Ishmael Muhammad aka Mel Jay

In the hip hop world oversaturated with tales of black on black crime, glorified drug dealing and extravagant spending, Ishmael Muhammad “The Tearrible Militan...t Rebel Warrior” is the voice of the poor that brings food for thought.

For over a quarter century Ishmael Muhammad aka Mel Jay has recorded and released music constantly. In December 2016 he keep this tradition going stronger than ever with the release of the single "We Up In Here" from his seventh solo project "Rebelution (The Beginning Of The End), due to be released 11-30-2017. "We Up In Here" begins with Mel Jay spiting before the heavy base beat drops 8 seconds into to the song. The rebel toned "We Up In Here" was produced by Mel Jay. The majority of the production on the "Rebelution (the beginning of the end) contains eleven tracks produced by Mel Jay himself, except for three songs .KOWE who has produced tracks in the past lends his supreme production on the songs "Never" and the bonus unreleased "Voice Of The Poor". Eric Epps aka the "Heavyweight Champ" provides his vetern production skills on "Rebel Forever". While the up and coming D Carr laid down the music for the song "Madd". Rebelution only has one feature rapper, Jay Waller who appears on the heavy rock influenced "Rock, Roc". Rebelution is the first Ishmael Muhammad release without at least one of his trio group members Organiz'd Crhyme and has less features than any other Mel Jay project. "I recorded this album fresh, I didn't use prerecorded music from the vault or wait for features like I would do in the past. The only song from the vault is the bonus track. With Rebelution, I set a date and when that day came I called it complete. I'm just recording and releasing these days instead of holing music like I use too. Time to flood the market." the self proclaimed "Voice of the Poor" explains.

After releasing the street mix tapes "That Black Power Sh*t" (2007), "It Don’t Stop" (2009), and "Underground Rappin" (2013), Ishmael is finally released his much anticipated sophomore effort ‘Militant (Thinking Men’s Therapy) (May2014) adding to his outspoken Rebelutionary Music collection. Militant featured production from G Thang Entertainments Grant Norris, himself and more. Guest features include, Rebelutionary Music’s first lady Kweilin, J Waller and Organiz’d Crhyme member Force. Militant also has a list of R&B artists that was absent from his debut solo project "Tearrible (Rhymes From A Grown Man)(2006).“I got with Almond Joy, Venny and Bey members of the R& B group Artistree, Ira Soul and put them on rough beats instead of me getting on a R&B style tracks like the majors do in this business just for a hit, production and vocal wise dis will be my best work yet” says Muhammad.

Even before forming his own label Rebelutionary Music "The label that brings the truth to the youth" Mel Jay spit relevant substance as a member of the trio Organiz'd Crhyme made up of childhood friends Dexterity and Force, who worked with producer, soundman specialist J Diggy, major label (Motown) and platinum producers (Organ Brothers(Tommy Organ(guitarist) Derrick Organ(drummer), Al Eaton(produced for Too Short) in Hollywood, CA in the mid 90's, before returning home to Homestead, PA choosing to release underground music that they had creative control over. "I learned real fast that with the majors, since they pay, you do what they say," says Muhammad.

In 2006 he released his solo debut album "Tearrible (Rhymes From A Grown Man) on his independent label Rebelutionary Music which debut in the top 50 rap & hip hop albums on Radiodirectx.com and received sufficient airplay on Z103 FM Australia, www.novaradio.info 101.5 FM Firenze, 92.1 FM WPTS, Radio FRO/Popspionage and other radio stations around the nation. Due to stand out songs like "Steelers & Drug Dealers" about Pittsburgh women only wanting Pittsburgh Steeler football players or wealthy drug dealers and ‘Rize’ a song about black people unifying and organizing.

In 2013 Ishmael Muhammad started the V.O.I.C.E (Vocals,Opportunity,Imagination,Confidence,Effective) Arts Foundation, a music program, a program that's broken up into two parts. One part is for kids and their families from 3yrs old to the adults in the families. Who are able to learn about music recording and will record a family cd after completion of the program. While the other part of the program is just for middle school kids and teaches how to record and be effective in the music business. "I started the V.O.I.C.E Arts Foundation program so I could give back without just recording a song or LP. I wanted to give the youth a opportunity that I didn�t have at their age and that's learning how to make hip hop music and how the music industry works inside in out" says Muhammad.

Growing up in the former Steel Mill Capital Homestead, PA when steel mills were closing and unemployment and crime were on the rise due to the void of jobs Mel Jay seen first hand how ghetto living can destroy lives." Ive done wrong according to the legal system and paid for it by the legal system. That is how it works, its set up tat way" says Mel Jay. Who as a teen was driven to not become a statistic, so he stayed busy in sports and music. Winning Golden Gloves and a National boxing tournament and playing Junior College football at Potomac State where his only carry as a freshman tail back resulted in a touchdown before going to LA Recording Workshop pursuing music full time.

Decades before Mel Jay said he was Ishmael Muhammad he brought conscious music to the underground with Organiz’d Crhyme and judging by the content of his upcoming project "Rebelution" it doesn’t look like that will change any time soon. Rebelution (The Beginning Of The End) shows Muhammad at his Rebelutionary best and “just when you thought it was safe, the rebel is back!”