AdventuresofQue- Quincy Vs Que Album

you tired of everyone standing around at the club looking at each other with such boredom and there being nobody on the dance floor? Or maybe you’re over those 5 songs that your replay button hates to see coming. A hidden gem caught our attention last week that’s the answer to both those problems: ‘Quincy Vs. Que” by the laidback yet lively entertainer, AdventuresofQue. No question this is one of the most anticipated albums of the year. 

It’s only been 4 months since he served up nothing but heartfelt melodies and voicemails with edgy verses in Loser/Lover 3; but I don’t think the city is ready for the growth in not only his sound but also his lyricism. 

No matter your gender or favorite genre of tunes; everyone is going to bump this album from beginning to end. “Quincy Vs Que” makes you feel like you're entering an escape from reality. His cadence and adlibs will have women feeling like the baddest in the room while having men feel on top of the world at any party they step in. He constructed a masterpiece that provides the perfect balance of chill easygoing bops and intergalactic songs that would make even Barack and Michelle Obama jump out of their seats. 

I was surprised at how many different voices I heard and to my surprise, they were all coming from AdventuresOfQue. Whether you’re blasting some of my favorites such Uncle Phil, Are You Happy?, Buckle Up or the #1 Single Quincy Vs Que, you’ll definitely feel like the world is in the palm of your hands and confident that each and every single dream you have will come true. Like this post if you believe this upcoming album will save the club scene! 

Desriana Gilbert/ Entertainment & Social Journalist for CW

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PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF COPYWRITE MAGAZINE ISSUE 21 | BACK TO BLACK

n issue we take a deep dive into the nuances of Black Culture and the rhetoric that it parallels. This is one of the most intimate issues we have ever produced because many of the topics we will discuss have been fostered by conversions that our leadership, /CW Fam [our staff + collaborators], and our friends/family have grappled with in our personal lives. These topics have lived in barbershop debates, under dryers at the hair salon, at the kitchen table at Granny's house, and on the front steps before the age of social media. These are realities that are formed by resistance & resilience, topped with ingenuity and unapologetic joy in being the prototype for authentic exploration for survival [vs. conquest]. These are patterns of existence without erasure.

Featuring: Spill It Card Game, Jonah Denae, Ko-Thi Dance Company, Culture: Between Space & Place

“Music on the Beerline” is back for its’ 6th Season

*INFO PROVIDED BY KENNITA HICKMAN OF CATERA

The Riverworks Development Corporation is kicking off the sixth annual “Music on the Beerline,” a free outdoor music event in Milwaukee. The RDC is continuing in its new format as a 3 month series versus a one-night event, an upgrade to the event structure that has proven to be successful.

“Riverworks is excited to host the 6th Music on the Beerline Series at the Beerline Plaza connecting the Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods while showcasing local talent,” Darryl Johnson, Executive Director of Riverworks Development Corporation.

The series, which highlights local musicians and performers, will showcase a diverse range of music, with prior concerts offering a mixture of Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz and more. Last year featured hometown favorites Browns Crew and DJ Bizzon.

The 6th annual “Music on the Beerline” will take place on the following dates on the Beerline trail:

• July 19, 530p to 830p

• August 16, 530p to 830p

• September 20, 530p to 830p

Artists featured this year include Smoke N’ Mirrors, Urban Empress and The Urbanites, DJ Bizzon, Cache, Love Peace and Soul and Extra Crispy Brass Band.

This year will see the return of our marketplace where local vendors can connect directly withconsumers. Vendors include Polished Embroidery, Jameelah Jewelry, Beauty from the Root, Say It Louder, Girl of the 21st and One MKE. Food trucks will also be on site.

Sponsors include Wells Fargo, Palermo, Bank Five Nine, Brewery Credit Union, Riverwest Realty, Nessun Dorma, Manyo Motors, Strand Associates, One MKE, Metal Forms, Amorphic Beer and Quad MKE.

Lik "Popeye's on Center"

If you’re like most of us, you’ve been OUTSIDE making this summer count! On time with the vibes to match as usual, TRP has yet another drop that can take you back to a July Summer in the early 2000s! Co-Founder and In-House Producer Lik gives that feeling with the summer anthem, “Popeyes on Center,” a shout out to one of the hundreds of directional pinpoints used by Us in the community, ha! 

This single from his latest Album, “Auteur Theory,” which has been exclusively released on his Ghetto Griot website for purchase, features his right hand, Big P. Released as a music video directed by Cream. and shot by Carter Green, the lyrical, instrumental, and especially, the visual context is so Milwaukee and gives a nostalgic ’outside from sun up to sun down’ type of feel. The vision was for the editing style to become another character of its own- the “third side to the story,” as Lik put it. The vibrancy of the colors seen and worn, the upward camera angles to fully capture the grit of what still remains of our own unique culture (the businesses AND the beautiful young Milwaukee Men coolin’ in front of them), and the contrast of what may not be anymore, but is still core to the identity of this part of the city, and therefore, is worthy to be celebrated.

The setting changes and cuts to Lik sitting by himself in a restaurant. The imagery is more fab and luxurious and his words are more future-tense with a little bravado but just like the brick and mortar of the Milwaukee Mall, his identity in Milwaukee remains. Good One Lik!

Naomi-Re’a for /CW

Jonah Denae "In Due Time"

Milwaukee’s Femcees become more and more promising with the likes of Lakeyah, Mudy, Shadi, Destinee Lynn and now, the young and ambitious Jonah Denae has come to take names and take over; “I been quiet. But it's my turn now. Be ready. Love” is declared at the top of the year under an instagram post of hers, and she definitely aint playin’! After a sprinkle of singles and freestyles over the last few years with no LP yet, Jonah Denae has dropped ”In Due Time,” a statement piece for the due diligence of an artist who knows that faith, consistency, and hard work is bound to pay off when you know who you are.

Her Battle rap-like approach over a proper Midwest beat by rXge and rhyme scheming are mathematical; 

-“Can't settle for ni**as who settle at the bottom with b***hes 

Who bottom feeders -for givin’ top to ni**as who pop a bottle

 -Instead of poppin’ a collar, 

B***hes paparazzi.. ” 

She weaves in and out of the flow like a pro with the demeanor and full set nails to match. Clever choices are made in her change of pacing and tone while landing her bars every time with references to Black Culture, her spiritual faith, and American History amongst other things in relation to the might of the moment that she is manifesting for herself as a legend in the making. This is her time and the city, the world, needs to keep an ear out for this one. Jonah Denae is ‘Bigger than Local.’

/CW Naomi-Re’a

China Shadae SINGLE "Pull Up"

China Shadae's  latest single “Pull Up” should surely be added to your R&B playlist. For starters, China Shadae’s voice is incredible and her talent is undeniable, shining bright in this record alone. I think this song flowed so perfectly because she was in alignment with each element of the beat. The beat is another thing that I really love simply because that is one of the most inclusive parts of a song. You may not remember the words to a song but you’ll always remember a good beat, credits to Geronimo Approved, Hossy and TCF Live. I noticed the inspiration from Bobby’s Brown “Every Little Step I Take” in the chorus, I think she definitely it tastefully and creatively. One thing about China Shadae, her hooks and choruses are consistent in their ability to captivate. That’s another thing that makes a song memorable and really adds to why I like this song. This isn’t the only song of hers that has me intrigued, songs like “Secret Love” and “Burn”  have also been added to my library. It’s no question that China Shadae is making her way into the mainstream world of R&B, the only question is when.

Check out China Shadae’s latest single and more and let us know what you think! 

/Peazy from CW

HYFIN Presents: Latest + Greatest LIVE

*Info provided by HYFIN

"Renaissance" | Milwaukee Film Screening

Beyonce’s “Renaissance” film proves to be the model for all concert films! This grand, 3-hour production masterpiece was four years in the making and as I sat in the third row from the big screen at The Oriental, I could tell that not a day was wasted.

“Flaws and All'' & “Dangerously in Love” was the opener and despite its history as a declaration to a lover, in this particular performance, Beyonce allowed herself to be in awe of the moment and sang it as a ballad to her growing audience of almost 30 years and shared some words of affirmation along with it. She was dressed in an ethereal black gown in the first scene which complimented the romanticization of the mutual admiration between herself and the fans, yet it also could be seen as a tamed contrast to the otherworldliness of her later outfits- symbolic of her growth from a pop star to world declared icon. Through her catalog, she humanizes this journey with flashbacks of behind-the-scenes development consisting of aches, pains, hands-on construction, harsh hours, and properly giving out flowers to all who had a hand on this tour. Even to those whose smaller parts have had a great impact on her, like her daughter Blue Ivy, who did not shy away from the stage nor from having a creative opinion. The standard was the method for all to adopt and this large collective crew of artists and otherwise showed true to it by their results. There was positivity depicted in wins of all magnitudes and mishaps that only highlighted the true nature of teamwork and leadership; Trust. However, with being human comes the not-so-great reality as well. A piece of that reality, which may easily be overlooked by many whom it may not concern, is that no matter how many victories your method has produced, being intelligent as a black woman creative doesn’t put one out of range from having ‘them’ (yes ‘them’) attempt to try you mentally. When approached with such bravado, Beyonce’s only response was fearlessly remembering to choose to stand in her own authority rather than giving into the regret of the so-called stigma of being assertive with high demands. Who's to say how long it has been that Beyonce has truly felt within herself the courage to see through to getting her way at all times and at all costs but mastering that commitment can make an established art form to those on the outside feel renewed to the one inside.

As narrated and depicted through and through, the Renaissance is not just an era or a stage, it's a transcendence of a culture and the individuals in it. As the most catered-to audience (haha-wink), the African Diaspora, whether they be man, woman, straight, LGBTQIA+, adult, child, African or Black American, and so forth, vicariously experienced the glamor of our multifaceted culture through time via this tour. It is a great hoorah! moment for all leaving no question that Beyonce is a voice for every creed and that the modern approach is historically unapologetic.

/Naomi-Re’a CW

Monterey Slayton- “All The World’s A Stage”

 There’s been a lowkey wave of Artists of all walks finding more joy and purpose in taking the behind the scenes approach to the creative side of things- from Teyana Taylor finding comfort as a director behind the camera to Jay Versace, once a viral viner now a masterful producer for the likes of SZA. But the world is still needing to catch on to talented Milwaukeeans like Monterey Slayton who is quietly yet confidently dominating behind multiple corners of music. 

  “All The World’s A Stage” has just dropped and was announced to be Slayton’s final Album as his own artist before embarking on the journey of a songwriter. After about 4 years since his heavy unload of music in 2019, Slayton decided to leave the forefront of musical creativity with a taste of what his pengame will have in store for other deserving Artists. This 14 track body of work is clearly cut from the cloth of the late 90’s- early 2000’s blueprint of R&B. Slayton’s cadence, the lyrical content and musical references, to the overall production choice (shout out the producer Digital Rose) all mesh together to create a refreshing yet nostalgic piece of material. 

The Album is broken up into three parts and is introduced as if to be a scripted audition (or soundtrack sequence) to a classic black love story with Montrey being typecast as the attentive yet imperfect loverboy, like that of one of our favorite black romances. It begins with the highs of the ‘Honeymoon Phase’ and the ‘Climax’-with songs like “Someone to Love,” that reminds us that roses on a monday are the standard. The mission of pleasure is the only topic that matters to him and his lover and it's unapologetic. Then we’re met with ‘The End', the third segment of music where songs like “Too Far” and ”These Pictures” highlight the deciding moment for many relationships alike which are inflamed by disappointment and indecisiveness. It challenges the idea of what it takes to accept someone as a lover and leaves the listener with their imagination. I say that no matter which part of the love spectrum we find ourselves on, when it comes to listening to some good R&B, as long as there’s a lil’ “Nayhooooo” thrown in there, We gone feel it either way!

/Naomi-Re’a CW

Rakim- “Lover’s Playground” Music Event

A lot of us may still be running that last stretch of being a twenty-something but I think I speak for most of us when I say the club is getting tired! As an answer to the dilemma of wanting to kick it, mingle and enjoy good music without putting up with the jarring atmosphere that comes with typical nightlife, multi-faceted curator Rakim hosted his newly established Lover’s Playground for the third time this year. I wasn’t sure what to expect entirely but once the vibes began to build and the people started to arrive, I got the point and my understanding was later confirmed by Rakim himself: 

R: “..it's basically a party for people that want to come and enjoy music based on just good vibes; Non-abrasive sonics…We invite different DJs around the city, you know. And that's a major aspect of it too because it's not really about me DJing.. It's really just about having different DJs from around the world come in or us being able to lock in DJ’s from the city with different styles.”

Ironically upon my arrival there was some throwback Jay-Z playing. It wasn't abrasive but it definitely wasn’t lovey dovey either. However, the true essence of this night began to take over as Lik, Rakim, and DJ Nudy, who will be DJing alongside Core DJ Kev this New Year’s Eve for Boosie and Webbie right in our city, took turns adding their own flavor to the theme of love with throwback hits from Chris Brown, some new Drake, and Trey Songz.

R: “We wanted all love based and just beautiful, beautiful music… People don't engage with the music, They don't dance a lot. The music's super harsh, It's loud as hell- I like the loud music, but just [want] more dancing.”

CW: “I think that that's a good reminder that all music has a place and a purpose Because I feel like so much of the music now is focused on one emotion- one mode to be in- it's aggressive. It's unfriendly sometimes and it's negative, but it's a place- there's a place for being sad, A place for being lovey, there's a place for being social, and you can't really be like that with THAT type of music…”

Once he acknowledged the need for lightening up a social environment through music, Rakim Invited The Roses Prevail’s (TRP) Producer Lik Henderson to brainstorm along with him. Lik humbly gave Rakim the credit for the ideation but Rakim insisted that his perspective and input made this a total collab. They both sought to creatively capitalize on the amount of attention that our beautiful city has received, even more so on the artistic end of course, while unifying the DJ community of all sounds and experience with every Lover’s Playground event. 

Lik: ”...Once we had the leverage to build the brand to that point, we want to eventually bring people here and give people a reason to come to Milwaukee…”

CW: “Do you feel like the capacity matters in a sense…? if it's tailored to this event specifically, [there] wouldn't be [many people] you know what I mean? It would be more intimate….?”

LH: “I mean, we want it to get as big as it can get, you know what I'm saying? But we know in nature it's kind of like an intimate, exclusive vibe. You don't have to play what you consider popular... the DJs not necessarily playing the more popular Music, right? So the audience is coming for an alternative vibe. So that's in essence gonna always be a smaller capacity.”

Sounds to me like I have something to look forward to for my little world of being an introverted musical socialite. Will you be at the next one? 

/Naomi-Re’a CW