The Remnant

By Mitchell Maddox

Photo by Ross Mena

Look out West Coast. From Atlanta comes a new player in the game of underground hip-hop. Adam Beane, John Jordan and Niles Gray are The Remnant. Don’t let the name fool you — these guys are not leftovers. They are the main attraction — savvy and energetic, taking their inspiration from big names to the unnameable, the mundane to the mysterious. The members of the Remnant want you to hear what they have to say, and you might as well listen because both their lyrics and their beats are worth your time.

The Remnant first started writing and rapping together as freshmen at Morehouse College, and their education no doubt had a hand in their informed, mature and exceptional lyricism, which is pleasantly devoid of banal hyperbole and gasconade. Since the three arrived from their respective origins in 1999, the Atlanta scene has become the backdrop and catalyst for their unique sound, which sets them apart from those who may have eclipsed them in other settings, like the Bay Area or New York City. At times they sound like Aesop Rock or Hieroglyphics, both heavy influences, while at other times they sound more like early De La Soul. But here in Atlanta, their sound is unique. What they don’t sound like is Crunk. They also don’t sound commercial. Having worked with Atlanta’s Mars Ill, who they cite as a contemporary inspiration, they are among a handful of serious and competitive contenders in the Southeast scene.

Diversity makes The Remnant’s music layered and complex. Their broad range of influences spawns an original amalgam, and their sound can’t be pinned to one coast or genre. DJ E! (Elisha Mooring), who has been with them since freshman year at Morehouse, drops the New York City sample bag on beats that lack no original thump. Hailing from Masillon, Ohio — the high school football capital of the world — Beane cites varied influences, from Kool G to Hiero. He claims to define his politics according to West Wing, which is ironic, because the politics he spits on his records are not so sophomoric. Jordan grew up on Pigeon John, B-Twice and L.A. Symphony in Los Angeles. He has even spent time with John and reveres him as a mentor. Gray comes from the Bay Area and is not the first MC to cite comics and video games as integral to his routine. He also claims to have single-handedly introduced the card game Magic to Arizona while ostensibly under the influence of his early rap heroes Puff Daddy and Mase. Today his tastes have matured, and he spends more time wading through the murky world of underground hip-hop side projects. All members cite God and a Christian background as essential to the group’s development and artistic core, which, like these other elements, shines through in their music.

Practically speaking, their modern, eclectic sound also makes them more marketable, which they discovered while sharing the bill with rock groups around the metro area. Like many recently successful West Coast groups, The Remnant finds receptive audiences among curious college crowds who are not as genre-bound in their tastes. Gray himself plays guitar in the rock band Stupid Smart, and all have had lifelong interests in myriad secular and spiritual forms of music.

If you want a taste of The Remnant, check out their latest record, After School Special, which is both a culmination of their efforts with E! and a collaborative exploration of new breaks from DJ Bombay. The variety of moods and styles, from dancehall rap to melodic, from provocative to reflective, will keep the most jaded audiences tuned in. The educated tone of the album is inspirational without being didactic. And the subject matter is familiar and sanguine. Listeners are sure to be thirsty for their next installment, which they are working on now and will be a heartfelt homage to love and the ladies, inspired loosely by A Tribe Called Quest’s The Love Movement. This effort promises to be their best to date. The slated title at this point is PB&J. Think: fine dining featuring a peanut butter sandwich. Hear: ill hip-hop.

By day, Bean and Jordan sell office products and optimize search engines, respectively. Gray works at the library. There is no reason these artists should not get paid to make music full time. Such intelligent, inspired and positive hip-hop is a blessing in the often corrupt and vapid commercial rap industry today. The Atlanta hip-hop family is ready to take off the red shirt, and the national hip-hop scene could use this crew on the roster.

www.catchtheremnant.com