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Chicago’s New Sound
ROCKIE
FRESH + F. STOKES + KAT DAHLIA + GILBERE FORTE + STACY BARTHE
many expectations. I’m really about the music. The extra stuff that comes along with it – I’m just learning when it comes along.”
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Inside 7 MIXTAPES//Download Check out some of our favorite mixtape releases worthy of adding to your collection.
11 INDIES//Wax Is Watchin’ » J DUB » PHILLIP WADE » SIGNIF » DRASTIC
13
21 COVER STORY//Rockie Fresh Chicago’s New Sound. by Brandi Worley
13 Q&A//F. Stokes Nonjudgemental Chicago wisdom with worldly sensibility has made F. Stokes potently effective with his rhymes
25
15 Q&A//Kat Dahlia Miami native’s relentless grind has garnered her respect from famed producers Timbaland, Salaam Remi
17 Q&A//Gilbere Forte Philly based MC advises opposition to Pray for safety as he reenters Hip-Hop’s spotlight through new deal with Epic Records
19 Q&A//Stacy Barthe
Kanye West Yeezus
French Montana Excuse My French
25 FRESHLOOK//Album Reviews Get the hottest album reviews from our Editor-in-Chief.
@onwaxmagazine
Singer/songwriter says her latest EP P.S. I Love You represents a time where she finally found absolute confidence
J.Cole Born Sinner
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On WAX™ - The #1 Interactive Music Magazine is published by Publishing Shack, LLC. © 2013. All Rights Reserved.
6 | SUMMER 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
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PREMIUM ONLINE onwaxmag.com
27 EVENTS//Live Shows Check out our list of concerts, festivals and events and see what live shows are coming to a location near you.
29 MUSIC+VIDEOS//Listen//Watch Listen to the latest music and watch videos we like.
The Editor’s Letter Ural Garrett//Editor
30
Dear readers with exquisite taste, “Stuntin’ feeling good feeling great, a lot of twist and turns, but I got my paper straight, on the road to the riches, driving 88, with a couple bad bitches, driving 88” These fitting words from Chicago MC turned Maybach Music solider Rockie Fresh describe not only his own meteoric rise but, On Wax’s own. As On Wax near its almost six years in existence, things have continued to spiral past those “twist and turns.” Fresh’s laid back demeanor feels the total opposite to his grind. I guess being around Rick Ross only adds to that. As Chicago becomes a hotbed for mainstream and music media, Fresh continues to gain ground within the game through simply putting out sickeningly capitative music. The same can be said about On Wax. Throughout the years, we worked had to deliver quality content and gain fans by simply focusing on our love for music. Many blogs and publications come and go but we’ve stayed the course without resorting to gossip or trashy tactics for site views. We enjoy what we do and don’t take anything too seriously except our reputation as respectable journalists. This is what makes Fresh so perfect for our July/August issue because he represents everything that On Wax stands for. Being unique by focusing solely on what matters the most, dope content.
30 PHOTOS//Shutterbugs UCLA 2013 Jazz/Reggae Festival
33 WAX DAILY//News//Blogs NEWS Discover interesting industry news covered by our staff across the country. BLOGS Keep up with our Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta blog coverage by Margeaux Johnson.
In addition, On Wax is spotlighting engaging independent MC from Chicago F.Stokes in an exclusive Q&A interview. There’s also a few ket Q&A features with two of music’s most innovative up-andcoming women; Stacy Barthe and Kat Dahlia. Those looking for our thoughts on some of music’s newest releases can check out our review of Kanye West’s Yeezus, J.Cole’s Born Sinner and more. Of course we have some awesome photo galleries featuring UCLA’s 2013 JazzReggae Festival. We even caught up with songstress Chrisette Michele and With that said, sit back and enjoy the view of this incredibly dope shit.
Mos Love, Ural Garrett uralg.com
7 | SUMMER 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
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Q&A//F. Stokes onwaxmag.com
» by URAL GARRETT
F. STOKES @FdotStokes
“
As the upswing of Chicago violence has become a talking point for mainstream media, its Hip-Hop movement has as well. Chief Keef, Rockie Fresh, Lil Reese and more have lent their poignant point of view to life in the Windy City’s SouthSide.
Lending a wiser perspective is rapper and spoken word artists F.Stokes whose career has taken him around the globe thanks to intelligent projects like Death of a Handsome Bride and Baked Goods. F.Stokes now hopes to bring change to his city through the introspective and socially conscious Fearless Beauty project. In this On Wax Magazine exclusive, the Chicagoan talks Fearless Beauty’s first single “Carpe Diem,” appearing in MTV’s Made, growing up in a whorehouse and more.
I love it. I love every second and minute about it. You know what happened with Chicago? These kids figured out how to use YouTube and became the biggest show in the world. Labels saw the traction that these kids were generating and the interest they were generating. Of course, they were looking for a way to monetize that.”
READ THE FULL Q&A onwaxmag.com 13 | SUMMER 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
Q&A//KAT DAHLIA onwaxmag.com
» by URAL GARRETT
KAT DAHLIA @KatDahlia Kat Dahlia as a person feels extremely grounded for an artists who feels at times, the accumulation of some of music’s greatest.
“
This Cuban-American songstress blends Hip-Hop, Latin, Soul and Pop sounds seamlessly enough to truly sound like an artists of today who potentially become an icon for tomorrow. That’s a lot for someone who went from waiting tables to fund her album to landing a lucrative deal with label Vested In Culture through Epic Records. In this exclusive On Wax Magazine interview, Kat discusses the inspiration behind her first single from her debut album My Garden, being compared to Nina Simone and how long she’s worked to get a project finished.
My favorite moments would be performing somewhere in London or Madison, Wisconsin and somebody comes to you to tells you that your music has changed their life somehow. They appreciate you for making music and something that inspires them or has them change for the better.”
READ THE FULL Q&A onwaxmag.com 15 | SUMMER 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
16 | SPRING 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
Q&A//Gilbere Forte onwaxmag.com
» by Ural Garrett
GILBERE FORTE @GilbereForte
“
Last time On Wax Magazine spoke with Gilbere Forte, the Philly raised producer/MC had just released his free project with Don Cannon and DJ Drama entitled Eyes of Veritas through a then recent deal through Universal Motown.
Following a restructure of the label, Forte would be left out of the equation and eventually leave. Finding a way to reinvent himself, he would find his way to Paris and eventually collaborate with famed DJ/producer Bob Sinclar of all people.
L.A. is sitting at the head of the table just waiting for my arrival. He’s like, “Yo your music is f**king incredible and I think you are going to be one of the biggest artists ever.”
Renewed and reenergized, Forte would find the inspiration to release the title track to his project Pray. The accompanying video would eventually start a bidding war over the MC where he would chose Epic Records thanks to L.A. Reid and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart. With this second chance, Forte will not lose.
READ THE FULL Q&A onwaxmag.com 17 | SUMMER 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
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Q&A//STACY BARTHE onwaxmag.com
» by URAL GARRETT
STACY BARTHE @StacyBarthe
“
On Wax Magazine visited the Southern California office of Universal/Motown for a Q&A session with singer/songwriter Stacy Barthe. Though the Brooklyn-born, Long Island-raised artist has been penning hits for the likes of Rihanna (“Cheers (Drink to That)”) and Katy Perry (“Hummingbird Heartbeat”), she would come into her own as a solo artists after releasing her 2011 debut project Sincerely Yours, Stacy Barthe.
Her style and powerfully emotional voice would catch the attention of John Legend; landing her a deal on his newly formed Homeschool imprint. Barthe’s first release on the imprint, P.S. I Love You, is dripped with every bit of unapologetic soul one would expect from the new bread of R&B. In this Q&A with Barthe, we discuss her transition from sought after songwriter to multidimensional singer, her “Hell Yeah” single with Rick Ross and more.
Well “Hell Yeah” happened way before that happened and we all make mistakes. Being around him and knowing him, I don’t think he has to put anything in anyone’s drink to get some action. They volunteer. But seriously, he’s not that person or a date raper. The fact that he apologized for it; I mean I’ve moved on.”
READ THE FULL Q&A onwaxmag.com 19 | SUMMER 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
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COVER STORY//Rockie Fresh onwaxmag.com
“
“Being around Rick Ross it’s a lot of little knowledge that he’s dropped. All of that is inspiration. Between him and me being able to work more I’m learning a lot.”
ROCKIE
FRESH 21 | SUMMER 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
COVER STORY//Rockie Fresh onwaxmag.com
Chicago’s New Sound by brandi worley // MANAGING EDITOR
What are some things you’ve learned since signing almost a year ago?
You really can’t trust too many people in the industry. I think that’s something I knew coming into it. I just get to see it more up closer and personal reasons why that’s the case. I also know some really good people in the industry. Not everybody is as cutthroat as they try to make it.
“
I always wanted to be a hard worker when it came to doing music.
There are some good people that really care about good music at any level, independent or that comes from a mainstream type of format. I think that’s pretty cool to know that I’ve been blessed to work with a lot of people that really want to see good music winning. Its cool and kind of refreshing to run into people that’s different than what I expect to be in the industry.
What are some things you expected?
everything I expected and maybe a little bit more.
Is there anything you wish you would have known earlier?
My situation was definitely what it needed to be. I’m 22 years old. I’m happy where I am at and I also have the ability to go way further with it. I’m blessed with the resources to do that. I got a lot of things on deck. That’s being at the right place at the right time and being able to catch blessings – when you’re working. Everything’s going how it should be and I wouldn’t change nothing so far.
What would you say is your best virtue?
I don’t know. I’m too young to answer that. I have no clue what my best virtue is yet. It’s so much stuff I’m still learning about myself. I don’t want to toot my own horn. I will. That will be Part II for our interview.
The resources that I expected to have as a new signee I definitely have been blessed with those. Ross and the people at Atlantic have really held me down and made sure I have the resources to make the music that I want to. On that not its
22 | SUMMER 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
COVER STORY//Rockie Fresh onwaxmag.com
I know how to co-exist with any type of person. I’ve just been in real life situations with a lot of different people. essi officae. Ut aut venis dolestet harci doluptae sit ent aut quisimilis iumquis mos abo. Ga. Ut faccullab incient ad eos aut de
Amid the wave of new young rappers coming out of Chicago – Lil Durk, Chief Keef, LEP Bogus Boys, King Louie, YP – there’s one artist looking to stand out with his sound and style: Rockie Fresh. He’s apart new generation and he comes with a diverse Pop/Rock background. He’s known for rocking with Patrick Stump and The Madden Brothers of Good Charlotte. That’s one of the things that makes him different. Rockie Fresh doesn’t comes with the typical current version of a Hip Hop artist resume that includes beef, drama, jail time or coming off as any hardcore gangster for entertainment purposes, only. Right? “I didn’t have too many expectations, Rockie Fresh says. “I’m really about the music. The extra stuff that comes along with it – I’m just learning when it comes along. I’m a real quick learner when it comes to business and stuff like that so it’s not a struggle for me. My whole focus is bettering my music, bettering my sound.”
Chicago has birthed prolific wordsmiths who are articulate, intelligent, and fighters for their communities. On the ugly side Chicago has held ownership to one of the nation’s highest murder rates. Something Rockie Fresh’s contemporaries rap or sadly, even boast about in their music. It’s what they see or live around. Adopted son, the Atlanta born Kanye rapped “314 soldiers died in Iraq, 509 died in Chicago” on Murder to Excellence. She’s ever evolving; Despite the highs and lows. The environment, those older artists paved the way for the Rockie Freshes. It’s his turn at the mic. Since releasing his first mixtape, Rockie’s Modern Life in 2009, touring with Stump, Wale and creating music with Good Charlotte (Before, The Mixtape Vol. 1 - “Take Me Back To The Teenage” and “The Right Track (So Cold)”, the man born Donald Pullen, turned Rockie Fresh has not slowed down. After signing with MMG a year ago, he reflects on lesson’s learned and his work ethic.
It would be ridiculous to say that Chicago has only given us one style of Hip Hop/Rap. Traditionally, Chicago has bred more socially conscious rappers to mainstream media than any other region: Common, No I.D., Crucial Conflict, Fast Eddie, Rhymefest, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye – the later two having publicly gone up against Presidents of the United States (Bush, Obama).. Those things should be expected with organizations like the Nation of Islam using the city as its home base. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW onwaxmag.com 23 | SUMMER 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
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FRESHLOOK//Album Reviews onwaxmag.com
YEEZUS kanye west Yeezus is an immensely fascinating look into Kanye’s warped ideologies on both musical, thematic levels
READ THE FULL REVIEW onwaxmag.com
BORN SINNER
j.cole
J. Cole successfully lends personality to Born Sinner that was missing on his solid debut
READ THE FULL REVIEW onwaxmag.com
EXCUSE MY FRENCH
french montana
Considering the hype, Excuse My French is still a disappointing debut
READ THE FULL REVIEW onwaxmag.com
25 | SUMMER 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
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PHOTOS//Shutterbugs onwaxmag.com
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Jazz/Reggae Festival UCLA 2013 Visitors of UCLA’s 2013 Jazz/Reggae Festival came for the spectacular multicultural experience and food but stayed for the incredibly awesome music performances.
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WAX DAILY//News onwaxmag.com
• Lauryn Hill pens letter from prison • Music’s biggest on George Zimmerman ‘Not Guilty’ verdict • Brandy, Jill Scott, LL Cool J talk 2013 Essence Music Festival • Lupe Fiasco talks to Chicago youth • 1 million Jay-Z album Samsung downloads won’t count toward platinum says Billboard • Meek Mill protege Lil Snupe killed in Louisiana; suspect turns himself in • Kanye West and Kim Kardashian welcome baby girl LOG ON TO READ MORE onwaxmag.com
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Hidden behind the palm trees and beautiful weather of Southern California’s valley is a studio that blends nostalgia with the future. Classic vinyls adorns the warm colored walls aside platinum plaques. An industry standard Mac tower stands behind an antique audio mixing board that was once used for John F. Kennedy. Even the recording booth’s intricate setup is offset by vintage recording equipment. This is the recording studio of non other than multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and performer Todd Simon
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TEAM ON WAX//Staff
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Kivoli Thomas Publisher Janene Tate Executive Editor Fredrick Sargent Advertising + Distribution
LaKeisha Hughes Marketing Coordinator Ural Garrett Editor-In-Chief Brandi Worley Managing Editor
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33 | SUMMER 2013 | on WAX - THE #1 INTERACTIVE MUSIC MAgazine
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