Rapping Around The Christmas Tree

Rapping Around the Christmas Tree

NW rappers and artists alike have been known for their deep underground roots, their ties with the community, and their ability to survive a cut throat music scene. What you probably are not aware of is their softer, more giving, even heroic side to their lives. NW artists having been Rocking and Rapping around the Christmas tree since music began in this great area and we will showcase some of those amazing artists and their shows, with information on how you can help.

Jesse Sponberg is not your typical 40 something Portland guy. I first met Jesse in early 2000 era when he was doing his second annual hip hop event called “Food Wars.” I had heard that a Portland local was putting on a show for free; all you had to do was bring in cans of food for kids who were hungry. I had to check it out. One of our members got on the bill and then we started collecting cans. We took the prize for most cans collected that year,.  We watched as years went by and they loaded a U Haul truck full of cans, and then two U Haul trucks. I watched as local artists from all over the NW area came far and wide to bring food for those in need and to come together to put on this amazing show. This year we took second place in the event, but it takes first place in my heart each year along with other local Portland events. Check out more info on Jesse’s Facebook for information HERE and check out his weekly talk show Fight Church HERE  for more information about community events he is holding in the NW Area. 

Currently Jesse and his group are holding an amazing 12 hr telethon featuring many local NW musicians, comedians, and more to raise clothes for those cold on the streets of the NW.  For more information on this event visit the events page HERE and join up to help next year. This year Jesse’s group collected enough clothes to fill two dump trucks full and dropped them in the street on downtown Burnside Ave, then loaded them into a local church. The news came out to see the event and video feeds can be found at Fox news and Koin news 6.  You can also find Jesse on the streets of downtown Portland handing out Free Hot Soup to those in need nightly.

Tragedy 503 is a local NW rapper who has been putting on an amazing Toy Drive for the last 8 years called Toyz N Da Hood .

How this works is a local venue will donate some of their space, ticket vendors donate printed tickets, NW artists donate their time, and people donate toys. With each new, unwrapped toy donation, the person gets a ticket to the free show featuring many local NW acts including the world famous DJ Chill, PDS, Knothead, Thraxx Imaculent, Do It For The Dinosaurs, Uglay Kidd, Pookie, Sharon Music, JLouie, Macc Matt, Demon,  and many more. Each year hundreds to thousands of toys are collected for the benefit of the Salvation Army. These toys make it into the hands of boys and girls in need before Christmas day and add some cheer to their lives.
Tragedy says, “I started Toyz N Da Hood in 2005 with the goal of raising toys for under privileged kids in my community, Portland, OR. Growing up in poverty, I am well aware of the Salvation Army’s toy drives and how important it was to kids that would otherwise get no Christmas. So I and my team of street promoters, local MCs, and volunteers put together a show, with the idea being that no child should be deprived of feeling special Christmas morning, It’s a time for hope and to believe the world can be a good place. A toy gives them reason to believe, and a smile Christmas morning. Having something as simple as a toy, Christmas morning, can give a self esteem boost to a child because they weren't left, out despite the current financial struggles. I know these things first hand, because there were several Christmas mornings where I would have gotten nothing, if not for the Salvation Army delivering presents to my house. Many local MCs join us every year to put on the concert, with the admission being 1 new unwrapped toy or $10 at the door (to buy toys with). There have been thousands of toys raised every year. That means thousands of kids wake up with a chance to believe in the goodness in the world and we get to wake up knowing we’re helping carry on a tradition that helped us believe in miracles when we were young.” 

Washington Artist Knothead is also big in the giving back scheme of things. This NW artist works with families who are dealing with cancer on benefit shows, raising money for those in need, collecting food, clothes, toys, and so much more. Knothead also contributes each year to helping with NW toy drive Toyz N Da Hood. You can read more about Knothead and what he’s doing HERE.

 Knothead has been blessed these many years, overcoming many obstacles to come out an amazing artist and person, playing the stage with artists like Tech N9ne and Hopsin, and taking time to really help others around the area and spread the word about what is really important in our lives today. The NW is a better place with people like Knothead in it.
 

Bad Habitat is the NW artist of the month of December. They are a hard working group who has been consistently helping with NW Charity Events. Bad Habitat took 1^st Place this year in Food Wars 6 and has helped support the program for many years. These musicians are not only community conscious, but help with many events and organization in the NW to better our region.

They have worked closely with Jesse Sponberg for many years, attending and performing on Fight Church in the NW, and will be helping with the 12 hr marathon clothing drive. We hope to see more of this band in the coming future. Check them out HERE. 

 Musicians and artists alike can use their popularity, their reach, and their influence to better their communities all over the US. They can start spreading the word, give their time, and show that taking part in these activities can be worthwhile and enjoyable. When local musicians get involved, the public gets more involved. Everyone wants to rub elbows with the stars, so use your star status for good and take a moment to give back to those who live in your community, who could have given to you without you even knowing it. I challenge all of you to make December/January the month for giving back. Pay it forward today. Start now. If you have a story about how you took this challenge and gave back, if you’re a musician or just a member of your community, email me at Lettanina@gmail.com to be featured in the follow up story. 

Challenge accepted, ready set go!
 

TREY C & PLAYA RAE "I.L.A.M. INDEPENDENT LIKE A M#FUKA Music Review

I was given a great opportunity by Monstaville CEO to review a band I have never done a review for before. I was pleasantly surprised by the work that was sent to me and the skill on the tracks.
I get tracks, demos, and songs sent to me all the time. Some are good, some are not so good. I try and review only the ones I really like as I am trying to keep the negativity out of my work and bring a positive support to Hip Hop today.
So when I received their EP and information I was hoping for the best, but maybe not expecting  it. I was greatly surprised at what I found. I.L.A.M is an amazing album that talks about the industry as seen from the eyes of the independent artists, underdogs, and those struggling to keep up their dreams and lives at the same time. The music was well done, well produced, and did not have that repetitive bar structure that so many artists will cling to as the protocol for music today. I love to hear something outside the rest with a taste and flavor all its own. 

The first song on the album is called Freedom. I felt this was appropriate with the theme of the EP as it was talking about living independently of large record labels and staying true to who you are.  I really enjoyed this song because it talked about the freedom of doing things on their own and how the music industry is now.
Lyrics I found interesting and refreshing on the album included,  “Don’t it feel like independence day, only every day, " and "You remain a slave to the industry game while we get paid on the stage.” When working with a major label you are not as free to make your own choices in music. This is why more and more artists are choosing to remain independent even if offered spots on record labels. This gives them the right to produce what they feel and not what is just popular at the time. 

The next song is called Independent grind. The song talks about the struggles and the freedom from being independent. It discusses that music is about being who your are, not able selling out all you can to get radio play. Some lyrics I found intriguing were, “Hands in the air for the independent grind," and "Fuck the industry, " which was first brought around by Tech N9nes Anghellic CD but everyone’s being feeling it since the industry came about. People are starting to decline the cooperate agenda of music labels and choose to make their own rules. Though the independent grind may be harder, the hard work is worth keeping yourself true to the end. 

The next song on the album, Lies, talks about how many artists in Hip Hop  today are faking who they are for fame. They play the part but do not live what Hip Hop is truly about. Some lyrics I found amusing were, "No Mug behind their words cause they’re jeans too tight." Part of me hopes this is a comment about Lil Wayne, cause man his pants are way to tight and someone needs to say it haha. Also "They might rock a shiny chain but they actually broke.” I see this so often in hip hop and I liked that they brought it out. So many people are going into debt and really trying to sell the imagine of Hip Hop lifestyle, so others don’t know they aren't making it big. I have always heard "fake it until you make it"..or people could be like the song says, be yourself, and you're more likely to appeal to the people. 

Next we have the song Stay. This song has a good message, but I didn't mark it as my favorite. I think the song would have been improved if the echo effect had been left out. I think a good melody in its place would have pushed that track above level without needing to fill that space. It takes away from the good message of the song. But all in all still a great song!

In our next track, Living Today, the group discusses how living a life of a star can be, the good and the bad and why it's important to live for today. Some of the lyrics I found humorous and fun were, “She’s telling me I’m one hell of a guy, must have told this chick one hell of a lie.” This line made me laugh. Rappers have a suaveness built into their DNA and after years of watching this while on the road with the guys, I couldn't help but remember those moments. 

Which brings us to another amazing track that really hit home. As a college drop out at 18 to emerge myself in music and partying at the time, I really felt Don’t Wanna go back. Most of us out there that work a day job to make ends meet and continue to fund our dreams can relate to this song and its message. Lyrics like, “ I didn't drop out of college cause I thought I was too cool, but I wish that I hadn't  cause I’m glued to this YouTube tutorial trying to learn how to tie a tie tight and make it online right and make it to this interview on time.

This line hits so many entertainers. School didn't teach most of the musicians I know the knowledge needed for their creativity and the way their minds worked. Most of the time they seemed distracted and there was no one there to fuel their fire. So they would drop off and then struggle to bring in the bread while pursuing the dream.  Crazy life when your balling at night  and answering the customer service calls during the day. This track would be my favorite of the album.

Our last album on the track talks about how life changes after you start to change with your music. We evolve and we grow, new friends come and old friends may go. This track is called Damn Thang. A few of the lyrics that stood out to me where,  “Some of my old enemies are now friends with me,” and “People see it for the glitz and glamour, think your puffing purple kush when your really smoking bammer.”

But the lyric that stands out the most is one that most of us can relate to. “Lost a lot of friends and that’s a damn shame, but honestly I wouldn't change a damn thing.”

This album stayed in my CD player for days as I contemplated it and really immersed myself in it. I truly like this album and I'm giving it a 4 out of 5 stars, cause we all have room to grow don't ya know? Keep pushing your dreams and keep righting those songs from the heart, and you can stay Independent like a M#fuka for life. 

Tragedy 503 & PDS Tech N9ne Tour Photos

EXCLUSIVE PROZAK INTERVIEW ON THE SOMETHING ELSE TOUR-PORTLAND OR STOP

The "Something Else" tour made a much anticipated stop in Portland, OR on Thursday September 26th and Portland was ready to rage. Prozak's set was epic in proportions and the fans were left wanting more. Click Here for an exclusive look at the Portland pit for Prozak's Mosh Pit song. 

After the show I got a chance to do an exclusive interview with Prozak in the downstairs bar of the Roseland Theater. 


Lettey: Tell me about your new album and what the album represents to you. 

Prozak:  The album is called "We All Fall Down" and it released 9/17/13. People may say the album is Political, but I don’t like that word. This album talks about reality. I think of hip hop that doesn't relay a message as "Fiction." The album talks about the state of the country right now and relays a message, through the songs, about how I view the world. Look at the state of Detroit, the actual state recently tried to declare bankruptcy, the whole state. That says a lot about the country we live in. This is a state that was the head of the auto industry, and now it’s filing for bankruptcy. ,  It doesn't talk about how many women I slept with last night, how much money I have, or where I’ve been. Its about what’s really going on in my town and the world.

Lettey: What is your favorite song on the album?

Prozak: That's a hard one. I would have to say "We All Fall Down" and "Audio Barricade." 

Lettey: What song on the album was the hardest to write?

Prozak: That's a good question. I'd have to say the first song, the intro "Divided We Stand" I wanted to incorporate the album art and really tie in the album.

Lettey: There are many young, talented people out there today thriving on art, music, and creative abilities. The schools are slowly taking away these programs and it is becoming more difficult for kids to learn the arts. What would you say to these young people to keep them moving forward?

Prozak: :  Really stick to it, network, I’m living proof, there are others, hundreds of thousands of others, and I’m living proof that you really have to do it and stick to it. You have to dedicate everything to it. That’s it.

Prozak's set was more then I could have expected. His art and his voice have improved through the years, and when I say voice I don't mean his singing, I mean his ability to say so much with his songs. Hip Hop was originally meant for people to express and share a statement and a message, and Prozak has been perfecting the art for years now. Listening to his new album, you leave feeling informed, entertained, and more intelligent for the experience. 

 

HOPSIN SKATES HIS WAY INTO THE HEARTS OF FANS!

MORE THEN JUST SKATING, IT’S A LIFESTYLE 180!

 There are many great skaters in the US. Too many to even name, but when I hear the word skateboarding and music together, I think of only one person. That person is Hopsin. For those of you who don’t know Hopsin or have been living in a cave for the last few years, he’s one of the most anticipated new artists to hit the scene.

Many of you may not know, but Hopsin got his start on TV and is no stranger to the camera and lime light. In 2001 Hopsin had a part as an extra on the Disney movie Max Keeble's Big Move, he had a small part in 2002 on That's So Raven (which is where many people may recognize him) and he even had a guest appearance on the remake show Fame. Hopsin has always been a musician, but had a difficult time originally starting off on his career.

 

Eventually Hopsin did get going and started off with Ruthless Records in 2009, but Hopsin eventually left Ruthless Records due disagreements with the record label.  His debut album, Gazing at the Moonlight, was dropped in 2009, but without a lot of backing it only sold 42 copies. After that Hopsin decided to do what many intelligent artists do, who see that the money is in the production, he started his own independent label, Funk Volume.

Hospin is also and avid skateboarder. He can be found popping up all over the US at different skate parks around the nation. Fans get excited to see him come and enjoy the everyday things of life just like them and to know that he truly is a down to earth person. You can catch the YouTube video on Hopsin landing his first rail at (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeRueGF2LTc). Hopsin enjoys skating with fans outside before a show from time to time too. He’s one of the most real artists I have had the pleasure of meeting.

Presently Funk Volume consists of Swizz, Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, DJ Hoppa, and Jarren Benton. The band has made quite a name for itself, playing all around the world and working with artists like Tech N9ne, Travis Barker, and many more. His style of music is refreshing and new, something not often seen in the music industry today. He’s one of few artist I know who will actually talk to their fans on Facebook. To get the experience of a grass roots rapper hit up his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hellohopsin.

Hopsin and his crew from Funk Volume have a very busy tour schedule this year. Hopsin made a stop at one of the most anticipated festivals, the Skate & Surf Festival in Freehold, NJ on May 18^th. You can catch Hopsin again on July 12^th at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City, UT with Dizzy Wright, another amazing artist from his label. Check out all the comings and goings of the artists at Funk Volumes Official page featuring contests and more at http://myfunkvolume.com.

Hopsin has worked very hard to make a name for him that is respected and admired. Though Hopsin has his fair share of haters online, he handles the heckling well and makes us proud to know that real people understand you can’t please everyone. You know what they say, “If people hate on you, you must be doing something right.” Hopsin is doing just that. I look forward for more to come from this artist and to see how he grows and matures in his musical conquests. The world is your oyster Hopsin, so tear that bitch open and take that pear!

THERE'S NO TOUCHING OOBERGEEK AKA MARCUS YATES!

THERE'S NO TOUCHING OOBERGEEK!

Oobergeek's much anticipated release of his new music video, "No Touching”, directed by Jakob Owens and featuring Krizz Kalico of Strange Music and Futuristic releases today. Click HERE for an exclusive peek of the video.

Dying to know more facts about this fast growing talent? How did he get into the business and what are his plans for the future? Who inspires him to make music? Well you are in luck. I got an exclusive interview with the one and only Oobergeek and he gave me a peek into the man and how his mindset is paving the way for him to become a legend!

Oobergeek was born in Kansas City, MO in 1992 and unbeknownst to him, into a musical family that has become a legend. Oobergeek has many family members in the music industry, including the underground hip hop legend, Tech N9ne, who happens to be his cousin. Oobergeek would eventually spend a lot of time with his cousin, working on music and performing with members of Strange, but he started off his legacy on his own, working hard, and in our interview he tells of his journey and how his story began.

I called Oobergeek up, who was enthusiastic to do the interview and in great spirits. One of the most important things I wanted to know was how he got the name Oobergeek. He replied, "I listened to a rapper named XV a lot. I had it as my Facebook name (nothing serious). Tech was in the studio with me and he told me he liked the name. I honestly didn't at first. I was like nahhh and laughed. Everybody started agreeing and said how much they liked it. So I was like, what the heck. That is how Oobergeek came to be." This great discovery started our interview in a great direction and it took off from there.

Lettey: You started dancing and performing as a young man, tell me about your desire to dance and how that got started for you. 

Oobergeek: I was into sports all the way up until I was 12. I was secretly going into my room about age 9 and writing poetry. I got books of poetry cause I loved to do it as a hobby. I hadn't told anyone or anything. This was just something I loved to do. I wrote my life and I just rhymed it. It was just free like that.

Lettey: So at age 9 you were writing poetry in rhyme form, tell me how that transformed into more of a desire to be in the music scene?

Oobergeek: I am not sure. I just really wanted to show my imagination to everyone. I'm really tired of what I dream at night not being shared. I just want to show everyone what I dream about.

Lettey: Tell me about working with Usher at the New Look Foundation. 

Oobergeek: I was an attendee of his camp, Camp New Look, in Atlanta, GA. It was a great experience and I met plenty of friends that I still keep in contact with today. That was one of the things that helped me. That was around the time when I started dancing, around 12. The New Look Foundation exposed me to a lot; it got me out of the city and exposed me to different, other types of talented people like dancers, singers, and rappers. It really made me go back and see what it is about me that is so special. What can I do to better the world from just seeing all these types of people coming from all across the nation to do what they love. It was just like that, it was really refreshing. To see everybody, all my friends, just talented as can be, and expressing what they love to do.

Lettey: Tell me about your experience on the Summer Jam tour in 2008 with Tech N9ne. 

Oobergeek: 2008, that was great! That was a great moment. It was me and my brother, and we had our all white, red chucks, with little KC hats on, and that was just the start of something great. I didn't end up focusing on dancing, cause I started doing music, but it let me see the crowd from the stage point of view, and it was beautiful. I enjoyed it.

Lettey: With Summer Jam, do you have any one experience that stands our from all the others? 

Oobergeek: I've got to say when I was in Orlando, Fl for school and Tech had come through and stopped by to do a show at the Firestone Club. It was my first opening and I opened for Tech. It was highly anticipated. I wasn't nervous but I was just really amped. It was successful and that's when I knew, I was like, I gotta do this forever. 

Lettey: You've been on stage with so many talented artists, from Tech N9ne to Krizz Kalico, to T.I., and so many more in your career, what have you learned from these great mentors and how have you used that knowledge in your own music?

Oobergeek: When you're on stage, wither your stage is 2ft tall or like 4ft tall, it makes you seem like you have a command over the crowd. It’s like you tell them to say "Uhhh" and they actually repeat what you say. I really take that as real deep to me. You know, cause I feel like everyone is their own king or their own queen. They have the power to tell people, you know, what they want and tell people how much they love them, and then they will cheer for it. 

Lettey: Has there been a landmark music moment in your life so far? 

Oobergeek: Yes, Yes, Yes. I went to Florida and I met seven other human beings that I do connect with. The two years that I spent with them was like the greatest two years of my life. Simply because I was down in Florida on my own, apartment struggling, struggling to keep the lights on, with the water bills, with school, and just struggling. When I made music with them it really made me forget about all those things that were going on and I just woke up to a lot of things. A lot of things that mattered to me prior to going to Florida, it didn't matter anymore. Things just became better for me as a human being, that's basically what I was doing. I was me. I was a human being.

Lettey: As a song writer, tell me about your experience with taking words and lyrics from your mind and transferring them to paper. How do you deal with writers block?

Oobergeek: It varies. Writers block is basically forcing something that's not gonna come. If I have writers block I'm simply just not gonna write. I'm just gonna wait. I'm just gonna be patient with, you know, my talent and everything. If this verse is just four sentences long and I just stop writing cause I can't think of nothin', then it's just meant to be just four sentences long. You know, I'm not gonna force anything at all. When I got like 32 bar verses, like something must have clicked in my brain to write all that and I have a story. 

Lettey: What would be an EPIC musical moment for you?

Oobergeek: The more I look up things and see beautiful things, it just adds to the imagination. So far, from what I know now, I would want to and love to play in Rome, or in a great city, and EPIC city, a historical city, with millions of people watching. Showcasing everything on the perfect stage and with the perfect lights. The perfect mics, the perfect musicians behind me. Ya, just creating that heaven for the crowd. Because, you know, cause that's the closest thing we gonna get to while we on earth. 

Lettey: Do you come from a musical family background?

Oobergeek: Ya. Tech N9ne is my cousin. I also just found out a few of my cousins were into music and into, you know, engineering and sound and all that. It was beautiful when I found out that and it just made everything better. Cause I used to struggle with me being the only one who felt this way about music. But my family members love music.Both sides, my mother’s side and my father’s side. 

Lettey: Do you find having big music names, like Tech N9ne, in the family has helped you in your career or hindered you at all?

Oobergeek: That's a good question. I really, I don't know. It didn't hurt. It’s not hurting at all. You can just walk up to someone and say "Hey Tech n9ne is my cousin, and I do music too." and then their like, oh really? Then they will be interested. It hasn't hurt. It hasn't hurt none. 

Lettey: Who are your musical inspirations?

Oobergeek: I grew up in the 90's when Neo Soul  was poppin like crazy, so I got that soul and of course during that time was Tech N9ne. I was around him a lot. Not as much as I am right now, but enough to see how he acts and everything. It's just crazy how I can reenact some of the things he did when he was trying to become a mogul or a hip hop star. We both have the crazy hair. I got the crazy hair now too. He used to have the crazy hair and it's just funny how history is repeating itself. So I'm really looking forward to the future. 

Lettey: So you recently did a video with Krizz Kalico called "Gumbo", tell me about that experience. 

Oobergeek: That was a great experience. It was really cold that day, but you just have to take your mind off everything and perform and do you. It was a great experience. We were at the West Bottoms here in Kansas City, MO and people came out with those old school cars. You know, it was just a great thing for the black community to come together and do something good. You know, cause you always hear about the black community always being divided and I think that unity was the highlight of everything that day. 

Lettey: Do you have anything new coming out for the fans soon?

Oobergeek: I do have a new video coming out today called "No Touching" featuring Krizz Kalico and Futuristic. It is really dope. It was shot by Jakob Owens. He's a wonderful director. We shot it in San Francisco. Beautiful city, real beautiful city. I would like to do another video there. Ya it was real fun and real colorful. We got to catch Krizz while he was on that tour, a little bit was shot in Petaluma, CA and it was great. I can't wait for everybody to see it. You can download the song at cdbaby by clicking HERE or on Itunes by clicking HERE. I really just wanna show my imagination. I have dreams every night of showing people, you know, colors and sounds and all that. I just wanna show it to them. It's coming; I just gotta find the right lighting and the right way to showcase it. That's gonna take planning, prepping, and patience. Expect anything, for real. I got to sing one day, turn around and learn the guitar, turn around and not even rap no more, just make beats. Just expect anything. Cause that's really how free the imagination is. I don't wanna be in just one category. You just wanna be known as a great human being, all together. 

Lettey: If you could tell the fans something about you that is personal, what would you say?

Oobergeek: I'm a fan of anything that is innovative, anything that is comparable in,I really don't have a specific like or not like, All I gotta say is Michael Jackson is the greatest of all time and Stevie Wonder is around there too. 

Lettey: For people looking to do music and facing hurdles, what kind of advice can you give them?

Oobergeek: I really don't feel I'm worthy to give advice right now. Because I'm, you know, I'm still trying to be patient with myself. But if I was to give any words of encouragement, they would be patience and just have fun. If you have a goal, make sure that goal is a timely goal. Make sure it is innovative. You know, everyone wants money, everybody wants the spotlight, but I say just do it because you want to be a great person. You know what I'm saying? Just to live and just do it.

Oobergeek is definitely grooming himself to be just that, a great person. Oobergeek has a  musical talent that surpasses any predetermined ideas I held before the interview and a humble demeanor that made speaking with him on a personal level comfortable and charming. I feel he's become what he's set out to be since the age of 9. When he was that boy in his room writing poems in rhyme form and anxious to share the colors of his dream world in written song. He's become the man who is innovative and who so eloquently gave us a glimpse of what it's like to live your dreams. The fans have a lot to look forward to with Oobergeek.

The premier of his new music video "No Touching" will begin a new page in his journey and story. We will all be present to take part in the writing of this tale with him now. So as the story progresses and we turn another page it becomes obvious to all those Oobergeek fans and everyone who's had the pleasure of working with him, there is truly No Touching Oobergeeks success!