Krypto Kracc- “Dead Drop” SINGLE

Not too far off from the disposition shown in his last single “Hood Bizness,” Krypto Kracc’s latest, “Dead Drop,” reiterates the language of realness! Even while preparing to open for Roc Nation’s Benny The Butcher in Indianapolis later this month, he doesn’t allow what could seem surreal to many to cause him to let up. Krypto continues his personal wave of celebrating the rawness of street culture and what it means to be cut from the cloth of a real one with real street cred.’  The New Jersey rapper has only just gotten started. Tell me how YOU feel about “ Dead Drop ” and be on the lookout for future shows from Krypto Kracc, Milwaukee! /Naomi-Re’a for CW

Genesis Renji “E.D.E.N” EP [East of the Garden Gallery Pop Up]

Genesis Renji had a gallery pop up and performance for his latest EP, E.D.E.N. The entire event was amazing, and it featured a performance by Clayton Biddle and a gallery of visuals from the EP. Genesis sat down with Copywrite Magazine to give us the inside scoop on how he cultivated this project.

/CW: So for those who don’t know, can you explain what E.D.E.N means?

Genesis Renji: Yes, E.D.E.N means ‘eventually dreams end in nightmares’. It’s the sequel to my 2018 album S.I.N.S ‘stories I never shared’.

The album is a melting pot of different feelings. With tracks like “Hurt Me Again”, Genesis describes the cycle of a toxic love and coping with the after effects of heartbreak. “Thank You” narrates him coming into acceptance of the love lost, channeling into healing energy. It’s almost like a cadence or anthem to getting over this love and moving forward. From beginning to end, he poetizes his journey through the different stages of love and grief.

/CW: What was the most challenging part about this whole project? 

Genesis: Being honest! (laughter) It’s easy to wanna say ‘alright I’m finna make some music, I’m gonna make it sound good and keep it surface level right? It’s harder to dig into it and tell people how you feel and describe the thoughts that you’re really having. Especially in Milwaukee, where people know you and know the person you were with. And that can apply to any relationship, any situation you’re in. If you’re in a small city and you talk about a relationship you’ve been in or situation you went through and the people around you know what you’re talking about, you’d be a little scared or a little intimidated. You never wanna embarrass anybody, you don’t wanna embarrass yourself. So I would say being honest was the most challenging part but it was necessary.

The idea that all dreams eventually end in nightmares is one that may seem hard to conceptualize. Some people may think it’s pessimistic or maybe even manifesting negatively. But it depends on how you view ‘nightmare’ in this context. Is it truly a nightmare or is it just reality? In the context of love and hate, we see it all the time. The dream that two people who truly love one another will withstand all storms, trials and tribulations is oftentimes followed by the nightmare aka the reality of that love coming to an end.

/CW: Do you think that dreams ending in nightmares is a manifestation of the fears of love that one suppresses? Or do you think it’s just how life is?

Genesis: Uhhhh…yes and no. It CAN be a manifestation but then it’s also like….the reality of a situation, right? Not everything that we want is meant to last forever so once it eventually hits that turning point or something happens that we didn’t expect, it starts to become ugly and you get a lil fearful of that. Like when you’re in a relationship with somebody, shit is smooth for the first 5-6 months. Then that first argument happens and you be like “damn…it’s damn near OVER!” But in reality, it’s probably not that deep. It really depends on your perspective. 

/CW: So do you think that love should have an element of fear in it?

Genesis: No! Love should have respect in it. Love is not fearful. When you look at 1 Corinthians 13, it defines what love is on a biblical and spiritual level and fear is not in the definition of love. Love is patient, love is kind, love is understanding. The fear that comes in a relationship are our personal fears that we project onto our situation based on things we’ve seen or things that we’ve been through with people. 

/CW: So what’s coming up next for Genesis Renji? You know you gotta give us the exclusive, we’re CW!

Genesis: Damn you just flexed, you right! Um, we’re working on videos for the rest of E.D.E.N. I wanna do a short film for it, but we gone see what that looks like timewise. And the vinyl for E.D.E.N is coming too, that’s gonna be the deluxe edition with extra songs and extended versions of some songs. You know, my next shit is my best shit so….

Genesis Renji is one of the many gems this city holds, his artistry speaks for itself. The visuals for the EP are amazing, man and woman in love living in the garden of Eden, enjoying the fruits of their labor that’s been put towards they’re love. Each song speaks on the different aspects of love; the beginning, the middle and end. My favorite song has to be “Hurt Me Again”, and that’s speaks volumes seeing that I loved the entire project. Keep your eyes on Renji, we could be watching our next start rise to the top. Check it out and let me know what y’all think! 

/Pam from CW

ONLYDEV “GMN”//NEW SINGLE

I recently stumbled upon ONLYDEV and this new single “GMN” is a great introduction song to get a feel for the type of artist that he is. He’s got a frictionless style that grabs your attention and interest visually, coupled with a divergent sound that entraps you sonically, so I wasn’t surprised when I pressed play and enjoyed the entire song. This is the perfect song to start your day off to. If you're the type of person who sets alarms to sleep, I BET you will get up if this is your alarm sound. I love that his energy is transparent throughout the whole song. His laughs made me laugh, his hype moments made me hype, almost as if it was contagious. But basically, the song is about getting up and getting out of bed, being productive, and making the most of your 24 hours. “Last night was a blast but its gone be yo last if you don’t get out the bed,” lines like this and “....let’s do it lil n-a, wake up smoke some, let’s get this bread. Let’s do it lil n-a!” make me feel like this wasn’t something that was written and rehearsed, I feel like he just went in the studio and went crazy just purely off of adrenaline and passion. Not only is it catchy, but it’s enjoyable and it’s fun. It’s one of those songs that people will engage with no matter what’s going on. Even if you’re in a setting where you probably shouldn’t be singing, there’ll still be a slightly noticeable head bob with a quiet, “good morning n-aaaaa”. If black boy joy was a song, this would be it. I love it! Let me know what y’all think. 

Jensen Kirk “Visions” EP

Although he is not new to making music that sticks to the subconscious of many, like his single “California girl” from almost 15 years ago, Jensen Kirk refuses to remain unknown in the music game anymore. His latest EP drop “Visions” stamps his identity and is a new contribution to that good ol’ underground sound that us modern day hip-hop heads can’t get enough of; Radio couldn't justify it more. Throughout this project we hear themes of Spirituality, Respect, Manifestation, Hustle, and many other components necessary for bringing a ‘vision’ to life. 

With the initial release of the music video for his single “Baby Bleuk,” the Cali native shows off his confidence and takes his place in the game. In the world or in music, success is now his for the taking! “...Everything I do comes from above, got ties to the one eternal plug…-” Kirk is very expressive on social media about his spirituality and the power of speaking things into existence. Nothing keeps him from sharing that through his music, either. Even the Intro / title track contains bars that give notice to how much he doesn't shy away from sharing his beliefs, “ Men of action get favored, now that sounds like physics.” A few of the following tracks like “Lost in the Sauce” and “J’s Interlude” tell the listeners what it means to have priorities for the future whether it be personal riches, tending to the youth, or even combining these two ideas together, encouraging generational wealth. From this EP, it is made clear that Jensen Kirk has chosen to accept the responsibility to his audience that has been granted to him as a result of his own enlightenment. What better tool to use than the power of music. Tell me how YOU feel about “  Visions  ” Milwaukee. /Naomi-Re’a for CW

Huey V “More Love” Single and School Tour

Booking platforms like SXSW isn’t the only thing on the mind of a young waymaker. In Preparation for his second EP, “So Below,” 414 Native Huey V has been strategic with his releases from the drop of his single “After the Deal” two months ago, stamping his placement as a WHMG member and overall rising star, to partnering with Milwaukee’s City Year and Adidas Sound Labs in Chicago for a school tour in alignment with the release of his newest Single. “More Love” is an homage to those who have fallen due to gun violence in the city. Huey V provides multiple little narratives for different scenarios that collectively paint the picture of the reality here for many, including himself despite his own efforts and success. With lines like, “..Cant say I’m proud of where I’m from but I’m a product of it, I know a nigga who used to hoop, he like Iman Shrumpert, knew he was a shooter but he grew up and forgot his jumper..,” the existence of Milwaukee’s talent is verified but we also have some imagery of the consequences of lost hope. To aid in the prevention of more lost hope, the young rapper went on a small tour from Rufus King Middle School in Milwaukee to Curie High School in Chicago to give students an opportunity to hear his new song but more importantly to sit with them and discuss the reality of their stress and how to handle it. With Huey V being a Milwaukee Native, but even more so a Midwest kid, his inspiration may be the spark that dwindles down the constant pain that is heard about so much in songs like “More Love.”  

Taiyamo Denku and Urban Legend ft Tragedy Khadafi “Deathwish” SONG

The Underground is where gold is found! This is proven by the amount of reach that is granted to two Midwest MC’s to go bar-for-bar with a Hip-Hop vet.. Taiyamo Denku and Urban Legend, while still working off of the momentum of their collab Album “Artistic Display,” continue to keep the integrity of the OG sound and flow of rap with their newest single “Deathwish.”  Aaaaand, as a cool surprise, the name of Juice Crew member Tragedy Khadafi appears as the feature on this track!! It’s the ultimate salute for any rap artist... Each of them taking a verse for themselves, the three lyricists do cartwheels and loopty-loops over yet another beat from Bo Faat with slick metaphors and imagery, giving nothing average. Tragedy, who’s history can be traced back to nearly the first decade of Hip-Hop’s takeover, leads the track without letting up but is followed by the light of Denku and Urban that refuses to be dimmed in comparison. Tell me how YOU feel about “ “Deathwish” Milwaukee. /Naomi-Re’a for CW

John Henry “All About Our Love” SONG

After having been a part of the band Astral / Subastral for a while, Jon Henry held his own with another independent musical project with the drop of his EP “Young World Street,” A collaborative piece with producer Boost that was released late October of 2021. For one of the singles, the Milwaukee hip hop artist gives us vocals (and a jig???) with the release of the music video for the ballad, “All About Our Love.” With a similar groove to that of a Sade song, “All About Our Love” will make you swoon over the idea of romance as Jon Henry’s vocals flutter across the jazziness of the beat, reassuring his lover that their love will stand the test of time. Now the visual… The visual is a biiiiiit ‘1,3’ to the songs ‘2,4’ count if you know what I mean; it comes off as incompatible to the vibe and the lyrics of the song, yet to those who are perceptive, it is quite beautiful. From scene to scene, Henry is singing, at times, directly to his lover but she goes on as if he is not there. She performs house chores, dolls herself up, takes a hike, and even plays darts without acknowledging his presence. She is not angry nor being visibly deliberate about ignoring him. Meanwhile, Henry has a calm and patient demeanor, he even dances, while waiting for her to recognize that he is there and that this love requires cooperation from the both of them. It takes for Jon Henry to physically reach out and touch her for her to be reminded of how okay it is to give her heart and feel the love that he has wanted to give her for the entirety of the visual. Tell me how YOU feel about “ All About Our Love” Milwaukee. /Naomi-Re’a for CW

G-Gifted “Growth” ALBUM / The ComeBack Music Video

The drop of G-Gifted’s sophomore album, Growth, is proof of what a healthy, positive perspective while enduring not only a global pandemic but the evolution of one’s personal life will do. Even in the illustration of the Album’s cover art, we see this theme being brought to life. In front of a clear and cloudy, blue sky there is a half and half image of an animated G-Gifted with one half showing him with a younger face, beardless, with a short haircut and to his right is a baby tree sprouting from the dirt. On the other side, his hair is longer and loc’d up. He has facial hair and to his left, a full grown tree. The intro track “The ComeBack” was released first as a single along with a visual and although only about a minute and 30 seconds long, immediately introduces the theme of the entire album. In the video, simple shots of G-Gifted are captured as he is seen passionately spittin’ rhymes about perseverance, focusing on his grind, and faith. Other superstar tracks like “Terminator” serve as the perfect hype song for any moment where an extra boost of confidence is needed. However, not every song going forward has the serious theme of maturity. Some tracks like “Forever” and “Weekend Mood” are love songs dedicated to the joys of being in the presence of someone you love and growing with them; “Your Melanin isn’t a badge of shame [but] a symbol of greatness, beauty, elegance, and grace. You epitomize Black and Beautiful. One Love.” (G-Gifted, “Forever”). Tell me how YOU feel about “ Growth ” Milwaukee. /Naomi-Re’a for CW

Shoebox Benny- Be Like That [SINGLE]

In anticipation of his latest EP, “Car Bombs”, Shoebox Benny released the video his single “Be Like That”. When the beat drops at the beginning of the song, the head bobbing happens instantly, almost like I knew this song was gonna be cold. Initially, knowing that Shoebox Benny is a Chicago rapper, I was expecting to hear a drill beat or some type of sound that was synonymous with Chicago. But this has a whole different sound. It doesn’t SOUND like drill music but it feels like some sh-t you would listen to get you in that mode. The beat is fire, it gives off a couple different vibes. Like one day you could be listening to it while you’re driving cause it’s smooth as ever. And then the next day you could be in the club with yo friends hyped like “AYE YOU DONT LOVE ME NO MORE, COOL BE LIKE THAT! I’M STILL GRINDING THO CAUSE AIN”T NONE FREE LIKE THAT!” It’s versatile and I love music like that, he speaks on so many things that I feel like alot of people can relate to. So every time you listen to it, you catch something different. Maybe a bar or a reference or a metaphor that you’ve never heard when you listened to it before, and you relate all over again and it’s just a vibe every time. Video production was great, in the video you’ll also see that same element of versatility. I definitely recommend downloading this and y’all let me know if you understand what I’m saying. Shoutout to ShoeBox Benny, this song is amazing and so is the EP!

/Pam from CW Magazine

Clayton “2 PK” EP

Although still a fairly new artist to many, having the confidence to make his presence known and have his story felt with only a few words is the route that Clayton has unapologetically taken. He continues to demonstrate that with his new 2-song EP, “2 PK.” The first half, “Some How Beautiful,” appropriately starts off with an R&B beat that is accompanied by hard hitting drums to complement Clayton’s choice to use a rap flow at the start of his verse. We are further invited into his mind through the mentions of lonely nights in his room and moments spent trying to gain the guts to go above and beyond with his overall growth, particularly with trusting his heart, and gaining the audacity to view life and love differently….In full contrast, for the second half of this EP, “Ghost” slows us down sonically and contextually provides the somber side of Clayton opening his heart, having experienced disappointment after doing so. The song goes from a soft, sad tone supported by a piano, strings, and a light percussion to a chaotic instrumental to match the expression of hurt in Clayton’s voice toward the end. 2 PK provides the audience with a message that though it is always the right thing to act courageously and move forward in all of our passions and despite knowing that even in our losses, there is much to gain, the results will not always please us. Tell me how YOU feel about “ 2PK ” Milwaukee. /Naomi-Re’a for CW