Derek “Direct” Kan and Theresa “T” Vu are the two people who make up Magnetic North.  They got together in 2003 at the UC Berkeley sharing a passion for music.  They took a history class about hip hop and decided to mesh their talents together after realizing that their ideals for producing music were very similar.  Derek is a music major, and Theresa is a computer science major.

They integrate various classical and rock sounds with hip hop to create their music and have been emceeing for at least seven years.  Derek plays most of the piano pieces in their songs and is the director for their instrumentals.  He also produces most of the music on their album.  T-Vu lays down her vocals and gives Magnetic North it’s “final touch - a female emcee as comfortable on the mic as any of her male contemporaries.” 

The name “Magnetic North” is inspired from the face and symbol of a compass.  On a compass, the most important direction is north because from there it is possible to figure out the other directions.  Thus the name is “a tribute to everything and everyone who has ever helped [them] find that direction.” 

Their debut album was finally released in March of 2006 after three years of composing and producing the tracks for the CD.  Derek’s favorite song on the album is “One2One,” a collaboration song they did with Vienna Teng.  

They’ve also had a music video produced by Wong Fu Productions here: 

Magnetic North – Drift Away 

Website:  http://www.magnetichiphop.com/
Myspace:  http://www.myspace.com/magnetichiphop
Their Online Shop:  http://www.magnetichiphop.com/merch/buy.html
Facebook Group:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Magnetic-North/29777375832
Soompi Thread:  http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=107108
Derek Kan’s Myspace:  http://www.myspace.com/kan1live 

Other Links:

Magnetic North will be performing at the International Secret Agents Concert in San Gabriel, CA with Far East Movement, Quest Dance Crew, Jennifer Chung, Tatum Jones, and more.

International Secret Agents Concert

Special Feature: Wong Fu Productions

Artist of the Week:  Far*East Movement

Artist of the Week:  Far*East Movement Part. 2

Author Commentary: 

For those who might not be into hip hop or rap, I suggest that you try them out anyway.  They really bring something different to the table compared to some of the overrated hip hop songs on the radio.  I’m usually very VERY picky with what kind of hip hop songs I listen to and the first time I heard “Drift Away” I immediately became emotionally attached to it.  The acoustics in the song are great and their lyrics and flow go great with the instrumentals.   

You don’t hear a lot of female emcees like T-Vu in the U.S.  She sometimes reminds me of T (Tasha Reid “Yoon Mi Rae”) from Jungle Entertainment in South Korea (since both can sing and rap extremely well). Direct has a good ear for integrating instrumentals; it’s really different from the recycled beats that are commonly heard with other hip hop songs.  Both emcees are great when they come together and they never overpower one another. 

Feel free to correct me on anything written in this article (except for my commentary).  Or if you have more information about this group please contact me.  jiamei.acstaff(at)gmail