Amazing poet, rapper, musician and all around great guy — TINO has released the ‘Past Due’ EP on May 1!

‘Past Due’ is the fifth release from TINO. ‘Past Due’ is a follow up to his ‘Friendly Reminder’ mixtape which saw the artist dealing with the everyday problems of making ends meet in challenging circumstances, something we all can relate to these days.

‘Past Due’ delivers a sonic landscape that acknowledges the problems of the here and now but does not dwell on them. The record is wise without being condescending. It is challenging without being insulting. It is a rare gift in music to bond with listener in description of the dilemma of ‘trying to get through this thing called life’ and TINO is now an artist who faces the problems that we all have with work, family and more. On ‘Past Due’ Tino takes us by the hand and shows us that what we wanted in our youth are illusions, these objects will not make us happy. The things we thought that we wanted are trappings of a system of domination created to keep us happy, complacent and content while life passes us by at breakneck speed. TINO reminds us to look and listen, to linger over it before we lose it.

TINO’s growth is clearly evident when listening to his latest work and comparing past and present. The music has achieved another level. It is dense yet dance-able.If you listen to this and not want to move or sway, then you are far more stoic than us. Take for example, the excellent ‘You Know’ where the lyrics are warmly wrapped up in music that propels the lines from the start: “First things first, sorry for the delay, life heavy off track, but I’m back not a relay, so pass the baton, like a grateful pawn, now they must have heard what I ignored.” How does he deliver these lines with such speed, precision and delivery — yet never loses the feeling that allows the listener to enjoy and connect to the meaning of the music at the same time?

As an artist there is clear evolution and development in this latest record. TINO has moved from a talented but rough around the edges MC delivering charismatic struggle raps to a to an accomplished artist/wordsmith that possesses confidence behind the mic in shaping his unique vision. TINO has undoubtedly matured and the nuances of his experience of the dilemmas of everyday existence allows the listener to transcend their problems just like TINO. Both as an artist and as a poet, TINO has become a storyteller who captivates and excites and that is sorely needed.

‘Past Due” is available exclusively on Bandcamp as a “name-your-price” album, which allows anyone interested in excellent music, beats, arrangements and rhyme to hear this music. It is presented by the artist to provide a break from what has become our new blurred normal of sheltering in place. With TINO we can escape some of the ever present crisis by losing ourselves in excellent music for a time. And that is a gift.

Connect with TINO on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and his website!