Blake 9 is the founder of Candlewax records. A DJ & Producer, Blake runs the Candlewax label.

 

 

 

With Blake9 on the beats, and the cuts plus Comel_15 (Time Machine) on the microphone these two are laying down some undeniable raw energy full-flavored hip-hop. Blake9 and Comel_15 meet over at Time Machine member Jaysonic’s house during the winter of 2000. Jay and Blake were playing back some tracks they had been working on for a couple of days. Comel_15 just happened to be at the house that evening and over heard the sounds from the living room couch. He took interest in one of Blake’s beats. Well, that beat happened to be the first single for producer Blake9’s then independent record label, Irish Carbomb Music.

“Say what” dropped in July of 2000 and was successful in distributing its first pressing of five hundred units. Six months later, another pressing of five hundred units and a licensing deal for “Say What” through UK label Puma Strut the duo realized that they might have some musical chemistry and continued to work together. Having released two 12-inch records under the name Nine:Fifteen, they continue to break the barriers of hip hop music.

The Acorns have been tearing up the DC scene for the past two and a half years. Here and there, whenever Mad Squirrel made it out-the-woods, if you were lucky enough to see them, then you know you saw some shit. At one show, Mad Squirrel lost his voice on a three song set. At another, Blake showed up minutes before they went on stage, thoroughly trashed. Simply stated, when the Acorns show up, shit’s bound to go down.

Mad Squirrel would not show up at the Candle Wax Palace without layin some shit down over some-a-them Blake9 tracks. Two and a half years of recordings are now available on one 12 song CD. And by any means possible, try and catch one of their shows.

Mad Squirrel is Forest Fires Collective Emcee. FFC/Mad Squirrel releases include the self-titled FFC CD and 12-inch, the "You Can’t See . . . " CD, the Fresh Air 12-inch, as well as the Bear With Me and Pinko underground tapes.Blake9 is DJ/Producer Extraordinaire. His production credits include two Nine:Fifteen 12-inches (Deluxe Laminated and Spilt Milk), the “Say What”/”Nah” 7-inch, collaborations with Stoerok, Dead Artists, and Olive Green, and various tracks on Blake9 mix CDs volume 1-4.

Pasha is one of the OG’s; his work with the label goes back to the Blake9 Vol. 1 mix cd on Irish CarBomb Music. He was also a featured emcee and took on doing the cover art for the project as well. Not to mention coming up with the name of Blake9’s first record label Irish CarBomb Music after a few tasty libations. He soon found himself on the flip side of the first ICB vinyl release, “Say What”, with his original style that hints upon classic emcee influence. Pasha’s been known to deliver progressive punch lines with wisdom and whit, he has a mean flow and he’s a dope artist! His visual styles are reminiscent of a modern day Jackson Pollock, and has done album artwork for artists like Defined Print, Asheru of Unspoken Heard, Jazz Addix and Blake9. His work is also commonly seen in promoting various events in the DC area, including the Washington, DC DMC regional finals for the 4th year in a row.

Radel Esca's relationship with Blake 9 dates back to the source. Back in 1999 Blake commonly would do dj gigs with Radel's roommate at the time, while Radel would remain holed up in his bedroom working on weird psych hip-hop tracks. Within the following two years, the both of them found themselves transplanted from deep in Southwest Virginia up to Washington DC. While Radel continued on with his non-traditional beats on his own, he and Blake also got on quite well and decided to collaborate on music as well, a union which became the Dead Artists. Radel's involvement with Candlewax includes collaborations with Blake9, Comel_15, and Mad Squirrel, but he is also responsible for a good amout of the design face for Irish Carbomb and Candlewax Records. His ever evolving design and photography style has been quite an asset to the team. Additionally, he continues to do music work solo as Radel Esca, and most lately pushing his band, Stamen & Pistils.