Treesources, which consists of Dan McCormick, aka MC Juxtapose, and Mike O’Donnell, aka Modeez, founded the group after meeting at Fordham University Lincoln Center (FCLC) in 2010. They came to an understanding where McCormick would write the poetic lyrics and O’Donnell would construct a rhythmic beat. The two forces came together in an effort to revolutionize the hip-hop genre of today, making a huge stride in doing so via the completion of their self-titled debut album, which was released on Feb. 13.

But like all revolutions, there was tragedy before there was triumph. The first obstacle the band had to overcome was their different levels of experience. Prior to this collaboration, McCormick produced three albums whereas O’Donnell produced only a handful of tracks. However, O’Donnell was able to accelerate his learning process to that of McCormick’s, and both began to learn from each other. Furthermore, Treesources faced their second obstacle when McCormick traveled to Italy, thereby separating the two for a short period of time.

However, this didn’t stop the two from producing music. Instead it ushered in a new strategy for them. Instead of making songs together physically in the same location, O’Donnell would create the beat in New York and send it to McCormick. McCormick then listened to the beat and analyzed the title to come up with his lyrics in the culturally rich country of Italy. This is how they came to produce their first concrete song, provocatively titled “Angry Black Jesus.”

The story behind the name Treesources is profoundly philosophical and brings on a sense of hope once it’s told. The name occurred to them when while jamming in Riverside Park. Contrary to what rapper Nas professed—claiming that hip-hop was dead—they believed the opposite. To the artists, hip-hop was teeming with life like the environment around them.

In the McCormick’s opinion, hip-hop took on the shape of a “metaphorical tree.” It started out as a bud when artists like Grandmaster Flash and Run DMC were rapping. Hip-hop then grew into a robust red wood oak during the late 1980s and 1990s during the era of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac. Today, the growth spurt that hip-hop experienced has plateaued. This is where and why Treesources exist. According to McCormick and O’Donnell, they are just two leaves growing on the stagnant tree, attempting to contribute to the resurgence of hip-hop the same way leaves on a tree provide nutrients and help it grow larger.

Treesources’ self-titled album is now available on their website, treesources.bandcamp.com. Listeners can stream the album online for free. If they want a version for their iTunes, then they must make a nominal donation. In addition to their website, Treesources also have a Facebook page and Twitter account. Tune in online for updates about the band and upcoming shows.

Check out some tracks from Treesources below: