Hi. I'm Joel, one half of The Custodians. I'm a multi-national chap, born and raised in Ireland.
As well as being a rap artist I'm also a photographer, word-nerd, a film-maker and a dad. I'm somewhere inbetween a coach and a cheerleader of other artists & musicians. I've been involved in a number of Zang's recent music videos and you can watch some rap videos I've made here: www.youtube.com/user/unseenhiphop
Eliot Best, the other Custodian, is an intuitionist producer, throwing those hardcore punk, sci-fi & horror-flicks, new wave, boom bap, 80's children's TV samples together and dicing beats. He loves watching Kubrick films, vibing off MF Doom and hanging out with his two sons.
I started writing and recording rap lyrics 20 years ago! During the first five years there was little progress. If you're getting started here's some simple advice to speed you along:
1. Write rhymes AND rehearse a lot!
2. Spend time around positive, prolific and creative rappers [and actually ask for constructive criticism]. If there are none in your circle of friends, find them on facebook/myspace world.
3. Read widely [fiction & non-fiction, contemporary & classic]
4. Study hip-hop history [get to know the key artists and moments in each of the 4 decades of hip-hop]
As well as being a rap artist I'm also a photographer, word-nerd, a film-maker and a dad. I'm somewhere inbetween a coach and a cheerleader of other artists & musicians. I've been involved in a number of Zang's recent music videos and you can watch some rap videos I've made here: www.youtube.com/user/unseenhiphop
Eliot Best, the other Custodian, is an intuitionist producer, throwing those hardcore punk, sci-fi & horror-flicks, new wave, boom bap, 80's children's TV samples together and dicing beats. He loves watching Kubrick films, vibing off MF Doom and hanging out with his two sons.
I started writing and recording rap lyrics 20 years ago! During the first five years there was little progress. If you're getting started here's some simple advice to speed you along:
1. Write rhymes AND rehearse a lot!
2. Spend time around positive, prolific and creative rappers [and actually ask for constructive criticism]. If there are none in your circle of friends, find them on facebook/myspace world.
3. Read widely [fiction & non-fiction, contemporary & classic]
4. Study hip-hop history [get to know the key artists and moments in each of the 4 decades of hip-hop]
8th Dec 2011
FROM NEWS...
Another Christmas present for you all!
Joel the Custodian has produced a music video for the festive track - The Visitors.
From Joel - "Peace people, This is my entry to the Nativity Factor Video Contest [being judged by Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child among others].
Rap, astrology, prophecy, 8-sided dice and my daughter starring as an angel: the perfect combo. Watch, share, go to the Nativity Factor site and vote for it! Thank you & I wish you a pensive advent!"
View the video on Youtube.
Please vote for the video over at the Nativity Factor Website, you'll have to scroll down the page a bit to find it...
By the way, this track is still available in our free download section :)
Joel the Custodian has produced a music video for the festive track - The Visitors.
From Joel - "Peace people, This is my entry to the Nativity Factor Video Contest [being judged by Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child among others].
Rap, astrology, prophecy, 8-sided dice and my daughter starring as an angel: the perfect combo. Watch, share, go to the Nativity Factor site and vote for it! Thank you & I wish you a pensive advent!"
View the video on Youtube.
Please vote for the video over at the Nativity Factor Website, you'll have to scroll down the page a bit to find it...
By the way, this track is still available in our free download section :)
9th Nov 2010
FROM NEWS...
Zang very proudly presents ZANGTHOLOGY 2000-2010, a compilation celebrating the indie- label's first decade of work.
We have selected 30 tracks from the first 10 years of Zang featuring University of the King, Ickberg, Benjamin Blower, The Custodians and Bethan Marshall. For some of these tracks, it is the first time they have been available online...
We have selected 30 tracks from the first 10 years of Zang featuring University of the King, Ickberg, Benjamin Blower, The Custodians and Bethan Marshall. For some of these tracks, it is the first time they have been available online...
13th Dec 2009
FROM NEWS...
The Zang Productions Ensemble's "Christmas Time Is Here Again" is released tomorrow... But for those that need some extra Christmassy-ness today, go and download last years free Christmas Album - "A Zang Christmas"
The free Christmas album has 10 tracks on it with an accompanying music video for the track "Jumping Home For Christmas" with can be watched HERE
The free Christmas album has 10 tracks on it with an accompanying music video for the track "Jumping Home For Christmas" with can be watched HERE
9th Nov 2009
FROM NEWS...
This month we have a new video promo from The Custodians.
The video is for the track 'Bullet Eater' taken from 'My Organs Are Yours' which was released earlier in the year for free.
You can view the video in the Free Download section.
Or you can watch it in HD at: Youtube & Vimeo
You can get 'My Organs Are Yours' HERE
Mr. Z
The video is for the track 'Bullet Eater' taken from 'My Organs Are Yours' which was released earlier in the year for free.
You can view the video in the Free Download section.
Or you can watch it in HD at: Youtube & Vimeo
You can get 'My Organs Are Yours' HERE
Mr. Z
1st Jun 2009
FROM NEWS...
Following the release of 'My Organs Are Yours PART 1' back in April, we can now bring you PART 2!
There are another 5 tracks on here and its available absolutely free in the FREE DOWNLOAD section.
You can also purchase both E.Ps together on CD in the Online Store, these have some bonuses too..
There are another 5 tracks on here and its available absolutely free in the FREE DOWNLOAD section.
You can also purchase both E.Ps together on CD in the Online Store, these have some bonuses too..
14th May 2009
FROM NEWS...
We've got a lunchtime treat for Birmingham people. A free half-hour set of progressive hip-hop with Joel the Custodian and other Zang peeps including Greybeard and Benjamin Blower.
This will be an experiment. Who knows what will happen! There'll be live instruments, a kaoss pad and an odd bunch of rap songs and chain-gang ditties.
Don't be late: this will kick off at 12.30 in the main sanctuary of St. Martins Church In the Bullring in Brum city centre.
For more details click on Next Live Date
This will be an experiment. Who knows what will happen! There'll be live instruments, a kaoss pad and an odd bunch of rap songs and chain-gang ditties.
Don't be late: this will kick off at 12.30 in the main sanctuary of St. Martins Church In the Bullring in Brum city centre.
For more details click on Next Live Date
3rd May 2009
FROM NEWS...
We're talking about the late nineties/early naughties. Barrowclough, Joel the Custodian and Michael Stork were weirding out the whole UK hip hop scene as Michaelis Constant. They were a defining influence for University of the King, and a catalyst for the birth of Zang itself.
I, Mr. Z, found this lost remix of a track from their critically acclaimed and financially disasterous second album Gondwanaland. Go get it from the free downloads page. Who did the remix? It's a competition. Email your answers to info@zangproductions.co.uk ...winner gets used toothbrushes from all three MCs.
I, Mr. Z, found this lost remix of a track from their critically acclaimed and financially disasterous second album Gondwanaland. Go get it from the free downloads page. Who did the remix? It's a competition. Email your answers to info@zangproductions.co.uk ...winner gets used toothbrushes from all three MCs.
13th Apr 2009
FROM NEWS...
Part 2 will be available on 01 June 2009, but if you can't wait and want the bonuses you can get the CD for just £3 in the Zang Store right now...
Mr. Z
6th Apr 2009
FROM NEWS...
Salutations.
Myself and Eliot are pleased to present to you the first half of our FREE double E.P. 'My Organs Are Yours'.
The first of many releases from the Zang squad this year, this hip hop e.p. has some unusual, brain-twisting beats that really steered me into some sort of sonic rainforest, throwing me and my fellow lyricists out of the vehicle armed only with pens and pads.
My lyrics were formed in the bright raw light of diary entry confessionals, so if you read the lyrics on our ROSTER page you'll be looking into my head, which I find unsettling as well as exciting. Maybe you're going through the same stuff as me.
This first E.P. features 5 tracks with help from our friends Benjamin Blower, Greybeard, The What Supreme, Sensei C, Nicholas Noble (The Gentlemen), Supervillain, Michael Stork, Log, Cro and Christmas Carter.
Thank yous to Danielle & Melanie and Leo, Evie and Ellis!
E.P. 2 will be available on the 1st June 2009. The whole double E.P. will be available to buy on Monday the 13th April 2009 complete with a bonus track...
Grab the first E.P. HERE RIGHT NOW!
Enjoy the organs
Joel & Eliot the Custodians
Myself and Eliot are pleased to present to you the first half of our FREE double E.P. 'My Organs Are Yours'.
The first of many releases from the Zang squad this year, this hip hop e.p. has some unusual, brain-twisting beats that really steered me into some sort of sonic rainforest, throwing me and my fellow lyricists out of the vehicle armed only with pens and pads.
My lyrics were formed in the bright raw light of diary entry confessionals, so if you read the lyrics on our ROSTER page you'll be looking into my head, which I find unsettling as well as exciting. Maybe you're going through the same stuff as me.
This first E.P. features 5 tracks with help from our friends Benjamin Blower, Greybeard, The What Supreme, Sensei C, Nicholas Noble (The Gentlemen), Supervillain, Michael Stork, Log, Cro and Christmas Carter.
Thank yous to Danielle & Melanie and Leo, Evie and Ellis!
E.P. 2 will be available on the 1st June 2009. The whole double E.P. will be available to buy on Monday the 13th April 2009 complete with a bonus track...
Grab the first E.P. HERE RIGHT NOW!
Enjoy the organs
Joel & Eliot the Custodians
31st Mar 2009
FROM NEWS...
They will be performing tracks for their new double EP - My Organs Are Yours - the first of which is released next Monday (6th April 2009)
These EPs will be FREE downoads, so watchout...
More info in the Live Section
Mr. Z
Watch on Youtube
