Cesar Comanche - Justus League & True School Co-Founder
5
By BLN
“It’s kind of a start over, start new thing, so it’s a rebirth type thing. The sound is really big and dynamic, like a musical orgasm.”
In today’s uncertain music climate, fan relationships, consistency and artistic brand/messages are commodities to be respected, nurtured and developed. On his 6th studio album Die In Your Lap, established emcee and all-around nice guy Chris Robinson, aka Cesar Comanche, embodies an appreciation for traditional and often unconventional approaches to garner fans’ time and attention.
Die In Your Lap is the follow up to Comanche’s previous works Wooden Nickels (2000), Paper Gods (2002) and Squirrel & The Aces (2005) and appears on his own imprint, Defenders Of The Free World (DOTFW).
Cesar Comanche is one of the founding emcees of North Carolinas critically acclaimed hip-hop crew, The Justus League (Little Brother, 9th Wonder, The Away Team, etc.). Comanche, originally from Jacksonville, NC, began writing rhymes in 1994. In 1996, he met budding producer and fellow North Carolina State University student 9th Wonder, and commenced performing regularly and recording shortly thereafter. In 1999, Comanche, along with 9th Wonder, organized their fellow friends and rap artists in the Triangles hip-hop scene and started The Justus League Crew.
In the decade since, Comanche has rocked stages in over 13 countries and has shared the stage with artists such as Kardinal Official, The Hieroglyphics and O.C. Comanche’s hard work and efforts also landed him an appearance on Little Brother’s classic debut, The Listening (2002) as well as Edgar Allen Floe’s True Links. TV appearances include the Time Warner Cable's Music Choice Rap Channel, Hip Hop Nation (NBC), Distortion 2 Static (WB Network) and Little Brother's "You Hear It First" segment on MTV2. Cesar has also been featured in several videos, most notably, Little Brother's "Speed", his own "Lamb to Lion" (which won a "Most Creative Atmosphere" award from the University of Chapel Hill) and, most recently, the "Hands High" which is the first single from Die In Your Lap.
“When I was pushing [the debut] Wooden Nickels, I didn’t know anything about the Internet. I heard about Okay Player one day, and said why can’t I do that?” reveals the creator of what would become a major message board community.
In 2003, Cesar founded the groundbreaking communication message board, “The Lawn” (Love Above Wooden Nickels), a major social network conduit to The Justus League, their fans and fellow rappers. The Lawn currently boasts over 4,000 active members who contribute critical, timely, and constructive feedback to The League’s members and other artists who regularly post music and or videos. Says Cesar, “Having been at the forefront of the whole social networking phenomenon, The Lawn has definitely given me a better insight and appreciation for fans time and attention.”
“Die In Your Lap is loosely inspired by a renaissance with the veteran’s art”, Cesar explains, The whole album is about getting things off your chest, getting things off your shoulders. The sound is very dynamic, and like a biblical judgment day feel. “The whole album is about speaking freely.”
Die In Your Lap is built upon monstrous sounds staged to add to the drama of the lyrical concepts. With songs spanning from the humbling self-produced ballad “Mercy,” featuring AC Goodness, to the Khrysis-assisted parable, “Shame,” the work is loosely-inspired by sacred texts and religion with a universal tangibility. Rather than Die In Your Lap, the re-inventive Cesar Comanche intends to thrive in your stereo.
