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Photography by DJ Smedley Make up by LaToya Fletcher-Abram
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From the Editor’s Desk I would like to thank God for giving me the idea and surrounding me with people to make my vision a reality. I have come across some wonderful people and it has truly been a blessing to work with all of you. For those of you that keep asking for a print version of the magazine I am truly flattered that you think so much our work and we will have our publication in your hands soon. Since we are an internet based publication our ads have been viewed all across the United States, Canada, U.K. and Africa. Just think those artists that were only know within the city are now known all over the world because of the hard work of just a few people. We have huge plans for the future and as we grow every person that we deal with will grow as well. GEntertainment Magazine is the platform for local artists, businesses, aspiring models, actors, and all other talents. We put your talents on center stage. Harold “G” Abram, Jr.
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HAROLD “G” ABRAM, JR. MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS LA’TOYA FLETCHER-ABRAM CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS PAUL H. FRANKLIN KENNY LUK D. JEROME SMEDLEY MAKE UP ARTIST LA’TOYA FLETCHER-ABRAM
FOR ADVERTISEMENT INFORMATION CONTACT US @
www.g-entmagazine.net Follow us on Twitter @g_entmag Follow us on Myspace @www.myspace.com/gbone_ent Like us on Facebook G-Entertainment Magazine
G-Entertainment Magazine can not accept responsibility for claims made by it’s advertiser. Advertisers who place ads in G– Entertainment Magazine do so understanding that G- Entertainment Magazine will not accept responsibility made by them in their ads; nor will the publisher be held financially accountable for errors in advertising, regardless of fault, beyond the partial or full cost of the ads themselves. Opinions expressed in GEntertainment Magazine are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the management, staff or advertisers.
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Contents Gospel Entertainers
7even…………...…………………….……………….…………………10 Lorri Dresbach…………………..………………….………………..14 The Business Side Of The Game
T Rose…………………….…..……………………………………......18 Models & Fashion
Deanna ……………………………………………………………...….20 Odessa…………...………………………………………………….…..24 Rock
Cover Story Voodoo Jones………………………………...…….30 Hip Hop
Nina Labelle & JD……………………………………..……...…...36 Phyve Star…………….……….…………………………………….....38 Zeus Entertainment…………………………………………...…….42 R&B
Vick Jones…………………………………..…………….……..…….48 What’s Going on in Birmingham?
G-Scenes…………………………………..……...46 G-Scenes………………………………………………………..……...50
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CHECK OUT THESE HOT ALBUMS
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“Its sad, we sometimes feed off the negative more than the positive.�
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GEM: Where were you born? 7even: Birmingham, Alabama. GEM: How would you compare your sound now to your earlier music? 7even: I would say that my earlier music was more aggressive than it is right now. Not saying that my music isn’t aggressive now, but I think back then I was trying to find my niche as an artist. Now it’s mature to a more universal level opposed to just ...church. GEM: You had a single called “Labor Pains”. What gave you the idea to write that? 7even: The whole explanation behind that is when you give birth to something, I’ve never had a child before and I’ve heard that its very painful, but it birthed something out beautiful which is another life. So, I took my pain of the things that I was going through with the rape and molestation and I put it into a song and it turned out to be phenomenal. It was a blessing to other people and it helped me to free myself from those situations as well. GEM: How did you come up with the name 7even? 7even: At first I didn’t have an artist name I was going by my birth name, which is April, and my producer Snipe was kind of sitting and thinking about a name and he was like … Seven. I looked it up and it’s the most mentioned number in the Bible. It means
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completion, perfection and rest. So, I try to operate in those things.
Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary and Ruben Studdard.
GEM: What type of style do you have?
GEM: What was the biggest show that you’ve ever done/
7even: Edgy, fresh, hip hop, innovative, I really don’t like to put myself in a box, I a Christian and I do Hip Hop, but I don’t like to be put in the Christian Hip Hop box. My style is more substance message music.
7even: I think it was the Donnie McClurkin show. It was in an arena maybe 10,000 people. It was crazy. I got a chance to meet him and everything.
GEM: Knowing that there is a difference between the Christian Hip Hop artists and the Gangsta rappers. Do you think that society in into the bad more than the good? 7even: Yes, that’s just the mentality of society. Its sad, we sometimes feed off the negative more than the positive. GEM: Being a female in Hip Hop do you think that its harder for you to get the same respect that the guys get?
GEM: What are you currently working on? 7even: I’m currently working on my EP it should be seven songs produced by Snipe...Sound Squad productions. I got a few features on there right now. We are working on the final touches. It will be released in July 2011. GEM: Do you have a website where people can get in contact with you?
7even: Definitely, I think sometimes if I was a guy I would be further along than I am. If your not selling sex as a female they are not quick to hear you. I think sexism still exists in the music industry.
7even: www.facebook.com/ sevenrich www.reverbnation.com/ cloudsevenent www.twitter.com/ cloudsevenent www.myspace.com/ sevenisthetruth cloudsevenent@gmail.com or cloudsevenent@yahoo.com
GEM: Have you done any shows outside of Alabama?
GEM: Tell us about Cloud Seven.
7even: Yes, Florida, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Cali, and other places.
7even: Cloud Seven was birthed out of frustration. With the music industry not selling the way that they want artists to sell. Major labels aren’t quick to sign artists these days. I felt like nobody
GEM: Have you opened up for any mainstream artists? 7even: I’ve opened up for
is going to work for you like you. So, I wanted to take my career into my own hands and form my own independent label. Mr. Dell, he used to be with Three Six Mafia, gave me the idea. I was looking for a record deal and he was like why don’t you start your own label. So, that’s what it is. GEM: Do you have any shout outs? 7even: Shout out to Sound Squad, Kenny Luk, Mz. Joi, Battle Cats, Sun Moon, LD, Big Prophet, DJ Strick, 95.7 Gospel Jamz, GEntertainment Magazine, Lorri Dresbach and everybody around Birmingham trying to do something.
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GEM: Where were you born? Lorri: I was born in Atlanta, Georgia. GEM: How long have you been singing? Lorri: My whole life. I can’t remember a time that I haven’t sung. I’ve sung in church choirs my whole life, singing around the house and I was in a high school Rock n Roll band. Its part of how I express myself. GEM: Was it hard to transition from Rock n Roll into Gospel? Lorri: Well, I think that the church wasn’t ready for it, but a lot of times I’m one of those people that does things ahead of time. I’m sort of a pioneer. I would try to do those kind of things and the rest of the church would catch up after a while. Yes, it was difficult to cross over. I think it was because the audience wasn’t there yet. A lot of times creative people will be ahead of that and the audience has to catch up with you. That’s where I’ve been most of my life with trends and fashion. GEM: Who or what influenced you to make music? Lorri: Lots of people. I’ve been listening to the radio...I’m probably going to date myself, but there were pioneer Rock n Roll women that would sing Heart was one Pat Benatar was one way back in the day. I was interested to see how there careers went because this is a man’s world particularly in Rock n Roll.
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Those were some of my early influences. Then in Christian there wasn’t a lot you could go on especially for edgy music. I wouldn’t call what I do edgy, but its not your typical Christian church music. I’ve always been interested in not the norm and not conforming to somebody’s idea of what things should sound like. I just listen to the creativity of God and what he has called me to do. GEM: You wrote and sang songs on your first album Run Into the Fire while you were battling breast cancer. Would you tell the readers how that influenced your music? Lorri: What happened was I had a book full of songs that I hadn’t recorded. I was afraid that they weren’t going to be good or they weren’t going to be what I wanted them to be. When I got diagnosed the first thought was I don’t want to leave this planet without somebody knowing how I would have sung those songs. I wrote some of the songs before I was going through breast cancer and some of them came out of that. Going through radiation, chemotherapy and losing my hair. Its really trauma to have to go through. A lot of those songs were prayers. I was asking God why or what about this? And he would always meet me and always answer me. My way of expressing thins is very creative through music. The Lord just gave me the songs and I figured what the heck. I can leave this planet
without doing it or I can put them out there. GEM: Does the title of your second album Cure for the Common Life mean anything significant to you? Lorri: Yes, once I went through the fire, I’m cancer free. The Lord healed me in more ways than one. Healed me emotionally, physically and he gave me more of a purpose. I think that everybody has something that they that you should do with your life… everybody has an opinion, but the only opinion that really matters is the one that placed you here. So, I got really focused about what my purpose was and I wouldn’t allow anyone to put anything in my inbox that wasn’t from God. I got my fight back. You go through something like that after you follow God your whole life and something that terrible happens to you your faith is shaken. When I got my fight back and realized who the true enemy is Cure for the Common Life was written. GEM: What is it like working with all of the artists on The Management Agency’s label? Lorri: A lot of times I don’t have a lot of contact with the other artists. The common thread is basically the manager, but we do collaboration events where you can come together and share resources, so that’s been exciting. GEM: What’s the biggest show that you have performed in?
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Lorri: (laughing) depends on what you call big. As worship leader of done lots of different things. I’ve been from California to Maine to South Carolina. Some have been large and some have been small. I’m more about the ministry. The numbers really don’t matter as much to me although I have performed in front of large audiences. GEM: Outside of Gospel what kinds of music do you like? Lorri: I like Jazz, R & B, Rock and Roll (depends on where the message is), some Country and I love rap (I’m really not into the secular rap because the message isn't along the line of what I like. GEM: How can fans reach you? Lorri: www.reverbnation.com/ lorridresbach www.facebook.com/ lorridresbach www.twitter.com/ lorridresbach www.lorridresbach.com GEM: Do you have any shout outs? Lorri: The Bates Brothers, The Management Agency, Gary Stripling, Tommy Dorm, Stacey Knol, George Vincent, Natalie Ruch, Church of the Highlands, Morning Star, Tracy Showhorn and of course my family.
“When I got diagnosed the first thought was I don’t want to leave this planet without somebody knowing how I would have sung those songs.”
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GEM: Tell the readers about your business.
GEM: Did you go to school for this?
T. Rose: My business partner, Alicia Rice, and I have developed a company call 91/10 Agency, LLC. We do a lot in the entertainment realm. We do event planning and we put on music conferences, which we have done several in the past. We also do marketing, PR, brand management, and we also do services for music artists such as: doing their bios, press kits, etc.
T. Rose: No, actually I went to school for dental stuff.
GEM: Where were you born? T. Rose: I was born here in Birmingham, but I was raised in Kansas City, Missouri. GEM: When did you move back to Birmingham? T. Rose: 10 years ago. GEM: Who and what influenced you to get into this business? T. Rose: Ever since I was 10 years old I knew that I wanted to be in the music industry; but you know you always have those people that say don’t do that it’s not guaranteed money. I went the other route thinking that I would make more money, but entertainment always called me back. The person that really influenced me is Diddy because of the way that he does things. He does things so big and he always knows how to reinvent himself and do things over the top and do things better than the other person is doing it. He has always inspired me to be a go getter in the music industry.
GEM: What have been some of your ups and downs when it comes to you being an entrepreneur? T. Rose: Well, the number 1 thing is being a woman in the industry. Being a woman in the industry you really have to let them know that they have to respect you like they respect the next person and you have to go above and beyond and act a certain way. Also, having the right team is everything. Not having the right team has held me back in a sense you want to work with everybody and give everybody an opportunity, but you can’t work with everybody. I would say not having the right team and being a woman have been my obstacles. GEM: What do you see in the future for your company? T. Rose: I hope and pray that we able to do things that we have not been able to do, especially here in Birmingham. Because its not considered an entertainment market I see 90/10 being a key to opening a lot of doors for a lot of people. And to make Birmingham an entertainment industry not just for rap or R&B, but with concerts and different venues. I want 90/10 to be involved in all aspects of the entertainment industry. GEM: How does your business contribute to the social
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growth of the city? T. Rose: We are always putting on events. Such as open mics, things to help people build their credit...we help people grow. GEM: What makes your vision for company different from other businesses of this type? T. Rose: One thing that makes our company different is that we have integrity. We don’t want to do anybody dirty. We treat people the way that we want to be treated and we and we want our events and services to be quality. Instead of just doing it we know what we are doing while we are doing it. GEM: Do you consider yourself a promoter or business woman? T. Rose: I consider myself a business woman. I don’t want to put myself in any type of realm because I’m so many different things. I have so many ideas running through my head on so many different projects. GEM: Do you have a website? T. Rose: www.90/10agency.com www.facebook.com/trose205 GEM: Do you have any shout outs? T. Rose: Yes, I have a lot of shout outs. Not a lot, but I’m going to limit them. Mary Kay, Young Dill, Katt, Kim Moore, Corey, anybody that
had a helping hand in developing me as a person and as a business woman, Robbie, Canesha, Alisha and J.R….anybody that has helped me.
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T. Rose
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Deanna
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Photography by DJ Smedley Make up by LaToya Fletcher-Abram
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Photo
ography by Paul Franklin July/ August
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Our cover story...meet the bad boys of rock VooDoo Jones Roger Jones on lead guitar Tommy Travis lead vocalist Curt Granger, on lead guitar Ric Morley on drums GEM: Where did you guys grow up? Roger: Tarrant, Alabama. Tommy: Lincoln, Alabama. “The biggest compliments we get are for our sound, and also the fact that we enjoy performing so much. I like to make the crowd a part of the show. Perform with them, not just for them.”
GEM: How would you describe your music? Roger: (laughing) really loud. Its Hard Rock something to make you have a good time. GEM: Outside of your genre what styles of music do you enjoy? Roger: I love Texas style Blues like Stevie Ray Vaughn. I love Blues. Tommy: R&B, Coutry....really all music. I
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don't limit myself. Each genre has something to offer. For me, as a vocalist, I just love songs that are sung by great singers. GEM: How long have you guys been making music together? Roger: About three months. Tommy: The concept came together after the Pyrate Reunion show, but we had our first show in January of this year. GEM: How long have you been making music? Tommy: Since 1986. Roger: I started playing in clubs when I was 18 years old and I’m 42 now. Its been a long time. GEM: Did you ever play in any high school bands? Roger: No, they wouldn’t let me play the guitar out there. GEM: What should the fans expect from VooDoo Jones in 2011? Roger: Lots of Budweiser & Jagermeister and VooDoo Juice. GEM: What is VooDoo Juice?
Photography by Paul Franklin
Roger: Well, my girlfriend walks around with this shaker with a skull and crossbones on it and it’s a shot that we all came up with. It tastes like Raspberry Kool Aid. GEM: What other states have you performed in? Roger: Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina & South Carolina. As a group this is it. GEM: What are some of the pros & cons of touring? Roger: It’s a lot of fun. New places new crowds always a new experience. It is very tiring and it is very costly. GEM: What do you enjoy doing when your not making music? Tommy: My days off are spent with my wife, Angie and our boys, Tate & Gabriel. They are the reason I do this and the reason I came out of musical retirement. Roger: I like to ride Harleys. I have a bunch of friends that ride. Sometimes when I’m not playing we will hook up and ride. GEM: What’s your favorite restraint? Roger: I just cant pick just one. I really like Mexican food. GEM: Have you opened up for any mainstream artists? Roger: I had the opportunity to open up for Great White. It was really fun.
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GEM: How many other bands have you played for? Tommy: Two other bands. Pyrate and Roulette. I actually started as a drummer for Roulette. The singing just kind of fell into my lap.
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Roger: The VooDoo Dolls are all of girls that come to all of our shows and take pictures and everything.
GEM: How did you come up with the name for the band? Roger: Actually, I don’t know. I may have been drunk and thought that I would like a band called VooDoo Jones. I ran it by these guys and it stuck.
Photography by Paul Franklin www.voodoojonesrocks.com
GEM: What is your favorite college sports team? Roger: Alabama. GEM: What about professional football? Roger: Colts, Cowboys, Raiders and Steelers. GEM: What sets Voodoo Jones apart from the other rock groups? Tommy: The biggest compliments we get are for our sound, and also the fact that we enjoy performing so much. I like to make the crowd a part of the show. Perform with them, not just for them. GEM: What dream stage would you like to perform on? Roger: I would like to play at the Oak Mountain Theatre opening up for some big act with it packed out and people knowing who we are. GEM: Do you have any shout outs?
Photography by Paul Franklin
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Photography by Paul Franklin
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GEM: Tell the readers about your business. Nina: We have the awards show series going on. We’ve
had two so far that’s the Life’s Great Music Awards Show. I also have open mic on Thursday nights with promoter Sarah. Its called Thursday Night Flight Open Mic. We have the comedy show series. Shouts out to John Wade I do a lot of business with him. We also have the Rap Wives of Birmingham, which is a social and savings club/ entrepreneurs pool because everybody has different stuff going on and we are feeding off of each other’s activities.
“To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the story here.”
JD: Up and Coming is a promotional/ management group that helps up and coming artists to get developed and established in the music industry. GEM: Where did you grow up? Nina: Birmingham, my stomping grounds are in Collegeville. I lived in Florida and that’s where I started rapping at under the influence of some of my guys cousins. I’ve been doing this since ’97. JD: I grew up in Birmingham in Kingston and Norwood. GEM: Why did you get into your current business? JD: My little brother started rapping and I started promoting and managing him and it was something that we decided that we do. Basically,
Nina Labelle
we do the promotions for people that rap, sing, exotic entertainers and street team. Basically, anything that has something to do with entertainment. Nina: I got to go back to my roots and say shouts out to Real CEO Nquest. I was with Real Records for a good piece of time and I was really observing and I had the opportunity to be in front of somebody that had the money and power to put on major events, so I learned from the best. Back then I was doing none of the things that I’m doing now. I didn’t have an open mic, I didn’t have the awards show...I was just really an artist. So, when I decided to go off and do my own thing I just seen another world there are no rules to this. I have a cooking show on youtube. People looked at me like...a cooking show? There are no rules...that’s what you think. GEM: Would you tell the readers what it is like to do what you do? JD: I would say if you don’t have the mentality, patience and the strive to do this...then this isn't for you. The biggest problem is dealing with people that are not serious about what they want to do. They say they want to do it one week and then the next week they have many excuses.
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Nina: Shout out to Loyalty (you better get ready ‘cause going down that aisle boy), ABM, Shank D, A Wiley, JD, GEntertainment MagaGEM: How long have you zine, Rap Wives, my been in your current business? mom and my son. JD: Six years in July. JD: Shout out to God. Nina: Its only been two years. I started rapping back in 1997. (She’s been Queen B since ‘97).
Nina: If it was one word to answer that it would be colorful because I see it all and I try to do it all. I tell artists that there is a different type of love that you have when you’re a promoter and a artists. You have a love that a regular promoter wont have. You have an understanding that they don’t have as well. I know that these tears that I cry about this music...these artists cry the same tears. Being an artist first makes me want to do all of this others stuff that I am doing.
Nina: I can give a shout out to the man that has been with me through a lot. He is the man that I’m about to marry, Loyalty, he is my rock.
GEM: What’s this car & bike show that I’ve been hearing about?
“To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the story
GEM: What do you see in the future of your company?
JD: It’s coming. It’s going here.”to be a fun day and a car & bike show.
JD: Right now, I’m going to have to say expanding. I’m working on separate branches in Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, and Huntsville.
Nina: We are working on it. GEM: Do you have a webpage? Nina: www.facebook.com/ ninalabelle www.myspace.com/ realfirstlady www.myspace.com/ lifesgreatcookingshow
Nina: For the future I see my awards show growing. I see the consistency with the open mic. As far my music goes, if I can get a deal one way I can get one another way. I can push my own music. I am not part of the Boule. I would rather have a tv deal.
Labelle.nina@ymail.com JD: www.facebook.com/ UPCOMINGENT
GEM: Who and what has helped you to get to where you are now?
GEM: Do you have any shout outs? JD: Fy3 Sw@Gga Dance Crew, LaToya Abram, J Bossalani, Threat Music, Diamonds & Pearls, 3D Entertainment & Exquisite Models.
JD: My mom, God (I like to do things decent and in order), Nina has really helped me and she has put a boost under what I’m doing.
JD
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“My motto is difference makes a difference.�
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GEM: Tell the reads a little about yourself? Phyve-Starr: I was born in Atlanta, but I was raised in Birmingham, so that’s what I represent 205 all day everyday. My music is different yet familiar. I tackle some of the same subjects as other people, but I’m more into being honest. I can’t really speak on what other people do, or how they live their lifestyles, but I’m kind of smart enough by now to know that some of the music and stuff that’s out there isn't exactly what it seems its mostly entertainment. So I try to keep my music pure to the heart. I like to tell stories and make music that people can relate to on a personal letter. GEM: How long have you been in the music game? Phyve-Starr: I’ve been recording since I was 20. I’ve been writing since I was a teenager. GEM: What type of style would you say that you have? Phyve-Starr: Universal… because growing up I’ve listened to everything from Country to Pop, Hip Hop...R & B. When I’m making my songs it really depends on what crowd I’m catering to and what type of feel I’m trying to have for that particular song. I don’t have an overall style. Every song is tailor made to fit a certain area. GEM: What inspired you to make your own music? Phyve-Starr: It started off
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like… I would hear songs by other people and I would be like I could do a verse on that. So, I would find ways to get their music get the instrumental cut the middle part out and put my verse on there. It was just a fascination. As I got older and the music game started to change I found myself connecting less and less with the music industry. I’ve always been the type of person that feels like if you want something that you can enjoy...nobody does it like you. So, I feel like the best music that I can make for my listening if I make it myself. GEM: Who have you worked with? Phyve-Starr: I’ve worked with a couple of underground artists. I’m not going to say that I can’t work with other people, but I work at such a fast pace its hard for me to do that. Like my last mix tape I did it in five days. I did 24 tracks in five days. That’s writing, recording, mixing, pressing… everything. A lot of times its hard for me to get scheduling right to work with other people, so really haven’t had the chance to sit down and work with a lot of people. GEM: Who would you like to work with? Phyve-Starr: I’m not going to say anybody, but I’m going to say everybody that I find interesting. I’m not going to limit myself to one genre, one person, or style. If you do hip hop, or if you do punk rock and I can fit in that puzzle and
make it look nice than I’m done. GEM: What do you think about your earlier music compared to the sound that you make now? Phyve-Starr: (laughing) Oh, it sucked! I remember this one time I took my first cd down to the radio station. I got my interview and everything and I was like we got to get this played. He was listening and was like I kind of understand your vibe, but this sounds like you recorded this at the house and I said “I did” (I was proud). He said when your rapping you don’t have any feeling like your reading it off the paper and I was like I was. It was so bad after I got better I changed my name. GEM: What do you think that it takes to get to he top in this game? Phyve-Starr: My motto is difference makes a difference. I would like to believe that you have to create your own universe and people will flow to it. One of my favorite analogies is...if I have 100 coins 99 pennies and 1 quarter and I throw them on the floor you will spot the quarter before you spot the penny because its different. That’s what I like to do. In order to make you have to stand out as long as you blend in with everybody else it makes you harder to find. GEM: Do you consider yourself an underground rapper? Phyve-Starr: Maybe to them
in the sense that I’m not in the forefront of magazines and tv. But in the sense of city and peers no. To your fans your always going to be that person. GEM: What do you think has contributed to your success so far? Phyve-Starr: My style, versatility, I’ve been able to get not only to get on any track that you give me and perfectly blend with it. I’ve been able to tailor make my music so I don’t have to involve certain things in order to get popular like drugs. I never did that. I’m not a violent person. I will protect myself I just wont go out and do this and that. People respect my honesty and that I can do so many different types of music. GEM: For all the ladies reading...is Mr. Phyve-Starr single? Phyve-Starr: At the moment...yes. GEM: Do you have a website? Phyve-Starr: www.starrstruck.com www.myspace.com/phyvestar GEM: Do you have any shout outs? Phyve-Starr: Phyve-Starr is coming just look out for me.
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CJ: We grew up in Bessemer, Alabama. GEM: What type of style do you have? CJ: College boy pretty boy style. Brandon J: Polo style. Lil D: As you can see I’m on that pretty boy style. The ladies love pretty boys. GEM: How long have you guys been in the rap game? Lil D: We’ve been making music for about 3 years, but we got with Zeus Entertainment in 2010. GEM: Were you guys together as a group that whole time or were you solo artists before? Lil D: We were together as a group for the 3 years then Zeus found us and we made the song Snap Snap Bang.
Zeus: They are between Hip Hop and Pop. They do R&B with the Hip Hop, but it’s more Hip Hop than R&B, so it wouldn’t be considered underground.
demfreshmen.
GEM: What makes a beat good to you?
Lil D: Class of 2013 BCHS, all the fans, my mom, brothers, everybody that supported us including Zeus. Thank you for all that you have done.
Zeus: When you actually listen to a beat it’s a track that most artists say that moves them. Brandon J: You just got to listen to it and something with it and it will probably sound better.
GEM: What should the listeners expect when they hear your music? Lil D: Something to make you feel good inside. Snap Snap Bang is dedicated to all the ladies. It doesn’t matter who you are. You are still special to us. CJ: Positive music to help keep people going.
Lil D: That is the single.
GEM: Who came up with the name for your group?
Lil D: It’s been great working with the group. We are all family (cousins). We grew up with each other we do everything with each other. GEM: Do you consider yourselves underground rappers? Lil D: I really don’t know.
Brandon J: Tiffany, Derrick and Zeus.
CJ: I would like to give a shout out to my mom, Zeus (he helped us), CEG and God for waking me up everyday and sleep every night.
Lil D: If you can move to it and dance to it then it’s a good beat.
GEM: Is that the single or is that the album that you are pushing right now?
GEM: How would you describe working with your group?
GEM: Do you have any shout outs that you want to give?
Lil D: At the time I came up with it because we were freshmen. But that wasn’t the concept of the name. It means that we are young and fresh young men. Brandon J: Looking good. GEM: Do you have a website? CJ: You can find us on facebook www.facebook.com/
Dem FreshMen
GEM: Where did you grow up?
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GEM: Could you tell the readers a little about yourself? Deja’Vu: I am currently Hot Block Magazine’s 2010 hottest independent female artist of the year. I’ve been with Zeus Entertainment going on two years now. Within the two years the first year I was nominated twice for the Real Talk Awards...didn’t win, but that’s ok. I came back with Hot Block Magazine last year and brought it home. Zeus Entertainment was nominated six times. We had the most votes throughout all ballets. We brought home three awards last year, so you know we are trying to do it right now. GEM: Where did you grow up? Deja’Vu: I grew up in Pineapple, Alabama. Most people don’t know about Pineapple, it’s a little town, but I’m about to bring it back. After I left Pineapple I went to school at Talladega College where I pledged Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. I moved to Dothan in August of 2010. GEM: How long have you been in the music game? Deja’Vu: I started out when I was five or six years old doing Jazz with Spike Lee’s aunt, Consuelo Lee, and performed with major jazz people...Milt Jackson, Ruby Dee etc. GEM: What type of style would you say that you have?
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Deja’Vu: Dance, I like music that makes people happy. All this gang banging-thug music is about to die. Music is going back to the old days when everybody wants to have a good time and be happy.
ground. If I never make it to be signed with a major label that’s fine with me. I’m not doing this for the money. I’m doing this ’cause this is what I love to do.
GEM: Who inspired you o make music?
GEM: What do you think has contributed to your success so far?
Deja’Vu: The artist that I look up to is Missy ’cause she’s so creative...Timberland that whole camp back in the day. Basically, any female rap artist because its hard to be in the industry as a female rap artist. If they can do it then I can do it.
Deja’Vu: Actually, its my past. My past motivates me to want to do more. I grew up without a lot of things no water, no lights, no food and my grandmother always motivated me. She said that I could be whatever I wanted to be.
GEM: Musically, who have you worked with?
GEM: I got to ask you this paparazzi style...are you single?
determination
Deja’Vu: Yeah.
you got to do
GEM: Do you have a website?
you will never
Deja’Vu: I’ve opened up for DJ Unc, Ciara, TI, Crime Mob, Slim Thug and Mike Jones. I also did Michael Myers (CEO of Hot Block Magazine) & DJ Unc’s birthday parties. GEM: Who would you like to work with? Deja’Vu: Anybody that wants to get out here and work. GEM: Since there are so man people in Hip Hop, what do you think that it takes to get to the top? Deja’Vu: Determination, if you don’t have determination to do what you got to do you will never make it. GEM: Do you consider yourself an underground rapper? Deja’Vu: I’m a rapper period. I don’t label myself as under-
Deja’Vu: www.twitter.com/ dejavuuvajed www.myspce.com/deja39vu Www.youtube.com/ bamastreetathems GEM: Do you have any shout outs? Deja’Vu: Shout out to Zeus Entertainment, Pineapple, Talladega College, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., all my people on my new cd, Dothan and the whole Alabama stand up.
“if you don’t have to do what
make it.”
July/ August
Photography by DJ Smedley Make up by LaToya Fletcher-Abram
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Photography by DJ Smedley Make up by LaToya Fletcher-Abram
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i|v~ ]ÉÇxá
“I have some tracks that are a little edgy, but I plan to stay all across the board because I love all music.”
July/ August
GEM: Where were you born? Vick: Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. GEM: How long have you been singing? Vick: I’ve been singing pretty much my whole life...choirs, singing at the church, school choirs, competitions, mostly choir stuff. GEM: Which choirs? Vick: Huffman High School, Scott Elem, Daniel Payne Elem pretty much any school that I’ve attended. I was a runner up in the Birmingham Boys Choir I had an audition I didn’t quite make it. GEM: How did you get started in the music industry? Vick: I got with a group of friends of mine from high school. I put the pen to the pad doing a lot of writing just to see if I could do it. My friends Big Nasty is one of my top producers. He is awesome with the beats. GEM: Who or what inspires you to make music? Vick: I have a lot of musical influences such as Lenny Kravitz, Erica Badu, Pimp C, Luther Vandross. I listen to all kinds of stuff. The stuff that’s on the radio inspires me. Some stuff that I don’t think should be on there inspires me to put the pen to the pad.
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pretty well so far. Fortunately I have been able to rub elbows with people that have some good connects. I’ve met a lot of A & Rs, going to a lot of record pools and shows. GEM: Have they played any of your songs on the radio yet? Vick: No, they played it in the mix, but they have not played it in regular rotation. We are working on that. We are trying to get Huntsville on lock, Mobile and Tuscaloosa. I know we will get a lot of radio play down there. GEM: What are your thoughts about the current state of the game? Vick: I’m a big fan of the neo soul stuff. Some of the main stream pop stuff as well. I’m a fan of everything. The neo soul area is killing the game. We call it neo soul my uncle calls it real music and that’s what I call it. GEM: What neo soul artists do you like? Vick: Mostly Erica Badu is neo soul to me, Jill Scott, Music Soul Child, and Anthony Hamilton. GEM: How do you separate yourself from other artists?
GEM: How has the music industry treated you so far?
Vick: By making music with good content. Some stuff can be a little edgy, but I feel like music should be expressive. It should be word for word something that goes together.
Vick: Its been treating me
GEM: R & B is really sexed
up now. Are you going to take that route? Vick: I have some tracks that are a little edgy, but I plan to stay all across the board because I love all music. I do plan to get into gospel believe it or not. I write for all types of music. GEM: Who would you really like to work with? Vick: I would love to work with people like Timberland, Jazzy Phay and Jermaine Duprey. GEM: What type of vibe should the listeners expect when they hear your music? Vick: They should a get a vibe of just good music. GEM: How does it feel to hear your music in the mixes on the radio? Vick: It feels pretty good. Its like a dream come true to have my music printed up and to actually hear it on the radio. GEM: I gotta ask for all the female readers...is Vick Jones single? Vick: Yes, Vick Jones is single. GEM: What should fans expect from you in 2011? Vick: They should expect a lot of foot work, shows and promoting of the single. GEM: Who would you like to send a shout out to? Vick: I would like to send a shout out to my whole LGM
Family that’s Big Nasty, N tack, Derrick D and Corey Barber. Derrick M., Marcus, Kenny Luk, Mz. Joi, my manager Pamela, my whole team, Dida from the Volcano and Moneybags Entertainment. You can reach Vick at: www.facebook.com/vickjones To purchase the single you can go on www.cdbaby.com, www.itunes.com, www.digstation.com Check out the video http:// youtu.be/TybxLHLmiiM
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G-Scenes… See W
Life’s Great Mu Photography by Paul Franklin
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What’s Going On In The City
usic Award Show
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Scot With One T Video Shoot
Scot With One T video shoot for the hit single Foreva in Birmingham, AL.
Check out Scot with One T’s video Foreva shot and directed by Kenny Luk at http://youtu.be/IF4cnei5zTM