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 Released: November 11th, 2013
Recorded: 2012–13; In N. Tarantino and A. Smith's house (Sacramento) , Marvin's Room (Los Angeles), Metalworks Studios (Toronto)
Genre: PBR&B , (Alternative) Hip hop , alternative rock , Spanish alternative
Length: 50:59
Label: Studio60 Records , Tric-Jam Records
Producer: NinaT , inZane , Flame 1&2Singles released pre-album" Mirror" Released: May 18th, 2013 " Dependent" Released: June 4th, 2013 " Money Makes Fools" Released: August 23, 2013 Singles released post-albumTBA
Epiphany
Epiphany is the second studio album by American-Canadian hip hop duo Rum & Coke . The album is to be released on November 1st, 2013, worldwide by Tric-Jam Records , a sub-label of Studio60 Records . Work on the record began in 2012 and continued through 2013 . As one of only a few producers , Rum enlisted collaborators including K-Pop duo Mi•Mi , Indie Rock/Folk/Pop artist Yasmine Kiambang and rapper Matt Young to appear as guest appearances on the album . The album's production was handled by only three producers ; NinaT ( Nina Tarantino ; Rum ) , inZane ( Zane Anoshkin ; Zayne ) and Flame 1&2 ( Damon & Eden Ale ) . Epiphany was supported by the three successful singles , " Mirror ", " Dependent " , and " Money Makes Fools " . The future singles , post album , have not been announced just yet , but Rum & Coke have assured press that there will definitely be a couple of singles off of the album . Rum & Coke also toured with Destinee&Adele up until August 8, 2013 and went on the No Venues Tour and are planning to leave early on October 30th , 2013 . A few weeks before its release , Epiphany was sent to selected critics for review to use as somewhat of a promotion for the album . The feedback that was givien was extraordinary , even though the only reviews Rum & Coke's team released was for the production and music and not actually the songs , vocals , lyrics or ect. " We were able to count the number of bad reviews on one hand . Can you believe that shit ? " Says an excited Rum . The production of the album was so highly acclaimed , that the critics are calling NinaT , inZane and Flame 1&2 , ' The Beethoven's of Hip Hop ' . " It seems irrational that only 3 producers work on 1 album , when on average , artists with the same resources could have had about 10 , but it actually came out better than a lot of albums with many producers . Things can get confusing and all over the place with a lot of them and at the same time , things can get repetitive with just a few , but Rum & Coke's producers , NinaT , inZane and Flame 1&2 knew exactly what they were doing with this album's production . "Track listing
Background
While touring the United States to support Destinee&Adele , Rum & Coke announced in an interview that they have been working on their second album since they were done with their first . On May 1st , they released 7 Deadly Sins an E.P that "announced" the PBR&B move they were joining with their music , instead of just that "pure" Hip Hop and R&B sound they had on their first studio album , Venom & versace . " After Venom & Versace , we wanted to do something different . You know , we wanted to be innovative and all , so we did some research and just went with what no one was reallly doing . That's how we found PBR&B . It literally had like ... 5 paragraphs on Wikipedia and so we know that it didn't have much exposure . Then we learned more about it and it literally combined all the genres we loved . Me and Rum are really big music fans and we listen to practically everything . We fell in love with ti and when we started to make PBR&B music , we couldn't stop . That's why we were working on our second album right after the first and even now we are working on an E.P for Epiphany and even a potential third album . We just can't slow down . " - Airemese Smith (Coke) On June 17, 2013, Epiphany was announced through a Youtube video that was uploaded by Rum & Coke's official Youtube . It was a video as an album trailer and featured a preview of the title track Epiphany . Within 30 minutes , the video received approximately 600,000 views . It automatically implied that the album was going to be focused on a more serous topic than Venom & Versace and even started a few rumors of the album being based against a few conspiracies , which were actually later confirmed by Rum & Coke in an interview with UrbanHipHop , a magazine about the Urban community and Hip Hop music . " It is a thing effecting all of our lives , tremendously , and we do things like label it under a conspiracy , and since both Rum and I have strong feelings about it , and have already been making songs about it over the years , we decided to just ... make it a topic , well an album if you will . " Coke told them . They later explained the difference between Venom & Versace and Epiphany in the same interview saying, " Well , it's our sophomore album and it's going to be a way different sound from Venom & Versace . There isn't a lot of sped up songs , most of them give off that perfect PBR&B vibe , you know , Hip Hop with a heavy influenced rock beat ... well more of an indie rock beat . Zane , Eden , Damon and I combined our skills and created just that . All the tracks turned out great , like to the point where we are making all the tracks that didn't get picked , bonus tracks . " - Nina Tarantino (Rum) " Yep , we are beyond excited for this next album . Like Rum said , it is a different sound from Venom & Versace and a different sound from 7 Deadly Sins . We kind of took the elements that people liked from those 2 and mashed them together . I mean we really believe this is going to be something big , because this will showcase , you know , the true Rum & Coke ... not just that but Nina & Aire . That is what this album will showcase for us , and we just know that people would love it . " - Airemese Smith (Coke) and in another interview described the difference between the topics . " Venom & Versace as our debut album was our ' WE MADE IT !!! ' albums . The songs were based on the title . The Venom was about our demeanor getting meaner due to our success and the Versace was about us making it , basically our boast songs . The whole thing was a success and it sold millions of copies , but still we wanted to do something different from every one else in the game and so now we have Epiphany . It is based on all the "hidden" problems of this world . Big transition right ? Haha , but yeah , we took that big step and we are no longer what we were when we first got on the scene .[/i] " - Nina Tarantino (Rum) On August 1st, 2013 Rum & Coke confirmed that the album was all done and ready for release . They planned to release just one more single before giving out any release dates . That's exactly what was planned , until the single that was supposed to be released , Money Makes Fools , wasn't released on the 12th of August and ended up being released on August 23rd , 2013 as a free single . At first Rum & Coke's team took the blame for it . Then on September 2nd , Rum & Coke got news that iTunes wasn't going to release Epiphany on September 11th , 2013 , but instead a 10 day span . Rum & Coke demanded that they release it on just 1 date , which was the one they picked , but still iTunes refused and didn't release it at all . On October 20th , 2013 , everything was cleared after a month of a heated lawsuit . What the judge thought was best is that iTunes pays for all the money that Rum & Coke could have made off of Money Makes Fools , after coming to a decision that it was iTunes fault for the delay , and everything else was settled between iTunes and Rum & Coke privately , the outcome being that they have agreed to release it on November 1st , 2013 . Rumors that are going around says that iTunes paid the 2 off and agreed to releasing Epiphany after they realized how good of a case Rum & Coke had on them . Artwork
On July 8th, 2013, Rum & Coke revealed the album's cover artwork was designed to clash Rum & Coke's epiphany of the world they live in in on e picture . To anybody it may not look like anything , but when you put thought into it , it says a lot . Naturally it's Rum posing in possibly a limelight , but the "limelight" background is the Earth and you can even see stars . The whole thing is blue and you see pink patches spread out over it , like how the green patches spread out over the Earth . Rum actually stands for both of them and the pose is set up to where the face looks like it's looking down at the title but at the same time the eyes are closed and then standing in front of "the world" . " The artwork was just a small example of how the simplest things in our world , could be so much more . That's why we had it look so simple and "cheap" . We were making a point . That pretty much captured the whole album in just one picture ." - Photo editing team Conspiracy article
This part was taken from the infamous article that has caught lots of attention , " Rum & Coke : Killuminatist ? " off of landoftheenslaved.tumblr.com , which is a blog on tumblr that claims to uncover a lot of the corruptness going on in America . I honestly have to say that this is something that kind of struck me out of the blue . I mean just with all the corruptness going on in today's music business ... just the world , that I didn't expect anyone to do this . M.J. was the last to attempt ... and that catastrophically ended 2009 ... and a trail around it still remains today . I seriously couldn't believe it for a minute but it is true . After doing some extensive research , it became quite evident that this whole album is anti-NWO and anti-government . I mean just think about it . The name of the album is epiphany . A sudden realization of reality . It was almost named Reverie , which means to pleasantly daydream . Now why would these be the potential names of an album , clearly about freedom just based off of the tracklist ? What is it that Rum & Coke are trying to make us realize ? What are we day dreaming about ? Here is what rose my suspicions . The first two singles that were released was a song about depression ( I guess ? ) , and a love song . Apparently , they are both associated with an epiphany , because you are realizing something you probably didn't know or tried to hide from . And I have to say , it's a smart method to release all of the irrelevant tracks first , so that the album can take the audience by surprise and go in a whole different direction . That succeeded when out of nowhere the album trailer came out with the title track preview showing exactly what the album was about to be about . Basically , we know that both of them descend of roots that are in a very controversial place right now . Nina was an actual illegal immigrant from Cuba when her family escaped to Canada at the age of 13 , and before anyone realized she moved to America with Airemese and became and American citizen . Airemese's grandfather was born in Zimbabwe and became fortunate enough to move his family to Canada . That part of her family in Canada grew up upper middle class after her granddad started a business from scratch , that is still successfully ran by her father today . So the video starts off with the controversy going on in those countries , showing the corruptness world wide and then fades to black as Nina says , " Wake Up . " From what ? The video goes on goes to show personal problems and someone just about to give up on life as their soul or conscience telling them to fight through it . The most important part is the lyrics though . Especially the intro . It has such a deep meaning and it is all evidence really needed . What happens when life breaks down? When there's systemic contradiction?
It's projecting , self-justifying , excusing , accusing , denying , well I don't have a problem
There's nothing wrong with me ...
So if it's not me , it must be you , or it must be them, or it must be him
Trouble doesn't come from nowhere
Your weakness is a perfect match ! You have to really pay attention to these lyrics . The first man speaking is asking what happens when the world goes wrong ... which is a juxtaposition to all the chaos going in the video , ( Which was directed and edited by Airemese ) , Rum & Coke trying to show us that it already has begun , and moving on in the video , showing all the personal problems , making it clear that you don't really have a back up plan ... you can't even handle your own life , how can you handle this ? The next man that speaks going back to the irrelevance , but at the same time , when you really think about it , is still on the topic . What you get out of that thought is him explaining how we like to hide from something like a corrupt government by labeling it a ' conspiracy ' . Then the next 2 men go on kind of wraps it up . The first one saying this didn't come from nowhere ... poverty doesn't just strike a country out of nowhere . War isn't just in certain countries just because . Problems like this were created , if you will . And the last man ends of almost in a scolding tone , " Your weakness is a perfect match ! " Why would something be said in a scolding tone ? Would it be a way of surfacing that you should have known by now that you were being observed so that it would be easy to get you on your knee's at times like these ? Just then Nina says " Wake Up . " Do I have to go on ? That was enough evidence right there to tell you what this album was going to be about . Especially noting that this is the 1st actual track other than the intro AND the title track of the album . If you still need more evidence , there was a tweet Coke sent out , showing I'm going to guess the hook of Painted Faces . Just read them : dDietCokeb : But yo ... Who do you think you've fooled ?
dDietCokeb : Who do you think I am ?
dDietCokeb : I've caught you on all your bull ...
dDietCokeb : And to expose it , Im determined .
dDietCokeb : Cause Im aware .... of #PaintedFaces #Single...? #9|?? #Rum&Coke Those lyrics themselves were self explanatory , but to point it out even more when they performed the song at the Goldies . here's the video of the whole thing right here :
______________________________________________________________________________ Hitting harder than ever before with their sophomore album , Ladies and Gentlemen , stand on your feet and show some love for Rum & Coke !!!!!______________________________________________________________________________ The crowd begins to roar . This has definitely just became the highlight of Rum & Coke's career . They have performed plenty of times before , but this is the biggest crowd they have ever performed for , not including the millions of people watching live . Being the big moment it is for Rum & Coke , hearing the crowd roar and scream their names , they know there is only one thing they expected them to do , and that was putting on a good show . After the crowd finally calms down , John Smith begins to play . The only thing you see right now is a big screen showing a clip from Airplane! (1980) , which is playing over the instrumental of John Smith .
(Clip from Airplane!)
Sound Alike :
Guy 1:'S'mofo butter layin' me to da' BONE! Jackin' me up... tight me!
Stewardess: I'm sorry, I don't understand
Guy 2: Cutty say 'e can't HANG!
Woman: Oh stewardess! I speak jive.
Stewardess: Oh good!
Woman: He said that he's in great pain and he wants to know if you can help him.
Stewardess: All right. Would you tell him to just relax and I'll be back as soon as I can with some medicine?
Woman: Jus' hang loose, blood...
Immediately after that last line Rum begins to start the first verse and you finally see her . She's standing on a platform near the left edge of the stage . There is smoke slowly floating around her as she stands there , in character , making faces into the camera as if she was hurt or confused . Cheers ripple throughout the crowd because , ( Unless you've been at the GBA tour venues or saw that one exclusive interview ) , this is the first time the world has heard Rum sing . She feels like smiling but continue to stays in character as she sings the song .
I heard stories about your plots , but thought you could change your spots
And now how do I heal all these scars , from your unfamiliar shots?
I continuously wonder what will happen ... to the people and my land
Once they are under the rule ... of these Godforsaken men
And now I'm at my wit's end ,
But this is only the beginning .
Threw me in at the deep end ,
So now I can only hope you hold up your end .
What could possibly be the wish ,
Of these Godforsaken men ?
Just then you see Coke on the platform at the right edge of the stage . The crowd roars seeing that they are now both on stage . Coke sings the last few words of the hook , almost like an echo , except her voice is high pitched and soft . The crowd seeing the two work with their amazing voices continues to break out into cheers , just enough so that they can still here Rum & Coke .
And he says I wont, I wont, I wont (I wont, I wont)
Leave this village alone (alone, alone)
Until you give me her (give me her, give me her , give me her)
Unless you give me her .
And he says I wont, I wont, I wont (I wont, I wont)
Leave this village alone (alone, alone)
Until you give me her (give me her, give me her , give me her)
Unless you give me her .
The last line of the hook plays and the music unexpectedly stops . The crowd is a little stunned at how quickly the song was cut short . After a few seconds of no music and nothing but the crowd full of whispers not knowing what's about to happen . Just then Coke vocalizes and Painted Faces ( The Flame Mix ) starts to play . As the song continues to intro itself Rum and Coke struts to the middle of the stage . The crowd roars as the performance quickly takes a turn to a more upbeat show .
Oooh !
Rum & Coke both smirks at the crowd , raising their eyebrows and putting their hands on their hips , kind of giving off that 'And ?' attitude . Both are dressed in outfits that describes them perfectly . Rum has on a vintage jacket over her a black tube top with shorts underneath and her hair is pulled back . Coke has on a blue front tie shirt with Aztec print leggings underneath and her hair is flipped back , almost in a Farah Fawcet sort of hair style except for a little bit softer . Something like :
 
But you can tell they have on one thing ... and that's a lot of gold accessories . That is their signature , you'd always see them in something gold in every performance. Of course they didn't over do it . It's just the right amount . Nose piercings , earrings , bracelets , shoes , ect.
Goldies ... we need to have a talk .
Rum says in a sexy accent , interacting with the crowd . The crowd cheers loving this . She breaks into a little giggle and then gets back in character . Just as Coke begins to start the song .
Seems like everybody's stressing
Losing their wits over this recession
Slowly running out ... of strength
And turning their backs on common sense .
But yo ...
Just as the pre-hook started to be sung , Rum & Coke began to dance . The routine for the first line was 2 belly rolls to the left a snap and then 2 belly rolls to the right and another snap . On the second line Rum & Coke whips their hair to the left then right and throws their arms in the air snapping them , dropping them really quick , putting their right foot in front , turning sideways as they gyrate for the rest of the pre-hook . The crowd roars seeing the ' ratchet ' dance turned into something way cuter by the two . That's when they finally flip their hair and turns their whole body back to facing the crowd as Coke begins to start on the hook .
Who do you think you've fooled ?
Who do you think I am ?
I've caught you on all your bull
And to expose it , I'm determined ...
Because , I'm aware ... Hey !
Of painted faces .
Yea I'm aware ... Of painted faces .
From the start ... I admit ... I wasn't .
But now I'm aware ...
Of painted faces .
Once the hook is done , Rum & Coke begin to strut to the front of the stage \, just in time for Coke to start singing the second verse . While she is doing that Rum is next to her doing one of those , ' I'm in my zone ' dances .
Seems like everybody commits crime
But only few actually do the time
Violence slowly taking over our lives
Warfare son to wipe out all mankind .
But yo ...
This time in the pre-hook the beats turns to a sick hip hop beat . Which ... you know what that means right ? Rum grinds her way to the floor , whipping her ponytail while Coke belly rolls , still standing up , and whips her hair the same time Rum whips her ponytail . The crowd goes crazy over those moves , to the point where you can barely hear Coke's soft voice .
Who do you think you've fooled ?
Who do you think I am ?
I've caught you on all your bull
And to expose it , I'm determined ...
Once the pre-hook is over , the beat goes back to the regular one . Rum is now crouching leaning in with her shoulders on cue , making one of those stank faces .
Because , I'm aware ... Of painted faces .
Yea I'm aware ... Of painted faces .
Because , I'm aware ... Of painted faces .
Yea I'm aware ... Of painted faces .
From the start ... I admit ... I wasn't .
But now I'm aware ...
Coke starts to bend her back as she sings the last of the hook and once she's , but then whips her hair to the front and fiercely looks at the crowd with her hands on her hip and in her high pitched voice says the last line .
Of painted faces .
The crowd cheers and screams for them really loudly as the two strikes their poses . Rum crouched on the floor raising her eyebrow and Coke standing up with her hands on her hips making a seductive face . The last few seconds of the song plays out but again the music is a little hard to hear with all of the shouting and screaming going on . Then the lights turn off and Rum & Coke's performance is officially over .
The lyrics are obviously based on the governments most common techniques to get everybody on their knees and keep them distracted from the real corruptness . Something like , " Hey ! We're the richest economy in the world but ... err ... you guys are all broke ! How ? Well the ceiling is falling ... the White House is off the cliff ... something like that . Here , check the binders ! That's what they say ! It's uhmm ... The terrorists ... China ... YES ! It's China's fault . " But I'll get more into that when I individually evaluate this song , which is what I'm going to do for every song I believe has a meaning to it . Who knows , I could be wrong about this whole thing ... But I could be right . Comments from other celebrities
Quote:
Album
Kourtney: I'm a big fan of all different types of music and I gotta say, this certainly catches my eye. So believe me when I say, I can't wait to get this! :)
Matt Young: I can tell this is gonna be one of the hottest albums in the world this year!
Stephanie Fierce: Excited, this album looks so bad ass! So many tracks though, a lot to digest, but that's a good thing! lol
Mariko:i really wish i wasnt friends with you two,just so i could gush about how great this is,without looking like a kiss up.
Kidd: This is the second time hearing about this group and I o say that I'm quickly becoming a fan of your lyrics and music and most important your message a lot of times people tend to forget that has rappers we have to tell a story much like any other type of music. They can't all be about guns and hoes and drugs.
Chanel: GIRL! This album is live! This looks TOOOO DOPE girls. Yall better bring it or go home fa real, that's the tea for you. It's a lot of tracks but I feel like it's more of a collection of just dope ass music. I'm ready for this. I'm ben down with Rum & Coke since the beginning. good luck girls. let me know when the album release party is girls.
Amy-Jayne: I cannot wait to buy this album girls, I will always support you girls and wow nina you have an incredibly voice you should sing more often :) Girls you were both Asombroso e increíble !
Daniel: Really good album! I love the diversity with each track! Tomorrow I will make sure to get my copy :)
Danielle: Girls are mad dope yo. I live for this girls...
Track 2/3
Erich: if you are like me,and I know I am,you will love this. And I mean love it like the unholy love between a farmer and sheep
Track 4
Isabel: This reminds me of a more urban and better version of 'Who To Trust?' Lol. I love it :)
Kidd: *Wided eyed* Holy shit. It's official I'm getting this cd now. If this is track 3 I can't wait for the next one.
Bianca: *snaps* YASSSSS to Failed Escape record.. Girls, we got some competion on the hands of the queens girlies.
Track 5/6
Kidd: You girls are great. You set up this song really well. I'm surprised at how well you can flow and have symmetry with your songs.
Track 7/8/9
Mariko:aw,rummy! You sing so lovely and you know i love hearing you speak spanish.
Erica:.....damn. time to get smaller pants,nina....you sang your ASS off!
Edited by user 11 November 2013 15:16:04(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified |
