Author Archives: misterwise

Team Demolition “Demolition Circle – The Orange Tape” Now Available on All Streaming Services

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In the early Spring of 1995, Northern Virginia’s burgeoning hip hop crew known as the DL Demolition Circle, descended upon the campus of Howard University for the legendary annual Howard Hip Hop Conference. The crew, made up of artists and musical collaborators: Lower Life Forms, Kreative Natives, Chaz the Natural and Props the Optical, swarmed through the event passing out hundreds of free copies of what would later be simply known as, “The Orange Tape.” The compilation cassette featured just seven songs, but served as the promotional springboard for what would soon become the Depth Charge Recordings label. Cassette and 12 inch singles from the Lower Life Forms and Optical would follow in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, the crew released their first 12 inch together as a crew under the moniker, Team Demolition, and began laying significant building blocks for what would become the DMV Hip Hop scene.

Recently, Depth Charge and Demolition founder, Zechariah Wise, transferred the original four track analog recordings into the digital realm and re-mastered the entire tape as well as original answer greetings from the Demolition Hotline and two never released bonus tracks from the Lower Life Forms, Optical and Chaz the Natural. The Orange Tape is now streaming on major music platforms.

#DMVHipHop #undergroundhiphop #90sHipHop #dmvhiphophistory

Past Depth Charge Catalog Now Available on Major Streaming Platforms

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More of the Depth Charge Recordings catalog is now available on major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal. 

Lower Life Forms – “The Whole Universe is Ours” (1997) 

Zechariah Wise – “The Mister Wise Album” (2010) 

Mister Wise – “The Way of the Doh Doh” EP (2013) 

Mister Wise – “If They Don’t Hear Us Now” EP (2016) {previously only available on Soundcloud} 

Coming soon…. Team Demolition “The Essential Team Demo,” a compilation of remastered joints from 1997-2004, including five previously unreleased tracks.

Looking for original physical vinyl and cds as well as exclusive content? Visit our store.

Mister Wise of the Lower Life Forms Unboxes “The Whole Universe is Ours” Vinyl and CD Album

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Depth Charge Studios in collaboration with Back 2 Da Source Records, is proud to announce the release of the Lower Life Forms “The Whole Universe Ours” album on limited edition vinyl and compact disc.

After the release of the Lower Life Forms debut 12 inch single, “Open Invitation/ Independence Day” in March of 1997 on Depth Charge Recordings, the Lower Life Forms planned to release the full album in August of that year, but the project was tabled to push singles with their crew, Team Demolition, as well as other Team Demo produced projects. The 12 inch single became a collector’s item but the album never made it outside the crew’s inner circle. Now this limited pressing is available to 90s underground hip hop enthusiasts. The album can also be streamed on all major platforms.

Here, Mister Wise (aka Zechariah Wise) unboxes his personal copies and holds the physical vinyl album for the first time.

We have been notified by the label that this album is completely sold out. Depth Charge does not offer physical copies in our store, but the album is available for digital download and can be streamed on all major platforms.

Video: Rackelle – “Rise Again”

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On August 4th, 2020, more than 217 people were killed, 7000 injured and 300,000 displaced when a massive chemical explosion rocked the port of Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanese-American singer/ songwriter, Rackelle, pays tribute to her heritage and the people of Lebanon with her moving video, “Rise Again.” The song was recorded, mixed and mastered by Mister Wise at Depth Charge Studios.