Tomorrow Today, MC Mikal with H.E.R., Men of Tomorrow
MC Mikal lumbered in the BBC upper room, tall, gangly, vibrating above it all. The scene, relatively modest by hip-hop standards, dropped like an ember that starts a wild brush fire. A performative charge present, highly concentrated energy burned the anticipatory material around it, not caring to be seen.
In a benefit for Men of Tomorrow, one of the older youth programs in Milwaukee, MC Mikal ripped the mic to beats cued by local music producer Moses. Showing mastery of the chambers of emceeing, deviating from prepared material, Mikal enthusiastically took liberty to casually experiment with increasingly poetic streams of mind over rhythm.
Lyrically, MC Mikal readily latches on to various wavelengths, mostly intelligent, conscious of today’s struggles to avoid snares in the web of crap that is American society. In other moments, he gets down right hedonist, encouraging the niceties of life in the moment, social mischief and pleasures of the flesh. Oddly the “Mr. Hyde” MC Mikal, allows you to take his profound lyrical repertoire more seriously, there are no more saints, and he doesn’t pretend to be one. When he’s on, he’s a force on the mic.
Running with Knives
Milwaukee rap conglomerate H.E.R. held the flank, delivering tracks with beats tailor-fit for trunks with subs, riding on rims in their mid-20′s and candy coated paint. Thank Moses, as one of the producers of H.E.R. he brings plenty of heat.
Words peppering the crowd, Jermaine Event led H.E.R, twisting traditional battle style Milwaukee flavored hip-hop banter, an easy combination for people to get lost in. Rarely seen in the contemporary era of hip-hop, H.E.R. prominently featured a hype-man on back-up vocals and 2 guest MC’s. That’s an old formula that usually works, and H.E.R. put it to use rather effectively.
Sean Smart pushed his flows for H.E.R., packing visions of rugged-living, slick talking in a notable mic voice. Expanding on H.E.R.’s lessons, Myke Deezy kept the pace of the show well above resting with his additional vocals and general stage presence.
Back Again
Quietly, emerging from its chrysalis, we see new hip-hop fauna flashing its oversized moth wings in the likes of MC Mikal, mysterious white dots marking the wings looking like eyes, giving music explorers something new to find. MC Mikal might be considered more appropriately as an artist that emees, so catching a performance from him is a gem.
Some avian raptor varieties of the hip-hop kingdom still stalk the streets, evolving like H.E.R., hanging on resiliently not likely to parish with the Jurassic era of the genre, giving fans from the original depths of the boombap something to vibe to. The subtle reinventions of the street rap style that H.E.R. brings to the stage, although clearly drawing off classic underground gangster rap legends, makes H.E.R. an intriguing example of how each style contributes to the rap picture. All are needed to make the hip-hop eco-system viable, if hip hop is truly to be a voice by which various perspectives on life are amplified through stereo speakers.
Cause for a Cause
In an time when everyone has an idea, notion or feeling of divine right to tell people what to do and how to do it, Anwar Floyd-Pruitt understands that just having a mentor can mean the difference between falling for traps set by bad influences or deciding your own path. He’s the acting Director of Men of Tomorrow, and the proceeds of the MC Mikal with H.E.R show went as a small but meaningful tithe to the Men of Tomorrow youth program. Men of Tomorrow is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit that primarily focuses on providing elementary school aged Black youth with mentors and guided activities to assist their transition to adulthood.
Up and After, Milwaukee UP, JC Poppe
Do experiences ever end as they started? If they end, then I suppose not. JC Poppe became known in Milwaukee’s hip-hop music and media scene, and beyond, as a pretty solid fixture after about two years on the keyboard creating content for his own website Milwaukee UP. Early on, OnMilwaukee added Milwaukee UP as a regular contribution to its online space.
That’s an over simplified synopsis of a voice that grew for many years before that fed on a steady diet of beats, rhyme and general nerve to challenge the commonly accepted. Alongside his unintended journalistic success, JC Poppe released several solo music projects and lent a little industry moxie as manager of a several of talented hip-hop acts, started a family, and in the process laid the foundation for what would become his next chapter.
JC Poppe recently closed Milwaukee UP to focus on family, new projects and endeavors. Graciously, Poppe obliged to do a cyber-curtain call with Local Trolley to share a few past, present and futuristic thoughts on music, politics and life.
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L.S. Trolley:
So you recently retired your very popular online music outlet Milwaukee UP. It’s been a couple of months, how has the process of moving on been? Its almost like the music scene lost a friend.
JC Poppe:
Surprising, moving on has been very easy. I was ready to be done with it. This is not because of my feelings about the Milwaukee music scene, but more a reflection of the change in interests that has taken me to a whole new place intellectually. Since March, I’ve hardly listened to music on any consistant basis. Occasionally, I get an idea for an article that I just file away for later. I’ve mainly been focusing on family, preparing myself for going to get another Bachelors degree, and enjoying ESPN radio.
LST:
There are members and consumers of the hip-hop scene that are immersed almost on a religious level, where the this and that opinion of the who’s and the what is’s get really passionate. It’s interesting to hear you be able to separate yourself out intellectually so easily, even more so because you’ve got a couple of hip-hop music projects of your own. How has your outlook changed over time?
JC:
There are a multitude of opinions within the Milwaukee hip-hop scene. That passion and competition is crucial to the growth of the talent of the city.
The intellectual schizm is something that just happened recently. Music was my life for over two decades. I was never the type that was dedicated enough to sit down and learn how to play [instruments] even though I desperately wanted to. This is why I focused on words. With zero talent of voice, and a strong love for rap, rapping is the way that I displayed my passion. All of that passion is gone, or nearly gone now. I was writing about music and culture in a very simple way and couldn’t paint the pictures that I wanted to paint. It was at that point that I knew that I had to move on and pursue the new path I was beginning.
LST:
I know a lot of artists and music lovers appreciated your efforts to say something about the Milwaukee music scene, myself included. What were some of your fondest moments/sub-eras of that 20 year obsession with the music, I mean when the glamour had you most captivated. I know there are some obvious periods that come to mind, but what were yours.
JC:
The first moment I heard hip-hop and new jack swing when I was still in the single digits age-wise, I was hooked. I just loved it. At that time most kids around me were listening to Guns N’ Roses or pop music, but I was all about Hot 102 and V100 when that popped up. That’s not to say that I didn’t listen to New Kids on the Block and Madonna, because I did, but artists like LL Cool J, Bel Biv Devoe, Bobby Brown, Public Enemy…and of course MC Hammer…were what I was really into.
When I stopped going to Edward A. McDowell on 19th and Highland and went Brown Deer School District, grunge was in full swing and so I learned about rock music and came to love that sound too. I was in 6th grade when Kurt Cobain died and I can still remember the 7th and 8th graders walking about the halls, crying. Little did I know that that would be me when I was 14 and Tupac died. He was me and my friend’s Kurt Cobain or John Lennon. I will stop there because I could write a book about my musical progression.
LST:
That’s great, JC you had Hammer pants?
JC:
Unfortunately, I didn’t have Hammer pants. I wish I had though. Those pictures and memories would be priceless.
LST:
I remember at Robinson Middle School DJ Quick and Geto Boys couldn’t get played enough. By ’94 though, I can remember thinking I was real cool at about that same age going to a Digable Planets and Gumbo (they were local) show at the Marquette Annex. Are there any projects from local artists you came across in the Milwaukee UP years that you really thought were interesting that were kind of unsung locally? Not asking you to play favorites or anything.
JC:
Local project or artist that is kind of unsung, without playing favorites… I’m going to say something that is going to sound crazy: Prophetic. My reason for saying this, speaking about it locally of course, is that it seems like people only pay attention to him because of his name and not because of his talent. The guy is talented and deserves more than just name recognition.
LST:
I like that pick. I really only credit him with the Green and Yellow track, but then again I don’t stay purposefully current with music anymore either. That may be one worth giving more of a chance.
So even though the blog is retired that doesn’t mean your stepping away from music does it? I thought you put out a couple of intense solo projects with Sleep Therapy/Tea Party, etc… Then you’ve got the projects with The Hollowz. You also got political around this time last year just snatching the covers off of Scott Walker in a way you can’t even understand unless you’ve seen the video collaboration you did vocals for. I think it’s high time that video resurface by the way.
JC:
As of right now, my work as a rapper is on an indefinite hiatus. I was working on a project with DJ Pain 1 out of Madison and my brain just stopped giving me lyrics. I was also working on an EP with Madden Miles (formerly Mark V.) but the situation is the same there; my brain just isn’t giving me any words to put down rhythmically. I feel that releasing one EP and three albums is really good enough to capture myself as an artist and I won’t force words onto a page. So if I’m suddenly inspired again, I’ll record. I am still managing The Hollowz, as well as Logic & Raze and AUTOMatic. They have a fantastic talent as a producer in Ed Cayce.
LST:
Ears will probably still be ready when you are JC.
JC:
I’m glad that you haven’t forgotten about that video. Zeti (formerly Pezzettino) worked her ass off on that video and was also behind the collaboration of the musicians on the track. The song was initially written to a beat by a Milwaukee producer that at the last minute pulled the track back because s/he didn’t want to enter their name into the political arena in such a way as Maggie and I were willing to do. One of the most fun and insane things about the track itself is that the percussion was provided by Allen Cote playing one of his sinks.
LST:
An actual sink?
JC:
Yes, he was playing a sink.
LST:
Good old artist ingenuity…
via Pezzintino Official Music Videos, YouTube
JC:
I’m not typically one to be crass in my music, but the anger I felt over Walker’s tyrannical approach to our State was real so I allowed myself to exhibit that through some off colour humor. Are you looking forward to this coming Tuesday?
LST:
Christopher Hitchens (more on Hitchens)would definitely be proud. One of my guilty pleasures is politics, which has largely been lost in the music, so that made my day from the standpoint of someone taking the time to blend the creativity with commentary locally. Yeah, definitely looking forward to election day, part of me wishes Dave Obey was running instead of Barrett, we really cannot afford a vacuum in Milwaukee right now. At this point I suppose getting some leadership in the capitol is most important.
Speaking of Madden Miles he was one of the producers that I got pretty hyped on last year for Miltown BeatDown, which I had a lot of fun covering last year if you couldn’t tell. He’s coming off the recent release of the Candace Bailey Beat Tape which was getting heavy download action last week. He was beating out Kanye for number one download on AudioMack. Any tweaks to the this year’s MTBD format we can get excited about, guest appearances?
JC:
Jordan has a lot of stuff in the works for this year’s MTBD and I’d love to blab the 411 about what I know, but I only speak on it when Jordan tells me to. Being a husband, father, carrying a 12-18 credit course load, and managing several artists is really all that I feel I will be able to handle in the near future. This is a sobering thought to me because I spent so much time getting to know people and elbowing my way onto my own square inch of Milwaukee music real estate, and now I’ve pretty much relinquished every molecule I fought to get, back to jungle. At one time I wanted to be THEE guy, and not as a rapper, but as a resource and advocate and now I’m perfectly happy with being forgotten. I just have a new focus now.
LST:
This past year for me with Local Trolley has been a honeymoon of sorts the whole meeting new people, finding little niches things like that. I can imagine the pressure builds as you become more recognizable as a media outlet and an artist. Hip-hop kind of welcomes that in a way other genres don’t, my cynical side says its almost become the point of the music itself. It’s an interesting bit of contrary-ness that you achieve a level of visibility before deciding to step-out of the lime light. Interesting choice of words too, disappear is a pretty strong verb.
JC:
Disappear is a very strong word, I agree, and I used it for a reason. I crave no attention for anything that I may have contributed during the time that I was active. I’m proud that I did take the bait and took the time to cover the Milwaukee hip-hop scene, but that was yesterday and tomorrow will be a continuation on the new path that I’m on. I anticipate that sometime in the near future, be it later this year or sometime next year, that I’ll become a complete stranger to the Milwaukee music scene and I know that it will continue to rock-on and get better and that my absence will have zero affect on anybody or anything. It was a moment in time. It was a great moment in time.
JC’s official last Milwaukee UP posted on OnMilwaukee March 23, like most reluctant greats brief stints of un-retirement will let JC sneak in a few periodic music gems (more gems) to the readers.
No Flats, Busdriver, Cactus Club
I’m stepping on a thousand cigarette butts on the way in, it’s not dark and smokey in the Cactus Club anymore, but still a little dank on the music side. Someone on staff managed to keep a VHS tape of an old Arsenio Hall episode featuring N.W.A from being magnetized after all these years and its playing on wall-mounted t.v. monitors, nice.
Among the sippers, a sturdily built dude stands-out reviving shades of Trugoy during the Daisy Age crossed with Starski. If any one has a license Busdriver does, his pops wrote Krush Groove. Plus looks can be deceiving, Busdriver’s styles on the mic don’t need image to generate uniqueness.
The Un- to Fame
A musical dervish, Busdriver worked whatever electronic synth-instrument he was hovered over like a steering wheel to jerk the crowd through audio turns, unbelievably speeding up a Scott Joplin riff and ripping it on Me Time and, on Imaginary Places, annihilating a track that sounded familiar to the classic Beasties‘ Floop Loops sample, right after swinging out of a dub Reggae toast.
Busdriver himself is an unsung classic, notably contributing to the Aceyalone-led Project Blowed, way back then, and completed a better know collaboration with Daedalus, worth checking out even if you’re behind the indie-hop scene.
Check out this 10 year-old baby
Something newer for your knew
Milwaukee’s got the Catus
Busdriver did it up setting the Cactus Club stage for Astronautalis, an indie-fun-twirl group that mashes up the music spectrum really well, while highlighting how formulated mainstream hip-hop as a sound has become. Digital music producer Jel was scheduled on the undercard, didn’t her him live, however fluid, harmonic, ambient beats deserve a mention anyway. Milwaukee got a real treat before Busdriver and Astronautalis make their way to SXSW.
Busdriver‘s latest album Beaus$Eros dropped February 21st on Fake Four [records], the sample track here does well to call out dutiful social exclusion.
Related Article
Q&A: Busdriver by Meaghann Korbel, Alarm Press
Super, Ultra, Listening, Marty McDoom
Making a few waves only takes one big ripple. Marty McDoom gradually builds his repertoire of music, adding tracks to his under-the- surface hip-hop playlists regularly. Marty McDoom recently dropped a EP demo online called Super, Ultra. Hey… McDoom might be on to something, Local Trolley got a chance to exchange a few words about his progress towards breaking his sound out.
Fuck it, I’m Depressed, Marty McDoom
L.S. Trolley: What best describes your style… hot water on a hot day or cold water on a cold day?
Marty McDoom: I’m Like….uh…uh…cold water on a hot day (laughing), Perfectly slightly colder than room temp water on a hot day..(laughing).
LT: You put out some EPs recently, dark themes, but still listenable, were you surprised by how they were received?
MM: Yeah they did pretty good for completely random projects. I tried to really capture my thoughts and what was going on in my life at the time and people responded pretty good to it all. I knew that i couldn’t be the only person who has those thoughts or has those feelings. I made them to be an accurate depiction of myself at the time, and relate-able.
LT: Yeah, in hip-hop emotions are basically to be avoided, even truth, I was listening to the Mad Kids on WMSE tonight and they were getting on Rick Ross, joking that he was a probation officer at one time or something, [quite] opposite of his persona. Rick Ross is one of the biggest out there, do you feel pressure to make music that responds to this tendency?
MM: I’m totally against this pressure…I think this “pressure” is whats killing Hip-Hop, no one feels free to be themselves, everyone is trying to live up to these expectations and normalities of what a hip-hop artist is suppose to be and represent, its all wrong…completely f*cked. If you ask me, instead of being an expression of real life , real thoughts and feelings, and real issues, its become a big advertisement. One huge show and tell of everything your suppose to want and want to be, but its all bullshit…f*ck a chain, f*ck a nice car, f*ck money. I mean that’s all nice, and should be a by-product of your success but it shouldn’t come as a replacement for reality.
LT: What was the hip-hop moment that pissed you off the most in this era… the one that gave you the, “man this is #$% ##%% #%…”
MM: It sounds cliche…but when they turned Kanye into a social villain for being spontaneous at that award show, at Taylor Swift’s expense… that’s the [real] reality and the flare we need back in not only hip-hop…but the world…everything is becoming so scripted, its lame.
LT: Oh ok it was the act of spontaneity, I’m surprised they didn’t tackle him [on stage]. Obama called him an ass for that, what was your take? Did you agree that Beyonce’s song was really better? or [fill in the blank]…
MM: Nah…he wasn’t an ass…He was just out of place..and drunk [laughing]. I never saw Beyonce’s video… Could care less to be honest. Think about it, who let him up there? A huge award show and no security? Fuck that..they let him up there… They just didn’t know what he was gonna do. He shocked all their asses [laughing]. Personally, I laughed for days.
LT: Do you see any hope for Milwaukee harboring scenes friendly for your flavor of music. Right now it’s really street or really traditional style battle rap.
MM: Not really no….but I love Milwaukee enough to know that it’s not all about Milwaukee. People are really receptive to my music in other places, other States to other countries. Once everyone else loves you…then Milwaukee will.
LT: Good getting a chance to hear some words from the mind for a few, any parting words for the fans?
MM: Stay tuned…Got a lot of cool music in the works, a lot of big things happening…No spoilers as of yet, but improvised sound is definitely in the works…!
Marty McDoom has two other Ep’s currently spinning online Destruction of Leviathan and Shut Your Freakin’ Gob and Listen.
Retrospective: Summerfest Shows, Public Enemy
Summerfest 2011 ignites an already raucous solstice season, in its 43rd year of jamming, the local tradition of traditions since 1968. Wasn’t there some other fest in upstate New York around that time? Oh yeah, August 1969…
Last year was no slouch, and will be hard to top. Black Sabbath and Public Enemy played simultaneously last year on the side stages, still hard to fathom.
This post originally appeared on the predecessor to the Local Trolley e-zine, Sane Artworks Blog.
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Solstice Season Part 1: Summerfest Shows – Public Enemy
Summerfest is the biggest thing going, in the world they say. The Milwaukee masses come together and do what they can to forget about the winter that past and the one that’s coming.
I covered the PE concerts as a guest writer on MKE Wired.
Finally I’m back in the sphere… follow the link Public Enemy Wrap: Not out of the cross hairs yet.
Public Enemy Wrap: Not out of the cross hairs yet
I’m bleacher surfing and tunneling through the aisles like a mere cat trying to get closer to the front of the stage. I pop up on an open bleacher and this faux hip-hop teapot statured dude with a chinstrap beard is jibber jabbering something about “if you get up, you gotta get down”. I tell this dude “Bro, you been listening to too much 88-9.” The look on my face is saying, fool don’t you know we at a Public Enemy concert and you can get a smack for that. For pushing twenty-five years in the art of boom-bap, Chuck D, a second generation patron rebel of rap, and trusty entourage lead by the antic laden Flavor Flav, still can rock a crowd at any coordinate on the world map. From the looks of the turn out Friday night, you would have thought Drake had just parachuted on to the US Cellular arena stage.
Stuck in the main walk way of the festival grounds, I peer over frocky banged girls, spike mohawk haired guys and nodd with old school players, enjoying a deep remix groove version of Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, simultaneously urging my Madisonian friends to venture into the fray. Just then PE broke into Anti N**GA Machine. Exhorting every lyric that still comes to my mind, the abrupt fade into Burn Hollywood Burn confirmed the set recapped, in sequence, several tracks from each of PE’s albums, which suited the tracks from PE’s third album Fear of a Black Planet particularly well.
By the time, I excavate my way into the center stage area with surprising ease, Power to the People rhythmically churns and I double back to the outskirts of the masses, to find my feeble Madisonians had already sought refuge from the exuberance. I grab college co-eds at will that chirp about trying to get a better look at Flav, in the spirit of Harriet Tubman, and guide them through the canals of seating to a better vantage point.
The vintage hits Bring the Noise, Terminator X to the Edge of Panic, Can’t Trust It and Fight the Power played, but the show’s highlight was Flavor Flav’s rendition of I Can’t Do Nuttin’ For Ya Man, which I recited in time, miming the patented Flav dance, only to notice those around looking at me like I had the holy ghost and was speaking in tongues. I was truly possessed and so was everybody else. Possessed enough to chant “f*nk separatism” and “f*ck racism” on Flav’s cue after he improved a verse of Sly Stone’s Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself Again. Some visual irony could be witnessed if you scanned the audience. For being in Milwaukee that showed how good of sports we are.
It wasn’t the headlining flashing red X-shaped DJ table show of the glory days, noticeably absent was Terminator X who left the group in ‘99, but well worthy of a Friday night. The sea of people was probably more of a testament to Flavor Flav’s new found pop appeal than their love for the PE message, but an overall worthy effort on the part of Milwaukee’s party goers to do justice to the music legends.
It’s Halftime, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1 Final Prelim
For those that haven’t made it out to one of the Miltown Beat Down prelims, and love hip-hop or just love live shows, tonight’s the night at the Jackalope. It’s intimate, loud and has an underground feel despite the mainstream location. Music of the previous two year’s MTBD champions and some worthy upstart producers stream through the sound system this evening. If the previous weeks battle was a pit fight between producers’ best beats, this week: welcome to the Terrordome. Here are the match-ups.
Sam Winters vs. Saul Garza Beats
Sam Winters brings funk that always sounds good live, reminiscent of N.E.R.D. and New Boyz party music. A true wild card, Sam Winter’s will likely conjure up a crowd-pleasing unexpected element that goes beyond his musical influences. Saul Garza Beats hit-you-in-the-chest tracks tend towards hardcore rap, and provide more than a little something for your trunk. Garza prescribes some nice tributes to Harlem World, Southcoast trap star music and his own artistry. Technically sound, Garza’s music will pose an interesting water vs. earth-style match up for Sam Winters.
Prediction: This battle will be about execution. Not for lack of quality, Sam Winter’s falls to Garza’s technical onslaught. However, Sam Winter’s claims to be this raw in his song “I’m So Clean”. If he is tonight, he will pull off the victory over Saul Garza.
Mark Valdez vs. Jihad Baracus
Man. Yes, that’s a one word sentence and all I can really say to describe this match-up. Mark Valdez has a serious chance to come out of no-where and stun this competition. Mark Valdez summons that ASR-10 style sample-based sound that Bruce Willis-eared hip-hop fanatics have missed for about the past 12-14 years. Jihad Baracus not only has the rawest name concept of the whole Beat Down, but also captures that Bronx-afterdark-in-the-park boom-bap honoring the true masters. Miltown Beat Down champ in 2009, Jihad Baracus also back-brain-kicks his original-style into this flavor, which goes deeper than the rap game; the kind of season you can’t learn from just listening to rap.
Prediction: Speakers will blow, crowds will yell, necks will break… and Kid Cut Up will have to utter a Nature Boy Rick Flair… Woooooo! to both artists’ performances. Ultimately, Mark Valdez achieves a hard fought victory.
James Jaxin vs. BakTrax
Versatile and musical, JamesJaxin provides an interesting fusion of club-hop, street-hop and R&B inspired beats. Representing Madison, JamesJaxin covers the spectrum of today’s Hip-Hop well. BakTrax, making good use of the Street Fighter II light-punch button (pimp slap), produces album ready music with a good formula appropriate for all 200 watt-plus sound systems.
Prediction: BakTrax prevails behind classic hip-hop inspired material like AwYea.
Lex Luther vs Champ
Vying for a repeat, Lex Luther takes on Champ. Lex Luther reigns as last year’s Miltown Beat Down champ and Champ is no stranger to battles. This match-up is basically Scorpion vs Sub Zero at Sega Timeout, whoever gets his moves off wins.
Prediction: The edge goes to Lex Luther as reigning champ.
In the latter rounds Mark Valdez edges to the finals and Lex Luther gets past BakTrax.
The Finals of the Miltown Beat Down take place June 10th at Turner Hall. Put the 4 prelim crowds together with the 8 finalists and you got a real nice hip-hop show. Advance tickets are $5 off the door price of $20, a great value for Milwaukee’s premier hip-hop event.
E[nuff] respect due to the organizers of the MTBD and all the Beat Down combatants. You put your heart, soul and creative energy into your love of music and share it with not just Milwaukee, but the World. You represent the essence of hip-hop by speaking your mind through rhythm and are the front-lines keeping the music alive.
Related Posts
Breaking Beats Down, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-jC
Who’s Next, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1 cont., http://wp.me/p1hPwN-lv
Kitchen hot, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1 cont. cont., http://wp.me/p1hPwN-nO
It’s Halftime, Miltown Beat Down Final Prelim, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-oo
Local Trolley 2011 Honors!, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-13I
Kitchen hot, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1 cont. cont.
Milwtown Beat Down, screaming that Michael Buffer chorus again tonight, brings group 3 of hip-hop beat-makers to the battle pit. In case you missed it, JCPoppe of OnMilwaukee (prelim 1 and prelim 2) and the Milwtown Beat Down Blog (prelim 1 and prelim 2) recapped weeks one and two. Local Trolley admittedly took liberty to have a little fun color commentating MTBD previews of preliminary 1 and 2, this week Local Trolley gets straight to the point. Prediction: Tonight will be hype (period)
Reason vs Mc Cullah
Reason , fresh off of the wreck-ship collaboration No Flight Zone with Dana Coppafeel, continues UniFi’s hit streak to 37, just shy of Paul Molitor’s classic base-nock-a-thon, like it was ’87. Mc Cullah has done some quality projects, is young and confident, and his music is very eclectic: a twist of several influences and styles.
Prediction: While MC Cullah is talented, uncut hip-hop will reign as Reason comes away victorious.
Mixed-Up vs Luxi
Mixed-Up’s sound is acidic, grimy and frankly innovative. Luxi tracks bring big giant danceable electro-pop appeal into contact with quality production and she’s dope, and Milwaukee needs more dope female hip-hop artists.
Prediction: Anybody who can make Lionel Richie’s Hello hip-hop deserves to win. Game, Set, Match, Mixed-Up.
GoodWill vs Mighty DR
The dude GoodWill is well seasoned. Mighty DR bring your A,B,C and sometimes Y-game and some mutant super-powers, you might need mutant ninja turtles and Krang too.
Prediction: GoodWill comes out on top.
Hurrikayne vs JooneyDubz
Hurrikayne didn’t release any material per-battle. JooneyDubz has some bump coming out the shop.
Prediction: Too close to call with out anything from Hurrikayne, but JooneyDubz definitely has beats that will get points.
In the later rounds Reason will knock-off Mixed-Up and GoodWill will nuke whoever he faces. Reason and GoodWill advance to the finals.
The last preliminary round of the Miltown Beat Down takes place June 2 at the Jackalope.
Related Posts
Breaking Beats Down, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-jC
Who’s Next, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1 cont., http://wp.me/p1hPwN-lv
Kitchen hot, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1 cont. cont., http://wp.me/p1hPwN-nO
It’s Halftime, Miltown Beat Down Final Prelim, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-oo
Local Trolley 2011 Honors!, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-13I
Who’s Next, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1 cont.
I gave a thorough once over to all the beat-makers (with material available) for Local Trolley’s week one preview of the Miltown Beat Down hip-hop music production battle. Knowledge of the Beatdown‘s pure bracket format would have changed my final picks, but my take on the artists remain largely unchanged, and not far off from the actual result (more on week one here).
Heat two, of the Miltown Beatdown’s first round, cues their tracks tomorrow evening at the Jackalope. Before I continue I want to give a big forearm smash to the Miltown Beatdown organizers for their post, in the wake of last week’s competition, on artistry ethics. Check it out, we are from Milwaukee (or there abouts), and Eric Benet is the only one from Milwaukee that can expect never to get rejected; so you not always going to end up with a dime-piece after divorcing Ms. Halle! If fact, getting on salt at the Jackalope of all places, people will think you still use D-batteries in most of your electronics. Anyway, the MTBD blog said all that needs saying.
Back to the beats. Now that the Zangief (track two) laugh sample has surfaced, I am confident that no stone will be left unturned in search of beat supremacy. Here’s this weeks MTBD under-card:
Andy Petr vs Bad Character
Andy Petr got a sound, it’s choppy and takes a lot of chances. Not only that it’s versatile. I feel my ears wanting to like it, but many tracks play without any direction and the layers fight each other. Andy will be okay though on account of the ability to deliver some recognizably hip-hop tracks. Even if Andy doesn’t make up his mind what style he wants to favor, leaving out the innovative interpretations of rhythm and track progression will deprive the crowd of some forth dimension of sound Petr exists on. The Local Trolley initial Power Rankings didn’t completely do justice to Andy Petr, mainly because I’ve played Bionic Commando on the original NES, but Petr’s body of work is genuinely on a ground-breaking trajectory. Bad Character brings aggression on that Lord Infamous “I like skulls” vibe. Straight forward and primal, Bad Character beats have a club-ready knock conjuring images of arm-locking mini-skirt wearing “girls” running across the street ready to fall all over the place getting sweaty and drunk. This battle will be close if Bad Character can come up with enough interesting variations on a theme to force the crowd to not throw BC’s music in a proverbial box.
Prediction: Andy Petr prevails unphased by the need to please the crowd. Bad Character has an outside chance with an effort on par with the track Feels Good, a track playing in my head since I first heard it.
Hitmayng vs TradeMark 
Hitmayng proclaims being from Milwaukee/Madison which actually puts you somewhere in Jefferson County, a place we all know you don’t want to be after dark in a car, on foot or otherwise. Furthermore, attaching Milwaukee to Madison that way is a no-no in the Local Trolley Guide to Rawness. Luckily this is the Miltown Beatdown and its about music with a beat, but I do have to ask, no, no hold on… What the hell are you doing with a Lego-man close-up of this manner? Now, what matters is that Hitmayng picks good reference material and it listens well. In a series of highlights, Hitmayng whips notable beats together from what he bills as 25 cent records. TradeMark does not have any music published, but if he has any music that is trademarked he will likely win.
Prediction: While samples have their place in hip-hop, it’s not on every beat, looped. Even the most basic beat-making software allows you to add your own flavor to your music. Hitmayng’s choice of samples is good, but if TradeMark has anything besides himself beat-boxing on cassette tape to battle with, let alone displays some brilliance, TradeMark wins.
40 Mil vs Sinister Reality
Judging 40 Mil solely on hip-hop genre won’t do justice to the music that will pump tomorrow night. The beats are original to my hearing, and have a variety of influences drawing from styles that have reaped commercial success in Hip-Hop and R&B. The fundamentals are present in the production but there is a chance that 40 Mil may not be given credit for dynamic, true-to-self (as oppose to true delusion) and radio-ready music. Although [mainstream] hip-hop music is often criticized, it is a legitimate hip-hop genre. The sound is big and will undoubtedly get heads nodding. I get the eerie feeling that Sinister Reality drew this match-up to make him demonstrate that his reality is in fact sinister; or maybe it’s just lottery karma. I also get the feeling Sinister Reality has something in the tank, whether it’s enough to deal with 40 Mil remains to be seen.
Prediction: 40 Mil wins, closely.
ClassiCal vs Big Steve
A dual of cool vs. hot ensues as ClassiCal brings light-hearted melodies stripped from lyrics. ClassiCal is refined and not overly underground. Music theory knowledge goes a long way in this craft, and ClassiCal will speak to the crowd of Jackalope. The collaboration with fellow MTBD contestant LUXI is quality. Big Steve lands somewhere between street and black hipster (“Super Producer” now just “Super”). Big Steve moved up pretty high on the Local Trolley Power Rankings for a track like Just One of Those Nights, but the odes and homages diminish his musical themes.
Prediction: ClassiCal showers the crowd with fermented Kambucha while peering through cool sunglasses. Big Steve will get approval from the MTBD mass, but music composition knowledge will swing ClassiCal past Big Steve pretty safely.
By the end, Andy Petr will have knocked off TradeMark, and ClassiCal surpasses 40 Mil to move on to the finale.
May 26th the heat gets turned up at the Jackalope when MTBD group 3 battles.
Made before round one, here are my overall power rankings of field:
I won’t re-rank until the finals but *equals trending, ~equals loosing ground.
1. Reason
2. Lex Luther (last year’s winner)
3. Mark Valdez
4. Mixed Up
5. White Russian
6. Bad Character~
7. Champ
8. Luxi
9. BakTrax
10. Big Steve GooniTunes~
11. GoodWill
12. ClassiCal
13. Audio Pilot
14. Bubba
15. 40 Mil*
16. Jihad Baracas (2009 winner, confirmed)*
17. Hitmayng~
18. Cash Beatz
19. OVA
20. Mighty DR
21. Jooney Dubz
22. Andy Petr*
23. Jungle Boy
24. TreCold
25. Sam Winters
Ranked on Principle (No Material!).
26. Saul Garza Beatz* (Got a sample of Saul Garza’s works and its definitely worthy)
27. Hurrikayne
28. James Jaxin
29. MC Cullah
30. Sinister Reality
31. DJ Heavywait
32. TradeMark (No online presence in 2011…?)
Related Posts
Breaking Beats Down, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-jC
Who’s Next, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1 cont., http://wp.me/p1hPwN-lv
Kitchen hot, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1 cont. cont., http://wp.me/p1hPwN-nO
It’s Halftime, Miltown Beat Down Final Prelim, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-oo
Local Trolley 2011 Honors!, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-13I
Breaking Beats Down, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1
Miltown Beat Down 2011 kicks-off at the Jackalope tonight. The MTBD features a tournament format that will surely generate a buzz, and plenty rattling noises from car trunks lacking ability to absorb decibels of low-end bass emanating from the Third Ward.
Here’s a primer to the beat combatants and analysis of the match-ups tonight at 10:00pm:
TreCold vs Bubba
Menash, WI repres-… Ma- what?? TreCold will tee-off some traditional hardcore gangster bang-bang, which seems to thrive in small towns with Prison Industrial bases. I think Menasha is near Waupun or something, ah ha Fond Du Lac. I suppose it’s time for the that true gangster spirit to stop playing second scene to the hipster flood. Bubba will push back with beats leaning towards experimental pop sound. Electro-rap influenced Bubba brings fun and risk-taking behavior through the speakers.
Prediction: TreCold will lose handily from gangsta rap backlash, and claim all things Milwaukee bogus. The fakey Bubba pulls off with a track like Real will also have something to do with it.
White Russian vs OVA
Unifi Records’ White Russian is the first of several Unifi Records affiliates to perform. The Unifi camp is basically Milwaukee’s equivalent to Native Tongues, on the quality rap conglomerate level. Auto-props are turned on due to Unifi’s overall success of creating a brand-mystique and refined multi-media product. OVA offers a taste of liveness, but ultimately lacks edge. Enough credit is due to OVA for what sounds to be a sample from a Nirvana Unplugged cover.
Predicition: White Russian moves on carried by talent and three fourths of the crowd that is there to support Unifi.
Audio Pilot vs. Jungle Boy
Audio Pilot brings the good old Milwaukee rogue vibe to the table. These type of dudes keep it true to the unabashed poor and working class struggle. The sound has grit and no light and will inspire fearless thoughts. Jungle Boy definitely has a concept and matches it with the ill East vibe, as in just west of Riverwest, and delivers game. It will be hardcore rap but something out of nothing creative.
Prediction: Although tilted gangster, Jungle Boy will prevail in a narrow margin on account of rawness, commitment to unwritten principles, and getting the room hype. This one is close, Auto Pilot’s presentation of a track like Still Here could tip the scales.
DJ Heavywait vs Cash Beatz
Okay a play-on-words is presented by DJ Heavywait, something concerning waiting for my web browser to crash from lamery. I don’t want to say it but waiting is not Hip-Hop. DJ Heavywait is heavy on the electric instruments and sounding commercial. Actually, the production is not terrible given the genre, just the presentation. Cash Beatz will ensure ladies with and without booty will get twerking. Cash Beatz cashes in on video game sound effects and Casio beats, but hey this is the kind of drum hit to which I see a lot player-esque rocking backing forth with Crown on the rocks in hand taking place. These qualities are especially true of Something Crazy. Did I mention ladies going H.A.M. BOW! BOW!
Prediction: The Jackalope will briefly turn into a strip-club and nobody there will argue about that. Cash Beatz wins.
Who moves on: By the end of the night, the two producers I predict to move on to the finals are White Russian and Bubba.
Miltown Beat Down Round 2 is next Thursday May 12th.
Here are my overall power rankings of field:
1. Reason
2. Lex Luther (last year’s winner)
3. Mark Valdez
4. Mixed Up
5. White Russian
6. Bad Character
7. Champ
8. Luxi
9. BakTrax
10. Big Steve GooniTunes
11. GoodWill
12. ClassiCal
13. Audio Pilot
14. Bubba
15. 40 Mil
16. Jihad Baracas (2009 winner, confirmed)
17. Hitmayng
18. Cash Beatz
19. OVA
20. Mighty DR
21. Jooney Dubz
22. Andy Petr
23. Jungle Boy
24. TreCold
25. Sam Winters
Ranked on Principle (No Material!).
26. Saul Garza Beatz
27. Hurrikayne
28. James Jaxin
29. MC Cullah
30. Sinister Reality
31. DJ Heavywait
32. TradeMark (No online presence in 2011…?)
Related Posts
Breaking Beats Down, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-jC
Who’s Next, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1 cont., http://wp.me/p1hPwN-lv
Kitchen hot, Miltown Beat Down Rd. 1 cont. cont., http://wp.me/p1hPwN-nO
It’s Halftime, Miltown Beat Down Final Prelim, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-oo
Local Trolley 2011 Honors!, http://wp.me/p1hPwN-13I
