State of the Art (Presto album)
Encyclopedia
State of the Art is the third full length album released by Los Angeles
-based hip hop producer Chris "Presto" Douglas. The album was released worldwide on June 17, 2008 on Concrete Grooves and Distributed by Fat Beats (US) and by Mic Life Records in Japan
. The album was given a "Three Mic" rating in The Source
's "Record Report" (July 8) and has been well received by most critics.
The Album features artists such as; Sadat X
(Brand Nubian
), Large Professor
(Main Source
), O.C.
, Blu, T-Weaponz, LOWD, Mhax Montes (3rd Khind), Rashaan Ahmad, Wayward Saints, J Theory (3rd Khind), Fatlip
(The Pharcyde
), Kim Hill (former member of The Black Eyed Peas
), CL Smooth
(Pete Rock & CL Smooth
), Dhurti Whoutr, Trek Life, IN-Q, Presto himself as well production by Large Professor
Conquer Mentally (Remix
).
The 12" Vinyl version of State of the Art is an EP
and contains only 6 songs. There was also a limited promotional CD released with the full CD version of State of the Art with unreleased and re-released instrumentals from Presto. The Japanese release bears a different cover design and remixes not featured on US LP.
version of State of the Art is sold with a video disc which contains the video for "Conquer Mentally". The video which includes ONLY the verses from Sadat X
and Large Professor
before it cuts to "On" featuring LOWD (track number 5 on the US release) which only plays for one verse before fading out. Other artists featured on the album can be seen on miscellaneous billboards, benches and backgrounds during the video which is mostly computer animated.
The video, created by Jake York and Marcos Ponce, is also played on YouTube and rumored to be in rotation on MTV/MTV2.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based hip hop producer Chris "Presto" Douglas. The album was released worldwide on June 17, 2008 on Concrete Grooves and Distributed by Fat Beats (US) and by Mic Life Records in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The album was given a "Three Mic" rating in The Source
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
's "Record Report" (July 8) and has been well received by most critics.
The Album features artists such as; Sadat X
Sadat X
Sadat X is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat....
(Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, consisting of three MC's: Grand Puba , Sadat X and Lord Jamar , and two DJs: DJ Alamo and DJ Sincere...
), Large Professor
Large Professor
Large Professor , also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as a frequent collaborator with Nas...
(Main Source
Main Source
Main Source was an innovative, acclaimed Toronto and New York-based hip hop group comprising Toronto natives Sir Scratch, K-Cut, and Queens native Large Professor...
), O.C.
O.C. (rapper)
Omar Credle , known by his stage name, O.C., is an American rapper who has been involved with several renowned underground hip-hop groups and also released many solo albums.-Recording career:...
, Blu, T-Weaponz, LOWD, Mhax Montes (3rd Khind), Rashaan Ahmad, Wayward Saints, J Theory (3rd Khind), Fatlip
Fatlip
Fatlip is a Los Angeles-born hip hop musician. He started his career in the hip hop group The Pharcyde.-The Pharcyde:...
(The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde are an alternative hip hop group based in South Central Los Angeles. The original four members of the group are Imani , Slimkid3 , Bootie Brown and Fatlip . DJ Mark Luv was the group's first DJ, followed by producer J-Swift and then J Dilla...
), Kim Hill (former member of The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
), CL Smooth
CL Smooth
CL Smooth is an American rapper, poet, and is best known as the vocal half of the hip-hop duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth....
(Pete Rock & CL Smooth
Pete Rock & CL Smooth
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth are a hip-hop duo from Mount Vernon, New York. They made their debut with their 1991 EP, All Souled Out and followed with 1992's Mecca and the Soul Brother LP.-The Golden Age :...
), Dhurti Whoutr, Trek Life, IN-Q, Presto himself as well production by Large Professor
Large Professor
Large Professor , also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as a frequent collaborator with Nas...
Conquer Mentally (Remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
).
The 12" Vinyl version of State of the Art is an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
and contains only 6 songs. There was also a limited promotional CD released with the full CD version of State of the Art with unreleased and re-released instrumentals from Presto. The Japanese release bears a different cover design and remixes not featured on US LP.
Track list (US CD)
- "Listen"
- "Conquer Mentally" (feat. Sadat XSadat XSadat X is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat....
, O.C.O.C. (rapper)Omar Credle , known by his stage name, O.C., is an American rapper who has been involved with several renowned underground hip-hop groups and also released many solo albums.-Recording career:...
& Large ProfessorLarge ProfessorLarge Professor , also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as a frequent collaborator with Nas...
) - "Street Sport" (feat. Ark from T Weaponz)
- "Pour Another Glass" (feat. Blu)
- "On" (feat. LOWD)
- "The Pressure" (feat. Raashan Ahmad)
- "Higher" (feat. Mhax Montes)
- "Altered States" (feat. Wayward Saints)
- "Mass Quality" (feat. J Theory)
- "What’s What" (feat. FatlipFatlipFatlip is a Los Angeles-born hip hop musician. He started his career in the hip hop group The Pharcyde.-The Pharcyde:...
& Kim HillKim Hill (soul musician)Kim Hill is an American soul singer-songwriter, best known for being the backup vocalist in the hip-hop band Black Eyed Peas. She left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Fergie in 2002...
) - "Feel Me" (feat. T Weaponz)
- "Part of Greatness" (feat. CL SmoothCL SmoothCL Smooth is an American rapper, poet, and is best known as the vocal half of the hip-hop duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth....
) - "Let It Circulate" (feat. Dhurti Whoutr)
- "Plain Jane" (feat. Kim HillKim Hill (soul musician)Kim Hill is an American soul singer-songwriter, best known for being the backup vocalist in the hip-hop band Black Eyed Peas. She left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Fergie in 2002...
) - "Go" (feat. Trek Life)
- "Still Here" (feat. IN-Q)
- "Outro"
- "Conquer Mentally" (Large ProfessorLarge ProfessorLarge Professor , also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as a frequent collaborator with Nas...
remix)
Track List (EP)
- Conquer Mentally (feat. Sadat XSadat XSadat X is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat....
/ OCO.C. (rapper)Omar Credle , known by his stage name, O.C., is an American rapper who has been involved with several renowned underground hip-hop groups and also released many solo albums.-Recording career:...
/ Large ProfessorLarge ProfessorLarge Professor , also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as a frequent collaborator with Nas...
) - Conquer Mentally (Large ProfessorLarge ProfessorLarge Professor , also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as a frequent collaborator with Nas...
Remix) (feat. Sadat XSadat XSadat X is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat....
/ OC / Large ProfessorLarge ProfessorLarge Professor , also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as a frequent collaborator with Nas...
) - On (feat. LOWD)
- Part Of Greatness (feat. CL SmoothCL SmoothCL Smooth is an American rapper, poet, and is best known as the vocal half of the hip-hop duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth....
) - Street Sport (feat. Ark (of T Weaponz)
- Pour Another Glass (feat. Blu)
DVD
The Compact DiscCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
version of State of the Art is sold with a video disc which contains the video for "Conquer Mentally". The video which includes ONLY the verses from Sadat X
Sadat X
Sadat X is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat....
and Large Professor
Large Professor
Large Professor , also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as a frequent collaborator with Nas...
before it cuts to "On" featuring LOWD (track number 5 on the US release) which only plays for one verse before fading out. Other artists featured on the album can be seen on miscellaneous billboards, benches and backgrounds during the video which is mostly computer animated.
The video, created by Jake York and Marcos Ponce, is also played on YouTube and rumored to be in rotation on MTV/MTV2.