Snap Shot Press Release: Whats The Word on Milwaukee Hip-Hop Week?

Scrolling through our social media feeds, we often find things that interest us, whether it is a status from some old soul dropping gems, pictures of a dope new shoe collabo, or the flyer to an event hosted by any of our local favorites. There is always something to explore. But when a post stating, “Hip-Hop Week MKE...Common Council Support” (or something of that nature) flashes before your eyes, you stop everything!

“Who is responsible for this!?!”

Has the “culture” really found its way into City Hall? Is this actually a “real” thing, or a scheme? 

CopyWrite sat down with Milwaukee’s 7th District, to get the word, on what’s really going down with Milwaukee Hip-Hop Week and what the initiative means for our community as a whole. 

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Putting Milwaukee Hip-Hop Week on the agenda is a no-brainer from Alderman Rainey’s perspective. As a fan of Hip-Hop, he claims that having conversations about it and understanding the culture is indeed “a part of the lifestyle.”

Some have heard the news, and it has left them a little standoffish about government being involved in its cultivation. Rainey cues us in on the slight politics that will aid in Milwaukee Hip-Hop Weeks hopeful success:

“Well the only involvement the City of Milwaukee really has in regards to the politics of it is, it has to go through an actual approval process by the common council to create an (official) week in the city.” Making it an official city week engages the community and grants more opportunities to highlight hip-hop culture as it is celebrated.

Ald. KR: “We want to celebrate the culture. We understand for some who may be ignorant of what hip-hop is or some who may rely on what the mainstream media presents hip-hop as, they may have a misconception of hip-hop. But for those of us who are a product of hip-hop, have experienced it, and have been inspired by it, we want to give them an opportunity to learn [from it].”

For Milwaukee Hip-Hop Week, which is scheduled to begin on August 27th, 2018, there will be a focus on three major tenets, to cultivate the thematic opportunity of cultural knowledge exchange: Financial Literacy, Health, Civic Engagement.

Ald. KR: “What I envision is creating a framework within the context of hip-hop, where we can have some really important conversations.”

Ald. Rainey mentions that in regards to health, the age of the hip-hop community now includes members in their 50’s. This means the spectrum of health risks, including but not limited to obesity, colon cancer, and high blood pressure, is in fact hampering the lifestyle of many. He notes that there has been a cultural shift, where major hip-hop industry influencers like Jermaine Dupri, Slim Thug, Common, and The Game have been documented parting ways with destructive health choices and promoting positive alternative lifestyles. (Check out the documentary, Feel Rich: Health is the New Wealth (2017) narrated by Quincy Jones III, to catch that perspective.)

Ald. KR: “As a culture and generation, we went from cats talking about drinking 40’s and smoking on the corner to cats actually meditating and being vegan. Still flowing though. You know what I’m sayin’? It’s been an evolution. People have grown as hip-hop has grown.”

One idea is to use this same ideology here in MKE, where there are true health issues like high obesity rates, and where food deserts have created a disconnect with healthy eating to show documentaries (like the one mentioned above) and host conversations to improve the hip-hop community’s wellness.

Talking Financial Literacy, Ald. Rainey notes one of the points he brought up at the Community & Economic Development Committee meeting (where CW was in attendance).

Ald. KR: “...mumble rappers or super lyrical rappers, it does not matter how they rap, they are talking about money. We are talking about being prosperous, comin’ up. One way or another that type of mentality is infused and weaved into your rhymes.”

With that being a part of the hip-hop “mantra”, Rainey believes that setting up opportunities where we can discuss “money moves” like cryptocurrency (a growing market in the eyes of hip-hop advocates like Nipsey Hussle) and stock markets with brokers can increase the quest for wealth, which is vital to this community’s future success. Here the importance of even exposing the community to local resources, like Kiva, can elevate the opportunity for small business (yes, the ones that are a part of the hip-hop community) to level up the grind.

The third tenet, Civic Engagement, covers a wide spectrum, but one of the most important components Alderman Rainey would like to address is voter registration.

He notes that hip-hop artists as of late, have been very vocal about their political perspectives, especially on the presidency. This creates an opportunity for others to express their voices.

Ald. KR: “Right now is the time that we galvanize the people...and share these outlooks and say let’s do something about it...let’s take that same energy and connect it to things going on locally as well.”

#SupportTheLocal

The Civic Engagement tenet also opens the door to have major conversations about violence in our community, where the platform for young people and the institutions who are working on these peace incentives have an open forum discussing the issues (pushing the people and not just the numbers).

Ald. KR: “Milwaukee Hip-Hop Week has the opportunity through civic engagement to effect change socially.”

Just the conversation of having Milwaukee Hip-Hop Week has prompted members of MKE’s growing “underground” hip-hop community to come to the table. At the same Community & Economic Development Committee meeting mentioned before, rappers, producers, videographers, non-profit organization leaders, directors of public offices, artists, press, and the like, showed up to city hall to voice their support for the week and its future impact.

Ald. KR: “It’s an important opportunity to assemble something that brings together people...a bunch of people who were in there had never been to city hall before and that’s powerful to me...I think we have to create more opportunities for the unusual suspects to [be a part of the conversation]. To tap into people who are a-political and make them excited and engaged.”

Side Note: This year in Hip-Hop, a freestyle session broke out in MKE city hall and we have the footage! #ForTheCulture

Even though the week allots for conversations about heavier topics, Ald. Rainey assures us that the five elements of Hip-Hop (MC’ing, DJ’ing, graffiti art, B-boy dance and knowledge), will not be ignored.

Ald. KR: “I just want to have a whole lineup of activities. I want you to look at Hip-Hop Week and be like ‘Damn I missed something.’ But I also want you to break your neck to get to everything too.” He laughed, insistently.

MKE Hip-Hop week is on the theoretical tract to making major waves. In hopes of getting everybody in on the action, planning will highly consider every side of the city, so all communities have access to the celebration of one of the most influential cultures, worldwide. (Look at Nielsen’s 2017 music report...Hip-Hop is out chea’.)

CW: “So you have covered a lot of things here and all of these things sound great. So how are we making sure we include our local artists (and Hip-Hop movement contributors) into the mix? They want to be a part of this and this is their city so they should be.”

Ald. KR: [Following that the week is officially passed by the Common Council, which as of just yesterday February 27th, 2018, it was approved unanimously] “...after that, we have to set up some kind of advisory board that includes people in the community who have value” - And insight into what’s going on out here? *wink wink*

So Milwaukee here is the moment we have been waiting for. Here is the opportunity to shine a positive light on the scene and have some conversations that are way overdue. Where the revolution may not be televised, we guarantee it will be publicized. (Corporate America and the “other” will have their hand in this too. Local big business will be asked to partake...and of course, it is in their best interest that they do.) *This is the moment where we are supposed to digress...Ha!

As Ald. Rainey has become the “spokesperson” for this important initiative, he holds the scrutiny of its authenticity in his hands.

Ald. KR: “I would love for someone to come challenge me on my hip-hop validity. We live this.”

AND WE DO TOO!

/CW

Help us continue the conversation about Hip-Hop by following us on facebook.com/copywritemag and right here on copywritemag.com in the comments. 

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Check Out: 9 Round Milwaaukee

Is your New Year's resolution to get fit? Maybe workout a tad more? Well, maybe checking out 9 round Milwaukee will get you amped to do just that! It’s never too late to get started! 

The first class is free to try and see if you like, the staff is very personable and the music is actually really good. (It’s hard to work out to a sucky playlist.)

9 Round is just that, 30 minutes and 9 rounds of cardio and core that will give you a good workout and the ever so gratifying sore feeling afterward. It was pretty great!

Its located in the Grand Avenue Mall where the old Radio Shack was located before they went extinct. Make sure to stop in and get your free class. If you choose to sign up, the sooner the better!

9 Round will be opening a new location as well, which we know is exciting for 9 Round Milwaukee owner Delia!

Check it out and let us know what you think! Don't forget to tell them CopyWrite sent you!

/The Intern

#WCW Aja Janay of Heal + Glow

“Close your eyes. Then breathe in; breathe out.

Take a moment for you.”

This is why I love yoga and meditation. It’s not about anyone else other than yourself. It’s a time to be selfish; to check in with yourself and to remind yourself of how you’re feeling at that moment.

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This is why this month’s #WCW is Aja Janay; the creative director and founder of heal + glow. She “began making candles during my time as an undergraduate to relieve [her] … stress, anxiety and moments of deep depression. During those really dark moments of sadness, the flames of each [lit] candle reminded [her] that there's always a little bit of light in a space full of darkness. This light did not come easy. [She] had to fight for the light.  [She] was forced to journey into the crevasses of my being to find what was there.” 

Photo by FreakishNerd for Papyrus and Charms

heal + glow is a candle line but it’s also more than that. They use their online and social platforms to discuss and share self-love and self- care along with visual arts, literature, performing arts, and the latest in fashion and beauty.

But back to the candles, their packaging is beautiful. The scents are magical and their perfect “to add to your meditation practices, your alters for rituals, or to your relaxing baths.” A FreakishNerd favorite is the Egyptian Amber; because well, who doesn’t love Amber candles? And I'll be buying some new additions to my candle collection soon. :) 

Follow Aja at @ajajanay or heal+glow’s Instagram @healglow. Read their amazing blog for some motivation and Black girl magic then buy a candle so your practice, home and bath are on point here.                                                                

Thanks for being beautiful inside and out Aja. 
 

Local2Local - Natural Mystic Co.

My Local2Local this month, has Black Girl Magic sprinkled all over it and it will keep your glow from never dimming a wink.

So meet Natural Mystic; an Austin-based (but Wisconsin started) company skincare line. Their products are “handcrafted in small batches to ensure that each one is created with love + good intentions.” Owned and operated by Nyesha Lashay (@nyeshalashay), this graduate student is not only enhancing the skin you’re in but promoting self-love along with bringing forth your inner natural mystic. #WeWokeUpLikeThis

But in reality, your skin changes when you move across country. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst. It has to do with a lot of changes happening to not only your life but in general, the water and climates your body is use to are different. So usually you have to change up your face cleaning regimens to keep your skin in the best shape. For me, I’ve finally have my new skin regimen down packed and that includes a lot of masks and deep cleaners...i.e. why I had to try out Natural Mystic’s products.

Syn’s review of The Elements Pack:

What it includes: The Moroccan earth mask + the zen hydration jelly ($30 + shipping)

The Moroccan earth mask: It smelled great and had the texture of a deep cleansing scrub with the color of brown clay (hence the Moroccan earth haha). It was smooth to apply and dried in about 10 minutes. I prefer to leave my masks on for the time it takes to watch a full episode of a cartoon (20/30 minutes). The mask made my face feel tight and rejuvenated right away.

The Zen hydration jelly: A little bit went a long way. I used about the size of a dime to apply to my whole face. However it did leave my face smelling good and my skin was soft and GLOWING.

Overall: The purchasing process was simple. I got an email when I could expect my package (It came a day earlier but I am in the Austin area.) I also liked that the website included a quick 2-step process to make sure I knew what I was doing.

It was a little more expensive than something I would normally purchase for my face but it was worth it to support a Woman of color business and get a handmade quality product.

I think I’ll be using this pairing at least once a week to make sure my skin is on point and beaming.

Support this boss lady business by following them on Instagram for some self-love and self care motivation. Or support them now by buying the products on http://naturalmystc.bigcartel.com/ I'm eyeing more products on the site as I type.

Leave a comment below and tell me your self-care secrets and other skin care regimens you love. I'm listening. /Syn

"I SAID WHAT I SAID" w/ Garahbrie: I said I'm Thankful!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to talk about why I am thankful for CopyWrite Magazine. First and foremost Dirty and Syn. You both have been motivating forces in my life, and I am so grateful for that. My internship has expanded beyond JUST work, This year has been a particularly rough one for me, but I don’t ever have to question either one of you, I know you are there to give a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a different set of eyes on any given situation, and will have a PLOT with explicit details and timeline before I can even think to! You both advocate for me and tell me when I’m right and wrong.You both have taken me under your wing and I will always be grateful for that, I mean there’s so much more, but we know what it is. It's a business but that isn’t all. I feel good around you two, I feel welcome and wanted, I feel all the love. You both are two of the realest people I have ever met.

CopyWrite as an entity has opened so many doors for me, I have met SO many amazing souls and covered so many events that I now get ASKED to most of the events I attend. I had to learn that everyone isn’t a friend, all events aren’t worth covering, and I don’t ALWAYS have to have something to say. CopyWrite has allowed me to see the city of Milwaukee in a different light. It isn’t all about police and the constant fear of something happening to one of my loved ones, the violence isn’t all this city has to offer. There is dope music, and art; people with goals like me, and though the creative circle here is relatively small, CopyWrite brings awareness and more and more people are here with talent beyond this world! CopyWrite has allowed me to open my eyes and expand my horizons. CopyWrite has allowed me to GLOW!

...and oh my goodness I am thankful for my press pass. That thing is my BFF!

What are you thankful for? It is never too late to mend that broken relationship.

Close your eyes; imagine you are in a crisis...

WHO are YOU calling?

Now reach out to them, and tell them you appreciate them, and stick to that person. There are a lot of people out here who WANT to see you down and out, yet you would call THAT PERSON in your time of need.

That’s real.

Now GO BE THANKFUL!

/Garahbrie

#WCW Marie Carter of "The Classic Shoppe"

Keep it classic with this month’s #WCW Marie Carter the owner of “The Classic Shoppe”.

She’s an educator, a soon-to-be mommy, a business owner and did we mention she’s full of #BlackGirlMagic.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Marie decided to go to Tennessee State University after her earlier education in the suburbs. Her experience in the the HBCU taught her how to embrace and appreciate her culture but also was where she first saw Black kids taking pride in their education and handling their business. It gave her a sense of pride and made her want to inspire others to gain the same new found strength.

Marie has her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and went on to earn her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction concentrating in Reading. She’s currently teaching middle school in the heart of Milwaukee. Yes, this is part of her #BlackGirlMagic.

She started her company after realizing there was a need for this in the market. “She did not want to wear something with a band she never listened to or a face of someone that she really did not have that much in common with, just because the colors matched what was needed to complete an outfit. And when she did find a rare gem with a person or a quote with whom she could identify, it seemed like it was the same person or quote, just served up different ways.”

We all can relate to that.

The Classic Shoppe is her way of appreciating and putting her culture in the clothing she loves. Because like they said on their site:

“It all boils down to this: if we don't honor and preserve our culture, who will?”

Shop The Classic Shoppe to support the culture. Find it on there site here or follow their social media to get the newest part of your wardrobe. FB: The Classic Shoppe IG: @theclassicshoppe

Local2Local - MosaicoX, the curators of Austin's Local

“If you’re throwing a function and you don’t have proceeds going somewhere right now, you’re doing it wrong.” -AH

Meet the ladies of MosaicoX, the curators of Local (well Austin’s local).

Ashley on the left, Claudia on the right

MosaicoX or Mosaico Experiencia is a women duo featuring creatives Ashley Hicks or known by her DJ name as Adzua-Gette (from The House of Shakur) and Claudia Aparicio-Gamundi or  Mazapan (de Puro Chingón Collective). The two DJs started Mosaico Experiencia a year ago as a way to support Black and Brown women and self-identified women artists. And basically to listen and play any music they wanted in a club environment. (Disco Trap anyone?) 

So what does the Experience do?

CAG: “So the name became because we wanted to create experiences for people to have a safe place for everyone to just come and have a good time.”

MosaicoX creates “little festivals” specifically curated to the different vibes they want to showcase that night, whether that’s a poetry event, music event or an event for healing. They’re using their connections to grow the Black, Brown and women community of Austin. 

CAG: “...We not only have performances and music. But we also have a community of women that have their art for sale [in a marketplace environment.]”

The events and markets primarily support and prioritize women of color and self-identified women directly in response to the venues being hard to access for artists.

AH: “It’s a network for Austin, because we know a lot of people and artists. … It’s really just a space to bring people in and give them a platform to share.”

The platforms they create are often quick turnaround but well curated events that give an open forum for people to network and showcase their talents while giving back to a charity and their community.

“It really is just … a disruption of whatever ‘Scheduled Programming’ is.”

And we love disrupting the norms at CopyWrite.

Focused on event planning, curating and connecting artists with PAID gigs in safe environments, MosaicoX is creating a more consistent and concise way to keep the party going.

AH: “We started this for Black and Brown unity, because we just don’t see a lot of Black and Brown link-ups in Austin.”

Though they separately work in different collectives that target their own culture (Ashley of The House of Shakur and Claudia de Puro Chingón Collective); they thought ‘Why not merge who we are?’ to create a bigger impact and more visibility to the movement.

Connect with them on Instagram at @mosaico_experiencia or email them at mosaico.experiencia@gmail.com to experience an event or link up with them to plan your next event in the Austin area. They’re working and open to collaborative efforts to grow the culture and your passion. (Maybe you'll see a CW x MosaicoX event soon? **insert thinking emoji here**)

“Don’t start no shit, won’t be no shit.”

So lastly, what do you want people to know?

CAG: “Continue to support POC business owners.”

AH: “...And let’s be conscious of how we want our entertainment in our lives.”

CAG: “PAY ENTERTAINERS… Gawd Damnit.”

F*** EXPOSURE. (... said every artist ever.)

And lastly (for real this time):

AH: “I just want to plug my band… Mamis.”  Where Ashley is the guitarist killing it in the band and their EP is dropping real soon. 

We hear you Mosaico. 

/Syn for Austin

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Photos by Whitney Devin. Follow her on Instagram and see her work on whitneydevin.com 

Check out The Local - Oakland Cafe

Check out our new favorite chill spot on Milwaukee’s Eastside, Oakland Cafe!

If you need a place to duck off at any time of day, this should be your go-to place. A few blocks from UWM campus ( 2979 N Oakland Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211) Oakland Cafe serves breakfast delectables, Bomb smoothies, hot chocolate that is to die for, and all your Colectivo coffee favorites!

But here's the twist, they also serve Hookah!!! (Woot Woot)

So when your day is over and you just want to “hit the pipe” they have a great vibe and all the flavors for just that. And shockingly enough, their music selection is also lit ( a few members of the CW team checked it out last week...was that a little Kodak Black? Some Sza? Hmmmmmm.)

So next time you're in the neighborhood go out Oakland Cafe, and tell them CopyWrite Mag sent you!

Hookah Break anyone???

/Dirty

#WCW Rachel Vasquez

This year’s agenda for Rachel Vasquez: Continue to build her empire.

Our #WCW Rachel Vasquez is the owner of Fame Clothing line, Sheek 911 boutique, and the owner of Vasquez printing.

If that’s not enough for you, let’s add her other full time positions: Mom, Wife, Friend and self-proclaimed Queen of recreating jeans.

A woman with a lot of hustle and “Your Local Fashion Dealer” to say the least; she's been working.

Now normally I would go into a rant about how this boss lady is not stopping until she gets what she wants for herself, her family and the people she loves but I’ll let Rachel give us her perspective.

“Having a dream is about working late nights, sacrificing, and believing in yourself when no one else believes in you. In life there are workers and dreamers. I choose to be both. Taking my passion and making it my reality. Dreaming is not good enough if that's all you're doing, you have to take that dream and work until that dream gives you tunnel vision, until you want it as bad as you want to breathe. Started my dream back in 2012 with little to nothing in my bank account. It is now 2017 and I can see my growth in my work, growth is my mindset, growth in my sacrificing. 2017 is all about the revamping of my self. The next level up💪🏽 People see you working but they don't get to see the sacrifices you have to make every single day to get the lifestyle your family deserves. The work never ✋🏽 Stops, you never get to sleep 😴, your time is always taken.”  

We hear you Rachel.

Check out some items from her collections below to see some of her work. Then follow her and her organizations on IG: @Sheek911llc IG: @vasquez.collection17 FB: @Rachel Luis

Let us know who you want to see as our next #WCW in the comments.

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All images owned and provided by Rachel Vasquez and her social accounts.

Milwaukee Fashion Week 2017 - Perspective

Milwaukee Fashion Week is back at it again with the controversy.

MKE FW 2017 event, hosted at the Milwaukee Athletic Club had already retrieved “local” traction before the week had even arrived. From culturally disruptive media pre-coverage to the grassroots MKE fashion world feeling once again slighted by the “politics” of the event, there was already some pushback to even attend.

CW staff attended the last day of the event, hoping that just observing a sample of this year's show would be more beneficial to MKEFW and our readers since our presence last year seemed to create a little bite back behind the scenes. (Reading the press credential agreements this year was quite insightful). Nonetheless, we saw what we saw.

Our favorites of the night:

• Sarah Lauren Fashion, with her satin bases, smooth transitions, and unexpected use of material.
• Em.Ris, with the dark tones, concepting, and staged fashion experience (the headphones….genius!)
• Ieri Designs by Allison Jarrett, For the tailored suits with vibrant color and pattern selection.

Things we could do without:

• The unfinished and unhemmed worked that was allowed on the runway.
• The very unproportional crowd demographic. (Analyze the culture).
• The stage setup.

Instead of going on we rather give you a glimpse at ONE narrative participants and the community are having about MKE FW:

(From Facebook- Both Richon & Lupita were told their perspectives would be shared.)

We also received a perspective submission by another one of our readers and MKEFW models, Roshá Brister:

“It was my first time being a part of Milwaukee’s Fashion week and I have to say the experience wasn’t as hectic as my time at New York’s Fashion Week. I walked for designer Em’Ris, whom I have had the pleasure of working with on several different occasions. Hair and makeup prep was at 3 p.m., on the last day of the event. When I walked into the venue I was very surprised as to how un-athletic and elegant the club was, which I most certainly did not expect. I got to the hall and checked-in and took a seat. The halls setup was really nice and well put together; it definitely fits the mood of a fashion show. One thing that caught my attention was the stage, I was a little perplexed about its setup. It was about a 2ft. stage that models had to step onto when coming from behind stage. In my opinion, it would have just been best to leave it out altogether.  However, I did like the lighting; it brought out the light pink walls and white lining of the walls. This made the hall have an ambiance that was soft and inviting.

Behind the stage was organized in regards to understanding who was doing what and it was easy to locate your designer. I really enjoyed their model call system to ensure each model had their hair and makeup done on time and in an orderly fashion. Though this was well set up, I will say my hair and makeup experience was not the best by the slightest bit. The makeup/hair stylist that was assigned to my designer was not well versed in how to beautify and style darker complexions and hair types. I mean the lady did not brush my edges, honey! That’s important. I’m natural with locs, and still, I manage to have my edges looking together. Although that was simple for me to take care of, it was very disheartening that she was not prepared to do darker complexion women make up. She did makeup for another model and I, and honestly, it looked a hot mess. Good thing as a model, I brought my own foundation, mascara, and eyeliner; unfortunately “we” just have to be prepared for the unprepared.

The show started at 7 p.m. and Em’Ris line went on just before the first half. As a model, this was the least stressful setup that I had experienced. The staff was very organized in informing us when we needed to be dressed and where we’d go to enter the stage. The group of models and of course the designer Emily were amazing and we really killed our segment on stage! I would definitely participate in MKE Fashion Week again.”

So there you have it. Perspective is key to making the proper impact on the community in which you claim to serve, no matter what event it may be.

Like we say here at CopyWrite… #DoBetter

/CW