Turf Talk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Turf-Talk
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Turf Talk performing in 2006
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Demar Bernstine |
| Origin | Vallejo, California |
| Genres | Hyphy West Coast hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Labels | Sick Wid It/Hoodboy Ent |
| Associated acts | The Click, Mac Dre |
Turf Talk (born Demar Bernstine in Vallejo, California) is a Bay Area rapper. He is known for his part in the hyphy movement, a style of hip hop music from the Bay Area. Turf Talk is also a cousin of the famous Bay Area rapper E-40 and is signed to E-40's record label, Sick Wid It Records.
Growing Up and Early Life
Turf Talk shared that he had a challenging childhood, moving around a lot. In 1999, he returned to his hometown of Vallejo, California in the Bay Area. He wanted to start his music career there, working with his cousin E-40.
Turf Talk says that other artists like E-40 and The Click, Too $hort, and Mac Mall inspired his music.
Music Career Highlights
Turf Talk first started rapping under the name Killa Kane. He appeared on a music CD called Worldwide Bosses & Playas in 2001. His big break came in 2003 when he performed on E-40's song "Gasoline," which was even shown on MTV.
He continued to work with E-40, appearing on three songs from E-40's 2003 album Breakin News. Turf Talk also became well-known in the Bay Area's new music scene. He was a guest on the official remix of "Hyphy," a popular song by The Federation.
In 2004, Turf Talk released his first album, The Street Novelist. This album featured E-40 and other artists from Sick Wid It Records. It included a popular song called "It's Ah Slumper."
In 2005, Turf Talk released another album, Turf Talk Brings The Hood: Colabilation. This album was a mix of his own songs and collaborations with other artists. It featured a local hit song called "Turf Talk Iz Back."
In July 2005, Turf Talk faced a serious health challenge but made a quick and full recovery. Later that month, he was named "New Artist (Rookie) of The Year 2005" at the Bay Area Rap Scene (B.A.R.S.) Awards. He won against other popular artists like Mistah F.A.B. and Ya Boy.
With E-40 signing with Lil Jon's record label, Turf Talk planned to release his new album, West Coast Vaccine: The Cure, in 2006. This album was set to feature music produced by famous artists Rick Rock and Lil Jon. The album was later released in early 2007.
In 2006, Turf Talk gained more attention by appearing on E-40's album My Ghetto Report Card, which was very successful on the Billboard 200 music chart. He was also featured in MTV's show My Block: The Bay, which looked at hyphy music. His impact on the hyphy movement was also talked about in popular hip hop magazines like The Source and XXL.
In the summer of 2006, Turf Talk's fame grew even more. He was asked to be on DJ Shadow's new song "3 Freaks," which had a hyphy sound. This led to a music video on MTV with Keak Da Sneak. He also joined a music tour in Europe and Japan.
The tour ended with a big performance in front of over 25,000 people at the Wireless Festival in London's Hyde Park on June 23. Turf Talk performed with other Bay Area rappers like Mistah F.A.B. and Nump.
Musical Style
Turf Talk is known for his unique way of rapping. He calls himself the "devastating mouthpiece." He combines a special slow way of speaking (a drawl) with sudden, strong sounds (like interjections). He uses a technique called multi-track recording to create his sound.
The New York Times newspaper described his voice as "high and pinched." They said it was "less like a cartoon than his cousin (E-40) and more fierce."
Turf Talk says his changing style helps him create a character for his listeners. He also likes to develop new sounds. He is always thinking of "new ways to rap on different beats and new sounds, just something different to the human ear."
Albums
- 2004: The Street Novelist (Presented by E-40)
- 2005: Turf Talk Brings The Hood Colabilation
- 2007: West Coast Vaccine: The Cure
Images for kids
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Turf Talk performing in 2006
