ConcreteNashville56 by CONCRETE Magazine

concrete615.com 6-8 ........................ Dee Goodz 10 ............................ Playa G 12 ............................ DJ Coop 14 ................... Music Reviews 18 ......... Nashville 10: Milani Rose 24 ............................Ed Pryor 29 ....... Why Sole Serious - Shoe Game 28-30 ................ Tha City Paper Publisher: Capo Ad Executive: Capo Art Director: Rex2-tm Nash 10 Photography: Tavell Brown Nash MUA - Sherry “FancyFace” Waller Photography: Tavell Brown Photos provided by: Visual Flavour Publishing Consultant: Bryan Deese

CONCRETE Magazine twitter - @CONCRETE615 concretecapo@gmail.com © CONCRETE Magazine 2014

CONCRETE: What can we expect on PaperView 22? Paper: Basically PaperView 1 was 2008-2009 and I was in a different time in my life being a guy in his mid-20’s still in the streets. I just went through the break up with Lito, Grind Hard broke up a lot of people in the city, the recession just hit it was a lot of things and different dynamics that made it what it was. I was kind of in pain, I was mad like the mad rapper, you know kind of spreading that and it helped the city lose a little bit of life. So Paper View was a little dark but people caught a glance. This one I was more enlightened like I keep saying I feel good, my spirit is high and I’m more about empowering the black nation. I’m resilient almost like nothing can stop me.On this one your going to have the streets mixed with the consciousness. CONCRETE: Who are some producers on this project? Paper: Gotham City, Broadway, 2G’s and Quake. I started with street Symphony, he is a Grammy award winner producer that done some stuff with Meek Mill, also CRoy and OGthe3. OG3 actually engineered, him and broadway basically were the Guru’s behind recording. CONCRETE: Do you have any features on this project? Paper: I got Blood Raw, Young Buck, Robin Raynelle, Ego, Generation X, Young Grenade and possibly Freddy Gibbs. CONCRETE: Nashville wants to know, how is your current relationship with Buck and Lito? Paper: Well here’s what I want to say publicly, I always thought that we should do a group with me, Lito and Buck. I’ve proposed that, but it just kind of fell by the waist side and I don’t know why. They do songs together, me and Buck did two cds together, and me and Lito was back on-line every other day, and we kind of don’t publicize it because it’s so real and we was such goods friends that we wanted to get that part together and not make it just about media. continued on next page

We don’t do a lot of recording together but we talk almost every other day. Kind of like when you lose your brother you gotta get that back first and once that’s back you can go on. To end it, everybody is in a good space me Buck and Lito so now it’s me looking at trying to put a group together the Tennessee Titans or something like that. I think it would be a slam dunk! CONCRETE: Is it true that you have your own nonprofit organization? Paper: Yeah. Me and my family have a non profit organization called ACT prep. We take low income kids and show them how to pass the ACT’s. We say stop the violence but its bigger than that. We help educate these kids and get them in college. We have professionals come in and help with their test taking skills. We have a program with over eight hundred students in it with all of metro and surrounding counties. We have a sports department that does prospect camps for high school football athletes. Basically through music I have a vehicle to enlighten and lift the black nation. Look at all the rappers that have made it big, Jigga, Ross, Wayne these are all smart dudes. I’m trying to spread that it’s cool to be smart and if I can do that I think we could actually help the problem. CONCRETE: Any Shout Outs? Paper: My manager Memp, Rondale my best friend/ manager who catapulted me into Tha City Paper but he just got home so I have to mention him, Joerilla helps me out in marketing and DJ Spade, Charlie P and the Team Certified Models with Ice Cold Jay, Young Grenade, D Strap and T Hide and shout out to Lito who is helping with consulting and of course my fans. Remember the main goal of this album is to empower our people and get away from the poison that’s being fed to us. One day I’ll be gone and people can listen to this and catch on, it might not change everybody but it will change somebody.

CONCRETE: Where are you from? Playa G: Memphis, Tennessee. CONCRETE: How did you get your start as a producer? Playa G: I got my start from just producing my own stuff. I started as an artist and pretty much played my whole life. I’ve always been a very musical person and at one point I started rapping and obviously I had to start coming up with beats so I started producing for myself. I didn’t want none of my stuff to sound the same so I started diving deeper in it and learned how to create colors. CONCRETE: Who are some artists that you have produced for? Playa G: Three-6-Mafia, Ghetto Mafia, 8 Ball & MJG, Skinny Pimp to name a few. CONCRETE: Do you use programs to make your beats or live instruments? Playa G: I use different software and programs to make beats. I use Logic, Protools, as far as sounds go, I use machine, Omnisphere, Stylus, and some stock sounds that I had from two or three MPC’s ago. CONCRETE: You opened a music school. Tell us about that? Playa G: Yeah. Creative Soul Music Academy located on Music Row 1026 16th Ave. I’ve been in music my whole life and prior to being a producer, I played in my church and just came up playing keys so I got a love for music, a deep love and appreciation for all kinds of music. I always felt like that was something that I wanted to share, that feeling of freedom that I have. So, I opened the school and it’s been growing like crazy. We teach piano, bass, drums, voice, guitar, and percussion. CONCRETE: You recently started touring with Lauryn Hill. How did that situation come about? Playa G: A buddy of mine Eric Gales is a amazing guitar player and he plays sometimes with Lauryn. She had a few shows that the keyboard player at the time couldn’t make so Eric a friend of mine brought me up in that situation. They sent the show, I learned the show, and they respect Eric so they flew me to D.C. I did a rehearsal and a sound check, immediately got it and from that point, she was really digging my swag and my soul. CONCRETE: Any Shout outs? Playa G: Big shout out to everybody over there at Creative Soul, Skinny Pimp, 8-ball,MJG, Juicy Jay, and everybody else that’s doing they thing and want G-Starr on it. Big shout out to Concrete Magazine.

CONCRETE: Where are you from? DJ Coop: I’m originally from Memphis but I’ve been in Nashville for the last three years. Concrete: How did you get your start as a DJ? DJ Coop: I use to date this chick in Memphis and her brother own’s the majority of the clubs there and she was a DJ. I use to go to the clubs and study other DJ’s and watch people like Devin Steele, Just Born, Mike T and Larry Live. I would study how they rocked the crowd. Concrete: What category DJ would you consider yourself? DJ Coop: I’m a club DJ as of now. I’m working towards doing more mixtapes. I dropped my first mixtape this year and previously hosted a mixtape with Lito. Concrete: Do you play indie artists music? DJ Coop: The Club actually helps me as far as the mixtapes cause of all the local artist. They want to be heard too and the market we are in we have to make ourselves the radio. I feel I’ve done that and shown indie artist I will play your music. Concrete: How did you become Lito’s DJ? DJ Coop: I’ve listened to his music since high school so I know almost all his music word for word. I play his music, there has been times where Lito was in the club and I played his music and their was also times he wasn’t there and I still spun his music. So his manager told him about me and there happened to be a time where his DJ had something come up so I plugged in. That was a little over a year ago and we just been riding ever since. We actually did a fifteen city tour last year with Kevin Gates, Lito and Don Trip. Concrete: What can we expect from you for 2014? DJ Coop: The goal is to build a brand, make it a house hold name. I also want to get that mixtape game up that’s where the money at. I’m trying to work with a lot of locals. I’ve been hosting a lot of projects. I have another “Just Because” mixtape dropping around the first week of May as well. Concrete: Any Shout outs? DJ Coop: Yea shout out to My Kids, DJ E Sudd, No Stress, Boss Hogg, Starlito, Grind Hard, Era, all my supporters, Memphis and the people I started out with 3kings.

Tha City Paper - PaperView 2

Nashville’s news reporter to the streets, Tha City Paper is back and his growth is obvious straight out the gate. The intro sets the mood with a dramatic build up, within the ﬁrst thirty seconds he has captured your attention. He starts his ﬁrst verse off with an intense delivery reminding every one of just exactly who they are listening to. With talk of being one of the city’s greatest you can’t help but to believe him. Paper seems to be on another level musically and explains it on the song “Winning” a sample based track that makes you want to listen close to the story being painted. Tha City Paper has raised the bar on this album, it’s another Nashville classic.

Jelly Roll - Biggest Loser

Nashville’s “Biggest Loser” Jelly Roll seems to be on a winning streak. His latest release features artist such as Young Buck, Yelawolf, Rittz, Struggle, Haystack and Lil Wyte, not to mention some production from Bandplay,The Colleagues and Stoner. Jelly Roll doesn’t vier far from his roots. He is still making music for the under dogs. Records like “Fire & Rain”, “Loser” and “Goodnight Shirley” are all deep heartfelt songs that give you an inside look into the life of Jelly Roll. Jelly seems to vent on the song “We Got Next” speaking on critics and fake rappers. On “Milion Dollar Dream” he paints us a very detailed picture of his hustling days out in Antioch. Over all it’s a well rounded diverse project that takes you on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. This has to be one of our favorite Jelly Roll projects to this date.

JDOTMASON - The Chronicles Of Corduroy Clemens

Corduroy Clemens hits us with his latest release The Chronicles Of Corduroy Clemens. His laid back and melodic delivery compliments the production and seems if they were created around one another. On track one he serves us with his introduction song titled “Mr.Clemens”, a reminder that he is on his grind and trying to get it. “Mr.Clemens” rolls smoothly into the next track “Cold Soul” a smooth sampled based beat that Corduroy Clemens seems to ride effortlessly. He turns the energy up a little on “Trance” and “ADITL” but the majority of the ten tracks are slower tempo with a relaxed vibe. “The Chronicles of Corduroy Clemens” is a project that will have you rolling up and riding out.

Chancellor Warhol - Paris Is Burning

The title of this project and production would lead you to believe this is a hip pop album but Chancellor Warhol delivers some clever bars and strong punch lines to show that lyrically he holds his own. On the song “Kennedys” he speaks on critics saying he is not hip-hop, yet he makes a living off of rapping. His dreams are coming true and his friends have turned to enemies. Almost every song has a feature but they seem to work like puzzle pieces ﬁtting in place perfectly on each track. The song “Au Revoir” has a catchy hook that will be stuck in your head for days. That seems to be the theme of the album, strong hooks, soulful beats and Chancellor Warhol’s clever lines. This is a well put together artistic project that deserves space in your catalog.

Photo by: Tavell Brown - Brown-Photography.net Make-up by: Sherry “FancyFace” Waller

HomeTown: Killeen, TX Measurements: 34-29-39 CONCRETE: Biggest Turn On/Turn Off? M. Rose: Biggest turn on for me is eye chemistry to be able to look at someone from across the room and they still can set you a ﬁre. Biggest turn off would be being too clingy. We like to be clingy not clinged to. CONCRETE: Favorite Designer? M. Rose: Chanel. CONCRETE: Three artists in your iPod? M. Rose: Jhene Aiko, UGK, Yo Gotti.

By Mr. Joe Walker No one expected Outkast’s sophomore LP to simply be great. Following the surprising yet astounding success of their debut Southernplayalisticadilla cmuzik, duo Big Boi and Andre 3000 cmuzik found themselves nestled firmly into conversations of hip-hop’s best. If industry and fan anticipation for ATLiens manifested as a planet, it would have eclipsed the mass of Jupiter twice over. Their second coming was predicted to be Empire Strikes Back Back, not a pajama jammy jam! What Outkast delivered was an artistic masterpiece light speeds ahead of music standards. A cinematic narrative set to trunk-rattling production, detailing the tribulations accompanying life-changing accomplishments that didn’t entirely change their lives. Despite new-found fame, Andre and Big Boi still inhabited a world in social, ethical, and financial turmoil. Their millions-selling first album and originality essentially made them aliens in their own home town, relationships, and throughout the recording industry. They depicted these facts with unforgiving honesty and undeniable skill. The slowed pace of their Organized Noize-produced lead-off single “Elevators (Me & You)” served as a groundbreaking reintroduction, showcasing both MCs had made themselves individually identifiable, they’d both substantially progressed their lyrical and delivery prowess while simultaneously resetting hip-hop’s benchmark for storytelling. With east coast lyricism held in high regard, wordsmiths from the south weren’t exactly measured by the same rulers. If the jumping title track wasn’t evidence enough, Outkast surely changed impressions with “Wheelz of Steel” - a rhymeriddled thumping throwback with futuristic tendencies. Excellence remained dominantly prevalent from opening track “Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac)” through closing number “13th Floor/Growing Old”. All told, ATLiens is an unquestionable classic, one which holds up no matter what galaxy you’re from!

CONCRETE: Where are you from? Ed Pryor: I’m from Winchester Tennessee. CONCRETE: How did you get inspired to pick up the camera? Ed Pryor: In all honesty it was supposed to be a Trojan horse effect for people to hear my music. I always figured, especially with the turn of technology and being able to produce videos at a cheaper price than before, I figured man if I could give people a visual maybe they’ll listen to the music more and it kind of took its own life from there. I was trying to shoot videos for stuff that I had produced and it just started branching out but initially the purpose of me doing it was for me to build more buzz and get people a visual stimulant to the beats I was doing at that time. CONCRETE: What’s your thought process going into making a video? Ed Pryor: I try to make a experience, all of us when we listen to music it’s an escape and we visualize. The reason we’re so effected by it even if it’s subliminal or not we’re taken to places and music can bring back old memories. I try to take what a artist has done and interpret that into a way I think is memorable for somebody that’s never seen it, never heard it and then when they watch that kind of just build on what the initial idea of what the artist had in the first place. I always want to figure out some sort of story line even if it’s just subtext. I want something to register with somebody, that’s why I’m really big in intro, voice overs, and some sort of plot development. When I came to Nashville I noticed their was a lack of that and I think set preparation and even some basic story board can give you that perceived production value. CONCRETE: Y You shot the “Redneck Soldiers” parity video “Tiller Gang”, it has one million plus views, how does that feel? Ed Pryor: Its incredible, it’s ironic because it’s always been a clean slate with them. A lot of artist have a specific things their going for and with them they just kind of allowed me to do whatever, I was able to go back home and use some of the resources that I had and we just made something really cool with a lot of energy and it worked out. We have a couple of other videos that are about to hit a million. CONCRETE: Your known for your videos but few know you produce as well. Who have you produced for? Ed Pryor: I got two credits on the Lil Wyte and Jelly Roll album “No filter”, that came out last year two tracks on Chancellor Warhols new album “Paris is Burning”, I got records with Bubba Sparks that hasn’t came out yet. I did the entirety of the redneck soldiers production just to name a few. CONCRETE: Any shout outs? Ed Pryor: Redneck Soldiers, Kelly Hite, Rio, and shout out to CONCRETE.

CONCRETE: You have started gaining national exposure how did you go about achieving that? Dee Goodz: Expressing myself how ever I wanted to. People eventually caught on. The biggest thing is you have to have some big dogs in place that will get your business right and a team that will help promote your music and connect you with different people to get you shows. We as independent artist need to take time to pick up some books and read on how to really structure ourselves and move up. CONCRETE: You were recently featured on HBO’s Game Of Thrones soundtrack how did that situation come about? Dee Goodz: Yea shout out to HBO for that. We actually produced all the beats on the project. Globalheu which is an ad company that came to us. We partnered with an idea that we pitched to HBO and they loved it. There was a bunch of artist on there like Big Boi, Common, Wale, Daddy Yanke, Kilo Kish, Snow Tha Product, Bodega Bamz just to name a few. Honestly the opportunity was a blessing. CONCRETE: You had a scary moment recently in NY where you got shot, what happened? Dee Goodz: Well I was in the club, and really I don’t even club like that so that was problem number one and then number two I was wild high. I’m normally on my shit looking around. I’m from South Side Cashville I’ve been in the club before when people are shooting and I know that vibe when its coming. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m lucky that no one is out here trying to kill me and I just caught a stray bullet but it was one inch a way from an artery the same artery that killed Sean Taylor. Im just lucky that Im able to walk again I was down for a while and I actually had a show the next day that I showed up to on crutches. I was suppose to go on tour in Australia and that got canceled due to the shooting. CONCRETE: Any Shout Outs? Dee Goodz: Shout out to my whole CKBO team and shout out to Cashville we here, I know people try to put me out there like Im from Brooklyn but Im from Antioch living in Brooklyn for the moment. Make sure you go to www.deegoodz. com for all the merch and Family, Friends and Money coming soon.

by Joerilla Drums - www.whysoleserious.com AIR JORDAN 3 “5LAB3” After seeing AJ 5s adorned with the iconic elephant print of the AJ 3, the favor is returned on the Air Jordan 3 “5Lab3.” This time, Michael Jordan’s signature from ’88 borrows 3M material in a major way, draping itself with reflective panels. In similar fashion, leather lines the kick’s insides, seen in white, as black trims the midsole. Expanding upon another element from the Air Jordan 5, the 5Lab3 is put on ice via a translucent outsole. AIR MAX 1 March 26, 1987 marked the release of the Air Max 1 and with it, a revolution began. In the form of a literal window to the sole, the invisible became visible and Nike Air cushioning forever changed how Nike designed running sneakers. Celebrating 27 years of Air superiority, Nike Sportswear applies a volt color treatment to the original Air Max, calling out the shoe’s legendary innovation and mimicking the treatment on Nike’s newest introductions. Along with a 3.26-emblazoned tongue tab, the Air Max 1 Air Max Day combines the original white/red upper with a volt midsole, accentuating the visible Nike Air. FOOTPATROL - FATIMA MID ‘GIRAFFE’ Footpatrol presents this Fatima Mid ‘Giraffe’ in collaboration with UBIQ Japan. Taking inspiration from the giraffe’s (or Kanji) representation as a mythical and magical creature in numerous Asian countries, including Japan. The tan leather heel panel features an etched Yoshida Shide, which is a mark of purification within Japanese culture. The shoe is sat on a white midsole and is finished with a tan suede UBIQ tongue tab, a tan leather heel pull whilst further Footpatrol branding appears on the thin tongue tab AIR TECH CHALLENGE II With this year’s Australian Open in full swing, Nike has dropped a special Tier Zero edition of Andre Agassi‘s iconic Air Tech Challenge II ahead of the beloved “Hot Lava” colorway’s return. Decked out in white leather with orange and blue accents and a reflective 3M tongue, the mid-top tennis kicks pay homage to Agassi’s storied career with embroidery highlighting both his number of career wins and the years that he came out on top in Melbourne.

THE BAIT X SAUCONY SHADOW ORIGINAL The BAIT x Saucony Shadow Original “Cruel World 2? builds upon the success of the ﬁrst “Cruel World,” and features purely vegan materials put together using cruelty-free methods. This time around, BAIT has applied a color scheme of black, red and off-white to the silhouette’s hemp upper. The best part of this release is that BAIT will be sharing the proceeds with American Cancer Society and it’s looking to surpass the almost $16,000 USD raised last time.

CONCRETE: Where are you from? Dee Goodz: Nashville, Tenn. straight out of Antioch, Im just a local that’s thinking global. I was actually born in Baltimore and came here in High School though. CONCRETE: What was the reason for your recent move to NY? Dee Goodz: NY is the Mecca its where all the big dogs are. At the end of the day Nashville has this glass ceiling that you can’t pass. At the time I couldn’t ﬁnd anyone that could help me with the hip-hop music business. Nashville is more country and pop based and not to many people really knew the hip-hop market. I had actually lived in LA ﬁrst and tried that scene and just felt like NY was next. I ended up getting with new management and partnering with Launch Point records and they ended up moving me to NY. CONCRETE: What can we expect from your Family, Friends and Money album? Dee Goodz: Its an honest story, real life no gimmicks. Its talking about everything I’ve been through, my life story thus far. It’s just great music. CONCRETE: Who are some of the producers on the project? Dee Goodz: Me! I co-produced every thing except two records that are on there. Also my man Lyle Leduff who works with Don Cannon is on there but everything else is in house people from launch point and All Goodz. CONCRETE: Any features? Dee Goodz: Yeah, Cheri Dennis she use to be with Bad Boy, I got her on a couple records but thats about it. I wanted it to be all me so I can tell my story. At the early stages as an artist you have to let the people get to know you. continued on next page