#WeeSeeYou: El Color De La Libertad (The Color of Freedom) - Ft. Latino Youth, MC(mikal), Klassik & SistaStrings

“We call America the land of the free for a reason and we are still waiting for freedom”, the voice of the youth is shaking the narrative.

“Amidst divisive national debate over immigration and policies that separate families, the new student lead music video El Color De La Libertad gives voice to Latino youth, providing a powerful perspective on freedom in the United States”, says project representatives in their submission. We have all seen it. The images, the news reports, and even the heartbreaking personal testimonies from those affected but still have the platform to speak. But what about our youth?

Through collaboration between Jazale’s Art Studio and Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School, El Color De La Libertad (The Color of Freedom) uses the words of Latino 7th grade students with the talents of Milwaukee-based musicians MC(Mikal), Klassik, SistaStrings, and filmmaker Wes Tank to produce a video that depicts the youth narrative and positive creative process to shed light on the subject.

Spearheaded by Lead Teacher, Nora Justin, and Lead Artist, Mikal Floyd-Pruitt known on stage as, MC(Mikal) the project that started in 2017 now has something to show, that disseminates more impact and reality then most national broadcast may ever display.  Its bright colors, unifying aura and relatable production inspired by Letter to the Free, by Common, is an empowering and might we say emotional watch. (A few tears of community joy may have been dropped in the first viewing. Don’t judge! lol)

More of this is needed in the world, in our country, in our state, in our city, and in our community. Any disenfranchisement of a people is an issue that we all have to creatively address.

¿Qué son Los Colores de Libertad? All of them!

#WeSeeYou Kids!

Please spread the good vibes, the bright spirits, and the youth voice. They will be our difference.

Press the heart bellow & leave a comment to let us know you stand with the freedom wave for all!

/CW

EL COLOR DE LA LIBERTAD | THE COLOR OF FREEDOM ft. 7th Graders from Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School, MC(mikal), Klassik & Sista Strings. Made in Milwaukee, WI.

Snapshot Press Bite: @Jillisblack "Are You An Ally Or Is It a Lie?"

“We can’t start a revolution off a thesis.”

What would you do if you woke up one morning and had twenty thousand new followers on Instagram after posting a very uncensored video you made about your crappy day at work? What would you do if that post was heavy in your truths about racial inequalities, social hierarchy, and identifying the blatant disregard that others have for you & your culture? Correction: How White people treat your culture?* Would you pipe up or back down when the world puts the spotlight on you? @Jillisblack is here for it. With no eagerness to become a social icon, she has found that her words may still help stimulate a few very overdue conversations in the realm of real change, confronting the Black & White issue that is at the core of our communal positioning. CopyWrite sat down with Jill for a quick chat before her lecture, “Are You An Ally Or Is It a Lie?” at Company Brewing in Milwaukee, last Saturday, to see why her methods may be the controversial but needed stepping stone for ALL of our social liberations.

*Warning Jill’s delivery is not for the faint of heart. If you are uncomfortable with any commentary in this article, do understand, that is the point.

Jill: “I was really just posting like comedic, shady a** critics of inter-community hierarchy. I had a bad day at my job, at a major nonprofit that will go on named...[it was] lots of like White women passive aggressive sh*t... I was pretty angry in it and pretty upset... I woke up the next morning and had twenty thousand more followers. That’s how it really got started. It happened on a Friday so I took the weekend and I thought about what my responsibility was being in the public sphere, if even for a second, and thought about how I wanted to do this. I’m a writer and I have a performance background so I knew I could create something that worked. Now we are here two years later.” 

@zoaphoto

Jill has been popping up in different cities challenging not only people of color but white counterparts to move the narrative past the tiptoeing nature of social critic and confronting things for exactly what’s they are: Bullsh*t. Jill calls it, Revolutionary Honesty.

CW: “Can you describe Revolutionary Honesty?”

Jill: “Yea. Black people aren’t being honest. White people don’t know how to be. There is a way we talk about White people in our intimate spaces. When we are at home when we are with other Black people, when we are with our families... Then we do this performative version for Black spaces. Rather that be a training for White people, a space like this tonight, or some article, now you are performing how you are explaining racism to White people. That’s not doing any good. I want to go out and have the freedom to say to White people exactly what I would say to a Black person about them. And if I can’t do that then what I’m getting off on is my ability to explain something that is my reality, not my ability to change something that is my reality.”

As a member of the Black community, Jill has also ventured into many White spaces. She clearly admits and accepts her past, that included what is defined as self-hate, straying away from her Black culture and submerging herself in “White culture”. (Please note the word culture is being used loosely. There is no true definition of “White culture.” Its connotative use can be interchanged with “American Culture” and suggest that it is a sample of POP extremity and other learned/absorbed practices.) *Shrugs*

@zoaphoto

CW: “Can you explain what a White space is for someone who is a novice?”

Jill: With a chuckle, she replied, “I’m a good old fashion Oreo.* There is no mystery to it at all. I have been what people would say is a White lovin’ person. I think if you have been a person who has embraced White space enthusiastically, then it is your responsibility to talk about what you learned in that space. I think the mistake we are making is saying that you can never come back from that and rectify that sort of betrayal. And let me be clear it is a betrayal. So I consider myself to be like a spy. Like White people, I f*ckin know you. You can’t run game on me because I had to learn you in ways that other Black people did not.”

*OREO: Not the cookie. Defined by Urban Dictionary, Oreo is “a stereotype created by Blacks to be used against other Blacks, who are ‘Black on the outside, White on the inside’ so though a person may have Black features they display characteristics of a White person, therefore betraying their Black roots.”

She notes that if more Black people who have been obsessed with White space took what information they knew and used it in the right way, the community would have so much more than is what currently being offered. But the clincher is that it only works if people are willing, to be honest.

But let’s face it, how most people of color are living, 

there are several shapes of honesty. Especially the shape that comes in the form of navigating a White dominated society for survival. We call it, Code Switching.

CW: “With that being said, how do you feel about code-switching?”

Jill: “Code Switching? Hahahaah! What does that even mean these days ya’ know. I do it. I’m sure I do it. I think what was important to me is to present a pro-Black message without feeling like I had to put on anything. So a lot of the times people would be confused by hearing the message from someone who sounds like me. We don’t get that a lot so it is important [for people to know] this is my authentic self, whether it was going to be like that or not, it’s here now. So I’m not going to code switch into my Blackness. You are either going to trust me based on what I am saying or not. But we are too far into the bullsh*t of society to think Black people are not walking around able to do a little bit of both.”

Identifying Jill as a social media face for Black thought (rather she likes it or not) is way easier for a White person to accept, than a Black person if you check the obvious. Jill is of a very fair complexion (she’s “Light skinned”), her voice inflection is very sharp and matter of fact (that could mean several things but she “sounds like a White person”), and her garb is very reminiscent of young hipsters via their preppy stage (she self-proclaimed to dress like a White man). Lol, the irony right? But either way regardless of the perception, her knowledge, and courage to be vocal about it could be risky. But isn’t every day a risk being Black?

Jill: “I haven’t been trolled in such a long time... The last white person who trolled me was a couple months ago and it was a White power person. We had a two-hour conversation. I had some questions I wanted answered from him and he had some questions he wanted answered from me. So that was the last time. In the first few months I definitely did, but these days I get more White liberals with the ‘Yea, we get it’. I don’t quite know what that means because I’m a very easy Black person for a White person to get into.”

Simply put Jill doesn’t look like a threat to White privilege.

Jill: “There is a little bit of fear realistically when I go into a space like this that are open because White people do the most. But what are we doing if not this work? So I get over it and I get up there.”

Any fear can be subdued by knowing the impact of your actions. Where Jill may be speaking on some hard-hitting topics there are comedic undertones that make her delivery of truth just way easier to grasp, even if you are the persons of critic.

CW: “We have noticed you use a lot of sarcasm, is it comedic relief for you?”

Jill: “Anything that I was going to do was going to have some humor to it because creatively I’m a comedic writer. Does it make it different from what other people do? Yes, I think it makes it more appealing and I think it makes it easier. But that’s not the purpose of it.”

Jill has also been referred to as the Black woke Daria... Ehhh, it will work.

Her lecture, “Are You An Ally Or Is It a Lie?”, revealed many enlightening points. Many of which she polled the White audience members for a show of hands on their contribution to perpetuating the issues of Black & White relations, and general social polarization. Here she spoke words that validated her outlook on sustaining and elevating the Black community considering the current standing of its plight: “Black people don’t believe in progress the way you do!”

Are we really just saving face?

@zoaphoto

CW: “How do we sustain this cross over into society where Black people are doing better and move away from a racially unequal way of life, when our society is built off of racism, thus everything we are apart of is racist?”

Jill: “We can’t. It’s not going to happen. What Black people would have to admit is that we are scared. We have come up with a group of safe ‘Black sh*t’ and then the thing we are scared of. Which the consequence [if not followed accordingly] we feel like could be death. So when we go to college, and we get on at the company, and we do things like brunch with the girls, we are living in the illusion like we aren’t at risk at every second. Let’s be honest and say it’s for safety. Do we really feel that we are progressing or do we feel like we are f*ckin’ scared and if I sound like this and look like this and I go in and work at your job I feel safer? That’s what I want Black people to be honest about. We are just ‘safe-ER’, we think.”

At this point, the only option is to be the “Other” and those extremities on either end are scrutinized for their stereotypical linkage to what being Black is. And nobody wants to be that low on the totem pole. How we say it over at /CW, “issa rough.”

CW: “If Black people were always there authentic selves what do you think that would look like?”

Jill chuckled at that question as if she didn’t even want to fathom the thought.

Jill: “I can’t even imagine that. We would also have to believe that White people would be being their authentic selves too.” 

Now we had to test the waters. For Jill to be so disturbed by White people, their privilege, and destruction to the existence of all other peoples, some might think that it’s a hate for all White individuals. So all we wanted to know is...

CW: “Jill do you have White friends?” *insert the eyeball emoji here lol*

The laugh that followed this question was so heartfelt. Really it is quite hilarious if you think about it. 

Jill: “You know what, I took on my first White friendship in years, this year. It’s been challenging in moments... I think, that I say that I took that on without thinking that there is a lack of racism there. You know, so I am expecting this person to be racist. I think it’s when we lie in those relationships and say, ‘No I have found one who is not’. Of course, you did! No, your White person is racist! It’s what you’re willing to spend time on and what you have the energy for, to try and find something beneficial there. But no, there is not a White person in this world who is not racist... We will see where it goes. There have been some blow-ups.”

Combating what for decades has been looked at as simply just the way things are, Jill takes her unexpected popularity seriously. With her social platform in the mix of things, her choices must be strategic. Where she stands but more importantly, how she stands, can change everything:

“No, I don’t want to sell racism for my whole life.”

CW: “You have said you don’t want to be famous, but you are very popular. Do you feel like that takes away from your responsibility to deliver this type of content?”

Jill: “I think I am at a point where I realize that I’m going to have to make some sort of compromise. That was a youthful, naive Jill. What happens is, I’m upset with what I’m seeing, and yet, I won’t enter the world to do anything about it. That’s not going to work long term. What will happen is that there will be people who take [this] content and not mean it or be performative about it. We don’t have room or time for performative authenticity. So If I believe myself, then I need to make sure the message is spread... I think I’m at the point [now] where I’m asking the question, is there an ethical way to be seen in our current society?... and I don’t have an answer for that yet.”

Thorns of truth may pierce but there are some pains that have to be endured for the greater good of all human beings. Though Jill is very vocal in her Black stance, it is not to be misconstrued, the disenfranchisement of any people by the dominating society that has been streamlined by the caucasian persuasion (Bloop!) is in fact included in this need for Revolutionary Honesty. Asking yourself “Are You An Ally Or Is It a Lie?”, is only the first step.

Jill: “Sometimes growth will look like betrayal... and I want people to trust me.”

CW: “THAT’S HARD JILL!”

Jill: “You’re right that’s hard because we are so used to people disappointing us. So I want to say somewhere on the record that I tried a thing, it didn’t work the way I wanted it to. I’m going to try something else and if that doesn’t work and it’s not ethical, I won’t do that thing either. But I want people to know that everything that you are paranoid about in society is real. So some of these doors are just closed to us. We have to find the ones that are open.”

Now, what is your next move?

Lexi for /CW

Check out the digital version of this article here.

Fashion Friday - Classic Man with @theclassicshoppe

Back at it again! I hope you all enjoyed your 4th of July festivities but I got some more heat for you! 
This week I want to show some love to a local brand, The Classic Shoppe! This week, I was feeling myself in this dope t-shirt from @theclassicshoppe. Usually I have a tough time with getting the right fit with tees but they definitely got me together. Sporting their unisex “Notorious” shirt, I felt the 90s blood running through my body and as a 90s baby, that’s right up my alley!  

I reached out to The Classic Shoppe to get the scoop on what they’re about and who their audience is and they provided me this statement from their website, “So it all started when our founder was shopping in a popular contemporary store one day and an overwhelming sense of frustration set in. As she flipped through rack after rack, she became more and more fed up with not being able to find what she was looking for; not one thing represented her. 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. She began to wonder if the culture she loved and respected was truly appreciated or just being picked and pruned to fit into some trend. So she made her own trend, but in reality it was nothing she made and it is far from a trend. It all boils down to this: if we don't honor and preserve our culture, who will? Keep it classic. xoxo”

Its for the culture and I’m here for it! To join the movement and get your hands on some of their merch, you can visit www.theclassicshoppe.com to view all of their products ranging from fanny packs to hoodies! Also, be sure to follow them on Instagram @theclassicshoppe and use the hashtag #JoinTheMovement to show them how you rock the brand! Milwaukee, until next time!
#SupportTheLocal

InstaMeet MKE (Recap) by BrenEnd Films

You should have been there!

InstaMeet MKE sponsored by CopyWrite Magazine was lit! The energy, creativity, and of course style was in full effect. Even though the photographs, social post and personal anecdotes spreading around the city are enough to make any fashion head or photographer jelly, BrenEnd Films has put together a recap video to show everyone what you really missed.

(& he indeed killed it!)

If you like what you see, you definitely wont want to mix the next one. Check it out and let us know what you think.

/CW

Shot on Sony A7s Rokinon 24mm Cine 4

Dres - Bounce (Video Submission)

“I do what I want, yea I do what I want”.

Dres explains it best as he comes through with his most recent visuals for “Bounce”. The high energy, topsy-turvy video shows a solo Dres with his own flow, move, and attitude.

It throws out some conceited rap lyrics and plays into the classic marks of individuality and self-idolizing aesthetic that as a society we love to indulge in. Why? Because it gives you that Bounce!

(It also may make you dizzy lol)

Check out this video and let us know what you think in the comments below!

/CW

Directed By Brett Schmidt / Produced by DMT

Snapshot Press Release: On to Greater Things (Vincent Van Great at Summerfest 2018)

It’s that time of year again when all of our local favorites are on the move, elevating the playing field and checking off all of their goals. Vincent Van Great is no exception.

CopyWrite Magazine caught up with him backstage at Summerfest after his performance as the opening act for Tory Lanez on the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage, this past Thursday to see how things have been developing since our last sit down at Summer Solstice in 2017.

Images by FreakishNerd // Mahdi Gransberry

After a massive set with his band Ninja Sauce and some other talented artist from MKE (Dana Coppafeel, Jay Anderson, Blizz McFly, & Yo-dot), Vincent Van Great was eager to retreat into his dressing room away from the crowd and all the action. “I’m hungry, [and] I need to eat,” he said crashing onto the couch.

CW: “Big Stage! Summerfest! A Great set! How are you feeling yo’?”

VVG: “I’m feeling really good. Excellent to say the least.” The look on his face of exhaustion was carried out with the satisfaction of completion.

CW: “Was it what you expected?”

VVG: “It actually was exactly what I expected. I know the type of audience that Tory Lanez brings so I added some extra groovy and smooth songs to my set instead of doing something way more hip-hop.”

Though Great seemed a little iffy on the crowd's thoughts, we noticed quite a few heads bobbing and catching the beat, enjoying the vibe. Festival crowds can be spazmatic when awaiting headliners but this bunch didn't seem to mind at all. (ON THE RECORD! LOL.)

This is his second year playing as a major opener at Summerfest. Last year he played the Johnson Control stage before the epic performance of BJ the Chicago Kid.

VVG: “They keep putting me with these R&B type of guys even though I do a lot of hip-hop.”

CW: “Do you think that's because of the live band?” (If you have not yet seen his performances with Ninja Sauce, you are missing out.)

VVG: “Well it's cool either way. But it's definitely about to usher me into this new sound that I am coming up with. Which leads me into me and Dana’s new project.”

Vincent Van Great will be dropping a new project later this summer entitled, ‘A Tape Called Fresh,’ co-starring Dana Coppafeel. The concept pushes the throwback cassette style, with an A side & B side tracklist. The A-side featuring the more hard-hitting Hip-hop sounds that their day-one fans enjoy where the B side will host more groovy melodic, “girly records.”

CW: “Girly!?!”

VVG: “Haha, you know the songs with a more R&B feel, that are vibey. The B side of the project will really cue everyone into the lane I’m entering in, so listen to that project and peep the B-side. But I mean it's all fire.”

We believe it. Great has been working on his craft for a while now, and all the progress that we have noted has been the elevation into bigger and better things. Production, delivery, and even performance style have morphed but still are very much his own sound.

CW: “We have known you for a long time. It's obvious that you are getting plenty of traction locally and it’s expanding into industry. Are you ready for it?”

VVG: “I have been working a long time for this and sometimes you don't get to sit back and really realize what you have accomplished. Because for me I’m still peddling…”

CW: “Like literally peddling on a Bublr bike. Haaaaa!”

VVG: He starting laughing hard. “There you go babbbyyyyy! Shout to Bublr Bikes!”

Vincent Van Great rode his custom VVG Bublr Bike on stage since they are proud sponsors of his Summerfest set!

VVG: “There will be several other Vincent Van Great bikes in different Bublr Bike locations, so if you see a VVG bike; pick that one!”

Shameless plugs are life! It is undebatable that Great is making moves. Where summer is alive in well these major sets are just apart of the action with many more showcases to come around the midwest.

VVG: “I’m headed out July 20th to Des Moines, Iowa. So if you’re out those ways come check me out. I know everyone reads CopyWrite, so they will get the message.” (He’s right, especially those in the midwest we get a lot of love). “Then the following weekend I’m in Minneapolis, Minnesota. August I will be back here for Hip-Hop Week MKE and September you can catch me at Bayview Bash, so I’m definitely around for the festival season. Oh and Kansas City Indie Fest, as well.”

So with all the Great moves comes even Greater sacrifice. With his new opportunities of industry stardom at several levels on the line, he has been splitting his time off the road between L.A. and Milwaukee, cultivating dual homes.

VVG: “It’s split between the two because I’m working with Lana Turner (Comedian & wife of late comedian Ralphie May) now, as her Music Director for her new show, ‘Perfect 10’. So I will be back and forth from here to there trying to dot some I’s and cross some T’s on that coast.”

As you can see some of your local faves are not so local anymore but the love is the same, calling out his favorite (yes, we said favorite) magazine to share his 2018 Summerfest set. His passion and artistry shined through as he directed his band into each song, creating interest and making sure the crowd knew is exactly who he is. “I go by the name Vincent Van Great!”He said it five times y’all, make sure it sticks.

CW: “Is there anything else you want the people to know?”

VVG: “I love CopyWrite. Thank you, ladies, & your team for always helping me out and having my back. Y’all keep killing it.”

And as always, we love you back!

#SupportTheLocal opening acts this year at Summerfest. They will be worth your time!

/CW

Check out the digital version of this article here.

King Cezar - Pikachu (CezMix)

This is low-key Pokemon abuse! Lol Pikachu with the bong? Y'ALL DISRESPECTFUL!

But anyways, here we are with King Cezar flipping ego over the  Lil Baby and Drake hit "Yes Indeed" calling it “Pikachu” (CezMix). It’s catchy, plus duh the beat slaps. If you place close attention you may hear some references that make you say “ahhhhh haaaa”.

Listen here & hit those hearts bellow if you’re rocking with it.

/CW

King Cezar Goes Off Over Lil Baby x Drake's "Yes Indeed"

MKE Hip-Hop Week 2018 Updates

Hey MKE! This week we were sent a few update flyers on the status of this years MKE Hip-Hop week. In the words of our "PR Person" Tiffany:

"I see they are talking that REAL hip-hop. I fux with this." Lol indeed.

Check out the info below and make sure you are in the mix for this groundbreaking experience. (We will keep you posted)

And don't forget to tell them CopyWrite sent you!

/CW

Fashion Fridays - Ladies in Red

With the success of the very first InstaMeet MKE event came a lot of creativity! In case you missed it, this past Sunday, different models, photographers, and stylists united in downtown Milwaukee to create art! With on the spot styling, makeshift dressing rooms, and even climbing to the roof of a building, there was no boundary when it came to getting those dope shots. 
Among the models that came out, I met Nadjah (@nadjahhasan), Lorena (@heavyheavy.lowlo), and Shienne (@Shiennegh)

Both dressed in red and black berets to match, Nadjah (left) and Lorena (right) caught my eye while being photographed on a roof so I had to capture them together. Both remind me of the boldness that was the 1970s!

I asked the ladies to describe their personal styles to me and Nadjah said. “My personal style is all on how I feel...I love how no matter what I wear if I am comfortable and I’m feeling it it doesn’t matter who loves it and who doesn’t.”
 Lorena explained, “I would describe it as fun and spunky. I love changing it up all the time.”



Near the end of the event, I spotted Shienne whose look put me in the mindset of New York City during the 70s! Her multi patterned dress and red beret went very well with a denim heeled boot. 
Shienne told me, “My style is pretty laid back. I like it mix vintage pieces I find thrifting with modern. Also I love to wear converse and vans cause I love to be casual and comfortable.”

 

I hope to see you at the next InstaMeet and learn more about our fashionable friends here in Milwaukee! Make sure you’re following @CopyWriteMag and @VatoMke on Instagram to stay in the loop for more events like this.

/Jacob

Jay Yung - CLVRITY (Debut Project)

The tide has shifted. Where industry sound has been shifting to unorthodox lows in quality, substance, and relevance, other artists are honing in on self-accountability, reflection, ambition and “CLVRITY” (clarity).

Jay Yung’s debut project “CLVRITY” is a thoroughly thought out compilation of more mature agendas, were his tracks breath connected themes of reality showing face, and his choices to survive such intimate adversities became his truth. The more mellow beats, old-school samples, and interludes are grasping in their aura of authenticity.

The artist himself claims that this project is quite introverted, allowing him to “ ask a lot of questions and...own the imperfections and qualities that make me”. Without a doubt song 1 “Indecisions” (Prod. C.U.T.S), is our favorite track. What a way to start a project! It was uncensored, very raw in emotions, and well...it hit home. It also has made into our “/CW Approved” playlist on SoundCloud!

Jay Yung’s delivery is natural. The cadence seeming very unrehearsed, which we believe works well on this type of project. It's a solid project, with room for technical tweaks, but as a reflection piece, it is unflawed. We believe that anyone who may need a moment to reflect should check this one out.

Hit the heart & comment below if you are feeling this one.

So what’s next for Jay Yung?

“Honestly, Bruh...Growth”.  

/CW