Concrete Magazine - Alabama 11 by CONCRETE Magazine

6-9 ................................DNC 10 ................................ Tims 12 ......................... Nuvo Rich 14 ........................... DJ C-Wiz 21 ........................Big K.R.I.T. 22 .............. Kingpin (Visual Art) 24 ...........Holloways Idea Takeover 27 ..................................I.V. 29 ..............................Miss B Corrections - Music Review: Jimmy Vaughn(Thraxx) “In Case You 4Got”

Editors: Angela Bradshaw, Rick Bradshaw, Imari Turk Ad Executives: Rick Bradshaw Art Director: Rex2 Online Editors: Jameah Sullivan Big Krit Photo-Tavell Brown DNC Photos - Louis Kole Photography - Isaac Ward Graphic Designer: Ali Knocc Staff: Coley Roberts, Durell Grifﬁn, Imari Turk Publishing Consultant: Bryan Deese

CONCRETE Magazine PO Box 3542, Huntsville, AL 35810 concretealabama@gmail.com 256.542.1150 © CONCRETE Magazine 2015

CONCRETE: The name Digital Native Culture? Chris: It came when I was in college at North Alabama State. A book I read for a class was discussing the new world of growing digital marketing and how the youth are now born more in a digital world than people in the past. People born before 1980 would be considered a digital immigrant, if you were born after 1980 you would be a digital native. I liked the concept and turned it into a company, we represent new cutting edge things in technology and music. CONCRETE: Meeting and becoming a team? Todd: I was born in VA, but my dad was in the Army so we moved around and ended up in Huntsville when I was 9. Of course you know Translee is from Huntsville, crazy thing is I knew about Translee through mutual friends but I didn’t really see him. It wasn’t until we met in the dorms at University of North Alabama that we linked. It was random I saw Translee and Chris out in the parking lot and I knew they were listening to original beats. I came up to them and let them know I produced. Chris impressed me because he gave me his card and it went from there. CONCRETE: Production background? Todd: I was in the band since the 6th grade, I played the saxaphone. Shout out to “preacher’s kids”. I know you all know about this. I played the piano and going to church listening to the choir. The piano was my biggest inﬂuence. I started out with Fruity Loops, then I moved into Reason. CONCRETE: Meeting DNC? Mr. Collipark: I met DNC through Chris. I ran into him at a Ying Yang concert at Center Stage. Interesting enough that was the ﬁrst time I had been in the same building as Ying Yang twins since we stopped dealing with each other. I met Chris in the lobby and one thing led to another. I think my brother actually has to take credit for them interning with me because I was strictly into the music at that time. We were working on VIC and Soulja Boy which was a good time for me creatively, I was trying new things with the Vistoso Bosses. Which was the only female act I’ve signed and will probably never sign another one. It was a good experience though. I always like to put myself around young energy. The way Chris carried himself was like a future executive. Honestly, I’ve never put someone down on my team like that as far as seeing something in them. CONCRETE: Cultur3 Junky? DNC: We are very proud of it. It’s an accumulation of all the years and techniques that we have learned. Translee has improved dramatically and his lyrics are incredible. CONCRETE: Musical progression? Translee: I would have to let other people speak to that . I just try to speak my life and say things that will spark something in someone. I do get on my “BS” sometimes. People are telling me that I’m getting better. All I can do is continue to study the greats and get more vivid with my rhymes. My next project that I’m working on now, we are in the studio battling it out. If I say a line that isn’t hard enough, Chris will say, “why would people care to repeat that?” Trust when you hear something new from me you will get something from it. continued on next page

DNC

RESUMÉ 1) Translee - Cultur3 Junky May 2014

2) Translee ft. K Camp “Somebody’s Girl (Take It Off)” 298,667 SoundCloud Plays Video on MTV Jams & Revolt

3) Translee & Zip Kennedy - Takers 3 August 2013

4) Translee & Zip Kennedy - Takers 2 November 2012

5) Dynomite Kid ft. Translee “No Friends” September 2012

6) Translee ft Cyhi The Prynce “Nothin” June 2012

7) Translee & Zip Kennedy - Takers June 2012

8) Translee Feat. Eddy Fontane “What They Want” March 2012

9) Translee - Who’s Translee October 2011

10) Translee - Know Translee April 2011

CONCRETE: 2014 Fall College Tour? Translee: It was amazing. Shout out to Skool Boye Agency, Tenisha and Gina you were amazing. It taught me a lot, as far as going to different places and seeing different cultures.I’ve been in around the South and grew up in the South, but going to Baltimore and seeing students rocking out to music that I have never heard before. It opened my mind musically to start creating on a higher level. Tours are an amazing experience, that’s all I want to do for the rest of my life is tour. CONCRETE: Upcoming collaborations? DNC: Of course Zip K, he is one of the hardest working artist out of Atlanta. I’m real introverted in the industry I kind of keep to myself. Zip is the one artist I work with the most. CONCRETE: Current videos on MTV Jams? Translee: Shout out to MTV Jams for showing love and shout out to Revolt, Diddy. “Somebody’s Girl” featuring K Camp and also “The Return” with the Alabama State Band. It’s been big for me this year and part of my progression. Things that have been letting me know to keep going. Those two are really strong songs and to make it to that platform is mind blowing. And shout out to Chris because it’s some whole different stuff you have to do when dealing with those networks. So shout out to Chris for wrangling with the bulls and jumping in with the sharks to get it done. It’s one of those things where you have to be ready when your name is called. We see the growth when it gets played, you may have someone from across the country that’s like,”wow what is this I just saw?” It’s been a good look for me coming from Huntsville, people look at that and it means a lot. CONCRETE: What’s next? DNC: Progression and recording, shout out to Frank White. We want to merge on some Alabama shit. It’s really about getting the state the exposure it deserves. R.I.P. to Doe B, he was busting through some doors. Right now, what better time to give Alabama the light that it deserves and has been needing. Like my dawg Attitude says, who has come from Alabama and really took it all the way there? We’ve always tried to ﬁnd a balance of doing “our thing” without compromising our sound. Production wise we are back to the drawing board in the studio recording right now. We don’t have a name for the next project we are still in the creation phase. CONCRETE: Most important thing for people to know about you as a person? Chris: Can’t stop, won’t stop. This is music driven, real passionate music over here if you are serious about doing music. Todd: We just want to make music that touches people and evokes some type of emotion. That’s something I’ve always strived for. Translee: Every time I get in front of that mic, I realize music is a strong platform and if you look around the world and our culture you can see how much music inﬂuences us. If you are going to get on that platform to speak to people and know they are listening and living by what you are saying, you have to say something that has kouth. Because what you say could be everything to somebody. Our goal right now is to push that forward because that’s the only way we are going to save our culture is if we put it in the music. It’s the biggest avenue that everyone connects to if they don’t listen to music then get away from them. It always kills me that we are not treated like royalty. You tell someone you do music and they are like, “oh okay, cool man whatever.” We really change lives when people 9 connect to your music.

CONCRETE: Do you have an upcoming mixtape? Tims: I jumped straight into the album. We took the regular marketing plan by putting out singles and giving people a taste of me. Right after “Wet and Wavy” it was time to give people a full project of what I have been working on. CONCRETE: What’s the concept behind “Wet and Wavy”? Tims: I’m a huge Unlce Luke fan and New Orleans bounce and bass fan. My music is all about having fun and giving people that feeling. “Wet and Wavy” is slang and of course the hook explains itself. I’m not like everyone, I’m cultured so I don’t put myself in a box, I am who I am and I display that in my music. If it feels all over the place that’s because I’m an all over the place type of guy. I can give you that happy feeling, the hood side of me, fun side. I feel it’s something new to the game that it needs. CONCRETE: Can you tell us about your camp? Tims: Broken Lifestyle which is managed by Kareem Johnson and Coradale Burns. I was in Huntsville at Ammendment 21 they were playing Trap Techno and the sound captured me. I went up to them and told them I loved their music as they started telling me everything they were involved in. When I told them I wanted to make music they presented me with a plan and connected me with Cees from Block Beattaz, he was very helpful. My graphic designer is International Rome, my team works very hard and everyone knows their place which keeps the machine going. CONCRETE: “This is My Story” fiction or non fiction? Tims: Fictional. Well I take that back. “This is My Story” is me but some people are maybe looking for a whole dialogue or narrative, but I display it though each song on the album. CONCRETE: Hard Rock Cafe? Tims: It was a great experience. Some of the best artist in the world were there and having the opportunity to display my music to the crowd was awesome. I ending up being one of the finalist, just all the talent that was there made it a great experience. CONCRETE: Difference in south and north performances? Tims: Here I can hit the audience with good production and a heavy bass line, home in Detroit they are going to hear the beat and think okay, but I want to hear his lyrics. I have both elements, I know when to turn the switch on and off. CONCRETE: Breast Cancer? Tims: My grandmother is 18 years cured of breast cancer. I wore this for her, ML6, and a couple of my other friends that have breast cancer to let them know I here to support them and fight the good fight with them.

CONCRETE: Why the name “Nuvo Riche”? Nuvo: Nuvo Riche derives from the French term Nouveau Riche which means “Newly Rich” or in American term “New Money.” The word signifies working your way to the top from ground zero. Unlike the term “Old Money”, where riches are handed down or inherited. CONCRETE: What is your take on music today? Nuvo: Music today is basically instrumentals. Beats and instrumentals is what are really catching the crowds today. If you have a catchy hook, you have a banger. That’s a majority of the songs of now. When it comes to lyrics, today’s listener is less concerned with the lyrics. Everybody is just trying to have a good time. Today’s music is about traveling and partying. People want to get their minds off stress and work, so that reflects in the music. CONCRETE: Who are your rap influences? Nuvo: Im from West Palm Beach, Florida, but my rap Influences have always been artist like Mystical, Cash Money, Hot Boyz, Ludacris. I like these rappers because they’re very theatrical, and they put a lot of emphasis in their lyrics. I like to do that as well when it comes to my music. CONCRETE: Your degree is in criminal justice, but as we researched we realized you wear many hats. What are your other ventures? Nuvo: I am the Co-Owner of Nuvo Riche Apparel. I also do graphic design and photography. I also shoot footage and promo for Alabama A&M University. CONCRETE: Who or what inspires you? Nuvo: My dad and mom are my biggest inspirations. They stressed to me the importance of an education. I was taught that no matter what, people can’t take your degree away from you. That is something you will always have. One thing I can remember my dad always saying is “follow your dreams.” CONCRETE: You have songs already, “Bout that Life” and “I Got a Type”. What projects are you working on currently? Nuvo: Right now I’m about to drop an EP. I haven’t really come up with a name for it yet, but it will just be me spitting on popular tracks, instrumentals, and artist that are already out. Plus, I have a mixed tape called Fuck a Mixtape #TimeToWakeUp. That’s pretty much what’s coming next. CONCRETE: Aside from monetary success, when will you know you have reached success? Nuvo: I know I’ve reached success when I’m at an ultimate comfort level. I can say I feel comfortable with taking care of my family. I can basically do anything I want without worry. I don’t have to worry about what is going on with the world because I’m comfortable in my own. Success pretty much for me is where I can be at a comfortable state of mind.

2000 GMC Sierra on 28â&#x20AC;? Lexanis, (8) Kicker 15s (Sound Purchased/Installed by Sound Depot)

CONCRETE: How did you begin DJing? C-Wiz: I use to be a rapper back in the day. My name was Ice C, I was an MC. I was practicing with the group over at the DJs house and none of the rappers had shown up. the DJ had his turn tables out and I asked if I could mess around and he said yeah. I got on there scratching and playing records. I asked him how I did and he said I was terrible. I told him I wanted to start DJing. He said if you get the equipment I’ll teach you. So that Christmas I took all my Christmas gifts back and got two turntables and a mixer. CONCRETE: The name C-Wiz? C-Wiz: I was DJ Ice C for a while but then the drug “ice” in the late 80s and early 90s was getting real big in California, I didn’t want to be associated with the drug so I changed my name from Ice C to C-Wiz. I thought my mixes were a little more crafty and smarter than other DJs like a wizard. So, I started to go by C-Wiz. CONCRETE: Working at New Life Records? C-Wiz: Probably the greatest experience in life. It taught me the different aspects of the music business. Not only was I a DJ, I was a DJ that knew how to order records, sale records, and how production and distribution work. That’s one of the reasons I was so successful when it came to me selling my mix cds. I helped New Life become the number 1 record stores in the state of TN and top ten in the South. CONCRETE: First major mixtape released? C-Wiz: Trill Azz Mixez Mixez, the mix CD I did with UGK. It changed my life. CONCRETE: First meeting with UGK? C-Wiz: UGK was my favorite rap group and I was working at New Life at the time. Talking with people at Jive records I end up meeting UGK during their Riding Dirty Tour when they performed in Nashville. The came by New Life, They said they were looking for C-Wiz and they heard I was their biggest fan. As I was sitting there talking to them I gave Pimp C one of my mix CDs, he was asking me how I made the sound. He took the CD and held on to it. We kept in touch with each other and grew from there.

CONCRETE: Relationship with Pimp C? C-Wiz: My relationship is definitely closer with Pimp C. Me and Bun B are cool but I was closer to C, I just was. We had a personal relationship, he knew about my life, my children, we use to talk on the phone all the time. CONCRETE: Involvement with bail bonding? C-Wiz: I got involved through a couple of friends I went to school with. It was another way for me to expand the C Wiz brand because I’m always looking to change things or step out of the music realm.I like to think that I made bail bonding a little more cooler, than some stigmatizes of what a bail bondsmen is like and everyone that goes to jail is not a criminal. I’ve been known to do a story of two, when I find something funny around what happens when you are bonding someone out of jail. CONCRETE: How do you gauge your audience? C-Wiz: Pimp C told me a very long time ago, “ I make the speakers jump the way I want them to jump they don’t dictate me” and I took that to heart. I’m one of the few DJs that know the music very well and I go by how I feel, my impulse. CONCRETE: 2014 no hip-hop albums go platinum ... C-Wiz: There were a lot of platinum singles and lots of other ways to gauge how successful a record was. You have social media, streaming has jumped up, now if records aren’t selling like they were then yes the revenue has changed. I think we have to find more creative ways to generate the buck. It’s a different game. I’m sure in 2015 we will have some platinum albums, and other ways will be used to gauge album sales. CONCRETE: Advice to up and coming DJs? C-Wiz: First, respect your elders and recognize where you come from. Secondly, you need to know your history and how music got the way it is today. You can play the Amigos and all their new records but you need to understand that Outkast came from Run DMC, Drake came from LL Cool J and Rakim. Third, don’t be one sided, be open. You can be the best House DJ, Trap Music, or whatever just dont be one sided.

C-Wiz & UGK Trill Azz Mixez (1999) “After it came out everywhere we went, people wanted it. We’d never have enough copies of it. To this day we still don’t... Big up to DJ C-Wiz” - Bun B* *source - http://mauricegarland.blogspot.com

Supa King Big Pope - S.K.B.P.

This album speaks to the trials and truths of the life of a street hustler and is the perfect blend of dope storytelling and well thought out rhyme schemes. Big Pope’s unique delivery style coupled with simple but thorough beats makes for a great combination and great riding music. My favorite track “Fed Up” chronicles the stress he goes through trying to keep his head above water while trying to get his paper.

Zilla - Zilla Shit 3

ZS3 is a nice Mixtape! I was Hooked on this as soon as I heard I’m Here. I loved “My Chevrolet, Purple” and “Yeen Said Nothin” featuring Tennessee’s newest hot boy Young Dolph! #Preach One thing I noticed is the BIG K.R.I.T. Inﬂuence in his music, of course that brings out the Pimp C inﬂuence as well. I didn’t like songs like “Oh Lord” and “IDK”. The mixtape tone was set from the beginning and to switch it up might not have been the best move as far as those tracks.

Alka P Da BreadMan - Pyrex Living

This mixtape sounds OK. The best songs on here were deﬁnitely “Hug Da Block” and ” Paper Cutz”. The subject matter is money, dope, hoes oh and cars. I would suggest a couple of things: the production needs some work, and the recording needs to be better. Also, don’t limit your content, expand yourself as an artist.

Over the years of being an indie manager, the journey has been a roller coaster ride. Dealing with artist who view their wants and needs as the only thing that determines the next move. Well in this business those needs have to be met by those willing to invest: promoters, agents, and even fans. In my inaugural piece, I will discuss the world of touring and some of the areas artists, mangers and DJs should know. Timeline: This is the planning process. How far out are you from the tour beginning? This is where you will be setting up routing, researching venues, and gaining contact info Routing: Routing will never be perfect. Know that going in. This is where you set up the times between shows, and making sure the tour geographically makes sense, and doesn’t cost you cents. Finding the Venues: You have to determine what type of rooms you want to play. Every venue doesn’t accept the same type of music. Some venues may be too small, or too large to handle your demand or lack of. Find venues you can leave a lasting impression The Pitch: Most talent buyers work via email, even though some work via phone. You must have an elevator pitch that effectively can be read and understood. I call this phase, ’Going Fishing’. Local Openers: This is a good way to get people to the venue, especially if the artist has a buzz in the city. This can also lead to collaborations that can stay in the market once the lights of the stage go off. Payment: Most original music clubs will not offer guarantees. They will give you a cut of the door (most likely after expenses, ranging from $50 - $350 for smaller clubs). A typical deal for clubs these days is a 70%-100% cut for 21+ venues, 70-85% for 18+ venues, and around 50-70% cut for all-age venues with higher off-the-top expenses. Promotion: This is where starting early counts. Even though promoters will promote, but that extra push from artist to promote a show adds that personal value to the fans. They can tell when management is handling the majority of the promotion, rather online or physical. Tour Duties: Only bring people on the road that is absolutely necessary for your operation to work while still making a proﬁt. Merch: When you’re on tour, merch is your #1 income generator. So if you want your tour to be ﬁnancially successful, make sure you have lots of merch and a credit card swiper (Square is free and hooks up to an iPhone/Droid). Other Touring Factors: Lodging, Travel, Gas, Food, Medicinals, Strip Clubs, and anything else that will eat into last night’s show payout. Next issue I will discuss sync, publishing, and royalties in a digital market place.

FLO-BAMA Soooooo...I’ve been in Florence about a year now and I’ve probably had more than my fair share of ummm “turnt up” nights at most of the night spots in the quad cities. However, none were quite like my ﬁrst venture into the wood grained bar/BBQ joint known as “Flo-Bama” which could easily describe my rap style but upon inquiring I was disappointed to ﬁnd out its short for Florence, Alabama. Who would’ve guessed? Hearing the name and seeing that it looks more like a saloon than a bar kinda adds to the mystery of the spot. The walls are all brick to coincide with the theme of other buildings downtown but everything else....EVERYTHING... chairs included...lacquered wood...Decor aside, Flobama is a college kid’s dream watering hole. THE DRINK SPECIALS!!!! Tuesdays they have 5 dollar pitchers, Wednesdays its 1$ bud lights....all night! So by my 6th dollar, I was raising my beer to the mediocre singing/guitar playing of the open mic host ; Trey Hardin. The drink specials conclude on Thursday with 3 dollar long islands..

The perfect start to the college weekend. The amazing thing about Flo-bama is that although it is 100% college dive destination, it somehow still manages to be a BBQ restaurant specializing in all things smoked (get your mind out of the bong) In the words of Steph *random college chick reading my phone* “the smoked wings are EVERRYTHIINNG” ... they’re decent...deﬁnitely smokey but not seasoned very well aside from that. Overall, Flo-bama is the ideal “bring your cousin from the ‘burbs that thinks he’s hood but really has no idea” spot to visit when you’re in the Shoals area. Where else could I misspell this much s**t for only 9 dollars? Lol until next time concreters signing off #BARSCENEKING Bar Scene King - Nelson Mccloud

Know a good bar that we should visit? Want your bar reviewed by the “Bar Scene Kings” send us an email @ barscenekings@gmail.com

CONCRETE: You’re known for having content in your lyrics. Do you feel that is a hinderance or something needed today? BIG K.R.I.T.: I feel its 100% needed. I don’t think it was ever a hinderance. Just look at soul music, jazz and stuff like that, it was all made in order to move people. As far as my music is concerned I always wanted to have a message in it. Obviously you do the club records, but you also have to come to reality and do those songs like if you’re having a bad day you have to put that on record cause most of the time people relate to that more. For the most part I think it’s well needed and rappers should touch on it a little bit more. CONCRETE: You’re about to drop the Cadillactica album. Where did the title come from? BIG K.R.I.T.: Cadillactica was one of those ideas where I wanted to create a planet. I think of Cadillac and the whole prestige of that name and the car and the culture as far as being in the South. I wanted to create a spin of that title and come up with a whole planet. In my mind that planet is all the fly things, all the conscious things, all the extra creative things that’s in my mind. I think people will be really shocked how I was able to create from that perspective. Everything is a little different on this planet Cadillactica. The vibe is a little different, the music, the way I’m singing and rapping. It’s all a little different from what people are use to hearing from me. CONCRETE: You produced most of your previous projects. This album you worked with outside producers. How was that different for you? BIG K.R.I.T.: It was one of those things where I had to work with people that I knew would understand where I was coming from and didn’t necessarily sample all the time. It was just amazing to be able to work with DJ Dahi, Terrace Martin, Jim Johnson and Raphael Saadiq. They all were familiar with my music and they all had an idea of what I was missing. When we got in the studio they was like “I know what you do, I know what your capable of doing but lets try something like this”. I was like, “Hell Yea” cause I got the opportunity to just be an artist and collectively create something with these people that shows growth. When people hear it they are gonna be like, “oh sh*t he took it somewhere else.” CONCRETE: Your newest single “Pay Attention” ft. Rico Love, how did that record come about? BIG K.R.I.T: I went to Miami to work with Jim Johnson and his team. Rico Love has a musical relationship with Jim Johnson, he does a lot of writing over his records. It made perfect since, lets get Rico in here and see what kind of hook he can come up with for the record. We cut three records and Jim was like, “alright KRIT go head and go kick it, we are gonna create something that’s totally left field compared to what people are used to hearing from you”. It still sounds cohesive cause I didn’t run away from my content or my subject matter, I think the fans will hear that and be like K.R.I.T. is starting to get older, he is starting to understand how to flow over certain records. I think it was a perfect blend.

CONCRETE: Apollo the god? Jalen: Apollo is the Greek god of music and that’s how I see myself. CONCRETE: Current management? Jalen: Holloway’s Idea. We are basically independent and trying to get everything going right now. CONCRETE: 2013 Evolution? Jalen: First mixtape I released. It was a breathe of fresh air and me trying to find my sound, which is why I called it Evolution. If you listen closely to it you can tell the growth from the first song to the last song. The more I recorded the better I got and towards the end you can actually tell that. CONCRETE: “OGMYG”? Jalen: I’m a real big kid. I love cartoons, fighting, and Dragon Ball ZZ. In this project I was basically conveying the older god (which is Prospect the Legend) meeting the younger god (Apollo which is me). If you watch Dragon Ball Z it’s like Goku training Gohan. CONCRETE: International collab, “Cheirsh The Day” with Chikanele? Jalen: Holloway sent me the track and said Chickanele really wanted me on it. I heard the beat and wrote the verse the same day, then recorded it the next. We got the song finished and I was ready to put it out. Holloway said he wanted to hold on to it and put a few finishing touches on it before release. As time went on I eventually forgot about the song. I was searching on soundcloud.com, because I’m always looking for new music to listen to and I see my name. I played it and I was like wow. CONCRETE: “If I lived in NYC there is a 90% chance I would already be famous, it’s extremely difficult to make connections in Alabama.” Can you elaborate? Jalen: I’ve watched people my age in NY making lots of moves and connecting together. I feel like here a lot of artist would rather make it on their own instead of coming together so we can make it at one time. CONCRETE: Anything else? Jalen: Although I’m 19 I see and get it. I understand what’s going on in the world and people’s problems. I’m trying to give them me so they understand that I get what they are going through. My whole thing is peace, love, and happiness. Spreading positivity throughout the culture with a new wave of sound. I don’t’ want to create just projects, albums, and mixtapes, but experiences that people can enjoy for a life time.

CONCRETE: What’s your background? Lamar: From 13-21 I was in foster care. I went through a period where I was incarcerated while doing what I had to do in order to make ends meet. I met Holloway because he was actually assigned to me as my social worker. Holloway made a situation that seemed so major, simpliﬁed in a matter of minutes. He taught me that everything has to have a plan. He taught me steps that helped in how to cope with my past, and manage myself as a man. I now work for him. He brought what he had to the table with what I had and we went from there. He remained a social worker for 3 to 6 months after I met him, then he quit his job and put everything he had behind me. CONCRETE: Transitional music? Lamar: At the end of the day we are all out here struggling. We should be reaching for eternal life, I’m not trying to stay in this hip-hop music forever. I’m a musician in Athens, AL at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Allen is a great guy. I was raised in the church and that’s where my soul comes from. CONCRETE: Management? Lamar: Holloway’s Idea, stepped down as my management and is now my advisor. I’m working with the J Cox Firm and UQM and getting help and assistance from a few other colleagues that show major love. CONCRETE: Current project? Lamar: Country Rap Tunes Vol. 1. It was inspired by my history. I’m forever a country boy. I will always embrace Golden Flakes thin salted chips, bologna sandwich with mayo, and homemade Kool Aid or Jungle Juice. CONCRETE: Sound? Lamar: I took two years out the game to create my own sound. I’m a real funky person. My artistry includes a lot of the 70s, I like a lot of bounce, the 90s, Drake and K.R.I.T type cadence. It has a slight country feel but still a mainstream sound. CONCRETE: A3C performance at the “Underground Railroad”? Lamar: We killed the show! Someone was there that had pull and requested me at the main stage. But the request came in too late and I was already back in Alabama. CONCRETE: Which songs best conveys your message to listeners? Lamar: “Fried Chicken and Late Nights” and “Focus”. They both have a good groove and are motivational you can really feel it from the production to the lyrics.

CONCRETE: Growing up in south Chicago? IV: It was fun, tough, and a life lesson. It was definitely a struggle and good times as well. Chicago has the bitter and it has the sweet. It made me who I am and gave me tough skin. CONCRETE: Musical background? IV: I’ve been musically inclined since I was little due to my father and cousins. They kept me around all types of music like jazz, R&B and hip-hop. My cousin was seven years older than me and lived with me. He was a big influence in the hip-hop I listened to, listening to the tapes before CDs came out. When I was around 9 nine years old in the fourth grade I started writing lyrics. CONCRETE: Evolution of hip-hop music? IV: Back then rap was challenging. People actually sat back and thought about what they were going to say, whereas now rappers will say anything. They glorify this falsehood and that’s the problem. Back then listening to Tupac, Sticky Fingers, and Onyx it actually had a message and theme to it. It made you want to be a lyricist. CONCRETE: Holloway’s Idea? IV: I was out at an open mic with my boy from Chicago named Alex, he is an R&B singer. It was at the Green Room, I met Holloway and Lamar Cole there. When I met them that night I felt the vibe cause I always can feel a vibe from people. I felt they were good people and we had fun. They saw me doing my thing and liked what they saw. They fell back and watched me grind to see how far I would go with it. I stay trying to knock down doors and be consistent. We finally linked up after a year and the wheels have been turning ever since. CONCRETE: Who Got Bars journey? IV: It was very intriguing. My friend told me about the competition when I first came out here. I signed up in the beginning of the 2013 year (Season Season 33). I already had the mindset to dominate whoever the competition was, I ended

up going against some really good MCs that round. It was me Yung Satch, Heroin and Arson in the final four. We definitely had fun with it but it was challenging. Both Heroin and Satch were consistent. Q had the crazy wordplay and G Mack who is young but from here was really good too. It opened my eyes to the talent and variety of MCs that were out here. Season 3 and 4 I felt like I should of won. Season 4 took me by a spin. CONCRETE: After two seasons of Who Got Bars what made you come back? IV: I knew I was going to win it, I was just knocking at the door. I had to come through the door blasting and take what was mine. I stayed focused and in my zone. I was in kill mode like a robot or machine. I’m very humbled by the experience and Juels coming up with something for the culture. To have artist to bring raw skill to the table is impressive, and to see how people’s minds work and their passion when it comes to music. This was my first time going through something like that and it was a great experience. CONCRETE: Code Red Red? IV: Code Red was just me rapping on industry tracks and giving straight bars. I will do a Code Red 2 to get ready for the EP to drop. CONCRETE: No Grey Area? IV: My mixtape. There is no in betweens in life. When I’m involved with other people or on social media, people put up post, “one day I feel like this and the next day I feel like that, one day I’m doing this and the next day I’m doing that.” I feel like #nogreyarea. CONCRETE: Recent civil rights struggles? IV: It’s a lot of people that care about it. They would rather talk about it than act on a solution. It’s very catastrophic that this stuff has to happen to our people. Racism is really dumb and as of lately it’s been deplorable.

You have to act on it in the sense of what kind of idea can you come up with to change this. We are coming up with something that can really spark peoples minds. We plan to black the whole city out, creating our own dollar circulating within the black community. It’s been done before but it’s about being persistent. When Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown get shot people talk but what are we doing to change it. CONCRETE: What’s next? IV: More shows and getting more visuals done. I do make

beats as well, I’m getting my Kanye on, I really make nice beats. I go by In Yo Vains as my production name. I produced about 75 percent of my own mixtape No Grey Area. I have a clothing line called Davinci Black that I’m rocking right now, with my partner Richard Huff who is the founder. We grew up together in Chicago and he moved to Birmingham to attend Miles college. Also working on a project in the studio with Cees from Block Beattaz as part of the Who Got Bars prize, he is very dope.

CONCRETE: Being female in the rap industry? Miss B: People think it’s easy for us. It’s harder because we have to worry about people coming at us in a sexual way. I’ve been there plenty of times. You have to be strong. I’m not in this to have sex with people to get where I want to be. CONCRETE: Life of A Boss? Miss B: It took two years and that’s my baby, my very ﬁrst album. I’m waiting on the right time to do a hard launch here locally. It is on iTunes for purchase. It has different elements of day to day life. People that hustle, hardships within your family, just real life situations....love , sex, crime. CONCRETE: Fast Cash Inc? Miss B: We are a brand and we are trying to build and make it stronger. It’s me, Laww, Mac Maine, YO tha Don, and other afﬁliations. We are the main four, down for about two years. CONCRETE: Image comparison to Nick Minaj, Lil Kim, Trina etc? Miss B: Everybody says that but thank God people say I don’t sound like anyone else that’s in the game. Most females today rap about their physical, I’m not that type of chick. I try to balance myself when I do talk about it because I know no one wants a female that is all the way hardcore like a dude either. CONCRETE: “When you do music are you doing music to just be local or get somewhere and be somebody?”-Elaborate Miss B: Speaking on behalf of people I see in Huntsville, they do the music for Huntsville. Doing that you aren’t going to get anywhere because Huntsville is not going to pay you. You go to the club here and say you have a show, but how many people are really going to support you? You wasting money on studio time and making no progress. CONCRETE: What’s next? Miss B: After dropping the album I’m going to take a little break to map things out and plan my next move. I’m really focused on getting the videos shot for the tracks. CONCRETE: Anything else? Miss B: With me what you see is what you get. I don’t think I’m better than anyone else. You respect me and I will respect you.