mental notes

Welcome to the rEvolution of Hip-Hop

Armed with their unique signature sound, New York City's original hip-hop ensemble Mental Notes has been attracting diverse audiences with our sound and vibrations since 1999.

Their eclectic fusion of old school hip-hop, funk, electronica, jazz and acid rock continues to break the boundaries of the New York live music scene.

Mental Notes has consistently added to the pulse of New York's musical and social heartbeat. They have been a previous guest on Air America Radio, appearing on Chuck D's highly praised live talk show. Most recently, Mental Notes bassist and songwriter David Dovo composed the original film score for Jerusalem in Exile (part of the "Art and Apathy" film documentary project of Eyes Infinite Films), an official selection and winner of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival.  While the lead vocalist/emcee spiritchild has produced several film scores, spoken word albums for Nuyorican Slam Champion Ainsley Burrows and SmokiFantastic, as well as releasing several solo albums projects which include A tribute to Nina Simone, Eclipse of Hope and Dark Matters to list a few.  

Collectively, the members of Mental Notes have collaborated and or shared the stage with a series of diverse artists including legendary producer Hank Shocklee, hip-hop virtuosos Dead Prez, Black Moon, soul-funk horn legends Tower of Power and Latin dance sensation Gloria Estefan.

Mental Notes vocalist spiritchild has been privileged to work with an array of artist from revolutionary spoken work activists Last Poets, grammy award winning nominee Maya Azucena, the legendary Les Nubians as well as Brooklyn's Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. Bassist David Dovo's diverse talent has led him to create remixes for rap pioneers Public Enemy and work with such acclaimed jazz artists as saxophonist Daniel Carter and share the stage with Billy Martin of Medeski, Martin and Wood. Guitarist Fro has shared the stage with nationally recognized jazz-fusion artists Deep Banana Blackout, Garaj Mahal and the punk inspired Screaming Headless Torsos. Drummer Eran Asias toured the globe and recorded with such artists as Patty Smyth's Scandal, Will Lee and Dem Brooklyn Bums.

Together, this collection of prolific musicians create an intense listening experience that rivals any sound to come out of the hip-hop scene in recent memory. Mental Notes invites you to be a part of the rEvolution of sound by bringing their unique fusion of experimental hip-hop.

Mental Notes has toured internationally to Mumbai and New Dehli in India, Egypt, Switzerland, France, Germany, Prague, Amsterdam as well as National College and Community Tours throughout the states.  Locally, Mental Notes has played the Blue Note, S.O.B's, CBGB's, Triad Theater, Nublu, The Knitting Factory and other local listings. 

spiritchild, as he is known, is a freedom singer from the south Bronx by way of Brooklyn, who uses the arts to cultivate a cultural revolution. He integrates activism and hip hop music production as the founder of the Movement In Motion Artist & Activist Collective. As the Rhythmic Poet of the Hip Hop Fusion Band Mental Notes, he uses his music to converse with his audience to the injustices facing the poor and oppressed, inspiring action on environmental and social justice in New York City and around the world. No one attends a session with spiritchild without leaving encouraged. His ability to draw out creativity and confidence heals those around him, and is the catalyst for deep analysis and social change. He is an instructor for songwriting and artist at several public schools throughout New York, and facilitates that process internationally on seasonal tours in Afrika, South East Asia, Europe and elsewhere.

spiritchild has assisted with organizing regional conferences on climate change, he is highlighting disaster relief and environmental justice with black, brown and other oppressed people. He has also produced and recorded with and for award winning grammy nominee Maya Azucena, legendary Les Nubians, spoken word nuyorican poets champion Ainsley Burrows, X-Vandals & Ricanstructions very own N4P to name a few. 

Balance has been created by engaging and developing the youth with hip hop pedagogy as program director of One Mic and founder of One Mic Collective/Art Start working with youth offenders as well as in Children’s Village Dobbs Ferry New York Juvenile Detention Facility.   He has also worked with and for intellectually disabled and psychologically diagnosed adults in the Bronx.

www.onemicartists.com

www.sonicbids.com/mentalnotesnyc

www.facebook.com/spiritchildmentalnotes

www.movementinmotion.com