ThisSUNDAY will be AWESOMELY INSANE!!!!(*wait..is "awesomely"...an actual word, hell who cares is gonna be that great!!!!) Cleveland's very own, highly respected, pioneers of Cleveland rap, hometown legendsWish and Layzie of theSUPER GROUPBONE THUGS-N-HARMONYwill be downtown for the much anticipated video shoot for Cleveland artist CAINE!!!!!!!!!! CAINE will be shooting video for his latest music release titled "When The Music Stops" which also featuresKRAYZIE BONE!!! The official video shoot will be downtown at club LIQUID located at 1212 W.6th, Cleveland Oh (*duh). Doors open at 2:30 pm. This event is totally FREE!!!!! YES FREE!!!! So make sure you spend the extra cash you save on the event...on making sure you look your BEST!!!! If this isn't enough FUN for 1 night...CAINE will also be opening up for KRAYZIE BONEhimself shortly after the video shoot!This concert is part of the 12th Annual Cleveland Music Festival located at PEABODY'S!!!!SO make sure you come and support CLEVELAND MUSIC!!! XOXO bookings or questions @MSquada
I once had a dream...(noooooo not in a Martin Luther King Jr. kinda way...but almost) that there would be a mixtape that had the grit, depth, and unity of the old R.O.C days, or maybe even Dipset. Ya know...the era when you could have a group of individual artists, that were all uniquely different, yet all brought something valuable to the table. CLEVELAND'SCLOCKWORK MUZIKhas done an amazingly awesome job...turning my dream...into reality!!!CLOCKWORK MUZIKare no bench riding rookies in the music game. This dream team has been cranking out hit after hit since the first 2 way pagers started showing up on peoples belt buckles. (*yeah the big goofygray1's). CLOCKWORK MUZIK has become the midwest sanctuary for artists to find the best engineering, mixing, mastering, cd duplication, and printing all in 1 place! When I was presented with CLOCKWORK MUZIK's latest mixtape "Up In Smoke" hosted by DJ COREY GRAND, I played it off cool...like "yooo I'ma check it out". Even tho as soon as I was alone I did a back flip, chinese split and full blown Gabby Douglas! I mean sometimes I hate to jump the gun...but I already knew that "Up in Smoke" was gonna have at least a handful of songs that I could loop ova and ova again, but the whole mixtape...on repeat, that's impressive. I mean CLOCKWORK MUZIK's name has hella credits to back their work up. Creating hits forKrayzie Bone, Killer Mike, Paul Wall, Young Buck, Freddie Gibbs....*whew...should I continue...ok ok...*takes deep breath*...continues... Chip Tha Ripper, FowL, Doe Boy, 100 Proof, and Young Shank...just to name a few (*headroll finga snap). You already know that CLOCKWORK MUZIKis gonna give your ears nothing but the best. (Like mink earmuffs in the winter, or new socks with new sneakers.)
Soooooo with that being said...I know it's nowhere close to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or any other gift giving season....but I would never want you to feel cheated out of life.So I present CLOCKWORK MUZIK's gift to you...the "Up in Smoke" mixtape! With the summer season producing more mixtapes than Weezy collabs, and Gyro George commercials on the late night( I love those commercials), most mixtapes kinda get shuffled together. "Up In Smoke" is mos def the mixtape that you will keep on your console, it's the mixtape that will be the last thing you remember to grab before getting out of your whip, and if you let someone borrow it, it's the mixtape you call the next morning... asking to be returned."Up in Smoke" is the mixtape that will have you swearing you can flo over the sick ass beats (*leave it to the professionals ok people). When I first heard "Up In Smoke", as soon as the first songs beat dropped my head was already bobbing. Sometimes when you get a mixtape you gotta skip the shit talking intro and skip the rookies whom you have no idea who they are. "Up In Smoke" has been created on a whole other level. Sometimes they say "you save the best for last", that is proven to be wrong in the case of"Up In Smoke". Straight out the gate CLOCKWORK MUZIK drops FowL's "Spark Up"!!! Yoooooo FowL's flo is sick!!!! What a way to start off a mixtape!Think of Beanie Siegel when he was at his prime.Dude is straight gutta, confident and sets the whole stage for the rest of the mixtape. I can honestly say,CLOCKWORK MUZIK did a fine job with the roster for "Up in Smoke". It's obvious that Mike and Kenny aka CLOCKWORK MUZIK actually care about quality vs "popularity". So often producers and dj's fall into the "friend zone" in the music business. What's the "friend zone"? The "friend zone" is when you know for a fact that some music you may hear is WACK, but the music is made by an artist that you may be "cool" with, so you find it difficult to tell em..."THAT SOUNDS WACK". So the the producer or dj ends up putting them on a mixtape...not outta quality, but outta "friendship". That lowers the credibility of your name, and those 1 or 2 whack songs, will throw off the whole flow of the mixtape.
It's refreshing to see that CLOCKWORK MUZIK wasn't afraid to pick and choose wisely. The "Up in Smoke" whole mixtape is nothing but A-listers. No weak links can be found. No skipping songs over here. It actually has somewhat of a theme. Fat beats, gutta feel, and actual real lyricists.CLOCKWORK MUZIK even has Ray Jr. (*LEGIT PAPER in the houseeeeee). Even tho Ray Jr. is "Legit" the way that they have the "Up in Smoke" line-up, they casually added him in a way not to outshine the other artists. Which is almost impossible seeing as though every artist on "Up In Smoke", is holding their own. This is 1 of the dopest line-ups I've heard in awhile. I find it satisfying that CLOCKWORK MUZIK took a chance and mixed some of Cleveland's Og's like the forever infamous Ray Cash, Ray Jr. and Young Shank...with some of Cleveland's rookies like Draft Pick and KPT, and even added Fly Tye himself for that extra cocky dopeness...just to name a few. I love the way CLOCKWORK MUZIK allowed some of the midwest elite to put on jerseys and spit on an All-Star mixtape. All in all "Up in Smoke" has by far exceeded the standards of "stereotypical mixtapes". Far from mediocre..this mixtape goes hard!!! From the best of the best engineering, and the best of the best artists..."Up In Smoke" is blazing!!!!!!XOXO
I had a chance to meet 1 of Cleveland's most underrated artist!!! I mean I was genuinely excited to meet CARTIER CASA. Cleveland's very own YOUNG SHANK has spoken very highly of CASA the last time we chopped it up, so I was curious about who this guy was. If anyone is from Cleveland...then you know...for a well respected artist like YOUNG SHANK..to put his LEGIT PAPER stamp of approval on someone...mos def means something. Not only was I pumped about meeting someone new...I was eager to meet the guy from the video "CARTIERS & FERRAGAMOS" that was shot...in all places...the world renowned CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART!!!! I came across "CARTIERS & FERRAGAMOS" and as soon as it started to play... my mouth literally dropped to the floor. I had to do a double take, and make sure I was actually seeing what I thought I was seeing!!!YES!!! The opening shot is really the world famous portrait of CUPID and PSYCHE!!! I mean here was this guy, that without hesitationreps 1 ofCleveland'sdeepest hoods (*S/0 to 131st) strolling thru THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART like he owned the place. Not only that, but CASA was dressed in a high class fit from head to toe, rocking the best of the bestCARTIER frames. I had never seen an artist take a chance like that. I mean seriously...how many people really respect the arts in these times? The video follows CASA as he dines in the best of the best eatery, shows off his style against the fattest fountain, and gushes arrogance and gigantic metaphors.Not only does CASAexude hood elegance at its finest...the lyrics of the song make youwanna stack yo dough,jump on couches,ride thru the streets and....stack some more dough. CASA has jumped off the ship that's been sailing with so many of the same pirates, and has attempted to swim to shore on his lonesome. That alone takes guts. Sure he could ride the the success of LEGIT PAPER...but he wants to do his own thing. This video shouldn't make that goal to difficult. I love this video! I respect the artwork, and the strength it took to take a chance. I look forward to his new EP Release coming out soon. Wait til you see what CASA is gonna be bringing out the vault. I was lucky enough to get a chance to listen to this masterpiece...and let me jus say...IT'S DOPE AS FUGGGGGGGGGG!!!!! Soon as it drops I will share it with you! XOXO
Okkkkk....soooooo hella random sh*t happens to me...er damn day. I don't mind because most of the time...the most random of situations...usually turn out to be...some of the best things to ever happen to me! Soooo when CHRIS MCCAIN hit me up...totally outta the blue, I was thinking "random". I mean he literally got my digits from a mutual friend. The 1st thing he said was "yooo I know this is crazy, but I think your dope, and I saw that my dude wasn't really ready for you, soooo fuck with me". Now normally I would quickly hangup and block someone that was coming at me like that. Yet the funny thing was...I had never had anyone just come at me like that. I mean there are a few ways I could have taken the situation. I chose to take it for exactly what it was.*This guy has big ass nuts, he's cocky, confident, and motivated. Dude came at me on some straight business agenda type stuff. He was basically like, "Yoo I'm trying to push my music, you should be down". Ever since then CHRIS MCCAIN has been at the top of my list of "realist people out chea". CHRIS MCCAIN is mos def in a lane of his own. Often I find myself...trying to compare him to some "famous artist" out here right now. Yet whenever I start to form new wrinkles on my brain...I still end up with no comparisons. I mean I literally go blank when I attempt to think of anyone that can spit bars similar to him. CHRIS MCCAIN is mos def SOLO DOLO. He is loyal to his city and reps it to the fullest...not just in his music videos (He has hella videos on youtube, all of solid professional quality) but also in his lyrics. When it comes to videos CHRIS MCCAIN already had OKC on the map, way beforeOKC actually made it to the NBA Finals this year! I dunno...when I used to think of OKC...before ever meeting CHRIS MCCAIN, I always thought of blowing tumble weed,tornados, jumbo hotdogs at the lonely ass greyhound bus station, and lil stuff like that. *Plz excuse my "stereotypes". After hearing CHRIS MCCAIN I realized...there is a hood in every city. CHRIS MCCAIN has a magnificent,sophisticated, addictive storytelling way of describing his life, his hustle, his music and his dreams. CHRIS MCCAIN has the face of a baby...no literally dude looks like a smooth ass baby. When he spits...he has the voice of a grown ass man! His voice is deep, with the sound of strength and maturity. You won't catch him screaming at the top of his lungs, just to get a point across.
He doesn't have 8 mins of ad libs trying to cover up weak lyrics. CHRIS MCCAIN is so damn smooth with his lyrical delivery...it seems effortless. Just check out some of his videos. CHRIS MCCAIN isn't dancing around, but he does have the dopest swag ever. I love a swag , or style that seems genuine and authentic.He is from OKC, he wears J's on his feet, has the fittest of the fitteds, and is super fresh. When you hear CHRIS MCCAIN rap, you would never know...that this guy dropped out of high school at an early age, never pursued college, and hasn't worked a "9-5" since 05. CHRIS MCCAIN is 1 of those intelligent rappers. He can be deep, raunchy, cocky, and intellectual all in the same 16. Dude is so polished that he seems like he never sweats anything...probably because he already know's he's dope. CHRIS MCCAIN would probably rip any challengers head off in a freestyle battle, and leave the opponent looking lost afterwards....like "what just happened". With all of the Eastside, Park Estates, and Wildewood behind him...CHRIS MCCAIN has a small army riding with him. Not only is he selling out shows in OKC, he's also making some of the dopest music videos from an unsigned artist! All of his videos are true to him and his city. Nothing ridiculously generic, nothing to flashy or artificial things that seem untamable . CHRIS MCCAIN's laid back character is projected in every video! Even the ladies he puts in his videos are some of the realist looking girls.
Not to over the top but fly,artistic, stylish, creative, hip hop, and down to earth...just like himself. I wouldn't mind hearing some future collabs with CHRIS MCCAIN and other artists from Cleveland, or the midwest...hell from anywhere. He seems to be able to mesh well with different artists. His music beats hard! Dude is so cold, that even when he samples old music...or should I say classic music (Jay, Biggie, Pac, Short, Nas, Snoop) it sounds damn near better than the original song itself! Sometimes artists will have features from other artists, and because the artists have completely different sounds, the song ends up sounding like 2 different songs..sloppily put together. CHRIS MCCAIN has the talent, skill, and knowledge of making any song work. When doing collabs he is mos def the gorilla glue holding it together. With his arrogant,cocky, confident attitude...just from his aura alone, you can tell CHRIS MCCAIN is no 1 to be messed with. Makin his way cross the country to spread his musical gift...like church goers spread the "good word"...CHRIS MCCAIN is quickly passing most artists by...driving fast in his own lane. Coming straight outta OKC, CHRIS MCCAIN is the truth!!! XOXO
Okkkkkk sooooo you already should know...that I'ma die hardHYDE PARKSfan!!! I love how he drops new music here and there....makes me keep coming back and screaming for MORE!!!! Here's his latest music drop "The Hard Way". I would bet my pinky toes that he can go toe tah toe with any rapper out here. (*wait we dnt really need our pinky toes ...do we?) Anyways...make sure you download his mixtape "First Things First"...I mos def am stamping my SPARKPLUG approval on it!!! XOXO
Now you already know...that DJ SHONNY MACmos def puts his foot in hisexclusiveMain Events!!!! So do you really need to question, wether or not you should show your face at LUXE this Saturday? Be There!!!XOXO
Okkkkk...soooooo I just had to take a moment...(*bows head and prays). "DearLord,Thank you for blessing us with Dj SWERVE, who blessed us with theSUMMER ROC!!!Thank you for all the talented artists that performed, and thank you for all of the beautiful fans that attended. Lord I would also like to thank you for watching over all of us at ROC BAR...while we..PARTIED OUR FRIGGIN ASSES OFF!!!!AMEN!"
With that being said...Dj SWERVE did a spectacular job at throwing the event SUMMER ROC at ROC BAR. Honestly I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw my ticket for the first time. I mean there were familiar names on the ticket...and then there were names of artists I had never heard of. Dj SWERVE managed to pull off something that I haven't seen in Fo-EVA*head roll finga snap! Dj SWERVEsuccessfully gathered an eclectic mix of artists fromCleveland, Mentor, all over Ohio and surrounding states and cities. There were artists that literally came from PA! When I first walked into ROC BAR it was my 1st time ever being there. It looked like a Tiki Bar. One of the first things I noticed was that there were white people,black people, old people,young people,punk rockers,hipsters,hip hop heads,ragers....damn near any and every kind of person you could think of was inside the bar. Of course it was similar to H.S. Ya know....everyone kinda hanging out in their own "groups" or "clicks". As soon as the performances started tho...everyone seemed to mesh together. Of course people were kinda looking around, not really nervous like....but more "curious" like. I can't speak on anyone else's behalf...but some music I had never heard before, but Dj SWERVE managed to make the whole crowd feel comfortable...united as 1. By the time the show was coming to a close...everyone..that seemed "different", "unusual", or out of their element...was incredibly jumping together, laughing, raging, dancing, and bobbing their heads to all the different music. Dj SWERVE wasn't just a "Dj" that day. He was a host, dj, hype man, and director. I had 1 of the BEST TIMES of my summer that day at SUMMER ROC. I felt like I was at a festival of some sort (minus the festival food...oh gawd I love festival food)Dj SWERVE isn't like some dj's. You know the dj's that scream all thru the artists set, or attempt to "steal the show" themselves. Dj SWERVEhonestly played the back, he pumped out the music, he made sure all the artists were comfortable, lighting was great, crowd was amped, and he seemed to keep his cool throughout the whole show. It was awesome to see so many different acts perform back to back. The shows line-up was perfect. Sometimes when you put similar acts back to back...the crowd becomes bored. Yet Dj SWERVE made sure the line-up was mixed up. There was hip-hop, rock, jamaican music, live band sets etc. It made you want to stick around and see who and what was about to happen next.The ROC BAR was a perfect venue for SUMMER ROC. With it's tiki feel and outdoor patio access it made the experience that more comfortable. A lot of times people will randomly throw shows together, with no substance or quality. Dj SWERVE made sure to dot his I's and cross his T's. With t's and mix tapes being sold, it wasn't like "buy me buy me"...it was more like "oohhh I need to cop that, cuz... I love this experience".
I love beautiful things, and beautiful people. Dj SWERVE had one of the most beautiful events that day for SUMMER ROC. I love seeing so many different walks of life enjoying themselves together. That's how music should be. After some of the performances, I witnessed people exchanging numbers,twitter names, emails, mix tapesetc. Not only was it a concert, it was an amazing networking event as well. Dj SWERVE isn't' the type of guy that boasts or brags. He is very humble and I can tell that he honestly does what he does...for the love of music. I can't wait to see what Dj SWERVE has up his sleeve next. Whatever it may be...I will be there...and so should you!!! XOXO http://www.mediafire.com/?ppix7uvbxptct9x http://soundcloud.com/you/tracks For Bookings musicalswerve@gmail.com @_DJSWERVE_
