late 2000- early 2001, Philadelphia USA. The Sixers were the NBA's best. The Beans/Jadakiss beef. Fat Tuesday riot on South Street. Phillies draft Ryan Howard....
But there was an anthem building in the streets when the year started. A rapper named Eternal Life baited the region with the iconic theme to local tv station Action News and gave the city a much needed ego-boost for his hometown. "Philly Rep' was first released as a white label 12" (only 25 copies, given to DJs/radio) back in mid 2000 and was produced by Bristol PA native, Merlin (who first signed Eternal in 1998 to his Soul Arc imprint). Wasn't long before Power 99's Radioactive show couldn't deny it after Don Mystic Mack broke the song a few weeks prior. Props from the corner hustlers to Beanie Sigel himself gave approval. WIP 610 Sportstalk even brought him on-air. The song sparked what E-Life calls a "work from home" career in Philly's music scene.  
Staples like the 'hoagie', soft pretzels, Charles Barkley, Tastykakes, Pat's & Geno's cheesteaks, Armand's music store, and so much more. 
The track was included on Eternal's debut LP, 'The Basics' which was released fully independent in April 2001  on Move Right Ent 
cover photo by Silk Kaya

The Basics

Philly Rep

Since he was a teenager, E-Life has touched ground in nearly every aspect of Philly's renowned hip-hop world. From battling, promoton, radio airplay, being in major print, festivals, beat production, collaborations, clothing, publishing, owner of a independent label, from when DJs used only vinyl into the era of flashdrives and Serrato, to performing with live bands, and refining the development of new artists.