they come to your shows?
(RP) Well the last show let's just say I was dressed up as hacksaw Jim Duggan and had a 2x4, and James had a mullet wig. But no seriously you can expect some very vibing Hip Hop with some 60s r&b soul type singing coming through to put the room to a standstill with them feels. Then we usually end with some really upbeat songs to get the whole room jumping.

(MN) Do you have a favorite or interesting memory of playing a show?
(RP) One time at the Blue Nile the sound man showed up 2 hours late, drunk, with a twelve pack and he got into it with the headliner and cut the audio mid song. We were opening for Born Divine from the Wu-Tang clan and I'll never forget. He had 60k in gold necklaces on but he went to McDonald's to eat dinner. That was a fun one.

(MN) Other hobbies?
(RP) Ryan is a collector of modern and vintage toys, skateboards, just about anything that is cool. He collects Japanese sofubi, records, fine art, prints, Kaws, and runs a toy page on Facebook called Minnesota Toy Mobb. James goes on hikes and travels, makes videos, animation, reads books and plays video games.

(MN) What do you like about living in the Twin Cities?
(RP) The Twin cities is unlike any other place in the United states, it's got that Bohemian vibe and yet there's something about a Minnesota crowd that just gets the best out of a performer when they come to town. When you've been away and come back it feels like home, because Minnesotans appreciate the heart and soul of music.

(MN) Is there anything that sets the Twin Cities scene apart from places you've toured?
(RP) There are so many diamonds in the rough in the twin cities and hidden gems. I remember going to California, and every performer in those bars were regurgitating songs off the radio, and everything was so insincere. So I guess the sincerity is what sets the twin cities scene apart. It's envied in other parts of the States.

(MN) What are your favorite places to grab food or drink in the Twin Cities?
(RP) Oh man gluten-free chicken and waffles at the Bulldog, Burning Brothers brewery, the Happy Gnome, Pizza Luce, Birchwood cafe, Pho Saigon.

(MN) What are the band's plans for the future?
(RP) Just keep going! One short term answer is we have learned that you have to make fun videos. We want to do a lot more of that so that we have a video out when we release a song. The big picture answer is... we want to continue to develop our sound & grow as artists and songwriters. We don't care about Fame but we want to make a living off of making music. We both have a drive that is insane. We are not going to stop until we are known. We want to leave our mark, and we believe what we have is worth this shot.

Follow Rising Path on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp.

If you like what we are doing and would like to see more Melodic Noise Live concerts, please consider supporting us on Patreon, PayPal, or Venmo.

Review by: Paul Thorson, Hip-Hop Writer @PaulyT03
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner @PlaylistTC