concrete615.com 6-10.................. Ice Wear Vezzo 12........................ Duke Deuce 14..............................Lil Bike 18.................Nashville 10: Gracie 20.......................Fendi AGame 22-23..................... Teddy Rose 24........Seafood Sensation: Jared 26.....................Music Reviews 28......................... Goldie Mac 30.................................Chop Publisher: Capo Ad Executive: Capo Art Director: Rex2-tm Editorial & Nash 10 Photography: Tavell Brown Staff Support: Deandre Haynes, Nikila.A Ad Photography: Visual Flavor Ad Graphics: C3GRAFX, Kyro Ink Publishing Consultant: Bryan Deese
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CONCRETE: CONCRETE: Can you tell us what it was like growing up on the East Side of Detroit? Icewear Vezzo: Same sh*t like any other hood. It’s rat ass people everywhere, there some real ones everywhere, there some bad b*tches everywhere and then there some dirty ass ghetto hoe’s. Same sh*t that goes on in my hood goes on in every hood. CONCRETE: How do you feel about the similarities of the Detroit and Bay area sounds? Icewear Vezzo: We definitely have similarities. Bay area just has different lingo y’all lingo is real slick and Detroit is just more shadier with it. As far as the production goes with the beat pattern and the approach everything is the same to me. Detroit and the Bay Area are like cousins. CONCRETE: You dropped Clarity 6 end of last year. Can you tell us about that and what else is cooking? Icewear Vezzo: Yeah I dropped Clarity 6 in December and it went crazy then right after that we came with the song “Balance” featuring Big Sean. But I have so much on the way, I got sh*t with Gotti and Tory Lanez coming. CONCRETE: How did the collaboration with you and Big Sean come about? Icewear Vezzo: That’s my dog. We already had a relationship prior to the song. I actually recorded that song right after I signed my contract with Motown Records. After that I texted Sean and was like, “Yo I just signed my deal. They had a big party for me up at the office.” He was like, “Congratulations – fall through the studio,” continued on next page
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because I didn’t see him since I got out. We was kicking it for like three hours not even thinking about music. That wasn’t even why I went there but I was getting ready to leave and Sean was like go ahead and play some beats let me hear some sh*t. So I played a few beats and when he heard that balance beat he immediately turned up on that b*tch CONCRETE: So what made you want to sigh to Motown? Icewear Vezzo: I signed because of the history. I made history. I’m the first Detroit rapper to sign to Motown that’s going down in the books. My name will be in a museum one day and that’s a fact! Anytime you can say you were the first at anything that’s historical and that’s why I signed. CONCRETE: Congrats on the partnership with Puma as well, how did that come about? Icewear Vezzo: Yea shout out to Rick Williams and Chanelle my manager. They actually put that together, he is from Detroit and he designed the shoe as well. I represent purple because purple means royalty and I came up off that color. It saved my life at times so that’s were the color way came from. They sold out in fifteen minutes in negative three degree weather by the time I got there the shoes were gone, my momma didn’t even get a pair. They handed out tickets like they were Jordan’s. It’s crazy because just seven months before this I was in jail stressing out not knowing what I’m going to do when I get out..
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CONCRETE: Where are you from originally? Duke Deuce: Memphis CONCRETE: Where did you get the name Duke Deuce? Duke Deuce: The name actually came from my Pops. He did music as well and his name is Duke so I’m Duke Deuce. CONCRETE: You signed to Quality Control recently how did that come about? Duke Deuce: I dropped a song called “Whole Lotta” last year and the video went viral. We had the drip dance to it and people were dancing to it all across the world. SheLovesMeechie is a celebrity dancer and did a dance to it. Offset ended up seeing it and hit me up on IG. Next thing you know I’m in LA. CONCRETE: Why did you choose to sign and not go the independent route? Duke Deuce: The reputation. We all know that QC is on their sh*t. CONCRETE: Do you feel the Memphis sound is starting to take over the Atlanta sound?
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Duke Deuce: It’s growing for sure. Not only the city but people that are not even from Memphis are on the wave. A lot of people using old Three Six Mafia samples and going crazy off of them. I think it’s just time for Memphis. CONCRETE: What is different about Memphis that gives the city it’s own vibe and sound? Duke Deuce: Memphis is just gangsta and it’s always been like that. I think that’s why so many other cities are attracted to it because the music and city is just real gangsta. CONCRETE: Can you tell us about your new single “YEH”? Duke Deuce: I just wanted to let folks know that I’m still out here getting it, I’m in the streets with it. I was paying homage at the beginning of it to Three Six Mafia, Crunchy Black to be exact. It’s that sound and style I’m bringing back the real crunk sh*t because Memphis is where it came from in the first place.
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CONCRETE: Where are you from? Lil Bike: I represent Champaign Illinois, I moved there from Louisiana and been out there since hurricane Katrina. CONCRETE: How did you get the name Lil Bike? Lil Bike: I changed my name to get out of all the street stuff I had going on and Lil Bike was like a new start. Plus I ride the beat like a bike. I actually said it in a song I said, “Call me Lil Bike because I lean like a kick stand.” The song went up and it stuck with me and people started calling me that. CONCRETE: Is it true that you own a couple of restaurants? Lil Bike: I’ve owned one for three years now called TK Cheese Steak. We just opened another one, Tia’s Chicken Box and it’s rolling good. CONCRETE: How did Louisiana influence your sound musically? Lil Bike: That’s what made me stand out so much in Illinois because I was coming from a different culture and had to adapt to a new culture. Illinois is rough as hell! I thought Louisiana was bad till I left it and got to Illinois. Everything sped up and it taught me how to be a man in these streets. CONCRETE: Can you tell us about you signing a deal? Lil Bike: I’m signed to Think It’s A Game records. They started off with Trinidad James, Rich Homie Quan,YFN Lucci and now it’s my turn. CONCRETE: What’s your relationship like with your label mates? Lil Bike: Great, nobody thinks they are better than anyone else. When I first met Lucci I was doing a song with him in the first few hours. Everybody at the label has been trying to uplift me and giving me advice. The love at Think It’s a Game is unconditional and that’s really why I signed. I didn’t even look at the contract because it’s a real family vibe. CONCRETE: What’s coming up next for you? Lil Bike: I’m dropping a EP called Fate, that was my little cousins name who got killed. I called it Fate because I wanted to show the world that they hurt me but they didn’t stop me. CONCRETE: Do you remember your first time smoking weed? Lil Bike: Man I don’t want to put my Grandma on blast but Granny got me high for the first sixty to seventy times. Soon as I was old enough she offered it but weed was never like a drug to me. My first time getting high made me quiet and I was able to think deeper than I ever thought.
CONCRETE: Where are you originally from? Fendi AGame: I’m originally from Lewisburg, TN. A small town about sixty miles from Nashville. CONCRETE: How does Hip-Hop influence you in an environment like that? Fendi AGame: Honestly, I didn’t start listening to hip-hop until my last few years in high school because I was into rock. I’m a musician too. I played the drums in a rock band. CONCRETE: Where did you get the name Fendi Agame from? Fendi AGame: I’m real big into fashion and when I first started going to MTSU I had a Fendi backpack and was always wearing Fendi so people started calling me Fendi. Agame is my click that me and my guys I grew up with started and it stands for A Group Of Ambitious Men Evolving. CONCRETE: For people who may have never heard you before, how would you describe your sound? Fendi AGame: You can feel my vocals. I would say real melodic. You’re going to bob your head to it, you’re going to vibe and I’m always saying some real stuff. CONCRETE: What music do you have out now? Fendi AGame: I’m pushing a single “My Round” feat. Schooly and the Black Hearts project. My most recent project is Fiendish Aria and it means wicked melodies. I used it because of the “F” and “A” in Fendi AGame. CONCRETE: Do you feel like it’s important to have concepts going into creating projects? Fendi AGame: Yes for sure because I feel like if you do it’ll stay structured and your not just jumping around. Everything has a meaning and people can grasp it more. CONCRETE: How did you and DJ Coop team up? Fendi AGame: I met him in the club spinning. I always knew if I was going to start making music and be serious with it I had to link with a DJ. I see a lot of people where I’m from that make music go and pass it out and nobody cares to listen to them. Whether it’s good or not, they just go about it the wrong way. If you get it in the hands of the DJs they spin music where people have to listen even when they don’t want to. CONCRETE: You won our Media Pass showcase, can you speak on that? Fendi AGame: That’s probably the best showcase and one of my biggest accomplishments! Just the exposure alone and that’s why I told my people we need to go all in at this showcase and we did and it paid off BIG!
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Hometown: Nashville TN Measurements: 36” 34” 37” Turn Ons: My biggest turn on right now is when a man shows chivalry. It’s so rare to see a man show the basic acts and gestures. Most men don’t even know what side of the sidewalk they’re supposed to be walking on! It’s a major turn on whenever I meet someone who does the little things. A lot of people don’t notice it but I definitely do. Turn Offs: The biggest turn off is when a man is childish. I need a man who can be serious and who can sit with me and have an adult convo. I need a man who every now and then goes out to have fun but the majority of the time is focused on me, the house, the bills, and our future. I spend my time planning a life and a future for myself and it’s exhausting being around someone who only want to party, drink, and chill. Or even a man who only wants to joke around and laugh. Like can we sit down and budget real quick? Favorite Designer: Right now I’m IN LOVE with Louis Vuitton. Everything Louis. It’s so gorgeous. I mean that’s just right now though. Last year I was obsessed with Michael Kors, so who knows how long this will last. I just recently starting getting into designer brands. Favorite Music: I love Cardi B. I also love Sam Hunt and I mix it up a little bit and listen to Amy Winehouse. I guess you could say I have a wide range in taste in music.
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CONCRETE: What’s your name and where are you originally from? Jared SFS: My name is Jared but people call me Jay. I am originally from Atlanta, Ga CONCRETE: What brings you to Nashville? Jared SFS: I actually been in Nashville for ten years now. I remember Nashville before the traffic and the gentrification. At the time I just moved here following the money. This city had the highest paying job offer at the time. CONCRETE: Have you always been in the restaurant industry? Jared SFS: No I haven’t. That’s really the wildest thing about it. I started this business with little restaurant experience. I just knew there was a need for good food in Antioch and that it would be a good investment. CONCRETE: What made you want to franchise Seafood Sensation and not just start your own business? Jared SFS: I’m a practical person and like I said I had only a little experience in the restaurant industry. So I knew that it was better to use a product that was already proven. I had already been eating at the original Seafood Sensation on Jefferson St for ten years so that’s kind of how the whole idea came about. Just a couple years back Seafood Sensation was like the only spot to get good seasoned seafood. They were here before this whole seafood restaurant wave started. So I just knew if it was on another side of town it would pop. CONCRETE: Antioch has received a bad rap over the past few years what was it that made you want to open your location there? Jared SFS: That just came from me being form Atlanta. In Atlanta its nothing to see a black owned or operated business. Coming to Nashville it was a shock because you didn’t see that too much. So when I had the opportunity to do it myself I just wanted to make sure I put it in area with my people. Nothing against anybody else but it’s just good sometimes to have a spot where you can be around your people and your culture. Antioch has good opportunity to be that area. Closest thing I have had to that Atlanta feel. CONCRETE: There is a lot of seafood spots opening up, what separates Seafood Sensation from all the others? Jared SFS: Well the first thing is WE ARE THE ORIGINAL. Years before anyone even thought that non coastal cities needed seafood we were providing it. I always say its like the hot chicken wave the city is on now. Everybody sells hot chicken but if you know then you know the only place for the real deal is Princes. Same thing with us and seafood. The original is always going to better than the copy. On top of that our food really is the best no lie. You cant get it seasoned how we seasoned anywhere else.
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Another thing I like is everything is cooked to order. You don’t have to worry about if your food been sitting out. Nothing sits under a heat lamp or none of that. We don’t start cooking your food until you order. Hot, fresh, and good every time. CONCRETE: Do you guys have all the same menu items or is there a difference between any of the franchises? Jared SFS: Seeing that they all have different owners everyone adds a menu item that they like to the menu. But the basics are definitely the same. Same good seasoning, same cooking techniques, same seafood product. CONCRETE: If someone reading this has never eaten at Seafood Sensation what dish would you suggest they try first? Jared SFS: Our biggest sellers would be the snow crab legs of course, fried catfish platter, then our grilled salmon and shrimp. If you haven’t been there before then I would say start there. If you haven’t been already then you have got to try the original before you go try all the other spin offs.
CONCRETE: Where are you originally from? Teddy Rose: I’m from Nashville born and raised. I grew up in the Antioch area. I went to Cameron Middle School and then football lead me to Brentwood Academy. It was a trip from Antioch to Brentwood everyday for six years but that was the sacrifice our parents made for us. CONCRETE: You mentioned playing football when did you transition to music? Teddy Rose: Music has always been in me. It just so happened that I was also good at sports. I let sports carry me through but I was always writing and freestyling. That’s kind of how I got a name at BAMA. I was this freshman who was an invited walk on. There were all these guys freestyling in the dorm room and I just jumped in and started rapping. When opportunities present themselves I always jump to them. CONCRETE: What do you feel influenced your sound? Teddy Rose: I was influenced by artist like Nipsey Hussle. I grew up on 2pac and Snoop and a lot of underground cats but I guess it’s a mixture of all that then a mixture of my personality and my experiences. Certain moods really determine how I attack. If I could make my own genre of music, I would call it slow bounce. CONCRETE: Locked In is the title of your most recent project what’s meaning behind the title and where were you at mentally when making it? Teddy Rose: Mentally, I was at a place where there is no plan b. There is no comfort. I quite doing the nine to five but I was fortunate that I was able to be on the road with my pops driving eighteen wheelers. There were times where we didn’t have AC or I am trying to write verses while on the road or waking up at 6am to write outside the truck. All that to say this is where my mindset was I was tunnel vision, I’m locked in so much that I would go to any length to get this done.
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CONCRETE: What is your top three songs off of Locked In and why? Teddy Rose: My top three is “My Crown”, “Now Boarding” and “Piece of Me”. I would say “My Crown” is about social injustice and I speak on things that are going on in everyday life. I’m not the type of rapper that speaks on sh*t people can’t relate to. “Piece of me”, I feel people will be able to relate to that on a relationship level. The ups and downs and they can kind of hear my story and may be able to relate to them. I approached that song different and I think people enjoyed it. As far as “Now Boarding” goes it’s really just me telling people that I’m on the way. CONCRETE: You wrote some anthems for BAMA and Houston Football teams can you tell us about that? Teddy Rose: One of the songs was for Alabama Crimson Tide and it was called “The Tide is coming”. I used every players name on the offense, defense and special teams and gave it to the media guys and they put it in the film. The second one was for Houston and that year they went to the playoffs so I did the same thing and it got to the GM of the Texans. Next thing you know it’s on the radio being played and Bun B ended up jumping on the record and it went from there. CONCRETE: Your single “Surf and Lurk” is going crazy how did that come about? Teddy Rose: It’s a record that caters to the summer vibe. So far it’s been picked up by 96.7 The Beat in Atlanta shout out to DJ Scream he showed me some love and had me down for an interview to premiere the record. It’s also on HOT107 in Atlanta shout out to Stu for having me come down for an interview. The song is also on Hip Hop Nation and was on DJ Drama’s Gangsta Grill Mix during birthday bash. Clark Atlanta hopefully will continue playing it on College radio and it’s just been crazy love.
CONCRETE: What’s next for Teddy Rose? Teddy Rose: Well I just got off tour with Bun B and dropped a new project titled Connect The Dots and also gearing up to drop a project titled Sounds from Sulphur Dell. The meaning behind it is that Sulphur Dell is the original Sounds stadium. Where the stadium is now is the original grounds and that area is called Sulphur Dell. That whole area by the river was were the immigrant and free slaves stayed. We are pretty much talking about the whole gentrification situation. Also hip-hop has always been here in Nashville but it’s overshadowed by country music. Just like that Sulphur Dell land was always there but no one noticed it until they built this new stadium to bring people back. It’s my responsibility to bring that attention back to the city but for hip-hop.
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CONCRETE Magazine - Ear 2 The Streets VOL.3
DJ Svnny D is back once again with the third installment of the CONCRETE Magazine Ear 2 The Streets mixtape series. This time not only does he recruit Nashville talent but a few heavy hitters from Memphis, Detroit, and the ATL. This is a well put together project featuring artist on the come up and artist that are already established. Artist like Icewear Vezzo, Duke Deuce, Lil Bike, Vac, Luh Stain, Fooly, B.Stokes, and Action Pack AP to name a few. We stay giving you what’s up next and this project is just that. Go click play and and add us to your playlist.
Teddy Rose - Connect The Dots
Teddy Rose aka Young Rose didn’t miss a beat with this new project. Immediately after pushing play it’s obvious Teddy has honed in on his ability to demand the listeners ear without asking. He attacks every type of beat you can imagine and does it with precision. Going from a dark gritty beat on “Never Looking Back” to flexing over a Bay area type beat on “Cop By The Piece”. Teddy literally made a project with something for everyone, he even shows off his singing ability on a few songs. Connect The Dots is a must have in the music library.
Trapperman Dale - Dale Chapo
It’s not every day a heavy hitter producer such as Bandplay agrees to produce almost an entire album for an up and coming artist. Trapperman Dale is definitely an exception. He has been on fire the past year and has gained the ears of the listeners. We knew at least the production would be on point but honestly Trapperman Dale jumps on each beat rapping his ass off. With a name like Trapperman Dale and Dale Chapo you automatically assume the project is full of trap talk which wouldn’t be to far from the truth but Trap shows his ability to switch lanes on records like “Smoking Flowers”, “Pitbull in a skirt”, and “Taking My Licc”. We enjoyed this project from start to finish.
ChanDon Papi 23 - Tattoo$-N-War Wound$
ChanDon Papi 23 teams up with DJ V.I.P. the official DJ for the late Nipsey Hussle, to bring us ChanDon Papi’s latest mixtape titled Tattoo$ - N - War Wound$. This ten song project is full of educated street rap. A perfect blend of strong lyrics and witty punch lines over quality beat selections. It seems to be a great way to never go wrong. ChanDon Papi 23 spits with a passion that lets the listeners know he lives what he raps. Overall this is a dope project worth adding to the catalog. Go push play!
K.I.N.G The MC - The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.
Let us start off with saying GOOD GOD!! K.I.N.G The Mc is the truth when it comes to this rap sh*t. He leads off the project with the title record that is guaranteed to make you want to stay tuned in for what’s next. Word play, delivery, cadence , content and production raised the bar. Songs like “Gifted” , “Dear Mama”, “True Colors” and “Die Lost” will literally touch the soul. If you are looking for dope music with content then look no more just search this project, dive in and support the real.
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CONCRETE: How did you get your start in music? Goldie Mac: When I was locked up I started beating on the table and rapping. It was like a competition in there so I started rapping too. CONCRETE: Was it hard for you to write while locked up? Goldie Mac: I have a harder time writing while I’m out here because when I was in there I would use music as my way of escaping. CONCRETE: Can you tell us about your single “Liven the Trap” and how it came about? Goldie Mac: It really was a joke for real. I was over at my dudes spot and he got stuff everywhere. I was like you living like a viking, I was just playing and said I really live in the trap and it just became a song from there. CONCRETE: Your project Mister Brick Boy is hosted by Bigga Rankin how did you guys link? Goldie Mac: I performed at a showcase in Atlanta and it was like thirty rappers from all over the south and Bigger Rankin
would host the winners EP. So I went down there, turned up and I won. CONCRETE: What would you say your favorite song is off the project and why? Goldie Mac: “Can’t Turn Back” because it’s me. I talk about my life and tell my story in that song. I guess that has to be my favorite. CONCRETE: How did your distribution deal with Empire happen? Goldie Mac: One of my managers has a relationship with an Empire rep. We went down there and they said no at first because my following wasn’t big enough. I’m a street dude I didn’t know about promoting through IG and that labels look at that and your streams. CONCRETE: What’s next for Goldie Mac? Goldie Mac: I’m dropping a joint project with Blasian called Beauty and the Beast then I’m dropping a mixtape called Holdin’ My Nuts
CONCRETE: Where are you originally from? Chop: Originally from Chicago but moved to Columbia,TN when I was about five years old. CONCRETE: Where does the name Chop come from? Chop: It comes from my Mom. When I was a kid I was real short and real chubby and my mom would call me Chapo. It has nothing to do with El Chapo or selling drugs it came from my mom when I was like seven years old. CONCRETE: What was it like growing up in Columbia,Tennessee? Chop: Growing up in Columbia comes with a lot of hatred and a lot of negativity. On some real sh*t for all the people trying to stay focused and do the right thing those are the type of people you have to look out for. Those people will help influence you to do better because there is so much out here influencing you to do bad. CONCRETE: Who were some of your influences coming up? Chop: Yo Gotti, I followed him since CM1 and then SPM. SPM could relate to all types off people and that’s what I want to do. I want people to be able to relate to my music. I’m really trying to reach the people in the struggle. CONCRETE: What was that moment you decided to start rapping? Chop: I’ve been rapping since I was about thirteen years old. I was going through some life problems. My pops got sick and lost his job and we started going through some real hard times. I started experimenting with drugs and gangs and the only thing positive in my life was music. I would lock myself in my room and start coping with it on paper. I didn’t take it serious until one day I was freestyling and my homie said you got it you should get in the studio. Music got me through my Pops death, my homies death, incarcerations and a lot more. CONCRETE: How does it feel coming up as a Latino artist in a city where there isn’t very many? Chop: It makes me super proud to be Latino. Like you said there isn’t many and I feel I stand out. I’m here to stand up for my people and everything we represent. All the struggles and craziness that’s going on. I want to be able to represent us in a positive way. I still have negativity in my music when it comes to gang banging and shooting people but at the same time it’s what’s real and I’m not about to sugar coat anything. I want the younger generation to have something to look up to. When both your parents can’t get health insurance, or social security or even a driver license like mine couldn’t then you need someone who relates to that for you to look up to.
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