Mother’s Day has just passed and I can’t help but to reflect about all the single mothers that have had to sing sad songs to get through the pain of being abandoned by unfit fathers that fled. While you’re spending time with your mother, there are some that are spending time alone (for whatever reason) thinking about the time spent.

If you missed your weekend fix of fresh produced music, here’s something that’s guaranteed to get you going!

The first time I caught wind of the voice from the R&B songstress, Becca, I thought “OMG.” With no disrespect to Becca’s originality stemming from a not-so-easy upbringing in the Midwest, her presence on the Swag Boyz Production is reminiscent of a young Mary J and early Keyshia Cole. She does a damn good job at incorporating her pain into her music. “Come Back” gives you an up close and personal perspective about an unbalanced relationship due to the mate’s undying love for and dedication to the streets. Sounds familiar?

Two of my favorite musicians, DA Wallach & Maxwell Drummey have bursted back onto the public scene together, re-introducing Chester French to the a world that missed the hell out of them. Their thoughtful, yet unapologetic lyrics are very much so apparent in their new release, “Black Girls.”

Race is a big deal in America and this racy video features a lesbian, interracial couple that has no shame in embracing each other on camera. Interestingly, Chester French makes no appearance in this video, which is fine if you like to watch two women get it on for four minutes. Hopefully, you can see the bigger picture being painted in living color, while appreciating the lyrics at the same time. In this song, lead singer, DA, exclaims that the world is turning brown and I’d have to agree. But this Friday, we’re going green!

Missed last night’s unfiltered conversation on Trayvon Martin and race in America? Watch it now >> Fast forward to 20:00 to start the panel.

Video streaming by Ustream

The Milwaukee Jobs Act is a really big deal. If jobs aren’t distributed with urgency, complete pandemonium is going to break out. Our stomachs are growling and Milwaukee residents can’t keep eating a bunch of lies. Either the politicians in office start working for the people that put them there or they’ll just get voted out.

The young people in Milwaukee need the jobs the most. Their annual disturbances in public are obvious cries of boredom. In the featured video, the young people also are the loudest in the room about needing jobs. Shouts out to Urban Underground for continuing to be one of the leaders in empowering and representing the young people in the city of Milwaukee.

Although there were some minor technical glitches, #AsktheCandidate, the interactive candidate forum hosted by the WI-League of Young Voters and dozens of partner organizations, was a huge success. Not only did 14 of Milwaukee’s local candidates participate in this youth-driven candidate forum, held in the Bradley Center’s fourth street atrium, but the event also trended on Twitter locally and was watched by 289 live viewers on the League’s Ustream channel, YoungVoterLive.com.

While #AsktheCandidate focused on giving Milwaukee’s voters an opportunity to ask questions in the “real world,” Twitter also allowed people to express their concerns via the web. The interactive nature of the event provided a platform for many of Milwaukee’s youngest voters to engage in the civic process and even inspired Mayor Tom Barrett to tweet, “Huge crowd at #askthecandidate! Especially excited to see so many young people involved and engaged.”

The most consistently asked question during this exciting mashup of culture, technology and politics, was related to jobs and African American unemployment. Questions concerning youth recreation and the Milwaukee Jobs Act were also addressed throughout the evening.

Sparks flew during the Common Council panel, as County Supervisor Eyon Biddle, on more than one occasion, attempted to address his responses towards his opponent in the 15 District Aldermanic race, Common Council President, Willie Hines. Although forum organizers repeatedly instructed all panelists to not respond or address their fellow panelists, Biddle attempted to engage Hines in a debate, only to be shut down by the event’s hosts, Dasha Kelley and Khalif Rainey. In his final statements, Alderman Hines looked in Biddle’s direction as if to suggest that he was unswayed by his younger opponent.

The event featured performances by B*Right, Tony Marley, Ujuzi Fresh and local rap star, Prophetic.

The next WI-League of Young Voters event will take place April 2nd at Coffee Makes You Black and will feature national recording artist and up-and-coming rap star, Dee-1. Check back to 99problems.org for more details.

The homie Prophetic is going live on WMSE.org at 8:00 PM CST. Check him out and be sure to tell your friends. Remember you can catch Proph perform live tomorrow at #AsktheCandidate at the Bradley Center from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event is free to the public.

#AsktheCandidate is an opportunity for Milwaukee’s voters to jump into the local election conversation through technology and social media. The event will be hosted by the Wisconsin League of Young Voters Education Fund in conjunction with Urban Underground, League of Women Voters, African World Enterprise, Urban League Guild, Apprentice Organizers Project, Citizen Action, the Reproductive Collective, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Community Planning Council, MICAH, Pathfinders and Wisconsin 9to5.

#AsktheCandidate will take place at the Bradley Center’s 4th Street Atrium from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. this Wednesday, March 21st. The goal of this FREE event will be to provide participants with a platform to become an active stakeholder in local government through an exciting and interactive conversation with local candidates.

The event will be streamed live from the Bradley Center via the League of Young Voters Education Fund’s Ustream channel, YoungVoterLive.com. There will be a reception with complimentary appetizers and cash bar from 5PM to 6PM.

Four years ago, Barack Obama set the stage for future elections by infusing social media tools like Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube into his strategy. Today, these tactics have become a common feature of electoral campaigns and local government.

Even though they are early adopters of these new technologies, young people and communities of color exist outside of the mainstream political narrative. Even when their votes can swing elections, these key constituencies are often disconnected from the mainstream political discourse.

Or are they?

While former White House staffer and actor Kal Penn once argued that young people are apathetic and complacent, over the last several months, local activists and youth groups have proved otherwise by taking to the street. Whether it be the Occupy Movement, or last year’s Budget Bill battle, young people in Wisconsin have shown that they are willing to get active.

But will they vote?

If the recent local primary is any indication, young people might sit out this year. Even though at least 10 people under the age of 35 threw their hat into a local race this election season, the turnout for the spring primary was dismal at best. The promise of 2008 has been eclipsed by record-breaking youth unemployment and a still-sputtering economy.

#AsktheCandidate will be an unique event that aims to inspire community residents to get involved in the discourse and fight for the changes they want to see. Through the power of social media platforms like Twitter and UStream, participants will be able to direct questions to local candidates using the hashtag #AsktheCandidate. The forum moderators, Dasha Kelly and Khalif Rainey, will also take questions from the live audience.

Confirmed candidates:

Sen. Spencer Coggs – Milwaukee Treasurer
Ald. Milele Coggs – Alderwoman 6th District
Ieshuh Griffin – Candidate for 6th District Alderwoman and Mayor
Sup. Eyon Biddle – Candidate for 15th District Alderman
Mayor Tom Barrett – Mayor (tentative)
Edward McDonald – Candidate for Mayor
Sup. Nikiya Harris – County Supervisor 2nd District
Priscella Coggs – Candidate for 5th District County Supervisor
Russell Stamper Jr. – Candidate for 5th District County Supervisor
Sup. Willie Johnson – County Supervisor 13th District
Bria Grant – Candidate for 13th District County Supervisor
David Bowen – Candidate for 10th District County Supervisor
Dan Cody – Candidate for 15th District County Supervisor
Tracey Corder – Candidate for 18th Dist County Supervisor

There will also be live performances by:
Prophetic
B*Right
Tony Marley

For more information or to RSVP please go here.

I’ve never partied on St. Patrick’s Day. Most years, the alcohol-filled holiday takes place on a work day and I have always been about my business. Call me a square, but one day of drunkenness and another day of recovery slows down the hustle.

But just because I have never chugged green beer at Mo’s Irish pub doesn’t mean that I am a party pooper. People of all ethnicities have a right to go bananas on this sacred Irish holiday. And every year people do…and every year people of all backgrounds get into drunken fights.

So I am not surprised that last night a group of young blacks, turned UFC wannabes, turned Milwaukee’s Water St. Bar District into a scene from Fight Club.

But it does piss me off.

This week I partied with 100,000 people at SXSW and not once did I see black men fighting. Not once! And we were out there getting it in in a major way. In fact, over the years the city of Austin and SXSW organizers have actively recruited the urban music community because they realize the importance of rap and its monetary value.

Unfortunately, the city of Milwaukee and the business community (not just white) gives two donkey dung dumps about urban music and its economic potential. Every time I have tried to throw semi-major hip-hop events that are explicitly about voting or stopping the violence, I faced resistance from the downtown business community. Even when I throw out my track record and references, the excuse is always, “we are not trying to attract that crowd.” There simply is a lingering impression that hip-hop music events bring rachet a$$ especially negative club goers.

So I am very pissed that last night a handful of losers messed up mine and every other musician’s, promoter’s, and social entrepreneur’s money and proved these conservative thinkers right. And the worst part is that I can tell by the short YouTube clip that these young dudes aren’t even gangsta like that. Usually, the African-American clientele partying on Water St. are college kids, and or working class kids with parents who help supplement their debauchery drunkenness.

Unfortunately, these days the Internet has made it popular to jump in brawls and take cheap shots during a fight, even when it’s not one of your partners throwing the punches. I think that’s complete sucka ish. People are always going to mix-it up at clubs and bars. Life gets real like that.

But when you jump in your homie’s fight, or a random dude’s fight to kick someone in the face, you’re just a loser and a weak-minded coward. And I think you’re a follower. I especially think you’re a lame if you pull out camera and film the brawl.

Over the years, I have deescalated hundreds of skirmishes in the streets and at clubs by simply having a level head. Most times people don’t want to throw blows. In the rare times that things have boiled over, it’s usually because a bystander or a loser friend jumps in bumping their gums and egging their homie on to take it to the next level. Those dudes have always been the worst in my opinion.

So I think if you were one of those people down on Water St. last night who pulled out their camera to film the nonsense and never once thought to try to break up the fight, you deserve to be banned from all things cool for the rest of your life. You’ve given the media a reason to hate on my community and I think you suck.

The homie Gerald Walker is popping up on all the scene now and it’s a good look for Milwaukee again. Cheaters never prosper and #BelieversNeverDie. Gerald’s music has been milling around the Mil (which is short for Milwaukee) for a minute but he’s really starting to get some traction. #salute.

This record was originally Sade’s but was re-produced by Cardo of Taylor Gang Productions. Take a break with ya girl and let the sounds of Gerald Walker run in the background.

LISTEN HERE

The homies made ThisIs50. That’s a good look. Make sure you go and cop that Paranormal Karaoke!

The homie Ray Nitti is back, but got his hood on and it’s darker than the flashy club inspired singles that he once released a months back.

“Everybody jumped in my lane, I’m back to lyrical” says the Virgin Islander, of whom would really be taking a long trip home if he left Milwaukee and headed for St. Thomas.

Interestingly enough, the hook on this song is reminiscent of a young Akon, but it’s actually Ray Nitti, himself, showcasing his various lyrical styles and abilities. Don’t let the dance routine in BOW fool you. I’ve personally seen and heard him get at and get with the best of them.

Long Road Home Official Video


Ray Nitti in MKE Cypher

Shouts out to Sherm for the production. I see you!

In 2011, while a bunch of new artists had their breakthough, Unlooped, the original mashup collective from Milwaukee, created a new series called ‘Versus.’ Versus is a series where Unlooped gathers different Milwaukee artists together to take on and re-interpret a major, influential artist’s music catalog with an electronic twist. At the end of the day, they’re recycling good music!

The first show in this series was Unlooped Versus Dilla, which debuted September 17, 2011. Unlooped Versus Dilla, inspired by Miguel Atwood Ferguseon’s Suite For Ma Dukes, brought together a string quartet, electronic producer, and DJ to create a unique take on the productions of the late, great J Dilla.

In honor of Dilla Month and Dilla’s birthday, which was Tuesday, February 7th, Unlooped Versus Dilla Ensemble released the first single called, “See You Cry” from the forthcoming EP. Check it out below!

A few weeks ago I was sitting in my crib in L.A. listening to Lil Boosie. I thought, “Man, maybe I should write him.”

Then I thought, “he probably wouldn’t write me back.”

So the next morning I was woke up to an e-mail that was sent to my phone from @BikoBaker. It was a letter from Lil Boosie to all his fans. That was my sign to write him.

So, I wrote him to tell him how I love his music and how I can relate and feel his pain in his songs. I told him the story of my two close friends getting killed by gun violence and how I got involved with the Campaign Against Violence / League of Young Voters Education Fund. I also told him about the movie I’m writing based on my two friends’ lives and asked him for advice on it.

After I sent the letter, I didn’t expect him to write back. Jeff, my friend who is the engineer at the studio I live in, told me he probably would because he has nothing else to do and that I had an interesting story.

When I got home last Thursday, Jeff asked me a question.

“Do you have a guy friend on Death Row?” Jeff asked “You got a letter from a dude on Death Row.”

It was from Mr. Bad Azz himself. I was geeked! LOL!

So here’s what he had to say:

He said he appreciates the love and support I have for him and how much he loves Milwaukee 4 Real! He also said that he was sorry to hear about my friends and that they are in a better place now. He loves the community work I am doing. He talked about how he used to do good things in the community that never got talked about.

Lil Boosie thinks my movie would be interesting and said to make sure that the characters in the movie act out exactly how you felt when it happened. He also said that he has trial in three months and he is fighting for his life over a lie but he just gon put it in God’s hands.

A million?! That’s a lot of ballpoint pens, huh?!

JSonline has the full story HERE!

A bunch of the homies in Milwaukee have united to produce the featured song of the day. While I’ve heard talk about its production, I was a bit shocked to see it publicized as a completed project this morning. Pizzle released his Fame in Vain album a little earlier in the year and has gotten a lot of positive reviews for his part in the Green & Yellow collaboration w/ Prophetic. This song, however, is going to give him and his C.M.G. gang a lot of momentum, as it should. Rico Love is a very important piece to a lot of puzzles and now it’s coming together.

Rico is definitely a big draw, but I was actually very pleased to hear the talent of Kiara DuPree, one whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with in her earlier stages. It’s good to see she’s still at it and hopefully this isn’t the last that we’ll see of her. In fact, I wanna see a video for this!

[LISTEN] Pizzle x Rico Love x Kiara DuPree “Live Like A King”

Shouts out to the homies Derelle Rideout and Deonte Hayes for their instrumentation.

It’s very troubling to know these young people are still not joking about taking the lives of other people. Like, I can imagine them saying, “I’ll kill that dude.” Then I ask, are we really that angry? There’s people in gov’t that’s doing much worse things to us and we aren’t even educated enough to get mad about it. That’s another sad story to weep about.

This morning, I woke up to friends of mine saying rest in peace and farewell to a person we all knew. It reminds me that one day you’re cool and then the next people could be talking about how cool you were. Andruw Damone, you were one cool dude! In high school, I enjoyed our back n forth banter but now you’re in a higher place.

Whether this unfortunate occurrence was over money, a girl, a mean mug in the club, a bad drug deal gone wrong, or two dudes that just didn’t get along, it still wasn’t worth taking the life of another.

“We gotta start makin’ changes. Learn to see me as a brother instead of 2 distant strangers. And that’s how it’s supposed to be. How can the Devil take a brother if he’s close to me? I’d love to go back to when we played as kids but things changed, and that’s the way it is…” Tupac Shakur

I almost feel like I am preaching to the choir or I’m in the choir and we’re singing the same ol’ song. It’s no news to us, being the ones that are always sitting on the curbs in these situations with police officers pulling over our vehicles because they think we may fit one of their descriptions. I remember a cop pulling me over in Milwaukee and blatantly saying we’re looking for guns and drugs. He took me out the car, placed me in the back of his squad car and began a search. He found nothing and released me. To some, this may seem like an unfortunate event, however, I’m used to that as much as I am the seasonal snowstorm. The real question is, should I be?

The Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee’s premier news source, has confirmed a recent study that expresses what we’ve known since we were allowed to drive cars: “A black Milwaukee driver is seven times as likely to be stopped by city police as a white resident driver.”

Click HERE to see police chief’s reasoning behind targeting minorities!

It’s the third day that I’ve sought out some of the country’s dopest female representation in hip-hop. What’s ill is that two out of the three are from my hometown, Milwaukee. You’ve gotta give a listen to this young lady, Signif. As a matter of fact, follow her on Twitter immediately after you check out one of her most recent audio visuals and download her latest collection of music below. You will probably be more confused than disappointed because she’s definitely not getting the recognition that she should be.

I’m on a search for some of the dopest female emcees! Next stop, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Check out the homie Betsie Mae who’s making a name for herself in the local music scene. Awhile back we featured a cypher that took place in the Mil where she participated and held her own. As far as females in hip-hop goes, the lane is pretty wide open. Check out her mixtape below and let us know if you’re feeling her music.




[FREE DOWNLOAD]

We’ve got 50 percent unemployment for young people ages 18-24.

The jobs crisis has driven our friends and family without an occupation to #Occupy cities across the country. It’s time to stand up for legislation that will jump-start the economy and get kids off the street and back to work!