FNX RELEASES FULL LENGTH MIX TAPE: "DJ JUELZ PRESENTS: FNX MUSIC VOLUME 1" ON BLACK FRIDAY NOVEMBER 25; ARTIST DEDICATES MUSIC TO HELP FEED UNDER SERVED FAMILIES IN NORWALK CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY.

The decision FNX made to release his debut hip hop mix tape on Black Friday was not without a touch of irony- the Norwalk, CT rapper has decided that he will not be selling his album at all. Instead he will be using his debut album to raise awareness for a very personal cause: feeding hungry families in the community.

Along with his new album, "DJ JUELZ PRESENTS: FNX MUSIC VOL 1," the artist launched a crowd funding campaign on Black Friday to request donations to his cause, in exchange for giving away his music as a free download. The goal of this campaign is simple: to raise as as much money as possible to purchase holiday groceries for struggling families in his community. The artist will work with local charities including the Person to Person Food Bank of Norwalk, CT to select these deserving families.

"I remember times when I was growing up where we didn't always know where our next meal was coming from," he said. "I remember picking up boxes of food from my church and community center- it was always like "Thank God good people are out there for us." 

"It saddens me that things haven't changed that much - one in six children in the state of Connecticut still don't know where their next hot meal is coming from. I've always wanted to give back, and for my music to make a difference in people's lives," said FNX, whose real name is Kenneth Shuler.

Growing up in poverty is one of the hard topics that FNX raps about that has attracted him a loyal fan base, attracted as much to his message as to his music. The artist has also tackled such topics depression, sexual and domestic abuse, and somehow finds a way to give the listener hope. In his new song, "Barely Made it Through," FNX tells his fans that if "I made it through, you can make it too." 

The FNX story is one of hardships, but it's also one of salvation, and the artist is quick to give credit where it's due. The Carver Center, run by the George Washington Carver Foundation of Norwalk, CT is the local community center he credits for keeping him in school, and focused on education. All of this hard work was not without reward- he went on to achieve a Bachelor's Degree in Business from the University of Southern Connecticut, and a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of New Hampshire. When he is not rapping, he also teaches a course in financial literacy, yet another layer of the FNX mission. 

It was at the Carver Center where FNX launched his first philanthropic event he titled after one of his songs, "Hometown Love." The event which he co-produced with Factory Underground Records, consisted of a barbecue, basketball tournament and canned food drive. The event raised 600 canned and non-perishable food items which were donated to Person to Person. "Hometown Love" is planned to be an annual spring event for his beloved Norwalk community.

FNX GO FUND ME CAMPAIGN TO FEED HUNGRY FAMILIES:
https://www.gofundme.com/fnxholidayfooddrive

FNX FREE DOWNLOAD OF MIX TAPE: DJ JUELZ PRESENTS: FNX MUSIC VOLUME 1:
http://www.datpiff.com/FnxMusic-Fnx-Music-Vol-1-mixtape.814796.html

FNX DEBUT SINGLE "RUBBER BANDS" WORLD WIDE RELEASE MAY 30: NEW ARIST HONORS HIP HOP CULTURE WHILE BREAKING DOWN STEREOTYPES

FNX "RUBBER BANDS" DEBUT SINGLE 

WORLD WIDE RELEASE 

MAY 30, 2016

NEW ARTIST HONORS HIP HOP CULTURE WHILE BREAKING DOWN STEREOTYPES

FNX is a rapper and hip hop artist of unique style and origin. At the core of his music is a story of perseverance and positivity; overcoming life obstacles amidst a journey of self-discovery. He was born Kenneth Shuler of Norwalk, Ct--long before would he would turn to music as an outlet for his teen anger and depression. Faced with childhood homelessness, surviving abusive experiences in a shelter with his young mother, the at-risk teen found solace and self-awareness in rhyme. Yet with so much of rap culture based on boasting and bravado, there aren’t many other rappers of such humble beginnings that could boast of a Bachelor Business Degree from the Southern Connecticut State University and a Master’s Degree of Science in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. FNX is an artist unlike many of his peers.

Distinguishing himself early as a rapper of technical skill and lyrical intelligence under the adopted stage name Symon Feenixxx, his early work “Young Black Males” garnered the attention of industry veterans. That early persona, adopted from the 1993 film Demolition Man, was reminiscent of rappers Ghostface Killah and Method Man, whose own names were inspired by comic book and movie characters. “I took on the name [alias Simon Phoenix from the movie Demolition Man] because Phoenix was a villain who was ruthless and vulgar – which was my approach when I first got heavily into writing my own music,” said Shuler. Finding the persona limiting however, the maturing artist thus found the need for a new name to define his growing artistry.  With this came “FNX,” pronounced “Phoenix,” which he identifies as a sharp turning point in his life and career.

Yet even with a more focused handle on his music, the artist found himself facing unexpected challenges. When asked to write a song to promote a friend’s health club, which he happily agreed to do, he became very aware of how reliant he was on using curse words in his rhymes, including the obvious use of the “N Word” so often used in hip hop culture. Rising to this challenge, however, he completed the song “Pushing Heavyweight,” which FNX fans can expect to hear on his first full album in Fall 2016.

Now embracing his ability to rap authentically in a style free of profanity, shedding another stereotype of hip hop culture in the process, FNX hope this will allow his music to positively impact on listeners of all ages. This change in style will be heard in his new song “Rubber Bands,” that will be the first single released worldwide by FNX on May 30, 2016, in association with Factory Underground Records.

Yet even as his own personal phoenix rises from the ashes of his poverty stricken beginnings, FNX has his eyes set firmly on goals that go far beyond hip hop music. An advocate for the George Washington Carver Foundation of Norwalk, which he credits with keeping him off the streets and pushing him to graduate from high school with honors, FNX isn’t waiting for musical success to give back to the community.  “For me the music is a vehicle-- it’s the message that is important to get out there,” he says. That message, one hip hop fans may also find surprising, as yet another stereotype of the culture is discarded, is financial literacy.

“There is so much flaunting of money in hip hop imagery,” he say. “Making paper, acquiring wealth and showing it off. This what we are teaching our kids in the so-called underserved, inner city communities. Who is teaching them how to take care of their money, how to stay out of debt, how to stay clear of crime, and not go to jail?  Questions like these have helped fuel an educational course in financial literacy FNX started teaching in 2015, which he hopes to expand at the Carver Center to include working with children and families in the community.

In many ways, working with the Carver Center, one of the largest providers of after school programs in Norwalk--serving up to one thousand children daily--is FNX coming full circle in his life. “Working with these kids is important for me because I am one of them. It’s a chance for me to show them what music and education can do. I want them to say, “If FNX did it, I can do it too.”

Check out more on FNX here:

Official Website: http://www.fnxmusic.com/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fnxmusic1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fnx_music

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/fnxmusic1

READ MORE ABOUT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER CENTER

FACTORY UNDERGROUND PRODUCER KENNY CASH ANNOUNCES #FREEFORCT: ROYALTY-FREE BEAT COLLECTION ON SOUNDCLOUD: HIPHOP INSTRUMENTALS, BOOM BAP, TRAP, UK GRIME

FACTORY UNDERGROUND PRODUCER KENNY CASH ANNOUNCES #FREEFORCT: ROYALTY FREE BEAT COLLECTION ON SOUNDCLOUD: HIPHOP INSTRUMENTALS, BOOM BAP, TRAP, UK GRIME

Factory Press (Norwalk, Ct) "2015 was such a huge year for me musically. I just wanted to give back. I created these beats to give out to my people in Connecticut as a thank you for all the support this year. But then I thought would just put them out there for the world and Im happy if people use them, enjoy my work," said Factory Underground producer Kenny Cash about his recent #FreeForCT release of all 100% original royalty-free, sample-free material.


Kenny Cash who is also known as one half of the indie pop group Che-Val, also plays bass with indie rock Americana group Lines West. A graduate of the Berklee School of Music whose roots are in jazz, gospel and hip hop, the producer has worked with several prominent rap artists including Chris Webby and Fred the Godson.

"I work with so many different types of music, but hip hop is deep in my heart, and my Ct crew are some of the best hip hop talent in the world in my opinion. They have always supported me as i was building (at the Factory Underground), so I love giving back to the community as much as I can. I made these beats first just for my Ct people. Finally I decided I would give them up to the world too--just to let people know what's happening up here in Norwalk, Ct."


"So again for the record, these are royalty-free for the taking?"


"Yes, totally. I hope people will use them and shout me out--that's all I ask. Tweet me, hashtag me, whatever-- its all good. I just want people to enjoy them, use them, be creative and have fun. I tried to mix them up and give some different vibes, some Hip Hop instrumentals, some Boom Bap, some trap and some UK Grime."


"And these are all original music?"


"Yes, 100% composed by me, recorded into Logic at my Factory Underground studio. I use a slew of different sounds, synths, plug ins, and drum machines--but there are no samples to be cleared--its all original."


"How are you distributing these beats?


"They're all on Soundcloud. Real easy and simple: https://soundcloud.com/handsomemoneymusic/sets/free-tee


"How can people get in touch with you and how can artists submit their material for production?


"It's simple. Call me at the studio. I'm here. 203-275-8672 or FactoryUndergroundStudio@gmail.com I'm always down to give a listen to a new artist, and I love collaborating on songs, productions, beats... anything. Music is my life- it never stops."



www.FactoryUndergroundRecords.com
www.FactoryUndergroundStudio.com