april 2012 issue www.whwnmagazine.com
HIPHOPDX’S MIKE TRAMPE
__________________ AN INTERNET PUSHER, DRIVING OVER 2 MILLION UNIQUE HITS
PLUS HOW TAKING CARE OF OTHERS & THE EARTH INCREASES MARKETABILITY
HE’S NOT MR.UNTOUCHABLE HE’S GOT THE 10 HIP HOP WEBSITE & BLOG “CRACK” COMMANDMENTS HOW TO INCREASE YOUR MARKETABILITY IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY PLUS TIPS ON HOW TO “GET YOUR BUZZ UP”
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emember that NIKA is a social business. That means that the more successful we are, the more we can give back. It also means that for our cause to gain awareness, our supporters need to be social and speak up about it. Are you a supporter? Have you told your friends to check us out online and in stores? A cause is only as strong as the carriers of its message. A Thirst for Change, by Nika Water cofounders, Jeff and Linda Church, was just released in both hard cover and soft cover! This book chronicles the Nika story from idea to fast growing company. It also shows through “Do’s” and “Don’ts” how YOU can participate in the new wave of social entrepreneurialism. Nika wants to offer it as a special to you, just for the holidays. Find the soft cover at amazon.com and 20% off the hard cover at nikawater.org “Linda and Jeff Church are compelling examples of how NIKA has certainly not ‘waited’ their turn to make a difference in the world. Through a combination of a passion for water sanitation worldwide and a gift for making change, Linda and Jeff’s book sparks each reader’s imagination for a better world. A Thirst For Change serves as the perfect addition to any leader’s toolkit for social entrepreneurship, as well as encouragement for making their dreams a reality. We are proud to stand beside NIKA as they tackle their creative solution for clean water for all.” MARC and CRAIG KIELBURGER Founders, Free The Children
WHO’S HOT? & WHO’S NOT!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• pg. 13 // In Denmark, Anthon Berg’s, Good Deeds for Chocolate
• WHWN’s Interview with the owner of Baby, Bump & Beyond, Heather Atkinson // pg. 11
• Who is Kevin Cunningham? // pg. 9
§ WHAT’S HAPPENIN’ IN MUSIC §
• THE CRACK COMMANDMENTS OF HIPHOP:
“The 10 Hip Hop Website & Blog Commandments,”
by Mike Trampe’s // pg. 15
• pg. 18 // One of the Web’s Fastest Growing Artist: Leon Marin
• pg. 26 // The Mixed Tape L7
• COVER
STORY: HipHopDX,
MAADD Management and Get Your Buzz Up’s, Mike Trampe
“I’m NOT Mr. Untouchable!” // pg. 23 § HEALTH AND WELL BEING §
• The Spotlight is On: Whole Food’s, They Eliminate
Endangered Fish from the Stores // pg. 29
WHWNMAGAZINE.COM
§ GOOD DEEDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD §
• pg. 30 // Memorandum: How Many More? The Senseless Death of Trayvon Martin
Biography Mike Trampe is a rising media entrepreneur, promoter, speaker, and accomplished marketing director. Also known to the industry as “Mic Vicious” and “Simon Cowell of this Rap Ish,” he has made a name as the “go-to person for your go-to person.” Among a room full of talent and gatekeepers, Mike plays vital roles as a connector, a middleman, and an expert consultant. In 2009, he was awarded the Philadelphia Pioneer Hip Hop Award alongside highly respected names like Gillie Da Kid and Sandman. Among his many titles, he is Founder and CEO of the exciting new venture M.A.A.D. Management, a firm focusing on “Music, Artists, and Distribution.” Established in 2009, the unique platform has grown into a content-rich music blog, and continues to provide an array of services, such as social media marketing and graphic design. After starting out as a marketing intern in 2007, Mike became Marketing & Social Media Manager at Cheri Media Group, purveyor of the hugely popular website HipHopDX.com. His efforts helped secure the site Underground Music Awards and VH1 Awards for “Best Hip-Hop Website.” Mike’s diverse background includes managing recording artists, music production, and regional promotions for the prominent iStandard Producers Showcase, which is co-owned by his partner J Hatch. Mike also presides over a number of unique music events and special projects—he was responsible for the “Hip Hop Helps Haiti Mixtape” which featured appearances by music superstars like Ghostface Killa, and benefited Haitian earthquake relief efforts through American Red Cross. Mike’s current projects include managing South Philadelphia-based artist Nico The Beast, and serving as President of the Get Your Buzz Up artist showcase and blog. Under his tutelage, it was recently nominated for “Best Industry Event” at the Southern Entertainment Awards. Having starting out as a DJ at 14 years of age, music has always played a major role in Mike’s career. Originally a writer and emcee, in 2003 he and three partners founded Kingpin Productions. They began recording music, managing artists and producers, and performed shows throughout the tristate area. Today, his story, talents and expertise have been recruited by a number of music industry-related programs and events, and even brought him on live network television (FOX 29 Philadelphia). Mike has served as either a speaker or judge at a long list of showcases and panels alongside multiplatinum producers, major label executives, and other music legends. With hard work, respect and determination, he is well on his way to joining their ranks. Contact: Mike@HipHopDX.Com
GOOD DEEDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Earth Hour, March 31, 2012? Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 when more than two million individuals and two thousand businesses in Sydney, Australia turned off their lights for one hour on Saturday 31 March 2007 to take a stand on climate change. With 135 countries officially taking part in 2011, Earth Hour is a WWF initiative which has grown into the world’s largest community-driven campaign for the planet. At the center of the campaign is the symbolic collective action of lights out at 8:30PM on the last Saturday of March. Through this action, individuals, businesses and communities join a visible statement of commitment to the planet and a sustainable future for us all. However, Earth Hour is about much more than just switching off the lights. In 2011 WWF-Australia has encouraged participants to make ongoing changes ‘beyond the hour’ to reduce their impact on the environment on ongoing basis. The introduction of the WWF Earth Hour Awards recognizes the grassroots efforts of individuals from around the country doing just this. Earth Hour is an annual event, held each year at 8:30PM on the last Saturday in March. The last Earth Hour will be held on Saturday 31 March 2012 between 8.30PM and 9.30PM in your local time zone. Why? The last weekend of March is around the time of the Spring and Autumn equinoxes in the northern and southern hemispheres respectively, which allows for near coincidental sunset times in both hemispheres, thereby ensuring the greatest visual impact for a global ‘lights out’ event. Did you participate in Earth Hour? If so, share your story!
Please
do not forget that the Broome Family Foundation (BFF) has two programs that are currently in need of funding. The first is the “At Risk for Success 2015 Initiative” which educates and places the youth of LA with entrepreneurial businesses to give the youth a head start on how to succeed in running their own business. The second program is “Hope4Families.”Hope4Families serves low-income Special Education students who have been denied their right to an appropriate public education. Through advocacy and legal action, Hope4Families equips poor, urban families with the tools to access the education that is crucial if their children are to have lives of purpose. To make a donation or for more information, please contact Conley Broome at conley.broome@gmail.com Namaste
We believe that your journey into parenthood should be an enjoyable experience, not one of stress, worry, and anxiety. We are here to help you, whether you just need a little help to take the edge off, or if you are ready to throw in the towel, because even super parents need backup. Welcome to Baby Bump & Beyond! Baby Bump & Beyond, LLC. San Diego, California (760) 317-9819 info@babybumpbeyond.com
Kevin Cunningham The Man Who Sparked the Flame for Trayvon Martin’s Protest
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eported on MSN, by Miranda Leitsinger, who traced how the spark for the capture of Trayvon Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, began with Kevin Cunningham petition on Change.org. The self-proclaimed “Super Irish” said he “had it in his blood,” as he is the son of activist parents. When he heard of the Martin case, from his secret fraternity for Men of Howard, he knew he had to act. The Howard University law student thought that “...the death of the one person could be the thing that triggers us to re-look at our society. I think we need to revolutionize the justice system, for sure, and maybe our culture as well.” When asked whether he thought people might be surprised to learn he is a white man, he replied, “[I don’t] believe in black and white.” Testing his social media skills, Cunningham was happily shocked that his online petition has gained over 2 million signatures and brought international attention to the 17 year-old’s unfortunate death. “What I’ve learned through social media, [is] you don’t have to go through institutions anymore ... Any individual with any idea can make it work if they have [a] connection to the Internet.” When suggesting that he start an online petition calling for an appeal in the prosecution of Zimmerman, he was meet with both support and skepticism. He recalls, “At Howard, they tell us as soon as you get there, ‘If you’re going to be a lawyer, you’re either a social engineer or a parasite on the society.’ [All I want] is to be a social engineer, and that’s what my parents were always trying to be ... You could tell there was a lot of people who knew him and liked him [Martin]. It definitely had an impact on me ... it made me feel very good about what I had done, what we had done.” When support continued to swell, Cunningham was urged to turn the petition over to Martin’s parents. As Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton stated, they were very “overwhelmed that someone we didn’t know would take the time and effort to raise awareness about our son.” The petition has become the largest one in the website’s history and although not too much more information about the case has come to light, it provided a platform for people to sign the petition and keep it in the world’s attention. The full article is found at MSN.
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Heather Atkinson,
The Baby Planner WHWN Interview with Heather’s BB&B WHWN: So we’re sitting here with baby planner, Mrs. Heather Atkinson. Founder and owner of Baby, Bump & Beyond in the lovely children’s store Poises and Ponies, located in beautiful La Jolla, CA. For those who don’t know, please go ahead and tell us exactly what it is you do. HEATHER: Hi, I’m Heather and I am a baby planner and maternity consultant that helps new moms and parents to be get ready for their babies and to feel more confident in their abilities. For example, I help with things like getting their nurseries safe, that they know CPR and First Aid in the event that an emergency. So if anything happens they know what to do and won’t freeze up and then go into complete panic mode. I just absolutely love it! I love helping and anything I can do to lessen the stress of a new mom or parent is my goal. WHWN: How did you come up with the idea to become a baby planner? HEATHER: I had been a baby consultant for my friends for about a year or two before I knew that “baby planner” was an actual job title. My mom gave me an article from the newspaper up north and I read it and said, “This is what I’ve been doing for all of my friends!” She said, “I know and now you can do it while you have a business and stay at home with your daughter; doing what you love doing but for more people.” So when I graduated from college I sort of went with it and ran. Now I have Baby Bump & Beyond, LLC and we’re almost a year old and doing good. Our most popular thing for right now is Infant CPR and CPR for small children. Which I love teaching. POISES’ OWNER: Which she is amazing at and is phenomenal! HEATHER: {blushing} Thank you! Thank you! I was a life guard on and off for a number of years and had been trained on and off but never had to actually use those skills until I had my own daughter. When she started eating solid foods, that’s when it really came into play. Grandma’s not watching how much food is going into the mouth or you blink, turn your head for a second, try and take a phone call, God forbid should you try and do anything for yourself, look back and the baby is red, not breathing. It’s a scary situation! WHWN: God! I don’t want to see that! No one does. HEATHER: It is a scary situation and I knew that when I started teaching classes and started this business, I just had to teach that, as well. I teach it at a number of different stores right now, trying to get group classes and I also do private and in home classes for up to eight people. WHWN: OK. That is lovely. What are the rates? HEATHER: We do $55 a person for in-store classes or $100 per couple, to encourage mom and dad to come or grandma and grandpa. You know we want the whole family involved. Anyone who will be watching your child should know what to do because when we hire a sitter, a nanny or daycare provider, we want them to know. So if we don’t know then it doesn’t really help if you are at home alone. I’ve even heard people say that they looked up what to do on YouTube! And one can’t help but think, “Why didn’t you call 9-1-1 first?”
WHWN: Sadly, the Internet is really replacing a lot of common sense things. HEATHER: It has because it’s at the tip of your fingers; you just think, “I could get the information from the Internet. I will go and Google it. I will go look on YouTube for a ‘How To’ video.” Whereas you can get on the phone with 9-1-1 and say “what do I do?” and have help coming. Or even better, you’ve taken the class; you know what to do and do it. The Red Cross makes the skills such a repetitive motion that when you’re in a situation you go into training mode, like automatically. That’s how I was, when I’m told stories, that’s how is happened; that the person just goes into training mode, got it done then afterwards was like “Whoa! That just happened?!” WHWN: And the baby is safe at that point, too. HEATHER: Yeah and you’re like, “What would have happened if I didn’t know how to do that?” And of course you don’t want to think of what could have happened if you didn’t know. It is an amazing skill to have and I think that all parents should have it. It’s not something that we make a whole lot of money off of, as I do it almost to cost for me, for the materials and I dues paid to the Red Cross. WHWN: And they get a certification card. HEATHER: Exactly! The certification is for two years. I know there are a lot of other places that do it for a lot cheaper, but they are not the Red Cross certifying you and my biggest thing about that is as a business owner, if I teach you through myself, then I am liable for any harm that you do. So I’m fine with that [working with the Red Cross] and not making money for the classes. It’s rewarding to just get the information out there and the Red Cross has an amazing program! WHWN: Well that’s why we’re talking with you, because of your efforts at helping other people do things that make their lives easier, have less stress and overall improve their well-being. HEATHER: Thank You! WHWN: I learned a lot from you when we met last year and was very impressed with what you do. What is your biggest success story or fulfilling experience? I mean I know that every experience is unique in themselves, but does any stick out? HEATHER: Well really it’s just helping moms feel better, to feel that relief of knowing that they are not alone and they don’t have to do it by themselves and they don’t have to know everything. Because there is so much information and it’s really overwhelming to stay on top of the recalls, the safety products. It’s very difficult to be on top of everything. So we try to take that guess work out and we can make it relaxing when we go shopping together and I show you, “Here are the products at this store and here’s the best of…” Or “This is what I know about XYZ.” Whether it’s shopping or setting up a registry, we help take all the guess work out show you the best of and most needed items. WHWN: So it’s like what one needs versus what one may want! HEATHER: Exactly! The “what you need” versus the gimmicks or the cute stuff…not to say that the cute stuff is bad, but a lot of things you can waste a lot of money on that don’t work. Through our personal experiences as moms and researching consumer reports, we can help you avoid those pitfalls. WHWN: Anything else you’d like to add? HEATHER: Well, we’re getting ready to add more group classes. We want to bring in more of the classes we’ve been offering for private in-home, like infant nutrition, child birth education, and getting parents ready for baby, but all will have to wait after my new baby comes. WHWN: Yes, yes! I’m so excited for you!! And thank you so much!!! How can people find you? HEATHER: We’re at www.babybumpandbeyond.com On Twitter, our handle is @babybumpbeyond. We’re on Facebook and we just added a doula and a nurse, to do our child birth education services. WHWN: I met quite a few doulas at “Your Natural Baby” fair last year. Are you attending next weekend? HEATHER: Yes! I have a booth there again and I’m also doing the website right now for all the fair updates. WHWN: Wonderful! I’ll be sure to catch up with you there and thanks a billion for your time and all the wonderful things you do for other mothers and families!!! -Heather Atkinson, Founder & Baby Planner, Baby Bump & Beyond, LLC. (760) 317-9819 web: www.babybumpbeyond.com, Twiiter @BabyBumpBeyond & Facebook
Pop-up Store Sells Chocolate for Good Deeds, Not Money
Anthon Berg’s, “The Generous Store” enabled customers to pay for chocolate with a favor to a friend, rather than cash.
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egular readers of Springwise will already be familiar with the numerous alternative payment
models we’ve written about over the years, but this most recent example is perhaps the most heart-warming. Chocolatier Anthon Berg recently enabled customers to pay with a good deed, rather than cash, at a pop-up location called The Generous Store.
Conceived by ad agency Robert/Boison & Like-minded, the project featured a temporary outlet in Den-
mark – open for one day only – which labeled each of its products with a task the consumer must perform in order to ‘buy’ the chocolate. Designed to spread generosity, the tasks typically included a good deed to someone else, such as ‘Serve breakfast in bed to your loved one’ or ‘Help clean a friend’s house’. Cashiers were replaced by staff carrying iPads, where chocolate-buyers could log into their Facebook accounts and pledge to carry out the favor via a branded post on their wall. Anthon Berg was able to view the results of the promises when visitors to the store then posted pictures and comments on the company Facebook Page.
The Generous Store’s innovative payment system, while only employed for one day, helped to portray
Anthon Berg as a generous and socially-minded brand. An idea to adapt for your own projects, possibly over a longer period of time or in conjunction with a pay-what-you-want pricing system?
Now that’s some food for your thoughts and good deeds!
~namaste, WHWN Website: www.anthonberg.com Contact: www.anthonberg.com/Home/Contact.aspx Article original appeared on MSN.com, click here.
WHAT’S HAPPENIN’ IN MUSIC
The 10 Hip Hop Website & Blog Commandments by Mike Trampe Maad Management
These are in no specific order, use them, as you would like. They do not have to be used from 1-10. Rule # Uno: Always send your best work, make sure it is recorded properly, mixed down right and sounding crisp. Nothing more online personalities hate is when someone sends material and says, “This isn’t even my best track”, then why did you send it? Rule # 2: Build sincere relationships. Treat hip hop relationships like the girl/guy your in love with. You would put in time and work for that person right? Not just expect some the first night you meet. Be sincere when building your relationships, ask them how their day is, don’t always seem like your trying to jam product down their throat. Rule # 3: Be respectful. Approach peoples how you would want to be approached. Saying “Yo fam, you need to post my music” probably wont get you anywhere. Respect, Respect, Respect! Rule # 4: When emailing content make sure you send a hi-res picture, one song that is attached and a file share link (ex. Limelinx, sendspace, etc…). If we do not know who you are why would we want to hear a whole mixtape of you? Gain us as fans by sending over individual songs that we can check out, make it easy for us to listen by just clicking play in our emails. We do not want to have to go to a secondary site to listen. If we like it and want to post we have the D/L link as well as a hi-res picture. You can also send website and social media links. My best advice is to have them in your email signature. If we want to check out more on the artist, its there for us to do that. Rule # 5: When sending emails, try to send individual emails to each blog/site. If you do want to send a “mass” email make sure you use an email company, but if you are sending on your own make sure you BCC everyone! There is nothing more that people hate then when someone sends an email to 200 people showing everyone’s email address. BCC, BCC, BCC! Rule # 6: Build a fan base. I tell people this all the time, have the sites come looking for you! Do shows, press up merchandise, do meet & greets, perform anywhere you can (even if its not paid), do features with artists, utilize all the online tools and build fan bases outside of your city and overseas. There are tons of tools online for you to use, social media programs to help you build your network. Build that support system, its very important! Continued on next page
Rule # 7: Build your brand and team. Make sure you have people around you with the same common goals. Have weekly or monthly conference calls or meetings. Make sure everyone is on the same page. You do not want to have your manager say one thing while your saying another. Try and add a good graphic designer, videographer, web designer and photographer to your team. Visuals are very important nowadays, and it reflects your music. Setup your own site/blog. Post people’s music you like, that the general public likes, as well as yours, it’s a great way to pull traffic in. Make sure your social media and website are “uniformed”. Ex. HipHopDx.Com, Twitter.Com/HipHop Dx, Facebook.Com/HipHopDx. Make it easy for your fans to find you. You don’t want a website that says www.doperapper.com, a twitter that says twitter.com/hotrapper and a facebook that says facebook.com/flyrapper J
Rule # 8: Do your research and be organized! Make sure you know whom you’re contacting. Do a little research on each blog/site and person you are reaching out too. There is nothing wrong with knowing the history of the person or their site/blog. Make a spreadsheet with their name, email, site/blog, brief history (how long its been around, traffic, etc…) You can look up a sites traffic at www.alexa.com. Being organized can really benefit you down the road! Rule # 9: Have patience. Don’t bombard people with numerous emails, tweets and messages. If you have done the majority of stuff listed in this “plan”, you have a high chance of getting a return email/message. If you do not hear anything back still, wait a week or two and politely follow up. If you still do not get a response, mark it down in your spreadsheet and move on to the next site/blog. This doesn’t mean you give up on that site/blog; you just don’t keep hounding them about the same track. You can send them something again down the road, and follow this same process. Rule # 10: The work doesn’t stop when you get a post! Congratulations, you got your song posted on the worlds largest hip-hop website. So what’s next? Most sites/blogs that do not sell products make their money off of advertisement space. The more people that come to a site/blog, the more traffic they get, the more traffic they get the more ad money they receive. With this information, an artist should know that once they get a song, video or news piece posted they need to push traffic to that site/blog that posted it. Utilize your team that you built, friends, and family to help push those links. You’re not only helping yourself but you are helping that site/blog. They will recognize that and will take note. It is a great way to build a better relationship with them. Got to go, got more emails to check on, word up! Mike Trampe is a Philadelphia, Pa native with over 10 years experience in the music industry. Mike is the Marketing Director for the world renown www.hiphopdx.com. Mike owns & runs www.maadmanagement.com, a company that focuses on Music, Artists And Distribution. Mike is the marketing director for the #1 independent industry artist showcase & site www.getyourbuzzup.com Mike has recently started contributing to www.newindustrytips.com. Mike can be reached at various online platforms: Twitter.Com/MicVicious Facebook.Com/MicVicious Email: Mike@MaadManagement.Com
www.whwnmagazine.com
Leon Marin
was born September 30, 1991 in Brooklyn, NY. It has been said that he owes his signature Leon Marin “Aww Man” to his mother’s delivery room hysterics. In fact, he owes a lot of his persona to his family, who have always been musically inclined and encouraged him from an early age that his destiny lies in hip-hop greatness. He first made his debut on October 10, 2010 when he released his 1st mixtape, “Food 4 Thought...”. Though the numbers pale in comparison to the talent represented on the release, Leon was pleased with his 362 downloads on bandcamp. com & 500 physical copies at the time. The recognition Leon received via blogs and diehard supporters fed his determination to reach more people. Leon’s second release, titled “L.E.O.N. - Love Everything Over Nothing” came from a very personal place. The release date, February 16, 2011, signified the passing of his father ten years prior. Again this mixtape’s numbers reflected a need for growth. But where most undiscovered artists might become discouraged he found focus and displayed persistence. That persistence has proven to be an unfaltering promise for the future. During the summer of 2011, Leon was given an opportunity by LivLife Productions LLC to be placed under management for Olivia “Liv” Newton-Atwell. Leon & Liv teamed up to make a third mixtape that would come to signify a growth in both buzz & artistry. During the making of the mixtape, Leon became sponsored by Good Looks New York, Mayde N America, & [Milo] Clothing. He was also informed by Evelution Beats that his song, “How To Be A Man” from his first mixtape, “Food 4 Thought...” had peaked at number one on SoundClick.Com. “Beyond Limitations” released on January 21, 2012 to exceptional numbers just in the first few hours. It had surpassed “Food 4 Thought...” & “L.E.O.N. - Love Everything Over Nothing” by night fall, & did 1,607 downloads within the week. The downloads just keep coming and so will the success for this dynamic artist. Be on the lookout for performances, tv spots, and possible tour dates in the near future.
Leon Marin’s New Mixtape: Beyond Limitations Link: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?unh2dyg45guu752 Available Links Online: Here’s Leon Marin’s Official Website: http://www.leonmarinmusic.com/ Like Leon Marin’s Music Page HERE: Facebook.Com/LeonMarinsMusic Download Leon Marin’s Music HERE: http://leonmarin.bandcamp.com/ Check Out Leon Marin’s Music Videos, Freestyles, & Interviews Here: Youtube.com/User/MisterLeonMarin Follow Leon Marin On Twitter HERE: @LeonMarinAwwMan Like Leon Marin’s Management’s Facebook Page HERE: Facebook.Com/LivLifeProductionsLLC Follow Leon Marin’s Management’s Twitter Page HERE: @LivLife28Leon Marin’s/Leon Marin’s Manager’s (Olivia “Liv” Newton-Atwell) Contact Information: Contact Leon Marin For Interviews, Features, Bookings Here: LeonMarinIsMusic@Gmail.Com Contact Leon Marin’s Manager, Olivia “Liv” Newton Atwell For Leon Marin Interviews, Features, Bookings, Legal Work HERE: LivLife28@Gmail.Com
FOR A REFRESHING NEW LOOK A A OLD THING
T N
CALLED HIP HOP...
INTRODUCING L7
MONIQUE J. LINDSAY @culturedclass
HipHopDX, MAADD Management & Get Your Buzz Up’s, Mike Trampe:
“I’m NOT Mr. Untouchable!”
IWHWN: It’s been about a year and a half to two years since we last spoke. What have you been doing? MIKE: Well I’ve been promoted and it’s great to have gotten more readers to the site, so that’s really big to have 2 million people in tuned with the site. So pretty much that’s what I’ve been doing with [HipHop]DX. Really I work with my buddy on the “Get Your Buzz Up” Showcase. We basically go to different cities and we bring out industry judges, from ANR’s to producers to managers. So I help with that a lot. I judge. You know, I help book some of the artists and what not. Then ah…I’m just doing a couple of things. I worked with my buddy the other day. We actually finished up a video. I helped; I guess you can say I co-produced it. I helped pick out the samples for the tracks, some of the scratches and all that good stuff and I helped with the actual production of the video. You know, I just kind of put my two-cents in and to try and help him more. Me and my man basically finished up editing and today we’re about to drop a video for a couple of Philly legends; Reef the Lost Cauze, Jakk Frost, & Nico the Beast. WHWN: That’s what’s up! MIKE: Yeah. We are dropping that video tomorrow. You know I always got my hands on some side stuff. Whether it’s in the studio, giving my input to artists or doing something creative for myself, or coming up with ideas for a video or mixtape…whatever. I’m always trying to stay grounded to the up and coming artists and by helping them out too. WHWN: Yeah, that’s what’s up! Look at you! That’s cool! MIKE: I try. I try. WHWN: You know I’m working on getting you to Cali to judge one of our shows?! We normally do something for March Madness, but didn’t this year because we changed our venue. We’ve had quite a few successful shows that highlighted new artists, some with conscience music. MIKE: Yeah… WHWN: So where do you see yourself? What’s your goal? MIKE: Umm. I really don’t know. It’s kind of something I’m trying to figure out right now. I have a couple of visions and ideas on stuff I want to do. But I mean ultimately like, I love working at HipHopDX. I mean I don’t ever see myself not affiliated with DX, whether I’m working there full-time or part- time. I’ll always be reppin for them! I believe in what DX does, that’s the whole reason why I wanted to work with them and that’s the reason why I’m still here. I’m just trying to think about what else I want to do. I’m still going to do these showcases and stuff and build on the “Get Your Buzz Up” brand cause it’s catchy. You know when you visit an A&R or a website the first thing they tell you, is that you need to get your buzz up. I think we’re going to do some cool things with it, and besides that, I have some other ideas that I’m keeping on the low for right now. I’m going to try to work them out and see what happens. I just don’t like talking about all the stuff I’m going to do. I’d just rather do it, you know. I always got something in motion. My brain is always working. WHWN: That’s good, that’s good. So what do you think of people calling Hip Hop, Hip-Pop? Do you think it’s reflective of where it’s going or what?
MIKE: Well me personally, if I could have everything my way it would still be 1995. We’d be getting all Big L and Wu Tang. You know, all the stuff I grew up listening to but it’s not, it’s 2012. So I think the kids nowadays are trying to find their own thing, you know something they can call their own. So I can’t really hate on that. Because growing up I would listen to Wu Tang and my parents would hate on that, saying, “This isn’t music. This is racket, turn that sh*t off!” Now I’m approaching 30 and I’m looking at these kids, like my little cousins who are 15 and 16, listening to all this stuff and I’m like, “Man this is garbage.” So it’s like, I don’t know, times definitely have changed. It’s like the only thing I can do is keep pushing and listening to the music I enjoy and supporting what I like, you know. I’m not going to support some stuff cause it’s the cool in thing. It’s cool if the kids want to do it, and man I don’t get mad at it like some do. Like man, I see some of the comments on HipHopDX and it’s like people are having heart attacks over the posts. Like if someone posts a Lil B video you must realize there’s a fan base out there for it and some people like it. And if you don’t like it just don’t watch or listen to it. You clicking on the video and hating on it doesn’t do anything but put more fuel on that man’s fire. If you really want to shut that down, if that’s what you’re trying to do, then all you do is just ignore it and not give it any attention cause any press is good press. So that’s how I feel. I’m not really mad at it; it’s like whatever to me. The kids don’t want to have the same music we had, they can’t relate to it I guess cause times have changed. You know they don’t want to have what we had. They want to have their own thing, like “I grew up in that era… the tight jean era…the hipster era” or something like that and It’s cool. I’m not going to hate on them. It’s just not my thing. I think people shouldn’t hate, but who am I to tell somebody how to feel? If someone wants to have a heart attack over it, then that’s them. It’s just not how I flow. WHWN: Sometimes the comments are the best part of reading things online because people say some of the craziest things. MIKE: Yeah!! WHWN: And sometimes it’s real and sometimes it shows the true hater inside of them. Like you’re really not doing anything but making yourself look bad and like you said giving this person fuel. MIKE: What you have are people who aren’t really doing anything for themselves, especially in the music industry. They really don’t even understand how the music industry works. So I mean people just really want to talk the talk. And half of it is just hype, you know. People just like to talk to hear themselves talk. Some people like conflict and they just want to talk sh*t to stir up other people. That kind of stuff doesn’t really get to me. People on HipHopDX, talking about Lil B or whoever, why do you want to wish death on someone you don’t even know. Really? It’s over some music. Is it that serious? Sometimes people are confused and immature. WHWN: How would a person get in contact with you or try to get their posts on sites like HipHopDX? How can people meet and work with you? MIKE: Pretty much, I’m open to meeting people, as you know. I’m not a difficult person to talk to either. But there are ways of pissing me off, you know. Like posting or sending me your music without asking or always trying to jam stuff down my throat, hitting me up saying, “Listen! Listen!” But some of these people in the music industry won’t give you the time of day, so it’s hard. If you basically get in touch with me and you’re cool, we can talk. Like Twitter, it is the best way to get in touch with me. I really don’t do the Facebook thing; I had to delete some 2,500 people off my Facebook page. I just really use it to talk to old high school friends and family, not be bombarded with people’s music 24/7. You can use Twitter to get in contact with me and just start building a relationship with me. Don’t always just send me music. You know, talk to me like you would talk to a normal friend. Like, “How was your day?” and this and that. I don’t run the music department or nothing, so at the end of the day it’s not up to me to post what you send. But I can direct you to the right channels, and the right channels can be found on the website, too. We get over 100 to 150 music submissions a day, so it’s impossible for us to listen to and post everything. Be persistent and be respectful and cross your t’s and dot your i’s. Hey, I just sent you a link of a list of things I want you to read. Send it to anybody that you work with or get down with it should really help. WHWN: You know the focus of the WHWN magazine and site is to talk to people and focus on those who are out in the streets with outreach efforts, all trying to make the world a better place. How do you see yourself fitting into that picture outside of helping every day, average old Joe persons like myself? That’s why I always talk to you because I never see you getting to a place where people can’t talk to you. MIKE: I’ll never be like that. I don’t care how much money or success I have, or if I blow up. I know a lot of people say that, I just don’t see myself being one of those types of people. Any way for me to be like that is if I’m in a bad, bad mood. Continued on next page
And it‘s has to be just one of those days where I just don’t feel like talking. But it would never be a long-term thing. I mean you do have to have a cut off, a limit at some point. Like, I mean if I was say Drake, Eminem or somebody, and had 50 million people came up to me asking, “Let me get this or that,” then you’ll be a little guarded at times too. You know? You want to have your sanity and your own life, so I can’t say I’d never be like that, but my personality is that I like to be around people, talking to people, to sit, hear and do interesting things. I don’t see myself ever getting to the point where I don’t have an open ear or talk to people about stuff. Besides helping people with music or whatnot, I’m just trying to be a better person all around in life in general, not just music. I’m trying to be a voice for people who can’t be heard in the music industry. WHWN: That’s what’s up! MIKE: {laughing} I think I’m doing an OK job so far. I still have a lot of work to do, I’m still young. WHWN: But you’re not old! I’m just a few years older than you…what you’re 29 about to be 30 and I‘ll be 34 this year. In this industry, we used to be what they would call past our prime, but now people are 40 years and older still doing it. MIKE: I feel old! WHWN: {laughing} MIKE: I’ve been doing this stuff for too long. WHWN: But what’s too old? How long have you been doing it? MIKE: I started when I was like 13 or 14. And I’ve been listening and writing raps since I was like 8 or 9. Then I got into the industry when I was like 17 or 18. WHWN: That’s what’s up. It’s always a pleasure to touch bases with you. I wanted to get you back in the magazine since the last interview back in ‘09. Please feel free to send me anything that you think I’d like or want to hear. Or refer people my way that fit the magazine’s mission. Like you said, I’m always trying to keep my ears to the street. I’m going to try and open that link while I have you on the phone. I got it here, the “10 Hip Hop Websites and Blog Commandments” MIKE: If you want to learn how to submit to a blog or website, that all you have to do. WHWN: Do you mind if I republish this in the magazine? MIKE: Just put my name on it, my Twitter and contact info on it… WHWN: Come On Now! You should know how I operate. You know I got you. That’s the whole thing. That’s what this magazine is about…it’s always about the people! MIKE: {laughing} WHWN: It’s not about me, what so ever. It’s about different people submitting different things and getting their due credits. Ideally, it’s about folks nominating others – whatever – genre they’re in and getting their stuff published cause most of the time it’s overlooked for what’s pop news. MIKE: Yeah, I’m actually putting together a site where I talk about music I listen to and things I’m doing. So I’ll definitely keep you in the loop. I want people to use it as a reference. WHWN: {laughing} That’s what’s up! Thank you Mike!!! I just pulled up your list and it’s like the “10 Crack Commandments!” MIKE: That’s what it is!! I stole the wording and the terminology from it! You’ll see how I worded it. WHWN: {laughing} I do! I’m skimming it and thinking, “This is crazy!” and “He’s crazy!” MIKE: It is crazy and you’re going to like it! WHWN: I Do! This total fits and really shows you’re “NOT Mr. Untouchable” and you’re grounded to what’s relevant. MIKE: Yeah, It’s totally funny but very helpful WHWN: It is and that’s the point: you’re keeping it real all while keeping a sense of humor. MIKE: Yyyeaaahhh!! I’ve gotten a couple of hundred people literally hit me up saying how much it’s helped them and how they didn’t know how to do half that stuff. WHWN: Thank you, Mike!!!! How to contact Mike is on page 16.
CHUCK of L7 WHWN: So tell us about your new mix tape? CHUCK: Well, it’s titled L7 [Square] The Mixtape. I titled it this because I want to give my fans some insight on me. I am branded a “square” because I lack the interest in the activities most people my age have. I almost-never party. I don’t smoke, and hate the taste of alcohol. And to top it off, I can’t dance. [haha (Don’t tell anyone)] This is why I chose “L7 [Square]” WHWN: When is it dropping? CHUCK: At this point there is no definite release date. I’m working out the “kinks” but I am shooting for May. WHWN: What kind of music is it? Who’s your audience? CHUCK: Hip Hop. Straight Hip Hop. I am aiming for the underground with this one. No club joints, no party tracks. Just real life stuff. WHWN: Any collabs on it? CHUCK: I have a few collabs. Of course I have my fam’ representing Wavey Weirdo Gang on there. That was a must. Plus a few more. I’ll be introducing new artists and producers on the project. WHWN: Tell us more about your outreach efforts? CHUCK: At the moment I am planning. I have plans for the summer that will be documented. I don’t want to spoil it so I’ll stop there. WHWN: Tell us why you decided to do a mix tape? CHUCK: Well, I released my first mixtape “Love Slave” back in 2010. I didn’t like the outcome too much. I felt like I rushed things, so I vowed to never make another. I planned to just release tracks online, but I then realized if I want to make an impact I’ll have to “Package The Goods” lol so I began planning, and over time I just said “Let’s do it”. WHWN: What else can we expect from L7? CHUCK: With L7, It’ll be more than just a mixtape for myself. This is an opportunity for myself and others around me to broadcast our talents. For example, all of my artwork, photos, and videos are done by “up and coming” photographers, and videographers. This is to help spread love to those who are showing love by supporting my music. Everything is being built from the ground up to ensure a proper structure. Thank you, WH&WN for this amazing opportunity. I look forward to working with you again in the future. WHWN: Nah, THANKK YOU! It’s always a pleasure checking in to see what you’re up too! You all can follow Chuck on Twitter and Facebook, @ChuckdMuzic, Facebook.com/IamChuck.
SMH...
HEALTH AND WELL BEING
THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON
Whole Foods Market announced it would stop selling wild-caught fish species threatened by overfishing. One fish, two fish — but there’s no “red fish” anymore, at least not at Whole Foods. Organic and natural-foods chain Whole Foods Market announced it would stop selling wild-caught fish species labeled “red,” or threatened by overfishing, by the Blue Ocean Institute and Monterey Bay Aquarium. The company said in a statement Friday it will stop selling these fish on April 22, Earth Day, and that it will be the only national grocery retailer that doesn’t sell “red” fish. Species it will no longer stock include Atlantic halibut, grey sole and skate, along with others, the company said. The aquarium and the environmental group use color coding — green, yellow and red — to help consumers identify fish deemed to be in ecological danger or caught in an unsustainable manner. A red rating means “avoid” consuming these fish entirely. Previously, Whole Foods labeled the fish it sold by color it sold so consumers with environmental concerns would know what to avoid. The retailer already didn’t sell other species considered at risk like orange roughy and bluefin tuna. But at least one prominent seafood brand called the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s ratings into question. According to trade publication Nation’s Restaurant News, Legal Sea Foods broke with the conservation group last year, choosing instead to rely on sustainability data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Marine Fisheries. Legal Sea Foods president and CEO Roger Berkowitz told Nation’s Restaurant News that his company wanted to debunk “myths that these fish are not sustainable.” He was referring to species like hook-caught cod from the Gulf of Maine, which currently has a yellow rating on Monterey’s Seafood Watch list, and imported black tiger shrimp, which is rated red by the group. Photo by Rick Bowmer / AP Article by Martha C. White, source MSN.com
ANOTHER VICTIM OF SENSELESS VIOLENCE. HOW MANY MORE BEFORE CHANGE OCCURS? HELP BRING JUSTICE TO TRAYVON MARTIN!
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