The Mixx Magazine June/ July 2011

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Blind Fury • Mixx Model • Style Cypher • J*Davey Exclusive • Mixx Pics- Laws Listening Party • Derby Fashion• Rotimi

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tent con

SELF-MADE MEN

Exclusive coverage of the newest signees to the Maybach Music Group: Meek Mill, Wale & Pill Pg.13

FASHION

FEATURES

MUSIC

ON THE SCENE

6. STYLE CYPHER

10. MIXX EXCLUSIVE: Enstrumental

4.ONE-ON-ONE WITH ROTIMI

9. MIXX PICS: Laws LISTENING party

Top 5 Summer Fixes for Him and Her

7. STYLE SPOTLIGHT 12. MODEL OF THE MONTH

Say hello to Claire Bella...

24. MIXX HIGHLIGHT

T-shirt tycoon Enstrumetal drops knowledge with his gear

25. THIS IS J*DaVeY Catch up with the eclectic duo

Who got next?

Photo Credits: JMI Elite

Pg.25

Pg.10

Pg.18

The R&B future of the Windy City

18. BLIND FURY

Pushing foresight in every lyric. Read his story

In attendance - DJ Drama, Issac Hayes Jr., DJ Don Cannon, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and more

22. MIXX PICS- N.E.R.D

Pics from the Search for The Coldest Tour live lyric battle

Pg.9

Pg.22

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mixx highlight

One-on-One with Rotimi Chances are you’ve never heard of Rotimi before this interview. Make sure you remember his name. The Chicago native and recent Northwestern University graduate is poised to take his singing, songwriting and acting talents to the mainstream. The Mixx Magazine presents a conversation with Rotimi.

Your latest project is entitled The Resume. What’s the significance of that title?

The Resume is a wonderful body of work that represents me…I recently graduated from Northwestern University, and like most graduates, everyone is looking for a job and has to prepare a resume to acquire employment…So, I thought it would be fitting to create my own resume for my fans, for the world to enjoy and to be my employer.

How did the Gucci Mane feature on Bottles come about?

My engineer who works with Gucci Mane played Bottles for him to hear. Gucci Mane was willing to work, so we flew out to Atlanta and recorded the song on the spot.

What’s the toughest part about being an independent R&B artist?

I guess the first challenge, in today’s music industry [that] I face, is being recognized for my talent…In this business, a lot of other non-music related things are at the

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forefront. However, I am very blessed to be in the position I am in this early in my career.

You were in the group NBH with JayZ’s Nephews and you sang for him when you were 17. What was that experience like? Have you had any contact with him since then?

It was an incredible experience to be in the presence of a living legend. Jay taught me a few lessons that I hold to this day.

He expressed that I was a talented singer [and] had an extremely powerful voice. He told me to stay persistent and work hard; I would be set.

You just graduated from college last year. Was it difficult balancing school and music during your time at Northwestern?

Northwestern is a highly academically challenging school. For me, the only way I was able to get through my demanding course load was through balance and a bit of sacrifice. I prioritized. Instead of going out to parties with my friends or hanging out I chose recording and studying. It was a tough four years, but I became more disciplined and a hard worker as a result of this.

How does it feel to be able to fully focus on music, now that you’ve finished college?

rotimi continues on page 24

The mixx

STaFF

Letter From the

editor

Editor-in Chief

Nakia McIntyre kia@themixxmagazine.com @kiamixx

Director of marketing & photography

Fabian sobers Fabian@themixxmagazine.com @thefabe

Marketing Represenative

Rob murray rob@themixxmagazine.com

Fashion director

denia Taylor denia@themixxmagazine.com @DeniaAlicia

Special Features & Copy Editor Joy priest joy@themixxmagazine.com @EccentricPsyche

Special projects / videographer

Krista Hayes krista@themixxmagazine.com @thepinkdreamer

Photojournalists

Nadia myrthil nadia@themixxmagazine.com @ladyneuro Nikki brown nikki@themixxmagazine.com Katy Roseland katy@themixxmagazine.com @rosasays

Photography

ryan jones ryan@themixxmagazine.com @boxtographyhte

Contributing writers

Josh (just gq 2) Mcdonald Chetti Johnson

Art director

danielle meadows @octanedesigns

Online content manager Tony Rawlings @T1cap1

www.themixxmagazine.com web developer Nathaniel deal @dealzbydesign

Publisher

lexpress Lexington, Kentucky

ago s r a e y threhie ment... o m t c a x e s at t

I

had the idea of starting up a magazine.

Ten other people had the exact same idea. There was just something in the environment that made it the right time for folks to think that one up.

Inevitably, the excuses began: Is this the right time? What if I fail?

Ultimately, my fear of failure only motivated me more to take the risk of making nothing into something. Realizing that I couldn’t do it all, I teamed up with several people who had skills synergistic - not overlapping - with my own, but with similar goals and passions ... later calling themselves the "Mixxers," I ended up with the best team anyone could ever ask for.

Nonetheless, through hard work, dedication and determination, The Mixx Magazine went from nothing to something BIG, and exceeded all expectation.

Did I sacrifice a lot? Did I invest a lot of time and money into the venture? YES! Am I selfmade? NO! I have a team with a dream.

“Properly speaking, there are in the world no such men as self-made men [...] no possible force of character, and no depth or wealth of originality can lift a man into absolute independence of his fellow-men” -Frederick Douglass

Nakia McIntyre Editor-in Chief

We want to know what you think! Send Reader Responses to joy@themixxmagazine.com

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STYLE CYPHER

"Party until the morning light...ain't nothing like those summer nights..."

With that said, this summer is destined to be full of BBQs, vacations and fun under the sun. Take a look at The MIXX's Top Five Fashion Fixes for his and her summer picks, and our MIXX Style Spotlight Designer: Melody Ehsani.

Denia xoxo

Top 5 Fashions For HER 1.) Jumpsuits - Prints & Solids 2.) Wedge Platforms - Crazy/Soft Colors, Detailed, Shapes 3.) High Waist Shorts 4.) Nautical Stripes 5.) Glam Ruffles

Top 5 Fashions For HIM 1.) Casual Footwear 2.) Oversized Sunglasses 3.) Button Ups-Solids & Prints 4.) Vintage Snapback Hats 5.) Preppy

Connect to mixx fashion online at

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www.themixxmagazine.com

Mixx style

spotlight Designer Melody Ehsani was born and raised in Los Angeles, Calif. After she applied for law school, Melody felt she needed to follow her dreams of designing. The Melody Ehsani line has a unique, bold collection of bracelets, earrings, necklaces,rings and women's footwear. Her line has also been seen on multiple celebrities and is shown love through twitpics of her satisfied buyers and fans.

For purchase visit: www.melodyehsani.com

Melody Ehsani Designer

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s r e t c a r a 140 Ch

h g u o n Isnt E

The Twitter realm is the perfect opportunity for establishing new relationships with interested parties. Twitterland is also pretty good at destroying relationships as well. In this case, we are highlighting the bold and the beautiful; the single and the separated. Yes Twerps and Twidgets, Twitter’s Top Five Eligible Bachelors are among us, and let’s just say ... they are the pickin’s of the batch.

1.) Rob Moyler @Rob_5starparty This cool cat daddy hails from Lexington, Ky., but holds his fort down deep, deep in the south in Pensacola, Fla. VIP status only, this jet-setter keeps his followers interested through his random, attention-grabbing tweets. Mr. Moyler can make his way to the ladies' hearts with his purely comedic gestures, savvy swagger and trendsetting moves.

2.) Mike “Smitty DuPont Jenkins” Sweat @SweatyMikeY When it comes to making the ladies sweat….well… it’s self-explanatory. Smitty DuPont Jenkins is this suave beau’s alter ego, so when Mike wants to check out here comes Smitty, finding his way to your heart through comedy. His sometimes lewd, but never boundary crossing-tweets drum up hysterical banter and new trending-topics that will have his lady followers weak at the knees…from charm.

3.) Finis “KY” White @KyFinis859 It’s as if your wholesome, good ol’ country boy from Kentucky merged with that city, debonair, “always on my grind” hustler. You get the best of both worlds with this catch - the go-getter mentality with the genuine “down-south” desirability. Finis White holds down his hometown of Lexington, KY all the way in

The Ever-So Wise Enitan Bereola, II

This author, etiquette instructor for the ill-mannered and to put it best, a true gentleman, is the winner of this issue’s top 10 tweets. From relationship advice to motivational quotes, @Bereolaesque showing up in your timeline guarantees a good, enchanting read. Take a gander…

10. No one can do what you’ve been called to do better than you. Your only competition is yourself.

9. Women who are on a “time-line” to get married usually end up on my timeline for counseling through their divorce ......

8. There’s no such thing as a worthless woman only a woman who doesn’t know her worth.

7. High heels & a Heineken ... She can dress it up, but still get’s down.

6. Hold her up, hold her hand, hold her doors.

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5. Girls like to whine, while women enjoy wine.

Follow the Mixx @THEMIXXMAGAZINE

Your Tweetheart Awaits Twitter's Top Five Eligible Bachelors

Atlanta, but these groupie girls just aren’t enough. He needs a real woman with real hair, real long legs and someone who can cook and can stay up during real nigga hours. Is that you? If not, don’t even try.

4.) Gerik “GzusPiece” Raglin @PastorGzus The way this guy can get to your heart: his rhymes.

Yes ladies, this lyrical lion is a seducer in and out of the booth. Representing Chicago, you can find Gerik - highly known as “Gzus Piece” by way of The Wild Hundreds - on the block, in the booth or at the bar.

This is the kind of guy, who you know when you step out with, a good time is destined. Keeping his tweet game kind of low, he knows he would rather entertain his woman in person than via social network.

5.) Ryan Alexander Ray @LemmeSMANGitGUR Working on his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Kentucky, this educated brotha' offers brains plus belly laughs. Representing ‘Ville, Whore! (that’s Louisville in Kentucky slang terminology), Ryan Ray makes a suit and tie look extremely dapper. With tweets ranging from hype rap lyrics, to what kind of chick he prefers, to the kind of messy chick he does NOT prefer, he lives by the 100 percent honesty policy, and he will keep it real.

Top 10 Tweets And the winner is: @bereolaesque 4. Common sense is the insurance of heartbreak, but few of us buy into the free policy.

3. Your worth isn’t determined by a situation; your worth is determined the second you are born. Be you. Be beautiful.

2. Ignorance yields a high return of bliss - so folks invest to buy up spots on cloud-9. Can’t see danger w/ your head in clouds.

1. GENTLEMAN’S TIP: She did like you ...... until she saw your Twitter page.

-Krista Hayes/ @ThePinkDreamer

mixx

Pics LAws

Listening Party

Photo Credit: TheFabian.com fabian@themixxmagazine.com

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en•str en•stru en•stru•m

Mixx

exclusive

an enstrumental lesson

Dream. Think. Create. And that’s exactly what he did. Chicago native, Dwamina Drew made himself a fashion headliner by simply doing one thing. Being original. His street tees trigger instant ponder at first sight, and his clothing line is a gateway for trendsetters to self-express their intellectual side without being preachy. A cool nerd, to put it out there. From design collaborations with musical power-players to local businesses - is Enstrumental the clothing line to bring back the epitome of quality-brand street wear? We shall see...

What sparked the movement?

I have always been into fashion in some sense. I like unique products and being able to express myself in a creative way, whether that be with wordplay, clothing, etc. In high school, I wanted to be different. I had an uncle who worked for UPS, so I would take his UPS mailer hat and rock that with Timbs and a UPS shirt. Before the throwback era, you could get a throwback for five bucks at the thrift store. I remember getting a Bill Russell jersey and people used to ask, “why you got a player on that’s not even playing?” So then you have, years later, people paying $250 for a jersey. I was wearing race car shirts; went to college rocking Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt. People were like, “what are you doing?” Next thing you know, Trick Daddy in the Nan Ni**a video with a race car jersey. Busta Rhymes had a video and then it became popular for people to wear race car shirts and the jackets.

I went to school at Florida A&M University, that’s like about 13,000 students from all over. People to this day will vouch that I was the first person they’ve seen rock a throwback or race car jersey. It got to the point where I liked to collect different shirts from different companies and finally came to the point where I said, I can do this

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myself. So I founded Enstrumental in 2006.

Your mission statement says “…we are obligated to engage the consumer in fulfilling relationships with originality and creativity.” What sets your brand apart from others?

I say in the mission statement “we desire to create products that reach beyond the expectation of the masses.” So one, I want to be original. They say nothing new is under the sun, but when I think of a design I say, “Okay, has anyone come out with this design/ style first?” My first shirt was going to be the I Used To Love H.E.R. album cover [based off of Common’s single from the album Resurrection]. But after research, I found out someone already did it, so I was like okay, I can’t do that. I could have switched some things, but ehh, it didn’t really go. So that’s what I mean when I speak about originality. If you create an original song, you’re creating a song that no one else has done. If you do an original art piece, you’re doing something no one has done. It’s the same thing as an original shirt. There are so many shirts out there ... you might not even know that you are biting someone else’s style…

I’ve had at least five companies that I know of that I’ve had to send letters threatening to sue them for the Rap - Lies shirt… but yeah, originality takes you far. Creativity - I always strive to be creative with what I do with regards to the concept of the product. Even if it’s something simple as word play.

The product. Are you just t-shirts?

When I first started the company, the intention was to be fullfledged; so t-shirts, cut-n-sew, sneakers, jeans… but yes, it is mainly t-shirts. As of right now, I am staying in that lane [of] being

Trump continues on page 18

ru•men•tal u•men•tal men•tal a brand that creates dope, stimulating t-shirts. Dope t-shirts that are original, culturally-cultivating and revolutionary without being preachy, if you will.

Where do you want to see Enstrumental in five years?

To date, Enstrumental has been in 27 stores nationwide and overseas. Due to the recent economic times, I had to pull back the output. With that said, I really want to increase the online sales. Obviously, I want to be in more stores, and I want the brand more nationally recognized for the message. Whether it’s Rap Lies = Hip-hop or The Assassination of the Assassination shirt, I want the messages to get out. At the end of the day, I think when people dress that is a representation of them. I also want to be able to collab with more artists on a variety of products. From a sales standpoint, I want to increase each year. I set the goals for the company and myself year-by-year, and a lot of that reason is because I am by myself in the business. I am in the process of assembling a team, and not just a team of people that will say “oh I’ll wear your shirts if we go out tonight,” no. A team with a mentality that is entrenched in the Enstrumental mission statement. A team that believes in what I believe in, and [who] are passionate about what I am passionate about from a clothing perspective.

Who would make you feel like you have reached success if you saw him or her in one of your shirts?

If I saw someone like Spike Lee in any one of the shirts, I would be like “wow, that’s incredible.” But there are a number of hiphop forefathers who, if I saw them in like a Rap - Lies shirt, that would just catch me off guard. Oh yeah, and Common. Him and KRS-One... I would travel to get a shirt to KRS. Both KRS-One and Common had a freestyle back in ‘97. This freestyle is the reason for the Always Remembering shirt. KRS-One kicked it off, then Common came in... Craziness!!! After I heard that freestyle, a few years later it inspired the idea. Fast forward six, seven years - Bam! Put it on a shirt.

Tell us about Enstrumental’s role at SXSW in Austin this past year…heard you did MAJOR things, yes?

SXSW - that was my first time going. I did an event with Hustle Simmons. It was the Hustle Simmons and Enstrumental presents Hustlepalooza Rap - Lies = Hip-hop Showcase. I had approached Hustle a while back about doing a show since he has successfully thrown a number of different Hustlepalooza’s. He’s excellent at what he does. He reached back out to me, we collaborated and the rest was solid … Then, there was the Taste of Chicago Showcase. This involved a variety of different Chicago-based people/companies (Sir & Madame, PHLI, Leaders 1354, Hustle Simmons, Elephilms) with Fake Shore Drive (www.fakeshoredrive.com), DJ Timbuck2 and Shareef Williams. Despite a few preliminary complications it was an excellent event. I was confident that shirts like the Rap Lies and Always Remembering would do well in sales. I bumped into the heads from RapRadar.com and Nahright.com at an event that L.E.P. Bogus Boys were performing at and I had a Rap - Lies

tee. The guy from Rap Radar was like “I need one of those.” Guy from Nahright was like “man, I had on one of those at the airport, I need another one.” Those are blogs that I highly respect. For me, I’m like okay … Rap Radar and Nahright, and I, was with Andrew from FSD, who has a dope blog within its own right, and it’s even more dope because it primarily focuses on the Chicago landscape of music…where as Nahright and Rap Radar cover national and international rap/hip-hop musical entertainment news. So, for them to give compliments on the shirts and to already have it that was dope to me. That let’s me know that it’s out there. What also really worked out for me at SXSW was Fonzworth Bentley bought and tweeted about the Always Remembering shirt that he purchased at Sole Fresco in Austin, Texas. After that, all those shirts sold out at the store and online. I ended up picking up another account down there…so product placement and/or product cosign in street wear can work wonders. I did the Rap - Lies shirt with Little Brother and they took it on tour with them. With Lupe Fiasco... with my brand just being in different videos and people having it on helps out tremendously. All in all, South by Southwest was a great experience.

Tell us about the number one selling street wearing t-shirt in Chicago history…

My homie Mike Smith from Eschmitte Clothing and I collaborated on a shirt called Chicago Hates You, which sold extremely well. We then added Leaders 1354 and Fake Shore Drive to the collab. This shirt doesn’t necessarily mean Chicago hates anyone in particular, it’s just simply saying that you know that certain people, elements in the Chi hates you, but let’s turn that hate around and show love to each other. People can read the item description for the full explanation … I humbly state that it’s the best selling street wear shirt in Chicago history. Not being cocky, but I dare someone to prove me wrong.

Dumb It Down (collaboration with Lupe Fiasco) I’ve known Lupe for a while, before he blew up on the scene.

According to him, I was the first person he played Kick, Push to …

What’s great is, everything that he said he was going to do, he’s doing. So before I had the clothing line, I was like dude we have to do a collab … So, the 1st & the 15th shirt (before Dumb it Down), was called Food and Liquor, which was a celebration of that album being nominated for three Grammys. Then came the Dumb It Down collab. That shirt, along with Lupe’s lyrical content, thoroughly represents the Enstrumental message.

Nouveau Go (collaboration with Eschmitte) Nouveau stands for “new,” and Go, is the short version of Chicago.

This was another collab between Enstrumental and Eschmitte. We wanted to show love to some of the artists at the time that we felt were making major moves. As you can see, some of those artists are still making major moves. I mean you got Mic Terror, Mano, The Cool Kids, Timbuck 2, Kidz In The Hall…these people, we thought at the time, represented the new Chicago music movement. We

Enstrumental continues on page 20

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mixx

Model of the Month

Name: Claire Bella Height: 5'7 Weight: 130 lbs Bust: 34C Waist: 27 Hips 39 Hair: Black Eye Color: Brown For booking contact: Kelly H Original Not Equal President Cell: (973) 234-8221 BlackBerry Pin#: 2105B5E5 Email: originalnotequaltalent@Gmail.com www.originalnotequal.com www.Twitter.com/ONE_Talent

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mixx

main

feature

"Self-made men are men of work. Whether or not such men have acquired material, moral or intellectual excellence, honest labor faithfully,

steadily and persistently pursued, is the best, if not the only, explanation of their success." -Frederick Douglass

At a time when wealth was a foreign concept to young black men, and “old money” was the perpetual leg-up for their oppressors, Frederick Douglass spoke about being self-made. The young slave-turned-free man said: “Self-made men are the men who, under peculiar difficulties and without the ordinary helps of favoring circumstances, have attained knowledge, usefulness, power and position…”

Currently, in an age where young people of color can now benefit from family wealth and inheritance, and the true struggle now manifests as a class issue and not a race issue, the self-made man and woman is diminishing. The Mixx Team has formulated a contemporary meaning for what makes someone self-made, and we have found that demonstrated among the gentlemen that comprise the Maybach Music Group.

“They think I’m Frederick Douglass…” would have been a more appropriate line in Rick Ross’ 2010 single “BMF,” (which garnered more remixes than Diddy in the nineties), because as the front man of the independent label he is indeed self-made.

Add on the 2011 inductees of MMG, Wale, Meek Mill, Pill, Teedra Moses and Stalley, and you discover a group of ambitious youngsters void of “favoring circumstances,” who have now “attained knowledge” necessary to elevate them to a position of power in their arena.

In the words of Douglass, these featured artists “have learned from themselves the best uses to which life can be put in this world,” and they have found them in the Maybach Music Group. Turn the page and learn the road to becoming self-made.

Photo Credits: Smallz and Raskind

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self-made men

"It is not luck that makes a man a self-made man [...] there

is nothing good, great or desirable [...], that does not come by

Meek Mill

How would you say growing up in Philly shaped you as a person and eventually as an artist?

Aw, you know. Philly is the struggle, the hood like every other hood. It just made me stronger. A lot of obstacles I had to go through to get here, it just taught me life lessons and made me strong. Strong enough to be here today.

What are some of your musical influences coming out of Philly? Did you listen to a lot of Philly artists coming up?

It helped me out because all of the artists from Philly are great artists, real talent. Top 10 [caliber artists]. Coming up in Philly, you gotta know how to spit. Everybody out here spittin for real. They taught me to be on point with the quality, the bars, the flow.

And spittin here, you gotta be good at it. So it was just good to come up in this environment.

How did you link up with [Rick] Ross and end up signing to Maybach?

I been down wit Ross really. Ross was on twitter and said he was in Philly. I hit Ross wit the “Rose` Red remix.” [It] probably got like 5,000-10,000 RT’s [Retweets], and Ross seen it was like a strong movement behind it. He was like “Yeah, I’ma get on that." He had the radio station call me through. I met up wit Ross, gave him the song, he sent the verse back in a couple of weeks. And then the next thing you know, we been runnin into each other, I been doin me, he’s been doin him you know and just made that music, we linked up.

It’s always good to have that productive start to any business relationship.

Stalley just signed to Maybach, have you spoken with him yet?

I hung out with Stalley the first couple days he was around, when he came on the bus.

He was on tour with us [for] a couple shows and he was just chillin around, kickin it and I got to know him a little bit.

Some people have criticized Ross in the past for not going platinum [through record sales], do you feel any certain way about that criticism and

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some kind of labor."

-Frederick Douglass

do you think you can help get Maybach over the hump?

I don’t think it really got nothing to do with that. It’s just that the time Ross was out [selling records] was really critical. It was only one or two people going platinum as it is right now. Ross been out for five years, It’s not a lot of rappers that can really hold their weight that long so I don’t really criticize him in no type of way.

What’s the current status of the Dreamchasers mix tape?

I’m gonna release it after Self-Made because I really didn’t want it to get tangled up with the album.

How do you feel Self-Made portrayed you as an artist and how do you feel about Self-Made overall?

I feel it’s gonna be a good album. The biggest thing now out in these streets is mix tapes and, really, we did the album like a high-powered mix tape with more quality into it and more energy into it and better hooks. Usually mix tapes aren’t about hooks so we got a lot of great hooks and great songs, but we shaped it like a mix tape.

You and Wale work pretty well together, is it possible that we could see a tape from you two in the future?

Wale in [Washington] D.C. I’m in Philly. He’s only like two hours away from me, and I knew Wale before [we signed]. So it’s like the vibe is always there so it’s more easier to vibe out.

Can we expect any collaborations with any of your fellow XXL Freshmen Class members?

I got one with CyHi [Da Prince]. I haven’t done anything with anyone else, but just be expecting you know. I always be talking to a couple of ‘em. Yelawolf be on the tour. Twist be on the tour, so we always be kickin it. We aint really get a push start on no records yet, but it’s gonna come.

What’s one thing you like to have in the studio with you?

Hot beats. I don’t smoke no more. Sometimes drinks to just cool. Sometimes they make you go hard. I just like hot beats man. Hot beats take me right in the zone and have me goin in, and make four or five songs straight.

Speaking of hot beats, do you have any favorite producers? Are there any producers that you want to work with, but haven’t gotten to yet?

One of my favorite producers is All-Star right now. He did a lot of the songs on my mix tape, and he’s got great hooks that he be doin with the beat. Lex Luger always been one of my favorites. We got a new song called Work. It’s crazy with me and Rick Ross. There’s a lot of these niggas out that I like, but those are my two favorites right now.

A lot of kids come up aspiring to be artists and musicians in the future, is there any advice you could give them?

I’d say, chase your dreams no matter what nobody tell you. There’s a lot of people that thought I wouldn’t be here right now.

I always knew that I was gonna do it. Just know what you wanna do. If you don’t know what you wanna do, I don’t think it could really happen for you. If you know what you wanna do, anything could happen.

Are there any last words that you definitely want our readers to know?

Watch out for me, I’m one of the hottest new artists in the game.

"Self-made men are entitled to a certain measure of respect for their success and for proving to the world the grandest possibilities of human nature."

-Frederick Douglass

Wale self-made men

go where everything was good man. The money wasn’t all that important, it was just about where the energy was good at and that’s where I felt the energy.

Who or what brings out your inner giant? What motivates you to go into the studio or go on stage and create masterpieces?

Where I come from man and the people in my real life, you know what I’m sayin?

Like where I come from. [Washington] D.C. matters to me a whole lot. It means the world to me and the people that I love mean the world to me. I do it for them.

What are some of the obstacles you’ve faced since you’ve been ‘mainstream’... Before you signed to Maybach around late, late 2009, when you began to gain a national following?

People always think their favorite underground artists become mainstream and change, but the honest to goodness truth is that people just evolve. Earlier stuff is different from later stuff. You just evolve sonically. You become more confident.

You know more. You talk about different things. You’ve seen different things, so it’s kind of hard to appease the original fans.

All I can promise you is the same energy.

I promise you the same messages. I can’t promise you the same song structure, the same voice or the same delivery. I’m getting older. The way I talk to people is different. I know more now. I’ve matured Is that what comes to mind when you hear fans saying that “artists go ‘mainstream’”? Or that when artists sign to labels they go commercial?

I just know a lot of times ... history has

shown you can be makin it with the same kind of records. Our fans are a lot closer to us than people were back in the day 'cause they know more about us. If you get a Tribe Called Quest CD back in the day, you don’t know what Q-Tip ate for breakfast. You don’t know what Biggie ate for breakfast. With Twitter and Facebook and MySpace, they’re a lot closer to us now. So, sometimes they especially feel like their best friend aint hangin with ‘em no more, ain’t feelin ‘em no more, they don’t connect with them no more; but in all actuality you just hope that they’re growing with you.

That’s a really good point. Where would you like to see Wale Folarin in 10 years?

Maaan… Just happy. Just happy, comfortable you know? If people think that I’m the worst rapper that ever lived, but they just haven’t heard it [my music] yet, I’m cool with that. If people think I’m the greatest rapper that ever lived and they’ve heard it [my music] then I’m cool with that. But I just wanna make sure everybody has heard it. I want everybody to be able to have formed an opinion about me, whether positive or negative.

What made you decide to sign with Maybach Music Group? Were you getting offers from other labels or was this the first one?

Aww man, yeah definitely. It was goin’ down. It felt like it was Blue Chips, felt like being a recruit again. I just wanted to

Have you cooked up anything with Stalley since he signed to Maybach?

No, not yet. I mean we talked a couple times, but I’ve been touring. I just got off tour.

How have things changed for you, if they’ve changed at all, since you signed with Maybach?

I don’t think nothing has significantly changed. I’m in the studio a lot more and they’re asking for a lot more producer sh*t than before, but you know, nothing much [has changed].

What can fans expect from MMG after the release of “Self-made”?

Everybody working on their solo projects.

Myself and Rozay, our albums are comin out in the fourth quarter, and Pill and Meek [Mill] comin out next year. Maybach Films is on fire right now and we just workin right now. It’s a great energy. I don’t think anything has been like this in Hip-Hop in a long time, so it should be interesting to see what happens.

- Tony Rawlings

15

"Self-made men are the men who,

under peculiar

difficulties and

without the ordinary

helps of favoring

circumstances, have

attained knowledge,

usefulness, power

and position and

have learned from

Pill

All of your mix tapes start with numbers. What’s the story behind 4180, 4075 and 1140?

Those are addresses that I lived in.

4180 is from Kinley Court. 4075 was my address in Adamsville and 1140 was my address in Thomasville.

What can we expect from you in 2011? What new projects are you working on?

You can expect The Diagnosis, which is my EP that should drop in the first quarter. You can expect that movie, 96 Minutes and you can expect my album The Medicine later in the year. You can expect me to do more movies and collaborations, just everything really.

Expect me to elevate my lyrical attack on the mic. Expect me to just elevate everything, period.

The mix tape, 4180, The Prescription was hosted by DJ Burn One and received the stamp of approval from Andre 3000. Do you think that mix tape gained you access to the hip-hop world, as well as helped create your own lane?

Yeah, of course because I went over all type of beats. Old and new, classic beats, R&B beats, original songs, all that. I gave you album cuts and mix tape joints, and I gave em to you ... not sloppy. I gave em to you with crisp clarity of my upbringing and my lyrical ability on all those tracks. I wanted people to see my dexterity.

16

themselves the best

uses to which life can

be put in this world."

-Frederick Douglass

After landing a deal, do you feel like you work harder?

I still work hard. I just made an EP and knocked down some more mix tape joints, and recorded tracks for the album as well. I’ve been doing a whole lot.

You’re from Atlanta where they breed rappers, how did you decide to jump into such a competitive career?

I didn’t decide to jump into it, I’ve been doin it since I was a child. I was recording when I was in third grade. I wrote my first rap in kindergarten. So a lot of my peers that came up before me ... I just decided to strike when a lot of that shit was dying down because I started out with Killer Mike and Crime Time and Outkast, and all them when I was in high school. If people check my track record ... I ain’t some new dude that just popped out of nowhere. I been doin this shit for years.

How has your life changed since signing to Maybach?

I'm getting a lot more phone calls. A lot of "How you been," "I'm just checking on you" and more twitter followers [laughs]. My workload and work ethic has increased also.

So as far as the Self-Made album, now you're surrounded by new

artists and new producers. Are we gonna hear a different style of Pill?

Yes sir. The shit I've got with The Inkredibles, man, that shit is so hard. We had that bitch on repeat nonstop for 24 hours one time. It's still gonna be Pill. Y'all know I'm still a spitta. Y'all know I'm a lyrical cat. Not so much of a different Pill, just a Pill on different tracks, and Pill on different subject matters.

- Nakia McIntyre

Maybach Music Group's "Self-Made" album is now in stores & on iTunes.

Rick Ross, Wale, Meek Mill, Stalley, Teedra Moses, Gunplay, Pill, Torch, Young Breed, Magazeen, Masspike Miles, Duce Pound – Get Familiar!

Name: Maya-Camille Broussard and Chrishon Lampley // Title: Gallery Founders // Company: Three Peas What do you get when you mix two artistic and savvy sorority sisters who happen to have a little, no, A LOT of that city flair you can only get in Chicago?

You get Maya-Camille Broussard and Chrishon Lampley.

They present: Three Peas Art Lounge, LLC. The theme/motto for your art gallery…

Frame Yourself How did you two come together to form an art gallery in connection with a lounge? Was it a mutual idea?

Maya-Camille had the idea to mold an art gallery with a bar. Traditionally, wine is served at openings. Maya-Camille thought, why not have a bar that is always available? When someone walks into the gallery, they can have a cocktail

while enjoying the artwork. It creates a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy the art.

Accolades...

Named Best Art Gallery by Chicago Reader; Named Best Wine Bar by Today’s Chicago Women Magazine; Featured in Rolling Out, Time Out Chicago, Chicago Red-Eye, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Magazine, Today’s Chicago Women, WGN’s People to People, NBC’s LXTV, WGN News, WCIU’s Perspectives Where do you see Three Peas in five years?

Three Peas Art Lounge will expand to several cities and our Art Wines will be sold nationwide, supporting and featuring different artists each year. Three Peas Art Reach, a nonprofit organization to provide academic scholarships and mentorship for aspiring artists, will be fully developed.

Upcoming events? Projects?

Three Peas Art Lounge is working on its second installment of the Art Wine Project, its gallery programming (such as Wine & Love, GOT D.A.M. [dance.art.music]) and its Art Wine Project.

Who Runs the World?

Industry

women

Name: Cameka Smith // Title: Founder // Company: The BOSS Network Meet Cameka Smith.

Ambition is her middle name and when it comes to women’s empowerment, well, that’s where she shines the most. Creator of TheBOSSNetwork. com, Ms. Smith has gained recognition locally, nationally and internationally for Bringing Out Successful Sisters.

Your inspiration to begin the site…

I wanted to create a platform for women to be able to come together and support each other as professionals and entrepreneurs. I saw a need for a community for women of color to promote their business and brands, and be able to share and receive valuable resources.

What were some barriers you ran into as far as marketing for the BOSS Network; reaching out and building your clientele; getting sisters to commit to the site…

The only barriers I currently face is having time to market to

all the amazing women in the network. Because we are a global online community, we have members from all over the world. So our challenge is to be able to engage these women as much as possible so they feel connected to the network.

Accolades…

In a short period of time, The BOSS Network has received many recognitions, including being listed in Forbes.com's “10 Best Career Sites for Women,” “Top 100 Websites For Women” and “The World’s Best Website for Female Business Heroes” by pharmatching.com. Additionally, we're named by onlinecolleges.net as “1 of 50 Excellent Businesswomen College Students Should Follow on Twitter.”

Where would you like to see THE BOSS NETWORK in five years? 10 years?

I see The BOSS Network as being the premier network for women of color to promote and grow their businesses, as well as the top outreach group for brands looking to market towards urban female consumers.

Upcoming events? Projects?

We are planning a huge “Trunk Party” for over 5,000 Chicago Public School students with our mentoring program Project BOSS. Also, we will be celebrating our two-year anniversary with the launch of our documentary, Behind The Business: A Real Look at Women In Leadership in June.

-Krista Hayes

17

Blind Fury To most people, the lack of sight would be a handicap. But for 106 & Park’s most recent Freestyle Friday champion, Blind Fury, it’s a way of life. After five minutes of talking to Fury, one will quickly perceive that his lack of sight is more gift than curse. We sat down with the Lugoff, South Carolinabred emcee to discuss his story, his music and how he’s handling his recent success. The Mixx Magazine presents: A Conversation With Blind Fury.

First of all, I’ve seen all your Freestyle Friday battles, you killed. You do a great job. After watching them, the first thing I wondered was, “Where does YAGA come from and what does it mean?”

It originated in Lugoff, where I’m from, and basically it’s just Young And Gifted Always. It’s what we about, it’s what we

18

promote, you know what I’m sayin’? We’re young and we try to stay real gifted and real positive about things, ya feel me?

Always.

I’ve heard it’s difficult working with DJs trying to network and things of that nature in South Carolina. Is that something that you’ve encountered?

Yeah. I mean, truthfully, I get my records spun outside of my state. And the crazy thing about that is ... my whole philosophy and theory about it is “you gotta leave home before they show you love at home.” And a lot of times that’s not even the way it is. It’s fucked up. Like, I go to radio stations and give ‘em interviews and really take out time and try to promote and put on for the state, and I can’t even get my record played. But you know I can hear P. Watts and Boss-G and Piazo all day long. [No disrespect to them] Do you think it’s one of those things like, with the success that you’ve had with Freestyle Friday and continuing to blow, that people will come around?

Ya know, at the end of the day, I feel like my music will speak for itself more than anything. Like, I’m not gonna try to force my shit on you. Like, I’m not about to pay no DJ to play my shit. You know what I’m sayin? If you like it, you’ll play it and if not I can’t really beg you. Like, hopefully enough people hear my shit to where it gets around and it travels and people get it and stand and feel it.

Have you made any plans on what you’re going to do with the $5,000 that you won from 106 & Park?

Umm. When it gets here, I’ll prolly have a better game plan about what to do with it. I know I wanna put some of it into the music program at my church. Give a little bit back to the Wisemen for footing the bill a lot of the times, 'cause BET ain’t really pay for none of that. Like, they had to come outta they own pocket a lot, and make sacrifices and do a lot of real dope shit.

So they’re gonna get a great portion of it definitely. Other than that, I’ll probably just buy some gear and some loud.

Has anything changed for you since that final win? Are people blowing you up?

I’ma tell you something. I think my dream came true. The shit I listen to, a lot of ... and anybody who knows me, or read the interviews and follow me, they’ll tell you I’m a big Tech N9ne fan. Like, anything outta Kansas City, [Mo.] that’s what I jam. A lot of those Strange Music cats have been reaching out to me lately to try to do some things. I did some work with Timbaland last week or so down in Miami. I think some really big things are gonna happen.

I know being blind and rapping ... battle rapping, that has to be the first thing that any opponent says for that first punchline. I just wanted to know how has that affected you? How do you approach battles, knowing what they’re gonna come with?

I mean, I came up doing it. I was always doin it and I grew up in a public school atmosphere, so it was like you gotta get used to that atmosphere anyway. You’re gonna constantly hear people try to better themselves and use you as a scapegoat. I think that really makes you a stronger person and a better emcee overall. For me, myself, every battle is different. I prepare a little bit different [for each battle].

I always watch Rocky III and blow loud though. That’s tradition.

Do you have a dream collabo?

I just finished doin a track with Tech [N9ne] actually. It’s gonna be on his new album, All 6’s and 7’s, comin out June 7. Make sure you go pick that up and support good underground music. Bun-B, I’d like to do some work with Jadakiss, definitely. Cyhi Da Prince is really on my radar right now. Like, I’m really jamming all that Royal Flush shit really hard right now. I’m really far to the left as far as hip-hop goes. I don’t listen to the norm; I don’t even like it.

What is your creative process when it comes to recording?

Everything’s always different with me. I change like the wind.

Like, sometimes I’ll sit outside the booth for an hour just listening to the beat and just freestyle random shit that I won’t even remember, and then go in the booth and piece it together bit-by-bit. Or I might take the beat and put it in the laptop... write to it for a day or so. It all just depends on how it hits me. For example, that Tech [N9ne] track that I just did, when I first heard the track I was really on some “Damn, what do I do with this? How do I make this work?” You know what I’m sayin?? I had to really kinda sit with it for a day or two, like “I think I can pull this together, it’s cool”.

So what’s next for Blind Fury? What’s your next move?

If you can pinpoint that, I know stuff has to be coming at you pretty fast right now.

Let’s see, I’m walkin through my house. My next move is going to be my kitchen. I dunno, I guess my next move will be, ya know, a couple of mix tapes, a few albums. Try to get in and out. In and out.

I feel that. Just walking away from it, is there anything you definitely want the world to know?

Just keep lookin out for everything that’s poppin and what I’m doin. If you keep up with the website therealblindfury. com, and the twitter @BlindFury, and all that, then you'll be in the know.

-Tony Rawlings

Photo Credit: ItsRando Photography

19

Big K.R.I.T.

Dom Kennedy

In an era where most southern rap consists of small-minded and elementary anthems about making it rain, slangin’ and having racks on racks on racks, K.R.I.T.’s mix tape Returnof4eva, which could arguably be called a free album, delivers music of substance.

-Chetti Johnson

I’m sure people have very important philosophical reasons for why “the greatest Kennedy since Bobby” is necessary for them here, but I regard The Original Dom Kennedy as a piece for which extensive scrutiny is not required. It seems as if this tape was intended to be a soundtrack decorating the background of a regular day in L.A., and not one to hold great debate about.

-Joy Priest

www.themixxmagazine.com

Read the full reviews online at:

Enstrumental continued from page 11 we're not trying to knock or disrespect any other artists or groups. It wasn’t to say that these were the only artists from Chicago making moves, just a representation. The shirts sold out within a week, but we received a lot of steam from it…but it was all to show love to Chicago. To this day, this t-shirt (the post) still might have generated the most comments on Fake Shore Drive…at least top three.

The Assassination of The Assassination (collaboration with Hebru Brantley) I have always been a fan of African-American culture; Malcolm X, Dr. King, W.E.B. Dubois, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman…I am a fan of the struggle and the revolution. I wanted to instill that somehow into the clothing line. I’ve taken a liking into the history of assassinations.

From JFK, to Malcolm X to King ... particularly with Dr. King. So, with that I wanted to show the concept of starting the revolution before the tragedy. I imagined what would happen if the pointing witnesses at the assassination of MLK had shot back or shot first. King got shot at 6:01. At the bottom of the shirt it says 5:59.

I could have just put King’s face on the shirt, you’ve seen a lot of shirts like that, but how does one creatively display the MLK in that particular scene? So, let me get a little bit more clever with it. Let’s show King living, and lets show them (the people who were at the scene) shooting back. Let’s put the people with guns in their hands shooting back. I do not promote violence, but I do promote violence to avoid violence, on some occasions. But all in all, the shirt means you need to be proactive, as opposed to being reactive in what you do in life. Double meaning.

20

Rap - Lies = Hip-hop (collaboration with Little Brother) This shirt is the best-selling shirt by far that I’ve created. Rap - Lies was originally going to go on the back of the shirt. Thank God I didn’t do that. I met Phonte from Little Brother at an event and I gave him the Always Remembering shirt and he went nuts. So later on I hit the Little Brother team with [the] idea of constructing an Enstrumental plus Little Brother Rap - Lies shirt collaboration, and said let’s do something with it. They were like cool, and it took off from there.

Future collaborations - Derrick Rose / Harold’s Chicken Shack T-Shirt A lot of people here in Chicago are like “I show love to Chicago”…

I’m like really? Do you show love through your actions? Some of these people’s words aren’t matching up with their actions. I’ve been showing love to Chicago. Just examine the line, my output …

But getting back to the subject, with the D-Rose shirt, one of my guys pleaded with me to do a “D. Rose” shirt. I was initially reluctant because I knew Bulls shirts would be in full range production from a variety of sources. We (Enstrumental and Sneaker Fiend Tees) are trying to show love to two of Chicago’s biggest staples. One is an older institution and one is new. We hope that it is well received.

Be sure to support the movement by visiting www.enstru-mental. com. For business inquires contact drew@enstru-mental.com. www.twitter.com/Enstrumental www.facebook.com/Enstrumental

- Krista Hayes

mixx question

MixxPics: N.E.R.D

we asked our staff

What's your definition of self-made?

Denia: Not needing a permission

slip.

Katy: I make alotta shit by myself. Like disaster and confusion. And then I make a way outta that fuckery. Bitch who made ya who made ya who made ya.

Kia: I did it My way. No

approvals needed. No corporate sponsor needed.

No bustdowns required. I built it ground up/you bought it renovated. The Mixx Magazine.

Joy: My definition of Self-Made is... masturbation. When no one has the power to control when and when you don't get off, you are now ultimately your own boss.

Krista: Self-validity. Self-love.

Self-Pabst Blue Ribbons. Selfpaying your own bills. That's Self-Made.

Fabian: Self-Made is what

happens when your talents are overlooked, and you put yourself in the driver's seat.

Tony: To me the definition of

Self-Made is built from scratch, from the ground up... like a pizza...planning and preparation going into each step to make a delicious and lucrative final product.

Danielle: Strong shoulders,

thick skin, healthy teeth, and a smile... Doing something from nothing is Self-Made.

Photo Credit: TheFabian.com fabian@themixxmagazine.com

21

mixx

Guest

Column

Bright Lights

Big Hats

& and Bowties

A

s the Bluegrass state basks in the national sporting spotlight, the events comprising the Kentucky Derby festivities double as a continuous fashion show. The colors, much like the lights, which accentuate the dirt and grass tracks at Churchill Downs, are bright by nature, crossing patterns and matching plaids with stripes and solids, alike. The bold fashions surrounding the events may actually precede the allure of the race, which draws 155,000 people from around the world who come to experience all that Derby has to offer.

22

Animal Kingdom

In the interest of southern charm and chivalry, we will initially address the ladies. The staple of Derby fashion lies in the famous accessory, the “Derby hat.” While the gentlemen participate in this trend with caps and fedoras, these oversized, colorful beauties complement the prim, proper demeanor conveyed through the dresses and other

among others), and colors often serving as the signature pieces in men’s looks. The bowtie, however, while frequently worn does not claim exclusive rights to the neckwear at Derby. Half windors, full windsors and skinny ties (oh my!) also play a starring role in this suited presentation.

So with a valediction of wingtips and stilettos, I bid you adieu in hopes that as you gear up for the 137th Kentucky Derby, you are now in the know regarding pieces you can incorporate into your personal style to put your best foot forward. Thanks for checking in the GAME with Just GQ!

–GQ / www.justGQ.com

ensembles dawned by the girls and women taking part in this riveting time. Every female attending the weekend’s celebrations dare not leave the house for the track without a brim wide enough to deserve an “excuse me” as people avoid the item, which secures one’s personal space in a fashionable manner.

As for the fellas, their statements through fashion derive from suits and colorful, yet unique, shirts, ties and shoes. Classic, regal style reigns supreme across the board, particularly though, as the men sport seersucker, linen, and poplin suits - suits constructed from naturally lighter materials in accommodation for warmer weather. In addition to these mainstay suits for Derby, bowties run rampant coming in a cornucopia of styles (classic, diamond & skinny

Nick Lachey & Vanessa Minnillo

Wayne Brady

Sandra "Pepa" Denton

Animal Kingdom

23

mixx

ROTIMI continued from page 4

highlight

Name: Mona Lisa Age: 23 Notable Characteristics: Humble, giving, a medical student and a model...

How do you balance your career while being in med school?

I just stay focus and positive! Plus I have a family who wants me to do good, and helps me to stay on track. So that helps to motivate me more. Also the faith in God helps me as well.

What are some of the cons to being a petite model? Do you find it harder to get work?

Well, being a petite model is kinda hard to be able to get into the urban market, due to the fact that they prefer a girl with a fat ass or curves. So I feel being in the white market is a bit easier, and I can make more money of course. And yes, at times it can be hard to find work, but I stay on [my] grind so I bounce back....

As always! :) Miami is known for its beautiful women. Do you think living there will give you the leverage that you need to be successful as a model?

Yeah! LOL Besides, New York, ATL, LA, Miami is one of the best places for models, and to get exposure! Most artists are here, and always doing music videos there and fashion shows and etc.

If you could go on a date with anyone you wanted to, who would it be and why?

Lol, Lil' Wayne! I love his swag and confidence! I love a man who knows he got it going on, but still is humble about it! And of course on his grind! Lol What do you plan on doing after you graduate? Any future endeavors?

Well I just started the Emergency Medical Training (EMT) program and will be starting the nursing program in the fall. So, after all this I hope to start working in my major, continuing school, and still modeling and working on becoming an actress!

FOR SERIOUS INQURIES you can contact me at realfemale06@hotmail. com or theceo@stunnazmag.com. Also check me on twitter @DATMODEL06, and facebook.com/monalisa.andre2 or facebook.com/monalisadamodel

24

Now, I have no excuses - why I can’t perform at a show, or miss a recording session. I have the tools to take my talent to the next level and must work twice as hard as I did when I was in school to achieve success.

You’ve done some acting in the past.

Can you speak a little about that? Is that something you plan to continue in the future?

Yes of course. I studied acting in college and was casted for a play as a soldier in Salt N' Pepper, and the leading role of Julius in the gospel musical, Tell Hell I Ain’t Comin. I was presently casted in a new series called Boss. I have a reoccurring role on the series, and play opposite of Kelsey Grammer, Hannah Ware, Jeff Hephner and Connie Nielsen.

My character Darius is the love interest of Kelsey Grammer’s daughter, played

by Hannah Ware. This new series airs on Starz network in the Fall 2011. I cannot express how excited I am for this show to air. Hope you all tune in to watch the show.

You’ve opened for some pretty big names and performed at some major events. How does it feel to have that much exposure early in your career?

As far as exposure, it’s a blessing! I pay attention to every performer, their body language, performance techniques and how they interact with the audience. I am just learning as much as I can at this time.

What are your goals for 2011?

My goals are simple: continue to build my brand, keep recording more quality music, establish myself as a serious actor, collaborate with more major artists, gain the respect in the entertainment industry and to grow as a man.

Any last words or final thoughts?

Yes, please download for free my debut project, The Resume at www.Rotimimusic. com, and follow me on Twitter.com/ Rotimi1 -Tony Rawlings

Q&A with

Mike Will The Great

FireSqadINT M3INT

MIke Will Explain to the readers who Mike Will The Great is.

I don’t want to say that I’m real because so many rappers tend to use the word "real" not really knowing what it is. In my opinion, I’m a dude from Chicago, who like so many others around me, have stories to tell. The only difference is I’m telling a lifetime of stories and I’m only 23.

You originally moved from the Westside of Chicago to the Southside. How was that transition?

It wasn’t a transition. It was just different experiences. On the Westside I was back and forth between St Stephens Terrence (Saint Town) and 13th and Washburne (Germ City or Buck Buck), but I was only a boy. And on the Southside in Englewood (70th Sangamon-SBall), my experiences were that of any young man trying to find himself in a ghetto where many are lost!

You’ve been rapping for 2 1/2 yrs and dropped your first mix tape this year with DJ Spinz4higher. Tell us about that mix tape.

My mix tape is called, Murder Wit’a Pen. It is strictly a collection of my thoughts, experiences and emotions that I put in a rap. Another cool fact is that no artist has ever given their album, or mix tape, this title. On another note, check out Black and Red (Derrick Rose Anthem), which is doing very real well on Youtube.

How did you come up with the name Murder Wit’a Pen? Each lyric gets murdered wit' a pen.

7 p.m.

Who are some of your musical influences?

Lennon of Project Mayhem (he’s my mentor), Residue Reed, Butta Da Prince and L.E.P, just to name a few.

M3INT is the independent label you are under. Explain the relationship between you and Carlton “7pm” Johnson, the CEO of the label.

Relationship is like family; he was one of the first dudes I was real cool with when I moved to the Southside. I remember when I first started to rap, and he was doing his hustling thing.

I did a freestyle to Grew Up a Screw Up. I asked him to get on it, he ripped it and every since then he’s been rapping. As far as M3INT, he’s 51 percent owner, I’m 49 percent owner.

And on my label FireSqadINT he’s one of my artist, I’m 51 percent owner and he’s 49 percent owner. That’s my folks I’d take a bullet for him!

What would you do if you signed a major deal?

The first thing I’d do when I got my deal is put the proper people in place to manage my money. Second thing I’d do is go to the studio and record as many songs as I could. Third would be to buy my grandmother a new home.

season, I transferred to Olive-Harvey College the third game of the season, while playing at United Center, and I injured my foot. While rehabbing, I started to rap and from there I realized it was something I was great at, and something I wanted to pursue. (But I still got a lot of buckets to go around).

You stated that education is a huge factor in this music business. Why do say that?

This is called show business, with an emphasis on business. And to survive and achieve in this music industry you have to not only be talented, but educated. I look at Jay-Z and 50cent, and even though they didn’t go to college they took the time to educate themselves on the business side of the game.

Last remarks/shoutouts: I want to thank God for all the opportunities and people that have been strategically placed in my life. I also would like to Shoutout 7pm, Chief Red, DJ Spinz4Higher, Lenny Still Ballin, Aakia Ray, P. Coakley, Kurfew, Ty- Banks, E-Swiss, D.Grams, Slizz, Young Rilla, Derty Harry for letting me hop on his single Girlfriend, and last but not least Reside Reed and I have a mix tape dropping early to late June. As for my Buck Buck, Germ City, Saint Town SBall and Rag Town family, or anybody I forgot, never give up only losers don't try!

Check out Mike Will online: Facebook.com/MikeWillTheGreat Youtube.com/MikeWillTheGreatTV Datpiff.com/profile/TheRealMikeWill Reverbnation.com/MikeWillTheGreat Twitter.com/TheRealMikeWill

You played college basketball for Truman and Olive Harvey College.

What made you decide to get into rapping?

My first love was basketball. I’ve played it my whole life, and through basketball I had the opportunity to go to college.

I started out at Truman College where I broke the school's single game scoring record by 43 points. After that

25

The Great Mis[Fits]:

J*DaVeY

When I called Jack Davey and Brook D’Leau on 4/20 to chat, I knew the interview would be a microcosm of J*DaVeY’s music conversation with the world. In a word: unpredictable. The video for Raincheck, from their newly-released FreEP Evil Christian Cop, had dropped the day before. They were fresh off of tour with Blu. The world was awaiting New Designer Drug (to release this month) so Jack – and Brook – got down to business, throwing off all the labels that plague their purpose. From music genres and record labels to politricks and the legendary Davey-hawk, J*DaVeY sets the record anything but straight.

So obviously, you’re a very eclectic group. You have incredibly diverse sound from song to song in your production, even in Jack’s voice. What music were you raised on?

B – We’re pretty much in the same lane, but I think she was more jazz-influenced and I was more like prog’ rock and new wave. I didn’t get into hip-hop until, like, maybe in the nineties or so, as far as a real exposure or introduction to it. Like, anything can spark an idea in our creative process. We don’t limit it to listening to an artist, like let’s put on that such-and-such record and get inspired to make music for ourselves.

So growing up do you have any bands or artists that stick out, in particular, that made you want to do music?

J – Yea, Boy George was definitely it for me, and Prince of course.

Um, I mean as I got older Erykah Badu was an influence, and watching Outkast. Andre 3,000 – the way that they expressed themselves it was just, you know it really spoke to me – people just really expressing their individual styles.

You are characterized under a crazy amount of different genres and I think that’s purposeful by you. But how would you describe the music you make?

B – Pop fusion J – Yea it’s pop fusion. It’s rooted in hip-hop, but it’s infused with some jazz and some funk and some soul and some rock and some punk and some post-punk and some new wave... A lot of different

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View the more extensive interview online where the duo addresses the Lil B movement, more on the infamous Mohawk and the true-to-life story behind Raincheck

things. I think if we’ve attempted to do one thing throughout our career it’s been to break down those constraints and, you know, break people out of their need for categories and boxes. But yea, we call it pop fusion because we do intend for it to be popular so, you know, that’s the pop element. But it’s a fusion of everything we love.

Would you say record labels are becoming obsolete? It seems like everyone is blowing up from mix tapes and free music these days.

B – I’m not about to say record labels are obsolete. I think a lot of people that work for these labels are obsolete though. Labels themselves can be really, you know, they can be responsible for a new wave of great artists coming out and putting out really quality shit, but it’s just… there are too many business opinions that are involved that…

J – That doesn’t have anything to do with the artist.

B – … yea, doesn’t have anything to do with the artist. There’s got to be a medium. I don’t really think the music we hear on the radio and often see on TV reflects the times, or most peoples’ general feelings about living life. I don’t know. I don’t get that.

J – If an artist comes out and they sell a million records in a week, then it’s like yea because the label shipped two million records it had to have at least sold a million records. They’re the puppeteers.

It’s not in the hands of the people anymore. It’s kind of like voting you know? Yea, you think that you’re making a difference but you’re really not. They’re going to force what they want you to hear down your throat every single day, and they’re going to make you pay attention to things whether you want to or not. Before you know it, something that you hated is now your favorite shit in the world.

B –I think, one, you definitely have to have a presence on the internet in some form or fashion, and “b” listeners should actually search for things they really like and not simply rely on a label or the radio to give them the music that they want. I think it’s a responsibility on both ends. There’s so much good music out there.

Of course there’s a cesspool of weak shit, but then there’s all this really, really great shit you know?

I hear people saying all the time “Music is dead. Hip-hop is dead.” But I’m just like it’s not dead, people are being lazy. Like Jack said earlier, the amount of music available is overwhelming. This radio disease where people are so limited to what they’re listening to that they don’t know that J*Davey’s out there…

J – Yea. Hip-hop isn’t dead. What do you consider hip-hop? If you’re giving Soulja Boy all the responsibility in hip-hop, then you’re the one that’s killing hip-hop because Soulja Boy never came out claiming that he was the realest shit in hip-hop. He never claimed to be a leader in hip-hop. He’s just making music that speaks to him.

So no, hip-hop can never die as long as people are rapping and making beats. It’s just your preference. It’s the same people waiting around for the radio to miraculously play good music that are the most jaded. Hip-hop is bigger than music. It’s an entire culture that’s never going to die.

Brook, you’ve implemented the use of the Maschine. How has this affected your production?

B – I used to use hardware stuff like NPC and synth modules and blah, blah, blah. I didn’t really use my computer to create music.

So, around the time I got Maschine and developed a relationship with native instruments, the software music aspect became more accessible. Experimenting with it made me realize, “why am I lugging around all this heavy-ass equipment when all I need is a keyboard controller, the Maschine and my laptop?” It’s so much easier for me to just set things up really quickly when I get an idea.

As soon as I got it I’ve used it for every song that we’ve done or that I’ve done, and it’s just for me it makes, especially doing the groove part and the drum parts and just looking for sounds, so much easier.

Jack. So, I really thought you were gonna have this, I guess I call it the “Davey Hawk,” until the end of time, but you’ve recently changed that up. I just wanted to know how you felt about seeing people emulate that hairstyle and why did you change it?

J – Well I changed it because my hair had been cut like that since 2003. So by the time 2010 rolled around, seven years in, it’s kind of like you know… I used to really connect with that hairstyle. My lifestyle was connected to that hairstyle, and then my lifestyle just changed. That wasn’t who I was anymore. When I first cut my hair like that there was only one other person that was rocking it, and that was the girl who used to cut and maintain my hair – Marcia Hamilton – and she’s like the master of the Mohawk. When we first got our hair nobody was feeling it. We used to get laughed at.

Nobody was fucking with it, and then all of a sudden it became this

common thing. I wanted to be known for my music. I didn’t wanna be known for a haircut because what I do is bigger than a hairstyle.

I could change my hair every day and, you know, still get up and do my job effectively. So, it just wasn’t an important part of me that I needed to hold onto and fight for you know? It wasn’t that big of a deal. It was to everybody else and that’s pitiful [laughs].

The Raincheck video dropped today. If you could just talk a little bit about the concept.

J – The video concept was done by the director John Mazyck, and basically his idea was to tell a story of two people who meet at a bar and connect, and end up going home together and having sex, and waking up the next morning and kind of… not being regretful, but running from the responsibility of what just happened the night before. Kind of introspective about what they decided to do. The way that the story runs is, it starts the morning after and then runs in reverse

to the night before. But the song is just about you meeting somebody and knowing that you guys have a really deep connection right off the bat, but not wanting to move too fast and fuck it up.

Why do you… I know with the last two EPs there were five songs on them. Do you purposely do that? Why so short?

B – Yea. I mean we definitely don’t do it on accident. At a certain point there’s so many people putting out a lot of music now. We do wanna feed our fan base, but it’s not about saturating. It’s not just about putting out stuff because we have shit. There’s a lot that goes into what we do, so it has to be the right time and it has to be the right way. We just felt like giving people spoonfuls would be better than just putting out a mix tape with 60 songs on it. Instead, you get five songs and then people are saying “I like these two, well I like that one, well I like these three, or I like all of them,” and if we’re having that much conversation about five songs… It also lets us gauge our projects and how we want to put out the real album based on these small little experimental EPs that we’re doing.

If there was no such thing as music in the world, what other talents or interests do you have, what would you be doing if there was no music in the world?

J – I think making movies.

B – I’d probably be doing some sort of visual art, like either drawing or painting or computer graphics, or something like that. But that’s a weak-ass world! I don’t wanna live there!

J – Yea, I don’t wanna live there, but for me it’d be movies and I’d be teaching. I’d probably teach.

Anything you wanna say or mention that you feel is important that I may not have touched on?

B – Titties!

Titties?

B – Sure why not, we didn’t touch on that.

J – Yea, that’s always important to you. We kinda did though.

Yea someone was talking about hers. Well, describe your perfect titty Brook, since we’re on the subject.

J – [laughs] A perfect titty is a titty, it’s just… it’s a visible titty!

B – Amen my sister!

J – I guess we just want people to stay true to our creative imprint.

The Illav8r. We have some amazing things coming up this year.

We’re just gonna be hitting you left and right with content from J*DaVeY, from Deftsounds, from Lady Tripper, Brook D’Leau, Jack Davey and beyond. So don’t underestimate us… bitches!

B – Did you get the “bitches”?

J – yea get that!

-Joy Priest

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