Biography
Originating from New York, the underground rap duo the Presence maintains a political outlook while running its independent imprint Uncommon Records. Shaped by East Coast rap legends Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, Gang Starr, and Nas together with contemporary alternative rappers El-P, Beans, Aesop Rock, and Rob Sonic, the group consists of Nasa (MC/producer) and Cirrus (MC), who first bonded as best friends during high school in Staten Island. Established in 1999, the Presence issued its initial recording, the five-track EP Advanced Bloodbath, in 2001 and followed it with the 12" single Woke in 2003. The duo launched Uncommon Records in 2004 and put out the Members Only EP the same year. Its first full-length album, Common Man's Anthems (2005), appeared next, succeeded by the standalone single Who Stole New Orleans? (2006). During 2008 the Presence revealed plans to enlarge the lineup with Shortrock (turntables) and DM Seidel (electric guitar, bass, synthesizer), alongside a reissue of Advanced Bloodbath through Uncommon Records and the forthcoming full-length project tentatively titled We Want the Winter.
Albums
