Volumes: Athens Hip Hop - Vol 1 Issue 5

ATH ENS

HipHop

EVENTS

p. 3

INTERVIEW

Square Up With Jai Blanco & Seline Haze p. 4

CULTURE SERIES

Hip Hop Don’t Stop p. 7

ALBUM PREVIEW

My Star EP - J$ p. 8

INDUSTRY PROFILE

Eli Eternal @ Amplify Studio p. 9

INTERVIEW

Square Up With Minnie Lea & Valley Girl D p. 10

NETWORKING

p. 11

Vol. 1 Issue 5 • May 2017

Letter from the Editor This fifth edition of Volumes is based on support. This part seems simple right? Go to the shows, click the button to generate plays, tell each other how dope they are. There is so much more involved in supporting artists, and the bigger picture is that we should be supporting everyone around us every day. If we support our community, then we support ourselves, and if we are capable of supporting ourself, then we can actually support others. To realize any dream, goal, or plan then we have to start truly supporting everything in our lives if we want our actions to have a lasting impact outside of 2017.

-Scrap God

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Events June 2017

My Star J$ and Wesdaruler

Y.O.D. Iron Factory

(R&B, neo soul) bandcamp.com/j$

Minnie Lea Presents: Super Soak ‘Em Pool Pary ‘17 The Summit in Athens Special Performances By: Tay Lanxter, Kxng Blanco, Takesum Roebuck, and Valley Girl D Squalle

World Famous Hip-Hop (First Tuesdays) Hosted by Comedian PAULDOE WALDO & Chief Rocka Squalle’s Single Release Party Official Release of “Important” Featuring Squalle, Y.O.D., Chrismis, SG Keezy, Azi, and poetry by Daniel Mapp

Full Moon Party w/ White Rabbit & Space Dungeon 40 Watt Club Featuring White Rabbit Collective, Space Dungeon Collective, Couchlocked, and Lucky Kitty

Hosted By: Alondra Navarro, Tommy Moment, Anteasa Collins, Daijah Yearby, Jay Hill, Kee Brown, Jas Almond, Dimitri Holmes, and Ashley Roberts

Volumes Presents: Y.O.D. House Party See FB events page /volumeshiphop Fundraiser for Volumes!

Athfest: of Montreal, Pansy, Lingua Franca 40 Watt Club

ADVERTISE HERE Get your business or project out there!

It’s a #TightShyft Part 2 Diverse Universe Studio Birthday celebration for Tight Shyft Kid and others

Take advantage of our affordable ad space in the next issue of Volumes.

Contact volumeszine@gmail.com for rates and ad specs today.

ADVERTISE HERE

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:

SQUARE UP WITH

Queens of Hip Hop Jai Blanco Jai Harper

Seline Haze Karica Smith @ selinehaze FB/ Seline Haze IG/selinehaze_ soundcloud.com/ selinehaze

FB/ Jai Harper IG/_jablanco

Where did you grow up, and how has that impacted your music?

I grew up here in Athens. Growing up I had older cousins who did music and stuff like that, so really I was impacted by that. I was so influenced by them I did my first show when I was in middle school. I went to the studio, I made a song, and I performed at school.Then I had like, it was something somewhere for a Easter Sunday thing. There was a lot of people there, it was pretty cool.

Where did you grow up, and how has that impacted your music?

I grew up here in Athens, Ga. I grew up in a lot of places honestly, but around Athens. Just growing up the way I grew up changed my music. My dad was strict on me growing up, and it really opened my eyes. He limit me growing up, he limit me like “look you can only do school stuff, but the music...you can’t make no money off that.” That really pushed me to be like, you know what? I can do this. I can Who is a big musical influence for you that make a living off something I love to do. would surprise people?

It’s actually this dude, his name is JayWill. He’s gay so he dress like a female and make music. He’s pretty awesome, and I like listening to his stuff. His attitude, his confidence, how he love to do his music, and present himself to people. I love Lady Gaga too. I love her music.

What inspires you the most to make music?

I like making music, I’ve been doing it for a minute. It’s just something about it, it gets me hype. I just feel wonderful. Making the music, it’s fine it’s fun. But then getting on stage and actually performing it and watching it come to life, it brings me so much joy. My music makes me clear my mind. Looking out at the crowd, seeing them enjoy you...I like the feeling.

In your opinion, what is the biggest obstacle women artists face?

I would say that they’re underrated. No one really takes it serious. Just being in the industry where it’s dominant with males, you really gotta come hard. You gotta show these people, “I’m not just coming to play with y’all.This is me.”

What’s next?

Just perform and get my face out there, try to go wherever I can to network and meet people.What I’m working on is my mixtape, it’s called Griselda Blanco.

It’ll be my first one, so I’m excited about it. I work with Street Execs all the time, and he record my songs and mixed and mastered it. To work with him is awesome.

He worked with a lot of artists like 2Chainz, Bankroll, Gucci...so I was so excited. Actually my first song that I did since I started back rapping and making music, it was produced by him. I’m really working, and I’m really dedicated. I really want this, and I’m giving it my all.

4

Who is a big musical influence for you that would surprise people?

I have so many, but if anything I love Kendrick Lamar.

I love The Internet. J Cole, Outkast...I love Outkast.

A Tribe Called Quest, definitely them.

What inspires you the most to make music?

Really just seeing how happy I can make people. I make my music to empathize, to motivate, and to inspire.

Like I know someone out there has been or is going through the same things I’ve been through. If I can be a voice to someone else that can’t do it, that’s scared to do it...that’s one of the best feelings ever, for someone to come back and tell you like you’ve really inspired me or you’ve really helped me do this.

In your opinion, what is the biggest obstacle women artists face?

Really it’s just being a woman in hip hop, in general it’s hard.They really have limitations, they don’t expect for you to really do much. With doing music, people might think it’s only males that can do that. Females can do it too.

What’s next?

I’m working on my EP as we speak. I plan to release it like Fall, sometime in the Fall this year. For the moment, I’ve been doing covers and whatnot. But I’m still doing my music on the side, and I’m putting out singles too.

I have two performances coming up, the 12th of June and July 29th. I’ll be performing some of the stuff I’m going to put out. Just be on the lookout for my music cause I’m comin with it.

Ricky Simone @ Hendershots

Tay Phoenixx @ Go Bar

Lady G @ Go Bar

Minnie Lea @ World Famous

Elaina Valore @ Go Bar Cali Chacon & Seline Haze @ Go Bar

Brittaney Bogle @Hendershots

J$ & Seline Haze @ Go Bar

Mia Smith @ World Famous Lingua Franca @ World Famous

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ATH ENS

HipHop PRESENTS:

6

PHOTO RECAP

Hip Hop Don’t Stop: DJ

:CULTURE SERIES

The third part of my series on the cultural roots of Hip Hop will be a breakdown of a very vital element of the culture, the DJ. The turntables are the instrument used by the DJ Montu in Hip Hop and can be paralleled to the drum in traditional Africa. In traditional Africa, the percussion is a form of communication that comes in many different forms. There are hand drums, stick drums, and finger drums of all shapes and sizes. In Hip Hop, the turntable also comes in many diverse forms. There’s direct drive turntables, belt drive turntables, S-shape/straight tone arm turntables; although there’s more technology it is the same basic concept. The drum and the turntable are the universal communicators and can be manipulated to create animal sounds, such as a lion’s roar, the human voice, or heavy bass. Like drums, turntables are played to gather the community, send warnings, or as musical accompaniment during ceremonies and rituals. It is a very important element of traditional Africa and Hip Hop because it can communicate nonverbally over far distances.

The DJ and the drummer are held in high esteem throughout each community and usually form guilds with master drummers/DJs as leading mentors. In Hip Hop, these head mentors are usually called Grand Masters, a title that must be earned (Grand Master Flash, Grand Master Caz, Grand Master Wizzard Theodore). This cultural element can be found throughout the African Diaspora; from tambo drumming in Jamaica to rumba drumming in Cuba, it is a mainstay in African rooted cultures throughout the world.

Some would say Hip Hop would not exist if it was not for the DJ; it was DJ Kool Herc who brought his party style from Jamaica to start the evolution of the Hip Hop culture in America. In some communities, this element has died or is what they call a dinosaur, but it is vital in the history of Hip Hop culture as a whole. Like the beat of the traditional African drummer the Hip Hop DJ is a nonverbal communicator, sending vibrations filled with messages and rhythms out to the community.

- Wm Montu I Miller @ mon2miller

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ALBUM PREVIEW:

My Star EP - J$ & Wesdaruler

You’ve seen her around the Athens’ venues with her acoustic guitar and at the bar dancing like there’s no tomorrow, but Julianna Money has a new side of her to share with her upcoming EP My Star. Using the stage name J$, her and fellow Space Dungeon Collective member and producer Wesdaruler will be releasing this project June 2 on bandcamp. com. The full EP will be performed before its release for the first time May 26th at the J$ @ World Famous Caledonia Lounge.

“I feel like I’m primarily a lyricist and a vocal- a while. It was instantly a mutual click that they ist, so I can play instruments but I feel it’s just a should make music together.

“I hadn’t heard back from him in a medium for me,” says Julianna.“I”m really excit- ed to perform these songs with Wes because while, and I was starting to think ‘oh my god I don’t have to worry about anything. I can just Wes doesn’t want to work with me.’ Like he thinks I suck. Then he hit perform and dance me up saying ‘hey I made and move freely.” all these beats for an EP 2017 Flagpole Muwe’re going to make tosic Award nominee gether.’ I was like OH MY Wesdaruler created GAWD,” says Julianna. all of the beats for this

Going into the project, specifically project, Julianna expected with Julianna in mind. it to be a lot more foMy Star is a cohesive cused on her depression project made up of 5 and how she feels about songs that all center suicide, particularly how around Julianna’s batthose things are stigmatle with anxiety. tized. However, it became “It’s about being someone that has so much light that oth- a journey of exploring the complicated relationer people are drawn to me but I feel like I’m ship she has with that part of herself. It’s a source burning up. It’s called “My Star” because it’s re- of both greatness and darkness in life. My Star is an EP that you won’t want to miss if you’ve been moved from me in a way,” says Julianna.

Julianna and Wesdaruler came across each looking for something different in the scene, other in the scene after she had been look- that’s for sure.

- Scrap God ing for someone that does what he does for IG scrap_goddd

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Eli Eternal @ Amplify Studio

:INDUSTRY PROFILE

Chris Byron Recording Eli Eternal @ Amplify Studio Nuci’s Space is a staple of Athens’ music scene, whether it’s providing cheap practice spaces, hosting local events, or supplying artists with important resources that benefit both music and mental health. In February of this year, they opened a studio Amplify in the Chase Street Warehouse that provides low rates for a recording space accessible to anyone. This space is also used for a kid’s summer camp called Camp Amped that teaches the youth the basics of recording and allows them to record their own songs. Simply put, Amplify gives people of all ages from all backgrounds the tools they need to record their music that they might not have access to otherwise.

Eli Eternal @ Amplify Studio Staff member Chris Byron has over 20 years of experience in music engineering, and he says that Amplify has been slammed since February recording just about every genre of music.Local hip hop artist Eli Eternal (Christopher Elder) is one of many artists that can be found at the studio every chance he gets, and he’s gaining momentum as a young artist. From growing up in Athens, he believes he’s “more hungry” to make it than if he had grown up in one of the big cities. We had the opportunity to sit in on one of his sessions, along with the dedicated 18 year old’s parents Fredetra Harris and Christopher Alexander.

“He beat all the odds, and he’s been rapping since he could talk. I would play him Tupac in the belly,” says Fredetra.

Tupac has always been one of Eli’s biggest inspirations. Boosie, Lil Snupe, and Drake are some other artists in the music industry inspiring him right now. Eli also opened up about some surprising influences he has, such as Steve Perry and Sarah Mclachlan for their ability to make you feel their music.

However, it’s very clear that his roots in Athens motivate him the most.

“I was in first or second grade, and my cousin, his name is Big Boss he’s an artist, I use to always see him rapping and doing shows when I was little. I looked up to him growing up. That’s what drove me to want to do it,” says Eli. Right now, Eli is working on his music as much as possible as well as writing a screenplay for a movie. There’s an EP up on spinrilla.com entitled “My Gift to You” under the artist Eli Eternal. Music is constantly on his mind as he works to be someone that others can look up to just like all of these artists he looks up to now.

“It says it in my name, ‘eternal.’ Eternal is something that’s forever. I want to be something or somebody who in the years to come is solidified as a legend and somebody who has earned their spot in the game.”

For more information about Amplify or studio time, contact: Chris Byron at chris@nuci.org Nuci’s Space 706-227-1515 - Scrap God IG scrap_goddd

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:

SQUARE UP WITH

Queens of Hip Hop Minnie Lea

Valley Girl D Dana Durant @ prettygirl_me FB/ Dana Valleygirld Durant IG/_valleygirld spinrilla.com/artists/ ValleyGirlD57299

FB/ Minnie Lea IG/minnielea soundcloud.com/ minne-3 Where did you grow up, and how has that impacted your music?

I was born in Athens, Ga. I moved around a lot when I was young, but I mostly grew up in Gwinnett County. I just moved back to Athens about three years ago. The fact that I moved around so much, I got to meet a lot of people and a lot of people brought a lot of energy into my life that changed me, made me look at things differently. It just really made an impact on how I look at life in general.

Who is a big musical influence for you that would surprise people?

Where did you grow up, and how has that impacted your music?

I grew up here in Athens, the west side. It impacted my music a lot because I kinda came from seeing a lot. I’m not coming from no rich family that had a lot.

I’m coming from nothing trying to make something.

It make me go hard, really it’s just motivation.

Who is a big musical influence for you that would surprise people?

Bruno Mars. It’s his voice, like he’s different.You have the typical R&B singers, typical rap, pop...his is difI love Erykah Badu. I love Stevie Wonder. I love a lot ferent though. His voice just carries. A lot of people of old school music because I feel like music back then had a lot of feeling and a lot of soul. You ac- are like “Bruno Mars?” cause I listen to straight rap. tually had to go through things to make that music.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the music today it’s just What inspires you the most to make music? something about that old school just makes you feel Coming from where I come from. I don’t wanna the music. work for nobody, I wanna be my own boss. Me going to work every day, sometimes living from check What inspires you the most to make music? to check. I got a passion for it, so it’s something I Myself. I feel I learn so much about myself on a daily basis that I have no choice but to put it in my music. want to pursue. I look at where I’m at now and then You ever just discover something new about yourself where I could be at in a year if I continue to push and be like “oh my gosh, wow.” I take that and life expe- myself and motivate myself. riences that I’ve experienced myself, and I try to mend Who are the strongest female role models in that into my music.

Who are the strongest female role models in your life?

I would have to say my mom and my grandparents. My mom was actually in like a dance group when she was younger, they were called Two Tone. They won first prize at some show, and she was in the newspaper. My grandmother on my mom’s side and on my dad’s side were singers in a band. I get a lot of my musical influence from my family.

What’s next?

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I’m working on an EP currently, I’m not sure what I’m going to call it yet because I’m trying to get my songs together. I’ve been in the studio a lot lately. Just know that an EP is coming really really soon. I’m throwing a pool party June 10th, I just wanted to do something for the summer that people could come to and just have fun. I have a few local artists performing at the pool party. I’m trying to work on getting more events done so that I can network with more people. Just get my name out more. Music is my life, I have been obsessed and in love with music since the day I could talk.

your life?

My momma, and my aunts. Of course my grandmother, but she passed. She died in 2013, and I started rapping a year later. I got myself back focused.

Every time I get ready to give up I think about her, and she wouldn’t want me to give up. My mom goes to all my shows. She be front row, my momma be turnt up.

What’s next?

My mixtape Pink Magic is dropping May 18th. It’s dropping on spinrilla, I’m having copies made that I’ll be handing out all Thursday through Sunday. No charge, I’m just giving them away trying to get promotion. I’ve been workin on it almost a year, just putting all the right pieces together. I’m going on a little mini promo tour to get my music out. Every Wednesday and Thursday I hit shows in Atlanta just as far as getting music out, networking, connecting with DJs. I have two radio interviews also coming up.

:THE NETWORK

Producers Dexter Sims dextersims89@gmail.com FB: Dex Does Music IG: theblvkjesus Twitter: @Twinzodadon Snap: cruz_89 Work Money Entertainment, LLC 404-781-5308 workmoneyent@gmail.com FB: Carlos Jones Kaliko Liberty Entertainment - Owner Ear Candy Studios - Owner 706-248-9523 FB,YT, IG, Google+, & Twitter: @itskaliko Kid Foo officialkidfoo@gmail.com FB: Kid Foo IG: kidfoo Twitter: @ItsKidFoo

Engineers Trevor Wiggins 706-499-9923 trvyfeatures@gmail.com Social Media: @trvyf Imorie Curry 706-308-4190 lexcallahan@hotmail.com Social Media: @lexcally

Marketing/Promotions United Group Of Artists 678-740-3884 P.O. Box 49096 Athens, Ga. 30604

Photography KatTookIt Photography Katherine White 706-621-2822 kattookit@gmail.com

Video Production No Silver Spoon Production Jeffery Welborn & Ricky Campbell 706-224-9669 Owen Hunt owenm.hunt@gmail.com Social Media: @bootsygreenwood

Illustrator Danielle Summers danisumm@uga.edu danisumm.com FB: /danisummart IG: danisummart

Photography/Video iGoByGoodie 706-207-1345 igobygoodie@gmail.com Josh Hart Media 678-637-9927

Hip Hop Artists A. Mack Booking: 706-308-5539 amack068@gmail.com FB: Aviyon Mack IG: A.mack706 Snap: A_mizzlee Dictator 706-818-0387 tothapoint@gmail.com DK Cell: 706-920-8093 Alt.: 706-340-8071 dk.nowles.nowledge@gmail.com FB: /dedric.knowles Twitter: @DK_nowles Snap: dedric1225 Soundcloud: /dk_nowles_nowledge Emissary89 grcpsych@gmail.com IG: emissary89 Twitter: @emissary89 Soundcloud: /emissary89 Kxng Blanco kiddblanco706@gmail.com Social Media: @KxngBlanco SoundCloud/Spinrilla: Kxng Blanco L.G. (HOTC) hotclg15@gmail.com FB: L.G. or @hotc15 Social Media: HOTC_LG Space Brother spacebrothermusic@gmail.com FB: /spacebrothersoundsystem Soundcloud: /spacebrothersoundsystem spacebrother.bandcamp.com ZiggyRoxxx 706-621-9000 iggylocz@gmail.com IG: ziggyvoodoochild Soundcloud: /ziggyroxxx

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SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR DONORS: • Friends & Family • Everyone who bought our stickers!

COVER MODEL: Lingua Franca Lingua Franca is the hip hop project of Athens-based linguist Mariah Parker, whose scientific fixation with hip hop language is obvious in the intricate rhymes she interweaves with boom bap beats. Her lyrics, garnished with haunting neosoul hooks, tell unflinching tales of chemically-induced heartbreak, reproductive justice, racial politics and feminist swagger, and longtime hip hop heads will hear echoes of nineties New York underground in both her playful vocal delivery and piano-centric, classic R&B-inspired compositions. Her self-titled debut, released February 2017, was heralded as one of the most anticipated local releases of the year by Immersive Atlanta Magazine. In Athens, Lingua Franca has also been nominated Female Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Hip Hop Artist of the Year and Album of the Year in the 2017 Athens Hip Hop Awards and the Flagpole Athens Music Awards. Since the release of her EP, Parker has toured nationally, and this summer will headline the Athfest Music and Arts Festival. links: lingua-franca.bandcamp.com facebook.com/liiinguafranca twitter and IG: @linquafranca

For more information contact Sam Lipkin volumeszine@gmail.com /volumeshiphop