A new rapper shines online

Deezy ready to take hip-hop by storm

Rising Rosedale rapper thanks his mom and dad for support

by Naeisha Rose Chronicle Contributor

The Queens hip-hop music scene is extensive.

Hollis has brought us artists from Run-DMC and Jam Master Jay (Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels and Jazon Mizell) to Ja Rule (Jeffrey Bruce Atkins) to LL Cool J (James Todd Smith).

Nicki Minaj (Onika Tanya Minaj-Petty) and 50 Cent (Curtis James Jackson III) hail from Southside Jamaica.

Roxanne Shanté (Latasha Shante) and Nas (Nasir Jones) came out of Queensbridge.

The St. Albans rap group A Tribe Called Quest (Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jarobi White and the late Phife Dawg) might have not made the cut for this year’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but are still pioneers in hip-hop.

Among those emerging today is up-and-coming Rosedale singer and rapper Wendell “Deezy” O’Brien, who recently performed his songs “Anniversary” and “Smooth Talker” at the Memorial Day parade in his neighborhood on May 30. He also surprised his mother, Marcia O’Brien, with a performance of the unreleased track “Superman” in honor of his father and her late husband, Wendell O’Brien Sr.

“I was 13 when he passed,” said O’Brien, 26. “He was my best friend, my role model and my superhero. That is why the song is called ‘Superman.’”

O’Brien’s father, who passed away at 42 from a heart attack, was a well-respected EMT in the FDNY.

“The chief of the FDNY gave me his letterman jacket,” said O’Brien. “He told me that I was the man of the house now. That moment was surreal for me. I had to grow up immediately ... I just thank God I have an amazing mom. My younger sister is incredible as well. All the stuff he instilled lives on in all of us.”

While O’Brien’s father has always inspired his motivation to work hard, it was football where the rapper initially pushed himself to excel.

“He would never see me have a touchdown,” said O’Brien, who would go on to start playing football with the youth development organization Rosedale Jets and for the Commodores at Bayside High School after his father passed away. “I ended up with the Rams, but I got hurt.”

O’Brien was in the 2018 draft class for the Rams as a wide receiver, but pulled a hamstring during a workout session. The Cowboys and the Falcons would later express interest in him at other workout sessions, but the coronavirus pandemic reared its ugly head, according to the Rosedale native.

Before the pandemic shut down the country, a deejay friend from Los Angeles pushed the hip-hop artist to pursue his hidden passion for singing and rapping on the social media app TikTok.

“I was always playing music, actually. I played the lead trumpet in fourth grade,” said O’Brien. “It was always a dream of mine to go into singing and rapping, but I never told anybody that I sang ... I was always known just for the football.”

At Bayside High School he also was a member of the school and jazz bands and played the trumpet, guitar and piano.

The pandemic may have led to O’Brien’s football career taking a backseat, but he started to realize the rap videos he made on TikTok were blowing up.

“I started with 60 followers with a few views, more viewers started watching and now I have 10 million views with people from all over the world following me,” said O’Brien. “I would have friends tell me that their brother was following me and I had people from Spain and Turkey listening to my music.”

O’Brien, who has had acting roles in short films and has more upcoming projects that have been pitched to Hulu and Netflix, says he also admires the rapper-turned-mogul and television producer 50 Cent.

“Seeing him come from Queens and make it on a big platform, not only in music but in business and television, that’s amazing,” said O’Brien. “For him to come from Jamaica to being in boardrooms, of course that is an inspiration.”

Another favorite artist outside the World’s Borough is Puff Daddy, founder of Bad Boy Records.

“I also love Sam Cooke,” said O’Brien. “He always expressed what he was going through in his music.”

The person always in O’Brien’s corner is his mother.

“Until this day, he has tried so hard to walk in his father’s shoes,” said Marcia, about her son promising to take care of her and his younger sister after the FDNY chief’s words about being the man of the house. “I felt so super proud to hear him sing such a beautiful song to me ... It proves that our work as parents was not in vain and even though he lost his dad at a young age, certain things were already instilled in him.”

Every Christmas, O’Brien and his sist e r , Amanda, help with a Santa T o y Giveaway in

Hip-Hop Rosedale, which the family started in honor of O’Brien Sr., said Marcia. The charity event now has the support of local block and civic associations.

“They understand how to give back to the community and help make a difference in the life of others,” added Marcia.

O’Brien’s mother has supported both of his careers.

“She was always like, shoot for the stars and sky’s the limit,” said O’Brien. Wendell “Deezy” O’Brien, right, and his mother, Marcia O’Brien. COURTESY PHOTOS

Hip-hop artist Wendell “Deezy” O’Brien performed the unreleased track “Superman” at the Rosedale Memorial Day Parade to his mother Marcia O’Brien. PHOTO BY NAEISHA ROSE

C M CEL page 27 Y K Queens Symphony Orchestra

The Queens Symphony Orchestra performs at the Forest Park Band Shell.

PHOTO COURTESY KENICHI WILSON / QUEENS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

continued from page 12

“When these musicians do outdoor concerts free, or any sort of free concerts, there’s actually a scale — a free outdoor scale — that these musicians are willing to take a lower pay, because it’s a free outdoor concert,” Wilson explained. “In that way, seeing the attendance and seeing the original members means that they really want to do this. They want to do this for the orchestra, they want to do this, for their audience, for the following.”

That very following has been key to the orchestra’s survival over the years, even as many others have not made it.

“I think it’s quite amazing that it’s lasted as long as it has, because there’s so many others that have gone down the tubes,” Camus said.

For information on upcoming concerts, visit queenssymphony.org. Q

Music with your food and drink

continued from page 18

nova and samba along with an array of typical dishes.

Owner Antonio Franca, who came to America 22 years ago, lives in Astoria, where, he said, “We have to integrate. We are more diverse than Manhattan. We are a community from all countries. This is my neighborhood, this is my people, this is the place I love.”

The diversity is evident among his customers. “Everybody comes here,” he said. “They come here and they feel comfortable.”

Besides offering meals that recall his South American homeland, Franca said, “My goal is to entertain people.”

With that in mind, he presents an array of entertainers. “I’m open to Latin jazz, American jazz. Last Saturday a duo from Japan performed,” he said.

“My idea is to integrate everybody through music and food,” he added.

The venue has a stage, which, Franca said, “Changed everything. It’s comfortable to perform.” And, he added, “My bar is gorgeous.”

Antonio’s is located at 3301 36 Ave. in Astoria, (917) 526-0978; antoniosastoria on Facebook.

One local performer who has created a following for himself along the restaurant/ bar music circuit is Barry Feterman, a Middle Village resident who has been plying his craft as a singing impressionist for 45 years, bringing to life everyone from Michael Jackson to Sonny and Cher.

He sees his performances as “an addition to a dining experience. Not many people do what I do in restaurants.” His act has been seen all around the borough and beyond, from Alba’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, 137-65 Queens Blvd., in Briarwood, (718) 291-1620, which continues to present live entertainment every Friday night (reservations required), to Di Vino Pizzeria Restaurant, 164-02 Crossbay Blvd. in Howard Beach, (718) 738-2005, which, at least temporarily, still has live performances suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Another familiar face on the local music scene is singer/songwriter/guitarist Danny Leonard, a regular at LIC Bar, located at 45-58 Vernon Blvd. in Long Island City, (718) 786-5400.

“I’m there quite often,” he said. “I’m very comfortable performing there.”

He likes the vibe of the place. “It’s dimly lit, very intimate. I get to connect with the audience, and I have the freedom to perform whatever I want.”

Leonard blends blues, folk and pop on the acoustic guitar, along with self-written lyrics “that are very poetic.” He generally performs all original material.

“People don’t realize that some of the best artists are making their mark right here in Queens,” he said.

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