Exile
LA based artist Aleksander “Exile” Manfredi, is not the first in his family to create music. Father Albert Trent Manfredi (R.I.P.) had released some now sought after 45’s in the early 60’s and grandfather Alberico Manfredi taught music and played in bands ranging from Mariachi to traditional Italian music. At an early age Exile learned to play the accordion while living in his grandfather’s garage only seeing his father time to time. Exile’s father was experimenting with drugs at the time so he left to live with his mother and sister in a 2 bedroom section 8 apartment with no car, and only enough food Welfare checks and food stamps would buy. It was during these times he sought refuge in music. Exile was first introduced to Hip Hop from roller skating rinks and the movie “Breakin.” Later for Christmas his cousin gave him his first 2 tapes The Sex Pistols Never Mind The Bollocks and LL Cool J Radio. After that his love for hip hop grew into trying to create it himself. It started with a beat box in the 5th grade as well as trying to scratch on a home stereo system. He would hold the tape button down while pressing the phono button which cut the music on and off creating a transformer scratch as he moved the record back and forth. Starting from the 6th grade exile knew what he wanted to do, make music. With no money and no knowledge of where to acquire the equipment, Exile took it upon himself to find out how to make beats. With one turntable and two tape decks he figured out the art of creating tape loops at the age of 15. After honing his skills as a turntablist with no mixer, he finally purchased a mixer with a one button sampler and a four track. Later at the age of 18 Exile met then 16 year old rapper Aloe Blacc and began recording songs on the four track and selling many albums with there music on one side and a mixtape on the other. Together they formed Emanon and have been making music ever since. The two later met then 19 year old rapper blu who started to work with Exile on his solo effort, Dirty Science, with tracks featuring artists ranging from Slum Village, MED to Ghostface Killa. Right after their first studio session the two started to talk about an album together, later making the critically acclaimed classic blu and Exile’s Below The Heavens. After production work with Mobb Deep, Jurassic 5, Akon, Snoop Dogg and others he continues to excel in the art with instrumental projects coming out later this year,another Blu album, another Emanon LP and a few surprises guaranteed to catch people off guard. Keep your ears open. Exile has just begun.
Sirplus
So Cal beat head and Exile’s protégé, Sirplus, has been winning beat battle for years all over LA and beyond.
From the famed Beat Cinema showcases, touring with Blu & Exile worldwide, to releasing the critically acclaimed EP with Blu. His debut 45 in support of this new album (SQUARES) went viral on IG and Tik Tok, for his Moesha beat flip, but now it’s time to hear the full spectrum of what Sirplus has to offer, in this full instrumental album entitled Squares.
This vinyl is special, as it has a vinyl only bonus track featuring none other than Blu.
With executive production & scratches by Exile, this album proves to be a classic in the realm of instrumental hip-hop, and beyond.
