6-8 ........................... Yo Gotti 10 ............................... Ray J 12 ....................... CD Reviews 14 ..................... DVD Reviews 20 ...... What’s Your Issue w/ Big Sue 22 .................... DJ Devin Steel 23 ..... 100 Things All Boys Should Learn 24 ........................Whip Game 26-28 ..............The Memphis 10 30 .......................... DJ Charts Welcome to the first ever Concrete Magazine - Memphis Edition! We will be bringing you the information you want to know. We will always keep it 100%. So come ride with us. Published by: Concrete Magazine Ad Sales: Ricardo Hunter Editorial In Chief: “Corporate” Cory Sparks Creative Director: Tieriney Hendricks Distribution Manager: Phil Jones Art Director: Audie Adams Publishing Consultant: Bryan Deese
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CONCRETE: Describe your independent hustle? Yo Gotti: I compare my independent hustle to the streets...anyway you can flip money. A dollar to two dollars and what have you . CONCRETE: TVT is going bankrupt. Its obvious you aren’t. How is it that the artist that the label didn’t get behind is doing better than everybody? Yo Gotti: TVT going bankrupt really don’t affect me in my eyes. Cause I built my situation to run based upon me and my company. Which is I & E. So you know, when I heard it, it went in one ear and out the other. Cause I was like, I don’t really know the difference if they bankrupt or not. My situation gone run the same way, we gone grind the same way. I’m a still grind under the same terms, you know what I’m saying. I believe in doing everything myself hands on. CONCRETE: We know your hot throughout the South. Since the TVT fold, what labels are getting at you? Yo Gotti: We talked to everybody. You know everybody called. They say I’m like the first round draft pick that’s hot in the street right now. So everybody of course want you to come and make them some money. I ain’t really tripping about it. I ain’t the type of person that gets
excited about big names. Like none of that really mean nothing to me. I’m just looking for a good situation. Whether TVT get their situation right and keep it running or whether I go to another situation. I’m just looking for a good situation to feed me and my family. I ain’t really tripping on the big names. CONCRETE: Let’s talk about legacies. You are already a Memphis legend. How does the Yo Gotti brand continue to get stronger? Yo Gotti: I think that we keep building on it. Like this is what we do and we take it serious and try to be professional. I was telling my new artist that NBA players practice several times a week. People don’t see that, people just see the game and hear about how much money they make, but it takes practice to make perfect. That’s what I do, that’s what people don’t see. I’m in the studio like every other day, recording songs or I’m thinking about how I can make my show better or I’m doing something that’s practicing what I’m doing. That’s what most artist don’t do now a days. Most artist waking up late, high from last night, thinking that’s the life. That ain’t how I look at it. I look at it as a job. continued on pg 8
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CONCRETE: Will we ever get another “official” album for you are or you gonna keep it street and just drop mixtapes and keep the streets fed? Yo Gotti: I got an album done and I’m working on another one. I got a new mixtape done. My work ethic is (strong). I got so many songs it’s crazy. I will be dropping my abum this year, soon. Like I said, as soon as TVT figure out what they gone do, I’m ready. I drop mixtapes, but really they be albums cause on my mixtapes the music be original. I give you 12 to 14 original songs, so it’s really like an album. We just call it a mixtape so we can put it out. See, I ain’t worried about saving the songs cause I can make plenty of them. I just deliver the music to the fans cause I know they want to hear it. I ain’t gone make the fans wait cause the record label can’t get their situation together. CONCRETE: What’s your 5 year goal? Music executive? Retired and living it up? Yo Gotti: My 5 year goal is to keep making money so I can provide for my family. Keep my brother out of jail, keep my sister in school, make sure my kids be raised right. I’m a hustler, so whether I be doing this or whatever, I’m a be making money in the next 5 years, I know that. Right now I already do real estate, we already do 18 wheeler trucks, we already do more than music now. So we are already setting up to be successful in the next 5 years. We already signing new artist, preparing them, creating them . CONCRETE: What’s next for I & E? Who’s on the label and who’s up next? Yo Gotti: Right now we got this young cat out of Blackhaven, King Gates called MainMain (Young & Gutter) that’s what he go by, we got him coming up. Of course All-Star is still signed through my production deal with Cash Money/Universal and we still looking for new artists. CONCRETE: Explain exactly why you are the King of Memphis? Yo Gotti: I’m the King of Memphis cause people want me to be. I don’t really got no ego or I don’t believe I’m, people use this word, cocky. Where I’m from those words don’t even exist. I don’t really know the meaning. I say I’m the “King of Memphis” cause the Memphis population want me to say that. I’m the people’s champ. I’m the people’s people and if that’s what they want me to be that’s what I am. I’m the reporter or the spokesperson. They weren’t feeling what the so called King of Memphis was doing and they figured I should be the King of Memphis. I took upon the title in the election and went with it. You know it wasn’t nothing personal to try to diss the other people who saying that they was, I ain’t got no problem with them saying that they are, the people in Memphis just don’t feel like they was. CONCRETE: Anything else you want to add? Yo Gotti: Be on the lookout on up and coming I & E artists and a couple of new projects we putting out this year. Blackout Squad Three, putting out the I & E Mob CD with everybody on the label together. Best believe we ain’t going nowhere. We gone keep it hot.
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Ray J is one of R&B music’s hottest upcoming superstars. With his energy driven and distinctive performances, Ray J is a force to be reckoned with. Although the heavy influence of hip-hop in his life led him entering the music industry as a rapper, he has since answered his true calling as a multi-talented artist, not afraid to show his tender side through his impressive vocal skills. All I feel is a collection of masterfully executed tunes. The songs range from grimy, Southern influenced selections to the more infectious, dance club influenced tunes. The collection of diverse tunes includes the production of R&B superstar producer Rodney Jerkins. Rodney brings the unique blend of synthesized bass laden drum beats and unforgettable melodies to the album. This Ray J release pushes the boundaries like no other Ray J release has in the past, and it does so with sexy appeal. CONCRETE: Great. So Ray, you got an album coming out. Tell me about it Ray J: The album is called “All I Feel”. It’s coming out April 8th and I’m excited about it. I’m just feeling good, I’m feeling the music, I’m feeling the love, I’m feeling the artistic vibe to just come out strong..you know. I got a new label. We independent, we back again with Koch, so we just excited to work hard and reach out to all the fans. CONCRETE: Now Ray J. Did I hear correctly that you have your own label? Ray J: Yeah. It’s called Knockout Entertainment. It’s an independent label. I’m like the only R & B C.E.O. out there. I’m really trying to push this R & B on a major scale. We are an independent company with a real major look. Knockout Entertainment is a joint venture with myself, Shaquille O’Neal and Money Mark, a company called DEJA34. We will be marketed and distributed by KOCH records. It’s a good look for all of us and we’re just ready to make it happen. CONCRETE: What inspired “All I Feel”? Ray J: Just the stuff I’ve been through, the stuff I seen and the stuff I’ve dealt with in relationships. All around the board, it’s just my life. It’s really anybody’s life. It’s just something to make you feel good vibe out to. CONCRETE: Are there any collaborations on the album? Ray J: Yeah I did collaborations for this first 250,000 copies. I got The Game, Shorty Mack, Rodney Jerkins Productions, Track Masters, Styles P. I got a few more features, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Lil Kim, all that’s coming too. CONCRETE: How do you feel this album is different from the last album? Ray J: It’s Always different, you always grow. You always look and learn and see more things than you have seen before. It’s 2008 new situations, new deal, new relationships, new ups and downs.
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Rick Ross - Trilla
Miami’s #1 Hustler, Rick Ross is back but this time ‘trilla’. His new album, Trilla shows the evolution of his hustling ways with songs like, “Boss” featuring T-Pain to sitting in the back of luxury cars alongside Jay-Z rapping over melodic beats in “Maybach Music Music”. As the title says it is Trilla, so he brings a few more people along for the ride including Young Jeezy, Trick Daddy and Lil’ Wayne on, “Luxury Tax.” The highlight of the song comes from Lil’ Wayne, ‘They say I ain’t great until someone assassinate/ and I feel like MLK/ I have a dream to be your worst nightmare.’ Production comes from none other than The Runners as well as Mannie Fresh, Drumma Boy, and J.R. Rotem. Overall, Rick Ross speaks more of the glitz and glam, than the after affects of the hustle. You hear his money progress but a lack of lyrical substance.
Shawty Lo - Units In The City D4L’s member Shawty Lo decides to take it solo and drops his debut album Units in the City City. With the hit single, “They Know” spreading everywhere, listeners want to know what else he has to offer. Much of the album is filled with repetitive lines but numerous club hits and whip bangers. He represents Bankhead to the fullest throughout the album, hoping maybe ‘The King of the South’ T.I. will appear. But track “Dunn Dunn”, smashes that wish with subliminal lashes, ‘N*** say he from the Westside/ Got Darn/ It must be two sides.’ Features include Gucci Mane, Yola and other ATL folk from his camp. Although he comes prepared with gyrating beats and delivery his flow seems stable at L.O.
Erykah Badu - New Emerykah
As soon as you press play to Erykah Badu’s newest LP, New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War you smell the funk and feel soul through your speakers. The first song, “Amerykahn Promise,” automatically gives listeners a 1970s experience with exciting horns and attention grabbing commands. Her soul shines through on “Me.” By opening up, ‘Had two babies different dudes/and for them both my love was true/ this is my last interview’ she shows us that she too is human. Ms. Badu delivers a cool, suttle feel on “Telephone,” as her voice compliments the slow paced melody. The masses were probably captivated by her single, “Honey” which sounds like nothing else on her album. Production includes, Shafiq Husayn, Madlib, Roy Ayers, Kareem Riggins, and the legendary 9th Wonder. Erykah Badu presents New Amerykah, her way!
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Nicky Barnes, Mr. Untouchable You won’t find Denzel Washington or Russell Crowe in this documentary. Viewers follow the true story of Harlem drug addict turned multimillionaire drug lord, Nicky Barnes. Mr. Untouchable himself tells true accounts of how he went from the most powerful, black drug distributor in New York City to the witness protection program; hiding from the ones whom he snitched on, The Council, his own crime family. Detailed accounts from his ex-wife, Thelma Grant, associates, attorneys and undercover cops make the story come to life. And a videotaped phone conversation between Barnes and “American Gangster” Frank Lucas makes the documentary extra juicy. The ultimate question becomes to snitch or not snitch. Plots full of revenge, greed, and illegal business keep people fascinated with the drug world. -Tatiana R.
CamJackers The independent film, Camjackers documents two rich naïve film school graduates who decide to do a “ghetto” interpretation of an ancient Greek play in a rough area of Los Angeles. As soon as they’re finished filming the movie, all the equipment is stolen by three city youths. The youths decide to make a film of their own and this is where the real story begins. The “ghetto” interpretation of the Greek play turns into a documentary on the underground hip-hop scene in Los Angeles. Graffiti, tattoo tales, compelling rhymes and crazy editing all make the movie original. Viewers also get to know the more poetic side of rap and how it influences the hip-hop culture.
Murder Cit City, Detroit: 100 Years of Crime and Violence And you thought HBO’s The Wire made Baltimore look bad. The documentary Murder City, Detroit: 100 Years of Crime and Violence smacks viewers in the face with statistics, archival news footage and interviews all painting the Motor City as a grim, American nightmare. The film starts with the Purple Gang, a loose collection of prohibition-era Jewish gangsters. It then covers major Detroit crime syndicates in the following decades including YBI (Young Boys Incorporated) and Detroit’s Italian Mafia. There’s a brief interview with YBI hitman Kurt “Kurt McGurt” Napier from prison. The Detroit Police attribute more than 60 murders to YBI. It wraps up with BMF (Black Mafia Family) who created the ‘make it rain’ fad in Detroit then brought it to Atlanta. The FBI called BMF the largest African-American drug orginization in the United States. It is a fascinating documentary.
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Yo Big Sue, What would you do if you found your boyfriend’s porn collection...assuming it’s all normal stuff and nothing freaky or anything? I just found my new guy’s collection and I’m wondering what I should do? Sue Says: Let me guess, you ‘found’ the collection on the 2nd shelf of his closet under a stack of hoop shorts? Snoopin’ ass. Well, to take his mind off the fact that you’re a nosy broad, I’d suggest you ‘get him up’ in the morning with one of them playin’ on the flat screen.
Yo Big Suzie, If you were having an online relationship, would you want to meet the person? Would just using them for the sex be ok? How do you cheat on a online lover? Sue says: I don’t do the on-line dating. In my opinion, it’s so impersonal; you really just meeting the best representative of the person you’re IM’ing/emailing/etc. However, for those who are trying the online dating/myspace smashing, I’d recommend doing some real thorough research. There’s nothing in this world you can’t find with Google and a cell phone. To address your second question...is it ever okay to use someone just for sex? (If you answered yes, I could introduce you to someone with a newly acquired porn-stash) Finally, cheating on an on-line lover...seriously? See that lil red ‘X’ in the upper right hand corner? Yeah, click that and go get some fresh air. Good luck!
Wanna stalk Sue? Check her on @ myspace.com/bigsueshouse. Also Big Sue is the hardest working woman in radio. Catch her on K-97 (WHRK) from 6am-10am on The Mike Evans Morning Show and running her mouth some more from 10am-2pm during her Midday’s. Got a question for Sue? Email her at concretesue@gmail with the subject line “I Got Issues” and she’ll offer the best/worst advice known to man.
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He’s had the #1 Afternoon Radio Show in Memphis for 11 years in a row. He started DJing in high school and carried the skill to college where he rocked Greek parties. He also got on the campus radio station WUTM with a 4 hour mixshow. After earning a BA in Communications he was the first on air personality hired by Hot 107.1 in Memphis. His reign atop afternoon radio began there, but has since moved down the dial to K97. City: Memphis Radio: WHRK K-97 program director Clubs: Fridays -Silver Spoon Ultra Lounge Saturdays - Level 2 Night CLub Awards: - Mixshow Power Summit Afternoon - Personality Of The Year Nominee 2001 - SEA Awards Radio Personality of The Year 2004 - NAARAS Live DJ Of The Year 2003 - Radio & Records Magazine Urban Music Dir. Of The Year - Radio & Records WHRK K-97 Station of the Year 2007 - Source Magazine 2002, 2000,1999 - Vibe Magazine Feature Article 2006 - Cornerstone Mixtape Dirty South DJ’s #5 Education: University of Tennessee at Martin Online: devinsteel.com and k97fm.com Goals: - Continue to have the #1 afternoon show in the city - Educate Memphis artists on careers in the Music Industry - Help colleges students get a foot in the door with radio - Create new opportunities to express my DJ skills - Implement creative ways to help Memphis grow
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110 Tasks: Every Young Man Should Know How To Do Before the Ninth Grade www.110tasks.org | by: Anthony Nichelson published by: Urbana Marketing
PART 1 of 4 Wash and iron his own clothes Shine shoes Call a taxi/Take a cab ride alone Properly use an encyclopedia Read! Operate a small paper route Give a firm handshake Groom himself completely, head to toe Write a 3 paragraph letter Eat with proper utensils Plan a weekly schedule of activities Inflate a basketball or football Wear a suit, tie and dress shoes Open a savings account, unassisted
Pack his clothes for a three day trip Register for summer employment Independently read a news magazine Defend himself, without excessive force Walk away from an argument Respect the role of teachers Assemble a model car Know his clothing measurements Hem a pair of pants/Sew buttons on Send a thank you note Read and understand a “table of contents” Properly use a dictionary Effectively use a library Talk respectfully with women and seniors
For the complete list go to myspace.com/concretemagmemphis
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2000 Cadillac Deville Owner: Roc
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DJ Houston - myspace.com/djhouston 1 Yo Gotti - Nite Life 2 Lil Wayne - Lollipop 3 Usher - In This Club 4 Kinfolk Thugs - Dump Truck 5 V.I.C. - Get Silly 6 Gucci Manne - I’m a Dog 7 Rick Ross - Luxury Tax 8 Grafiti Boyz - Lateral 9 Rocko - Tomorrow 10 Lil Wil - My Dougie
Big Suzie - myspace.com/bigsueshouse 1 Lyfe Jennings f/ T.I. - Brand New 2 Dwele - I’m Cheatin’ 3 Big Boi f/ Andre 3000, Raekwon - Royal Flush 4 Yo Gotti f/ Rick Ross - Miami 5 Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love 6 Static Major (RIP) f/ Lil Wayne - I Got My 7 The Roots - Get Busy 8 Shawty Redd f/ Snoop - Drifter (rmx) 9 Sean Garrett f/ Ludacris - Grippin’ 10 throwback: Cyndi Lauper - I Drove All Night
DJ 007 - Myspace.com/007thegreat 1 Lil Wil - My Dougie (rmx) 2 Gorilla Zoe f/ Gucci Mane - Waddle 3 Rocko - Tomorrow 4 2 Deep - Feel Like a Mil 5 Yo Gotti - Nite Life 6 Shawty Lo - Dunn Dunn 7 Kinfolk Thugs - Dump Truck 8 Gorilla Zoe f/ Yung Joc - Juice Box 9 Novakaine - The Glock 10 Baby D - I’m Bout Money
DJ Freddy Hydro - myspace.com/freddyhydro 1 Rocko - Tomorrow 2 Mike Jones - Drop & Gimme 50 3 Lil Ru - Nasty Song 4 Trai’D - Gutta Chick 5 Soulja Boy - Yaaaaaaaaa! 6 Snoop Dogg - Life Of The Party 7 Kinfolk Thugs - Dump Truck 8 Rocko - Busy 9 Usher f/ Young Jeezy - In This Club 10 Young L.A. - Ain’t I
DJ Devin Steel 1 Yo Gotti f/ Ric Ross - Miami 2 Lil Wayne - Lollipop 3 Usher f/ Bey & Lil Wayne - In the Club II 4 Rick Ross - Shinnin 5 2 Pistols - She Got It 6 Rocko - Dis Morning 7 Shawty Red - Drifter 8 Jazmine Sullivan - Need U Bad 9 Dream - Luv Your Gurl 10 Static Major f/ Lil Wayne - I Got My
Editor’s Picks - myspace.com/corysparks 1 Big Boi f/ Andre 3000, Raekwon - Royal Flush 2 Rick Ross - Luxury Tax 3 Jay-Z - Ain’t I 4 Rocko - Dis Morning 5 Nas - Be a Nigger 6 Rich Boy f/ Shawty Lo - Wrist Out 7 Kinfolk Thugs - Dump Truck 8 3 Deep - Flexible 9 Ray J - Boyfriend 10 Stat Quo - Double Bubble