DA INSIDER MAGAZINE #21

BEST INDEPENDENT ARTISTS, MODELS, FASHION, & MORE

Magazine

!

EC

K

WIT DA HOODIE

CH

Da Industry Hotspot for New Talent-Music Publication

Da Insider 21

FEATURE

Vbandz NEW CUSTOM KICKS

Jarcustoms is back!!!

July 2021

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Ty Fortunato

Tied Up ...Listen

ISSUE

#21

CONTENTS EXCLUSIVE

FEATURE STORY

A Boogie wit da Hoodie and it's all goodie

FEATURED ARTISTS VSOP Sity Cloak The Scribe Fortune Supreme Scotty Suave The Man D. Rock

EXCLUSIVE

Inside

@jarcustoms

WHY

YOU SHOULD OWN YOUR MASTERS

MODEL MATERIAL Follow Us

Rapid-fire

S U A V E

Q&A

We got a

chance to chop it up with New Yo r k r a p p e r

S u a v e The Man,

a highly skilled MC who is serious about his sound. This Brooklynite is

destined to become a staple in the music industry,

and he's determined to ride the wave all the way to

the top!

The M

an

How'd you come up with the name Suave the Man? It’s a lot of artists with the name Suave. I ain’t wanna take that route so I had to do something different for my stage name, something that’s gonna stand out from the rest. I had a song called "Suave the Man" and I ended up going with that. I liked the sound of it, it was exactly what I needed.

Tell us a little about your recording style.

I've been recording since 2017. I'm versatile when it comes to rap. As long as I'm feeling the beat, I'll find a way to make a song out of it. I try not to stay in one lane.

What do you enjoy the most when it comes to creating music?

I always felt like writing a song was like writing an essay that you don’t mind writing. Just putting together a song from the hook to the verse, to the ins and outs and adlibs. I always felt like how you end a song means the most i feel like it’s the hardest part having to bring your momentum from a verse to an end without losing the listeners attention.

Any upcoming events or releases that you would like to mention?

I just Dropped A Vid “Walk In My Shoes” Out On YouTube Right Now! A lot of Apple Music releases and definitely more visuals to come!

Instagram @ridetheewave Click to Listen

'S N Y

L K O N O W O BR

VSOP

S I T Y

"HEAVY LIES THE KROWN" Vict or y. Su ccess. Oppor t u n it y. Pr ogr ess.

These four powerful words represent everything that this next artist and his team stand for. Originating as a group of

faithful

Hennessy

drinkers, the

self-proclaimed VSOP Boyz not only embody the acronym, but also made a sacred vow to never drink anything other than VSOP. This rap artist whom we have the pleasure of featuring goes by the name of VSOP Sity, and judging by his work ethic, he?s determined to use every opportunity to progress toward

success and

claim

victory.

Since the age of 13, Sity has been making a range of different music, including hip-hop ,drill rap, and R&B. He started recording in 2018, with his banger titled ?Bop It?, and has since continued to craft his unique sound.

Being intrigued by different rhyme patterns used by rap greats such as Jay-Z and 2 Pac has helped Sity perfect his own lyrical artistry. Creating clever bars and melodic hooks is the most exciting part of the process for rapper

"SOME OF MY BEST WORK COMES FROM WHEN I'M JUST SITTING DOWN PUTTING THE PEN TO THE PAD."

Hailing from the hometown of some of

VSOP Sity. It is what inspires him to

hip-hop's

reps

keep creating new content, that and of

Brooklyn, New York to the fullest, more

course his family, his experiences and

specifically,

his goals for the future.

finest,

VSOP

Cooper

Sity

Projects.

His

experiences being a product of BK have

As we all know, it takes more than just

not only molded him as a person but

talent to make it to the top, and

also sculpted his style of music. Sity

according to SIty, it is his work ethic

attributes

his

that will cause him to stand out from

?aggressive yet suave style of slick talk?

the multitude of others chasing a rap

to being from Brooklyn, a place that

career.

according to him is like no other.

everyone has their own type of talent,

his

lyricism

and

?I

always

believed

that

V S O P

S I T Y

but not everyone works hard. My work

VSOP Sity is looking forward to becoming a

ethic is what separates me from other

multi Platinum-selling artist, creating his

artists. Usually while another artist is

own record label, and eventually branching

partying and turning up or sleeping, I?m

out to acting, writing and directing. Having

in the lab creating and planning my next

the freedom to freely and creatively express

moves.?

himself is extremely important to this rising

The evidence of Sity?s work ethic is in the multitude of his accomplishments. He?s been featured on a slew of radio shows including DJ Kay Slay Drama Hour, Hot 97, and Power 105.1. He?s championed on major rap battle platforms such as We Go Hard and URL. He has two albums, two mixtapes, and a number of singles being heard on all streaming platforms.

And if that wasn?t enough to convince you, he?s also the brand ambassador of a clothing

line

called

F.E.P.

star, and he makes no apologies for the content of his music. His new single ?Glock For Me? is setting New York on fire and is available on all streaming platforms. His EP ?Heavy Lies the Krown? is also on the way later this year. VSOP is currently booked for performances through 2022. For more info on upcoming shows and tours you can follow

him

on

Instagram

VSOP LINKS:

@VSOPSity.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

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INSIDE

EXCLUSIVE

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DA INSIDER EXCLUSIVE

T

he Bronx, NY has birthed some of rap's most elite artists to ever grace a microphone, and engraved amongst those names is none other than the "Look Back At It" artist himself, Mr. A-Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. This hip-hop ambassador has discovered his super power, with his ability to mix his own unique melodies with top notch-lyricism, setting fire to every track he touches.

The 25 year-old Bronx native whose real name is Artist Julius Dubose began his musical journey at the age of 12, after being inspired by hip-hop legends Kanye West and 50 Cent. He sharpened his lyrical skills in the Eagle Academy cafeteria during the classic “lunchroom cyphers”, where he would rap about things he’d seen or experienced in his neighborhood, Highbridge. His classmates recognized his talent and encouraged him to continue writing. Being known for wearing hoodies all the time, in combination with the name of the character “Ace Boogie” from the 2002 movie Paid In Full, is how the name A-Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was born.

The streets of his NYC hometown were full of trouble, and Boogie was unable to avoid it, frequently becoming involved in legal troubles due to selling narcotics and cannabis. His parents sent him to Florida where he was kept under house arrest, a seemingly unfortunate situation that turned into a blessing. During this confinement period, the budding superstar used this down time to dig deeper into his artistry and continue to hone his craft.

After graduating from high school in Fort Pierce, Florida, A-Boogie continued to focus on music while holding down side jobs in pizza delivery and construction. It wasn’t until he returned home to NYC that he made hip-hop his full-time career.

He, along with childhood friends Don Q., Quincy “QP” Acheampong, and Sambou “Bubba” Camara, created an independent record company called Highbridge the Label.

Boogie also set up his own home studio and, in February of 2016, released his first fulllength project, a mixtape titled “Artist”, officially launching his music career.

The artist A-Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was born, and this breakout mixtape began to peel back some of the layers of the young rapper. Highly influenced by a pregnancy scare and difficult breakup, the mixtape contained songs flowing with emotion and resentment. However, other songs on the project showed a different side of Boogie, giving listeners hard-edge street anthems and trap songs. This first project gained him a spot on the Forbes list of up-andcoming rappers.

Boogie then released a collaborative project with fellow Highbridge rapper Don Q. called “Highbridge the Label: The Takeover Vol. 1”, and began to open up for Drake and Future’s Summer Sixteen Tour. His career really began to take flight, and in July of 2016, A-Boogie signed a deal with Atlantic Records. Things really began to move fast, and in September of that same year, Boogie was featured on the BET Awards Hip-Hop cypher.

“TBA”, an

acronym for The Bigger Artist, is the title of A-Boogie’s first EP, which was released in October of 2016 and peaked at #63 on the US Billboard 200 chart. He then made Rolling Stone Magazine’s 40 Best Rap Albums of 2016 list, and in 2017 was named one of ten XXL’s 2017 Freshman Class. Continuing to move full speed ahead, Boogie released his debut studio album officially titled “The Bigger Artist” with features by superstars Trey Songz, Chris Brown, 21 Savage, Kodak Black,YoungBoy, and PnB Rock. The well-known lead single off the album featuring Kodak Black titled “Drowning” peaked at #38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of Boogie’s highest charting singles so far.

His second album “Hoodie SZN” was released in December of 2018 and featured 6ix9ine, Juice World, and Offset. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and by January had reached #1. Boogie began blazing his way through the music industry, featuring on more than 20 songs in 2019 alone, working with top tier artists such as Rick Ross, Ed Sheeran, Summer Walker, Lil Durk, Khalid and more.

The “Mood Swings” artist continued to tour and perform throughout 2019 not only in the U.S. but internationally as well. During this time he also began releasing singles from his third studio album, Artist 2.0 the sequel to his debut mixtape “Artist”. The full album was released on Valentine’s day of 2020, the anniversary of the release of its predecessor, as well as his three year old daughter’s birthday. Artist 2.0 debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and featured Da Baby, Summer Walker, Roddy Rich, Gunna, Khalid, Lil Uzi Vert and more.

B

X

After touring and performing was paused due to the pandemic, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie continued to release music, but was involved in some legal issues after cops raided his New Jersey home and found an arsenal of guns and marijuana. The artist was arrested and charged with weapons and marijuana possession, and a month later found himself wrapped up in an entirely separate legal issue.

In January of 2021 Boogie was sued for over $250,000 in damages to a New Jersey mansion rental. The $3.3 million dollar home was being rented by the rapper for $10,000 a month and was reportedly left with clogged toilets and overrun sewage material that leaked through floors and damaged ceilings, along with damaged walls and trims, landscapes and carpets.

After an eleven month hiatus, A-Boogie has released the first single, “24 Hours” from his upcoming fourth studio album, A Boogie Vs. Artist. The single features Lil Durk and debuted at #92 on the Billboard Hot 100. This young artist has done a lot of living in his 25 years, and he’s only getting started. Some things are just destined, like the successful music career of one named “Artist” at birth. Or the success of someone who is capable and smart enough to start their own label at such a young age.

Now A-Boogie is successfully fulfilling the prophecy of his name, and has become a favorite among today’s rap greats. His twosided creative personality, part trap-enthusiast, part emotional romantic, means he has something for everyone, making him the type of versatile artist that the industry loves. ABoogie fans around the world are looking forward to what’s to come for this dynamic “Artist”.

BeyondAware Shop Now

FORTUNE

Meet Fortune, a dope rapper from Brooklyn, New York who is dripping with talent. This star-in-the-making is a natural lyricist with a sick flow and swift delivery, plus the cadence and charisma to match. The "Problem" rapper is blazing his trail to the top, and this wave is just the beginning for this young prodigy.

What effect does being from Brooklyn, East New York to be exact, have on your music?

Brooklyn has always kind of been the heart of music. New York is the melting pot, so there are so many different styles and genres of music people listen to. I feel like that’s where my versatility comes from.

What do you think of the modern-day music industry?

I feel like even though today there are more artists than ever before, it’s also easier to get on because of social media.

Nowadays you only need that one moment to catch someone’s attention. It can all happen that quick.

What makes you different from other artists?

I’m very versatile in the different types of songs I create whether it’s the vibe, flow, or tempo. I’m not afraid to try new styles while staying true to my sound.

At what point did you start making music?

I’ve been creating since probably elementary school. I only started seriously recording last year.

What aspect of the music-making process excites you the most?

Definitely the writing process. I love watching the lines fill up in my notes, being able to just let my creativity flow and seeing the outcome is a great feeling.

What recent songs, videos or mixtape releases are currently available to your fans and where can they be heard or downloaded?

My first vid ever which I shot in LA on my birthday was the song “Problem” off my debut project Tied Up. You can find the project on Youtube, along with Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud. “Ty Fortunato-Tied Up” Any upcoming events or releases that you would like to mention?

My next project is called Fortune Teller.

I’m a big believer in manifesting the things you want in life, and I’ve seen the results of that. Expect that this Fall/ Winter.

"Ty Fortunato" Click to Listen

VSOP SITY

Out Now!!!

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can model and that

is no

Secret

Model Exclusive

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KilliNG'EM

SOFT

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Suave The Man

GUN SOUND feat. Dee Aura Click here to listen

DA INSIDER Q&A featuring:

the

CLOAK SCRIBE

Welcome back! For those who don?t already know, tell us what name you go by and how you came up with it?

CTS: What's good y'all. My name's Gregory James Jr. and I'm Lyricist/Songwriter/Producer, Cloak The Scribe. My family and friends said I wore hoodies like a "cloak", and it stuck. The name also came from a yearning to be an avenger or hero of the culture.

Where do you call home, and how does where you're from impact your music?

CTS: I currently reside on the Westside of Chicago, Illinois - Austin Community. It impacts my music a great deal. Soulful sounds, harmonies, melodies mixed with brash drums is pretty much a Chicago staple from the research I've done over the years.

And we're pretty much still a melting pot though the "Drill Movement" started here.

What type or genre of music do you create?How would you describe your sound?

CTS: 90?s era Hip-Hop/Rap... but I've recently been dabbling in Dance, Pop, and Techo. A balance of the Golden Era & New School Rhythm.

How long have you been recording music and what made you get into it?

CTS: Since 2006 so I've been doing it for a while. I initially started out as a fan but started rapping myself after hearing 2Pac's album "Me Against The World". I didn't realize how good I was at rapping until I met my mentor and Youth Pastor (at the time)

Glen McCarthy. I realized how good I was musically when I started getting compared to early Nas and Jay-Z.

What aspect of the music-making process excites you the most?

CTS: It tends to vary for me. Right now it's the instrumental selection, or sitting with a producer and creating the sound. I've broadened my horizons musically since our last interaction (lol).

What is it about you that makes you stand out from other artists?

CTS: I stick to my own creative influence. I allow inspiration but that's it. For me it's the sounds and styles. The bars are still in full effect and my writing hasn't wavered. It's more sonically for me right now.

Who are you currently inspired by musically?

CTS: Skyzoo - who's brilliant penmanship to his selection of instrumentals, samples, and live instrumentation caused me to jump leaps and bounds in my own creativity. My bro Sinatris - his grind and love for the art form has been a huge inspiration over the years. Big KRIT's dedication to growth as Artist/Producer and Label Owner has been very inspiring. May he live forever in paradise, Nipsey Hussle.

Nip didn't do exactly what I've got under my sleeve, but he definitely opened my eyes to the possibility.

What are your thoughts on the current state of the music industry?

Links:

Facebook

Instagram

SoundCloud

YouTube

#MODELLIFE @iamyayaapretty

@K_teyrell

N.Y.C

Why You Should Own Your

Masters

Imagine recording some of the dopest music of your creative career, music that represents your hard work and dedication to your artistry, only to have your precious recordings belong entirely to someone else. Sounds like a worst-case scenario right? Unfortunately for the majority of artists signed to a major label this is exactly the case.

Musicians have been signing away the rights to their own music in exchange for the backing of a major label since before the Beatles-era, a group who also happened to be involved in one of the biggest public fights over ownership of their masters in music history. More recently however, there’s been quite a lot of buzz in the industry concerning artists and their masters. The talented musicians who, in essence, are the creative machines that keep the dollars flowing to these money-hungry labels, have decided to fight for what should have already been theirs, their masters.

"The holder of the master has control over the financial gains from the recording."

So, what exactly is a master and why is it so important? The term master refers to the original recording of a song or performance. It is the official source from which all other duplicates are made. The owner of the “master” copy has total control of the song and the revenue it produces. It seems it would go without saying that the artist who created the recording would own the master, however signing a deal with a major label usually goes hand-in-hand with signing away the rights to your music.

Traditional record deals offer artists a recoupable advance in exchange for ownership of their music. What does this mean exactly? It means that record labels have full and total control and ownership of an artists’ music, either for a set period of time or indefinitely, and in return they offer the artist a monetary advance that must be paid back to the label by the artist through royalties.

(Which, by the way, means that the artist usually will not see any money until the label is paid back.) Sometimes ar tists are given t he opportunity to possibly buy their songs back at a cost that can be unaffordable for some.

Not only does the artist’s previously recorded music now belong to the label, but any recordings made by the artist during the span of the contract will also become property of the label as well.

Fortunately today’s artists are realizing that they don’t need to sacrifice ownership to have a successful career in music, but even some of the biggest names in music have contracts in which they have signed over their master rights. In September of 2020, Kanye, in an effort to bring attention to his own fight for control over his music, announced that he would be returning his share of the masters to the artists of his label G.O.O.D. Music.

Prince went public with his battle with his label, often appearing with the word “slave” written on his cheek, and even changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol (the love symbol), hoping that the change would make his contract unenforceable. Other well known artists who have had struggles with their labels include Kelly Clarkson, Jay-Z, Ciara, Lil Kim, Kesha, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Wayne, TLC, and so many more.

The problem is that the music industry is run not by artists, but by business execs whose main concern is bringing topdollar valuations to record labels, with little concern for the artists themselves. Since record labels are valued based on the worth of the masters that they own, getting artists to sign over their music is big business. Owning the masters to pop icon Taylor Swift’s first six albums drove the valuation of Big Machine music label sky high.

Swift’s first six albums drove the valuation of Big Machine music label sky high.

Swift is another major hitter with a major copyright problem. When Scooter Braun acquired ownership of her masters through the sale of the label she was signed to, it essentially snowballed into a situation that robbed her of an opportunity to buy back her masters. It’s quite a twisted situation considering the label wouldn’t even be worth half as much without Taylor’s catalog. So what was her remedy? A plan to re-record and repackage those six albums in a way to make fans more likely to purchase the new albums instead of the old, beginning with the re-release of her album Fearless (Taylor’s version) in April of 2021. Her new deal with Republic Records allows her to maintain ownership of all of her masters from now on.

Owning your masters allows you to have control over what is done with your music.

You’re free to release it when and how you choose to, whether that means licensing your songs for use in TV shows, commercials, or movies, or even allowing your music to be sampled by other artists. As the owner you can maximize your money-making opportunities, as opposed to the label simply making money off your music. If your masters are in the hands of someone else, then they have the right to license out the recording to anyone they choose, even companies you’d rather not be associated with, and the owners will collect the royalties.

Now artists are beginning to take greater control over their music, so how can a newly-signed artist avoid the pitfalls of signing away their copyrights for a shot at making their dreams come true?

It all comes down to the contract. Before signing any contract with any label, it is important that you understand clearly the terms and conditions you are signing up for.

Keep an eye out for certain red flags in the agreement.

• Your contract should state the specific length of time the transferral of ownership is in effect. Pay attention to whether or not the rights will revert back to you when the contractual agreement has expired, or whether the label will retain the rights indefinitely.

• Be aware of what the contract states regarding any future recordings created during the agreement term. Will they automatically become property of the record label?

• Find a qualified contract or entertainment lawyer who can sift through the legal jargon with a trained eye and a keen understanding of music label contract terminology.

So what are the alternatives to signing your catalog away? There is the option of a licensing deal, in which you “lend” your recordings for a limited period of time rather than completely giving up ownership. This way you can still have the backing of a major label without losing your music. The idea of signing a wa y your control and financial independence really isn’t as alluring as labels would have you believe when it’s time to ink the deal. Though the immediate payout of an advance can be ver y tem pting, lif etime copyr ight ownership usually trumps an upfront advance.

So is giving up ownership ever a good thing? For some artists, the advance that is offered by the label may be too important to pass up. It takes a long time to actually profit from a music career, so for some it may be impossible to try and negotiate a better deal. But for those who are committed to the business for the long haul, ownership offers real investment opportunities. Once you sign over ownership of your music, you become a puppet that your label can control and exploit. But considering the evolution of the music industry, today’s artists have many more options than before on their quest to success, and hopefully one day artists signing away their rights, and becoming a slave to those that hold the “masters”, will truly become a thing of the past.

Rapid -fire Q & A w/

SupremeScotty

TikTok: @supremescotty IG: @_supremescotty YouTube: @supremescotty

Where are you from and how did you come up with SupremeScotty? .

I'm from Brooklyn, NY and SupremeScotty is a combination of my government name Scotty & my belief that I am a supreme being. A small percentage of us are.

What type of music do you create and how would you describe your sound?

I hate to categorize myself. However, most would categorize my music as rap/hip hop. I describe my sound as interpretational. Art is never one specific thing and because we’re all different, my music sounds different to everyone. It’s adaptable. That’s what I love about it.

How long have you been creating and recording music?

I’ve been craving music since I was a child, but I began the journey of seriousness in 2018.

What made you start and when did you realize you were good at it?

After graduating high school, I had a high conversation with a friend about artists and how they blow up. It inspired me to actually take my gift and create magic from it. I realized I was gifted once I started making my own beats.

Who inspires you musically?

Sonically, creatives like Kanye West & Tyler the Creator inspire me to have high standards when it comes to my art. On a lyricism level, artists like Lil Wayne, Jay Z, & Nas allow me to see that lyrics are supposed to be multi-dimensional, subject to interpretation. On a different level, artists like G Herbo, Uzi, & Central Cee help me release the vulnerable side of me into my music.

What goals do you have for the future?

As of right now, to be the greatest artist of all time.

Any upcoming events or releases that you would like to mention?

I just released a single entitled “I Can’t Lose” on all streaming platforms. Sampling the classic R&B song “Dilemna”.

Listen to "Talking to the Sky"

by Sha STB

D. Rock MAKES IT

LOOK !

TOO EASY

How'd you get the name D.rock?

D.rock was my Xbox name since 2009 so everybody just calls me that now.

Where are you from?

Queens, NY

What effect does being from Queens have on your music?

It gives me life experience which I can incorporate into my music.

Can you describe your sound?

I rap, but it’s deeper than that for me. It’s literally an art form. I can’t really even explain my sound. It’s just different.

How long have you been creating and recording music?

I’ve been rapping my whole life, but I’m taking it more serious now.

What's the most exciting part for you?

Everything about it from finding beats to actually recording.

. rock

How do you separate yourself or stand out from other artists?

The fans gotta answer this one.You’ll see for yourself real soon.

Where'd your love of music come from?

That’s a hard question. I just feel like it’s in me. I fell in love with music since I was young.

Who inspires you musically?

Everybody inspires me, I don’t have anyone specific.

What do you hope listeners will take away from your music?

That’s really up to the fans, because you can vibe or you could really do what I’m saying on these beats. It might change your mindset, who knows.

@d.roxk on Instagram

What goals do you have for the future?

I have a lot in store. I just wanna put more music out there.

Do you have music available for download?

Coming very soon. Remember this article right here when me and my team are at the top.

RIP DMX DA INSIDER MAGAZINE CO.

JULY 2021.

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NYC