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b*right deep thinkers d. bridge allen halas
THE
ISSUE MOVEMENT
table of contents 4 6 10 12 18 21 22 25 26 28 29
THE MOVEMENT ISSUE ALPHABET SOUP MISSION 10 ELEVEN NOT FOR SALE AIMING UP LET IT BE KNOWN ON THE LEASH MASTERING THE CRAFT HEAVY THINKING ON THE SCENE CONTRIBUTORS
LETTER FROM THE
EDITOR It’s been a long time coming. For about a year actually, I have been plotting on the release of the first official issue of CopyWrite Magazine. With articles done, layouts complete, interviews, and collaborations all overseen by me, here is where I get stuck. How do I introduce myself when proper introductions are not my kind of thing? I guess the simplest way to do it is just spit it out and kick all the formalities out the door. So here go’s: I’m Lexi, also known as Dirty, Creator & Editor-n-Chief of CopyWrite Magazine. As a native to the mid-west, lover of the urban world, and active member in the artistic community I have developed a mentality that the act of doing, making, seeing, and knowing are all processes that should be documented and shared. It is this constant flow of information that allows for the modern world to breath. With out it your favorite social networks would be irrelevant, your favorite artist would get no play and all those things you define “Steezy” probably would have never reached your eyes. So here I am giving you a spark. This magazine is copulations of dreams trying to morph into realities. Even my own. Starting a magazine with nothing and making it your everything is no easy task. My goal is to give the reader (Yes that’s YOU!) Some things to consider, with no sugar coated filter. It’s no big secret that the media will manipulate the truth to fulfill their needs. However, even though media (like our magazines) do have the ability to interject thoughts or concepts into the minds of our audience, we at CopyWrite find it important to speak the truth and value all opinions of our readers and contributors. There needs to be an idea, thought or inspiration imbedded into you before you can create a “place”, a place where everything is fair game; hence the word fair. This is that place. I urge you to come along as the community of self motivated individuals, open minds and revolutionary expression unfolds. This what we have been waiting for.
Welcome to the real world. Muah!
n o s n u r B . S i x e L
THE
MOVEMENT ISSUE [
4
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copywrite tries to define milwaukee’s urban culture
milwaukee Monumental impacts, where do they start? Grass roots mentality has become a way of executing success in the urban world. The hustle, the grind, the go, no matter what you call it, the credit for this work is not always given until it hits the big scene and the masses are screaming for more. Here we document the start, the moment where the essence is pure and its impact has just begun. As CopyWrite starts its journey, we bring local talent, organizations, and Milwaukee’s hip-hop culture into the light with us. No filter. All raw. This is CopyWrite. This is the Movement. Welcome to our world.
C O N D E N S E D
ALPHABET SOUP DNA x AB 6
If you’re in the right place at the right time, you might just meet the right people with the right mind. Ducked off in the corner of a Mickey D’s, bobbing his head to the music reverberating from his headphones I spotted DayNAge (Day and Age). Waiting not far to him sat the tall and relaxed looking AB (A - B). I pulled up a chair and analyzed my surroundings, little did I know, I was about to be given a sneak peak into a world of intellectual bliss and uncharted waters. Waters I discovered were more then worthy to explore. “What are you listening to?” I asked DayNAge as he scanned over the XXL magazine in his hand. “I’m actually listening to myself. It’s the single I’m about to drop called Danny DeVito.” Curious of the songs content I asked to hear it. As the unique voice sent electric pulsations over the beat I couldn’t help but to sway my head back and forth to the catchy hook and tempo. Including the gut jabbing bars featured by AB on the track, the song was pretty damn good. Each of them with a significantly different presence on the song but complimentary personas sealed the deal and made me question, “What’s the worst that could happen on my Danny DeVito?” Two years earlier AB & DayNAge met playing basketball with a mutual friend (DLo) on the Marquette University campus. As they became acquainted they often conversed about music and came to realize that their taste in artist was awfully similar. Soon they would begin to freestyle together and after the first impromptu cypher; they discovered each party had undeniable talent that couldn’t be stop. Freestyles turned into songs. Songs turned into mixtapes…and mixtapes are now transforming into albums.
Where DayNAge had been rapping since 2003, AB didn’t start to take to rapping till his sophomore year in high school and really only started taking it seriously until he got to Marquette and was introduced to the WordLife CAMP. “Ever since then we have just been making magic” professed AB, “that’s really the only word I can use to explain it.” DayNAge reflects on their encounters leading to their partnership and pin points that Curren$y really made them click. The “Smokey Robinson” tape to be exact. DayNAge: “Back when I started rapping Curren$y was my favorite rapper. That’s back when he was with No Limit Records & before my name was DayNAge. My name was actually Young Spitta. I liked him so much I damn near took his name.” He laughed. “But you know after a while you can only look up so much to a rapper and what they do. So first you steal his name, then what’s next his style? I had to stop and go in my own direction.” AB: “My homies from back in Chicago actually put me on Curren$y. They were all so into the underground movement. And once I heard dude spit I was on.” ’First time we heard the Smokey Robinson tape the ‘CAMP members’ and I were going to the movies to see Clash of the Titans.’ “We just started chopin’ it up. It was so random but that’s just how it happened.” Indeed Curren$y The Hot Spitta has a style that’s definitely killing on the rap scene but I had to wonder if these two talents had there own way of going in that wasn’t a bite off of another rapper. So I asked: “Have you guys honed in on your own style yet?” DayNAge hopped on the question with no hesitation. “Yes, yes, yes. We have our own. With me
rapping since 2003 my style has developed. It had to come eventually, but (AB) found his style so quick. He is in his own lane right now. No rapper in the world makes music like him. Closest rapper I could say that’s making anything similar is Lupe Fiasco and he is not even the same. It’s like one foot in and one foot out. Yea AB is in his own lane.” It just so happens, that Lupe Fiasco is AB’s favorite artist. With both Lupe and AB being from the same city, displaying conscious messages, witty remarks and rhythmical overtones in the way they deliver their lyrics, I could see why DayNAge would mention legendary Fiasco while commenting on AB’s style. AB: “Being around two rappers, PC (another affiliated rapper who reps the CAMP) and DayNAge, who have experience in this, I feel like they have their masters in this. They have been doing it for nine years. Just being around people who have been doing this for so long and caring about what they do, you have no choice but to find your own (style). These two are the most unique rappers I’ve ever heard. I mean I never heard anybody like them before. NEVER. Just being in their presence and making music with them it makes you wants to go harder and find your own. After writing for days and days I finally got it.” The appreciation this team shares for each other’s talent is heart warming. No competition but honest respect. As each of them praised each other’s gifts and skills, I began to grasp how influential on each other they have become. However, influence spans beyond the people around you. The environment that you have inhabited can also make major impact on anyone’s thoughts, emotions and in this case music. I enquired on how Mil-town local DayNAge and the Chi-native AB’s, upbringing in theses distinctly different Midwest cities influences what goes down when the beat drops:
“Chicago is a crazy place to grow up in. Even though it’s so huge and you have so many different types of people, when you live in a certain neighborhood in Chicago, you damn near don’t leave your neighborhood. You really don’t go anywhere, it’s like a jail. But after I left Chicago and came to Milwaukee, I started to see things. I started to travel. I did an internship in D.C., soon after that I went to Ghana (which he claims is the best experience he has had in his entire life). You start seeing things way differently. You realize that there is way more to it then just where you are at. And it also makes you look at where you are from in a different light. That’s all my music is at this point. My music is just experiencing what’s been going on in life, through my eyes. ” It appears as though the windy city wasn’t enough for AB. It took breaking out of its invisible bars for him to reach a higher understanding of what the world had to offer. “You hit it right on the nail, with that.” DayNAge admitted after hearing AB discussed his connects to his city. “Milwaukee has definitely influenced me. The Milwaukee mentality is that you have to be good at something to stand out. In Milwaukee everybody wants to be like somebody…I don’t. Here I look and observe the people who are doing things so I know what not to do. If I see a rapper here acting a certain way then I know not to act that way. To me everybody is an example of how I should and should not act.” It is true, there is a stigma on people from Milwaukee not being too original in there mythologies or lacking a certain appeal when it comes to the music seen but DayNAge is not letting that keep him down. ‘Forget what their doing, I’m going to make sure I do it different’ is his mentality. Only way to lose the stigma is to work hard. Both of these artist claim of writing everyday. DayNAge says lately he has been working on four different mixtapes, two of his own, one group collaboration and his contribution to AB’s. He admits that one
of his mixtapes (Time Heals) needs to be sat on, that there is more that needs to go into it…its all written up but not recorded. “I need to prepare the perfect cake for my party. I want it to have the right frosting, the right filling. This is the mixtape of my life.” So if he needs time, we might as well wait. I think I can speak for everyone when I say; nobody wants to eat an under cooked cake. So till then keep a look out for his other tape “The Sand Box.” On the other hand, AB is ready. All done writing and hitting the studio; “ABCD: That Empty Feeling” is on its way. He explained that the title of this tape is more then just a name. It’s symbolic. “When I say that empty feeling…I mean I always felt like this life was missing something and I don’t feel like we are living a full life. It’s like on Lauryn Hill’s Unplugged. On that performance she had some super personal songs. Her entire performance that night was like a commentary on how we are held back or boxed in. Like we are in a prison, the same concept I was speaking on before. What that empty feeling is doing for me and I hope
N A X D B A
It can do for other people is become a way to get out of that box.” Woooohhh! It got real deep up in McDonald’s. He went on to say that not even he was out of the box yet and that his search was still in full effect. “All I can really say is that this tape is like a manual and a commentary on some of the most vital parts of the human experience. Emm hmm, That Empty Feeling is going to be crazy.” From there my conversation with the fella’s branched off into many directions. We spoke on religion, social inequalities, economics, love, lust and even politics. All these things that can be found in the stream of words poured through every song. Creating pictures in the mind and leaving memories that don’t fade, not even when the track ends. As I took in their opinions and shared some of my own logic, I realized that what sat before me was two amazing people, who just in conversation had me seeing things in my mind I had no idea existed. “We can’t even call ourselves rappers. We do so much more then rap, I guess you can just say we are artist”, and I couldn’t agree more.
: Eleven Mission 10
CopyWrite sits down with Mission 10 Eleven cofounder Maine for a Q&A about aspirations, realities and movements all going down in the heart of Milwaukee that most of us knew nothing about:
Q: What is Mission 10 Eleven? A: It is a non-profit organization that builds career portfolios for teenagers and young adults and anybody who wants their foot on the gas towards their career. We also help people who want to get back in school and help them build their portfolio for that. Q: How did it all start? A: “I and my best friend Alex (Clark) were training to get back into school and play college basketball; it was the school year of 2009-2010. We were doing everything, going to the gym at 5 in the morning, running at the lake, playing ball everyday…One day Alex said we are on a mission to get back at it for 2010-2011, We should call it Mission 10 Eleven. So I was like let’s go! We would post it on our facebook page just to remind ourselves but then people started asking us what it meant. Once the word started spreading we decided to go bigger and try to help out others people’s lives.” The mission to bring up two individuals became the quest of those same individuals to bring up a city. The “mission” turned into a movement. Today the mission dabbles in multiple areas that will help increase the effectiveness of their work, placement in the community and sponsorship of creativity through out. Q: But why should we care? A: There is nothing else our kids and young people have to cling to. There’s no one who knows what’s going on that people can approach in Milwaukee that are willing to offer this type of guidance. People need help. We provide that.
MISSION BREAKDOWN: -Basket Ball league -Clothing -Marketing & Promotion -Music Production -Photography -Video/ Media -Writing -Building connections with local volunteer & job opportunities
Q: What and/or who is your inspiration as you guys continue on your mission? A: God, Family, Friends. But seeing how our city has went down hill, after I graduated from high school has really inspired us to want to make things better. We are inspired by anyone who feels they have a dream. We want to help make it come true. Q: With Milwaukee being the breeding grounds of the mission how does that impact what you do, positively and negatively? A: Positively, when people hear and see you trying to help in good ways they will support you. The negative part of being in Milwaukee is that we have a small market of resources. But I feel like the positives and negatives weigh out each other. You just have to take what you have and work hard. Q: What’s the mission for right now? A: Getting more funding. We need a building, a place these kids can go so we can get them off these streets. We have said enough of what we want to do now its time to do it. We have hosted events and things that were positive but putting something right in the middle of the city open 24 hours a day for kids who can come and go is the main thing we can do for everybody. That’s our focus. Q: And then what? A: Expect to change the world. Respect that teens have goals and dreams. Most want a great future and a career…We will be here to help make it a reality.
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To learn more about what’s up with the mission, go to http://www.mission10eleven.org/
t n e v e t x e n e h t s s i m t ’ n o D : r e t t i w t n o s Fol ow u n e v e l E 0 1 n o i @Miss
NOT FOR SALE B*Right speaks on their success, dreams, trials and errors, and their
photo credit: Karl Reeves
delicious blue lemons.
Sitting outside a café patio on a warm summers night, the members of B*Right, speak candidly on where they came from, what they are working on and how they plan to make it big, with no apologies. Dressed like a few “Hipsters” without the negative connotation attached, the three lyrical members of B*Right (Astro Le Bo$$, Imperial Dexter Ferrari Martin Louis II who is commonly known as “Seven”, & The All Mighty Cherub Satori), sit back discussing the gender rules of major league baseball, along with Marveetes “VEETO” Brown, the groups in house producer who is also Cherub’s little brother. After a few minutes of bantering back and forth on the subject, they settled down as each member was asked to spell out their names for the article. Seven regurgitated a mouth full of letter’s “…F-E-R-R-A-R-I space, M-A-R-T…” as the group busted out with laughter at his grand name. “So, how did you get that name?” I asked. Seven looked at me and smiled “That’s my real name.” I couldn’t believe it. His name is so long & symbolic, reminiscent of rappers that spill on a mixtape for their love of fast moving automobiles and unmatched talent. But in fact the name is real and fitting to his confident persona. With this incite, I had to wonder where the other 2 gained their headlining titles. 12
“My rap name has changed many times, I had like seventy names.” Says Cherub. “Yea, like ‘Hot Stiznet’???” says Veeto. The group laughs in ridicule as Cherub promised that his brother is lying. He claims that some form of that name was given to him in high school while playing basketball. But names he does claim on once possessing are: “C-note”, “Sly”, a solo “Cherub” and finally added the “Satori” to the end. “Satori means ultimate enlightenment. It’s really a religious theory from Hinduism but I just like the concept (that it reflects) of always being on your toes”. Cherub informs us. Astro was once called “T3” but said it made no sense what so ever so he changed it to Astro, short for Astronomical, the name given to him by a friend. Even though multiple entertainers use the “Astro” tag, he claims that their use of the name is a gimmick. “They use it as a play off the cartoon Astro boy and that’s jut corny to me. I don’t call myself Astronomical because it’s just a really long name to say”. And not to mention spell I added. As we all got acquainted, B*Right tells me that they have a few projects in the making that is worth a peak at, “Atlantis & Blue Lemon presented by the Clique”, announced Cherub giddily.
Inspired by the lost underwater city of Atlantis, the mixtape is meant to be an intro to the group and the city of Milwaukee. Which are considered undiscovered and off the map to the hip-hop world. “We want to parallel the idea of being a undiscovered water city to our city, bringing the city and our abilities to the light.” Trying to make a way through revealing uncharted waters, the mixtape is supposed to sound like your snorkeling in a cup of lean while the members whip their way through in a gold submarine. “The production is mostly based on water,” says Veeto, who produced most of the beats on the project. They all agreed it could be considered “Mermaid Macking.” And the way this musical group comes together on the track even water is no match for their lyrical maneuvers. The Mixtape has multiple collaborations including the single entitled “Hey” Ft. Polyester the Saint, a few tracks with artist Kurupt, Triz Man, Lothrax and some other talents whose names were withheld on hopes readers will want to reach out to their new mixtape. With big things coming into reality the “clique” has there eyes on working with up and coming Midwest artist such as Razz Fresco and the whole Bakers Club, as well as Boldy James. More into the Underground they also would like to do a feature with Sir Micheal Rocks & Coolest Mac. While talking the group confesses that they are not very interested in collaborating with mainstream artist. They fear that in collaborating with an artist who has a higher audience, B*Right might be asked to conform to “their type of music” (mainstream) that Cherub suggests is out of the question. However they do suggest that some mainstream music is acceptable such as Jhene Aiko, Kanye West, Jay Z, Pharrell Williams, Flying Lotus and a few others. The only exception to the mainstream sigma would be if they had the opportunity to work with Erykah Badu. “If we made a track with Erykah Badu it would sound like heaven in a cup with some ice.” Cherub jokes. “And a Blue Lemon” adds Astro. With Blue Lemon as a new addition to everything B*Right, it is a phrase members have embedded into a frequent convo. In today’s society music seems to branch out to other forms of creativity, hence the first edition of CopyWrite Magazine being the Movement Issue. B*Rights reveals what “Blue Lemon” is straight from their heart… Seven: “Blue Lemon is a clothing brand that we just created. The name came about one day when we were
chopped and I was like ‘this shit taste like some blue lemon’” “Shout out to the loud man.” approves Cherub. Astro: “We were like what would that taste like, Blue Lemon. I mean it was already good but just think if it was blue.” They rhetorically asked had I ever seen a Blue Lemon, which I had to admit I had not. Which provided their reasoning for choosing the name. With Blue Lemon, B*Right is trying to bring you something you have never seen before. Unexpectedly the first design for the brand is a Diamond mouthed sun with dark shades on. The image is more symbolic then a first glance would seem. Starting with the diamond mouth that means ‘words are rich’, from the sun representing ‘we are bright’, and to the sunglasses reminisces on the idea of ‘you’re keeping it cool.’ It’s depicts a humble person who is keeping it cool, a quote on quote “cool kid.” However, other designs are in the works. Like many artist, the trio reps’ their city hard and tries to make lead ways in the bizz though their hometown confines. I had to wonder if the small pond Milwaukee aura cramps their steez when trying to make major moves. The group has a strong opinion on the subject. Letting me know some of the struggles for B*Right even with their laidback personalities. “Hell yeah its hard being in Milwaukee”, professes Seven. “There are too many politics, too many people who THINK they can rap, too many people hating, too many people want are spot.” Cherub: “Here is the thing Milwaukee is just not on the map.” Seven: “These people don’t know how to get on the map, so we are going to have to show them the right way to get on.” Astro: “They see us climbing the latter and they keep trying to grab the ankle of our Jordan’s and try to pull us down.” “Exactly” They all chanted. The come up is not a straight shoot up but an obstacle filled challenge that they are confident in conquering. They tell me about their troubles with a Local DJ slandering their name because he didn’t like the group. They claim that if it were not for the bitter DJ they would have performed at this year’s Panther Fest, a UWMilwaukee sponsored event that brings out thousands of people every year. They suggest that his jealousy started
when B*Right hit the scene. The group started winning local hip-hop awards that the DJ once had a monopoly over. Such as receiving The Shepherd Express ‘Best Rap/Hip-hop Artist of Milwaukee’ award, which B*Right took home two consecutive years. They also say that even a blogger from out of state has his engine revved up on the group. The conversation insinuates that it’s more then a dislike of music these critiques are stuck on but a racial superiority complex that B*Right has no tolerance for. They feel that it’s all because these people are scared of change. “It’s a crab in a bucket theory,” tells Cherub, “Okay let’s say I’m the type of man who has been trying to be a rapper for a long time, and I’m never going to make it. I’m still working my day job and I don’t want to quit rapping even though I should because I’m not doing any good. Then some young guys come on the scene and crush what I’ve been doing for 10 to 15 years, with more hustle then I ever had, then bang bang that’s how you get it”. If the competition continues to snap their crabby claws at the group they don’t mind, they take all the negativity, as motivation to do what haters are saying can’t be done. With work habits resembling most new aged hip-hop artist, they spend most of their time putting their visions into effect. Starting out in 2006, where did B*Right get its name from? Cherub (one of the original members) was approached by one of his peer’s and was ribbed for his self-expressive ‘steelo’. The jokester commented that they dressed “Bright”. Elongating the “B” to emphasize the potency their Cherub’s attire brought to the eye. Not too amused about it, he shrugged it off as a lame observation but with further thought concluded that it was kind of “hot”, as Cherub recalls. With a spin on the phrase they took the compliment and made it a name: B*Right. The group of friends always interested in music performed at their school and even did a performance at Club Onyx, on the Milwaukee’s north side. People started to notice that talent was definitely on the menu and they were hungry to get involved. Seven, then just a friend of the group, would publicize the music by making Facebook pages and ransacking video posts all over the web. It is claimed that at one point the group was an amateurish Dipset with around 20 people reppin’ what is now an intimate “clique.” Trapped out a collage of music in the form of a street mixtape and called it “Winter Hats in the Summer”, they all admitted that while eager at its witty bars and predictable beats when they first released it, it was nothing compared to their musical enlightenment
now. With a few battles for power, not enough spotlight, struggles to commit and creative differences the original group split apart and rejoined to form what we know as B*Right today; three steezy motha’ shut-yo-mouths. Bad news for rappers out here, the group is no longer taking applications but does suggest that after they make it to the top they plan on creating their own music label, which will be ready to go the mile for new comers who will be in the war zone they are fighting through now. “We are going to make it.” Seven says to me as he sits back and observes an attractive girl walk by, not to concern by the guy attached to her hand. “My goal is to buy the Bradley Center and put a good team in it because we all know the Bucks are about to be out of there. Imma get it crackin’ like Jay Z”
They know that it’s a long road to get to that point but they don’t want to sell their souls just to make the money. Conformity is not in their vocabulary. With the help from people like Karl Reeves, a major artist who is a movement in himself (have you ever heard of Spilt Milk? He is the man behind it all) teaching the youngins’ how to be business savvy and self-sustaining while they master all projects internally. With this the tantalizing perks of signing has no grip on their making it. “No matter if we did get signed in the future we will always be our own company. We have our own entertainment man. Its like you can’t have Citgo and Mobile sitting across the street from each other for forever, I don’t care how long it takes, eventually somebody is going to get bought out and have to move. We just plan on being the one that stays.”
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SHOP CAMP www.wordlifecamp.com wordlifecamp
AIMING UP D. BRIDGE
Sitting back at a snug round table, laptop out and all eyes focused on the man in front of me, D. Bridge The Kid, I could feel some tension. Quietly looking around, hands clasped together, dressed like a nonchalant urban legend in his “Keep Calm and Free Boosie” shirt, knowing that the time had come to start, he spoke: “Can I read the questions before you ask them?” As impromptu as the rhymes in a cypher battle come, so do my questions. I replied no and explain that this moment we were about to have was nothing more then a conversation and that he had nothing to be worried about. With his past experiences doing interviews weighing in on his mind, I was determined to make this interview one of the best. Easing into the subject, I asked about his day at the studio. He became more relaxed and told me about some beats he had listened to. A shine in his eyes appeared; he said “The studio was great. I didn’t record anything today but I listened to some beats. Just know I have some heat coming… Heat from all different types of directions.” Now interested to find out more I asked ‘What are you working on that’s big?’ He shook me up with a confident “EVERYTHING”. “Everything I’m working on is big in my eyes. Just because at any given time whatever I put out might be the thing that puts me on.” His response was logical and thoughtful just like 18
his reason for rapping. At the age of 11 he started writing poetry for every girl he was crushing on. He would use his skills to write a poem of how he felt. The girls loved it, of course, so he knew he had it pegged. Discovering that writing was something he was good at he decided it was something he would pursue as a career. Combining that with his love for rap music he knew that cultivating fly lines and spitting was his only choice. “It’s crazy I used to rap on my voicemail.” We all burst out laughing. “My grandmama used to call my phone and be like ‘umm who is this?’ then she would call the house phone and be like ‘I tried to call D but I got the wrong number’ every time. Her and my mom would get so mad, but everybody else thought it was cool. I had it over a Three 6 Mafia beat…I swear it was tooooooooo weak.” He rapped out the voicemail digs for me, trying to hold in his chuckle. It was corny but witty assuring me that his skills are way more advanced now. Since the days of writing poems to little girls and pissing off his family with his voice recording a lot has changed. D. Bridge graduated from Riverside University High School and went off to college in the South, to major in Music Industry Studies. Not being able to afford it and not being a fan of school he came back home. “I do regret coming back because down there I had way more connects, but it is what it is. Everything happens
for a reason you know and this is just what need to happen at the time.” Life in college was definitely crazy for the rapper. Coming back he was definitely not the same. “I have really calmed down since then. I don’t smoke anymore and I barely drink…I had a couple of near death occurrences. I stopped smoking because I was given a laced blunt that I had no idea it was laced. That woke me up.” Bridge’s time in the south introduced him to members of the ‘game’ who taught him a lot about the biz, developing not only his music but also (what he feels) his writing. He admits that he is not where he wants to be yet and still trying to perfect his craft. He is determined to be the best he can be at whatever he is doing. With craft being one of the major components of making it in the music industry, I thought I would inquire on whom he looks up to for musical genius: “I feel like every rapper now wants to be a Jay Z. That’s fine but I really look up to the old school. I feel like with out people like Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, Earth Wind & Fire, and Anita Baker, music would not be what it is today. I’m an old soul, I like that kind of music.” D. Bridge had a point. Music quality cannot be an advancement with out looking back on pass legends. With D. Bridge coining the “Legendz” title, it only makes sense that his inspiration comes from those who have already been accredited
and became timeless. Mentioning legends he also included a Ms. Lauryn Hill, admitting that she is his all time favorite artist. “It was Summerfest 1998; I went to go see her (Lauryn Hill). I was like 8 years old. People were spilling beer on me but I didn’t care, it was amazing. I will never forget that moment. That’s when I really fell in love with music.” The same day we did the interview D. Bridge would be headed to Summerfest again, this time to see Common. As a grown man with his own creativity trailing along with him, he was going to take in the events and hope one day he too could grace the stage that Lauryn stood on. Knowing that it’s going to take a lot of hard work and dedication to fulfill his dreams he is just taking everyday one step at a time. In 2010 he thought his shot had finally come when he was booked to perform before the Lupe Fiasco concert at The Rave. Certain that he would be opening up for the famed Chi-town anarchist on the big stage, he came to his set to only find out that he would be performing in the hallway on a small platform. “It was a horrible feeling but it was also humbling. It just goes to show how far I am from being a big artist. It’s a lesson that you shouldn’t set your expectations overly high…Just go with the flow and get where you need to get. I had my swag on 100 thousand and that put me down to 20.”
The conversation was going good. The once tense and on edge rapper was now a relaxed smooth talking human being… until I called him a “Milwaukee Artist.” Then there it was a flash of energy rushed through him…the moment I had been waiting for: D.Bridge: UHHHH I HATE THAT TERM! Me: Mil-Wauk- Eeeeeeee Artist! I was going to keep saying it till I found out why a man born and raised in the Mill, would deny a true claim. D.Bridge: I don’t like the term because it has a negative connotation. People look at it so negatively when you’re from Milwaukee. I don’t like to be put in the box. I don’t like to be labeled. I don’t want anybody to know what I’m about to do next. I like to be spontaneous.” He wasn’t the first artist I had interviewed who would feel that being from Milwaukee was not looked at as an honor in the music world. But he is hoping he can change the way people feel about music that comes from Milwaukee. “Truth is I like Jackin’ music” Jacking music is a form of party dance music and rap that is produced a lot in the streets of the Mil. “I don’t knock anybodies hustle or music; I like anything that comes out of Milwaukee. But I know how to separate the real artistry from the people who just wake up and say like ‘hey I’m going to rap’… Who knows somebody may have been jacking it down since birth.” We laugh at the idea of some little munchkin ‘jacking’ it down’ but once again anything is possible.
Even though he likes Jacking music he does not make any of his own. He prefers a mash pit of R&B, Hip-Hop, and new tech rap medley to hold his rhymes. With about five in-house producers, two from Milwaukee and the others from places like Pittsburg and St. Louis his new developments are sure to have a mix of sounds.
Looking into the future D. Bridge just wants to make music and be happy. “If I was doing this for the money I would quit right now, causes I’m broke as hell.” With his aspirations though he does hope that one day he will get paid for what he loves. He plans on investing and maybe even starting his own youth lounge in our city “Legendz Lounge” to be exact. But till then he is striving to do better, go harder and keep focused on his love for the craft. Everyone should be on the look out; he is aiming for the big stage.
LISTEN : http://www.youtube.com/misterbridgeman FOLLOW: @MisterBridgeman
LET IT BE
KNOWN
You’ve met AB and DayNAge but what is Basement Underlying? CopyWrite wants you to get the facts from the source, DayNAge speaks on BU.
Kelvin “DayNAge” Cross, conceived Basement Underlying during his senior year in high school while attending Milwaukee School of Entrepreneurship (M.S.E). After graduating, but still living in his mother’s basement, music continued to be his motive. Underground Kingz (U.G.K) heavily influenced DayNAge, unsigned while living in his mother’s basement. With the help of high school friends and Marquette student Brian “AB” Williams, who’s originally from the south side of Chicago, Basement Underlying would soon become a label of inspiration. Our music is created from the negative aspects in our lifetime that we had to overcome. Maintaining a positive mind set through all hardships was an option; it was mandatory. -Kelvin “DayNAge” Cross
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OFF THE LEASH THE NEXT ARTIST ON THE COME UP
MARTIN BEAMON Ever heard of an introversive rapper? Need time to think about it? Go ahead, I’ll wait…
Twenty one year old rapper, Martin Beamon (King Beamon), with his baby face, mysterious aura, and urban freshness is nothing less then a confident, slick talking spitter with the vulgarity and brashness of the most streetwise legends around. Spending most of his free time by himself, analyzing his work in the hopes of mastering his craft Mr. “January’s First” is approaching the game with no hold bars.
If you’re looking for glitter and glitz, Beamon is not your guy. His music pulls up “Emo” vibes laid on trippy ear grabbing beats meant to takeover you as you drown yourself in those inner thoughts. He told CopyWrite while in a late night meeting that, “I fuck with dark shit. No main stream bullshit… when everybody was fuckin with Nelly I was listening to Three 6 Mafia”. However, his taste in music varies with a combination of: Jay Z, Kanye, A$AP Rocky, old Ludacris & Curren$y, Kid Cudi, Space Ghost Perp, My Chemical Romance, Incubus…” hitting his iTunes with a wide range spectrum of “Good” music. Even with that being said he will not budge, he is his own favorite artist.
“I don’t compete. I make music for myself.”
But he is not the only one listening. With music released on DatPiff, Sound Cloud and YouTube, respect & kudos have been 22
CHECK THIS OUT
given to the rapper by fans out in Cali, New York and other stretches of the country. Yet and still, local love is sparse. “Wisconsin is a set back. We have no face. What the fuck is a Milwaukee?…Rap is territorial. About 15 to 20% of rap being released is about territory. ‘Where you come from? What set you rep?’ Not a lot of people here are listening to what I’m saying like that.” Truth, the lack of community Martin Beamon is feeling, might just be the reason you still haven’t heard him on the block. Raised in the burbs of Milwaukee, in “Tosa”, he really has no connect to any other local artist besides D Bridge. His studio engineer lives across the street and his partner in crime, cousin Lewis (Lord Lewis De Allen) currently lives in New Jersey. He prefers to keep is circle tightly knit because of the unfortunate reality that “Niggas here hate.”
“I know how to ride a beat.”
Attending college for a while he left, knowing it wasn’t the place for him. Only doing it for his family, he made the decision that it wasn’t worth it. Feeling like if he ever goes back to school he wants it to coincide with his passion and not just do it for the sake of going to school. I feel I only should invest my time in shit I believe in.” He plans on being a full time rapper one day and is putting in the work to make it occur. He already has the style of a big shot artist with his rocking Supreme and Diamond Supply as well as with his lust for Givenchy and Alexander McQueen.
The self proclaimed “God of Gloomy” with his unsettled feelings towards his relationship with his father, romances that ended tragically and life dreams that have still not reached their panicle, he still gives words of hope to pass on saying, “Do what makes you happy. Don’t care if people doubt you. Your still supposed to do it and go for your dreams.
https://soundcloud.com/kingbeamon
Mr. iPHONE iPhone color conversions, screen repair, & back glass repair.
Twitter & Instagram: domo_danley WEBSITE: http://mriphone.bigcartel.com/
mastering
the craft
ALLEN HALAS
photo credit: Jairo Bonilla
They walk amongst us. The wickedly talented that is.
of being his own boss full time doing music or videos?
Allen Halas, Producer and Videographer, falls under
“Maybe”, he told us contemplating the idea as if it had
that category. With an ear to point out the basic and
never crossed his mind. In the past he has cut some
morph the concept into something better a young Halas
pretty nice vids for Milwaukee rapper Taiyamo Denku
started to make beats in 2007 after his “rapper” cousin
(which was filmed right on the MU campus and included
played some beats for him that he planed on spitting on.
the destruction of TV.) & Klean out of Chicago. “I prefer
“The beats absolutely sucked” he protested, “I had the
doing music. I would do that in a heart beat because I’d
mentality that I could do it way better”. So he did. Allen
be doing something I love to do.”
found his niche. With more in him to press out, he took the initiative and contacted the Cranberry Show (major
But he is not limited. Allen has a little bit of everything
local rap duo), who found their skateboarder lifestyle a
up his sleeve. Like his co-ownership of skater inspired
connecting point, so he started making beats for them.
brand Breaking and Entering. Right now pushing the
This changed his impromptu hobby into the stepping
clothing line is the next move so is looking out. But B&E
stones of a career. So how does he do it?
includes way more then that. Radio show and grass roots sponsorship for local events, who knew Mr. Halas
“Coming home at night, if I’m feeling it I’m feeling it. I’ll
was so good at keeping busy? We did. Before we let
just make it and send it off.” He samples from time to
him run off to work right after our meeting we had to
time but he tries to produce mostly original beats. As a
ask who he would like to work with in the future since
self taught guitar and drum player, his skills at making
his production skills could go anywhere the wind &
beats formed in the same way. Home developed but
skateboard takes him:
just as lethal, he doesn’t think about it. He just goes. He describes his beats as “…all over the place with classic
“I would love to work with Chuck English from the
drum sounds with old school hip hop. Also a mix of dub
Cool Kids, but really any emerging artist. Like Gerald
set sounds with synthesizes.”
Walker (fingers cross they will be hooking up soon) and anybody local. Prophetic… Pizzle I would love to work
The skateboard loving Marquette, Broadcast and
with them too.”
Electronic Communication major says soon he hopes to be working for a production company, anywhere, if its
No matter what Allen is doing, things look pretty good
doing what he loves he will take it. Unlike many other
for the young beat master. Put your ipod on shuffle, you
CopyWrite interviewers Allen does not seem to mind
might just pick up on his vibes.
working for somebody else. Would he ever take the risk
25
H E AV Y T H I N K I N G WE ASKED ONE OF OUR AFFILIATED ARTIST TO TELL US SOMETHING FROM THE SOUL. ENJOY HIS THOUGHTS..
Title: I Don’t Know
I am nothing, yet I am everything. Coming from me that sounds like a classic contradiction, and it is. I am. I’ve been here since the beginning in many different forms, creeds, and colors. I will be here in the end with no physical at all. I come from the Earth, of the Earth, but before the Earth. I am but dust. I am the baby in the stroller, the man with the walker, the kid in the wheelchair, and the eyes on the sparrow. I am the woman cleaning your table, the president of your country, the kid with the basketball, and the judge with the sword. I am you. You are me. I own all, yet I own nothing. I have free will, but I am bound. If I died tomorrow, I will see you tomorrow. For in life I die, and in death I live. With all the clues to moderation somewhere in the middle. Hidden. They say I look like my father though I’ve never seen him. They say my dad looks like him too. We do not act like He who we resemble. I do not. I push him away. I love yet I hate. I shun God. I shun, myself... I am God. I shun myself. I want to be what I already am. While I am what I do not want to be. I have all the answers, yet I know none. I control all things, except myself. I am nothing yet I am everything. I am you and you are me. The images of God, in captivity. Paradoxical suffering for those who seek it. BRIAN (AB) WILLIAMS
26
MAINTAIN YOURS. DOWNLOAD DEEP THINKERS. BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GOOD FOLKS AT WORDLIFE CAMP. http://wordlifecamp.bandcamp.com/album/deep-thinkers
ON THE SCENE
For more local events: Follow @CallMe_Vato @MasonHighLife
RESPECT TO THOSE WHO PUT IN WORK:
CONTRIBUTORS THANK YOU FROM COPYWRITE! Editor-In-Chief: Lexi S. Brunson dirtyvisiondesigns@gmail.com Art Director: Carsyn Taylor carsyntaylor.m@gmail.com Thanks To: AB DayNAge Allen Hallas D. Bridge Mike Brown WordLife Camp B*Right Imani Mason Carlos Vergara Dumaine Reed Alex Clark Martin Beamon LIONMMVIII Legendz Basement Underlying Breaking & Entering BLACK NINE & You!
CopyWrite Magazine is currently a non-profit organization. All images are not licensed by CopyWrite. For any questions regarding photos, future advertisements, future employment or any artists, producers or creators please contact copywrite.mke@gmail.com.