Enve February 2011

A SPECIAL RELAUNCH

ISSUE

» ON THE RISE

ENVE Online enveonline.com/February



NOVLEG SHORT DAWG TASHAN NEWSOME And more

+ TONE

HIP HOP'S

NEWCOMERS

P H I L LY S WA G

TRUMP p6

+

Exclusive!

p10 enveonline.com

BRINGIN HIP HOP

BACK!

NEW AND IMPROVED LOOK

Enve Online/Masthead ceo/publisher azarr johnson vice president of operations deshaun jones editor-in-chief chloĐ mister graphic design alvin grant

Richard harris Photography Alvin Grant Abraham aaron Lafleur web designer ken vermille contributing writers steve bryant, jesse hagen, dan rowe, damion trent

Contributing editor Karen graziano

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Enve Online/Cover



TONE

TRUMP

6

LORE’L  10

Enve Online/Inside Features

14 Novleg 18 Short Dawg 21 Masspike Miles 25 Jag 29 Beauty&the

Beats

32 Tashan Newsome 36 Amafia 40 Felony Fame 44 What has happened to Hip Hop since the golden age of 84- 94

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Enve Online/Editor's Note

EDITOR’S NOTE

W

ell here it is the re-launch of Enve Online, after months of hard work, late nights and a few venting sessions (I’m being polite) we the staff of Enve Online bring to you the “On the Rise” issue, hip-hop’s newcomers. The hip hop community is no different from Hollywood in that we look at some our celebrities as immortal for many they are archetypes, heroes, even role models. This issue aims to bring some attention to the Dick Graysons and Cassandra Cains, the super heroes in training if you will. We here at Enve thought these artists deserved a little shine for what they do in and outside the booth and we’re honored and most thankful to all of them for gracing this issue.

“On the Rise” doesn’t just feature hip hop artists, be sure to check out our features on Novleg, the technology company that’s changing the face of production with one single invention and college basketball standout Tashan Newsome from Colonie, NY. We thought it would be fitting for the relaunch to feature artists that haven’t quite reached the promise land of Grammys and double platinum status but who certainly have the potential and talent too, because Enve isn’t yet one year old and we’re sort of newcomers too. I want to say a special thank you to the staff you are a very talented bunch. I for one am very proud of this issue, and to our readers please enjoy the “On the Rise” issue.

Yours,

Chloe Mister Editor-in-Chief, Chloe Mister

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Enve Online/Title Page

Hip Hop's New Comers

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T

“ MY GOAL IS TO REPRESENT PHILLY ON A UNIVERSAL LEVEL. I THINK WITH ME TRAVELING SO MUCH THIS EARLY IN MY CAREER THAT’S ALLOWING ME TO DO THAT. ”

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WILL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS NOW. (BY: JESSE HAGEN AND CHLOË MISTER)

F

resh off of his Worldstar Tony promo tour Tone Trump, the Philadelphia-based rapper took a minute to sit and talk with Enve about why he doesn’t mind answering questions concerning his religion, the important work he’s doing in his community, how he’s going to put Philly Hip-Hop on the universal map, and what makes him stand out among other artists. Oh and did we mention he raps too.

together and does it bother you when artists have Islamic references in their lyrics but aren’t necessarily practicing Muslims?

Tone Trump: I love it, it’s the best part of the business to me, I love going to every city every hood, seeing the different vibes, the different energies, the women, the Gs, I love it.

Tone Trump: First I think the correlation is so prevalent because a lot of young Afro- American males identify with Islam and Islam is one of the most growing religions worldwide. Hip-hop is always growing so I think when people come to do to hip-hop a lot of them are Muslims, have been around Muslims, are influenced by Muslims or look up to Muslims. As far as lyrics, I think with rappers a lot of things they say you can’t take too serious. So when they make references to Islam and are not Muslim it’s the same as when they make their fake drug references. It’s not reality-based music, so why get offended when they make a fake reference about the religion Islam.

Enve: You were born to a Muslim family, are you a practicing Muslim?

Enve: Do you think you get pigeon-holed because of your faith?

Tone Trump: Absolutely.

Tone Trump: With every interview I think it causes a lot of questions. I understand people identify me so much with Islam because of my

Enve: So you’re staying busy you’ve been touring promoting your new project, does the road get tough for you?

Enve: What do you see the correlation between Islam to Hip-hop is? Do they go well

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beard and because I speak on it. I don’t want to be the face of Islam, but at the same time I can let people know that we’re not blowing up buildings and we don’t hate non- Muslims or white people.

There are a lot things I can do with my voice. I’m happy that people want to talk to me so you can talk to me about whatever.

Enve: Philly has a rich hiphop legacy how do you see yourself continuing that legacy and how will you keep it universally accessible?

Tone Trump: That’s my goal to represent Philly on a universal level. I think with me traveling so much this early in my career that’s allowing me to do that because I’m working with artists all over.

I’m spending time in different markets learning the sound and creating my own version of it. That’s something a lot of artists in Philly never got a chance to do. I feel like I’m the first artist to bring another level to the Philly game, because I have a chance to learn from the Beanie Segals, Black Thoughts, and Freeways. I have a chance to do things that dudes at my level haven’t had a chance to do and learn from them, so I feel like I’m bringing a superstar aspect.

Enve: What aspects of your lyrics or your artist persona are distinctly Philly?

Tone Trump: Just looking at me you can tell I’m Philly, everywhere I go people say what’s up Philly. I carry it with me, I have a Philly swag, I walk in a room and they say that’s Philly.

Enve: Are there schematic things and artistically that you touch on that are west Philly?

Tone Trump: Honestly yes, I’m very known for my visuals. Most of my visuals are in Philadelphia, I’m taking you to different neighborhoods, I have different people in my videos. I talk about what I know and I know my city. I got

someone of every race in my video showing the different parts of Philly.

Enve: Do you ever wish your career started at a different time in hip-hop history?

Tone Trump: It’s 50-50 I think you could say that artists who did some of the same things that I’m doing right now would have had a lot more money.

I’m on MTV, I’m on Hot 97 and it’s still a grind, but at the same time back then it was harder for an artist to get on MTV or Hot 97. With me getting so much fame on the web and Worldstar it’s kind of good for me so for someone like me I would be a fool to complain about today’s hip-hop I love it, I’m getting booked in other states because of these sites.

Enve: Do have any other passion besides music?

Tone Trump: My biggest passion is helping my community.

Helping people that grew up like I grew up and also dealing with the schools and the prisons. We have the site We Ship to Prisons we make it where you can send books and magazines and different things that are allowed in the penitentiary you can send to your family, all over the country, all over the world shout out to Black and Nobel {Books} http://blackandnobel. com/ we have the biggest music and bookstore right in north Philly, we just trying to get people to read and empower them so we can have better opportunities and get this money.

Enve: What inspired the company?

Tone Trump: Basically real situations, mostly every one that works with me are excons. I started my staffing company Top Notch staffing where we’re trying to get jobs for ex-cons and keep people out of prison. The best way to keep them out is to get them employed so they can make some money to feed their families so that’s what inspired it. We go to the schools

and the prisons and we go to the community meetings to listen to the people and hear how they’re feeling, and we put it together, shout out to Tyson and Hakim.

Enve: Who are your musical mentors?

Tone Trump: I look up to a lot of people {Dj}Kay Slay, Raekwon, Noreaga, Jay- Z, 50 cent, I like what Rick Ross is doing right now, I like what Drake is doing right now, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, anybody that’s ever made it from Philly, cause I know how hard it is.

I’m inspired by a lot of new artists.

Enve: You mentioned Raekwon, and you mentioned you’re known for your visuals.

Do you think that’s why you’re drawn to him?

Tone Trump: Yea but Rae is one of my mentors he’s on my project he reached out to me and that was one of the greatest honors of my careers he hit me up and told me he had been watching me for a while and that touched me that let me know that I was really doing something. It’s always been love he supports me heavy via Twitter, he leads by example.

Enve: What’s your most distinct quality that makes you stand out from other artists?

Tone Trump: I’m smarter then them I work smart, people say I work hard, but I work smart.

I think my moves are more calculated and more effective because of that. We all do freestyles and shoot videos, but I do mine in a way where I know there are going to get noticed.

Enve: What can we look for from Tone Trump?

Tone Trump: Be on the look out for that Worldstar Tony, the Shootout hosted by the Drama King Dj Kay Slay got a lot great features on there, shout out to B. Roc, this female{MC} from Philly whose crazy. I got the movie

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North Philly Hustla starring Me shout out Kenneth Williams who wrote the book. I’m just going to keep working, shout out to Top Notch. Let’s win shout out to all the winners!

FOLLOW TONETRUMP ON TWITTER

@TONETRUMP

“Just look at me, can’t you tell I’m Philly everywhere I go people say what’s up Philly. I carry it with me, I have Philly swag.”

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BY DESHAUN JONES

LOREx LOREx LOREx HIP LORExHOP LOREx BRINGING

REAL

L ’ E R LO AKE

SH WN!!

DO

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BACK

AT THE AGE OF 16 LORE’L was doing promotions for sony records, now the leading lady of hip-hip is back in the business this time proving to naysayers that there’s always room for one more. signed to red café’s label shakedown she “welcomed us to the movie” with her first mix tape hosted by superstar jay and is looking to break down doors and continue to show us why she’s an elite lyricist.

LORE’L

Enve: You began your career by creating a big buzz by doing songs with Lyfe Jennings and other artists like Red Café and DJ Spin King.

Besides Shakedown, were there any other label deals on the table at the time?

Lore’l: I had a lot of people trying to contact but I knew a lot of people already and I worked with a few people but all that really matters is my situation at hand that got me the furthest and it’s helping me the most. All I really think about is now but shout out to the people who 11 | enveonline.com | February 2011

helped me as far as developing me as an artist. If I didn’t work with any of them it would probably be little different.

Enve: Before you fully got into rapping, you went to Miami to study entertainment law.

Lore’l: Well, I love Miami.

I always visited and had friends that lived there so I wanted to relocate to Miami but school down there was good at the time. I was in between working at the

labels. I worked at other labels too but the longest time was with Sony so after that I was like, “I’m not doing anything so let me just go down there and focus on something else,” but at the same time, Red{Café} hit me and was like, “ Let me hear something for this “hottest and the hood” verse so it just went from there. I was like “bye school, hello dreams.”

Enve: You are coming up behind one of the greatest MC’s on the east coast right now with Red Café. The saying goes “when you spar with a great sparring partner you become a great boxer.” What have you learned under him?

Lore’l: How to make a record, like a real record. I could always write verses. I write verses for days. He has a formula for making them records, the hooks and everything, how to pick a record, toning down something. I learned a lot like how to be a real artist. Sometimes people think artist development is just in the music and it’s not. I learned a lot, he taught me a lot. Thank God. Enve: So in your opinion what’s your greatest contribution to Shakedown?

Lore’l: Well, looks for one.

I’m a girl. I just feel like I bring something new and young. Red Café been around to us in New York for awhile

and now that he’s getting out there it’s just something to add. It’s not something that’s missing or it wasn’t great already it’s just here I am here to add my addition.

Enve: You are one of the main Female MC’s who is getting a lot of attention besides Nicki Minaj. Do you feel any pressure? Like you said, a lot of female MC’s don’t get enough credit or the industry is hard on them.

Lore’l: No, I just really feel I was born to do this, at the end of the day. People ask me “when you heard your song on the radio did you get excited?” I was like, “no, I wanted more you know, I’m grateful.” Don’t get me wrong, I never think “no, thank you.” I’m so grateful but at the end of the day I’m like that one verse that was cool. How am I going to get three back to back songs.

How I’m going to get people to be sick of me that’s what I want. I want to be the artist that you put on the radio and be like “her again, her again.”

You’ve got to love it.

Enve: Are there any other female MC’s you would like to work with, such as the Jean Grae’s, Lady Lucks, Rah Digga or Nicki Minaj?

Lore’l: Yea, I’m looking forward to working with everyone. To be a female in this game we already know it’s not easy. They’re all talented for their names to be mentioned at the end of the day I’m looking forward to working with all of them and

I have respect for all of them.

Enve: MC Lyte put together the female documentary which gave a timeline of females MC’s from the past to now. What do you think you add on to the history of female rappers?

Lore’l: I’m really fighting to be a rapper right now. There are certain people right now that might be more melodic or they might do more singing. I can sing as well but I really focus on those lyrics and I want to be one of the best not a just female rapper but just the best lyricist. You know I spit, you can hate, you can do whatever you want but I spit and I write my shit. I put everything into it and I just want to get to the point that I can really rap and I don’t have to worry about if that gets played on the radio. I’m willing to make the changes and take my pay cut. I’m just trying to bring the lyrics real Hip-Hop back.

Enve: For the people have not heard of you yet, what can the fans expect to hear from your music? For example I think people identify to Lauryn Hill because she was talking about a lot issues that females could identify with.

Lore’l: Well I want to get to the point where I can do that where I can identify with women’s issues but for now I’m just spitting straight bars because that’s what’s going to grab the attention. At the end of the day I’m always going to have songs that will

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SHE IS AN ELITE LYRICIST

»

empower women because there is no way I would just put us down I’m naming my next mixtape “The Leading Lady.” I’m saying, “I’m the star, I’m the leading lady of the show” but at the same time that can mean anything like the “head lady in charge,” “the first lady,” “the girl in class that’s getting all A’s, she’s the leading lady.” I just want to have the message to girls and also let them know that you don’t really need a guy to put you on.

You can do it yourself.

Enve: What do you want your legacy to be in HipHop?

Lore’l: Just that fact that I came in and shut it down.

Right now everyone thinks there only can be one female rapper. A lot of people can be focused on one female rapper and that’s cool but at the same time there always can be other people so you can’t ever think or let people tell you there is no room.

They’re just going to know that I step in and kick doors down. I don’t care, I’m here and that’s it...Lore’l Shakedownnnn!

»

FOLLOW LORE’L ON TWITTER

@STARRINGLORE’L 13 | enveonline.com | February 2011

Everyone Thinks There Only Can Be One Female Rapper. I Don’t Care, I’m Here And That’s It...

“TWO FRIENDS STARTED A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY CALLED NOVLEG AND INVENTED THE PROSTUDIO APPLICATION.

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Music Made at your Fingertips

NEED TO MAKE A HIT RECORD… THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT. YEP, WE SAID IT THERE’S AN APP FOR IT, AND TWO PRODUCERS ALEX KISSI AND GILBERT “LEGEND” RENEAU INVENTED IT. THE TWO FRIENDS STARTED A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY CALLED NOVLEG AND INVENTED THE PROSTUDIO APPLICATION. PROSTUDIO IS THE FIRST APP THAT ALLOWS A PERSON THE ABILITY TO MAKE A RECORD DIRECTLY ON AN IPHONE, IPOD, OR IPAD GIVING ARTISTS AND PRODUCERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LAY DOWN BEATS AND VOCALS ON A CELL PHONE WITHOUT EVEN STEPPING FOOT IN A STUDIO. WITH THE U.S. HOLDING THE NUMBER ONE SPOT FOR MOBILE DOWNLOADS AND APPLE HAVING SOLD 85 MILLION IPHONES AND IPOD TOUCHES OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS NOVLEG IS ON TRACK TO CAPTURE AMERICA’S ATTENTION.

to wait for engineers, people not knowing how to record. So it was pretty frustrating at times so we decided to come up with this application.

Enve: As a producer what are some of the big time records you have produced if you can say?

NovLeg: At the time I was doing a lot of ghost production so we can’t say, but we worked with artist at Bad Boy, a few at Sony. My partner as

[By: Deshaun Jones]

well has produced for some up and coming

“we got into the business of bringing software for people to make music”

rappers in New York.

Enve: What were your favorite aspects about being a producer?

Enve: How did the company NovLeg start?

NovLeg: It basically started in 2009 around October we started to make up our own technology business company making high-end mobile recording software for mobile platforms.

Enve: How did you guys come up with the idea for the ProStudio app?

Alex: The app came about because we were dedicated musicians ourselves I worked in and out

NovLeg: It was pretty interesting because you can see different ways of how you can create music and collaborate with an artist. It’s was pretty magical these guys come in and know what they want and sometimes it was just scratch.

of studios with various major recording artists doing

Enve: Let us know what

ghost production, playing keys and stuff. Also my

exactly the Pro Studio

partner {Legend}, he’s been doing production on a

App does?

hip hop scale. So we know the nature of working in the studio, getting tracks done, people having

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NovLeg: ProStudio App is a multi track recording

NovLeg: Very much our number one downloader’s

software for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, pretty

are the United States, number two is the U.K. then

soon we are expecting to have it for Google

there is a long list of random countries that we never

phones such as HTCs, and the EVOs the market

heard of.

was pretty big for us so we already went in development. It basically allows you to record your vocals onto various instrumentals that we provide or you may have yourself. You can basically make your song in a matter of minutes.

Enve: What do you guys like most about hip hop?

NovLeg: It’s so amazing when we got into the business of bringing software for people to make music it was kind of like we jumped out the lane

Enve: What were some of the adversities in making this app?

NovLeg: We started the business at the end of 2009 and started developing in January and it came out around August. It was stressful financially Apple was tough with certain licensing and there was a lot of rejections. It was a struggle we almost gave up on this business but God is God so we’ve been able to connect it’s a blessing now.

we already was in. Instead of making music we

Enve: Is there any other apps that NovLeg is in the

are now providing software for people to make the

process of making?

music. When we stood out of that area we started

NovLeg: No actually this is our first software that we

getting emails from people in France, Europe, and

developed second would be ProStudio app for the

Germany. We get downloads globally sometimes

Google phones.

we get emails that we can’t even respond back because we don’t understand the language. We tend to have people send us their music and

Enve: Technology is consistently changing, how do you plan to add on to your app to keep it current?

we post it on our Twitter. There’s an artist out in

NovLeg: We have an update we are working on. I

California name Miss. Cross she did a song and

don’t want to send a misunderstanding but it allows

sent it to us and we posted it up and some of the

certain effects to be added kind of like sounding like

labels that follow us was asking “who is this artist?”

T-Pain. It’s not going to be Auto-Tune but there’s

So we like to connect with everybody on the music

a plug-in that we customize to sound like Auto-

scale. I have good friends in Japan which is one of the reasons why this started we just love the music aspect of people sending us music thinking we are a power label but sometimes one hand washes the other. We are able to show people that “this person in France or Czechoslovakia sent us a track” the music is weird but it sounds good.

Enve: What market do you think your app is benefiting most?

Tune. In fact we called Auto-Tune to see if we can throw them on the app and the owner of Auto-Tune already knew who we was and we had just dropped the first week. We just did a deal with SoundCloud once you’re done with your tracks you can email it to your friends or your engineer. It’s something easy for the people to do.

Enve: What do you guys want your legacy to be in the technology culture?

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NovLeg: Well coming from a musician stand point. We want someone to be able to say “hey I created a hit on ProStudio App and at the time I had no studio access.”

Just to hear people to tell us we created something so cool and mobile.

“We get downloads globally sometimes we get emails that we can’t even respond back because we don’t understand the language.”

- [Novleg: Alex Kissi and Gilbert Reneau ]

FOLLOW NOVLEG ON

TWITTER

@PROSTUDIOAPP

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d r a

h t u i p in r k ve r wo hate w do. i

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[ By: Deshaun Jones ]

Y

Short Dawg: Hip hop has been around in the Houston oung Money’s area for a long time. It was Short Dawg had the streets something I picked up at an early age from seeing people on fire with his Southern Flame freestyle and making beats on Spitta mixtapes. the table. My influences are artist like Jada{Kiss}, Fabolous, Growing up in Houston, TX late great Fat Pat, Big Mo and he was influenced by the “chopped and screwed” culture all the “Screw Heads.” that originated in Houston.

Enve: How has the “Screw” Now with his alter ego Elvis culture influenced your music?

Freshley in tow Short Dawg has ventured to the alternative Short Dawg: I’m a big part of the screw culture you know I side of music expanding his gotta sample the Big Moe’s, repertoire and giving his fans the Fat Pats, my slang I do more than just rap music. have different types of lyrics He’s gearing up to release but I think my slang overall his “Fresh” album and plans brings it back to my culture. to show why he’s one of the freshest to every do it.

Enve: How did you get into hip hop and what are your influences?

Enve: How did you hook up with Lil Wayne to get sign to Young Money?

Short Dawg: Me and Wayne

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been friends for a few years we had a similar interest in a certain substance which put us together. We started to record together one thing led to another he told me he was building this Young Money roster and he wanted me to be a part of it. Once I got out of my Def Jam situation I came right over.

Enve: When Wayne went to jail you with the rest of the Young Money roster managed to keep Young Money afloat and make it seem like he never left. How did you pull that off?

Short Dawg: Well he (Wayne) managed to do that Wayne records every night. With him having an abundance of music and us having features and staying together and focused we were able to stay relevant for those ten months.

Enve: What kind of advice does Wayne, Mack Maine, and Birdman give you to help your career?

Short Dawg: Me and Birdman work together a lot he always tells me to keep putting out them Southern Flame Spitta mixtapes. Just staying focused by watching Mack and Wayne rubs off on me. You don’t want to be around nobody that works that hard and has so much and you’re trying to get there but you’re slacking, it just doesn’t go well together.

Enve: Your latest mixtape was a classic (Southern Flame Spitta Vol. 4) how did you make that such a success?

Short Dawg: Just hard work I put hard work in whatever I do.

A lot of my peers will tell you I’ll go in the studio at 11 o’clock and won’t come out to 7am in the morning. When I come home from the studio some people are just going to work.

Enve: Also with that mixtape it was hosted by Dj Don Cannon which is a major stamp of approval how has that helped your career?

Short Dawg: Cannon been doing my tape since Vol. 1 we started the series together between 3 and 3.5 we lost touch because he went to the west coast but we sat down and said we was going to bring it back and do volume 4 together and he also made a

pact with me that I can’t do no more Southern Flame Spittas without him. It is always great to have someone who was one of the first believers in my craft to give me such a big cosign and stay down with me all these years.

Enve: You go by the name Short Dawg but also Elvis Freshley tells us something about Elvis Freshley?

Short Dawg: Elvis Freshley is when I get into my alternative blend if you check out the House Party 4 joint those are some of the Elvis Freshley influenced songs right there.

That’s just a little something extra I give to the public to let them know I’m not just a rapper.

Enve: What attributes does Elvis Freshley bring to Young Money?

Short Dawg: A different sound as you see when you hear Young Money there is no limitation. When you hear Drake he has the r&b feel, Wayne has the rock feel, Nicki{Minaj} has the pop feel now you have Fresh with the alternative feel.

Enve: Young Money has the game on smash, Drake went platinum, Nicki is heading to platinum status what’s next for Young Money?

Short Dawg: We got {Lil}Twist and Tyga coming, me, Gutta Millz coming, we going to keep pushing Lil Chuckie, Wayne’s coming back, Drake’s coming back we just going to keep grinding ain’t no telling whose going to pop up. There’s another Young Money album coming again.

Enve: What’s the next project you’re working on?

Short Dawg: At the top of the year I have my Fresh album which is all new joints and is based on the motion picture film “Fresh.”

Enve: What message are you giving your fans in this album?

Short Dawg: I took the character Fresh in the movie and sat down and put myself in that character and gave you my life and my story.

Enve: How can your fans keep up with you?

Enve: What does hip hop mean Short Dawg: They definitely to you and what do you most can follow me on twitter - @ love about it? elvisfreshley I’m very heavy on the internet I got freshmusic.

Short Dawg: Hip hop means com. everything to me because that’s what I wake up and go to sleep doing. My whole way of life is hip hop from the way I dress to the way I act it pretty much means everything to me.

20 | enveonline.com | February 2011

[MASSPIKE MILES] HUSTLER

GENTLEMAN SWAG

21 | enveonline.com | February 2011

to be in music. With jazz musician for a father and his namesake coming

from one of the jazz greats Miles Davis, it was inevitable. At age 11 he was in the R&B group “Perfect Gentleman,” but now he’s all grown up and expanding on his musical talents. Masspike Miles is one-half of the producing duo Tha Track Dealers and has appeared in the Come Up and Cheddar DVDs. He would attract the attention of

[By: Deshaun Jones]

COURTESY OF MASSPIKE MILES

Enjoy the Ride M

asspike Miles was born

Enve: How did you hook up with Rick Ross?

Masspike Miles: I had a homie named Shank that would tell the homie about me. He caught wind when he came to Boston. He blessed me with a record while he was up there. We sat down talked business and shot a video. He liked the fact that I was a hustler he knew I was willing to spend my last dollar to get where I had to go as far as music.

That’s how our relationship came about, real recognize real.

Rick Ross and under his guidance the Maybach

Enve: Coming up you were affiliated with Smoke

Music member gears up to help take the

Bulga are you two still affiliated and making music?

Maybach sound to new heights and orchestrate a takeover of the music industry.

22 | enveonline.com | February 2011

Masspike Miles: Yea that’s my brother we’re still af

filiated he’s signed to the label Life 4 Life enterprises

bitch till we can’t ride it no more we going to fight

which happens to be an independent label out of

until we can’t fight it no more and that’s it.

Boston. He’s signed to the label as well as Roc Dukati and some other acts that hopefully you will be able to bear witness to in the future.

Enve: Can you tell us about the underground hip hop scene in Boston that’s on the rise?

Enve: Who are you feeling in hip hop and who influenced the sound that you have?

Masspike Miles: I grew up listening to a lot of rap, as well as my dad being a great jazz musician I kind of infused a lot of different sounds and rhythms.

Masspike Miles: Yea there guys like Roc Dukati

The way life went for me molded me into what I’m

he’s another artist on the come up he speaks that

doing now. Honestly I been doing it, R. Kelly came

real street, fast life, white boy Milly, there is a lot of

with it before others came with it but I’ve been doing

acts but other than that I’m just worried about my

it. See if you can find old footage you’ll see singing

team for now.

with the hip hop, if I was to come out back in the day

Enve: Was there a lot of adversity for you making it out of Boston?

Masspike Miles: It wasn’t as hard for me as other people because I actually utilized my talent to push

I would be looked at as one of the originators.

Enve: You, Rick Ross, and Diddy have the smash record with the Bugatti Boys how has that benefited your career?

forward. As far as becoming mainstream that was

Masspike Miles: It’s benefited my career in a major

a real hard road. To get outside of a 50 mile radius

way. Diddy, I mean he’s a God that cosign alone is

was a real hard road.

ridiculous. Besides it’s a great record produced by

Enve: You produced a hot record “Money on My Mind” what were some others?

Masspike Miles: I did “What it is” with Stack Bundles, I did Smoke Bulga first singles when he was on Sony, and “Act Like You Know” with Fabolous. I also did a lot of mixtape joints. I was not only doing beats I was rapping and singing hooks I was a selfcontained package.

Enve: What attributes does Masspike Miles gives Maybach music?

my producer the Olympicks on Maybach music, and Rick Ross is on it. Maybach music sound is captivating the music industry right now so just to be a part of that is a blessing.

Enve: What were some of the monumental moments that you’re having on the tour you’re on with Rick Ross and the camp?

Masspike Miles: Just have people across seas chanting your music and to know who you are and are aware of the music you put out or the mixtapes you put out. The fact that I can go somewhere

Masspike Miles: Just realism, swag, a hustler am-

where they speak different languages and they

bition, real music, I’m what Maybach is. The brand

know who Masspike Miles is or who the team is, and

Maybach was built around niggas like me and that’s

they can sing my songs word for word. That’s the

real loyal niggas. I bring loyalty to this squad I’m

crazy thing even if it’s only one person those are the

going to be here to the bottom, good or bad. I rode

defining moments while I’m on tour.

it out when Rick was going thru it with “50.” Most people would have ran but we going to ride this

Enve: What is your next project you’re working on?

23 | enveonline.com | February 2011

Masspike Miles: Hopefully I can drop my new mixtape by the top of the year, and by the summer I can drop my album. I’m about to take it to different levels. I’m older I’m about to do some mature stuff with this music. Music is heading in a lot of directions and I want to be a part of that. It’s not just hip hop because hip hop is music now it’s always been music but to the world it hasn’t been music. Now it’s being respected in a whole new light. So I wanted to show the diversity in Masspike Miles. Watch out for the surprise I have in store next year.

"MUSIC is heading in a lot of directions and I want to be part of that. Hip Hop is being respected in a whole new light."

FOLLOW MASSPIKE ON TWITTER

@MASSPIKEMILES

24 | enveonline.com | February 2011

»

Welcome

TO THE

BY DESHAUN JONES

OVER THE LAST DECADE WEST COAST HIP-HOP has been on the decline in terms of record sales, media attention and successful artists. All of the above is about to change with the emergence Cali’s newest lyrical giant (we mean this literally) a 6’6” rapper named Jag. Jag’s flow, unlike the traditional west coast sound, would find an ear in East Coast veteran Cassidy the Hustler. It’s clear from his appearances on Applied Pressure 2 and Cassidy’s album C.A.S.H that Jag is here to revive the west and here’s how he’s going to do it.

25 | enveonline.com | February 2011

(Enve): You started doing

(Enve): Now that you’re do-

lock ourselves in the studio with

songs on the West Coast Block

ing your thing has any of the

a whole bunch of dro, some

Starz album. Let us know how

west coast vets such as the

food and a beat and we exer-

this came about?

Mack 10, Snoop, or Ice Cube

cise everyday. At the time we

(Jag): Someone had contacted me from a website and let me know that they had been follow-

reached out to you and offered any advice to help you out.

were getting ready to drop the mixtape we were preparing, it was a building process. We started off small to where at the

ing me earlier it sounded like a

(Jag): Not really, none of

end everything we was putting

good thing to do. There was a

them has reach out to me and

out was flames. That was a new

I haven’t been in the same

experience for me we really

facility to run into them I guess

went in I can see why you call it

we have not cross paths yet.

a classic even if I wasn’t on it. If

Enve: You’re from Cali how

have called it a classic.

lot of other west coast artists on there so I did my song and they liked it from there it was a wrap.

(Enve): You’re a very talented rapper how do you plan on bringing some of the dominance back to the west coast?

(Jag): Well for starters that’s where as a west coast artist we fall off at, everybody’s trying to bring back the west coast and we all end up having the same sound no disrespect to other west coast artists. I feel a lot of us go down the same road as far as gangsta rap and there is really nobody doing anything as far as hood shit, real hip hop shit, and some shit for the ladies. There is not a west coast artist that tackles every category. I feel like in order to take over the west somebody gotta bring something new to the game. There is nobody really rapping like me as far as lyrically ability. I can take it west coast

did you link up with Cassidy?

I heard the same thing I would

(Enve): How has rapping along

(Jag): You know how the

side of Cassidy sharpened your

saying goes being in the right

skills as an emcee?

place at the right time, and that’s what it was. I was here doing my thing spazzing out doing battles, going to basketball games and rapping, pass-

(Jag): It sharpened my shit to a “T”, just him teaching me certain things like how to rhyme better in certain parts of my verse.

He never wrote anything for me

ing out my shit and I had ran

or pushed anything on me. He

into a lot of people. I ran into

always let me do me and just

a basketball player out here

then he would help out where

NBA player Bobby Simmons

I need it. Being from the west

who is Cassidy’s brother, he

coast our lyrical ability is shut

told Cassidy and let him listen

down for some reason. The

to my music on his iPod. We

stuff they are playing on the

got in the booth together and haven’t stopped since.

radio isn’t popping right now.

He just helped me out piecing up certain rhymes and helping

(Enve): Applied Pressure pt.

rhyme on a whole. He helped

2 was a classic mixtape tell us

me sharpen my shit up as far

what is was like working with

as going in and taken my time.

veteran Cassidy?

For the people who don’t know I haven’t been rhyming that long

and then take it east coast and

(Jag): Me and him have a

hop on a song with one of the

workshop where we just lock

I have also been into music but

greatest east coast battle rap-

ourselves in the studio. We

for me to be going on my 8th

pers of all time.

basically call it “lock-in” we

year and to

26 | enveonline.com | February 2011

this is only going on my 8th year.

(Enve): What other artists

(Jag): I get a little more love

are you working with on your

on the east coast but the west

mixtape?

is showing me love. You know

(Jag): I bring versatility, I bring

(Jag): J.R. Writer, Bad Luck,

er” you have to jump in the

the monster out that Cass had

Cassidy of course, A.R AB

ring and knock a few people

when he first came out. It’s like

of course, I’m in the midst of

out to get some respect.

having a monster in the cage

working with Meek Mills. I’m

but I’m not in the cage. If Cas-

still looking for other features

(Enve): Who are you follow-

sound how I sound is ridiculous.

(Enve): What do you bring to the Larsiny Family?

sidy doesn’t feel like rapping he knows he can come to me and ask me to shut it down for 20 minutes or whatever. I bring originality to my songs and freestyle’s, as well as bringing the west coast side to the Larsiny family. I bring a whole new flavor to the camp showing them stuff we do on the west coast,

how it is when you’re a “box-

ing in the hip-hop game and

it’s just hard to contact people

who do you want to work

because I’m

with?

in the studio all

the time. I’m about 80 percent done I just need a few more

(Jag): Whoever people think is nice I want to work with

features and we’re solid.

before I work with who I think

(Enve): In one of your rhymes you say “Cali mad at me cause they say I have a jigga

is nice. We can go ahead get in the ring and spar and see what everyone is talking about. A lot of the people I

different words, as well as a

flow/ little bit of B.I.G in me/

whole new swag he already had

Henny with a twist of Dro” Do

Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa as far

his stuff popping I just wanted to

you get more love on the east

as everybody else I’m willing

be able to add on to that.

coast than the west?

to work as long as it comes

Enve: The new mixtape is called the Suffocation can you tell us about that?

want to work with like J Cole,

out right. Joe Budden is one of the people that inspired my flow when I first started rapping that would be somebody

(Jag): That’s the

I would want to get on a track

new mixtape

with. Joell Ortiz and whoever

Cassidy came

else is willing to work,

up. I wanted to be able to apply pressure without saying applied pressure so

(SWAG)

I wanted to be able to suffocate the game so I called mine the Suffocation.

27 | enveonline.com | February 2011

(Enve): Besides music are you trying to get into anything else?

(Jag): Without a doubt. I also write R&B I want to get my own artist and build my own label as well. I also want to act, me and Cassidy are thinking at the end of 2011 of going to acting school after we drop a Larsiny Family album.

(Enve): What do you want your stamp on the game to be?

(Jag): I want them to say that I was the coldest of all time that’s what I live for. I want to be rich but it’s not all about that. I don’t want them to say I’m the best of all time because there were other artists like Pac, Cube, and other artist that paved the way for me. I definitely want to be one of the top West coast artists of all time. Shout out to Larsiny Family, my west coast family, Pdubb, and all my fans.

FOLLOW JAG ON

TWITTER

@JAG_LARSINY 28 | enveonline.com | February 2011

J I bring versatility I bring the monster out that Cass had when he first came out.

BEAUTY iuioio BEATS BEAUTY New York’s Trendsetter

29 | enveonline.com | February 2011

D

on’t look at Beauty@the Beats and think she’s just a female producer.

She’s an artist, a painter really, figuratively speaking. Born and raised in the Bronx, the New York native always had an interest in music but it wasn’t until she worked on a school project producing an aspiring rapper’s album that she realized it was something she could do professionally. Armed with her first piece of equipment and the tutelage of mega producer Buckwild and Denn-Ice, a member of Buckwild’s production team, she has launched her own production company, and is preparing to paint her masterpiece.

B@B: I think that it’s true at some point and you have to kind of seek it out. I think that the main reason why it is the way it is right now, in my opinion, people are putting out what they think is going to sell. It’s kind of bad coming from New York and feeling like that because New York is a trendsetter state and everyone in the past was looking to New York, like “what’s New York doing” and that was the big thing. Right now New York is looking at what everyone else is doing, and that kind of goes against hip hop it was never cool to try and copy someone else’s style in hip hop you’re suppose to set the tone.

Enve: So you started producing in college?

B@B: There’s a difference between a beatmaker and a producer. A beatmaker will just create a beat which can be done in a number of ways. But actually producing a beat you track it out, you mix it, you actually sit with it, you may come up with a hook, and if you play it for an artist you may work on constructing a concept.

B@B: I graduated in 2001, I went to school for Communications but I had a concentration in audio production.

During my senior year we had a project to record someone’s album. That year I was surrounded by different aspiring artists we worked on someone’s demo album and just by being around that, that’s when I really played around with the idea of being involved with the creative aspect.

Enve: A lot of people think that a producer just makes a hot beat, what goes into to producing a track?

Enve: What’s the difference between you going into the studio and creating a beat for someone and you going in to just to do some work to build your catalog? What’s the difference in you creative process?

B@B: Sometimes I’m just in the mood to create, I always have a good amount of vinyl. I’ve gone through most of them but I’ll throw on a record and if Enve: It’s been said that East Coast rap isn’t what it used to be and the New I hear something I’ll make a note that I want to samYork sound isn’t really around anymore. ple it. If I’m working with an artist I always like to What are your thoughts on that? Do you have a conversation with them and get to know feel any pressure being a producer from them if it’s a singer I want to know their range if it’s a rapper I want to know the song content. I the East Coast? like to get to know them musically so that I can

30 | enveonline.com | February 2011

listen to what I have to suit them or so that I can tailor something to fit them. I want to make sure I’m sending them something that fits them.

Enve: There are some producers out there, that when you listen to a song they have produced you know immediately who it is because they have created a “sound.” Do you have a sound like that and if not do you want to have a distinguishing sound?

B@B: No I don’t want to be like that, I don’t want to be that type of producer. I pride myself on listening to every type of genre of music. I draw from every type of music. I want to think outside the box, I want to keep people guessing. I’m constantly changing it up.

Enve: What’s your favorite genre to work with?

B@B: I love alternative, I don’t really do much alternative, but I have sampled some alternative songs and flipped it and to make it more hip hop. I love it cause it’s from the heart it’s very authentic, everything from the instrumentation to the lyrics to the way it’s laid out, it’s very story book you can feel it. That’s how I want my music to be something you listen to that takes you to a place that’s makes you think about something you’ve been through or that you can picture yourself somewhere.

Enve: What do we have to look forward to when you produce a track?

B@B: More so, diversity, anyone can draw from it. I can play a track for multiple people, I have people that personally that don’t listen to hip hop and some hardcore hip hop heads and they all like it for different reasons.

Enve: You’ve talked about Buckwild how he took you under his wing and showed you some things so is he a mentor to you?

B@B: He’s more like a big brother I’ve gone to many of his studio

sessions and just watching him doing what he does I knew that every time I went to studio I would get something out it, I would leave with another piece of knowledge.

It could be just him talking to someone else and me listening, him as well as Denn-Ice, I’ve learned a lot from both of them.

Enve: Let’s talk about the preconceived ideas about your music. Do you think it’s because you’re a women or where you’re from?

B@B: It’s all about me being a female producer. I remember a music manager heard my beats and he wanted to meet me and the group was not for it before they any heard my work because I was a women. I’m not going to say that’s how it always is, but you know I’m sure as a rap artist they’re not going to expect to get anything hard from a female.

Enve: What are they expecting?

B@B: I’m happy that producers are behind the scenes I’m very comfortable behind the scenes. What drives me is the music I have a just a natural love, desire and passion for it.

When it’s all said and done whether I’m making money from it or not at the end of the day it’s still something I enjoying doing.

“There’s a difference between a beatmaker and a producer.”

B@B: I heard someone say they expected my music to be very Backstreet Boys, and I don’t have a problem with pop music at all but in the hip hop world it’s kind of frowned upon, so it wasn’t a compliment.

Enve: You have a production company Knockturnal Entertainment, that’s just started in October how many producers do you have?

B@B: It’s four producers, one singer and one rapper, it’s a full service production company, it’s primarily music but we do other things. It’s a full package that goes into an album, I wanted to mesh together all the elements that goes into putting together an album and provide a service that I don’t think is out there.

Enve: Anyone that is in the limelight, they are motivated by the fame, but for a lot of producers they don’t get those accolades because you’re behind the scenes. At the end of the day what is it all about for you.

FOLLOW BEAUTYnTHEBEATS ON

TWITTER

@BEAUTYNTHEBEATS

31 | enveonline.com | February 2011

Tashan Newsome: He got next

By Steve Bryant

You may not have heard of Tashan Newsome before but there is a great chance you will hear about him in the future.

E

nve online had the pleasure of interviewing one of college basketball’s brightest and upcoming stars. After a stellar high school career at Colonie High school in Colonie, NY this hometown hero is now poised to seize the spotlight and showcase his talents on the national scene. After a transfer from Mississippi Valley State to Gardner-Webb University Newsome’s time is now and failure is not an option.

“I had no intentions of sitting out a year” Enve: Take us to the beginning, how old were you when you first realized that you really had a talent, a true gift?

TN: I would say I was around 7 or 8 years old.

Enve: Who were your early influences in life? Who pushed you to be the best that you could be?

TN: I would definitely say my father he was the one who really got me into basketball. He supported me with that at an early age.

Enve: What accomplishments or awards that you have received throughout your career are you most proud of?

TN: It’s really hard to pick out one, I made numerous all-star teams, all-tournament teams so I guess making the area all-star team both my junior and senior year would probably be my greatest accomplishment.

Enve: Now is there any players in the NBA that you

32 | enveonline.com | February 2011

pattern your game after, is there anyone you try to emulate when you are out on the court?

TN: I don’t really try to play like one person, I feel that my game is unique when I play I am just me.

But I do think that LeBron James is the best player in the world so I definitely try to take some things from him and Allen Iverson is my favorite player of all time so if there was anyone that I would emulate it would definitely be him.

Enve: Take me through your recruiting process, what made your choose Mississippi Valley State?

TN: That’s actually a long story, due to the injuries that I suffered in my junior and senior years that required surgery I lost a lot of the schools that were after me. I was going to go to a big-time prep school, South Kent, but in late June when I was about to enroll they informed me that they would be unable to give me the full scholarship like they said they would and kind of left me out to dry. So after that I began scrambling and I worked with Antoine Morrison who I call my big brother who handles all of my situations regarding schools and he began contacting schools and then Mississippi Valley State came about.

They had seen video of me on YouTube and after that they didn’t want me to keep searching for schools they wanted me to come there. This was in July and school started in August so when they told me that I just committed to it. They were a Division 1 school like I always dreamed of and I had no intentions of sitting out a year so that was the move that I had to make.



“I play both sides of the floor and I feel like I am a piece of the big puzzle.”

Enve: What was your freshman year like? What were some of the highs and lows of your 2008-2009 season and how difficult was it going through a season and finishing 7-25?

TN: It was really tough, first being all the way in Mississippi and then being on a team that was that bad record-wise. We had a lot of talent but it wasn’t getting used correctly and I was bumping heads with the coach so it was tough at times but the positives was that I learned a lot, I matured, I played numerous big name pros such as Blake Griffin, played at some of the biggest universities in the world and I grew a lot as a person and a player. I also learned how hard I had to work

33 | enveonline.com | February 2011

to become productive and a bigtime player on this level.

Enve: What did you do in the offseason to prepare yourself for the 2009-2010 season?

TN: I worked extremely hard, always running, conditioning, living in the gym. I really didn’t take any time off because I wanted to be so much better the next year and prove that I could play on that level. I even sent my coaches a text that offseason telling them that I would be the best player in the SWAC conference.

Enve: What was that season like?

TN: I came into the season much

bigger and stronger and was praised by my coaches for that so when we touched the floor in the preseason everyone saw a difference in me and I was playing like it. Unfortunately the same problems that I was having with my coach my freshman year began arising again and it bothered me. I was trying to get through it but it came to a point that it was hurting me more than helping me and he was hurting my career. He wasn’t helping me as a person and it just wasn’t right for me to be there and I felt it was best for me to leave and continue my career elsewhere so that’s what I did around December and didn’t return.

Enve: Now what does your current situation look like?

TN: My current situation looks great, I transferred to Gardner-Webb University. They have a great team, coaching staff, campus, facility and it’s beautiful out here. I am red-shirting this year which means that I can’t play this year because I transferred from one Division 1 college to another but everything is great out here, I plan on graduating out here and getting some conference rings.

Enve: What is Gardner-Webb getting in Tashan Newsome as a player?

TN: They are getting a versatile player, a player that will do anything for the team to be successful. I play both sides of the floor and I feel like I am a piece of the big puzzle that we are trying to put together here.

Enve: That’s what’s up, now Gardner-Webb has made it to the NCAA tournament in the past do you think that you have what it takes to make it back?

TN: That is a big-time goal that we have around here, I definitely plan on it and that we have the talent to do it and that in due time we WILL do it.

Enve: Where do you see yourself after your college career is over? Will you attempt to pursue a career with basketball albeit semi-pro, overseas or on the world stage of the NBA? TN: That is my main goal so after college I plan on and dream of playing professionally so that’s what I am pursuing.

Enve: Is there anything that you want our Enve readers to know about you that we haven’t covered?

TN: No not really except that I am from Albany, NY and that I will always rep Albany!

“ I worked extremely hard, always running, conditioning, living in the gym. I really didn’t take any time off because I wanted to be so much better the next year”

FOLLOW TASHAN ON

TWITTER

@TUSHPAYPACHASA

 34 | enveonline.com | February 2011

ďƒĽ

36 | enveonline.com | February 2011

Out Hustle Everybody [ By: Deshaun Jones ]

JUST RELEASED FROM PRISON, HARLEM BRED RAPPER A-MAFIA STEPS BACK INTO THE GAME AND HAS ONE THING ON HIS MIND: “OUT HUSTLE EVERYBODY.” WITH FOUR RELEASED MIX TAPES, OVER 16 MAJOR MUSIC VIDEOS AND MILLIONS OF VIEWS ON THE WEB, A-MAFIA IS LIVING UP TO HIS NAME, THE DIGITAL HUSTLER. NOT WAITING FOR A RECORD DEAL, A-MAFIA IS HUNGRY AND ON A NON-STOP GRIND TO MAKE MONEY. HAVING MAJOR CO-SIGNS FROM HIP-HOP SUCH AS CAM’RON, DUKE DA GOD, D.J. KAY SLAY AND MANY OTHERS, A-MAFIA HAS A MAJOR STREET BUZZ AND A JUMP START IN THE INDUSTRY. IF YOU ARE AN UP AND COMING RAPPER WITHOUT A RECORD DEAL TAKE NOTES AND LEARN FROM ONE OF THE BEST “DIGITAL HUSTLERS” ALIVE.

Enve: You’re from the neighborhood Hamilton Place in Harlem, how has that shaped you to be the person you are today?

A-mafia: Everybody tries hustling up there, the whole Harlem, period. I’m from all over Harlem but my hood is Hamilton. It’s a hustling area and that’s where I get my hustle from. I’m a hustler. That also

37 | enveonline.com | February 2011

inspires my music. I make that hustler music.

Enve: It’s noted that a few years ago you faced a few hardships and did some time.

When you came home from jail was returning to rap automatic?

A-mafia: No question. When I was in jail I was setting up shop. You got to realize I been

When I make a song I don’t think “I wonder if this guy is going to play it on the radio?” I think what would Biggie think if he heard this, would Pac want to jump on the record.

home for 10 months. I probably wrote like four rhymes since I been home.

Enve: Let’s talk about being an unsigned artist. I think you’re taking that to a whole new level. How does being independent benefit you career?

A-mafia: I’m a hustler. I’m going to get it. You can’t stop me from going out selling my own cds and spreading the word.

You can’t stop me from being on my Twitter, my Facebook, or my MySpace. You can’t stop me now and I’m going to put it out. Everybody’s dream is to be on a major label; that’s not my dream. I’m going to put it out with or without a major label.

Enve: Let’s talk about your website.

A-mafia: I came home and got the website www.amafiadigital.com. We’re selling stuff on there. We’re moving man. I

didn’t come home to play with them.

Enve: Your last mix tape was a classic. I know the DJs are showing you love. How has that benefited you?

A-mafia: Shout out to Kay Slay, a real Harlem DJ. I’m grateful for him always playing my music, that’s big for me.

I’m the underdog. I’m the biggest underdog out there. A lot of people counted me out but I’m still here. Shout out to Kay Slay.

Enve: You always have some major songs and videos on the web like “Fidel Castro” and “Street Soldiers.”

What the next major track you have coming?

A-mafia: By the time this drops “Rolling it up” should be out.

But I’m about to shoot a video for this song I have coming out, “I Believe I Can Fly.” You know me, I try to do what they

not doing. “They” meaning the masses, the mass public. I try to do the A-Mafia thing. When I make a song I don’t think “I wonder if this guy is going to play it on the radio?” I think what would Biggie think if he heard this, would Pac want to jump on the record if he heard this? That’s what I think.

Enve: You’ve been around a lot of important people in the industry such as Cam and Duke Da God. How has being around them shaped your career and what advice do you take from them?

A-mafia: First of all Cam and Duke are the reason why I’m out there because they gave me the opportunity. Cam put me on those right tapes to do songs with me. You got to realize this is a man that probably get $20,000 a verse and for him to be like “mafia, I want to do some records with you,” I’m grateful for that. Duke

38 | enveonline.com | February 2011

Da God is connected in the game and I’m grateful for him wanting to work with me.

I just watch what they do.

They inspire me by being where they’re at. They’re in the game I’m trying to get in the game. I don’t ask for much. I like to work for everything I get.

Shout out to Duke and Cam. Enve: I hear you got an EP coming up next year. Tell us about it.

A-mafia: April man. My whole thing is this: I got to keep it moving. I got to keep it moving man. Right now you can put an album out yourself man, real talk. I’m not waiting man, I’m not waiting for no label to try to find me people listen. I got listeners man. I might not have a million listeners but I got a few listeners that will spend that ten. So we’re going to capitalize. I’m from Harlem and what I don’t know I got some people that will take care of that for me I got a nice lawyer.

“I’M A HUSTLER, I AM GOING TO GET IT” FANS CAN FIND AMAFIA ON TWITTER - @AMFIA140 FACEBOOK - AMFIA140 MYSPACE - AMAFIA 140 WWW.AMAFIADIGITAL.COM

Enve: Where can your fans find you?

A-mafia: You can find me on twitter. I’m on twitter all day.

I be getting in trouble behind that I’m on twitter all day. I’m digital man hit me up, I’m ready.

I’m not waiting man, I’m not waiting for no label to try to find me people 39 | enveonline.com | February 2011

»

F

ELONY FAME

“ IT’S GOING TO BE HARD TO BALANCE but difficulty is nothing, I am used to it. I am going to balance it out.”

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Switching Lanes: Starring Felony Fame [ By: Deshaun Jones ]

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TO GET HIS STREET BUZZ UP, FELONY FAME USED THE PARTIES HE THREW IN NEW JERSEY TO SHOWCASE HIS LYRICAL TALENT. EEnveE MAGAZINE SAT DOWN WITH CAM’RON’S NEWEST MEMBER TO HIS U.N. MOVEMENT TO RAP ABOUT HIS VERSATILITY ON THE MIC, HIS QUEST FOR DOMINANCE IN THE HIP HOP ARENA AND WHY MUSIC ISN’T HIS ONLY ENDEAVOR.

Everyone Starts Off As A Rapper And Develops Into An Artist.

Enve: You come from Jersey, how did you meet Cam’ron and his U.N. movement?

Felony: I was born in Newark, NJ but I was back and forth between Jersey and North Carolina. I had family in the south and family in Jersey.

I made the decision to stay in my Pop’s house in Jersey and that’s how I linked up with Cam. I use to see him when I used to have huge parties

in my area; a whole bunch of people would come through, like a 1,000. That’s how I got my buzz up around town and me and Cam started talking.

Enve: You work with Cam and he’s a legend, you work with Vado who has the streets blazing and Skitzo, a great producer. How do you guys complement each other’s styles? How has it been working with each other?

Felony: I don’t look at it as a competition but being around these guys has definitely made me better and stepped my game up 100 percent. I see their work schedules and work habits; it’s crazy they are in the studio every night for weeks at a time just recording. Everybody’s energy level is through the roof right now.

Everyone is feeding off of each other’s energy and it’s a great thing.

Especially being by Cam, just him in the room is a great feeling.

Enve: So what sets you apart from most rappers?

Felony: At the end of the day I’m different from artists because I focus on every aspect.

Some people just do music just because they think it’s hot. I think you have to look

at the audience’s perspective as well and what are they going to think and what is this audience going to do when they hear my music? I try to appeal to every audience that I can. That’s why I change my flow up here and there. Some people hear my tracks and ask “is that the same person?” That’s just something I do. I appeal to everybody.

Enve: For the people who don’t know, you got a chance to appear on “Heat in Here” and “Dipset West Mix Tape” with Stone Star.

Tell us about that?

Felony: I was on there with Stone Star, courtesy of Ice Man who is the C.E.O over there. I’m doing a lot of work with him. I have another movie coming up with him called “Crime Wave.” It’s featuring him, Sticky Fingaz, Gloria Valez and a lot of other artists. I’m actually flying out next month to work on that. For those of you that don’t know, I was in 50 Cent’s new movie, “Before I Self Destruct” and that was my first film role.

That’s how I built a relationship with 50 over there. He helped me out with my film career and I’m doing a movie on my own right now that’s going to come out with my CD “Dirty

Laundry.” It’s going to be a double disk; it’s going to be the film and my CD. Enve: Is acting something you would like to do while you’re in the music industry?

Felony: Definitely, I want to extend, I don’t want to be that person that’s known for one thing I want to be that person that’s doing everything. I want my foot to be in the door.

Every opportunity I get to expand I’m going to take it. I don’t care if it’s making shoe strings; I want to do it all.

Enve: In your mind what’s the difference between an artist and a rapper and what category do you put yourself in?

Felony: A rapper is someone who just raps with no meaning and who’s rapping because he’s doing it.

Everybody starts off as a rapper first before you develop into an artist. Once you get into your artist mode that’s when you start tackling your performances. You’ve got to learn how to grab the crowd. You’ve got to learn how to work the stage.

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These are things that an artist does. A rapper goes in the booth and just raps.

Enve: Is that going to be hard to balance?

they impacted people {Biggie, and Tupac}, that’s all I want. I can’t ask for anything else.

I want my music to touch people like their music touched me.

Felony: It’s going to be hard to balance but difficulty is nothing, I’m used to it. I’m going to balance it out.

Enve: If you weren’t a rapper, what would you be doing?

Felony: If I wasn’t rapping I would probably be in college playing ball or trying to play ball. I lost my skills but I would be trying to do something positive.

Enve: Let’s fast forward and imagine a little bit. Twenty years from now when it’s said and done, what do you want the Felony Fame legacy to be?

»

Felony: I just want to be remembered by my music. I just want my music to mean something. I still listen to “Life After Death” and it means so much.

I listen to Pac. Their music means so much. It’s like it’s 2010 but that music was recorded over a decade ago. When I pop it in now it’s like it came out yesterday. As long as I have that impact on people the way

“A rapper is someone who just raps with no meaning and who’s rapping because he’s doing it.”

FOLLOW FELONY FAME TWITTER

@FELONYFAME 43 | enveonline.com | February 2011

What has Happened to Hip Hop Since the Golden Age of 1984-1994?

[By: Damion Trent]

H

ip Hop is thought to have begun in 1973 with Jamaicanborn Kool Herc on the turntables in Cedar Park in the South Bronx, NY. The golden age of Hip Hop according to Hip Hop historian, legend, artist, philosopher KRS- One is the sevenyear period from 1987 -1994. This was a time driven by the explosion of MC’s who started to become more prominent than DJ’s as opposed to the earlier period.

Also the past times that became associated with hip hop like break dancing and graffiti would be exported across the globe. A lot has changed since this era and when compared to the present we may be witnessing a progression, stagnation or digression of hip hop culture.

the forefront with his calm jazz influenced flow utilizing alliteration, and assonance in his rhymes.

KRS-one introduced the gangster realism of street life and social commentary infused with Pan-Africanism, Humanism, Buddhism, Rastafarism, Hare Krishna, philosophy, and activism to teach the masses. LL Cool J emerged with his rhymes filled with masculine, braggadocio, bravado and lyrics for the ladies that would make their hearts melt making him arguably Hip Hop’s first sex symbol.

Increasing lyrical genius was introduced to us by Public Enemy who used James Brown samples remixed by the Bomb Squad, the ultimate hype man in Flavor Flav and the distinctive rhyme flow of Chuck D to merge the Black Power era of the 1970s with hip hop.

Big Daddy Kane also emerged with is rapid fire pace rhymes filled with complex metaphors and similes that caused many to destroy their cassette tapes because they kept rewinding them to breakdown how fresh him rhyme was. Also let’s not forget the ladies MC Lyte would surface with her no nonsense rapid fire rhymes, which made many male emcees want to battle.

Queen Latifah and Monie The golden age saw Love taught us that the rise of the most ladies weren’t just first diverse and lyrically gifted but had the power to emcees Hip Hop has ever uplift people as well as if seen. Lyrical poetic giants not better than any man. like Rakim of Eric B and Rakim and KRS-One of So exactly what Boogie Down Productions has changed since the emerged on the scene golden era of Hip Hop? during this period. Rakim The DJ that was once a brought poetic genius to vital part of a group as in

the case of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five has diminished.

This has also caused the art of DJing to disappear from the scene to the point that it is now an anomaly to hear scratching on a record or a DJ actually mixing with the proficiency witnessed on the BET show Master of the Mix. Despite all of the new innovated technology such as laptop DJing where you can carry thousands of songs with you and automatically match songs with others of the same tempo the craft has been rendered uncreative at this point.

One of the main differences between the golden age of hip hop and the new generation is that the protest that was in the music is no longer giving significant air time. Whereas in the golden age most rappers even if they were not as politically and socially aware as BDP or Public Enemy they would have at least one or two songs in which they at least addressed pertinent issues affecting the community. Now it seems like everyone wants to be a gangster and that is what is played on the radio and promoted in videos that are shown. Sure there are conscious rappers like Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Nas, Jay Electronica and Coney Island’s Torae that make uplifting thinking music but with the exception of Nas they do not receive the airplay that their predecessors in the

golden age would have received.

The days of Kid and Play doing the kick step and chanting the parties at the fun house have eroded into thin air.

Unless you count Cali Swag District’s hit Do the Dougie or Soulja Boy’s Crank that but the latter has been criticized

by Ice-t for killing hip hop with that song. Now Gucci Mane, Waka Flaka Flame, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and TI are the leading artists of this generation.

Diversity of the performers is now gone because as in the past people did not rap about how much drugs they sold or used. Now it seems that rapping about it, doing it and going to jail for it or any other infraction is now seen as a rite of passage in the rap game and Hip Hop culture. KRS-One and Marley Marl album makes that point that Hip Hop Still Lives and all of the four elements survive underground or in other countries. It just needs to have a chance to shine and that means the underground cats like Black Milk, Omega Watts, and Torae will have to find innovative ways to get their messages out to the buying public. We must always remember what KRS-One always says, “Rap is something you do and Hip Hop is something you live”, so we find the best way to live it in 2011.

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