When Old Skool & Modern Day Rap Collide, Rapper Alan Ward Arrives
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RAP ARTIST, ALAN WARD
Gold chains, luxury cars, endless vacations, and being the king of the world have become the chosen epitome of who the rappers are that we see plastered all over our screens, and what lifestyle they represent. For decades, whether they know it or not, a silent internal battle has been brewing within them with the tough decision of following the copy and paste aesthetics presented to them in board meetings or simply being who they’ve always been before making it big with lights behind their names. There’s no surprise that it has become second nature for hundreds of talented hip hop artists who swung the doors open into a mainstream career to place themselves inside formulas built by others. Fortunately for the culture, there is still a tiny pool of authentic and raw artists choosing to remain themselves. Milwaukee-born, Baltimore-based hip hop creative, Alan Ward being at the tippity top of that list!
RAP artist, alan ward
Known for reviving and putting back on all the bells and whistles onto the golden era of hip-hop, Ward has easily been championed by communities in both Milwaukee and Baltimore as the physical manifestation when old school hip hop collides with modern day and new age rap. Alan has made it his mission to strip down the false narrative of gold chains, luxury cars, and daily shopping sprees (yes, like the ones Nisi & Mickey took with Mr.Manley in B.A.P.S.) and transform it into a space where reality is the bread and butter, not rap cap. It didn’t take long for me to realize which road the icon chose to lay as the foundation for his career once I witnessed the megastar live and in the flesh. During the 3rd annual Passion Park Fest, a multi-day music festival birthed right here in MKE, located at Uptowner Dive Bar [1032 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212], Alan hit the stage and left nothing unsaid! His lively interaction with the crowd amazed me as I noticed people from all different walks of life in Milwaukee were laser-focused on this tall man whose lyrics made him seem like he knew how to read the minds of everyone in the venue.
RAP ARTIST, ALAN WARD
Every jump he made on the stage intensified his powerful yet swaggy lyrics the crowd already knew by heart. One thing I know for sure is that his microphone was ON from second Ward stepped foot onto the Passion Park Fest stage; making it his auditory playground, I soon realized recess was in session for all of us. It felt refreshing to identify with music that was both feel-good yet carefully intentional with punchlines that told stories of you, me, and anybody else in the city of MKE.
“I vividly remember how music made people react. Witnessing my mom’s mood change because of turning on a song or laughter striking my uncle as soon as the chorus to his favorite songs came on, stirred something inside me. I fell in love with how music makes people feel. That’s what intrigued me to start my journey in creating art.”
While the rest of us couldn’t decide which clubs to join in middle school, rhymes, stories, and hooks were roaming off the walls of Ward’s middle school walls. He thought about music from sun up to sundown and it became a form of storytelling for him. Being a fully independent artist has been the golden key of preserving his style of storytelling and the hip hop creative’s strategy to maneuver the entertainment industry authentically. Both musicians and those who are die-hard lovers and supporters of the essence of music are equipped with the knowledge that it is almost inevitable to be told what to do, how to dress, who to date, and who to be in the entertainment industry, especially in the realm of music. Staying true to yourself and in your original being is a gamble that many are never willing to take. From the talented rapper’s early album, “Dolo” to his latest genius release, “Great Time” Alan’s footprints have always stayed consistent in the direction of his legacy, platform, and message are planted; being his real self and not allowing himself to be puppeteered by anyone and anything.
Rap artist, alan ward
“Listeners need to see and hear about us artists experiencing losses and when our lives are lifing so that it resonates with them every time they press play on the record so that a consistent connection is made that they can each identify with”
Everyday life as a rapper is not a snapshot of them living in mansions, drinking champagne, and being the kings and queens of the world 25/8 (even though a handful of them get lucky and this is their reality). Alan wants the world to know that rappers experience loss too just like the average joe; romantically, financially, mentally, the list goes on and on. Throughout his adolescent years, hearing relatable music reassured Ward that his aspirations with music were in arm’s reach and not a dream being sold to him. With seeing artists who looked like him and voiced things he identified with, this put a major battery in his back to keep persistency and rawness at the core of his music career. Even though most of his audience calls themselves the “rap-nerds” of our generation, anyone who loves music and pop-culture, the creative’s melodic message applies to any and everyone.
Each and every one of us in this lifetime have experienced wins and losses, and we will all continue to experience them both. Alan’s message is that your losses do not define you, it’s what you do after them that counts. Your wins may not look or feel the same as someone else’s, which is why comparisons should be non-existent. Your reality is what you make it; from the trajectory of your career, whose apart of your village, and what roads you are taking to lead you to complete peace and happiness. Being different should be your goal, imagine a world where everything and everyone is the same…(NEWS FLASH-BORING) As for any upcoming artists or established ones who feel they are being put in a box, being yourself should be your marketing strategy and encouraged by those who want to add their own flavor to your career, whether they’re a supporter screaming your music from the top of their lungs or a member on your team looking to take your career to the next level!
Now I know what you’re thinking, this is way easier said than done but Alan Ward is the true definition of walking his talk, well in this case, having no cap in his rap! Ward openly discussed many of his truths with me after demolishing the Passion Park Fest stage. He boldly admitted that although there are many accolades attached to his artistry and he’s one of the few hip hop legends that identify with both old and new skool equally, he still works a 9-5 while also being a full-time independent artist. I admired him having no shame nor pride by still keeping his 9-5 occupation. Much pressure is often applied to 99.99999% of creatives to quit their day job in order to take their craft seriously, but who says just because you work a 9-5 you aren’t as dedicated, talented, and intentional with your passions? Ward’s creative process plays into his duality and puts his emotions on display in an intricate style to unite with the beats he falls in love with to capture the essence of his true purpose-storytelling.
RAP ARTIST, ALAN WARD
Are you ready to hear the style of 1980s rap combined with the new way of hip hop? Maybe you want to blast some lyrics powered by everyday life, questions, and real wins while you’re bumping music in your car this summer throughout the Milwaukee streets. Alan Ward, also known as @itsjustdez on all social media platforms, is the next artist you should add to your rotation! Catch Ward’s upcoming performances in Baltimore! On May 17th, at 7pm he will be gracing the stage of OUM City and from June 19th-21st, watch him kill it at the Taste of The DMV Festival located at 1101 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 Camden Yards Sports Complex (Between M&T Bank Stadium & Camden Yards).
His tracks: Replay-worthy. His energy: Magnetic
Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW
