3rd Eye Visionaries look forward to Bishop show

3rd Eye Visionaries teaches old-school hip-hop a lesson in contemporary beats.

“Our music is a modern tribute to old-school hip-hop with a new-school twist and flavor,” said Philip Stringfellow who performs as Philmatic with the 3rd Eye Visionaries.

The two-person band is a new project of Stringfellow and Roy Waterford, who is known as R-Juna on stage. The two will perform 9 p.m. Friday at The Bishop.

“I first got serious about hip-hop about four years ago. I started playing with a different crew called 2 Mics and a Kit around town at house parties and bars,” Waterford said.
“But about six months ago our MC moved to Colorado and we ended things.”

The news of the group’s breakup had impeccable timing for Stringfellow. After attending college at Full Sail University in Florida, Stringfellow had been touring with a band called Righteous Mic. However, after controversy between the members, the band split up and Stringfellow was looking for a new project.

“I had liked what R-Juna had been doing so I sent him a couple e-mails and a couple of beats,” Stringfellow said. “It turns out that he was looking for something too.”

Almost immediately, the two started to call themselves 3rd Eye Visionaries, and their success was quick-paced after that. Though they create a popular house party band, they are known to play conventional venues as well and opened for headlining artist Freddie Gibbs in November at The Bishop.

Stringfellow said he thinks their success is based on the band’s ideals.   

“The fallout with Righteous Mic was over the fact that the group was trying to go more bubblegum-y and trying to get a certain image to get fans,” Stringfellow said. “That’s not what hip-hop should be about. It’s about positivity and bringing people together.”

Waterford agreed and said hip-hop spreads a deeper message of equality through beats and rhymes.

“It’s all our lyrics talk about is unity and respect for all people, which would ideally be the solution to all of the world’s problems,” Waterford said.

With this as its basis, the duo works together to maintain this integrity of old school hip-hop while giving it a new feel. Currently 3rd Eye Visionaries is working on a 10-track album which is self-recorded and will be mastered by a studio at Full Sail University.

Stringfellow and Waterford said they plan to release the album at the end of March and said they hope it will serve as an introduction for what’s to come. Waterford said they plan to play mostly off of the upcoming album for their show at The Bishop.

“I love all of the tracks, but I’m most excited to play ‘My City,’ which tends to be a big hit,” Waterford said. “The crowd really digs it, and it gives a shout-out to where we come but is also about loving your own hometown and loving B-town.”

The song popularly known for its crowd “hype and response” is most recognized from local house party shows. Both natives of Bloomington, Stringfellow and Waterford have a local support base giving them a number of personal venues.

“I would have to say my favorite are the house shows and the energy level that comes from a basement full of music heads,” Stringfellow said. “It’s so much more personal in that atmosphere where everyone is sweating and having such a good time together.”

Senior Kelsey Shea said she enjoys how the band’s music gets the crowd involved and complimented its stage
presence.

“I love 3rd Eye Visionaries because their music comes from the soul and makes you move,” Shea said.

Waterford said the reason the band is pursuing more conventional venues is to reach out to additional audiences.      

“We want people who are hungry for music, hungry to hear good music and who are not afraid to dance,” Waterford said. “We need young folks who aren’t too cool for a good time.”

Though the band might be reaching more mainstream popularity, Shea said she is
glad that it has kept its sound authentic.

The duo said they aspire to remain exactly that — authentic.

“Music is self-expression and hip-hop is about positivity and relaying life experiences,” Stringfellow said. “That’s what makes us who we are — staying true.”