D~S~B DOUBLE A RECORDZ, ANNISTON,ALABAMA D~S~B: Down South Boyz, Dirty South Boyz, Dem Southern Boyz--it's all in the mix as D~S~B. Formerly known as Raw Deal 256, D~S~B: D started with 4 men in their twenties from Anniston, Alabama: Kane, Tella, Verzatyle and Romeo. The group was formed in 1992 for fun while Kane was making the rounds as a club DJ. In 1995 they got serious about putting the "Double A" (Anniston, Alabama) on the music industry map. In between families, jobs and life in general members of D~S~B wrote, rehearsed, choreographed, produced and recorded what they call "the southern underground street party mix." Their first public appearance before a major audience was at the 1999 Juneteenth Heritage Festival in Anniston during the talent contest (then as Raw Deal). Performing an original song they rapped, sang and danced their way into an undisputed first place. Next, they entered a talent search sponsored by Jim Burnett of Badger Records from Nashville, Tn. This event, held in Gadsden, Alabama showed the strength of their talent as they took top prize again. Believing they could hold their own, they passed on an offer from Badger Records and decided to take the independent route to the top. In May 2000 D~S~B (Raw Deal) held its first "Southern Underground Concert" at the Mineshaft, a local hall in Anniston, expanding the group's fan base. That June their first self-produced six song Maxi-single entitled "Lay It Down" was released. Radio airplay for the title song on WHOG, the local Urban Music station, followed quickly. Next, their appearance at The Block Party held on July 1, 2000 in Zinn Park during the 8th Annual Juneteenth Heritage Festival in Anniston, showed that D~S~B could hold their own as they hyped-up a crowd of over 1,000 young people who came from all over Northeast Alabama. That August they were selected to perform at the 10th Annual Birmingham Heritage Festival. In October they headlined the WHOG Halloween House Party 2. The original D~S~B sound is produced by member Tella (Telly Walton/db Muzic) who plays keyboard, drum machine and drums. Raw Deal 256 formally changed their name to D~S~B in January 2001 and released the D~S~B 4+1 song (unlisted bonus track included) Maxi-single "We Get Crunk". "We Get Crunk" has become their signature song. D-S-B: DOWN SOUTH BOYZ KEEPING IT CRUNK "We get crunk, we get crunk" has been playing in clubs and on the radio since Spring 2001. That Summer the album featuring this poplular tune became available. The group D~S~B produced their first 18-track album entitled "Southern Style Ballin" on their own label Double A Recordz which is named after their hometown, Anniston, Alabama. Songs are published through their Capitol K Publishing (BMI) The name D~S~B stands for Down South Boyz or some say "Dirty South Ballin". Group member Kane explains, "Down South Boyz is about the enjoying the pleasures and overcoming the pains of life. Dirty South Ballin' is everybody coming to party and enjoy themselves Southern style--from factory workers to field hands, from grits to bar-b-que, from Stacy Adams to stocking feet it's just how we do it down here." He says the name D~S~B just puts it all in the mix. Their performances bring audience members to their feet and to the stage. It's not uncommon to have new fans jump on stage to dance with them. D~S~B has appeared at area nightclubs and many major festivals in Alabama with a concert style show. Original members of the group, Kane, Tella and Verzatyle, and Romeo, who have been together for over 5 years, plus some new voices added in the Spring of 2002, have performed at Jacksonville State University and the S.C.L.C. Spring Break (Anniston), opened club dates and concerts in Northeast Alabama for major Hip Hop recording artists Dirty, the Ying Yang Twins and Last Mr. Bigg and have had to hold an audience's attention at concerts on the same stage as Tank, Ray J and Jaheim. D~S~B has gotten crowds "crunk" at events like Atlanta's Soul Food & Music Festival, Great Atlanta Music Fest, Sweet Auburn Heritage Festival, Tampax Total You Tour Talent Showcase in Atlanta and in Alabama at the WMGJ HipHop Fest (Gadsden), Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Fest, Tuskegee Springfest/Players Picnic, WEUP Black Arts Festival (Huntsville), Juneteenth Heritage Festival (Anniston), LoMo Magazine Show (Birmingham), Birmingham Heritage Festival, the Jubilee Cityfest (Montgomery) , City Bling (Hobson City), and the Bayfest Music Festival in Mobile, Al. They were also featured in the 2002 Southern Playaz Ball held at Club Studio 231 in Gadsden, Al. on Thanksgiving night. For 2003 D~S~B is working on more music but took time to perform at Sweet Auburn Festival (Atlanta), and again at the Juneteenth Heritage Festival, Great Atlanta Talent Search Showcase, Birmingham Heritage Festival, City Bling (Hobson City, Al), club concerts at Studio 231 in Gadsden, and Lakeside Lounge in Guntersville, Al. with another show coming up for Club Spinz in Jacksonville, Al. D~S~B has reorganized to a core performance group of 3 persons--Kane, Verzatyle and Koolaid and in March 2003 they completed their second album titled "Tha Second Time Around" transforming their sound and expanding their entertainment value on this disc with the vocals of female singer Keywon, Koolaid who also produces for them, male vocalist Smoke and hypeman Big Boi all from their hometown added to their set. They are currently designing a stage show with new label mates T.C.N. and are editing videos of ther live performances for marketing. Avideo of a part of their opening act performance during a Ying Yang Twins concert can be seen on their Double A Recordz website. For booking contact: D~S~B c/o Ali Shabazz: Bama Hip Hop 2216 Christine Avenue, Anniston, Al. 36207. Phone: (256) 237-2938. E-mail: Bamahiphop@mail.com Website: www.DoubleARecordz.com Album available at : www.CDBaby.com/DSB revised 2/24/04