Meet Who's Bringing Real RnB Back | D.Lylez

Do you remember waking up on Saturday mornings to your mom blasting music that made you want to do the two- step as the house was being cleaned from top to bottom? Some of those family favorites could’ve been:

Superstar by Usher

Let Me Love You by Mario

So Beautiful by Musiq Soulchild

Understanding by Xscape

So Sick by Neyo

Or maybe you’ve seen the frenzy behind the internet’s conversation on who is the king of R&B. Well, I’d like to introduce a new face in the music industry who is definitely making noise when it comes to bringing back that soulful yet raw energy to R&B music! Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to D.Lylez. 

Darious Lylez, widely known by his stage name D.Lylez is a Chicago Native who has always embodied and displayed not only a love but a passion for music. Although his childhood was under the framework of a preacher’s kid, Lylez stood firmly withhis personality, stage presence, and emotions when it came to falling in love with R&B! By age 9 music lessons and recitals became his daily routine with the support of both his parents despite church culture. Everybody knows that no matter if you sing in a choir, are a deacon, or can recite many bible verses; they bump to New Edition, Bobby Brown, and Jodeci, here and there. 

You may be squinting your eyes trying to figure out just exactly where you know this cat from. The answer is the hit talent show The Voice season 18 with judges John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, and Nick Jonas. It’s no secret that his soothing yet confident voice blew the judges away but that was not the start to his journey. From being in a boy band called Changes, auditioning for the Voice, and becoming a signed solo artist, D.Lylez's musical journey has been quite eventful. He has tapped into what he wants his legacy and artistry to represent: authenticity, story-telling, and a groundbreaking powerhouse when it comes not only to his vocals but also his performance. The superstar’s two latest singles “24 Hrs” and “Is It Time?” are a direct visual buffet of how truly captivating his artistry is. 

As I watched the video of “24 Hrs” it instantly took me back to the hit single “Sensitivity” by Ralph Tresvant (Yes, one of the cuties from hit group New Edition). The two videos have several similarities when it comes to color stories such as Midnight Blue and Harvest Orange. They both also showcase scenarios that male artists deal with when it comes to the challenge of balancing their career in the spotlight but also having someone very dear to them in their personal lives. In the video you see him wanting his girl so passionately and thinking of her but he’s in the studio doing what he also loves: creating stories and music. The leading woman begins thinking that she’s being ignored and stood up for a romantic dinner date but he’s thinking about her just as much. Lylez is bringing back the R&B that reunites couples when they go through ups and downs, makes you fall in love all over again, and at other times he lets his audience know that they aren’t the only ones dealing with the harsh realities when it comes to dating, loving a person unconditionally, and any other curveballs this life throws at us. Before you know it brothers will be singing and dancing in the rain while us sistas live for every moment of it. 

I love how there’s now space being created again for vulnerability, soft love in the black community, and raw emotions when it comes to a black male artist and he is one of the individuals becoming responsible for that. His music indeed celebrates and uplifts women in the most beautiful light but Lylez's next single “Is It Time?” also is a friendly reminder that everyone can be heartbroken and played; no matter the gender. The video will showcase him in a more painful and distraught light after finding out his partner may be entertaining other men in these streets. I feel very few artists are extremely transparent while still being entertaining and that's a gift he utilizes to a tee when it comes to creating music. 

A catchy chorus and beautiful lyrics that will sound good on the radio or in the club is not his top priority; rather it’s creating a versatility quality music catalog. Neo-soul vibes and the heart is coming back to R&B. Music that makes you feel like you are on cloud 9 when thinking of your boo or last romantic partner has a different energy bringing people of all communities as one because who in this life doesn’t want to experience good ole lovin’ or as Mary J. would sing out, “Real love”. 

Tune into both of D.Lylez’s latest videos if that sultry yet heartfelt R&B makes those car rides a vibe before work or if you just love love.

Comment down below which is one is your favorite out of his latest songs. Follow the talented young star on all platforms as well. [@dlylez]

Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW

Marie & Rosetta - Snap Shot Press Release [The Godmother of Rock ‘n’ Roll & The Wind Beneath Her Wings]

It is no secret that every last one of us comes from different walks of life. No matter what trials and tribulations come our way or what groundbreaking dreams instill that grit and exhilaration inside our souls.

Millions of people find it quite easy to relate [and associate] with only those who give them the feeling that they are glancing into a mirror. The cost of this is usually shying away and subconsciously avoiding others who may seem “a little too much” or that orbit on the other end of the spectrum. Humanity has taken a prolonged journey to comprehend that opposites attract. [In the words of Sam Cooke, “It’s been a long time coming”]. 

As a result, new conversations, innovations, and walks of life are born. 

Friday’s (October 25th, 2024) showing of Marie & Rosetta at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre was a vulnerable and intimate depiction of this revelation. Beyond the physical attributes of these characters, lived “culture” creates a divergence in how they differ in society. So you may be asking, “Now girl how are these two black women completely different from one another?”. Well, honey find a cozy seat while you’re on the clock because the words complex and the phrase, ahead-of-its-time, are just the beginning. This may take a minute.

Did you know that the gorgeous and bold men behind the origin of Rock ‘n’ Roll such as Little Richard, Elvis Presley, and Jimi Hendrix were influenced, captivated, and mesmerized by Sister Rosetta Tharpe before they even started paving the way for the rest of the world themselves? A Black woman born in Arkansas that traveled with her mother to Chicago at age 6 performing as a duo. Her mother Katie would preach into the Chi streets with chilling sermons as Rosetta would close out singing light gospel music. She spoke her mind as if she was Wendy Williams taping Hot Topics, and had no fear of what others thought or would judge her for. Her wardrobe of sequins, furs, and enchanting dresses were just as eye-catching and jaw-dropping as her performances. I almost jumped out of my seat as her hit song, Rock Me, was performed by Bethany Thomas who plays Tharpe, with a commanding aura of musical majesty.

As the curtains open, the confident superstar has just successfully chosen her new protegee who will accompany her on tour. Marie, played by Alexis Roston, presents herself as a young talent who is very innocent, angelic, and on the straight-narrow. Marie is no free spirit [and soon we discover she is not “free” at all]. Through Tharpe’s proding for information about her new talent find, she discovers that Marie is actually a 23-year-old married woman and mother of two who sang in a quartet and constantly thought about how the church viewed her and what others thought of her. Marie never wanted to be the woman the church folk would oohh and ahh about.  She would’ve been almost as innocent as Jesus’ mother Mary, but she was caught in that lie within the first few minutes of the production. Not only did Marie downplay her age, but she had a hidden edge to her. She would sneak around the church playing secular music [a scandal of those times] and was a preacher's wife [a preacher she was not too happy with]. This is where the topic of opposites attracting comes full circle. 

Rosetta did reveal that Marie’s lies were the reason why she initially chose her to come on tour; as she seemed to contrast Rosetta’s image. Rosetta wanted to re-enter the church circuit as a performer, but her headlining juke joints and supper clubs took her right off of that saintly roster.

This performance becomes alluring when the ladies begin to create a healing yet difficult dialogue amongst one another as the story shares their first night creating their electrifying tour.

Set in a funeral home showroom in the South, this heartwarming yet harsh reality check creates an emotional exchange between the two women. Tharpe begins describing to her wide-eyed protegee that showbiz for Black women during that time was no red carpet walk at the BET Awards [Today’s acts like Latto, Glorilla, and Megan Thee Stallion, with their controversial aesthetics may still feel this way]. Rosetta revealed that music was the only thing that loved her back after she lost her mother. The inventory of husbands, money, and fur coats did not make her heart skip a beat or give her a sense of genuine love. As the night continues, Marie wears her heart on her sleeve and starts revealing her most honest thoughts to Rosetta. This form of intimacy seemed new for Marie. She eventually admitted wanting to leave her husband since he didn’t value her anymore and how she felt she lost herself in the marriage [Divorce? Baby, not in the churchhhhhhhh!]. 

Controversy is one thing playwright, George Brant, and director E. Faye Butler did not run away from. The topics of divorce, mistreatment of African-American performers in the music industry, and even a hint of homosexuality, regarding a romantic relationship between the two leading ladies were showcased in such an intriguing, yet transparent angle. This lens harnesses the delicacy of truths that are usually avoided in “historical” reenactments. These complexities are exactly what we need to see on the stage, so that we may feel their gravitas in society. The production balanced out with comedic relief, harsh truths, and soul-touching musical numbers. In my opinion, the music and Rosetta’s direct personality united the two into the dynamic duo they became. Once they got over the hurdle of Marie subconsciously judging and trying to change what many used to call “secular ways” Rosetta had and accepted each other for who they were in that moment; magic sparked! 

There’s no question that both ladies demanded my attention from the opening act to the closing scene but with much reflection; I found myself in Marie. I connected with how others perceived her. Just as Marie seems innocent and knows nothing of the world to other people; at times I believe that’s how people see me. Once Rosetta began listening to her thoughts, dreams, and experiences, Marie was then displayed as a strong, talented, and daring young woman who just wanted people around her to take her more seriously. However; Marie also trapped herself in the role of a people-pleaser and rule-follower. The majority of her life, just like I, carried times of doing things the “right” way and bending herself in so many different directions to make everyone else’s dreams for her life come to fruition instead of living the life Marie wanted for herself. 

Who knew with the right push from her favorite musician that blossomed into a close relationship [nobody ever knew the full details of], that Marie would become a walking memorial for Rosetta after Tharpe passed? Marie started having a free-spirited attitude, speaking her mind without second-guessing herself, and stood on her own name. Not hiding behind a husband, her mentor, her parents, or society’s rules anymore. Many of us, including myself can look into the mirror and see flashes of Marie. Whether it’s her spirit that has others thinking she’s younger, her gentle tone that makes others think she’s holding back something and doesn’t have a voice of her own, or her ability to camouflage herself into the background of any environment and observe that confuses others into thinking her entire being is invisible. For some, it only takes a few months while others need years to find themselves and understand their purpose, but honey a journey is a journey!

Do you think you need a little push into some reflection of your own? Do you want an entertaining history lesson that’ll take you back to the time when two black women owned Rock ‘n’ Roll? Maybe you would like to jam out to some soulful, yet bold music? I want to extend the invite /CW received from the Milwaukee Rep to you. Go check out Marie & Rosetta between now and Dec 15th. This show will give you the laughs, moments of silence, and strength you need to take a deep look into who you are and how everyone and everything else around you affects the trajectory of your lifestyle and where you are headed, family. 

Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW

"WI Has All Hands On Deck When It Comes To Tech" | w/ Nadiyah Johnson

Who are the big dawgz that come to mind when you hear the word technology? Is it Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, the Wright Bros, or Alexander G. Bell? Or maybe it’s not who but what comes to mind? Many think of science labs, China, and the latest iPhone. For technology to consume, intrigue, and play a pivotal role in everyone’s life from Michael J. Fox to Jamie Foxx, why does the industry seem so black & white? What if I told you MKE had it’s very own tech mogul not only making noise in the city but who is also a black woman [whose hair is always laid]?

Nadiyah Johnson. That’s her name!

Although the Marquette University grad’s initial major was international politics; her first love was technology. Johnson has always stood on business when it comes to her goals and vision: to put Wisconsin on the map for changing the way the tech world looks and operates; meaning inclusivity for Black and Brown people. This initiative drove Nadiyah to fall in love with technology. She states, “I fell in love with technology when I saw its potential to transform communities. Growing up, I was always fascinated by how things worked, but it wasn’t until I realized the power of tech to create equitable opportunities and solve real-world problems that I truly fell in love with it.” Johnson’s father introduced her to the versatility and significance of tech when she was young, and her fascination happened quickly. It wasn’t until halfway through college that she realized tech not only solves many problems throughout the world but the industry also has its own challenges; A lack of representation and diversity are on the top of that list. 

I had a front-row seat to witness Nadiyah in action at the Equity In Tech event at the University of Wisconsin (October 9th, 2024). No matter if you are as tech savvy as a 10-year-old on TikTok or someone who needs their niece to help them write a text; any and everybody could relate to one another at her event. From the moment I walked in the door, there was a spread of good food, desserts, business pop-ups, and engaging conversation. The event kicked off with keynote speaker Agustin Lopez, Assistant Special Agent for the FBI, sharing both hilarious and jaw-dropping career stories that gave him the strength and motivation to stay in the field and never give up on his dreams or vision for the life of everyday people that make up cities just like ours!

Lopez didn’t just keep my attention, everyone else in the audience were at the edge of their seats with his life story and nerve-wracking career highlights but also by introducing the topic of Artificial Intelligence [AI]. With its function to simplify and perform has excited millions across the board since it seems it’ll make life easier. However; you may hear about AI in convos throughout MKE usually starting with “I’m gonna lose my job to a robot.” or “There’s no real connection with AI.”. The list of issues arising within AI that myself and the rest of Johnson & Lopez’s audience discussed could be considered longer than Hip Hop’s Top 100 rappers. From invasion of privacy, voice-cloning, financial theft, and blurring the lines of what’s real and what’s not; I learned a valuable lesson in that moment. Yes, artificial intelligence will indeed be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to tackling 414’s biggest issues such as food scarcity but it is also will fire up fear and confusion if not used properly and intentionally. I believe the logic and computational science behind it is a genius foundation for a brighter future but it’s also very easy to become dangerous if we all don’t become educated and in the driver's seat of what exactly AI can contribute to all dope cities including MKE. This is why I’m glad Nadiyah introduced exercises that made everyone in attendance go to the drawing board and see how each one of us would utilize AI when it comes to solving problems knocking on our own doors in WI.

Johnson broke the participants into four teams as she lead her hackathon (a collaborative event where a group of people come together to create a prototype or product in a short amount of time). She allowed each of them to utilize AI resources such as ChatGPT to create phone apps, websites, and other solutions to Milwaukee’s biggest issues they could think of. The room felt like a mecca of brown and black people coming together with out-of-this-world ideas and questions to take on any conflict or problem head-on. The room was full of unique and widespread perspectives that deepened the convo even further time and time again. Although the breakout session was supposed to make the event more active and engaging; they did something even better: create the spark in the minds of tech entrepreneurs, business owners, and those in the corporate world to start to apply how they could solve their very own issues in that moment. I’d say it was a success! 

The Equity In Tech event raised several questions but one rang in my head loud & clear: what keeps Nadiyah motivated to tackle such a challenging journey to diversity in tech and the economy? Johnson quickly replied, “My motivation stems from the people I serve. Seeing the talent and creativity in underrepresented communities, yet knowing that these individuals often don’t get a fair chance in tech, drives me every day. Hope drives innovation.” One would think the break-out groups or keynote speaker Agustin Lopez speaking on AI-powered fraud was the highlight of last week’s WI Tech Month event but in my opinion, it was Johnson’s empowering remarks about how the ecosystem is evolving into a more optimistic light rather than negative. “Organizations like Milky Way Tech Hub and Latinos in tech have emerged as top leaders in our state-wide ecosystem. The question that we are solving for now is -- how do we sustain and scale this momentum?  I envision a future where Milwaukee, and Wisconsin as a whole, becomes a hub for Black tech talent, where underrepresented groups are not just participants but leaders in the industry. We have the potential to set the standard for what an equitable tech ecosystem looks like”. Nadiyah Johnson has made it her mission to continue to stand on business when it comes to showcasing just how bright Wisconsin’s present and future will be once everyone sees their is magic in representation, equal opportunity, and diversity!

Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW

7EVEN STAR STUDIOS

 Since the beginning of time, fashion has been utilized for more than one purpose not only in culture but for all individuals as well. You hear everyday how people  claim they put that ish on but do they ever dive into why? For many people, clothing serves as a  way of expressing who they are without having to say too much, which keeps all eyes on them with a hint of mystery. OOTDs and fashion trends have a deeper meaning to very unique and creative people such as one of the mil’s most talented fashion designers, Rickey Roach. Roach is the CEO of 7even Star Studios, a clothing brand that has a holistic meaning and prioritizes one putting a stellar touch on everything they come into contact with. 

Now I know what you’re thinking… why the name 7even Star? Why not stop at 5 Star since that is popularly known as being the ultimate rating of the hottest restaurant, song, place or experience. Rickey stated that the number seven represents completion, rest, hard work has been done, and that much progression has been made in one’s individual journey. It all started with just a thought in high school that was never given any time to reach it’s full potential. “I was always the kid in class who had the entire Jordan outfit from head to toe with the matching shoes on. Always fly and put together.” the ambitious designer shared with us. After taking a year to teach himself how to design and showing his inner circle his work without telling them they were his for honest feedback, 7even Star Studios launched the summer of 2023 and has now been a Shoppable clothing brand in the inner city for over a year!

Determined, confident and ready to move with a sense of urgency is the message Rickey says he wants his brand to represent and share with its members. We live in such a hustle culture where many people either prioritize their goals or look good but never accomplish the balance of both. After reading reviews and browsing the website myself, I couldn’t agree more that 7even Star is the perfect combo of looking good while also being locked in on your mission to becoming the best you. Failure, success, and life lessons are inevitable in life but that doesn’t mean you have to look to’ up while going through it. Milwaukee, go get fly and stay consistent on your journey by shopping our guy Rickey Roach’s unisex brand, https://7evenstarstudios.com/. Comment down below on his latest IG post which fit is your favorite https://www.instagram.com/7evenstarstudios/. 

Desriana Gilbert/ Entertainment & Social Journalist for CW

Family Groove | A Film by Ria

“In West Philadelphia born and raised, on the playground is where I spend most of my days”

“It’s a rare condition in this day and age, to read any good news on the newspaper page”

“Martin, I’m the man” 

These are the jingles that must run through your head every once in a blue moon. I’ve heard they give the feelings of nostalgia, comfort and relatability. This is why many corporations, people and communities try their hardest to replicate that sultry and fun 90’s type vibe even though it is extremely difficult. This week I stumbled across a short film that stepped up to the plate when it came to bringing the 90s world and energy to present day!

“Family Groove:” created by the 414’s very own Ria had everyone and their mama in a frenzy when it dropped on IG. As I watched the film, the color scheme is what stuck out off rip. It was a canvas of shades from hershey brown, ruby red, to butterscotch yellow. They made you feel welcomed and as the viewers were right along with the cast inside the film! It caught me off guard that there were no convos but you could still feel when to laugh, jam out to the film, and catch on to what was happening. The infamous dance scene from House Party with one of culture’s famous duos Kid ‘N Play is the closest image I can paint for you all as to what energy will be witnessed from “Family Groove”.

Not only was the short film lighthearted and fun but it also came off real. The set looked the the average crib and not some jazzy Airbnb that Ria could’ve easily chose. A variety of different interpretations can be made but I’m glad it showed our people in a light that hasn’t been flicked on in a while. Every brown and black person’s family life is not always dysfunctional or struggle rather it can be just as witty and fun as the next person’s! From the fashion; styled by ours truly Carlos Vergara Jr, to the choreography and chemistry of the cast; this is a must-see!

Go watch “Family Groove” on Ria’s IG and let us what you think. Here you will see young creatives from Milwaukee enjoying family-friendly fun with one another.

Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW