iSound

Artifact (ärt’? fakt) n. any object made by human work One of Hip-Hop’s many claims to fame is the knack for redefining and re-spelling words found in Webster’s dictionary. A true byproduct of the culture, California-based lyricist Artaphac (inspired by his deceased uncle, Art, and “the Art-Of-spitting Fact”) not only puts a unique spin on the noun that is his name, but he also offers a much needed new perception of the modern rap artist with his debut album Uninfluenced: (The Hard Way). The first of many soundtracks to Artaphac’s roller-coaster life, Uninfluenced: (The Hard Way) is not just another album with a trumped up title. It’s the perfect stamp for a story of self-teaching and independence that started in Los Angeles, California and was supposed to end in tragedy years ago. Growing up listening to everything ranging from Anita Baker to Public Enemy to Cameo, this sonic variety would serve as the backdrop to a life that saw Art raised by his South Central-native mother, an...