Hush 'Bulletproof' album

What’s in a name? For Hush, the Detroit born and raised rapper’s moniker is brimming with irony since he is set to make a huge impact with the release off his major label debut entitled Bulletproof, on Geffen Records. Hush won’t be keeping quiet much longer.

Hush, born Dan Carlisle of Lebanese and Italian descent has grown into a colossal talent but as a youth he wasn’t as law-abiding as his parents raised him to be. His father a homicide detective in Detroit’s 1st precinct saw his son drop out of high school to join the Navy but while serving in the Gulf war Hush was detained for robbing tourist when his Naval ship was stationed in Guam. “It was like ‘Midnight Express’ in there,” Hush says soberly. It was in Jail that Hush decided it was time to buckle down, focus on his future and picked up a pen and pad writing rhymes.

His interest in rap was always in him but it wasn’t until an interesting trio spoke about their sneakers that made Hush realize he too wanted to rap. The trio, Run DMC and the song “MY ADDIDAS” wore a hole in his parents’ head. Playing that more times than memory will allow Hush became inspired. He would call the radio stations repeatedly requesting his favorite artists. Included with Run DMC were Big Daddy Kane, Ice-T, Kool G. Rap, and Kwame. “I would call the radio stations so much they started to recognize my voice and hit me with the ‘oh no, not you again.’ It’s a good thing they didn’t use caller I.D back then.” Hush laughs.

Soon after his stint in the Navy, Hush familiarized himself with Detroit’s hip-hop scene where he was reacquainted with childhood friend Marshall Mathers, a.k.a Eminem. Hush and Eminem had lots of similarities; both were young single fathers and battle rappers who would find themselves on weekends in Detroit’s local Hip-Hop Shop. Eminem formed the rap group D12 and Hush formed his own rap crew called Da Ruckus (with partner Ill). Da Ruckus would collaborate with Eminem to make the landmark underground classic “We Shine”.

Da Ruckus would continue performing, opening for acts like Run DMC and Wu-Tang, “Anytime a group came to Detroit that was on a major level we would open for them” remembers Hush. Da Ruckus eventually disbanded and Hush pursued a solo career. As one of the few Detroit rappers NOT to ask Eminem to get put on once Eminem signed to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath label, Hush started producing tracks for local acts and worked for an executive producer who was inspired by the things Hush could do behind the boards and with a microphone in hand that he invested in Hush realizing his talent needed the right attention. The third piece of the puzzle came in the form of Paul Fishkin, who also saw the potential and soon became Hush’s manager.

With team intact, and positive energy flowing, Fishkin set up an industry showcase in New York City’s Don Hills, where Hush, accompanied by his mother and close friends headed to an unforeseen turning point. As the set is about conclude Hush looked out into the blank faces of the audience and then the face of his mother and thought about his desire to make it, not only for himself, but also for his family, his mother, and son. He tells his band to stop playing and Hush says “You have no idea how important this is to me,” the stunned audience & jaded industry types intensely look on. “I’m doing this from the heart; I want to be here more than you will ever know!” The audience listened to the remainder speechless. “I thought I blew it,” Hush admits. “But people were coming up to me like ‘We’ve seen thousands of showcases but that was the realest shit we’ve ever seen.’”

The next day labels were calling requesting showcases in L.A. that Hush was eager to attend. So two weeks later Hush and his band (formerly Black Magic Crossing) played LA’s Viper room. “Thirty seconds into the performance, Geffen A&R, Thom Panunizo (U2, Black Sabbath) told Paul he was going to sign me” relays Hush, whose appeal, besides beats and rhymes includes a spirited rap/rock influenced stage performance.
“I’ve always wondered what a real MC and a hard rock band – not a rap- rock thing, but a real MC could do with a band. And here he was right in front of me, being everything I had anticipated” says Panunizo.

Hush was signed to Geffen shortly there after but that did not slow down his superior work ethic at the least. Fox Sports was looking to spice up there ratings for the Detroit Pistons and Hush stepped in by contributing a popular 60 second teaser used before the start of each game. The experience would prove helpful. Hush’s music is featured on NBC’s latest hit reality show The Contender. With the appeal of his rock sound and edgy rap style reality TV giant Mark Burnett (“Survivor,” “The Apprentice”) and his music supervisor Clyde Lieberman, a former A&R who signed Wu-Tang and the Roots needed music for their new show “The Contender,” hosted by Sylvester Stallone, and Sugar Ray Leonard. Despite thousands of tapes, and numerous auditions, they were blown away by Hush’s work. Lieberman & Burnett were so impressed after meeting him, that they used his music throughout the program, including two from his forth coming album “Fired Up” and “Put Em’ Down.” Lieberman went even further asking Hush to perform on the season finale at Caesar’s Palace in one of the year’s most-watched events. “Everybody loves my music so much they want to incorporate it somehow,” says Hush, who also contributed to the XXX: State of the Union Soundtrack.

Aside from the aforementioned his album Bulletproof also includes the first single “Hush is Coming,” produced by Eminem and featuring Nate Dogg on the hook. Eminem is also credited for producing the crime caper “Criminal Pt. II (Off to Tijuana)”, “This track was so crazy I don’t think Eminem thought anybody could rap to it” says Hush. “When I heard it, it reminded me of a robbery so I wrote the song about being the driver in a getaway car”.

Bulletproof also includes “Real TV,” where Hush uses the names of reality shows to spin his verses alongside rhymes from D12’s Bizarre. Other Bulletproof collaborations include “Let It Breathe” which features Hush trading lyrical bars with Talib Kweli, and “Rock Shit” with guitarist Phil Campbell of Motorhead. Bulletproof is next school hip-hop mixing hard rock stabs with rap finesse. Bulletproof is as infectious as it is effective, and as mobilizing as it is emotional.

“I’m the blue collar guy from Detroit everybody watched work his way up,” Hush explains. With his recent Contender battle under his belt, Hush is ready for his shot at the title with Bulletproof. Fire away America, Hush is coming!

Do you also would like to share your opinion? If so, please register or login here.

Tags

Details

Popular Songs

New Songs

Hush - Bulletproof