LA'RAW SUMMER by LARAW

SUMMER 2010

Breezy LoveJoy Feel the COLD Breeze and Love it!!!

VerBS

MUSIC, ART, FASHION & NEWS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FROM LOS ANGELES TO BEYOND

WEED LAWS

H!!!!!!

PRO ATHLETES LIKE RADIO RAPPERS?

Good Music...... No BS

Angela Ramos An inspirational Story of Perseverance

Tha Boogie GET OUT OF YOUR SEATS!!! Is All They Ask of you

Underdogs

WISHES FROM THE KIDS SUMMER FASHION TIPS

WHO’S ALL GOING?

They Are Already Winning

NOLA DARLING...

THE SERIES DEBUT

ADD---->ADD

STAFF EDITORS

Efehi Ogbebor Kaymar Haye Amanda Mester Miguela Benoit

ART DIRECTOR Efehi Ogbebor

WRITERS

Amanda Mester Arthur “AC” Copeland Violet Ramirez Jason Thomas David Padilla Benny Burnett Marius Ogbebor Kia Riley

PHOTOGRAPHERS Kaymar Haye Elizabeth Guerreo Alexander Castro

ADVERTISERS’ INFO Arte of Makeup (pg. 11-12) arteofmakeup.com Mbarqgo (pg. 21 & 48) Mbarqgo.com OC Platinum Perumes (pg. 22) ocperfumes .net (877)PARFUM1 Power & Wealth (pg. 33) myspace.com/powerwealth INfocus (pg. 37-38) facebook.com/elizabethinfocus facebook.com/alexanderinfocus (562)453.5300

For inquires on writing, modeling, ordering, advertising..etc CONTACT US AT: RAWMAG@RAWWATER.NET LOS ANGELES RAWWATER 849 South Oxford Avenue, Suite 402 Los Angeles, CA 90005

Los Angeles

RAWWATER

RAW CONTENTS 3.

L Á RAW SPRING QUARTERLY PICS 23.

RHC Entertainment

IZOVA THE KHEMIST

27.

FASHION SHOW PICS

THA BOOGIE

29.

NOLA DARLING

WEED LAWS

32.

SUMMER FASHION TIPS

10.

VEGAN OVERSEAS

34.

VerBS

13.

WHO’S ALL GOING?

39.

SQUIRRELS!!!

16.

MAX AND THE MOON

41.

BREEZY LOVEJOY

17.

ANGELA RAMOS

46.

THE UNDERDOGS

19.

SUMMER WISHES

49.

FOH

Izova The Khemist: Rapper + 3 (Keep it Fly x Fresher) + Beats = Rhymes Izova The Khemist. I know you’re probably all wondering what his name is all about…here it goes. IZ-OVA and yep, he’s talking to all the mcs and letting them know that with the name Izova The Khemist, all the other mcs can put their put mics down because he’s bringing his own formula to the rap game. Growing up in Watts, California and having to witness hardships at a young age, he was determined not to be the next kid to fall victim to negative influences. When he was 11 years old he found refuge in rapping about the life of gangs, drugs and crime. He discovered his love for hip hop and realized he wanted to be the voice to inspire. Izova began Dj-ing as a means to be absorbed in the hip hop culture and learn every aspect of what a true lyricist brings to the rawness of the rhymes. With influences such as Tupac, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, Common and Mos Def, it didn’t take long for his love of hip hop to spill over. He’s currently working on his first mixtape, “The Fix”, which will be released later this year. He’s planning to create buzz with his truthful style and as he says in his lyrics, “Big flame, lots of fuel with a whole lot to prove.” You can check out more of Izova The Khemist on: www.myspace.com/izovathekhemist www.twitter.com/izovathekhemist words: VIOLET RAMIREZ

BOOG

IE D OWN !!!!

Tha Boogie are some badass motherfuckers. Right from the start when you hear the music of Tha Boogie, you understand they are dancing to a different beat. Cosigned by music legend Raphael Saadiq of Tony! Toni! Tone! and Lucy Pearl fame, Tha Boogie are keeping California dancing. Their music is a synergy of originality and funky grooves that keep your neck snapping and your soul smiling. The three member group consists of Lejin, a twenty year old singer/producer/ arranger with a gospel voice that heavily influences the group’s sound; singer and song writer Korus, also twenty, who has been singing and performing since she was seven years old; and Nuschool who sings, writes, raps and also does vocal production and arranging which helps blend the trio’s experimental tastes into a fresh sound all their own. Think Kelis singing with John Legend and B.o.B. Their music is constantly in motion, never sounding the same, which also describes how Tha Boogie gets down during live performances. They are definitely in a comfort zone when they are in front of a crowd. No recital performances are coming from these three. No tip-toeing around the stage. When these three hit any stage, they throw down. They have a solid stage presence not often seen in younger groups with a different sound. Often, a group’s inexperience is easily seen in their chemistry on stage but Tha Boogie’s youthful energy and vibe pumps life into their show and easily grabs the audience’s attention and keeps it. Their confi-

dence in their music and performance makes it easy to want to join in Tha Boogie Down Movement. You get the feeling watching Lejin, Korus and Nuschool perform that they know they are dope; they are just waiting for the crowd to catch up. They make you want to dance and dig into their jams even if it is your first time hearing them. As Raphael Saadiq’s protégés and opening act, they have already boogied at The House of Blues in Hollywood and San Diego and at The Fillmore in New York and San Francisco. They have toured in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Baltimore and Atlanta, and just recently ripped the stage at the 24th Annual UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival in Los Angeles. They continue to tour all over Southern California. Follow them on any social network (twitter.com/ThaBoogie, myspace.com/ ThaBoogie, www.facebook.com/ThaBoogie) to get a taste of what they are cooking and find out what stage they are tearing down next. Go find “Peter Parker,” a Gorillaz/Gnarls Barkley like jam that’s easy to swing to, or “I See U” featuring Raphael Saadiq . Their debut EP “Love Tha Boogie Volume 1 (Steal This Shit!)” is available for purchase on iTunes. They have an album entitled “Long Time Know See” coming soon. Both are executive produced by Raphael Saadiq and Tha Boogie. -Jason Thomas

WEED LAWS Cannabis card, weed license, prescription pot; there are many different names in the street for what people all across Los Angeles and California are carrying with them: a doctor’s permission to smoke weed. If you get it doctor approved, you can receive legal marijuana. Right now, selling marijuana is a lucrative and growing business in California and some are doing what they can to stop this business while others fight for the right to continue. If you live in L.A. you see the ads in magazines, the flyers in the streets, the signs in various shopping centers, the doctor’s offices with the lit weed leaf. Marijuana dispensaries and pot doctors have become a staple of Los Angeles but are they here to stay? Different communities and workplaces in the Los Angeles area have been affected by the changing times in differing ways. Venice has marijuana dispensaries, pot doctors, bongs and pipe dealers. It is the example critics tend to bring up to describe the consequences of Los Angeles’ failure to control medical marijuana. But there are less-vivid pot hot spots across the city. After over five years since the City Council began discussions on medical marijuana dispensaries, Los Angeles Ordinance No. 181069 took effect on Monday, June 7th, 2010. Shaped by the council’s conviction that the proliferation of marijuana dispensaries was fueled by a passion for cash and not a compassion for patients, the ordinance seeks to rewind the Wild West period in which 600 dispensaries opened. The ordinance shuts down more than 400 stores that appeared in the last 2 ½ years. Dispensaries that registered with the city in 2007 will have six months to comply with new location restrictions, which will force many to move to isolated areas. An estimated 135 will be allowed to remain if they follow the new regulations and imminent action awaits the others who do not. City prosecutors have not revealed how to enforce the ordinance. They will have to rely on police officers, building inspectors, and neighbors to identify the violators. Offenders face six months in jail and penalties of $2500 a day. At least 60 dispensaries have sued and asked for court orders to put a halt on enforcement. Venice is not the only marijuana marketplace. In Woodland Hills 6 shops are clustered together on Ventura Blvd. In Van Nuys police raids have slowed down a once heavy concentration of shops at Van Nuys and Victory boulevards. In Eagle Rock, a city neighboring Pasadena, residents have recently complained about disruptive dispensary customers. Marijuana had become such a draw along the Venice strip that owners converted shops into dispensaries. The boardwalk takes beachgoers past over 10 pipe 9

shops and 5 doctor’s offices that write recommendations for marijuana. The city’s ordinance will do little to stop the Venice boardwalk’s weed culture celebrations. It won’t stop pipe sellers or doctors, but will keep Venice dispensaries to one or two. People can and will continue to visit the boardwalk to receive legal weed. This November Proposition 19, the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 will be on California’s ballot. Richard Lee who has helped raise money and organize the movement to put Proposition 19 on the ballot has spearheaded the proposition. He believes it is a civil rights issue and that cannabis is safer than alcohol and should be legal. His supporters say the state of California would benefit from taxing weed and help California’s money issues. If successful the proposition will allow adults 21 and older to posses, cultivate and/or transport cannabis for personal use. Local governments will be allowed to regulate and tax production & sale to adults 21 and older. Possession on school grounds, in public, in the presence of minors, or providing it to those under 21 would be illegal. It won’t impact medical cannabis laws or prohibit employers from testing for drugs. There is also a strange coincidence in the numbering of this proposition. When pot legalization hit the California ballot back in 1972, Proposition 18 was also its name. If marijuana is regulated and dispensed with the same restrictions as alcohol, California could lead the nation in this new era of legal marijuana. Should this proposition pass in November, a business that would increase in popularity is pot delivery services. Should this proposition pass in November, a business that would increase in popularity is pot delivery services - the service of bringing medical marijuana straight to people’s house, places of business and other locations throughout California. This industry is as of yet unregulated and is circumventing bans on storefront dispensaries. These couriers are further proof of marijuana as a business is moving out of the shadows. You can see hundreds of their ads online and in local newspapers and journals. About 130 cities and 9 California counties have banned medical marijuana dispensaries and over 90 cities and 10 counties have put moratoriums on them. It is in these dry areas where the delivery services flourish. Some dispensaries have switched from storefront dispensaries to delivery services in the face of these closures. Weed culture is a part of California. Whether through dispensaries or other illegal means, people will still be buying, selling and distributing marijuana. It is hard to argue against legalizing and taxing marijuana as a way to help California’s increasing financial problems and medical marijuana as a medicine is helping countless patients ease their suffering and improve their daily lives. Side businesses are already making money off the grey areas of the laws and propositions; hopefully this November California will be reaping the rewards of taxing legal marijuana.

vegan overseas My brother and I are venturing through Spain, having a good time. Our only setback (besides some of the language) is that both of us are vegans. As it would so unfortunately turn out for us, not many people are vegan...or even vegetarian. A lot of the food isn’t even close to being vegan either. I was attempting to make pasta and when I pulled out the tomato sauce I began reading the ingredients to double check. I stupidly assumed there would be no sort of meat or dairy in it...it was just tomato sauce. Of course I was wrong. Before eating it but just after preparing, it I read the ingredients and of course there was be eggs in it, and it gets better...fish. So my brother and I ended up making a delicious potato dish with a variety of seasonings and some tomatoes. Whenever I’m making potatoes on the stove I always put them in the microwave first if that isn’t available, then I boil them for a bit, however I can get them softer. Even if I’m completely wrong in saying this, I feel like when they’re softer they absorb more of the flavor and I always make sure to add a lot of flavor.

don’t think fish is meat. But, of course after explaining to them the replacements for protein and other nutrients and the reasons I choose the diet I do, I guess they seem to understand. Whether or not they agree doesn’t matter to me really. In the next month or so I want to do some more traveling. I’d like to purchase a tent and walk to different countries, possibly meet new people and see some nice things. While on that excursion (however unhealthy it sounds) I will pretty much be living off of water and loaves of bread every day and fruits if I come across them. That, I think, will be one of the more difficult challenges of being vegan. I know I won’t break it but it’s going to be hard to find food. Vegetarian and vegan are both lifestyles to be proud of so hold to it. It’s healthier and friendlier, it’s better than “going green” in my opinion...because it actually is going green.

Have a good day and don’t let things get you down. Not to sound like some sort of hippie, but I see people that just look like they want a I find it pretty funny that every time we tell hug. Or someone to talk to, so do that, people that we don’t eat meat here they are as- and people fucking say it all the time but you tonished. I guess you can see that everywhere really should be that person. though, it just depends on the mentality of the group at hand. If they all eat meat every day, they might be more inclined to ask questions -Benny such as “well do you still eat fish?” that one is the best I’vzze heard so far, I guess people

This is an interactive fiction blog that combines gritty and entertaining writing with pictures and innovative music to bring the reader an experience like never before. Rosalyn Michaels is twenty-three and her life is going nowhere fast. With the help of her friends she decides to get it together. Their trials and tribulations, sexcapades, and personal battles provide for a drama-filled ride you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss! Written by Kia Riley, edited by Arianna Fajardo, photography by the talented Maria Arganda, and music supervision by Kia Riley and Arianna Fajardo. www.latentscholarmedia.com

So, next to the worse day of my life happened at work yesterday. The first was the actual day they revoked my scholarship and kicked me off campus. Moving on. A group of my people, black people, comes in to eat at Spencer’s. Ok, so I’m bending over backwards to get them what they need, ranch, drinks, etc., not because they’re black but because there’s 10 of them and there’s an included gratuity. Two hundred and twentyfive dollars, 10 Patron shots and ample appetizers later, the matriarch of the group proceeds to tell me… Pointing at the check, “What’s this gratuity of $40 dollars?” Me, “It’s the included tip amount for large parties ma’am.” Manners. “Half this shit we didn’t even drink or eat, and half the time we had to look for you to order, that’s not worth no damn $40 dollars.” Observing the ravaged-through food and empty glasses on the table. “Did you have a problem with any of the food or drinks in particular?” Still fishing for free stuff, “Naw, but I’m saying if the service is gonna be poor and the food gon’ be whatever I don’t think I need to pay no damn gratuity. Where your manager at?” At this point I had already conceded the loss of the gratuity simply because the manager on duty was Doug. Doug is a tall thin guy who has a very thin backbone, but when it comes to different cultures he has absolutely no backbone. When I told him about the situation he slid over to the table, allowed the woman to consistently put a finger in his face and ‘tell him about hisself and his waitress’. Done, and just like that my forty-dollar tip turned in to five. Thanks Doug. Next, I’m serving a table of four white businessmen. Now, I don’t like to typecast or stereotype at all, but after my previous table I must say initially I was relieved. They all ordered pricey meals and drank top shelf whatever. The bill was at one-twenty; if they were even vaguely generous I should walk with about twenty dollars. It wasn’t forty, but it would suffice considering I had two other tables and was going to be on the

floor for another hour or so. Then it happened… Well-mannered me, “Would you gentlemen like some to-go boxes?” They laugh and Bif (for the purpose of this story I didn’t know his name so I gave him this one) “No, but you’re more than welcome to have at it once we get up.” This gets another rise. “Excuse me?” “It was a joke, I know how blacks and Hispanics love to take a plate home, that’s what my friends told me, I’m not trying to be racist.” Uncouth. “Of course not.” Couth. They proceeded to make more derogatory remarks and I was livid. On purpose I was trying to avoid the table and just pick up the check after they left, but they insisted on sitting and talking in my section for another fifteen minutes. As I passed to tend to another non-racist table, Bif put the check out and insisted I take it from him right then and there. I snatched it as hard as I could. When I got to the back the bill book revealed a forty-dollar tip with a note: ‘Enjoy a real meal and take your seconds home’, smiley face. Are you serious? My bad temper got the best of me and I slammed the book, with the tip, down in front of Bif and told him I didn’t need no damn hand out. Of course Doug called me into the back and proceeded to tell me how under no circumstances should I have done what I did. ‘Doug shut the hell up you punk ass!’ That’s what I wanted to say, however I acknowledged only that the guys were jerks who shouldn’t have gotten me that wound up. I can say I was glad it was Doug who was there because anyone else would have fired me, however, he simply wrote me up. Great day. Driving home bumping some India Aire to center myself, I’m still shaken. Eighty dollars, I missed out on eighty dollars! Ok, really seventy, I got five from the first table and I slid five away from Bif as well, but still it’s the principle of that shit! There was only one thing to do, connect with Logan to calm my nerves. Song: ‘Let’s Go’ Soul Star

Lisa Herman

MAX AND THE MOON When did you guys come together? 1 Year ago. Why Max and the Moon? Where did that name come from? Watching Conan O’brien. Seeing Max Weinberg taking about going to the moon. That’s how Max and The Moon came up. Who are your musical influences? Muse, Minus the Bear, Radiohead and Coldplay. Also influenced by jazz chords and pop. What are you guys currently working on? 10 new songs for an upcoming EP set for end of June release. What’s next for Max and the Moon? Upcoming shows all over CA and more writing. Upcoming EP set for end of June release. How has coming out of CA influenced your music? Art, Music and Photography influence the band. The many different backgrounds and the lifestyle of California has influenced bands sound. What’s your beer of choice? We are very seasonal with our beer. Right now we love Blue Moon + orange and Stoned Arrogant Bastard. What makes you bad ass? Either how many people were killed or drugs we’ve done. Most of all the ability to rock your socks off! Describe a Max and the Moon show. Its a cross of pop with harmony. We start of slowstart to get melodic - then we get you to dance! What can you expect at a Max + Moon show? Energy with the mellow sound. We add jams into our performances. Simply expect new things and Good music, from Los Angeles , San Diego, Santa Barbara to San Francisco. What’s your goal? Get heard and get out there. -Marius Ogbebor

Angela Ramos.....Unsung Hero Many times in our lives we tend to forget what inspires us, what motivates us, what puts things in perspective to feel fulfilled. Little do we know that people inspire us; they teach us without realizing they’ve impacted our lives. When Angela was six months old, her mom left her and her older sister with their grandmother in Honduras to care for them. She and her older sister grew up not really knowing their mother - it would just be phone calls here and there. It wasn’t until the last phone call, when Angela was 12 years old, that would forever change her life. Her mom called and said that she was coming for Angela and her sister to bring them back to Los Angeles. She and her sister left Honduras knowing it was the only place they ever knew as home. A part of Angela was happy to have her mom back and to get to know her mom like she always used to dream about, but she was scared. Her mom was a stranger. It didn’t take long for Angela to realize that her mom wasn’t the mom she wanted. Living in Los Angeles in a gang-infested neighborhood called “the jungles”, her mom would always leave them with no money and hardly any food. Her mom would do whatever it took to take the last of the money to go and gamble. Angela and her sister quickly learned to hustle their way around and stole food, money and clothes. At 12 years old, Angela was selling drugs. At 13 years old, she was raped repeatedly by a family member. She says “I remember I had a bunk bed and he would always put me on the bottom bunk and just begin raping me, at first I used to fight, but then I realized I would never win, I wasn’t allowed to tell, but I always wrote the date on the wall with a pencil every time he would rape me.” Angela and her sister ran away from home and lived from friend’s house to friend’s house and off the streets. They would constantly steal just to survive. Angela would routinely be in and out jail. Going through all this trouble led them into a gang and at 14 years old, Angela became pregnant. Not knowing what the hardships would be having a baby, Angela for sure wanted to have this baby because she wanted to be the mother she never had.

One night when Angela, her sister, and a couple of friends were standing outside, there was a drive-by and Angela’s sister was shot in the head multiple times. As Angela watched her sister’s lifeless body fall into a pool of blood, she saw the only person in her life fade away. Angela says “I cried so hard as I held my dead sister’s body and all I could think about was knowing my sister was dead and the only person I could trust was my 7 month old daughter.” Immediately after that, she was sent to a group home without her daughter, but Angela pleaded with the judge to have her daughter back and after almost a year she was able to have her daughter come live with her in the group home. “When they brought my daughter to me I was a stranger to her and for a long time she would cry everyday, but I was determined not to give up,” Angela says. She graduated high school and enrolled at a community college knowing that she wanted to be a therapist. Even though it was going to take her some time to get her Associate’s Degree, she felt like her dreams came true. With being a therapist as her career in mind, she was accepted to a 4-year university. Juggling motherhood, a full-time job, and being a full-time student, some days seemed impossible, but with her fighting nature, she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services. This year, Angela graduated from the Masters Program and has a Master’s degree in Family Therapy and now works as therapist at the same group home where she used to live. Silently heroes walk amongst us, never to be heard, but it’s truly up to those around us to make them be heard. -Violet Ramirez *Names and places were changed for privacy*

Do what you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life is the embodiment of the men and women of the Los Angeles-based Reckless Habits Crew also known as RHC Entertainment. These motivated and talented young individuals find themselves in the midst of a challenging industry, making a name for themselves. Even though RHC members have diverse backgrounds, they unite under one name to reach their unified goal: to promote creative genius. RHC is led by producer, artist, and entrepreneur ALIWOOD. The company consists of a wide range of talented artists from musicians, models, actors, dancers, to photographers, promoters, and everything else in between: this gives these young pros a hand in every aspect of the entertainment industry from television and dance to music. Currently, RHC Entertainment is focusing on their new entertainment-lesson studio. Bringing out the best instructors in the hip-hop dance industry, along with a highly educated and dedicated team of music and acting instructors has given RHC Entertainment a competitive edge over all local lesson centers. It has been 6 months since the launch of RHC Entertainment’s first lesson studio, and already the company is planning out the next three locations. RHC Entertainment has been profitable every month since the grand opening unlike typical businesses which can take up to a few years. When asked about the rapid success of the company VP Jamie Kaylor commented “We went into the lesson studio business with a strong, unique concept and a team that lives, breathes, and sleeps success; so failure was never an option, thought, or reality.” RHC Entertainment is preparing to open 10 lesson studios over the next 5 years, and with the backing of the biggest names in the industries and the support of the local community, it’s expected to be the next big thing to bring big Hollywood production quality to your neighborhood. RHC Entertainment Music Division is also rapidly growing and gearing up for it’s debut ALIWOOD album titled “Welcome to ALIWOOD” that features some of the greatest producers and artists in the industry. The most anticipated song on the album features multi-platinum selling artist and producer Devante Swing of Jodeci. Currently RHC Entertainment is filming a music video for the hit single “Ya Girl’s Eye” Ft. Cash Money artist Glasses Malone and ShowKase. Be on the look-out for all of the artists and producers on RHC Entertainment’s roster including; Jay Bay Bay, Ak-Tiv, Yancy Deron, Jacob Quetant (Intricate Sound), Danny Boi, AliQuest, Brianna Nicole, and Joe Brown (A Static Lullaby). Stay up to date with RHC Entertainment’s latest projects at http://www.RHCentertainment.com. - Parham Moini & Bobbak Saeedi

Briana Duran, 14

The Darlings Covering a show at the Roxy on Sunset, we’re chatting it up with people - hugs and laughs all around- when all of a sudden, my attention gets grabbed by the sound of Crystal Waters’ “Gypsy Woman” (probably more recognized now by T.I.’s –”Why You Wanna” remake) filling the air. I glanced up to see if the D.J. was just killin’ it or what. And there they were. As the curtains rise, I see a duo on stage in floral print dresses, letterman cardigans, gloves, heels, pearls, crazy ass shades, and one of them has a big ass bow in her hair. I’m literally stuck in a portal between worlds of curiosity and amazement. Keep in mind - prior to this day, I had not heard or experienced Nola Darling. Flash forward about 1 minute and 36 seconds. I had taken my wannabe swanky ass out of VIP and down to the main floor to get closer to the action. In the short transitions between songs, they’re up there clowning around and telling jokes. Something like a smile, their energy was just contagious. The line between the stage and floor was blurred and the Roxy became one big Nola-D party. All I could think was “these ladies are FUCKIN’ DOPE!” I wish I had a more eloquent way of expressing that statement, but that’s what it was. Their energy and vibe drew you in closer and closer. Immediately after the show we knew we had to get them in the magazine. They are everything that “La Raw” stands for. I’m not sure exactly how much of the crowd was there just to see Nola Darling, but if you were judging by the amount of heads bobbing, the number of toes tapping, or the count of asses shaking, your conclusion would have been everyone was there just to see them. They made fans

instantaneously. It’s always a testament to the artist and their performance when they can seduce a Hollywood crowd into forgetting their image and looking cool, and trade their superficiality in for a few beads of sweat and some enthusiastic cheers. That’s exactly what Nola Darling did. If your jacket was on when they began, it was off when they were finished. It was as though they were relentless in their efforts to win the crowed over. And they succeeded. Jaq, a Los Angeles native, & Alex, a product of New York, connected at NYU during a summer program for performing arts. As they surveyed the field of what was going on in the hip-hop world, they understood that they possessed something that is unlike the rest of the crowd. Soon after the question wasn’t “why don’t we do this?” Rather, it was “why aren’t we doing this?” When I say unlike the rest of the crowd, I’m not just talking about female MCs; I’m just talking period. They aren’t trying to be defined by their gender first. Respect what they bring to the table firstly. Then, when your plate is full, you’ll most likely have a more profound appreciation for them doing it as females. Sex sells, but so do fresh lyrics over hype beats. ”With a brain much bigger than my button titties, I’m not depending on ‘between my legs’ for money,” says Alex. Their goal is to give you an experience. As they expressed to me during our convo, after you leave a Nola-D show, they want you talking about it. Good or bad, they want to leave an impression on you. But if you have two eyes, two ears and a pulse and the impression they left on you wasn’t a good one… get in contact with me and I’d be

elated to be your personal escort to the nearest psychiatric facility. If you’re on the late train, ‘Nola Darling’ is a character in a Spike Lee joint who gets her story told by three guys. Seeing how Nola Darling never got a chance to tell her side of her story, Alex and Jaq have decided to tell their own story and direct their own chapters; and in essence giving a voice to Nola Darling. Now Nola Darling has a voice, and it speaks louder than any story told by another. The symbolism is the empowerment of giving individuals their own voices to write their script of life and tell it to the world in autobiographic form. We all have a story, and no matter who was there, no one can tell our story the way we can.

As they were relaying to me how they are avid Spike fans and their admiration for his work, it dawned on me that the feeling they had given me the first time I saw them was much like the first time I saw “School Daze” -personally my favorite Spike Lee joint of all time. The music, the humor, the vigor and vitality were so infectious. When it was over, the only feeling I was left with was that of enthusiastic contemplation on the next time I’d be able to experience it again. And understanding it will be even better the next time around when you know all the words and your prepared to sing along to the tracks that move you. -Arthur “AC” Copeland

Summer Fashion Must Haves MEN

WARNING

Straw Fedora- It’s just cool.

This is a quick fashion rant. Apologies in advance for those of you who are offended and get angered… but this shit has got to stop! The views of the following statements are those of AC and AC alone. LÁ Raw is not responsible for the claims and representation of this blurb.

Raw Water Tank-tops- It’s summer time, stop dressing in long sleeves. Dress appropriate for the weather. Toms- Last year it was all about the boat shoe. This year it’s all about Toms. Shades- stop squinting, you look funny. Gym membership- If you’re going to show off those arms in that RawWater tank, might as well make them look good. Having nice arms is like finding the perfect shirt and being able to wear it everyday. Oh, and I hear chicks dig it.

WOMEN Summer Polish- Off white, nude, orange, pink, any of the summer colors. Black and burgundy are for the winter boo. The most popular color this year is lilac, it’s calm and summery. Cork Wedge Sandals- Pretty much the sexiest summer heel, since they’ve been invented. Hot Pants- Yup I said hot pants. If you don’t know what they are, ask your mom. Guaranteed she knows and then see how much of a kick she gets out of you telling her that they are back in style. RawWater, I Love Gangsta Rap Tank- Girls that wear RawWater are hot, girls that love gangsta rap…. EVEN HOTTER! (See page 27) Shades- Cause squinting makes you look funny too.

Dudes...... stop wearing your winter fashions in the summer. When the weather changes, so should your wardrobe. I know that’s a very lovely wool sweater you got for a steal at Banana Republic, but the reason it was on clearance is cause its out of season! Duh! Now you in the club thinking you look fresh to death when it’s more like your going to die from heat exhaustion. You cant even two step without breaking out in a rainy sweat. Now your mad cause “Toot It and Boot It” is on but girls don’t want to dance with you cause they’re afraid of all the itching they’d be doing after rubbing up against your wooly ass. Ladies…. Please! Again PLEASE! If you’re going to wear sandals this summer, take $12 and get a pedicure. There’s nothing sexy about ashy corn breading miscellaneously painted toes in Tory Burch sandals. And wash your feet after a day in flip-flops. Heels that look like you been kicking charcoal is not a way to keep or get a dude. Oh and while we’re on flip flops, having those Old Navy and Target flip-flops in 18 different colors to match all your outfits is not cute. I know a lot of women are gonna hate me for this one, but those Old Navy flip-flops are the new version of those cheap-ass Chinese sandals from five years ago. Stop it! Get yourself some cork wedge sandals in white, black, and brown. They’ll go with pretty much any summer dress or shorts and tank top combo you have and look a whole lot more attractive. -Arthur “AC” Copeland

ess

Making Progr Words: Amanda Mester

If you ever see a dude in a red beanie riding a bike on the streets of LA, chances are it’s VerBS. Fresh off tour with Murs, VerBS is back on his bicycle and back on the grind, making music. Good music. I first met the kid a couple years back, when Zen Sushi was still the spot for dope live hip hop. He and his good friend, Alpha MC, rocked out for a handful of people over beats from Dilla’s “Donuts”. Fast forward to today and VerBS is touring the country, doing shows from Maine to Washington State. His most current project, entitled the “Progress EP,” is 26 tracks deep, and has been in the works since 2008. There’s a song for the lovers, the bus-pass kids and the douches. In an effort to brand himself and combine his love of art & photography, each copy of “Progress” is handmade by VerBS himself, and includes his artwork as well as snapshots he’s taken.

distractions. I also want to continue putting on Bananas every 3rd Tuesday. [Nice plug]. AM: So what distracts you? V: Smoking weed. Being a professional Kick-Iter. When I smoke and get nothing done, I feel like I wasted a high. I’d rather get in the studio and record while under the influence.

Having wanted to rap since age ten, VerBS began getting serious about it around age 16, when he was battle rapping all the time. It was during one of those battles that he came up with his moniker. When I asked him why he spells it the way he does, he told me “it just looks cool when typed.” Ice Cube was some of the first hip hop he heard and he still remembers going to the Up In Smoke tour during middle school. Other than Cube, AM: Any crazy stories from tour? he credits Blackstar, Reflection Eternal, Phonte, Frankie Lymon, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Murs, Janelle V: I had sex with my first white girl. She had tat- Monae, Trendsetta and Elzhi as some of his favortoos & shit…blonde hair. The whole tour, that’s all ite artists. He’s also got a special place in his heart there was. They’re down. I had a plethora. Murs for Project Blowed. even called me out on stage. He was performing and said to the crowd “VerBS just had his first “My first performance was at Project Blowed,” white girl! Everybody clap it up for him!!” he tells me. “I rocked for like….8 people. I didn’t really have any songs, just a couple of verses. It AM: How did you link up with Murs? definitely wasn’t a spectacular rap show.” He’s got songs now. Included among his upcoming projV: Through this hot chick I know. He came to a ects are a Redfox album with Alpha MC entitled couple of the Spliff shows and I gave him my CD. “Last Action Heroes”, a CD called “Stop Acting He liked the way I designed it and was feeling my Like A Douche,” “Seafoam Hovercraft” with Block tunes, so he asked me to go on tour with him. Cheddar, and possibly even a project named “Fuck Yeah, Man.” This kid is putting in work. He’ll AM: As an artist, what do you want to accom- be the first to admit that he’s really good at this plish? rap thing and even tells me “I’m making money off of it, putting food in mom’s fridge, so I must be V: I just wanna make people feel good. I wanna good at it, right?” He is pretty good at it and as rap in other cities and go hard for the brand that long as there’s air in his bike tires and film in his camera, there will be no shortage of VerBS. is VerBS. I want to put in consistent work, with no

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The New Kid on the Block It was a cold and dreary night in Los Angeles in November of 2008. I was stopped at a red light on Slauson & La Brea heading out to Hollywood to get my weekly dose of drum and bass. As I waited for the light to change, a car full of dudes pulled up next to me and were clearly trying to get my attention. I glanced over, assuming it was some of the homies who had recognized me, but instead of seeing familiar faces, I was being handed a CD. “Bump this shit!” was all they yelled as they sped away. Being that I spend all of my money on going to shows, it was nothing new to be handed some demo which was probably going to be garbage, anyway. I threw the CD in the back of my car where it collected dust for months, never to be seen again. That is until one extremely tedious trip on the 405 at rush hour. My ears were in desperate need of some new tunes and I remembered I had some random album swimming around my backseat somewhere. I reluctantly fished around until I found it and looked at the cover for the first time. It was called “ColdTapes,” and as I soon discovered, had 5 tracks on it, all flips of Coldplay songs. It couldn’t be too terrible, right? I fuck with Coldplay. Fast forward a couple of months and “Cold-

Tapes” had become the most listened-to album in my collection. I had to get in touch with these guys somehow, just to give them words of support and to tell them that I had force-fed it to all of my friends, who subsequently became enormous fans. With the awesome and all-powerful Facebook, I managed to stalk the brains behind the project down, who turned out to be a group of kids who are poised to be one of the few gems in the LA hip hop scene. As I soon learned, the voice I had been listening to for all of those months belonged to a kid from Oxnard named Breezy LoveJoy. Breezy began playing the drums in 6th grade, joining band and eventually doing his thing at church. Since then, he met what would become his musical family, Block Cheddar. Consisting of B. Wills, Vox, Vishnu AKA The Orchestrator, Anthony, & Breezy, Block Cheddar has been doing its thing since coming together at the Musicians Institute in 2006. Breeze had been a student there, taking his first formal training in drums, when financial reasons forced him to drop out and become a T.A. By this point, Breezy had begun singing and had released a lofi demo. After a performance at the Green Room,

the BC guys approached him, telling Breezy he had the makings of a great solo artist. And, well, the rest is history, as they say. As of now, Block Cheddar & Breezy LoveJoy have released “ColdTapes,” Breezy’s mixtape “The Shit I Can’t Clear,” and an EP entitled “Violets are Blue,” which is available on iTunes. I had the opportunity to kick it with Breezy, both on the interview tip and on the live performance tip. This dude can sing. And rap. The ladies love him and his incredible live band rivals those of many established artists. Don’t get him confused with Drake. Could Drake sing and play the drums at the same time?

to release. That’s when “ColdTapes” dropped. AM: Why Coldplay?

BLJ: I was working 9-5 to support the family because both of my parents went to jail, long story short. I was doing a lot of driving, and I started listening to different kinds of music. I was up late one night and saw the “Yellow” video...then I copped “A Rush of Blood to the Head” and “Parachutes.” I remember bumping that shit like it was Tupac. The emotion that they carried over was soulful shit. Then I met all these dope producers in Block Cheddar and we were trying to AM: What are your goals as an artist? figure out how we were gonna stick out. We were messing with Foo Fighters and decided to go on BLJ: I wanna be a part of this whole “independent YouTube and film us flipping some Foo and from revolution.” I want to look back and say “I was there went to Coldplay. We collectively came up in the mix.” When shit started going down and with the idea to remix a couple songs. Not everypeople didn’t need labels anymore, I decided I body thought it was smart, but I wanted to prove wanted to be part of that musical generation who that all that shit is soulful music. We even went were getting things done on their own. I want the to Arizona and Anaheim to follow Coldplay on eclectic to become the new pop music and when tour and hit up the let-out and passed out “Coldthat becomes corny, I want to be a part of chang- Tapes.” ing it up again. Listing Madlib and Slum Village as some of his AM: But what makes you different? creative inspirations, Breezy also credits Curtis Mayfield, Jay-Z, and Beverly & Maze as some of BLJ: My musicality. I’m a musician first, a singer the most influential artists in the formulation of his and rapper second. I was never the singer of the own sound. Albums such as “Blueprint”, “Songs family. Singing was something I didn’t start de- in the Key of Life”, and “Champion Sound” get an veloping until much later on. My foundation is in honorable mention. Don’t get it twisted, Breezy drums and with that foundation, my approach is also rocks out to the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, different and where I want to take the music is dif- Genesis, The Police, Radiohead, Weezer and Hall ferent. I’m not afraid to merge different sounds. & Oates, just to name a few. AM: Tell me about Block Cheddar. BLJ: They are my brothers. We are a collective towards one goal, and that goal is to get Breezy LoveJoy out there. We began spending all our time together and I even couch-surfed at their cribs, spending a couple weeks here and a couple weeks there, which was great. I was used to working alone and this was giving me the opportunity to step outside of myself and open up to others. Eventually, we built up a catalogue of music and had to figure out what we were going

BLJ: I fuck with Madlib’s creativity, Quasimodo and all that. He be on some other shit, just free-form. I think we have similar creative processes in the sense that a lot of the music comes from something that starts as jokes, something that’s absurd. That’s why I like Slum Village’s vibe, it’s free-form but like, people can still relate to it.

young age as well as current things going on in his life provide him with a vast repertoire of experience upon which to draw from.

BLJ: Aside from the 7 sisters and stepsisters I have, my 4 nieces keep me inspired. They always say what’s on their minds. They require patience, and if you have that patience, then you can catch AM: So what is your creative process? the things they do unconsciously. They allow me to clear my head. Their look on life is fresh and BLJ: It all goes down in the house I live in. It’s 24 open, which is what I want my outlook on life to hours a day...somebody’s always doin’ something. be. Besides them, the relationship I have with my I live with Block Cheddar now, so I will wake up roommates is also where I draw a lot of musical and before I even brush my teeth, I’m singing. inspiration from, in terms of what I sing or rap We’re just continuously making music. When about. I feel like I can absorb and even channel we’re rehearsing, the chemistry is just there. From their experiences into my music. the jams might come a song. Music is usually first and the lyrics get added later. AM: Tell me, why it is important to you to be a good live performer? BLJ: Live shows speak volumes to me. I think it’s because I come from a musician’s standpoint. I always want my live show to be something incredible; that’s my opportunity where I’m really going to be able to shine and to gain fans. I also think your level of artistry in the studio is as important as the live stuff and my goal is to connect the 2 without the performance levels of either being too different from each other. Especially in hip hop, live shows aren’t being taken seriously. There are a lot of rappers just with a DJ who just turn the beat up, and then you can’t hear anything Living in a constant musical environment doesn’t the rapper is saying. I mean, that goes for a cermean that Breezy & the guys never experience tain amount of time, but these days there are more writer’s block. In fact, Breezy tells me during the rappers than fans. Nobody’s taking the time to reinterview that it’s going on right now. There’s a ally present a show. Artists like Beyonce, Sting, struggle going on because, as he says, they can’t and Mike…they’re telling a story when they perkeep putting out new material; they’ve got to pro- form. Their shows aren’t gonna be no rinky-dink mote old stuff to raise awareness and to reach karaoke shit, so why should hip hop shows be that more ears. When they’re in a promotional mind- way? I’m not saying hip hop shouldn’t stay true to set, creating new stuff gets put on the back burn- tradition with the whole DJ thing, I mean…I love er. This time around, they’ve decided to just work the emotion that an 808 can arouse in a crowd, on a project without worrying about when it’s go- too. ing to come out. In times like these, Breezy takes some space and spends time with perhaps his AM: Your band must be an integral part of putting biggest inspiration, his nieces.“When I’m with my on a great show, right? nieces, it’s like the ‘reset’ button has been pushed on me,” he tells me. He also looks to his room- BLJ: I would be nothing without them. They are mates for song material, as well as his romantic my team, and this whole journey belongs to us. past. His marriage and subsequent divorce at a I’ve got Ron on keys, Ben on the bass, Zeta on gui43

tar, and Jason on background vocals. The Breezy LoveJoy Band is where it’s at. Having a band is important because the emotion you deliver with live instruments is crazy. The energy does something different to a crowd...especially in hip hop, not a lot of people are exposed to that. I’d like to be a West Coast version of the Roots.

local scene is oversaturated, it is the overabundance of mediocre talent that truly allows an artist like Breezy LoveJoy to stand out. It’s very apparent that Breeze is on a path to wider recognition. Having been mentioned in Russell Simmon’s “Global Grind” blog, Wine & Bowties and a “New & Noteworthy” mention on iTunes, the kid has come a long way from messing around AM: Any last words? on his step dad’s drum kit. The support from fans, both old and new will undoubtedly propel his BLJ: Feed your need, feed whatever desire is in career nowhere but upwards. The word of mouth your belly. Find a purpose and be creative. Go does untold wonders to the rise of an indepenwith your gut!!! dent artist and he can only hope that his music reaches further and further. Like he says on his For anybody who has seen Breeze live, there intro to “Shit I Can’t Clear,” it’s not the harmonies is no doubt that the talent is there. Personally, that are gonna make ‘em remember you. It’s repwatching him get down on the drums while he etition. Breezy LoveJoy, Breezy LoveJoy, Breezy sings his music is something I had never seen LoveJoy, Breezy LoveJoy. OK, I think they got it. before. The LA hip hop scene has done wonders for him and he credits places like Leimert Park and the Little Temple Bar with exposing him to -Amanda Mester incredible raw talent. While he does feel that the

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Intricate Underdogs

Networking is a crazy thing. Thanks to an incredibly drunk dude at a Foreign Exchange Grammy party, I met some talented artists from Pasadena. We exchanged information, and eventually discovered that we both knew Efehi. Shout-out to Rawwater. Anyway, Jacob Quetant AKA Intricate Sound and Yancy Deron are holding it down in the City of the Rose. Having released their album “The Underdogs” in February, this producer-rapper duo are seeing their long-time friendship and partnership come to fruition. They met at Pasadena High when they started messing around with a rinky-dink mic and Acid software. After graduating from Cal Poly Pomona, Jacob moved back to Dena and really started focusing on the music thing. They’ve performed at places like the Purple Lounge and Cinespace, where they’ve received great crowd reaction. I met up with them at the quintessential Starbucks, where

they told me what being an underdog really means. AM: What kind of feedback have you been getting about “The Underdogs”? JQ: All positive feedback, with about 1% “eh.” It’s a blessing because the type of feedback we’re getting real comments…everybody has their own favorites. There’s no track on there that nobody just doesn’t like. AM: Tell me about your producing. What programs do you use? Who are some of your favorite producers in the game? JQ: I use Reason, Logic, Fruity Loop and some of the sounds I make myself. I’ve always been an artist, and I stumbled upon this Acid program and started putting loops together. Sometimes I’ll hear a melody in my sleep, and from there it’s magic. I’ve gotta give it up to folks like Timba

The Intricate Sound camp doesn’t end with these two. They’ve also got D. Nass, B.R. Tha Kidd, MeeSo and Chrissy. Having females on their team makes these dudes different and they know that. JQ: It’s a blessing to have females in our camp. It’s crazy how our chemistry just blended in the studio. It’s like it was meant to be! YD: Having female rappers wasn’t really important to me. I never had any female rappers around me that were talented beyond talking about the norm. Now that’s all changed. Now, AKTIV is a family. MeeSo came up with that in a dream one night. It stands for All Knowledge Through Individual Vision and it’s the name of our musical family. land, Kanye, DJ Quik, Dre, Ryan Leslie, The Runners and Scott Storch. AM: Yancy, who are your favorite lyricists? YD: Jay Electronica, J Cole, Andre3000 come to mind. They’re unique and abstract, which I really admire. Nas of course, Scarface, U-N-I, Pac Div. I’ve been saying “Fuck Rap!” It’s time to expand beyond rap and get back to hip hop. As the likes of J Cole and Jay Z. I mean, Lil Wayne did a rock album. Wiz Khalifa is doin’ it right now with his “Kush and Orange Juice” mixtape. AM: Tell me your goals YD: I want this to lead into bigger and better things. As an entrepreneur, I want to open doors for all my friends and family - those who are focused beyond rap. I want to keep doing shows, get into clothing. Rap is my passion, but it’s also my gateway to helping others who support me. I want to see what the world has to offer. In 5 years I want to be on top of the world, not just in rap. I’m also all about collabos; I want to be known for doing collabos with everybody. “The Underdogs” is a rap album, but with our upcoming projects, we’re trying to get an international feel. JQ: I don’t want to be a here today, gone tomorrow type of producer. I want to be known as a timeless producer. I don’t want to fit the trend; having longevity is important to me, and I want to be able to support my family. I want to work with a lot of people, too. I’d love to work with Lil Wayne, as well. 47

Expect to hear a mixtape dropped over the summer, which they tell me is only a taste of what’s to come. Yancy tells me that they all eat, sleep and shit music, which only provides for more focus, ambition and dope product. You can find out more at www.weareunderdogs.com, as well as following them on Twitter - @Intricate_Sound & @YancyDeron. It’s always good to root for the underdogs. - Amanda Mester

FEEL FREE TO SEND COMMENTS TO DAVID@RAWWATER.NET

I didn’t get any hate mail for what i said in the last issue, so there are three possibilities for what is happening here: 1. You started reading this, decided I’m just a hater,and turned the page. 2. My words sailed clear over your head. or 3. I’m preaching to the choir. I prefer the third scenario, and I’ll tell you why: You’re tired of bullshit. There is so much bullshit going on these days. The media has always been a fountain of bullshit and distortion, but in the Internet Age it’s gone several steps beyond shit is just wild now. I think Twitter is most responsible for this. People are dying left and right on Twitter, and then having to tweet that they’re still alive. People: if you read that someone dies on Twitter, and not one single other source has substantiated the claim, then you turn around and start posting RIP and whatnot - FOH. You fail at information. I know you’re not professional journalists (like me?), but a little fact checking is in order. It takes 30 seconds to Google something (which is a fraction of the time you waste on Farmville). How you gonna read something, and immediately repost it like it’s gospel? Sometimes even the media falls for this shit! I don’t know what online universities these cats got their degrees from, but these people consider themselves to be legitimate journalists, and they’re as reliable as a Wikipedia article. Didn’t you cats play Telephone in grade school? Also, you ever notice the majority of the people you know tweet and Facebook the most during working hours? Those people need to get the FOH! I’m not paying your unemployment because your ass got fired for too much social networking

on the job - you better go call Tyrone. So many people have begun to disappoint me with their Twitter antics; I guess that’s the burden of this instant social technology, you get to see how people really are. Don’t get me wrong, I love Twitter. I’ve won shit off there and I always know where to hit the lunch trucks, but for every one useful post on Twitter, there are at least 2,500 useless ones. C’mon now, we can do better than that. So much has happened since our last issue, I don’t think I can squeeze everyone in who is being fucking lame, so I’m going to fire off a few real quick. BP, Mel Gibson, Lindsay Lohan, political pundits, the factory that’s responsible for the delay on my white iPhone 4, Carbohydrates, the rude barista who always seems to be working at Starbucks in Citywalk, anyone who uses Jersey Shore for fashion inspiration, Cancer, Illiteracy, and Autism - all of you can eat one. The people who are trying to essentially blame Obama for the disaster in the Gulf, when they wanted Sarah Palin on a platform of “Drill Baby, Drill!” - FOH with your whole slanted perception of things. I won’t bother elaborating on Partisan hypocrisy, because people are forgetful hypocrites by nature, and anyway, Colbert and the Daily Show cover that shit full-time. Everyone who somehow thinks that because Tiger Woods boned a bunch of professional hoes - he can’t golf anymore really needs to FO (that’s short for fuck off, try it sometime). When you have sex, you do better at everything afterwards! Not only will Tiger out golf you, he’ll probably also beat you at Scrabble just from the sheer volume of bitties he was smashing. People who constantly talk about Lebron James, positively or negatively - you don’t necessarily need to GTFOH, but you need to STFU. Live. Do your own shit. Stop pole jockeying this cat. Incidentally, all you

cats that burned Lebron jerseys, you can definitely GTFOH with your stupid shit. Those jerseys aren’t cheap. People were really like this, “Lebron Lebron! We love Lebron! He’s King James! What, he’s going to Miami? Fuck Lebron! Anyone got some matches?” While we’re on the subject, how useless are professional athletes? I was watching the Tour de France, and it hit me: these people serve no purpose. They’re like radio rappers, but instead of selling liquor, they’re selling vitamin water (that’s why 50 cent wins, homeboy sells both). I know they inspire people and whatnot, but inspire them to what end - to become an athlete, who, in turn, inspires more athletes?? Now I’m not hating on athletes, not by any means, but I’m saying, a professional athlete in and of themselves is pretty damn useless, but they make an insulting amount of money for what they do. Take Jesse Owens for example… you of course know who Jesse Owens is, right? Good, then I won’t elaborate on who he is or what he did (so you’ll have to do a bit of reading if you’re not knowing), though I will say, for what that man did, he deserved the opulence any of these NBA stars enjoy. Instead, he was snubbed by FDR, resigned to essentially poverty, and died of cancer - in Arizona no less! (Lord don’t let me die in Arizona!) Where was that Budweiser money when Jesse Owens was running against horses to make ends meet? Or maybe if Gatorade had been invented a few decades earlier, Jim Thorpe wouldn’t had to suffer in his last days, poor, sick, stripped of his medals… anyway… Speaking of radio rappers - why do you care about them?? I’m honestly confounded on this one. Someone asked me if i got the new Rick Ross. Me? I listen to an absurd amount of music, yes, it might follow that i listen to him. I don’t. Being that I hear so much good shit from all over the world, do you think “Teflon Don” fits in anywhere? It might set a club off… might… I wouldn’t know because i give a shit about

clubs, unless you’re interested in hiring me, in which case I’m super interested! Forget I said anything. Shit, I love clubs; I got that “Teflon Don” on deck! Seriously though, I didn’t fuck with radio rappers in Jr. High, what in the world makes you think I give a shit about them now? Why do you, for that matter? Let me paint a picture for you. Last week my homeboy JT was telling me they were saying on the radio that Pitbull better watch out because Rick Ross is the best out of Miami. Adults really said that. Comparatively, a few weeks back, a couple of my students were debating who “goes harder”: Waka Flocka or Gucci Mane. When juxtaposed, the latter conversation, ridiculous as it is, is far less ridiculous. Now, if in your mind, you are currently trying to decide just who indeed “goes harder” between the four of them - FOH. I mean, from time to time, the pop world produces a true artist, or at least true art - something profound and relevant, yet easily digestible. Rap even has a few, “The Message”, “Keep Ya Head Up” and “Juicy” come to mind. I haven’t heard a damn thing on the radio in years that’s had that effect. Anyway, to spare me having to tell you FOH when you list your top 5 MCs, and your list has Rick Ross in it, here are some cats you haven’t heard of, but should be listening to instead of that bullshit the radio’s feeding you: UNI Pacific Division Elucid jonwayne Danny Brown Vandalyzm JAY ELECTRONICA Joell Ortiz Elzhi Phat Kat There are so many more, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. Now get started, or get the FOH. Peace.