It’s Monday and I would like to share my Music Monday. I know The Mad Bloggers are in Milwaukee with the music this month but I need to jump back to NYC for a second. For those of you who were Ruff Rydin’ it a few years ago, Drag-On is a name and flow we all remember. Well my inbox was blessed with his single and I feel like y’all need to hear it. Drag is back on his grind. He’s on a mixtape dropping this week, “The Crazies”. And he just completed his album which is due out real soon. In between running around doing appearances and studio sessions, Drag will be penciling me in for a sit down real soon. Until then, here is his single “Money”, which is being played on radio stations in NYC, Boston and all over internet radio. You can hear it here though. Follow him on Twitter @OfficialDragOn to stay in the loop. And if you have anything you would like to ask him, within reason of course, email me the question to LadyBlogga@gmail.com and I will be sure to ask him.
Editor's Note: Milwaukee emcee and the Grown Man Collective's own JC Poppe reached out to DJ Kid Cut Up and conducted the following interview. Thanks to both of them. Enjoy.
JC Poppe: What is your first memory of Hip-Hop? What got you interested in DJ'ing?
DJ Kid Cut Up: Skateboarding and kicking it with neighborhood friends got me into Hip-Hop, DJ'ing, graffiti, and lots of other random things.
JC: You are a crucial member of the Milwaukee Hip-Hop scene. When and how did you first get involved?
Kid Cut Up: I started DJ'ing out and about in Milwaukee around 2000. I had been DJ'ing a couple years already... quickly got involved with the Fader Grimmlins crew... FGC! That kinda opened me up to doing lots of things... was kicking it with Swan... John Swan a lot. Doing DJ and b boy battles and sneaking into Thai Joes for Nu Stylez's nights and Why B's Wheeled events.
JC: You've DJ'ed all over the country. What are some places/shows/events that you have played and what's the best story that you're allowed to tell us about one of your gigs?
Kid Cut Up: I've been honored to be a part of so many incredible events... Played at Soundset in Minneap the past two years... which is incredible. Played at Scribble Jam in Cincy a couple times... prolly one of the most important Hip-Hop festivals ever when you look at its span of over 10 years. And locally I got to be a part of the Miltown Beatdown... which is coming up again soon. It's an incredible event put on by DJ Madhatter... and I'm lucky enough to be the house DJ for the whole thing.
As for stories... so many stories. So little time... people should come out to a show so I can share one with them. Or better yet we can all make a story together.
JC: How has the economy effected your gigs?
Kid Cut Up: eh... promotional budgets got smaller so there was some trickle down in my area. but for the most part people will still go out and have a couple of drinks on their unemployment checks. I like to think I provide a good time and a release from all the world's craziness... and sometimes it seems that people need that more than ever.
JC: As a producer you are known for your bass heavy remixes. What got you into production? Why all the bass?
Kid Cut Up: Lately I've been making remixes because I have needs as a DJ that other music makers aren't filling. So I'm making the things I wish other people would make... cause I'm sure they would prolly do a better job. My production is simple and pretty straight forward... I go for effective. Hence all the bass. Bass works... a lot of rap music is only cool cause of the bass. And that's not a bad thing at all.
JC: You took over the famous Late Night Hype show spot on 91.7 WMSE after they decided to retire, forming the MadKids show. The show has had several rotations of co-hosts, but you have been the constant. What are some of the things that drew you to continue showcasing Hip-Hop in that time slot? Do you have any good stories for us yet?
Kid Cut Up: I was really fortunate that the station wanted to keep Hip-Hop programming in the same time slot and they asked me to be a part of their volunteer staff. I had always done things here and there with WMSE and had expressed interest in being more involved in the station... so when they asked me and DJ Madhatter to take over for the Late Night Hype guys it was a great fit. The show has been really incredible to be a part of, fun to do and a great learning experience for me. I appreciate it as an outlet to do things I don't get a chance to do elsewhere...
As for stories.... oh.... so many people to put on blast. But nah... another time.
JC: I know that you are assisting DJ Madhatter with some stuff in regards to the Miltown Beatdown, Milwaukee's amazing head to head producer battle. Is there anything you can tell us about your involvement with it this year and in the past?
Kid Cut Up: The Miltown Beatdown is DJ Madhatter's event. He runs it and conceives the whole thing... me and him have been friends for a long time... since the FGC days. And we always toss ideas back and forth and act as a sounding board on a lot of projects. At some point as the event grew and the demands for Madhatter to host became larger he realized it would be much easier if he had someone else do the DJ'ing while he ran the event. Luckily he asked me to help him out... cause I get the best seat in the house! It's definitely one of the best events I'm involved in every year. Madhatter does a great job of making it all happen and providing an awesome platform for producers in Milwaukee and its a great show piece for the positivity Milwaukee's Hip-Hop scene in general.
JC: You take Milwaukee Hip-Hop with you everywhere you go. What do you want the world to know out the MKE scene?
Kid Cut Up: ...that we are coming for your spots! [haha] And that they should book all of MKE's great talent now while its cheap and accessible. You can say you knew about us first!!! ...bring us to your cities!! [ha]
JC: Do you have any shout outs?
Kid Cut Up: No Requests Sound System. Record Breakers DJ Crew. The larger MKE DJ scene. The MKE rap scene. All my midwest homies... Come Ups, Mahf and Earthworms. SikeStyle and the Kansas City scene, the RSE guys, SuperBrush, King Otto, Mike 26, Espada and all the Minneap guys. G Spot and Derril Pounds in Oshkosh. FingerBangerz out west. DJ Platurn. Animal Crack and the Cincy homies. Vilas Park Sniper and the Madison DJ and Rap scene. MC Audio in Madison. All the B-boys and the people throwing battles... Big up ManOGod and Breaking the Law. And so many more... google everyone I just mentioned and check out their art and music!! And if you read all this shit and have no idea who I am... google me too. peace!
I had heard Dave Derrilykt of AudioPilot Productions beats before but didn't realize it until he reached out to me via email. It was one of those "Ah Ha" moments and I was like, "ooooooo, right, I loved that track."
The Milwaukee born and raised producer has worked with various Milwaukee emcees and is currently working with SPEAK Easy and JC Poppe on their new projects. He's closely connected with Uni-Fi Records and Grown Man Collective too.
As we were going back and forth via email, Dave hit me up with "Still Rising" a new track from SPEAK Easy, featuring Patrice Downey. The track had just been recorded.
The dude is dope.
I reached out to him for a Q&A. Check it and check out "Still Rising".
The Mad Bloggers: How long have you been producing?
Dave Derrilykt: I started messing with beats in the mid 90s ... and when I say messing with, I mean it. I had an alesis drum machine and all I could do was make drum patterns with it. Right around 2000 is when I found out that I could sample and make full instrumentals with pc based software.
TMB: What type of equipment are you using to create your tracks?
Dave: Right now I have an M-Audio Axiom 49 controller, m-audio fast track pro, Rokit 8 monitors, along with the Rokit 10 sub. My DAW's are Acid Pro 7, Soundforge 8, Reason 4.0, Recycle and a host of plug ins.
TMB: As a producer, who are you influenced by?
Dave: Man, really, RZA is who really made me want to make beats. That's really all there is to it.
TMB: What track describes who you are as a producer?
Dave: No particular track can really describe me as a producer. I don't have any one known format or style for making a beat.
TMB: Who are you working with currently?
Dave: SPEAK Easy, JC Poppe and my man, Panic... those are the three artists that I am currently working on projects with.
TMB: What projects do you have upcoming?
Dave: The two Projects that we have coming out in the next year are SPEAK Easy's album "So to Speak" and JC Poppe's album "The Tea Party"
TMB: If there was one thing you'd want heads to take away from MKE Hip-Hop, what would it be?
Dave: MKE Hip-Hop is incredibly diverse. I feel like we are sort of a melting pot of influences. The core structure of our music is the crazy amounts of creativeness and fun we have with it. The one thing I guess would be..."damn, that shit was bananas...." [HAHAHAHAHA]
"Still Rising" SPEAK Easy feat. Patrice Downey(produced by Dave Derrilykt)
I reached out to Ka$h of the Umbrella Music Group and did this interview via BBM, which combined both my love for Hip-Hop and my BlackBerry! Get to know the Milwaukee emcee a little more. Enjoy.
The Mad Bloggers: What made you decide to start rapping?
Ka$h: My mom use to always sing out loud in the crib. I'm the wise cracking family member. Proph made me take music seriously when he put lyrics to wax. I always wrote. I started out just rewriting my favorite lyrics from songs I heard. I just loved how it sounded put together. Then I started putting my own words together.
TMB: Who’s Proph?
Ka$h: My brother Prophetic. He’s not my blood brother but we have been friends for over 10 years, before we even thought about music.
TMB: Are you signed to a label?
Ka$h: I'm not signed to a label...but UMG (Umbrella Music Group) is the label if that makes sense lol.
TMB: Tell me about the Umbrella Music Group
Ka$h: The Umbrella Music Group is just a group of young black men using the team concept to push ourselves forward. We hope we are a young Sony in the making … we try to bring powerful, thoughtful music to the table. We feel like Hip-Hop is just the start of what could and will be.
TMB: What single are you pushing right now?
Ka$h:Right now the single Strength In Numbers, produced by Haz Solo. As far as performing and impact upon first listen, I had to run with it. And it’s my favorite track.
TMB: Do you have a real strong work ethic?
Ka$h: Work ethic is a funny thing with me. I go hard, but as far as solo me, I've slacked on creating that vault of music for myself. As far as my other duties as a member of my team, I try to never slack. So there is give and take.
TMB: Does the music have to be playing in order for you to decide to write something or are you random with it?
Ka$h: Bars come to me without music but I prefer to be around some type of beat to get in a zone.
Yo-Dot, Ka$h and Prophetic
TMB: What do you think about the state of Hip-Hop Music today? What can you bring to the table to make it better?
Ka$h: Hip-Hop is in another state of evolution. I think Hip-Hop being so marketable, people have confused it with being a dying sound. A lot of artists are trying to make hits and that's being pushed more to the forefront. But there is still the conscious, the Gangsta, the all around Hip-Hop styles. It’s just that the type we hear more often on the radio is the focused sound.
Hip-Hop is as powerful as it’s ever been with Drake and his Sprite deal, Jay and his ever-evolving biz deals. It’s just making us have to be that all around rapper if you want to do it. Hip-Hop went from one-dimensional artists to multi-dimensional artists. Sort of like basketball, how power forward's now shoot threes?
What can I bring? I can further that evolution. I have such a business way of thinking but I'm still such an artist that wants to push the limits every day. Every track. Every project.
TMB: Weed... Should it be legal? And do you need it to enhance your creative abilities?
Ka$h: I think ganja should be legal definitely. I feel like it’s less harmful than alcohol. It would hurt the governments, bottom line. So I think it’s a mute topic till they figure a way to employ all the Border Patrol, DEA, and make money off of it. I mean Border Patrol and DEA who will lose their jobs and find a way to gain profit on legalizing it. As far as enhancing my abilities....I think it gives me a jolt of creativity, but I don't need to be effective artistically.
TMB: Random: Boxers or briefs?
Ka$h: Boxers fa sho’. My last pair of briefs had some type of super hero on ‘em, when I was a wee boy.
TMB: What do you do for fun?
Ka$h: For fun I watch movies... I'm big into films. I can watch the same one over and over. I'm at the theater for the new releases I'm just into all types of movies. I’m a football and basketball junkie too... Great dad!!
TMB: You said "great dad"... Do you have kids and how does that impact your industry image?
Ka$h: I have a 3-year-old son. I think anybody involved in the industry or any career respects having kids. It’s harder to stay focused on your goals but you got that much harder to succeed because you have a living, breathing piece of motivation with you all day.
It must have been some point back in August 2009 when I received Kid Millions' "Victim to the Beat" track and video. It was dope. It was fresh.
Later that year he released "Recession Proof Rap" and as the initial press release said, "Milwaukee MC Kid Millions, known for his uplifting, often hilarious storytelling rhymes and unstoppable style, has generously dedicated his brain and body to the public welfare with the release of his new album, With nine huge-sounding tracks that take you from snooze alarm to pavement in seconds each, Kid Millions does not waste time or money."'
The dude is dope.
I recently reached out to Kid Millions for a Q&A
The Mad Bloggers: Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
Kid Millions: I was born and raised in Milwaukee on the Eastside of town and moved to Bay View around 7th Grade.
TMB: How long have you been doing music?
KM: I started making music back in 1993 in a group called 3'z Company. My friend, Tom Noble, started a ska band with BK One and we would get on stage and do a few live rap songs. Soon after that we got a DJ and started doing all ages live shows around town. That's how I got to know The Rusty Ps, Dana Coppa and A-Biz..
TMB: How would you describe your music?
KM: Old-school-pop-locking-dance-floor-rocking
TMB: Who are your musical influences?
KM: Freestyle Fellowship,Tyrone Davis, The Esquires,Dj Premier, James Brown,The Clash, Beach Boys, De La Soul and much more...
TMB: What projects are you currently working on?
KM: I would like to continue making tracks with Sage Shwarm from Codebreaker. Also there are plenty of other producers I wanna get with like Dylan Thomas, House of M cats, Reason & many others. Right now I'm still focusing on playing live shows to promote my new album "Recession Proof Rap".
Here’s the third leak from Miami based Basic Vocab’s new album A Better Way, which is due out in April. This song is called “Like A Star” and it features Jesse Boykins III.
I caught this track last night and got stuck. It went straight into repeat mode as I worked. It's not the first time I've heard A.P.R.I.M.E. on a track, nor is it the first Trellmatic produced track that I have enjoyed. A.P.R.I.M.E. and Trellmatic, both memebers of Milwaukee's own House of M, have been involved in quite a few tracks that I have enjoyed. The two have teamed up to form AUTOmatic, with a new album, "Audiology 2", on the way. "Brown Leather" is a dope ass example of the dynamic chemistry of the duo. Dope, dope, dope.
I caught Taiyamo Denku from the good folks over at Uncommon Records. Taiyamo Denku released "Articles of Mind" on January 26 and a free project, "Lost Thoughts" on the same day. The Milwaukee emcee definitely delivers on both projects.
"Articles of Mind" features Prince Po (Organized Konfusion), Marv Won, Keith Murray, Sabac Red, Vast Aire, Pumpkinhead, Mainflow and more. The album includes production from Ayatollah, Panic of Molemen, Nasa aka Adam Warlock, Willie Green, A.M. Breakups and others.
According to Taiyamo Denku, "Lost Thoughts is just a collab of tracks that either didn't make the album or remixes of songs from the album and tracks that I just felt defined me as a artist that could give people who’d never heard of me a chance to check me out."
Women are very interesting creatures and men just don’t get that. When it is that we’ve had enough of enough, it’s a done deal pretty much. There’s nothing anyone can say, or do to change that. There are a lot of things we are willing to stand for but a lot of things we just won’t. Relationships are hard enough without all the extra. And yes I know that sometimes we (women) are hard to deal with but you know what, you know that going in. People know what they are dealing with when they get themselves into certain situations. And that goes for women as well. Don’t get it to a point where you have her saying this fellas because once she’s fed up, there ain’t nothing’ you can do about it…. And it’s too late to talk about it. I always laugh at this song because some dudes would NEVER admit that this is how they really feel. And the ones that do, kudos to you. That’s what it’s all about.
Elle Razberry is the voice you find on various hooks from MKE emcees, including Raze and the House of M. I joked with her on twitter a few days back, calling her Milwaukee's female Nate Dogg.
But seriously, she lays down smooth vocals and with more projects on the way, including her own, I reached out to her for a Q&A. Enjoy.
The Mad Bloggers: How long have you been singing?
Elle Razberry: According to my mother since the day I was born, so thirty *mumble mumble* years or so. :) I started like most folks singing in choirs, through high school and college, and doing some musical theater. Over the years I have gone from singing in girl groups to a classic rock band. Whatever I could do to keep singing. In more recent years I have had the chance to combine my love for Hip-Hop with my love of singing.
TMB: Who are your musical influences?
ER: I am convinced that I have musical ADHD. I love music of all kinds and I'm influenced by so much. While my favorites include a lot of Hip-Hop and R&B artists, like Lauryn Hill or Erykah Badu, I also get a lot of influence from old blues and jazz singers that I grew up listening to with my maternal grandfather or even rock influences from my time performing with a cover band.
TMB: How did you get wrapped up in doing hooks forso many different artists?
ER: My brother, Raze (from the House of M), needed a hook done on a song a few years back for a track on his album, "Dreaming in Greyscale." We recorded it and things have just snowballed from there with more artists needing vocals on tracks. I've always been down if I dig what folks are working with to help the cause.
TMB: Who have you worked with?
ER: Most of the work people will recognize me from currently is with Raze or the House of M, however I have also done live back ups for Firey Phoenix and Relative Theory (Firey Phoenix and Viva Fidel).
TMB: What's upcoming?
ER: I have tracks that should be coming out soon including, one with KingHellBastard (KHB), a track on the new upcoming Automatic release from A.P.R.I.M.E. and Trellmatic and a few tracks on Raze's upcoming cd including one featuring Frankie Flowers and I, that we are all itching to drop.
TMB: When do we get an EP?
ER: That's the next step. I've been writing quite a bit more recently. I have played with the idea of putting a project of my own together for a while and now I am making the time to put in the work. The plan is to drop the EP, "Cure Elle" in the Fall of 2010.
TMB: What do you want folks to take away from MKE Hip-Hop?
ER: MKE's Hip-Hop scene is growing exponentially and because the field of players is getting bigger, the competition is getting greater. This scene has something for everyone from those that love lyricists to those that need a good club banger and the blood sweat and tears that is going into it on the part of the artists is showing through in the quality of their work. Folks definitely don't want to sleep on the Brew.
Yo-Dot is another talented emcee out of Milwaukee and another dope artist from the good folks over at the Umbrealla Music Group.
The first time I heard Yo-Dot was by way of his "Umbrella Season" video. Prophetic had hit me with the link. The track is laced with quotables and the beat is tough. It's one of those tracks that you have to play back a few times to catch it all.
One line stands out, "but I don't comprise nothing for a record spin..."
But "Umbrella Season" isn't the only dope track in Yo-Dot's catalog. There are many more. His rhymes are true and filled with passion. And working with some fine producers and other talented emcees doesn't hurt either.
I reached out to Yo-Dot for a Q&A.
The Mad Bloggers: Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
Yo-Dot: I'm from the Northwest-Side of Milwaukee, Sherman Park Blvd
TMB: How long have you been doing music? Yo-Dot: I've been recording in a actual studio and pursuing a professional career since 2001
TMB: Who do you work with on your music? Yo-Dot: I work with Adlib, Dame Ellington (Co-Founder of UMG) Royal Fam (Prophetic & Ka$h) Misen Lync and A-Xtra (UMG's Primary Manager)
TMB: Who are your musical influences? Yo-Dot: My musical influences are my hood ... Prophetic ... Tay Butler ... Ka$h ... My son and the City of Milwaukee in General
TMB: Which one of your tracks really speaks to who you are as an emcee? Yo-Dot: As far a the one track that speaks to me as a MC, I would have to say "No Matter What". It kinda explains the turbulence I've encountered as far as pursuing a recording career like. All the doubts and the personal experiences living in a environment filled with violence and the harsh realities of being surrounded with death and the unfortunate loss of life around me
TMB: What projects are you currently working on? Yo-Dot: I'm currently working on my webtape (online mixtape) "DOT-BALERSTRERRI" .... If you know any history on the "Balistrerri Italian Family" you would identify with the significance of the concept. Me and Ka$h are five songs deep into our next Release (TBD) and another MKE artist by the name of ILL-B (Off the Block ENT) entitled "Call of Duty (Modern Warfare)" and my debut album (Fall '10)
TMB: If there was one thing you'd want people to take away from MKE Hip-Hop what would it be? Yo-Dot: As far as what I want people to take away from MKE's music is that its a more "Diverse" sound to our City as far as what you hear from past pioneers and the music you hear from the radio. Everyone isn't talking 'bout ridding on rims and stuntin and having money!!!! There's an untold story to Milwaukee, and I feel it's my job to let the general public know the real and harsh realities of Milwaukee. We're not all just smiling and having money like people portray on records!!!
