the real live show:

Formed in New York City in 2001, The Real Live Show is comprised
of the industry’s most accomplished and talented artists, each with a
distinct musical styling. As a collective unit of 2 lyricists/emcees and
a 7-piece jazz/funk ensemble, they have created an inspiring new
urban sound called funk-hop. Think of them as The Roots infused
with elements of Parliament/Funkadelic, De La Soul and Outkast.
When they perform, their onstage synergy and charisma results in a
mind blowing jazz hip-hop musical experience that can only be called The Real Live Show.

They have performed with influential acts such as Talib Kweli, Norah
Jones, De La Soul, Dead Prez, Rakim, and Roy Hargrove and
have an established fan base ranging from New York to Paris and
everywhere in between. They have an independently distributed
album, a video that premiered on MTV-U, and a nationally televised
commercial for Pontiac that featured their song “Energy”.

Born and bred in the outer boroughs of New York City, Stimulus and
Malik Work (a.k.a. Dionysos), have an extraordinary artistic presence
in the trendsetting nightlife scene of Hip Hop’s birthplace. Lyrical
counterparts since the age of twelve (born 16 days apart), they met in
a scholarship program and have been pursuing their vision of “Urban
Excellence” ever since. Separated only by secondary school, then
university, the two reunited to form rap conglomerate “The Eclectic
Regiment.” Their themes of revelry and social inclusion quickly took
hold of NYC’s then new ‘multiethnic hip hop party generation’ and
the duo capitalized; promoting clubs and special events unrivalled in
positivity and creativity. See: Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Joe’s Pub,
Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom, Irving Plaza, Cheetah, Lotus,
Webster Hall, Pink Elephant and Cielo. The more success they
garnered, the more they were imitated; until they discovered live
musicians.

They decided they would document their new experiment with live
musicians and broadcast a reality show on the internet called The
Real Live Show. The music took New York by storm. People from all over the world were flocking to Izzy Bar every Tuesday to catch some of the best jazz rap live.  Stimulus and Malik Work became hosts of a barrier-breaking format.

NYC’s premiere hip-hop band was born. Some of the industry’s most
sought after musicians became regulars, i.e. Bilal, Roy Hargrove,
N’Dea Davenport, Swiss Chris, Raymond Angry, Tarus Mateen, Kim
Thompson, Rob Glasper, Greg Hutchinson, Deantoni Parks and
Chris Dave.