By Bryce Burger
Local rap and hip-hop group, Self Expression, will perform Friday at club Suede in Park City.
But this will not be the first time the group will perform at Suede.
“We opened up for the Black Eyed Peas when they came to town, and opened for other artists as well,” said Lloyd McIntosh, aka Lam, manager and performer for Self Expression.
This is going to be the first time that Self Expression has had the spotlight all to themselves.
Self Expression has also performed at The Warped Tour for the last two years, playing at several different venues each year.
“I love playing at The Warped Tour,” he said. “It”s big time.”
McIntosh said luck and chance played a part in performing at The Warped Tour. He said a woman bought a CD from him a long time ago and it so happened that she was a concert producer. The groups got a call a couple years later and were asked to perform at Warped Tour.
He said the group has been together since they were kids. Only one member is not originally from Utah.
McIntosh said in Utah, rap and hip-hop is not as big as it is in New York or California.
“It is easier for us to get opportunities to perform and get a chance to do something special,” he said.
McIntosh said the group”s songs all have a positive meaning.
“So much of hip-hop today is about killing or drugs,” he said. “What we try to do in our songs is have a moral or have a positive outlook on everything that we rap about.”
For McIntosh inspiration for his music comes from artists like Tupac, Notorious B.I.G. and Slick Rick.
“My mom never wanted me to listen to hip-hop so she would buy me Christian rap CD”s,” he said. “Those artists had the biggest influence on me and the music that I make.”
McIntosh said rapping about positive things and presenting a moral in his songs sets him apart from other artists.
“Every single track is something that people can relate to,” he said.
One of McIntosh”s highlights in his career was when the group did a fundraiser for a family who had just lost their father.
“I could see our music touch people who were at the concert.” He said. “That is what performing and being an artist is all about.”
Another highlight for McIntosh was being a part of “Amped 2”, a video game for the Microsoft Xbox.
“We have a song on the game,” he said. “We would sit and play the game just to listen to our song.”
Ernest Holdham, aka EJ, is the only member of the band that is not from Utah. EJ said he got involved in Self Expression from a former group member.
Holdham said he does a lot of the promotions for the group as well as performing.
“I have a church background so a lot of my inspirations come from gospel music,” he said.
Holdham said besides church music artists, Run DMC and Stevie Wonder also provide inspiration for his music.
Holdham said from day one he and the other group members had the same goal in mind: to provide positive hip-hop music.
“There was never any butting heads when it came to ideas and where we want our music to go,” he said. “It was lovely.”
Holdham said he thinks people grasp on to the group because the music never plays out.
“People don”t get tired of hearing about positive things,” he said.
Holdham said the biggest thrill for him was being able to open for Method Man.
“It was a rush,” he said. “We could feel the energy on stage because of the crowd and because an artist like Method Man was there.”
Holdham said doing The Warped Tour has been big for the group.
“It has kind of put us on the map,” he said.
For Holdam, this will be his first time performing with Self Expression at club Suede.
“We want to shock the crowd,” he said. “I”ve got some surprises for Friday night.”
Patrick Wells, 21, from West Valley, has been a fan of Self Expression for two years.
“The way they do hip-hop is different than other groups out there,” he said.
He also said Self Expression does not try to come across as hard core or something they are not, they just come across as themselves.
“I am excited for Friday”s concert,” he said. “I heard they are going to perform new stuff from their upcoming album.
For information on tickets to the concert call club Suede at 435-658-2665.
