Ariez aims to bring Worcester hip-hop to the world
by Brian Goslow

While it’s been almost a decade since local rappers and hip-hoppers attached the name Wor-Town to their hometown, their music continues to remain largely under the mainstream radar despite the fact that MySpace currently lists over 400 of them, all within shouting distance of City Hall. Twenty-year old producer Atheer Soubhi, AKA the Iraqi-born Art Beats (who came to the United States in 1998) is working hard to change that.

Utilizing his mobile ProTools digital production studio, Beats has been producing local rap, R & B, reggae, and reggaeton over the sounds of his Korg Triton keyboard and Dunbek Arabic drums at studios in Worcester, North Brookfield (Longview), Boston, and New York City. His main artists are rappers Ariez, Rugged, and JussLu, reggae performer Pritty Boy, R & B singer Gigi, and Get Lit Entertainment, an Arabic rap group from California.

His biggest success to date has been the sale of over a thousand copies of his 2003 production of a mix tape by Main South-born MC Ariez, whose latest track “Wat U Gonna Do” snagged some late 2005 airplay on Boston’s influential JAM’N 94.5. That track, laid over Art Beat’s Arabic rhythms, features other members of the Art Beat stable chanting “What U, Wat U Gonna Do?” followed with a heavy response of “Nothing!” that slams the song home as a certified hit.

Not surprisingly, Ariez, who’s already had a taste of international living in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and Greece, raps about the day he’ll make it big; he’s been working with Beats on recordings for a CD aimed at doing just that. “Hey you, Beats – Trying to get rich, right?,” he asks at the start of “When I Get Rich,” after which he’s “gonna cop a mansion in the six,” be “swimmin’ in women,” “hitting on the daddy’s chicks,” and “chillin’ sittin’ on half a million.” He’s definitely got a little Donald Trump in him, stating that he’ll be “well-dressed with finesse,” “buy my mama a crib,” and “invest in a little real estate.”

Ariez, who started out as a poet before being encouraged to put his words to music, shoots out rhymes in a variety of ways without belting you in the face with them. On “International Player,” Art Beats’s music, rap or otherwise ~ produced with the high form multi-layers that set Eminem apart from all of his commercial contemporaries ~ sets the stage and scenery in your head. “Ride” opens with handclap-like beats and has intense lyrics that frighten and thrill at the same time. On “We Party,” Ariez, who’s got a sold-out show at Club Octaine on his growing resume, asks, “Now all my ladies throw your hands in the sky… All my gangstas throw your guns in the sky… get the bar poppin.’” Well-placed “ohhhhs” accent his boasts.

Ariez’s latest recordings don’t have a release date at this time, but you can sample them at myspace.com/theoneariez. Live performances at area colleges are in the works. Art Beats’s work can be experienced at myspace.com/artbeats1.
You don’t have to play air guitar all your life. If you’re one of those people who dreams of taking over a stage like your favorite musicians do, there are a number of top rate players in the Worcester area ready to share their knowledge with you.

Union Music has a staff of 10 musicians at its Teaching and Rehearsal Complex who can instruct you on any instrument, in any genre. Take David Dick whose students range from one-time visitors to career musicians looking for a one-off session to break out of a rut. “With a beginner student, they can’t learn a lot at first,” says the renowned banjo player who also teaches guitar. “I ask them to make a three month commitment.” Students at Union Music, who pay between $17 and $20 for a half-hour session, range in age from 6 to 60. Call (508) 753-3702.

The commitment of one former Kurlan Music student paid off big time. “Matt Scannell of platinum-selling Vertical Horizon took guitar classes here as a kid,” says owner Paul Gervais. ” And a lot of our students go onto Berklee and other music schools.” Although Kurlan, located at 17 East Mountain Street in Worcester, currently has a waiting list, you’ll usually get your first lesson within two weeks. Teachers include guitarist Jim Perry and drummer Joe Giotta (of the Bee’s Knees); piano instruction is also available. Private half-hour lessons cost $20; call (508) 853-6417.

Clemente Music Studio offers instruction in guitar, bass guitar, fretless bass, piano, and flute in styles ranging “from classical to metal, and everything in between.” Hundreds of area musicians, including guitarists Dan Hunt (The Red Riders) and Paul Courchaine (Craig), who now teach alongside them, credit Rich Falco, Doug Moore, Joe D’Angelo, and Robin Steiger with having helped them expand their horizons as guitarists,. Call (508) 754-7319 or visit clemente-music.com. Clemente Music Studio is located at 43 Granite Street in Worcester.

While many musicians give lessons at area stores or schools, others teach at home. Former Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist Troy Gonyea has a well-earned reputation as a world-class blues player; he’s currently making waves with his rock-oriented band The Howl. Specializing in all styles of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B and soul, he’s now giving private lessons in the Worcester County area. Contact him at Troy@ChurchoftheHowl.com or (508) 423-1124.

Guitarist Jay Tyer primarily teaches jazz-oriented musicians. “I am all about improvisation theory,” says the long-time host of the Java Hut Jazz Jam, where his
students are encouraged to strengthen their chops in front of a live audience. Tyer charges $40 per hour and can be contacted at jpt@jaytyer.com.

Drummer Dan Kirouac has been performing for over two decades and teaching since 1991. “My forte is to teach the basics,” says Kirouac, who performs with Beatles tribute Yellow Submarine as well as with Two of Us and Strongbatch. “I teach rock and pop drumming and focus on the rudiments, warm-up exercises, basic music, measure-counting and drum chart-reading,” says Kirouac, who charges $60 per month for four weekly half-hour sessions taught on his electronic drum kit. Email him at dankirouac@hotmail.com.