MolinaSoleilRepresentin’ (4 Life) by Adrian H. Molina w/ Mannequin Rituals first appeared on Representin’ 4 Life EP in March 2007. It was re-released on my first full-length album, Up Before the Sunrise, August 2008.
My main goal with my first EP was to clearly define my work as an artist, to define what I represented.
Representin’ 4 Life was the first song I wrote and recorded with Mannequin Rituals and CHiTT Productions. After many years of flowing over other artists’ instrumentals, this was the first beat I could call my own. Music is fun first and foremost. But at the end of the day these are my sensibilities as an emcee: substance over blind profitability and consumerism, standing up for social justice, cross-cultural solidarity, a celebration of roots, respect for those who struggle, self-empowerment, and the ability to rise up after getting beat down.
If there is any question, check the selection: I’m representin’… 4 life.
A.M SOLEIL, RETROSPECTIVELY is a 52-week blog series through which Molina breaks down five years of independent music (2006-2010) one track at a time… the history, the theory, the rhythm, the rhyme.
Molina – www.molinaspeaks.com
Tags: A.M. Soleil, Adrian H. Molina, CHiTT Productions, definition, Mannequin Rituals, Molina Music, music blog, reality rap, representin, Representin' 4 Life, Retrospectively
[...] the fire burning, yo we takin’ it back”. I said it on the title track of my first release Representin’ 4 Life EP. This statement is relevant today and it will be relevant [...]