The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Milwaukee: @Signif

Female emcees are a dying breed. Scratch that, quality female emcees are a dying breed. So, it's so refreshing when you find one. Signif, the Milwaukee born and raised emcee, is quality. Her rhymes rooted in a passion for poetry and well delivered over fresh beats.

Far too often female emcees are over sexual and tacky but Signif is the opposite.

Her bio reads, "we live in a time with a lot of fads and modern day aristocracies and people desperately seeking approval, she just want to remind everyone out there that’s 'it’s OK to be yourself.'"

Her style, "reality rap." And she's dope.

I reached out to Signif for a Q&A. Enjoy.

The Mad Bloggers: As a female emcee to you find it hard to get people to listen to your music in a male dominated industry?

Signif: Yeah. Sometimes people have these preconceived notions before they even hear me out, which is cool. I don’t really fret about it, I just keep building and creating while they continue to judge, and sleep.

TMB: How long have you been rhyming?

Signif: Since I was 8 or 9, but I started out writing poetry growing up which eventually turned into songs.

TMB: I've heard the recent project, it's dope. How many other projects have you completed?

Signif: Thank you. Just two that I actually put out there for the people. The Transition, which I just dropped, and the Flaws EP I put out in March (2009). But I have recorded over 200 tracks.

TMB: Who are your musical influences?

Signif: I grow up with more soulful influences; Marvin Gaye, Teddy P, James Brown, Luther, ect. Being a baby in the 80s remembering my parents dancing the night away to those records just intrigued me.

TMB: Which one of your tracks best describes who you are as an emcee?

Signif: Definitely "Lovely Imperfections", that’s why I revamped it for this project. I think I have a few tracks that could fill that slot though.

TMB: How would you describe your sound?

Signif: Beats, Rhymes, and Life with LaToya Smith


TMB: Who do you work with?

Signif: I have a great team of producers who keep me laced, and motivated. Shouts to Tay Lee, JBM, Gee Wiz, and Lucchi. For the most part I work with people who are willing to collaborate, and come up with something different.

TMB: What upcoming projects do you have in the works?

Signif: I have an EP in the works with Wiz, plus I’m already planning my next LP. Both projects will be released this year.

TMB: If there was one thing you'd want people to take away from Milwaukee Hip-Hop what would it be?

Signif: How genuine it is, how sincere it is. It’s truly a city of untapped resources when it comes to music in general.









Signif "The Transition" [Download]
signif.bandcamp.com

www.signifthegift.com

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The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Milwaukee: @MelissaCzarnik

Editor's Note: Almost a year ago, I met Melissa Czarnik. Well, “met” is a relative term. Melissa continues to be one of the coolest people that I’ve never actually met but have created a friendship via the Internet. She was the first MKE artist we ever featured on the site and it was like opening Pandora’s box, because that gave way to finding many more talented MKE heads. I interviewed Melissa just under a year ago and I revisit that interview now; plus some new music! Enjoy.

Three years ago we launched The Mad Bloggers as a way to vent about the way we saw thing in the world. Then we began to morph and push music. Twenty-four days ago, we re-launched The Mad Bloggers, with a bit of our old sarcastic edge coupled with a desire to share real music and talented artists.

It’s because of commercial radio, MTV, BET and other commercial outlets that our site and other sites like ours can exist. I turned off the radio a few months ago because every time it was on, there was some new instructional dance garbage passing itself off as real music. Because of our discontent with mainstream music, we constantly comb the Internet for good, unheard of and mostly underground music. We then share it here with you.

Melissa Czarnik is one of those finds. She is one of the first heads that we spotlighted on our revamped blog in early April. I was immediately impressed with the emcee out of Milwaukee. To me, she has content and a lyrical delivery to back it up. Her music has something a lot of music on the radio is missing – passion. I’m happy to support real music. Melissa has an album out, Strawberry Cadillac, which is available on iTunes. Get that! Only $9.99.

Like I said, we’ve featured her music in the past but wanted to take an opportunity to do a Q&A and hear from the woman behind the music. Check out what she had to say.

The Mad Bloggers: How do you describe what you do? Like, would you consider yourself an emcee, poet, etc?

Melissa Czarnik: I consider myself a poet/emcee. I read a lot of poetry. I work at a destination poetry bookstore, Woodland Pattern Book Center, which brings in poets from across the nation and so I’m constantly surrounded by inspiring wordsmiths. I also grew up on hip-hop. Some of my favorites are 2 Pac, Lauryn Hill, and Diamond District, and so I mix the two together sort of naturally. I think the one thing that defines me, as poet/emcee, is that I don’t pay any attention to the rules of hip-hop (per say). That whole verse, chorus, verse, chorus thing ain’t really my thing. If I want to have a 24 bar poem that leads into a 16 bar verse that exits back into a 24 bar poem then that’s what I’ll do.

TMB: How much time do you spend per week dedicated to music?

MC: In terms of time spent working on music, I feel like all my free time goes towards working on music. Because when I’m reading, I’m furthering my vocabulary and my knowledge, which eventually ends up in my rhymes. When I’m listening to music, I’m constantly analyzing, “OK, what did I like about this, what can I borrow from to make my music better.” And in terms of writing, I’m always writing. Now whether it ends up in a song or not is one thing but like I always say a “line of rhyme a day, keeps the haters at bay!”

TMB: Shows, events that are upcoming and exciting?

MC: Yes, I am currently talking with some people over in Europe about doing a couple of shows possibly in Frankfurt, Germany and Brussels, Belgium in May. If those two shows come together I will try and organize a mini tour over there in some other cities. My fingers are crossed!

TMB: You're a female ... how does that play in hip-hop for you? (Woman in mainstream music often had to come off more sexual than talented for example) Do you see it as an issue in presenting who you are?

MC: I see it as an issue for women in general, more than just for me. I mean women in music often use their bodies to sell themselves. The problem starts with mainstream record labels putting a pretty face before talent. The next thing you know you got little girls growing up thinking all I got to do is look sexy, play dumb and I’ll get ahead in life. I think that’s why I look up to women like Ani Difranco, india.arie, and Lauryn Hill. Cause these are women who are talented, intelligent, and naturally sexy. I mean Lauryn Hill could rock a mini-skirt and some combat boots and be sexy as all hell, and yet kill whatever Pras or Clef were spittin next to her. Which actually brings me to your first question about being a female in hip-hop. I feel that I constantly have to watch my back cause it’s a male dominated game. I want to be strong, taken seriously, but at the same time I don’t want to hide my sexiness. I also want to make sure people like me for my talent and not for my body. So at one show I might be rocking a dress and the next show I’m in dickies, timbs, and a hoodie. But, I usually always got some sneakers on or some boots, cause you never know when you’re gonna have to take off running!

TMB: If there was one thing you could change about that state of Hip-Hop right now, what would it be?

MC: I would like to change the fact that most of the hip-hop you hear on the radio today is garbage, degrading, and mindless. I would like to make it so that in order to get on the radio, young emcees had to aspire to be uplifting and have heart.

"Happy Song" Melissa Czarnik & The Eric Mire Band from "Local Live"


Download "Local Live"

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"MC'S ACT LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW" Eternia & MoSS - EP#14 ft. KRS-One & Chesney Snow

It's been a minute but Eternia is back again with Episode 14 of "Road to Release". Check it out!

"In Episode #14, Eternia opens for KRS-One w/ her band @ Southpaw in Brooklyn. E debuts a new song off Eternia & MoSS's "AT LAST" album, & beatboxer Chesney Snow is called out to perform on stage with The Blastmaster KRS-One himself, who kicks an EXCLUSIVE FREESTYLE. Also features still's from photographer Kenny Rodriguez's coverage of the night. E's "AT LAST (We Got a Record Deal) JAM!" on Fri. Feb 26th at Sputnik in BK!"

Check Episode 1
Check Episode 2
Check Episode 3
Check Episode 4
Check Episode 5
Check Episode 6
Check Episode 7 & 8
Check Episode 9
Check Episode 10
Check Episode 11
Check Episode 12
Check Episode 13


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The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Milwaukee: Adlib

I first came across Adlib by way of the Umbrella Music Group. His production, dope. His "The Wade Wilson Project" I've had for a while and it's played at least twice a week. "The Wade Wilson Project" is no joke, featuring tight production and incredible emcees from MKE, and the man behind it all, Adlib. I reached out to him for a Q&A.


The Mad Bloggers: Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

Adlib: What most see as a burden, I took as a blessing. What I mean by that is that I grew up in a few different places and it allowed me to experience a lot of different cultures, giving me more of an understanding on how people relate and how traditions are crossed between the American culture.

I was born and raised half of my life in Jamaica Plain, Boston Mass. I moved to Puerto Rico (my nationality) when I was 12 and then moved over to MKE when I was 15. I grew up on the Southside of Milwaukee and I've been here ever since.

TMB: How long have you been producing?

Adlib: I first touched an MPC in 98. It was my guy Phellas, I aint know how to use it all, I knew was that it made beats. In 2000 I got a DR 5 and that's when I started taking it seriously. I've been producing ever since. Now I rock my Motif Mpc1000 Pro tool and a bunch of vst's thanks to my dude Ren (No Gimmicks)


TMB: What was the concept behind the Wade Wilson Project?

Adlib: For those who don't know Wade Wilson is the Marvel Character "Deadpool", the coolest mutha fucka ever! I'm kinda sorta like him. We both do what we do great. We're both smart asses. And we don't have a problem insulting you while beating you at your own game [haha]. Bassed off of that I took the moniker "Wade Wilson" and it sounds better than deadpool. Its a little too obvious and corny.

As far as the direction, I just wanted to do what others may be scared to in MKE and that's EXPERIMENT. I'm all about progression and out doing my last. That's why this album has a diverse sound, you have the "pop" type music, "rockish" type stuff, some abstract thrown in there and the tradition straight forward imma eat your face off Hip-Hop.

TMB: As a producer, what producers are you influenced by?

Adlib: Maan. I'd say the 70s rock group Supertramp influences me musically. As far as who I like....Alchemist, Dr. Dre, Polo the Dawn, Just Blaze, will.i.am, Dj Muggs and a bunch more.

TMB: What's the most rewarding part of doing your music?

Adlib: Knowing that I can create an album from top to bottom with only having to pay for duplication [LOL]

TMB: What upcoming projects do you have?

Adlib: Right now, me maybe a mixtape, a collaborative record with my guy Antagonist and just trying to produce for all the dope artists in MKE. Ohh and of course UMG music, that never seems to stop coming out [LOL]; Yo dot, Tay Butler and Misen Lync are up next! I'm giving Proph and Ka$h some new stuff and just trying to push Maal Himself to that solo. Even if its just for me! I need that [LOL]


Check out a few tracks from "the Wade Wilson Project".


Straight Jacket (feat Maal Himself and Young Focus)


Front to Back (Feat Pizzle, Tonye and Prophetic)


Punish Me (Feat Streetz and Young Deuces)



Peace to all MKE artist! And don't forget to get the Wade Wilson Project

www.rhapsody.com/adlib/the-wade-wilson-project

itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-wade-wilson-project

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The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Milwaukee

We have a boat load of posts coming featuring Milwaukee Hip-Hop heads ... soon come, as they say. Let this joint from Scott Knoxx, "Lock & Load", hold you over until tomorrow.

-Peace, Q

Check It ... QuESt "Swear Im Putting On" (Prod.Numonics)

Check the new track from QuESt.

"QuESt hooks up with Numonics for a classic cut. Off of Numonic's debut album "Being Cool Doesnt Pay The Bills" & QuESt' "How Thoughtful" Mixtape Presented by YesIamQuESt.com, DJ RTC, & RubyHornet.com, Dropping Feb 11th.
Enjoy!"

QuESt - Swear Im Putting On (Prod. By Numonics)

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Saukrates - Wednesday

Check out this new track by the Canadian MC Saukrates titled "Wednesday".



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The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Milwaukee: The Figureheads

I get to kick start my part of this journey to Hip-Hop with a group I bumped into on MySpace. They're called The Figureheads and I am really feeling their style. This track here is called "Spark" off their "Fire In The Soul" album. Check it out....



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Sean Price - Figure 4 (Video)

Sean Price always cracks me up when watching his videos because dude always seem so exhausted, that he can barely mouth the lyrics to his own record. Check out this one...



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CT's Own Big Stat @ Toad's Place w/Canibus

Catch the homie Big Stat at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT on February 14, 2010. Print out the pass and get a $9.99 admission. Canibus will also be in the house on the 14th.


www.toadsplace.com
djbigstat.blogspot.com


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DJ Hyphen - Sound Session #243 - Favre pulled a...Favre edition

Been a minute since we hit you up with the good music that my man DJ Hyphen constantly blesses us with on his radio show on Sunday nights. If you're not subscribed to his email, something wrong with you. Really good music in his playlists. Check it out.

Whoever looked to standardize the whole 9-5 work day definitely wasn't part of the music industry. More like 9-9...at least. With that in mind, just the basics this week. Shout to Cymarshall Law for calling in to talk about his new Creator's Kid project, which drops today. Cop that!

Show #243 (1-24-10)

1. Fashawn – “Hard Freestyle”..
2. CurT@!n$ - “Exodus”..
3. David Banner – “Slow Down”..
4. Rhymefest ft. Little Brother & Darien Brockington – “How High”..
5. Method Man, Ghostface Killah, & Raekwon – “Our Dreams”..
6. Freeway & Jake One – “She Makes Me Feel Alright” (Local Music)..
7. Joell Ortiz ft. Novel – “Like I Know”..
8. Consequence ft. Asher Roth – “Childish Games”..
9. Broken Bells – “The High Road”..
10. Gorillaz ft. Bobby Womack & Mos Def – “Stylo”..
11. Lupe Fiasco & Kenna – “Resurrection”..
12. Nas & Damian Marley – “As We Enter”..
13. **INTERVIEW WITH CYMARSHALL LAW**..
14. Cymarshall Law – “Magic”..
15. Chikaramanga ft. Dr. Oop – “A Life Like This”..
16. Outasight – “Outasight”..
17. AB ft. Black Milk – “Reppin’ For You”..
18. DJ Semaj ft. Xperience – “Big Faces” (Local Music)..
19. IsWhat?! – “Fanta (Arch Cupcake Remix)”..
20. Adrian – “I Love Your Sexy” (Local Music)..
21. Little Dragon – “Blinking Pigs (1-O.A.K. God Made Me Funky Remix)”..
22. RJD2 ft. Phonte – “The Shining Path”..
23. Robin Thicke ft. Snoop Dogg – “It’s In The Morning”..
24. Theophilus London – “Humdrum Town”..


Link to download the mp3 of the show - http://www.mediafire.com/?zxaqtztrztd
(back up / streaming link - http://www.zshare.net/audio/7170523656654e80/ )

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

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What I'm Watching ... Sean Price "Duck Down" ft Skyzoo & Torae

Track off Sean Price's KIMBO PRICE MIX CD Video directed by Court Dunn in association with Nahright's ONE SHOT Video Program

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