Big P - 2520

You know we love an artist who celebrates and tributes the #414, which is why we HAD to give a shoutout to Big P’s latest EP titled “2520.”

Big P says he made this project to pay homage to his childhood home and reflect on the life experiences that shaped him into the man he is today. The project was executive produced by Lik and it features beats from K. Fisha, 11 Gray, Roper Williams, Bugginout, and Haz Solo.

This EP immediately gave me throwback low-rider 90’s and early 2000’s Hip-Hop vibes. From the production to Big P’s flow on each song, I enjoyed it. I don’t like comparing an artists sound to other artists because everyone is unique and deserves to be in their own lane, but if you close your eyes while listening to this EP, you can kind of hear similarities to 50 Cent lol.

Overall the EP was dope and the cover art gives me instant feelings of home. I love when an artist has substance in their music and talks about things that really matter to them. I always say this, but it’s refreshing.

Make sure y’all check it out on Apple Music and tell us what you think.

/CW

Regal - Gold Dust

Y’all remember Regal (formerly known as Mike Regal) who we featured in issue four of CopyWrite Magazine?

Of course you do! The emcee/producer has been making moves, physically and musically. With a little time in Vegas under his belt he is coming back at us with his most recent project 

“Gold Dust”, a slick five tracks with the cleanest production we have heard in a long time.

We mean, “Lawd have mercy!” its crisp!

Every bar comes in with the most meticulous skill. The word play is elevated to the point if you know a little something about something, you say “Ahh that was clever”, but it's catchy enough to make a youngin fall in line quickly.

Our favorite song has to be “Do It” featuring Mudy (who was featured in CopyWrite Magazine issue thirteen). The song is just reminds us of the house party, “Hol’ me up bruh” days. And is it spitting out flavors of a “Hop in the circle” sample? Hmmm….

It's not often we like a full project, but “Gold Dust” definitely has that quality we expect from the rest of you. Sooooo Level up! Take a listen. And let them know, CopyWrite sent ya!

/CW

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Von Alexander - Solange (Official Music Video)

Last night we had the pleasure of seeing the video premier of Von Alexander’s (who was featured in CopyWrite Magazine Issue 14) new single “Solange”.

A group of eclectic locals gathered in the space to see this production, whose teasers of black women dressed in skin tones and all their glory, was really all about.

The video was EVERYTHING! There is a soulfulness that is presented by showing these women of color intimately while removing the hypersexualization that usually accompanies our image. It has a weaving appeal that takes the lyrics and the scenes of melanated complexions making us focus on a beauty that does not have to be described but just “IS” without question.

When we asked Von what he thought about his video he said:

“It turned out the way I wanted it to.”

We need more art like this yall. We need to keep challenging the image of societal standards of US.

See it for yourself and let us know what you think.

"Solange" Song Written & performed by: Von Alexander Produced by: J.Robb Directed, Shot & Edit by: Damien Blue AC/Cam Op: Cody LaPlant Grip: Brema Art and Creative Direction by: Von Alexander, Alexis Mercurey, Jojo West & Olivia Marie Photography by: Mahdi Grandsberry Presented by Vogel park Recordings 2019 Powered by MachTWO Stream: https://soundcloud.com/vonalexander/solange Follow Von Alexander Instagram: https://instagram.com/whatsupvxn Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatsupvon

/Lexi

LUNA Art Collective; Am I Latina Enough?

*info provided by Luna MKE

Am I Latina Enough?

Milwaukee, WI – September 11th, 2019. Am I Latina enough? is a question often voiced from new members entering Latinas Unidas en las Artes, otherwise known as LUNA – a Latinx art collective based in Milwaukee, WI. We will be answering this question directly as a part of our next group exhibition, HOOPS, opening on September 12th at Urban Ecology Menomonee Valley from 5pm-7pm and this October/November in our Pop Up MKE temporary space on S. Cesar Chavez Drive.

Hoop earrings are tied to Latinx identity and symbolize anything from strength to culture & tradition to ritual. Most LUNA members grew up wearing them as a second skin, and there are some members who did not. Does this make them any less Latina? Latinx identity is layered and complex, and each member is on their own journey towards reconnecting with their roots. To be a Latinx artist in today’s world means we’re constantly working to reject stigmas, that we’re unwavering in the pursuit of inclusive and safe spaces, that we refuse to conform for others’ comfortability and we won’t stand for diluting and policing of our ethnicities, cultures and traditions.

Some artists have been hesitant to join because: “I don’t speak Spanish, am I Latina enough?” or “I’m half Latina, can I still join?” and even, “I just moved to Milwaukee, and I’m trying to find other Latina artists.” The answer will always be YES. No matter your background, being a part of LUNA not only challenges and pushes you artistically but allows for difficult conversations that are often not talked about in Latinx spaces. Many of these discussions have driven our shows themes, who we’re inviting into the group and also who we choose as partners. Many of LUNA’s members have been shut out of art conversations and galleries but together we’ve created spaces that are inclusive and empower each other to celebrate and take pride in our Latinx identities. 

We’re excited to announce our partnership with the Cesar Chavez BID,Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiativeand the Pop Up MKE program. Beginning this October LUNA will run a small art gallery space and store located at 1037 S. Cesar Chavez Drive. This gallery will also house art studios for collective members to create art and hold art workshops for the community. Please join us on September 16th at 6pm for the Pop Up MKE Launch Party for a special meet & greet with LUNA and to learn more about our new residency with Pop Up MKE. 

“I used to think that identifying as Latina was a series of checks and boxes. Not consciously, but deep down. Anytime I met someone Latina it was obvious. They spoke Spanish. They had an accent. They have traditions. They have roots.”-Lauren WilliamsAm I Latina Enough?is question always at the forefront of our group. And through the HOOPS show and now as a POP UP MKE resident on S. Cesar Chavez Drive, we intend to continue the exploration of our Latinidad within the community and through our art. 

*Latinas Unidas en las Artes (LUNA) is a collective made of diverse Latinx artists based in Milwaukee, WI. For more information regarding upcoming shows, partnerships or bookings please contact us at lunamkeofficial@gmail.comYou can also follow us on social media @lunkamkeofficial. 

Hip-Hop Hooray: A Beer-Line Trail Tale (Music on The BLT Post-Press Release)

“La Di Da Di, we likes to party. We don't cause trouble, we don't bother nobody.”

Heyyy, hooo! Heyy, hooo! HaHa

Hip-Hop definitely brings out the best of us and makes us all have a good time, which is why we were excited for this years Hip Hop Week MKE. This was the second year of the groundbreaking week that “celebrates Hip-Hop through the lens of Financial Literacy, Health and Civic Engagement,” all of which are important to know within our culture. 

One specific Hip-Hop Week event that shed light on a less talked about issue in Milwaukee, was the “Music On The BLT” and no, we’re not talkin’ ‘bout your classic Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato honey! This event, presented by Riverworks, was held on Holton Street on the Beer-Line Trail, bringing the communities of the Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods together. Corey Pieper, Shle Berry, Jazzaveli and DJ Nu Styles were all on the lineup to perform on this family friendly evening. There were food trucks, drinks, and face painting for the kids, so there was something there for people of all ages. 

Now there’s no secret that there is a disconnect between these two neighborhoods due to gentrification, which is why organizations like Riverworks tries to figure out unique ways to bring them together. Riverworks brings opportunities to the Riverwest and Harambee area through workforce, job development, also programs and services around financial literacy and creative place making. Creative place making brings the community together around their culture, interests and likes. Having an event during Hip-Hop Week was a great opportunity for that to happen because entertainment draws the people...and I mean, what brings people together more than music and food?? 

Darryl Johnson, the Executive Director of Riverworks, says each community has a different set of issues they deal with. For example, the Harambee neighborhood has more concerns about vacant and boarded properties, unemployment and crime, which also spills over into different neighborhoods. He says what’s needed to bridge the gap between these two communities is communication.

“Let’s have that dialogue and break what we call this “Holy Street Divide” down and start dealing with the issues of really communicating with each other about issues that impact our lives and how we can work together to make Milwaukee a better city,” Darryl said. “These are two great neighborhoods. I always say that we have the two best neighborhoods in the city of Milwaukee (Riverwest and Harambee), because they understand and they work toward communicating and working together to make change in the city of Milwaukee.” 

The crowd at Music On The BLT was very diverse, with what you would assume were residents from both the Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods. However, after speaking with a few attendees, that was not necessarily the case. 

Tom and Amy Gutowski brought their daughter Ollie to the BLT event right after work. They said they live in the Riverwest neighborhood about five blocks away from the BLT and wanted to see what it was about, so they walked right over. They heard about it through 88.9 Radio Milwaukee and Urban Milwaukee. Plus they are fans of Shle Berry and never saw her perform before, so they figured it would be a great opportunity. And even though they were there for Shle Berry, they were living their best lives during all of the performances lol.

John Fitzgerald was another attendee, and he also said that he lives in the Riverwest neighborhood and walked over for the show. He’s also good friends with DJ Nu Styles so he came to show support. I saw him eating some bomb smelling jamaican food too, so that could’ve been another reason for attending (or maybe that’s just me always letting food be a reason for me to do anything lol). John was very candid with me when I brought up the topic of gentrification and the gap between the two areas. He mentioned the visible divide in class, race and crime, the rise in rent/property tax and him noticing more roads being done, bike trails being added and police presence in certain areas. I asked him how does he think the people feel who live in both areas and he says it depends on who you ask because one person isn’t speaking for an entire group. 

“It’s inevitable for people to not like the changes when they feel like they’re imposing on them,” John said. “But hopefully events like this help that and bring it together. People coming together is good and not too many neighborhoods could pull this off. It’s beautiful.”

As far as the Harambee residents, a lot of them were not present. But to keep my credibility I will say it’s possible I didn’t talk to the right people. For the people I spoke with who were Black, because yes I assumed the Black people there were coming from the Harambee side, they weren’t from the area. They heard about this Hip-Hop Week event through Instagram, were showing support for the performers or attended because their friends were there. However, Lavelle Young was one person who was there for all of the above. Lavelle, who gave us his new official title as community builder (you heard it here first), and is spearheading the redevelopment project of the MLK Library, grew up in the Harambee area around King Drive and Locust Street. He says the biggest change he has seen on King Drive is that right now the prices in the area are going up. This is a good thing but he says, “We [Blacks] don’t want to be displaced too.”

“Gentrification is real, I see it everyday,” Lavelle said. “But Harambee is a strong community that is woke, conscious and committed.”

When it came to the performance lineup, we loved the mixed group of Hip-Hop artists. We already did a pre-interview with a few of the performers who hit the stage (make sure y’all check that out btw), but I also wanted to speak with Shle Berry, who was a clear fan-favorite, to see how she felt about being included in the lineup and the gap between the two neighborhoods.

“I’m a woman, gay and bi-racial so I’m trying to bridge a lot of gaps,” Shle Berry said. “I bring a unique story to the scene.”

Shle Berry said Hip-Hop is the most authentic form of expression she’s ever experienced, which is why she pursued it. Because of the way it makes her feel. “It’s so political. You can talk about uncomfortable shit...and I’ve got some shit to say,” she said. Shle Berry says with Hip-Hop you can talk about vulnerable things thinking you’re alone and then find out you’re not. It’s all relatable.

And that’s just it. Hip-Hop is relatable. Music is relatable. It’s something everyone from any background can come together for. Which is why the “Music On The BLT” event during Hip-Hop Week was a great way to keep these conversations going. Just from the attendees I talked to, it’s clear people are willing to talk about what’s going on in the community. And we all know these concerns aren’t only happening in these two specific areas. Milwaukee by itself is known to be the most segregated city in the country. And of course this one event isn’t going to make us all join hands and sing “Kumbaya”, however, it’s a step. And by continuing to be open and honest with one another about what’s going on and having real conversations about the issues, there’s hope for not just Riverwest and Harambee, but for all the communities in Milwaukee to follow in their example. 

Shout-out to Milwaukee for making this important week happen. And man, just shout-out to Hip-Hop.

U.N.I.T.Y. that's a #unity!

/Carrie for CW

88Nine Announces Guest Mentors & Schedule for this Fall's Grace Weber Music Lab Sessions

*information provided by 88nine Radio Milwaukee

The names of top national musicians who will serve as mentors this fall for Milwaukee-area high school students in Grace Weber’s Music Lab, a project of 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, were announced Thursday.

The guest artists who will serve as mentors this fall are:

• Sept. 27: Everett and Julian Reid of The JuJu Exchange, a musical partnership of genre-bending style of music drawing from hip-hop, jazz, classical and pop.

• Oct. 25: Jean Deaux, a Chicago rapper and singer.

• Nov.22: Spanish-American singer-songwriter Victoria Canal and Andrew Leib, of Red Light Management and a former Nicolet High School student.

Sessions will be held in 88Nine Radio Milwaukee’s performance space, 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave., Milwaukee, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The programs include an on-air component featuring performances by the artist and Q&A from students, and an off-air Lab session featuring open mics with feedback and a student mini-concert.

Students can register for the Labs and learn more at: https://www.gwmusiclab.com/.

Grace Weber's Music Lab is a free after-school program offered to all Milwaukee-area high school students. The Lab brings high school-aged youths from Milwaukee together through music, allowing them to create community and bridge divides, while also preparing them and giving them a platform for potential careers in music and entertainment.

Carvd N Stone Inc. Announces Three Scholarships Worth $1,000 Each!

*information provided about Carvd N StoneCarvd N Stone Inc. Announces Three Scholarships for this

2019 Fall Worth $1,000 Each to Wisconsin Students and Creatives

Deadline to apply is Sept. 30, 2019 

MILWAUKEE (Sept. 1, 2019)—Carvd N Stone Inc., for the first time ever, will be giving away three scholarships valued at $1,000 each this 2019 Fall through their CNS 2019 Scholarship Fund.

The first scholarship will be given to a Milwaukee Public Schools college-bound graduating senior or freshman in college that has graduated from Milwaukee Public Schools. The student must have one letter of recommendation; must have been involved in at least one extracurricular throughout their high school career, for at least one semester; must be planning to attend college or currently in their freshman year of college; and write a one-page essay about who they are as a person and what they plan on using the money for.

The second scholarship will be given to a creator who lives in Milwaukee and is 17-25 years old—creator is open to anyone who creates. For example, someone who creates music or creates stories will be considered for this scholarship. The creator must submit at least three examples of their work; send in a written piece, video, graphic or type of artwork that depicts why they’re applying for this scholarship; and a statement of what they plan on using the money for.

The third scholarship will be given to either a college-bound graduating senior or freshman in college, or creator who is 17-25 years old—this category is open to applicants who live in Wisconsin or have graduated from a Wisconsin high school. If student, must have two letters of recommendation; must have been involved in at least one extracurricular throughout their high school career, for at least one full year; must be planning to attend college or currently in their freshman year of college; and must write a two-page essay about their aspirations and what they plan on using the money for. If creator, must be 17-25 years old; must submit four examples of their work, must send in a written piece, video, graphic or type of artwork that depicts why they’re applying for the scholarship; and a statement of what they plan on using the money for.

Each submission will be looked over by a panel of judges who will pick the scholarship recipients. All scholarship recipients will be awarded a check in their name at the CNS 2019 Scholarship Fund Ceremony to be held in October of 2019.

 All components of the application must be completed and turned in before the deadline or applicant will not be considered for the scholarship. Applicants are only allowed to apply for one scholarship.

To apply for the CNS 2019 Scholarship Fund, click here or visit http://bit.ly/cns2019scholarship. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2019 at noon.

For more information on the CNS 2019 Scholarship Fund, contact Nyesha Stone at CNS@carvdnstone.com or visit https://www.carvdnstone.com.

CNS 2019 Scholarship Fund is sponsored by Milwaukee Courier Newspaper, Leaders Igniting Transformation, AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, Alverno College and MPD District 7. To become a sponsor contact Stone.

About Carvd N Stone Inc.

Carvd N Stone is a platform for untold talents to tell their stories. Whether it’s through words, visuals or one of our many community events, we’re giving a voice to individuals. Carvd N Stone not only stands as a source for news but a brand that makes an impact in the community. We are dedicated to telling the truth and being the ones to initiate action that creates change.

Shle Berry - Tampons (EP)

If you missed Shle at our media sponsored event Music On The BLT (Beerline Trail), you missed a good moment. But no worries, you can still dive into her summer mood with her EP, Tampons that was released this May. 

Tampons throws fist punching flows, with Shle’s unapologetic banter. 

Our favorite song off the project is definitely ‘Trix’ with lines like, “I went and built myself a thrown. Don't need a seat at the table.” and “Look the d*ck is overrated you can suck on these lips”. 

*Yeshhhhhhhh!*

Shle is for sure in her own lane when it comes to the music scene and we are just happy somebody has the “vag” big enough to stand on it.

Check out Tampons (EP) and let us know what you think. 

/CW

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Dres - Countin’ Racks

We have been trying to get our money up all Summer while Dres is over here “Countin’ Racks”. Go figure!

Dres is back with a track that makes you want to get a lil money on some light work, slight work. Maybe twerk a lil bit. . . Ya know something like that. This song is lightweight, just enough bounce to make you hit repeat. Again, we think Dres has just enough cocky in his persona that comes off in his music that works for him. So go ahead and take a listen and let us know what you think. 

/CW

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Fashion Friday - From The Style Hub