Tag: RAP

Director Vera Edwards

 

Vera Edwards is an award-winning American independent film director/producer/and author. Born and raised in the South Bronx, Edwards took her life experience and applied it to film. She and her son Ricardo Cordero began their Journey as visual storytellers by gathering independent artist from the streets and giving them a platform to express their talent by allowing them to further their careers as actors.

Edwards and her son formed Street Line Video an underground media video production team for unsung talent. Edwards and her son Ricardo Cordero have recorded major celebrities on and off stage such as Babyface, Charlie Wilson, Nikki Minaj, New Edition, The Ojays, Millie Jackson, Kurtis Blow Rick Ross just to name a few. She states after filming so many celebrities and helping them retain themselves in the music industry it was time that her son an herself needed to embark on creating history for themselves. She then wrote her first novel Band of Gold, which was one of the urban communities best selling books, you can get it free on Amazon. Edwards stated it was the book that she wanted to turn into a movie drama. Readers requested more of her work that's when She learned  that our stories need to be told. So she then decided to shoot her own movies to generate her audience and followers, because of the high demand of her first novel Band of Gold Edwards wrote scripts for her son to shoot and edit and distribute across the world.

Edwards has had several Independent films that played in the theater such as Chick-en, Waiting 4 Mr. Wright starring Michael Clee from The Fearless 4, a their first novella titled Perate starring Tito from the 1980s group The fearless four.  All three of these movies won Beta awards and had sold out shows. Edwards also has a soap opera title "Rodent" the Urban Soap opera which was released as a web series which was a drama and a battle rap movie titled PPRESSED starring Karine Sho-time Thornton and Mikey D (Michael Deering) of the Legendary 90s hip hop rap group Main Source. These movies met all kinds of genre in all types of countries. Which made the two web series a download hit. 

Edwards latest work a pandemic movie titled a teenage story starring La Sunshine from the 1980s hip hop rap group The treacherous three, Grandwizard Theodore creator of DJ scratch and Stevie D from the 1980s r&b group The Force Mds was aired during the lock-down of the COVID 19 pandemic. The pandemic had the whole world staying in the house for a year and a half 2020 and a portion of 2021. The movie a teenage story was released on youtube for free and generated over 800,000 views. Not bad for and independent full featured movie. Since the pandemic has been lifted somewhat Edwards has started working on a new up-and-coming movie tv drama for the 2023 fall tv line up (now in production). She guarantees her audience will love this one. All movies can be viewed and seen all over the world. Edwards and her son Ricardo Cordero said they will continue to work as a directors and pride themselves by continuing to promote artist who couldn't receive a fair chance in the entertainment world. You can watch all of their movie on youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-wMxedqsYlGlg2HezxvWmA


  

The Rise of Dub Pudgy

I’m back at it again. It’s been a while. The pen been a little dry, well, not exactly, just been putting it to use on other projects but I’m back and it’s time for some new shit to be introduced. In my Craig Mack voice, “I’m kickin’ new flava in ya ear!” LOL! Anyways, there’s this particular artist. I met through family, so he is kind of like family to me too. Harlem’s finest and doing the damn thing as of lately dropping new dope music and music videos as well. I love to see people working, grinding, and shining. He goes by the name Dub Pudgy. Born as Michael Jordan, Jr. on October 9th, 1991, Pudgy’s another underground rap artist whose an up and coming talent whose been one busy individual. I’m very picky about talent and music but it’s the drive, dedication, and consistency that catches my eye. Let’s take it back to the very beginning of things, shall we?? Coming from Harlem, Pudgy’s family bond, in the beginning, was a really close one, and then things became different for him. He says, “At first, I had a family that was really close together, after more than a few deaths along with misunderstandings, that went away and it made things harder in the sense of being alone.” Unfortunately, family dynamics do change. Whether we want them to or not. A family, a foundation always shapes what type of adult the child will eventually become. It’s those unfortunate times that helps spark a young creative mind too. With the bad also comes with the good. Pudgy continues on about his days as a child and his inspirations and influences. “My elders, as in famous people, Tupac, Lil’ Wayne, and Will Smith, but mainly my Nana, grandmother and deep conversation with my brothers.” Having the love, support, and bond with our loved ones are very important just as much as our influences from entertainment. These things always reveal who we become as artists. Inspiration can come from anywhere outside of our main influences though. Energy never lies and what you associate with you will pick up. Even just minding your business walking down the street. Pudgy tells more about his where his inspirations come from. He says, “There’s something about being around people with good energy and when I just wrote something or performed, the reaction was so addictive and motivating that I became consumed in becoming great and making this a career.” No greater feeling than getting positive love, energy, and reciprocation back from those who are watching and listening. It’s what keeps an artist consistent and true to what they do. Speaking of doing, Pudgy is definitely doing the damn thing indeed. Music, music videos, collaborations, I love to see it all. My YouTube subscription box has Dub Pudgy music videos, he sends me texts of his links, it’s why I had to come back and give him his props for what he is doing. I asked Pudgy to speak more about his work and what he has going on currently. “My new single “Be Better” is out now on all platforms, the album “Harlem Legends”, and the video to “Be Better” will be out soon and we got more than music coming soon too.” Truly exciting. I love it all. Just wanted to make sure the people get into this as well. The sounds are very new school class of Harlem rap for the current generation. It’s all about the good times, good vibes, and positive energy. Youthful, hood, yet hopeful, optimistic, and fun Black-ness. When you reach a certain level and point in the field that you chose, reflecting on your progress and growth always humbles you. You also think about your life choices in the past because they definitely gave you the lessons you needed in order to get to where are you are currently. Any regrets at all?? Pudgy responds, “Every choice I’ve made got me to be the man that’s here today so no.” There you have it! No regrets. Full on confidence. He continues, “I see growth. You’re never too old to learn to be better.” Indeed. Never too old. Life goes on. To hear more from Dub Pudgy, you can find him on Facebook as MrNocap Withthehood and on Instagram @itz_justdub. 

Written by Jalen Hemphill 

The Sounds of Ondré!

Life has a beautiful of connecting you to people. So many people I’ve met and connected with over the years and I’m still pretty much cool with majority of them. From 2014 to about 2019, I was a student attending Hostos Community College here in The Bronx. Those are my glory days both educationally and creatively. I had a lot of fun during those days but the real fun I had was outside of the classrooms. There was a studio upstairs on the third floor and when I used to go to the studio, it was such an amazing experience being in there with everybody that I knew. We laughed, we chat, we created, we debated, and most of all, we were the same crowd that was a big part of the talent shows that was created way later during the day. Seeing everybody performing and having fun was the greatest. There’s also a political side of how things used to work at the school as far as the people and the events but that’s a whole other story to tell. Anyways, so much talent was there at Hostos Community College. One guy in particular who I always thought was super cool and of course talented, every time we seen each other it was always love and respect. This guy even hired me to DJ one of the very last talent shows I performed at and paid me cash and said “I gotchu bro!” One of the coolest, realest, and most talented dudes I’ve ever met. Smooth with it too with a bit of seriousness that didn’t intimidate you but enough to show this guy respect. He goes by the stage name Ondré. Born in New Rochelle on January 25th, 2000, Nashon Deondré Headley was raised here in the Boogie Down Bronx. BX stand up! Represent, represent! LOL! This is where the real story begins. Headley talks about life growing up. “Life was full of music for me growing up. I grew up in the church so I was always around gospel music and instruments. I picked up an acoustic guitar and started learning chords. I picked up drum sticks and started learning rhythm. I pressed piano keys and learned melody. I even plucked the bass and learned to groove. My whole life growing up revolved around music and God. I then used my skills that I learned from a young age and brought it over to the digital world. Producing beats, mixing vocals & mastering tracks was the next step I took to elevate my skillset. From there I became an artist, writing about real life things that many can relate to, while still mentioning God and how he’s helped me.” That incredible! Very inspiring. The only instrument I learned how to use was piano. Took a class on that while I was at Hostos. I remember feeling so good and elevated as a creative. I learned quick too. Music always came easy to me so to hear about someone knowing how to play so many musical instruments is truly inspiring. Makes me wanna relearn the piano again too. He continues, “Growing up I listened to a lot of gospel rap like Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Tedashii. I even started to listen to Chance the Rapper (my favorite rapper at the time) and I was inspired to make music with a message. Today, taking my music more serious and stepping into the industry, I learn from people like Russ, who talks about gaining leverage by doing things independently and without a record label. I’m also inspired by many of my mentors and friends, Brandon Jhon, Mark Ferg, Eric Penn, Kyle McEvoy, & Professor Joesph Carvhalo.” Nice! I love the confidence and wisdom that’s pouring out. Doing your thing and learning the ropes along the way, that’s very important. Headley also tells me about his start as an artist. The exact thing that makes one truly inspired to step into their greatness. He says, “There was an old cartoon called Class of 3000, where Andre 3000 was the teacher and had a band. They made an online game that allowed you to have different instruments and drums and put it together and make a whole song (and save it as well). This sparked the digital creation of music for me. Also In high school, I saw a couple of friends making music and rapping, when I saw the support they got and how good their music was, a light flickered in me and I told myself, I could do better (not in a bad malice kind of way). In high school I started to make music and I never looked back.” Of course it isn’t in a malicious way. That’s jealousy and spite, this experience is authentic, pure, organic, and truly from the heart of just wanting to be great. Big difference! Sad to say though, there are people doing music for other reasons besides it being something they’re passionate about but that’s nobody’s business but there’s. I love a purely talented individual with a drive to match. It hits differently. Especially when you actually have music out for people to hear. Headley talks about his projects. “Right now, I have an EP out called “Two Emotional” and a single called “I Can’t Breathe.” In the future, I’m releasing a song called “Love Talk” for Valentines day and a song called “Limbo” in March.” That’s exciting! Can’t wait to hear them all. Only dope talent makes me excited. Being an artist takes so much time, money, and patience to be. Definitely to prefect and hone your skills too. It’s a great feeling when you’ve been doing it for some years now and are able to acknowledge that. Even in this journey as an artist, we sometimes have regrets. What’s yours bro? “I regret not being more consistent. You could make the best music, release it and get amazing feedback and stats, but if you’re not continuously doing it over time, your hype starts to die out.” Yes!!! That’s wisdom right there! I quickly learned that as an artist, you definitely have to be consistent but you have to learn to keep the people’s attention by showcasing other sides of you. What others talents you can showcase? Keep doing that until you have new music coming out. It’s like having side jobs. Your main thing is being an artist but you have something on the side to keep you going while still keeping your main audience. So many loopholes to this artist thing, especially in the social media/digital age now. Completely different ball game but yes, super relatable. Consistency is the key. With consistency and hard work, your talent definitely shines through and keeps you in the game. That’s called longevity. You want to be here for more years to come so what are your goals years from now? “Years from now I see myself in my own commercial media studio. A studio that has many different rooms for different purposes, recording, photography, videography, live room with instruments, etc. I see my self managing various artists under my new record label Sound Supply Records.” Much respect! Incredible. Follow this talented brother on all his social media outlets. IG: @soundsupplyrecords & @thatsondre, Twitter: @thatsondre, Facebook: facebook.com/thatsondre & Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/thatsondre.

Written by Jalen Hemphill

SLICK RICK

Richard Martin Lloyd Walters (born January 14, 1965); better known as Slick Rick, Rick The Ruler and MC Ricky D, is a British-American rapper. He has released four albums: The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988), The Ruler’s Back (1991), Behind Bars (1994) and The Art of Storytelling (1999). His music has been sampled and interpolated over 600 times, in over 35 songs by artists including Eminem, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, The Beastie Boys, TLC, Nas, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, Black Star, The Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, MC Ren, Montell Jordan and Color Me Badd. In the process, Walters has become the most-sampled hip-hop artist ever. Many of these songs based on Slick Rick samples went on to become hit singles. He’s been a VH-1 Hip Hop Honors honoree, and  ranked him No. 12 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time, while The Source ranked him No. 15 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. He has acted and cameoed in 10 movies and videos.

Walters was born and raised in the southwest London district of Mitcham, to a British-Jamaican family. He was blinded in the right eye by broken glass as an infant. In 1976, he and his family migrated to the United States, settling in the Baychester area of the Bronx. At Fiorello H. Laguardia High School of Music & Art, where he majored in visual art, Rick met Dana Dane. The pair became close friends and formed The Kangol Crew, performing at school contests, parks and local hole-in-the-wall clubs.

At a 1984 talent showcase he entered, Rick met Doug E. Fresh. Impressed by Rick’s talent, Doug made him a member of his Get Fresh Crew (which also included DJs Chill Will and Barry Bee). Doug’s beatbox and Rick’s fresh flow turned “The Show”/”La Di Da Di” into an international anthem that turned rap music on its head and became the launching pad for “Hip Hop’s greatest storyteller.”

His career began in late 1985; Walters first gained success in the rap industry after joining Doug E. Fresh’s Get Fresh Crew, using the stage name MC Ricky D. He was featured on the single “The Show” and its even more popular B-side, “La Di Da Di”, which featured Walters’ rapping over Doug E. Fresh’s beatbox. Both tracks gained some mainstream attention, they appeared on Top of the Pops and Soul Train with the Get Fresh Crew. Reflecting on the double-sided gem in Rolling Stone magazine, Roots drummer and Tonight Show bandleader Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson said, “Point blank: Slick Rick’s voice was the most beautiful thing to happen to hip-hop culture […] Rick is full of punchlines, wit, melody, cool cadence, confidence and style. He is the blueprint.”

In 1986, Slick Rick joined Russell Simmons’ Rush Artist Management and became the third artist signed to Def Jam Records, the leading rap/hip-hop label at the time. Collaborating with his friend, DJ Vance Wright, Walters produced his solo debut, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, which came out in 1988 on Def Jam. The album was very successful, reaching the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop chart. It also featured three charting singles: “Children’s Story”, “Hey Young World”, and “Teenage Love”. The release is known for its storytelling and vocal characterizations. “With the combination of Rick’s Dick Van Dyke-on-dope accent and his unique narrative style, the record was an instant classic,” wrote critic Matt Weiner. “Each of Rick’s songs was an amusing, enthralling story that lasted from the first groove to the last.”

In 1989, Walters’ mother, Veronica, hired his first cousin, Mark Plummer, as his bodyguard. By 1990, Plummer had become a liability, having tried numerous times to extort money from the artist. Plummer was fired and, unsatisfied with his severance package, tried to rob Walters on numerous occasions and also threatened to kill the rapper and his mother. When Walters found bullet holes in his front door, he bought guns for protection. On July 3, 1990, Walters spotted Plummer in his neighborhood, and fired at least four shots. One bullet hit Plummer; another caught a passerby in the foot. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries.

He eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder and other charges, including assault, use of a firearm, and criminal possession of a weapon. The rapper called it an act of self-defense. He spent five years in prison, two for the then-second-degree attempted-murder charges he received for the shooting, and three for his struggle with the Immigration and Naturalization Services over his residency in the U.S. He was released from prison in 1997

After being bailed out by Russell Simmons, Walters recorded his second album, The Ruler’s Back, released in 1991. Despite peaking at No. 29 on the Billboard 100, the album received mixed reviews and wasn’t as commercially successful as his debut. In the documentary film, The Show, Russell Simmons interviewed Walters while he was imprisoned on Rikers Island.

Walters’ third studio album (the fourth for Def Jam) Behind Bars was released in 1994, while he was still incarcerated. It was met with lukewarm sales and reviews. Behind Bars peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and No. 51 on the Billboard 200.

Walters remained with the Def Jam label, and on May 25, 1999, released a fourth album, The Art of Storytelling. Generally considered the authentic follow-up to his 1988 debut, The Art of Storytelling was an artistically successful comeback-album that paired him with prolific MCs like Nas, OutKast, Raekwon, and Snoop Dogg. The Los Angeles Times announced it as the “triumphant return of rap’s premier yarn-spinner,” calling the song “2 Way Street” “a much-needed alternative to rap’s misogynistic slant.” It charted higher than any of Slick Rick’s prior releases: No. 8 on the Billboard 200; No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

After performing on a Caribbean cruise ship in June 2001, Walters was arrested by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) as he re-entered the United States through Florida. He was promptly told that he was being deported under a law allowing deportation of foreigners convicted of felonies. Rick was continuously refused bail, but after 17 months in prison he was released on November 7, 2003. In October 2006, the Department of Homeland Security began a new attempt to deport Walters back to the United Kingdom, moving the case from the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit based in New York to the more conservative Eleventh Circuit. The court is based in Atlanta, Georgia but the trial was expected to proceed in Florida, where immigration agents originally arrested Walters.

On May 23, 2008, New York Governor David Paterson granted Slick Rick a full and unconditional pardon on the attempted murder charges. The governor was pleased with his behavior since the attempted murders. Slick Rick has volunteered his time to mentor kids about violence.

Walters married his wife Mandy Aragones in April 1997, four years after the couple met at a Manhattan nightclub. The performer has two children, Ricky Martin Lloyd Santiago and Lateisha Walters, from a previous relationship. He and his wife have donated about a dozen items from his collection to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Slick Rick and the Soul Rebels Brass Band collaborated on June 21, 2012 in Washington, D.C. at the historic Howard Theatre which re-opened in April 2012.

In 2014, Rick participated in Will.i.am’s “Trans4M” concert, which raised more than $2.4 million for the music producer’s i.am.angel Foundation.

In addition, Rick recently was a Mixx Cares Humanitarian Award recipient.

On April 15, 2016, Rick was granted U.S. citizenship, remarking, “I am so proud of this moment—and so honored to finally become an American citizen.” He will also retain his UK citizenship.

On November 2, 2018, Rick released the single “Snakes Of The World Today”.

Written by Dianne Washington

What Happened To Hip Hop

I remember when my mom introduced me to hip hop back in the early eighties. She would play sounds of Flash and the Furious Five, Kool Moe Dee and Afrikka Bambatta. I jammed to the sounds of Erick B. and Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and KRS One and the Boogie Down Production. I loved to record songs on my tape deck to listen to in my Walkman. It was the late eighties when I began jamming to the tunes of Salt & Pepa, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and YoYo. These were the female MC’s that every young girl aspired to be like. From the style of dress, down to the no nonsense attitudes, the first ladies of Hip Hop were the epitome of excellence. Back in the beginning hip hop contained lyrical content and a message that empowered the community. We were proud of the hip hop culture and all that it stood for. The question now is What Happened To Hip Hop? The new hip hop generation is filled with trap rappers that have poor lyrical content with catchy hooks and illicit messages. The focus is no longer about striving to improve the community. It’s now about adapting by the use of drugs and alcohol. There is blatant disrespect for women and women disrespecting themselves to sell records. The saddest part is that these are the people that the urban community looks to as role models. Little girls want to look like Barbie Dolls and Twerk like the celebrities that they hear and see degrading themselves on MTV and popular radio stations. Female MC’s went from “Who You Calling A Bitch to calling themselves bitches”. There is no more respect for the community in my favorite music genre. Instead the message is about popping pills, drinking alcohol, selling drugs and initiating violence. I would like to give a heartfelt apology to the pioneers of hip hop for the blatant disrespect of the culture. Again let me ask What Happened To Hip Hop
Written By:
Regina Annette

Jadakiss takes over the Bronx

“SummerStage”? Well, over 7,000 park goers and residents from the Bronx can. Sunday, August 6th, 2017 in Tremont park in the Bronx, the weather was mellow, the people was eager. Originally, the concert was suppose to take place in Crotona park at the Amphitheatre in the Bronx, but was moved to a bigger stage a few blocks down the street. Signs were posted “Jadakiss concert moved to Tremont west Crotona park.” People scurried and packed up their chairs and ran over to the other side of the park.

It was old timers day and everybody was there – old, young, family and friends. This was the day every year when people got together from different states or different boroughs. They came from everywhere just to see one another. Crotona park was packed. At 4pm, park goers got the word that the Jadakiss concert was being moved to the Tremont. Why? The Amphitheatre that was going to hold the concert wasn’t big enough to handle the massive crowd. It was already 4pm on the west side of Tremont of Crotona park – a packed crowd of about 5,000 was already there. Jadakiss was not even on stage so it made sense that they moved the concert to the other side of the park especially with all the cookouts and parties that was happening on the other side of Crotona Park. The crowd was still gathering, the DJ spun music for the crowd to dance and cheer to the music. The concert started a little after 6pm. A 14 year old rapper from the Bronx took the stage and turned the crowd on. He was the opening act. Now, the crowd needed some exercise – a local workout group call Bartendaz came on stage to explain how important physical fitness was.

Jadakiss got on stage and the crowd went wild.  The rapper brung out his special guest to perform BlackJunior M.A.F.I.A performed some of his  greatest hits. The mini concert was like being at Madison Square Garden. Jadakiss began performing his top hits. The crowd rapped along with him. This was a great day for the Bronx Thanks to SummerStage.

 

lil cease   street line   street line   street line

The BXtraordinary One: The Introduction of Alex Villafaña

Refreshing, ambitious, someone with actual talent, not the usual thing that you hear everywhere else and definitely an extraordinary one with a voice that represents hunger, wanting to succeed, but also being thankful and showing love to those he appreciates. Not forgetting where he comes from and where he is going. Alex Villafaña is a dope upcoming artist from the Highbridge section of The Bronx whose also a current Hostos Community College graduate. I personally had the honor of meeting this dude over a year ago when we were in the same Linguistics class. Of course, his image makes him noticeable and hard to ignore but with a voice over a fresh and polished hip hop/trap beat, Villafaña keeps your attention. The homie who you can definitely sit down and actually have a discussion with about hip hop, a Jay-Z or a Nas album two, he’s definitely what I would call, according to one of his songs, the “BXtraordinary” one. His mixtape “Looking For The Title” explains it all. It’s a body of work that’s about a young man whose trying to find his way and who is on his way to the top at the same time. Taking and learning from what life is giving to him, not forgetting where he comes from, using that to make him both a better person and artist. His latest single, which is a freestyle joint called “Nas Album Done”, is something just a little more dope though. So short, so simple but straight to the point. Love to witness dope talent from my hometown. More reminders that not all rap is wack, especially ones who can actually rap. To check out his music, his SoundCloud is Alex Villafana, add him on Facebook at Alex Villafaña and follow him on Instagram @villianhustle.

I GOT BARS. I GOT BARS. I GOT BARS.

This is a common phrase when it comes to rap. The terminology is a consice way of telling people I rap and I’m good at it. However the three words take on a life of their own when affiliated to Brute Camp. Brute Camp is a two member Hip Hop group comprised of NYC rappers Profit and  King Sleeps.
Prophit met King Sleeps in the Winter of 2005 at the Brooklyn Woods Workshop, at that point Brute Camp was formed. I GOT BARS became the mantra.

Profit is from Venezuela, raised as a kid in Colombia and moved to the United States in the summer of 1991 at the age of seven.  King Sleeps, Born in Brooklyn, NY into a musical household, Sleeps began developing his craft at the tender age of seven.

In the hip hop culture it is imperative to stand out and be noticed. This is true when it comes to Brute Camp. Their music weighs on the side of brash and in your face, with songs like Overrated and Shake and Twerk. The two members who are very much different on the surface combine to make a perfect match in music and business. Profit who is affectionately known as Proph takes standing out very personal. The start of the I GOT BARS apparel line with everything from Neck ties to T-shirts has been pushed by Proph and Sleeps.  There’s not a place Proph or Sleeps has been seen without thitm repping their brand. When asked How did the idea of I Got Bars come about? Proph answered ” The idea I Got Bars came about to make a point that listeners were not too interested in the lyrics or the message that a song had so we incorporated I got bars into clothing were audience could see what we were really are about.

Proph also states coming to  the USA in 1991was imperative for his families survival.  During them years, it was heavy poverty and a high crime rate percentage, Pablo Escobar era.

Both crew members agree it was a great idea to bring out I GOT BARS to the public eye. The rationalization is since people don’t want to hear it or know about it they will have to see it.  They go further and believe it brings a lot musicians together in different genres. I Got Bars apparal can be seen on the likes of celebrities such as Wyclef, swizz beats, Remy Ma, 50cent, Benzino, Joell Ortiz, Keith Murray, KRS One, Mc Lyte, Black Rob, Murda Mook, Fred the Godson, Producer illmind, Chris Rivers, Cory Gunz, Papoose, Charlie Clips, Cassidy and more.

Brute camp’s  drive comes from being lyricists and artists that enjoy story telling in a music form. The listener can hear the message and visualize what is being presented to them.

To shine light on their music, Brute Camp has numerous music videos, songs streaming on SoundCloud and other internet resources. In all fairness, their stamp I Got Bars is better known than the groups official name which is BRUTE CAMP. My job as a journalist and writer is to bring awareness and inform individuals of what they should be tuned in to. BRUTE CAMP. The music should be listened to for entertainment, lyrics and visual storytelling.

When you think of real Hip Hop think of BRUTE CAMP and know they Have Bars.
Follow them on IG @Brute_Camp

Written by Sugarhill Sky.
*No funds were given or services bartered for this write up.
For event coverage, write ups, reviews etc.
sugarhillsky13@gmail.com

GO SHAWTY IT’S YA BIRTHDAY

Curtis James Jackson III was born July 6, 1975 aka Boo Boo known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, businessman, and investor. Born in the South Jamaica neighborhood of the borough of Queens, Ny. In 1996 a friend introduced him to Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC, who was establishing Jam Master Jay Records. Jay taught him how to count bars, write choruses, structure songs and make records. His first appearance was on “React” with Onyx, for their 1998 album Shut ‘Em Down. He credited Jam Master Jay for improving his ability to write hooks, and Jay produced Jackson’s first (unreleased) album in 1999 after Jackson left Jam Master Jay, the platinum-selling producers Trackmasters signed him to Columbia Records. They sent him to an upstate New York studio, where he produced thirty-six songs in two weeks; eighteen were included on his 2000 album, Power of the Dollar. 50  founded Hollow Point Entertainment with former G-Unit member Bang ‘Em Smurf also has had a highly successful business career. He is financially invested in a highly diversified variety of industries such as  now involved in artist and talent management, record, television, and film production, footwear, apparel, fragrances, liquor, video games, mobile apps, book publishing, headphones “which I own a pair” health drinks and dietary supplements. His broad business and investment portfolio contains investments in a variety of sectors including real estate, financial market investments, mining, boxing promotion, vodka which is good it’s called Effen Vodka it comes in different flavors, fragrances, consumer electronics and fashion.  He established his own record label G-Unit Records in 2003 following his mainstream success. In November 2003, he signed a five-year deal with Reebok to distribute a G-Unit Sneakers line for his G-Unit Clothing Company. In an interview regarding his vast business empire, Jackson says his businesses have a habit of doing well as he sees all of his ventures both past and present as revolving around his alter ego. Jackson has also started a book publishing imprint, G-Unit Books on January 4, 2007 at the Time Warner Building in New York. He has written a number of books including a memoir, From Pieces To Weight in 2005 where it sold 73,000 copies in hardcover and 14,000 copies in paperback; a crime novel and a book with Robert Greene titled The 50th Law, an urban take on The 48 Laws of Power. In November 2011, Jackson released 50 Cent’s Playground, a young adult fiction novel about a bullied, violent kid and his gay mom.

One of Jackson’s first business ventures was a partnership with Glacéau to create an enhanced water drink called Formula 50. In October 2004, Jackson became a beverage investor when he was given a minority share in the company in exchange for becoming a spokesperson after learning that he was a fan of the beverage. The health conscious Jackson noted that he first learned of the product while at a gym in Los Angeles, and stated that “they do such a good job making water taste good.” After becoming a minority shareholder and celebrity spokesperson, Jackson worked with the company to create a new grape flavored “Formula 50” variant of VitaminWater and mentioned the drinks in various songs and interviews. In 2007, Coca-Cola purchased Glacéau for $4.1 billion and, according to Forbes, Jackson, who was a minority shareholder, earned $100 million from the deal after taxes. e no longer has an equity stake in the company, Jackson continues to act as a spokesperson for Vitaminwater, enthusiastically supporting the product including singing about it at the BET Awards and expressing his excitement over the company’s continuing to allow his input on  products. He joined Right Guard to introduce a body spray (Pure 50 RGX)  50 Cent signed a multi-year deal with Steiner Sports to sell his memorabilia, and announced plans for a dietary-supplement company in conjunction with his film Spectacular Regret in August 2017. his career Jackson has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and won several awards, including a Grammy Award, thirteen Billboard Music Awards, six World Music Awards, three American Music Awards and four BET Awards. He has pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2005), the Iraq War film Home of the Brave (2006) and Righteous Kill (2008). 50 Cent was ranked the sixth-best artist of the 2000s and the third-best rapper (behind Eminem and Nelly) by Billboard. Rolling Stone consider Get Rich or Die Tryin‘ and “In Da Club” to be in their lists of “100 Best albums of the 2000s” and “100 Best songs of the 2000s” at numbers 37 and 13.  50 Cent is a very down to earth person his performances are good. 50 Cent has a new album called G to the Street for 2017

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