Keep the Change

New Jersey alternative hip-hop collective KEEP THE CHANGE was established in 2016 and grew out of a chance meeting between the group's producers BEAN UNO and JAMES FRANCIS. Both recording artists spent over a decade releasing music with their own respective projects MEGATECH (ex- Rawkus Records) and PANIC LIFT (Metropolis Records) before a short conversation about music spawned into the idea of creating a project could jump across musical genres and blend gritty old school hip hop beats with grinding industrial noise. Soon after, Newark, NJ hip hop artist PHACE entered the fold. PHACE, an accomplished artist in his own right, has several full length solo albums under his belt and brought a seasoned, experienced tone to the music.

While the group was making plans to hit the studio, fate would once again bring another musician into the fold. Bean Uno's longtime friend and associate, and gifted MC, JUDGEMENT (from The society of Invisibles) would contact him with the idea of hitting the studio for a collaboration while he was taking a short business trip to New Jersey. The weekend happened to be the same day the trio was already planning to record so now, the four would get together to collaborate on new music.

After an afternoon of inspired creation, it soon became clear that JUDGEMENT was the final missing piece to KEEP THE CHANGE and the trio had officially become a quartet.