Secondly, we’ve had a lot of people ask us about the sound of the EP, and why the songs are named after colors, and basically how it all came about. While we’re well aware of how different it is from our old stuff, and even from the few songs you’ve heard from the upcoming Rapstars LP, we didn’t anticipate that you’d all want to know so much about how the project was born! So…here’s the back story of “The Certain Way EP”:

We’ll make one thing clear-we’re wierdos. We’re constantly trying to push the boundaries of music. When we wrote/released “Youth Is Yours” some 4 + years ago, we wrote the songs from a “rock” stand-point, even though the songs are definitively “underground hiphop.” We couldn’t stand the barriers that were placed on underground hiphop, or all of hiphop for that matter at the time. Lets be honest, it can be one of the most conforming genres of music out there, especially in the past decade - and what makes that extra disappointing is that hiphop was founded on the principles of being original and creative. How can you “keep it real” while copying what the last guy did? It makes no sense. Anyway, we’ve always resisted the boundaries, and we’ve turned a lot of people off in the process, but we’ve also gained so many fans that truly understand what we’re trying to accomplish. The ole “high risk, high reward” thing.

As you’re all well aware, its been such a long process putting together and polishing off the Rapstars LP. Our goal to combine rock and hiphop in a way thats never been done before was/is a high one, and it took way more time than anyone anticipated to master it. But master it we did, and you’ll all see that when the record is released later this year. It truly is something special and we say that with no hint of arrogance, just unbounded confidence. But if you think you’ve all gotten frustrated waiting for us to get it done and release it to you, think about how Nick, C-Minus and I felt! Four years of working on the same project, recording songs, trashing songs, re-recording songs, adding new instruments, the whole nine. The literal blood, sweat and tears that have gone into were so well worth it, but it took it’s toll. So Nick and I decided to document the toll it took in the form of “The Certain Way EP.

“

It’s a concept record in the truest sense of the term. The songs are named after colors in order to highlight the 6 emotions/feelings we felt throughout the process of recording “Rapstars.” “Red” defines the anger and frustration we felt when it seemed like the album would never be completed. And its about us battling the negative emotions that filled our heads when there was no end in sight. “Green” is the answer to the problems outlined in “Red.” What do to when you feel that way? For us, it was smoke a lot of weed! “Green” defines the gloomy, weed filled afternoons when all we were trying to do was keep our spirits up. “Silver” is about finding the good in anything and everything…the silver lining. Knowing that even though things seem so far out of reach, having faith in staying the course and sticking to your guns. And realizing that anything thats going on in your own life is the result of your own thoughts and decisions. “Black” is the big FUCK YOU to any and all doubters and non-believers. But not an aggressive “fuck you,” just a simple kiss off, forgiving and forgetting. A liberating feeling we all can relate to. “Blue” is the melancholy feel that anyone who lives in a gigantic city can relate to. Sometimes the world around you simply overwhelms you and makes you feel really small, or for lack of a better term, blue. Lost in the shuffle. But that feeling is translated into “Gold” on the last song, where we’ve overcome all doubts and fears and realized that because we’ve finally accomplished our goal, we’re on top of the world, regardless of what anybody else thinks or feels.

For some reason leading up to the EP we were listening to a lot of surf-rock. Stuff from the 60’s where the drums are kinda buried and scattered, the sonic quality is tinny and twangy, and it kinda floats by rather than knocking you over the head. Big up’s to Dan Bala for the perfect mix for this project. We love that airy, surfy stuff, and decided that it would be fun to try to mix hiphop with that aesthetic.

And what better sound to give a project that also documents a lot of quirks of this great city we call Los Angeles?

Another opportunity to push the boundaries, so we took advantage of it. Nick and I pretty much locked ourselves in his apartment and created this little bad boy in about 6 months. It was the only way we could come up with to let out all of the emotions we felt throughout the past 4+ years.

We’re weird, remember?

So there’s the story in all it’s glory. Thanks so much for caring and for wanting to get into our heads. Hopefully that answers all the questions and gives you all more insight into the process. So once again, we’re giving the whole thing away starting this weekend for 2 weeks, and than that’s it! Please check back for the link to the download site…it’ll be up at some point on Saturday.

And the EP is just a small beginning. We’ll be following that up with a total 180 (we’re wierd remember?) and giving you another EP, this time filled with the sounds of late 80’s hiphop. Hard, heavy, fast-paced, nasty C-Minus shit that is our ode to the foundation of true, real, original and creative hiphop. It’s called “The Alligator Souffle EP.” 10 points to anyone who can tell us where that reference came from…

And then comes the big one. The Rapstars LP. We’re in the process of finding a home for it right now, and we’re taking our time because we want to make sure that we find a place for it that will give it the same amount of love that we put into it. It’s an important record, and we want to make sure it’s treated as such. So, I know we’ve been telling you all to wait for sooo long, but its gonna be well worth it, and these EP’s are our gift to you all in the meantime.

Thank you so much again for your support, your patience and your love. It’s kept us going for all this time…really, truly and sincerely…

Love,

Oak and Nick
The L!

2008 is gonna be a big year for the L!  and to start it off…  we give you The Certain Way E.P.!

while we were recording and mixing the LP, due out later this year, we done messed around and wrote an EP!  FOR YOU!

The Certain Way E.P.
1. Red
2. Green
3. Silver
4. Black
5. Blue
6. Gold

Check em  on our myspace player here!!!…   we’re going to give away one a week for download for the next six weeks until the whole EP is available for you, for freeee!

Which one would you like first?!   Let us know!  Whichever one gets the most votes will be given first!

Thanks again for the continued love and support!!!!!

oak & nick
the L.

This was last year some time at King King in Hollywood. DIG IT!!!

The short features Junk Food…so check it out!!! and even if it didn’t….it’s hiiiiiiii-larious and you will definitely appreciate it.

check it out here and send it to all of your friends!!!

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

C-Minus finally posted a remix he did of the Queens of the Stone Age
heater “Sick Sick Sick” featuring a guest verse from Nick of Lexicon!!

It hiphops up the modern classic but still keeps it true to the
original. It