The New F-O's

Producer Lifted chats with “On the Come Up” about his merciless sound.

Where are you originally from?

Lifted: Phoenix, AZ.

What was your first introduction to the music industry?

L: Being involved in the music scene at a young age, and going to shows. Music was always playing in my house. My cousin was in a band that toured nationally, and by being around backstage and during sound checks, I was seeing things first hand. Then I got into DJing and it accelled from there.

What was your inspiration for “Mercy” by Kanye West?

L: I started off with the track, and once that was complete I wanted to hear a vocal over it. I started going through sessions that I had on my drive - I'm an engineer also - and sampled the “lamborghini mercy” vocal from an artist that I work with named YB. I chopped up one of his verses, pitched it down, and built the chorus.

How did you get the opportunity to work with Kanye West? How was your experience working with him?

L: My manager Che played my music for some people at G.O.O.D and they liked a couple beats, “Mercy” being one of them. Kanye still had to hear them, and once he did, I went to LA and met ‘Ye. It was a wild experience working with him. The first time I played beats for him, it was in a room with Kanye and some of [my] favorite artists. I got a good response. That led to going to London and New York to work on music. It was rad.

What are you currently working on?

L: I'm currently working on a bunch of G.O.O.D music projects, and my artist Hannibal Leq.

Who is your musical mentor and why?

L: I try to learn and soak up game from everyone that I'm around. I learned a lot from the homie, Soulman, Roc and Che. I'm still learning new things daily while working with everyone at G.O.O.D Music.

What advice do you have for up-and-coming producers?

L: Build relationships, be cool, work hard everyday and never give up!

For more information on Lifted, follow him on Twitter at @Lifted_NewFOs. - ASCAP.COM

Producer Lifted chats with “On the Come Up” about his merciless sound.

Where are you originally from?

Lifted: Phoenix, AZ.

What was your first introduction to the music industry?

L: Being involved in the music scene at a young age, and going to shows. Music was always playing in my house. My cousin was in a band that toured nationally, and by being around backstage and during sound checks, I was seeing things first hand. Then I got into DJing and it accelled from there.

What was your inspiration for “Mercy” by Kanye West?

L: I started off with the track, and once that was complete I wanted to hear a vocal over it. I started going through sessions that I had on my drive - I'm an engineer also - and sampled the “lamborghini mercy” vocal from an artist that I work with named YB. I chopped up one of his verses, pitched it down, and built the chorus.

How did you get the opportunity to work with Kanye West? How was your experience working with him?

L: My manager Che played my music for some people at G.O.O.D and they liked a couple beats, “Mercy” being one of them. Kanye still had to hear them, and once he did, I went to LA and met ‘Ye. It was a wild experience working with him. The first time I played beats for him, it was in a room with Kanye and some of [my] favorite artists. I got a good response. That led to going to London and New York to work on music. It was rad.

What are you currently working on?

L: I'm currently working on a bunch of G.O.O.D music projects, and my artist Hannibal Leq.

Who is your musical mentor and why?

L: I try to learn and soak up game from everyone that I'm around. I learned a lot from the homie, Soulman, Roc and Che. I'm still learning new things daily while working with everyone at G.O.O.D Music.

What advice do you have for up-and-coming producers?

L: Build relationships, be cool, work hard everyday and never give up!

For more information on Lifted, follow him on Twitter at @Lifted_NewFOs. - ASCAP.COM

Late last week, fans got their first taste of the upcoming G.O.O.D. Music compilation with “Mercy,” featuring Kanye West, Big Sean, 2 Chainz and Pusha T. The record also put the spotlight on another individual: Lifted. The team’s newest in-house producer—who crafted the beat for the single—has been creating quite a buzz for himself over the last nine months. The first taste many got of him was on Game’s mixtape, HoodMorning (No Typo) [Candy Coronas], where the upstart provided the beat for “Can You Believe It,” which featured Lil Wayne and Baby. Lift grabbed even more attention producing a couple of joints for Bad Boy’s Los, including two songs on The Crown Aint Safe tape, hosted by DJ Ill Will and DJ Drama. The Arizona native made serious noise late last week, when “Mercy,” the lead single to the G.O.O.D. Music compilation album, hit airwaves. XXLMag.com chopped it up with the 32-year-old producing hotshot to discuss his journey, linking up with Kanye West, the making of “Mercy,” prospective collaborations and more. —Christopher Minaya (@CM_3)

XXLMag.com: How did “Mercy” come about?

Lifted: I had the beat prior to that, talking about some like fly Lamborghini shit. And my manager played it for—I forget who he played it for over at G.O.O.D.—but, you know, eventually, ’Ye heard it, and it was just kind of fitting in his vision for the record and for the G.O.O.D. Music project.

How long did it take for the song to come to life?

I made the beat probably in November. Sean and Push had their shit done in London in like January. Shit, we finished it—like the actual mix and everything [on Thursday].

How many joints have you already worked on that could end up on the G.O.O.D. Music compilation?

Four joints including the “Mercy” record.

What led to you becoming a part of G.O.O.D.?

Really, just building. I went out to ’Ye’s crib in L.A., during the Watch the Throne shows in L.A., and was just building. Played some beats. He was feeling my shit. That led to going to London in January. Kept building. Playing more shit. Making cool shit. There was actually another G.O.O.D. Music writing session in L.A. Now we’re here. I’m actually in the process [of signing] right now. It’s just on some like legal shit right now.

What was your first meeting with Kanye like?

It was crazy. It was over at his house, and Kanye has been cool from the jump. I don’t exactly remember who was there, but I think it was [Kid] Cudi. John Legend was there. I played some beats. That night was the first Watch the Throne show in L.A., so he invited me to that. That was crazy. Got to go backstage. He played the “Mercy” joint backstage that night. It was an overall cool ass experience, dude.

Were you ever in the studio with anybody during the recording process?

Yeah, for sure. In London, Sean and Push recorded their verses. And then, in L.A., 2 Chainz, I was in the studio with, when he recorded that. And then, ’Ye recorded his verse when I was out in New York. It was crazy. Just the energy’s ridiculous. Coming from Phoenix and just being thrown into the situation, it’s a just a cool ass experience. When they’re recording and shit, I’m just sitting there soaking up game. Soaking up game from all the other producers. The engineers. So much knowledge over there.

What other G.O.O.D. Music artists have you been working with?

Maybe a month or two ago, I went out to L.A. and got in a session with Big Sean. We got a joint coming out. I think they shot a video to the shit, so it’s looking pretty positive as far as it coming out. And, it’s like straight up like Detroit anthem type shit.

Who’s been reaching out to you lately?

Bootleg Kev is plugging me in with 2 Chainz’s people. Luda’s people hit me up last night on Twitter.

How did you get into producing?

I started off DJing and that just kind of naturally progressed into producing. Rapping with the homies and shit, no one really made beats, so I just started but I think it was just kind of a natural progression from DJing to producing. I’ve been producing since like 2000—taking it serious, though. For the past probably like six, seven years.

And you’re in a band, too?

We’re called The New F-o’s. When people ask us like, “Yo, what kind of music do you make?” I say, “Real life feel good music.” So, it’s a trip to be—it’s Real Life Feel Good Music and G.O.O.D. Music. It’s definitely crazy that it came around like that. We been getting like a gang of placements through like MTV. They’ve been placing a lot of our shit on Jersey Shore, The Real World, anything like MTV-affiliated. And then, I’ve got an artist with Real Life Good Music; his name is Hannibal Lec, and we’re working on his mixtape right now.

Back to “Mercy” real quick. What was your reaction once you heard it was going to be the lead single?

I was happy as hell. It’s crazy because I depend on anything until it’s legit. Like once I heard it on the radio—[I was like], Yeah, shit is kind of leg - XXL.COM

Late last week, fans got their first taste of the upcoming G.O.O.D. Music compilation with “Mercy,” featuring Kanye West, Big Sean, 2 Chainz and Pusha T. The record also put the spotlight on another individual: Lifted. The team’s newest in-house producer—who crafted the beat for the single—has been creating quite a buzz for himself over the last nine months. The first taste many got of him was on Game’s mixtape, HoodMorning (No Typo) [Candy Coronas], where the upstart provided the beat for “Can You Believe It,” which featured Lil Wayne and Baby. Lift grabbed even more attention producing a couple of joints for Bad Boy’s Los, including two songs on The Crown Aint Safe tape, hosted by DJ Ill Will and DJ Drama. The Arizona native made serious noise late last week, when “Mercy,” the lead single to the G.O.O.D. Music compilation album, hit airwaves. XXLMag.com chopped it up with the 32-year-old producing hotshot to discuss his journey, linking up with Kanye West, the making of “Mercy,” prospective collaborations and more. —Christopher Minaya (@CM_3)

XXLMag.com: How did “Mercy” come about?

Lifted: I had the beat prior to that, talking about some like fly Lamborghini shit. And my manager played it for—I forget who he played it for over at G.O.O.D.—but, you know, eventually, ’Ye heard it, and it was just kind of fitting in his vision for the record and for the G.O.O.D. Music project.

How long did it take for the song to come to life?

I made the beat probably in November. Sean and Push had their shit done in London in like January. Shit, we finished it—like the actual mix and everything [on Thursday].

How many joints have you already worked on that could end up on the G.O.O.D. Music compilation?

Four joints including the “Mercy” record.

What led to you becoming a part of G.O.O.D.?

Really, just building. I went out to ’Ye’s crib in L.A., during the Watch the Throne shows in L.A., and was just building. Played some beats. He was feeling my shit. That led to going to London in January. Kept building. Playing more shit. Making cool shit. There was actually another G.O.O.D. Music writing session in L.A. Now we’re here. I’m actually in the process [of signing] right now. It’s just on some like legal shit right now.

What was your first meeting with Kanye like?

It was crazy. It was over at his house, and Kanye has been cool from the jump. I don’t exactly remember who was there, but I think it was [Kid] Cudi. John Legend was there. I played some beats. That night was the first Watch the Throne show in L.A., so he invited me to that. That was crazy. Got to go backstage. He played the “Mercy” joint backstage that night. It was an overall cool ass experience, dude.

Were you ever in the studio with anybody during the recording process?

Yeah, for sure. In London, Sean and Push recorded their verses. And then, in L.A., 2 Chainz, I was in the studio with, when he recorded that. And then, ’Ye recorded his verse when I was out in New York. It was crazy. Just the energy’s ridiculous. Coming from Phoenix and just being thrown into the situation, it’s a just a cool ass experience. When they’re recording and shit, I’m just sitting there soaking up game. Soaking up game from all the other producers. The engineers. So much knowledge over there.

What other G.O.O.D. Music artists have you been working with?

Maybe a month or two ago, I went out to L.A. and got in a session with Big Sean. We got a joint coming out. I think they shot a video to the shit, so it’s looking pretty positive as far as it coming out. And, it’s like straight up like Detroit anthem type shit.

Who’s been reaching out to you lately?

Bootleg Kev is plugging me in with 2 Chainz’s people. Luda’s people hit me up last night on Twitter.

How did you get into producing?

I started off DJing and that just kind of naturally progressed into producing. Rapping with the homies and shit, no one really made beats, so I just started but I think it was just kind of a natural progression from DJing to producing. I’ve been producing since like 2000—taking it serious, though. For the past probably like six, seven years.

And you’re in a band, too?

We’re called The New F-o’s. When people ask us like, “Yo, what kind of music do you make?” I say, “Real life feel good music.” So, it’s a trip to be—it’s Real Life Feel Good Music and G.O.O.D. Music. It’s definitely crazy that it came around like that. We been getting like a gang of placements through like MTV. They’ve been placing a lot of our shit on Jersey Shore, The Real World, anything like MTV-affiliated. And then, I’ve got an artist with Real Life Good Music; his name is Hannibal Lec, and we’re working on his mixtape right now.

Back to “Mercy” real quick. What was your reaction once you heard it was going to be the lead single?

I was happy as hell. It’s crazy because I depend on anything until it’s legit. Like once I heard it on the radio—[I was like], Yeah, shit is kind of leg - XXL.COM

Kanye West’s latest single “Mercy” was born under the Arizona sun so it’s no surprise that the collaboration is currently blazing up the charts. Phoenix native, Lifted, a recently signed G.O.O.D. Music producer and part of Hype’s The New F-O’s, was the brains behind the red hot track.

Creating “Mercy” wasn’t something that happened overnight, however. The hook was sampled from a session Lifted had with Phoenix based artist YB and the beats were created after many long sessions and late nights in the studio. With Lifted’s final touches and mastering it was one of many tracks played for the G.O.O.D. Music team, but stood out as an immediate choice for the crew to start recording with assistance from production great, Mike Dean. The finished product was released back in April and has taken over the airwaves.

Lifted officially joined the G.O.O.D. Music production team in February and is expected to drop a lot more tracks with the squad. He’ll also continue to work and perform with The New F-O’s including an upcoming headlining performance at the Hype Music NY launch at the end of June.

- written by Yaya Martinez - MTV's Hype Music . Com

Kanye West’s latest single “Mercy” was born under the Arizona sun so it’s no surprise that the collaboration is currently blazing up the charts. Phoenix native, Lifted, a recently signed G.O.O.D. Music producer and part of Hype’s The New F-O’s, was the brains behind the red hot track.

Creating “Mercy” wasn’t something that happened overnight, however. The hook was sampled from a session Lifted had with Phoenix based artist YB and the beats were created after many long sessions and late nights in the studio. With Lifted’s final touches and mastering it was one of many tracks played for the G.O.O.D. Music team, but stood out as an immediate choice for the crew to start recording with assistance from production great, Mike Dean. The finished product was released back in April and has taken over the airwaves.

Lifted officially joined the G.O.O.D. Music production team in February and is expected to drop a lot more tracks with the squad. He’ll also continue to work and perform with The New F-O’s including an upcoming headlining performance at the Hype Music NY launch at the end of June.

- written by Yaya Martinez - MTV's Hype Music . Com

According to its own polished hype, the aptly named Hype Music is "a remarkable talent-incubating, hybrid, music licensing company fueled by some of the world's hottest, emerging, independent artists."

But Hype may just live up to its name. The company's a partnership between music industry powerhouses MTV Networks and Extreme Music, and its artist roster already looks pretty cool -- especially considering local hip-hop/indie rock duo The New F.O.'s are on it.

The New F.O.'s frequently get compared to Outkast, and listening to their first CD, a five-song EP titled Real. Life. Feel. Good., it's easy to hear the similarities. The opening track, "Cool Like a Fan," bops with swanky, funky percussion (think Outkast's "The Whole World") and plucky rock guitar, while vocalists Lifted (formerly of Tha Formula) and Pancho rap to the rhythms over a backdrop of female backup singers. It's easily the best track on the EP.

The rest of the songs on Real. Life. Feel. Good. are a mixed bag. The synth-driven "The Wall" adopts the vocal harmony stylings of Andre 3000 and Big Boi on the hook, with the positive vibe lyrics,"Let's bring the walls down/Let's sing a song about it." There's not much to the song instrumentally, but it does have a catchy beat and a big sonic smiley face. "Feel Good" opens with jangly guitar and organs, then explodes into a wannabe club-banger driven by a steadily strumming six-string. The strongest parts of the song are Pancho's soulful vocals, and the full, organic band behind him, a la The Roots.

Almost as good as "Cool Like a Fan," though, is "Mira, Mira!" a schizophonic techno/'80s New Wave- sounding song with synth grooves and electric drum beats. Pancho sings the hook in Spanglish (point being, "We can do it all night, you know/It's all right, you know"). There's a whole rap verse in Spanish near the end of the song, and it ends sounding like a cross between reggaeton and backpacker electro-hop. Lifted's lyrics can be hard to decipher, because he raps so fast in his gruff, smoky voice, but his skills are solid. Spitting 16 bars is cake to him, and he often incorporates multi-syllabic rhymes.

After rapping about positive vibes and feelgood stuff, the duo shows their diversity with the fifth and final track, "Nasty Girl," a strip club banger with Pancho singing a hook about the titular tramp, and Lifted rapping about supersizing, all wrapped around beats and squirmy synth hooks perfect for humping poles to.

Overall, the EP's pretty decent and makes a good teaser for the duo's forthcoming, nearly-finished full length album -- which will fall into Hype Music's buzz bin. "The New F.O.'s have shared the stage with Lupe Fiasco and Shwayze,"wrote Hype man Scott Diablo on the company's website. "They may be new to you, but Hype Music intends to make them a household name." - Phoenix New Times

According to its own polished hype, the aptly named Hype Music is "a remarkable talent-incubating, hybrid, music licensing company fueled by some of the world's hottest, emerging, independent artists."

But Hype may just live up to its name. The company's a partnership between music industry powerhouses MTV Networks and Extreme Music, and its artist roster already looks pretty cool -- especially considering local hip-hop/indie rock duo The New F.O.'s are on it.

The New F.O.'s frequently get compared to Outkast, and listening to their first CD, a five-song EP titled Real. Life. Feel. Good., it's easy to hear the similarities. The opening track, "Cool Like a Fan," bops with swanky, funky percussion (think Outkast's "The Whole World") and plucky rock guitar, while vocalists Lifted (formerly of Tha Formula) and Pancho rap to the rhythms over a backdrop of female backup singers. It's easily the best track on the EP.

The rest of the songs on Real. Life. Feel. Good. are a mixed bag. The synth-driven "The Wall" adopts the vocal harmony stylings of Andre 3000 and Big Boi on the hook, with the positive vibe lyrics,"Let's bring the walls down/Let's sing a song about it." There's not much to the song instrumentally, but it does have a catchy beat and a big sonic smiley face. "Feel Good" opens with jangly guitar and organs, then explodes into a wannabe club-banger driven by a steadily strumming six-string. The strongest parts of the song are Pancho's soulful vocals, and the full, organic band behind him, a la The Roots.

Almost as good as "Cool Like a Fan," though, is "Mira, Mira!" a schizophonic techno/'80s New Wave- sounding song with synth grooves and electric drum beats. Pancho sings the hook in Spanglish (point being, "We can do it all night, you know/It's all right, you know"). There's a whole rap verse in Spanish near the end of the song, and it ends sounding like a cross between reggaeton and backpacker electro-hop. Lifted's lyrics can be hard to decipher, because he raps so fast in his gruff, smoky voice, but his skills are solid. Spitting 16 bars is cake to him, and he often incorporates multi-syllabic rhymes.

After rapping about positive vibes and feelgood stuff, the duo shows their diversity with the fifth and final track, "Nasty Girl," a strip club banger with Pancho singing a hook about the titular tramp, and Lifted rapping about supersizing, all wrapped around beats and squirmy synth hooks perfect for humping poles to.

Overall, the EP's pretty decent and makes a good teaser for the duo's forthcoming, nearly-finished full length album -- which will fall into Hype Music's buzz bin. "The New F.O.'s have shared the stage with Lupe Fiasco and Shwayze,"wrote Hype man Scott Diablo on the company's website. "They may be new to you, but Hype Music intends to make them a household name." - Phoenix New Times

Despite the many distractions, when local hip-hop/pop duo The New F-O's take the stage, all eyes are on them. MCs Lifted and Pancho command the crowd with bright smiles and pounding beats. People might be drunk and hanging out with their friends, but The New F-O's manage to put on concert-caliber performances regardless of their popping up in non-traditional venues.

The duo's unique look and catchy music have made them the go-to band in the Old Town Scottsdale club scene. They've played spots like American Junkie, El Hefe, and Club Afterlife and are scheduled to perform at the grand opening of Roxy Lounge. The club is the offspring of The Roxy in Los Angeles, managed by Cisco and Nic Adler, the sons of famous L.A. impresario Lou Adler (owner of The Roxy, director of Up in Smoke, producer of Rocky Horror Picture Show, Carole King's Tapestry, and more).

The association with "modern legends" doesn't stop there: The band's music has even made its way onto the quintessential dance club television show Jersey Shore.

"Jersey Shore is wild when I watch it," Lifted says after the airing of the episode featuring his music. "Snookie is my favorite cast member because she's 'turnt up' the whole damn time!"

"I wasn't a fan of the show when it first came out, but I can safely say I've warmed up to it more the last two seasons," Pancho said. "I gotta say, I like me a JWoww."

It's easy to see why producers felt the music would make sense on the show. The New F-O's exude a laid-back, easygoing charm.

"I feel like people can tell we have fun making our music, that it shines through there are no rules, that we just have a good time," says Lifted, who made his name in the scene locally as a DJ and rapper early in the 2000s with his group, The Formula. "I feel like that with our live show, too — the vibe is super-positive and uplifting. It's a party."

The duo's current five-song EP, Real Life Feel Good, features Auto-Tuned pop on tracks like "The Wall," sex rap on "Nasty Girl," and a bilingual banger called "Mira, Mira!" The band's songs touch on girls, partying and love, and even tracks about heartbreak have a carefree, upbeat sound to them.

"It's mainly about having a good time and knowing someone out there's always got it worse than you do," says Pancho, who raps and contributes the singing vocals to the record. "You can make light of any situation."

Pancho, who, along with Lifted, serves as the group's frontman and songwriter (sometimes the duo plays shows alone when the venue can't support a full band), also has a long history with the Valley's music scene. His old group, Unlimited Phlavor, played some shows with The Formula, and it didn't take long for the two to recognize their chemistry. The duo collaborated in the studio in 2009, recording three songs at their first session, and The New F-O's were born.

"When I did one song with Lifted, it was funner dance music that I wanted to do, and I just felt better about it," Pancho says.

The band soon signed with Cahleb Branch's Money Power Respect Entertainment, a Phoenix-based entertainment company, which also represents Mathmadix, The Mob Fam, and Cut Throat Logic.

Iroc, a local producer and director of the duo's music video, "The Good and the Bad," says he isn't surprised by the group's success, dropping iconic names as he speaks about them.

"Lifted's style reminds me of Beastie Boys, and Pancho [has] sort of a Red Hot Chili Peppers-meets-Michael Jackson [thing]" Iroc says. "When you put that all in one room, it's a lot of energy. Every single time, it's guaranteed they're going to put on a good show."

Their high-energy performances and poppy songs helped score them a spot on the roster of Hype Music, a joint venture between MTV and production music library Extreme Music that places artists on television and in movies and advertisements. In addition to Jersey Shore, The New F-O's were also recently heard on FX's Wilfred.

"A lot of artists are weekend warriors, and we do this every day," Lifted says. "I feel like our rate of growth is so much higher because we're consistent."

While the guys say they'd be open to the right deal from a label, they're enjoying the independence of their current deal. Plus, the duo have no problem scoring high-profile gigs, taking stages at US Airways Center and Mesa Amphitheater with Lupe Fiasco and LMFAO, and providing entertainment at political soirees.

"I feel like we can cater to any audience," Lifted says, mentioning the band has a lot of child fans. "We can play to a middle school, and we can play to an Obama fundraiser at a mansion party. We can play in front of any crowd and kill it — not too extreme for the old or young, but extreme enough for people our age to get loose to."
- Phoenix New Times

Despite the many distractions, when local hip-hop/pop duo The New F-O's take the stage, all eyes are on them. MCs Lifted and Pancho command the crowd with bright smiles and pounding beats. People might be drunk and hanging out with their friends, but The New F-O's manage to put on concert-caliber performances regardless of their popping up in non-traditional venues.

The duo's unique look and catchy music have made them the go-to band in the Old Town Scottsdale club scene. They've played spots like American Junkie, El Hefe, and Club Afterlife and are scheduled to perform at the grand opening of Roxy Lounge. The club is the offspring of The Roxy in Los Angeles, managed by Cisco and Nic Adler, the sons of famous L.A. impresario Lou Adler (owner of The Roxy, director of Up in Smoke, producer of Rocky Horror Picture Show, Carole King's Tapestry, and more).

The association with "modern legends" doesn't stop there: The band's music has even made its way onto the quintessential dance club television show Jersey Shore.

"Jersey Shore is wild when I watch it," Lifted says after the airing of the episode featuring his music. "Snookie is my favorite cast member because she's 'turnt up' the whole damn time!"

"I wasn't a fan of the show when it first came out, but I can safely say I've warmed up to it more the last two seasons," Pancho said. "I gotta say, I like me a JWoww."

It's easy to see why producers felt the music would make sense on the show. The New F-O's exude a laid-back, easygoing charm.

"I feel like people can tell we have fun making our music, that it shines through there are no rules, that we just have a good time," says Lifted, who made his name in the scene locally as a DJ and rapper early in the 2000s with his group, The Formula. "I feel like that with our live show, too — the vibe is super-positive and uplifting. It's a party."

The duo's current five-song EP, Real Life Feel Good, features Auto-Tuned pop on tracks like "The Wall," sex rap on "Nasty Girl," and a bilingual banger called "Mira, Mira!" The band's songs touch on girls, partying and love, and even tracks about heartbreak have a carefree, upbeat sound to them.

"It's mainly about having a good time and knowing someone out there's always got it worse than you do," says Pancho, who raps and contributes the singing vocals to the record. "You can make light of any situation."

Pancho, who, along with Lifted, serves as the group's frontman and songwriter (sometimes the duo plays shows alone when the venue can't support a full band), also has a long history with the Valley's music scene. His old group, Unlimited Phlavor, played some shows with The Formula, and it didn't take long for the two to recognize their chemistry. The duo collaborated in the studio in 2009, recording three songs at their first session, and The New F-O's were born.

"When I did one song with Lifted, it was funner dance music that I wanted to do, and I just felt better about it," Pancho says.

The band soon signed with Cahleb Branch's Money Power Respect Entertainment, a Phoenix-based entertainment company, which also represents Mathmadix, The Mob Fam, and Cut Throat Logic.

Iroc, a local producer and director of the duo's music video, "The Good and the Bad," says he isn't surprised by the group's success, dropping iconic names as he speaks about them.

"Lifted's style reminds me of Beastie Boys, and Pancho [has] sort of a Red Hot Chili Peppers-meets-Michael Jackson [thing]" Iroc says. "When you put that all in one room, it's a lot of energy. Every single time, it's guaranteed they're going to put on a good show."

Their high-energy performances and poppy songs helped score them a spot on the roster of Hype Music, a joint venture between MTV and production music library Extreme Music that places artists on television and in movies and advertisements. In addition to Jersey Shore, The New F-O's were also recently heard on FX's Wilfred.

"A lot of artists are weekend warriors, and we do this every day," Lifted says. "I feel like our rate of growth is so much higher because we're consistent."

While the guys say they'd be open to the right deal from a label, they're enjoying the independence of their current deal. Plus, the duo have no problem scoring high-profile gigs, taking stages at US Airways Center and Mesa Amphitheater with Lupe Fiasco and LMFAO, and providing entertainment at political soirees.

"I feel like we can cater to any audience," Lifted says, mentioning the band has a lot of child fans. "We can play to a middle school, and we can play to an Obama fundraiser at a mansion party. We can play in front of any crowd and kill it — not too extreme for the old or young, but extreme enough for people our age to get loose to."
- Phoenix New Times

Shout out to the NEW F-O’s who shut down NYC for Hype Nite! Much respect goes to Bobby Fresh, Cahleb, Summer and everyone who was in attendance for the night! - Miss Dj Mj from Sirus Radio

Shout out to the NEW F-O’s who shut down NYC for Hype Nite! Much respect goes to Bobby Fresh, Cahleb, Summer and everyone who was in attendance for the night! - Miss Dj Mj from Sirus Radio

Seems like that licensing deal is working out well for Phoenix-based hip-hoppers The New F-o's. The group's song "Good and the Bad" will be featured on tonight's episode of the FX sitcom Wilfred.

In case you haven't got hip to it, the show features Elijah Wood and Jason Gann in a dog suit, who of course speaks in an Australian accent and spews profanities. It's pretty awesome, and The New F-o's style of funky alternative hip-hop should make a nice addition to the program.

The announcement comes just a week after the band received airplay on a show very different from the oddball, sarcastic dude 'n' dog program: Jersey Shore.

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?"Wilfred is a cool show, that dog is crazy as shit," says Lifted, one half of the duo. "We're stoked and appreciate the opportunity and exposure."

His compatriot Pancho agrees. "Wilfred is one crazy dog."

The two also enjoyed being a part of the Jersey Shore experience. Their song "Be the One (featuring Hannibal Leq)" was used as background music on the popular (and despised) MTV show.

"Jersey Shore is wild when i watch it," Lifted says. "Snookie is my favorite cast member because she's "turnt up" the whole damn time!"

"I wasn't a fan of the show when it first came out," Pancho says. "But I can safely say I've warmed up to it more the last two seasons. I gotta say, I like me a JWoww!"

Check out The New F-o's "Good and the Bad" video below, and click here for an exclusive New F-o's video shoot for Up on the Sun. - Phoenix New Times