This past tuesday I was graced by my big bro. scrap dirty presence with his advance copy of the frank and dank European Tour DVD and the FDR EP that is included I enjoyed with a scenes with the late J Dilla performing from a wheelchair and a story that just blew my mind! I'll give you a hint Dilla, Busta, Biggie, Nas thats from dilla himself! I talked to Scrap and he said he will try to have a screening at Seven* Studioz so be on the look out for that announcement. I do'nt want the spoil the movie or EP so heres the press release, some pics, and videos.
FRANK N DANK’S
EUROPEAN VACATION
starring
J DILLA, FRANK N DANK,
Dj Rhettmatic & Dave NY
+
DVD + CD / SUMMER 2007 RELEASE
In November 2005 Europe was exposed to one of the greatest Hip Hip shows to ever hit
European soil when the J Dilla tour landed featuring none other than long time Dilla Detroit
comrades Frank N Dank and Phat Kat plus DJ Rhettmatic. Nothing short of mass hysteria
followed - Blunts, stunts, jokes, good music and history in the making is what went down. Such
a spectacle can never be repeated. Witness an exclusive behind the scenes look at what it's
like going on the road with a legend! Experience the last tour J Dilla would grace his fans with
from the inside. Hear the music, see the moments and feel the vibe as we take you on a
journey to where Hip Hop is alive, well and kickin'. Welcome to Frank N Dank's European
Vacation.
THE F.D.R PROJECT
In 2007, Frank N Dank teamed up with Young RJ Rice to form a group known as The FDR
Project under their newly formed record label “For Da Record,” both utilizing the first initial of
each of their names; Frank, Dank and RJ. Each of these men studied under the renowned J
Dilla decided to unite because, “…we appreciate music the same way,” says Young RJ. “We
wanted to be able to put out stuff that we believed in.”
The first project slated for production on For Da Record is a DVD titled Frank N Dank’s
European Vacation, which will come packaged with a 5 or 6 track EP featuring work from the
members of The FDR Project. The DVD and EP will include the last performances from J Dilla
and Frank N Dank. Young RJ is overseeing production of both the DVD and musical portions
of the project. The highly anticipated Frank N Dank’s European Vacation will be released
Summer of 2007.
YOUNG RJ BIO
Detroit’s Ralph “Young RJ” Rice was raised around music. With both parents traveling for his fathers
group, R.J.’s Latest Arrival, it seems only obvious he would adopt creating music as a craft. Yet, Young
RJ did not immediately take an interest. “Music was just normal to me because it was what my parents
did.” It was not until later that he would be influenced by the classic Motown style and try his hand at
producing a sound of his own.
At the age of 14, Young RJ picked up a paper route as his first job. After an accident on his moped while
delivering papers resulted in a concussion, RJ turned in his paper route for studio time. He began
attending the studio regularly to spend time with his father and started making his first beats. By age 15,
RJ had sold his first beat to Kurupt of tha Dogg Pound, who coined the handle “Young RJ” for the
talented young man. Young RJ’s prodigal ear for music became evident as he gained experience
repairing beats and began working with J Dilla to perfect his growing skill.Having established himself behind the scenes, Young RJ produced for Slum Village’s third release, Trinity- Past, Present and Future, (Barak/Capitol). The album was released in August of 2002, resulting in
Young RJ attaining his first album production credits just after graduating high school. Following that
effort, he became the main producer for Slum Village’s subsequent albums, Detroit Deli - A Taste of
Detroit, (Barak/Capitol) released in 2004 and their 2005 self-titled release, Slum Village, (Barak). In
addition, Young RJ’s work can be found on Slum Village - Dirty District, vol. 1, (2002, Barak), Dirty
District, vol. 2, (2004, Barak) and Dirty District, vol. 3, (2006, Barak).
Young RJ’s masterful attention to sound and infinitely mature work ethic has granted him opportunities to
work with a variety of established artists. After spending time on tour with D12 as the sound engineer for
the “D12 World” tour, he went on to produce the hit single, “Girls Wit Da Boom” for the late Proof of D12,
(October 2, 1973 –, April 11, 2006). On Lloyd Banks of G-Unit’s Rotten Apple, (G-Unit Records, 2006)
Young RJ produced “Survival,” considered one of the best tracks on the album. His most recent
production can be found on Young Buck of G-Unit’s latest single, “Push ‘Em Back” from the Buck The
World, (G-Unit / Interscope) released March 2007 and currently getting airplay on stations across the
nation.
Young RJ has also produced tracks for song artists Ray-J and Dwele, demonstrating his versatility. His
meticulous attention to the sound of each instrument during production gives his tracks a fullness that is
difficult to match. “I like doing music because it’s like a puzzle. You start with the outside part and then
you have to fill it in.”
Frank N Dank Biography
Raised by Hip Hop in the music and culture rich city of Detroit, Frank Bush and Derrick “Dank” Harvey
are what happens when passion turns project. Frank N Dank met in 1984 when Frank moved into the
neighborhood where dank resided on the east side of Detroit. Sharing the ability to break-dance and an
undying love for Hip-Hop, the two immediately became friends. As middle school age children, they
united and would compete in Hip-Hop breakin’ battles against other neighborhood crews on Saturday
nights. “We were hip-hop kids,” Frank says. “Hip Hop has always been a part of my thing. It was that,
Prince and Michael Jackson.”
Considered the weird kids in high school, Frank, Dank and best friend James “J-Dilla” Yancey (February
7, 1974 – February 10, 2006), continued to invest their free time into Hip Hop. They were apart of many
formations of Hip-Hop, DJ and Breaker groups until finally being labeled Frank N Dank by J Dilla. Over
the next few years their Hip-Hop hobby grew into a craft; with Frank moving from breakin’ to DJing and
rhyming and Dank perfecting his rhyming skills.
It was in 1999 that Frank N Dank would have their first 12” vinyls released on Fat Beats, both with one
song on each side; Me And My Man / Love (A Thing Of The Past) and Everybody Get Up! / Give It Up pt II
were produced by J Dilla. In 2000, Frank N Dank signed a recording deal with MCA records but released
no records. In the midst of the major labels’ collapse, Frank N Danks’ prospective MCA release, 48 hours
was continuously pushed back and eventually appeared as a bootleg LP in 2003 after they were granted
release from MCA record.
After a host of successful singles, touring with J Dilla across the US, London, Japan, Germany, Paris and
Amsterdam, and attaining tour dates alongside Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Slum Village, Common,
Ludacris and Wyclef Jean, Frank N Dank released their first official debut X-tended Play Version 3.13 in
2006. The album featured 13 tracks that Frank n Dank described as soul music for players, including an
intimate track titled MCA that outlined their frustration with trying to release an album on a label that was
falling apart.
Twenty years of camaraderie, commitment and passion for hip-hop have made Frank n Dank arguably
one of the most well meshed hip-hop dyads. Armed with straight-forward, uninhibited lyrics and an
abundance of experience in the studio and on the acrid streets of Detroit, Frank N Dank have developed
credibility amongst both their peers and followers. “I just talk about my experiences in this city,” Dank
reveals. “My music is a by-product of my life.”
PEACE BIG FACE!!
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