ABOUT

Raw Data Vol. 1, central Virginia emcee and producer Fellowman's second solo mixtape, is now available for free online and in a limited CD release of 100 copies.

 

Thematically, Raw Data Vol. 1 is preoccupied with the state of the world. From the cover image of the rapper burning a confederate flag to the last track titled “Absalom, Absalom!” in reference to Faulkner's novel of the post-slavery South, Fellowman and his collaborators guide the listener through a 40-minute freedom cry of rage, frustration, exultation, despair, and hope.

 

The '80s and '90s-inspired emcee cites KRS-One, 2Pac, Talib Kweli and Ice Cube as major early influences. As a producer, Fellowman concocts a musical salmagundi with heavy metal, country, gospel, jazz, classical and reggae all in the mix, as well as a handful of unflipped industry beats.

 

In the Charlottesville hiphop community, Fellowman is known as a member of the artistic collective Spititout Inc, one of the organizers of Verbs & Vibes Open Mic, co-founder and promoter of the Rugged Arts Hiphop Showcase, and co-founder of the annual No Filter Rap Battle. As part of Spititout, he has performed at the Tom Tom Festival in Charlottesville and Facemelt Friday in Richmond. He has been an interview guest on WRIR 97.3FM in Richmond, WTJU 91.1FM in Charlottesville, and WPVC 94.7FM in Charlottesville. In civilian life, he is an educator, youth mentor, poet, activist, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and film critic, all of which are perspectives that he brings to his music.