Album: Get Familiar
Maja 7th, born Michael Chamberlain, grew up in Anderson, Indiana, just north of Indianapolis, where urban musical influences were few and far between. Although this was the case, at a young age Maja 7th was still a huge fan of hip hop. He has said on many occasions that the Wu Tang Clan’s C.R.E.A.M is the song really made him fall in love with hip hop and he instantly fell in love with the WU from that point on. Being an avid music fan and musician he enhanced his love by participating in his middle school and high school music programs. He would meet frequent collaborators Clarence Jones and Sean Stuart, of the hip hop duo Hinx Jones, in middle school and a general love for music was shared amongst the three. Maja7th also credits his soulful, jazzy yet unorthodox style to his mothers’ love for artists such as B.B. King, Al Green and James Brown, as well as his own passion for Jazz.
Maja 7th went on to attend Ball State University to earn a B.A. degree in Telecommunications where he first met Jerome Jordan (current manager) and Kenny Cook (Rapper Pete Sayke). Through their common taste for music the three formed the hip-hop group KM2, with Maja 7th manning the production duties back in the early 2000’s. The trio decided to move to Chicago in 2006 to pursue their dreams .KM2 eventually suffered the typical trials and tribulations of aspiring musicians and eventually dissolved. But those relationships and experiences helped mold Maja 7th into the award winning producer he is today.
Fast forward to 2014 and Maja 7th has captivated audiences, and formed new relationships to become an up and coming producer on the underground hip hop scene. With placements such as being a key producer for the The Almighty album, “Original Sin -Strength In Numbers”, consisting of Wu-tang affiliate, Killah Priest, along with Bronze Nazareth, M-Eighty, Son-one, Crayz Walz and 5 Star (2008) to his first solo project The Breakout which featured artists such as Freddie Gibbs, Mikkey Halsted Pill, L.E.P Bogus Boys, GLC, YP and other artists from Chicago. The video for Maja7th’s track On My Own featuring Freddie Gibbs and Mikkey Halsted was also featured on MTV JAMS in 2010. He has also worked with artists such as Add-2(Jamala), Real Talk, Neak ,Dominique Larue and Mike Schpitz to name a few.
Some of Maja 7th accomplishments and accolades include the following:
- iStandard Producer’s Beat Battle Champion Chicago, IL July 2007
- iStandard Producer’s Beast of the Beats Participant NY, NY July 2008
- Boom Boom Clap Beat Battle Champion Columbia College Chicago, IL 2008
- Scribble Jam Chicago Finalist September Chicago, IL 2008
- Skyzoo ‘Strung Out” Remix Finalist Coalmine Records February 2009
- One Stop Shop Producer Conference Beat Battle Participant Phoenix, AZ May 2009
- iStandard Producer Showcase Featured Producer Chicago, IL 2009
- Mic Club Tournament Judging Panel Milwaukee, WI March 2009
- Featured on Nike’s City Of Win Compliation for Chicago-2010
- Featured on such hiphop blogs as Nah Right, Smoking Section, 2Dopeboyz, Fakeshoredrive, DJBOOTH.NET, Bringing Down The Band, LiveMixtapes and many more.
- Produced a track called THE WAKE to help kick off the launch of EA Game’s, Battlefield 3, they have enlisted DJ Scream to host this mixtape of bangers. Featuring tracks from Cyhi The Prince, Freddie Gibbs, Trae The Truth, and more-2011.
- Prodcued on Dream Killaz Mixtape hosted by DON CANNON for Chicago MC Lungz.-2011.
- Placed his Record Calestinics on ESPN’s Canadian affiliate TSN for March Madness. 2013
- Produced a track that was featured on Women’s French Basketball Team Naissance d’une Braquese’s Official Season Opener Video Trailer. 2014
- Released his Joint EP with Dominique Larue entitled GRAND in March of 2014
The producer of hip-hop music from Indiana known as Maja 7th has released his latest official LP record, “Get Familiar.” The full-length album comprises 14 original tracks for an approximate listening time of a full hour. Widely varied, absolutely packed with back beats and bass, and showcasing some of the best rappers and urban poets from the American Midwest, “Get Familiar” from Maja 7th is one of the best reasons for fans of rap music to acquaint themselves with this secret legend of the hip-hop studio now.
Another of excellent reason is the bevy of distinguished performers assembled by Maja 7th for “Get Familiar.” In addition to his own already considerable skills, the new LP features the talents of such popular artists of the hip-hop underground as (in order of appearance) Freddie Gibbs, Mikkey Halstead, Ill Brown, Waterr, Bubby B & $auce, Starrs & Murph, Re@l Talk, Sulaiman, Vic Spencer, Simeon, Mathien, Griffen, KYM, L.E.P. Bogus Boys, Pill, Scheme, Add-2, Mike Schpitz, Neak, Dave Coresh, and Dominique LaRue.
Maja 7th himself cites as artistic influences Outkast, the Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Scarface and Common.
“I think Organized Noize is absolutely brilliant, too,” notes the producer. “They have influenced me a lot.”
Maja 7th started in hip hop at his home digital audio workstation as an independent music artist. His new “Get Familiar” LP keeps this tradition by being likewise published outside the control of the corporate music industry. This allows him leeway to exercise his palpably unique style, which derives much of its kaleidoscopic groove from greats in other genres, such as B.B. King, Al Green and James Brown. He credits his mother for his passion for jazz, too, the creative textures of which find their way into many of the best tracks on “Get Familiar.”
Speaking of the record’s perfectly apropos title and overall theme, Maja 7th writes that the record is “really just to get people familiar with who I am. I wanted to highlight some of the things I’ve done to get to this point and also release some new material.”
Maja 7th’s direct manner of communication, smoothed by humility and heaps of IQ, is indicative of the general tone of “Get Familiar.” The record stands out for its straight-up speech, unstoppable flow, and a whole lot of class.
“New people I meet always ask me, ‘What have you done?’” writes Maja 7th. “So I thought it would be a good idea to show them.”
Maja 7th was a key producer for Wu-Tang affiliate Killah Priest’s “Almighty: Original S.I.N.” album, which featured M-Eighty, Bronze Nazereth, Son One, C-Rayz Walz, and 5 Star. His first solo project is still highly acclaimed: “The Breakout,” a record which helped bring to the public eye many of Chicago’s best-loved underground rappers of today. These include Freddie Gibbs, Mikkey Halsted, Pill, the L.E.P Bogus Boys, GLC, YP and others, many of whom appear also on this latest release of “Get Familiar.” Maja 7th’s official music video for “On My Own,” featuring Freddie Gibbs and Mikkey Halsted, appeared on MTV JAMS in 2010.
“Get Familiar” by Maja 7th is available online worldwide. Get in early, hip-hop fans around the world. Very early.