2010 Client Roster: LuCreative Group PR & Midwest Divas Present Fabulosity!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kandis Knight

Public Relations

Midwest Divas

612-599-****

Fabulosity: A Pampering, Shopping & Networking Experience to Be Featured on KSTP’s Twin Cities Live Telecast August 6th

Minneapolis, MN August 3rd—On August 6^th, tune into KSTP’s Twin Cities Live starting at 3:00 p.m. CST where Fabulosity: A Pampering, Shopping and Networking Experience will be featured in the “Weekend To-Do’s” segment with Dez. Studio audience members that day will also receive a special treat from participating Fabulosity sponsors, vendors and partners.

Fabulosity, to be held at the W Hotel (Foshay Tower) August 7^th, is a “day party” themed event that will feature many vendors under one roof for a unique pampering, shopping and networking experience to help benefit Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA). MOCA is an ovarian cancer alliance that supports survivors and educates the public about ovarian cancer.

"We are very excited about the Twin Cities Live support, it means a lot to have a major media partner and this will help us with our goal of making an impact for ovarian cancer and supporting MOCA,” explains Tosha, Fabulosity’s Executive Director.

Twin Cities Live, Tracy Robb, was fast to coordinate a plan for ways the show can help spread the message. "My mother died 18 months after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This cause is very close to my heart. We had no warning and she had no symptoms until it was too late. Ovarian cancer took away my best friend. We need to find a way to detect this disease early so others at least have a fighting chance against it, this is why I am supporting Fabulosity and I hope others will also." Robb will be among several women who will speak briefly at Fabulosity about how ovarian cancer has affected their lives or the life of a close loved one.

A video of the telecast will also go online August 6th and there will be a re-broadcast at 1 a.m. August 7th, which is a time slot that receives excellent ratings.

In addition to donating a percentage of the proceeds from Fabulosity, The Midwest Divas will also hold a silent auction at Fabulosity to benefit MOCA.

It is still not too late for fashion and beauty vendors to participate, the Midwest Divas are seeking "an eclectic atmosphere, where women will frolic, mingle, network, buy beautiful merchandise and be catered to."

Designers, vendors, boutiques fashion and beauty companies are all encouraged to go to the vendor section of www.midwestdivas.com.

Sign up to help a great cause that all women care about.

The Midwest Divas are taking donations for the silent auction to be held at Fabulosity until the day of the event to raise funds for MOCA please email tasha@midwestdivas.com.

Would you like to put your items in the Fabulosity Gift Bag? Promotions, flyers, coupons, should be shipped to Midwest Divas/EMP Attention: Marcella Marshall 5349 Empire Lane, Plymouth MN 55446 preferably in quantities of 300 (no minimums and the venue capacity is 1000) due date by July 25th.

A few of our participating sponsors, vendors and partners include:

MOCA (MN), Aveda Institute, EIRO Fit, W Hotel, Vitamin Water, Rox Mpls, OPM Boutique, YQY Boutique, Mi Armadio Boutique, Zelaz Boutique, Vandalism Designs, Europe Shoes & Such, Gittelson Jewelers, Vidita, ReVamp, Ardyss Life, Body Magic, ThinkThin, Touched by An Angel, Massage to Envy, Go Health Chiropractic, Wax Kitten, Starr Hair Designs, Hair By Dawn, IamMoody, LuCreative Group, Emerald Marketing Partners, Twin Cities Live, McFarlane Media Group, Charolette Ann’s Boutique, Cloud 9, Party Girls, Maximize Health, Ete Handbags, Coco & Chloe, Lots of Frou Frou (Jewelry), Uniquely Yours Gift Baskets, Simplicity Gourmet, Morgan's Designs, Ali Shops, Already Pretty.com, V-State, West Side Hair Care, Fabulous Faces & Shiatsu Massage!

To purchase Fabulosity Tickets On-Line: http://fabulositywhotel.eventbrite.com/

To purchase tickets to Twin Cities Live: twincitieslive@kstp.com

For more information about

MOCA (MN) please visit: www.mnovarian.org

Fabulosity please visit: www.midwestdivas.com

ROX Minneapolis please visit: www.roxmpls.com

Zelaz please visit: www.zelaz.com

Vitamin Water: www.vitaminwater.com

Twin Cities Live: www.twinciteslive.com

For more information or if you would like to be present at Fabulosity for business exposure, networking or just to be a pampered guest, please contact Marcella@midwestdivas.com 323.605.2587 or tasha@midwestdivas.com 651.276.6103 to R.S.V.P. or for sponsor and vendor information.

About Twin Cities Live

TWIN CITIES LIVE airs weekdays on 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. The show focuses on the people and places that make the Twin Cities unique hosted by Minnesota natives John Hanson and Elizabeth Ries.

TWIN CITIES LIVE segments are varied and diverse including local business entrepreneurs, chefs & restaurant owners, fashion & trend experts, nutrition & fitness professionals, gardening whizzes, musical guests and tons of deals, discounts & bargains.

Mark Your Calendars:

August 7th- “Fabulosity: A Shopping, Pampering and Networking Experience” will be hosted by the W Hotel (Foshay Tower), in Downtown Minneapolis: 821 Marquette Avenue Saturday August 7th, 2010 from noon-until 7 p.m. Tickets are 20.00 at the door and include express manicures, mini massages, champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Bring the women in your office, bring your girlfriends, your daughters! Tickets to Fabulosity make great gifts!

Social Media Tags: Ardyss Life, Body Magic, Emerald Marketing Partners, LuCreative Group, Europe Shoes & Such, Fabulosity Minneapolis, Fabulosity W Hotel, Gittelson Jewelers, Go Health Chiropractic, Hair By Dawn, IamMoody, Insight News, Kandis Knight, KSTP, LuCreative Group, Marcella Marshall, McFarlane Media Group MOCA (MN), Mi Armadio Boutique, Midwest Divas, Minnesota Events, Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, MOCA (MN), OPM Boutique, Ovarian Cancer, ReVamp, Richard Moody, Robyne Robinson, Rox Minneapolis, Rox Mpls, Rox, Smart Water, Starr Hair Designs, Tasha Griffin, TOSHA, ThinkThin, Thomasina’s Cashew Brittle, Touched by An Angel, Massage Envy, Troe Williams, Twin Cities Live, Vandalism Designs, Vidita, W Hotel, Wax Kitten, YQY Boutique, Zelaz Boutique, Charolette Ann’s Boutique, Cloud 9, Party Girls, Maximize Health, Ete Handbags, Coco & Chloe, Lots of Frou Frou (Jewelry), Uniquely Yours Gift Baskets, Simplicity Gourmet, Morgan's Designs, Ali Shops, Already Pretty.com, V-State, West Side Hair Care, Fabulous Faces & Shiatsu Massage!

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2007 Client Roster: Wone Vang Fashion

Wone Vang (Minneapolis)
Published at Twin Cities Night Clubs.com
By Kandis Knight

Wone Vang conquers barriers for a living. In 1981, Vang immigrated from her beloved homeland, Laos to the United States. Like many immigrants, the pursuit of the American dream was vital to her survival. However, life in America brought many new challenges. Vang had to deal with the constricting traditions that most young Hmong-American women face while seeking out a new life in America and the pursuit of their life’s calling. Vang rose to the occasion.

Vang, a first generation Hmong, had to quickly learn American cultural nuances, while preserving her proud cultural identity. She studied American trends closely while tightly clinging onto her cultural roots. She eventually developed her own individuality and a passion for American fashion. Breaking into the highly competitive world of fashion can be a tad bit intimidating for even the most talented designers. Small start up fashion houses often have trouble gaining the acceptance of their “sometimes” snobby more established peers and finding channels to expose their designs to the public.

Vang, who has faced obstacles her entire life, was up for the challenge. She genuinely sympathized with struggling artists, but she took it a step deeper. She developed a plan and took action. To conquer the barriers in her path, Vang formed Ethreemn.org in 2004 and never looked back. Ethreemn.org’s mission is to educate, enlighten, and expose local artists and talents. Thanks to Vang’s trials and tribulations early in life, she was prepared to take on any battle and committed to helping others along her way, like aspiring designer Tiffany Paulson. Paulson’s designs were showcased at Vang’s Narcissism Fashion Show held November 2nd 2005 at The Downtown Radisson Hotel, it was Paulson’s first fashion show. “Wone is innovative in her approach and dedicated to providing local designers and clothing labels platforms to display their creations. I am very excited about the upcoming show,” said Paulson.

Paulson is one of many local aspiring designer’s Vang has helped along her way. Vang has worked with a host of local designers including, Underground Music and Fashion (www.umandf.com), Blame It on Hip-Hop (www.biohh.com) and Vandalism Designs who were all able to make a big impression on the local fashion scene by participating in two of Vang’s highly successful events, Live Wire at Bar Fly and the First Annual Narcissism Fashion show at the Fineline Café. “Wone is a very professional person who treats designers, no matter how large or small, with the respect they deserve. She respects designer’s wishes and helps them turn their visions into fashion shows,” said Underground Music and Fashion’s (UmandF.com) CEO, Matt Meyers.

Vang is recognized locally as a genius when it comes to bridging local culture together. Her fashion shows are an outlet for aspiring fashion designers but she also has a format at all of her shows to showcase aspiring artists and musicians. Vang’s shows are a big hit with a diverse and sophisticated cross section of Twin Cities movers and shakers.

Please support Ethreemn.org in its mission to uplift our local artists August 9th, 2007 at Trocaderos Night Club. This year’s show is packed full of entertainment and fashion. Ethreemn.org also commits a percentage of all their proceeds to charity. “If we can create an organization without artistic limitations, we will be able to reach those artists who might never think of asking for help.” Wone Vang

2006 Client Roster: Musab (Rhymesayers Entertainment)

Musab
Published in The Pulse of The Twin Cities
by Kandis Knight

On a cold rainy evening I ventured to the cozy home of Musab, Rhymesayer's "Smoothest Brotha' Number One." Over the course of three hours we relaxed, watched a basketball game and had a little local rap talk. As I entered Musab’s pristine, decked out South Minneapolis condo, I couldn't help but notice the walls, a smooth maroon color befitting Musab's smooth laid back character.

I took a seat on a plush couch, with a big fluffy pillow and enjoyed my beverage and the game in the background. Musab eased up next to me and became an open book. At 14, Musab converted to Islam. “I don't like to involve my religion in my music,” claims Musab, 28. “They’re two different things. That’s my personal life. My music is entertainment. I don't take myself too serious as an artist. I'm only human, I'm not trying to change your life, I'm trying to entertain you. If you want to change your life read that Koran down there, that’s how I look at it."

Nowadays, Musab seems to live a peaceful and positive life. “I coach my son's basketball team, I’m training my kids in sports, I’m making Salaat (Muslim prayer) everyday. I'm fasting right now, it's Ramadan. I live better than some, worse than others,” he readily admits.

Musab’s life wasn’t always as serene as it is today, it was only after witnessing lots of crime and violence that Musab decided to pursue music. "I went through a lot of dramatic situations with my life," he claims. Glancing to the floor, Musab pauses and then continues, "I lost a cousin, he was killed. We were roommates he got killed in our apartment in St. Paul. I was 19 when I decided I wanted to go into music seriously. I always rapped since I was in fourth grade, I got into music to keep me out of trouble."

After graduating from The City Inc., a Minneapolis Alternative School, Musab attended Music Tech as something to do. "I went to Music Tech for about six months. I liked it enough, it was just that I felt like I didn't need it." Although he didn’t excel academically we all know from his lyrical track record that Musab is no doubt an intellectual. "I'm a genius. I took the test so I can say that. I didn't like school, I used to skip school and go read books at the Library. Some of my favorite books were ‘Pimp’ by Iceberg Slim and ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X.’

These books gave me hope."Maybe it’s Musab’s superior intellect that helps him craft his insane rhymes, but he also has a formula for that. "My song writing routine is very organized, I'll show you.” He dashes off and comes back with stacks of notebooks. "There is a science to making songs up. I write in bars. See, this is the song I did called ‘I Got Problems’—you know, the song I did with D. Tekh. You were there when we recorded it."

I nod and smile, remembering the "female bashing" hook but deciding not to comment. Like a kid in a candy store, he flips through pages and pages of lyrics. "I wrote it, I titled it, it was written in bars, so therefore I know how long I want the verse to be and my hooks are in back (of the note book). Usually I write the hook first when I'm just sitting around. I like my hooks to be like how I talk kinda like I'm saying something and it’s catchy. I’m very organized.I got stacks of notebooks. That’s how you got to be when you’re making music. Writing a song is an art to me.

"When it comes to production, Musab only likes working with the best producers. "Of course my man Ant, D. Tekh of course, locally not that many cause most of the producers I mess with are like national cats. I mess with Ant, D. Tekh, I like Big Jess from the Unknown Prophets. My man Brother Ali whenever he cranks something out for me overall though I think the state lacks in production."

It’s no surprise Musab even has a routine he runs through before going on stage to perform. "’I'm the greatest,’ that’s what I say, that’s what I repeat before going on stage." Musab’s prolific musical output is nearly as immense as his stacks of notebooks. "I have hundreds of songs that are recorded but unreleased. Some of them I don't like, some are for my own personal listening. I won't release everything because I want to be known as a certain type of artist. That's just the business, you got to uphold your little image to sell records. People have to relate to you and grasp on to what you're saying. Therefore you won't hear Snoop Dogg do something that Dead Prez does. But he won't do that because it's not his job. He's selling hot dogs, they’re selling hamburgers. You know what I'm saying?"

He continues, as I recline in the lazy boy. "That’s how I feel about my thing. So I record a lot of songs about a lot of things, but that doesn't mean I want everybody to hear it all." So what’s on the horizon for this wildly creative Minneapolis emcee? We can all expect something from Musab coming summer 2004. "I'm recording an album right now called What's The Skinney? it’s going to be like ‘Playboy Mansion-ish.’ If that’s not enough to spark your curiosity I don't know what else can. There aren’t that many ‘Playboy Mansion-ish’ albums coming out of Minneapolis and I can't wait to see how it comes together.”

Musab's image has always been adored locally. When describing his public persona, Musab stares off into space and leans far back into the couch, the image of a silk robe clearly forming in his mind’s eye. "I'm the black Hugh Hef," he says smiling. "Yeah, I'm a different type of Hip-Hop then Slug but as far as how we do our music, we got the same format. We’re two different people. You know what I'm saying? So of course we’re going to have a different sound."

As far as national comparisons go, Musab is quick to respond, "I'm more edgy than 50 Cent I believe. I'm more like an underground Snoop and I don't do my music to sell eight million records. I do it because I love the art. I'll do other things to get rich that triangle into my music. If I can be critically acclaimed musically, I'm happy."

Musab is clearheaded when it comes to laying out his aspirations. "I'm going after Snoop's fan base. Snoop has put himself into a good position because he is doing what he was doing when he first came out but now everybody buys him. He is a household name. Even white kid's grandparents know who Snoop Dogg is, when I get there I will be cool."

Despite having many friends around town, Musab still feels he’s misunderstood by the majority of the local Hip-Hop scene. "People think I'm a chauvinist, insensitive and heartless because of my lyrics,” claims Musab. “I'm not the first person to talk like I do. I talk about pimping and people seem surprised sometimes. But when these same people see 50 Cent doing it and they see it on television they’re singing along."

I have to agree with him on that note because despite my own feminist belief system, 50 Cent can be appealing in his own pimped out way. Musab is indeed no different, he wields a unique charm and is extremely polite and respectful. "I'm a male feminist,” says Musab. “I love women. I respect people. I think society is very contradictory, though. Some women want you to treat them like they’re a nun, but they act like a whore. I'm going to call you what you are. Some women call themselves bitches. Lil' Kim ain't offended."

I don't know if he heard my thoughts, but he interrupted them nonetheless. "I like bitches,” continues Musab. “They’re just feisty women to me and I don't say bitch out of hate I say it out of love. That’s the kind of woman I like. I like Lil' Kim, I like Pamela Anderson, I like Carmen Electra. I don't want nothing to do with a square women. There’s nothing she can do for me."

Musab is entitled to his views, so I decide to let the sexual politics battle rest and change the subject. I give him a look he won't forget and we switch gears. "My favorite television show is Howard Stern,” admits Musab. “I look up to Howard. I’m very Howard Stern-ish." I tilt my head and try to imagine the similarities. "I love porn. I’m a porno connoisseur. I write all of my music to porn. It’s a known fact that sex sparks creativity. It’s primal. Everything a man does is for a woman. Every job, every attempt to look good, every haircut, everything is to get a woman and take care of her and have good sex.

It’s simple like that."By this point in our conversation Musab’s way with words almost has me convinced he’s in the right, but I still can't believe all the strange twists our talk has taken. Musab is clearly a strong-willed individual, and I’m still a fan regardless of any different personal convictions, his music makes my hips swirl.

As Musab said in the beginning, he’s an entertainer, so I decide to allow his comments to entertain rather than annoy. "My advice to new talent—first of all—never fuck with me. Second, make the best music you can and be honest with yourself. Be your best critic. Artists tend to get caught up in their own little world thinking they’re better than they are a lot of times and it’s easy to do.

Don't be scared to hate your own song. That’s the problem with Hip-Hop now a days, people take it too seriously. It's music man, it’s entertainment. I want to be Sammy Davis Junior, I want to be Frank Sinatra."

Musab performs at the Cabooze on Wed., Nov. 19, with Kool Keith, DAPO, Doom Tree, EPL and Snakebird. 8:30 p.m. $15. 18+. 917 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-338-6425.

2005 Client Roster: Cheap Cologne

Cheap Cologne (Minneapolis)

Published in The Pulse of The Twin Cities

by Kandis Knight

Minneapolis Hip-Hop producer extraordinaire Cheap Cologne’s roots are deep. At 32, he’s watched Hip-Hop evolve from its very beginnings, soaking in Chaka Khan and Grandmaster Flash when they first hit the scene. These days he appreciates all the different styles of modern Hip-Hop, from the underground (Pigeon John) to the mainstream (Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott) his diverse tastes are abundantly evident in his production. Cheap Cologne surveys the scene.

Cheap Cologne (aka John K. in the work-a-day-world), a former break-dancer and DJ, is now comfortably situated on the music production side of Hip-Hop, attending classes at the Institute of Production and Recording in Minneapolis to continue polishing up his skills. All his hard work is paying off—Cheap Cologne recently inked a recording deal with San Francisco based Bomb Hip-Hop.

I recently sat down with Minneapolis native Cheap Cologne (http://www.broke-ass.com/) to get the scoop on his new recording deal and album, Just A Little Sample (released this week). “I’m happy that the label took it upon themselves to put [the record] out,” said Cheap Cologne.When talking about his aspirations for Just A Little Sample, Cheap Cologne remains humble.

“If 2,000 of them are created and 500 of them are given away for promos and the other 1,500 of them go into the 99-cent bin, people are still going to have the music—I’m not too concerned about the money,” said Cheap Cologne. Toph One, a writer for XLR8R Magazine (http://www.xlr8r.com/) called Cheap Cologne’s music “part indie rock/hip-hop with turntablism and jazz licks and MCs.”

The description is fitting yet doesn’t quite properly convey the unique aesthetic value of the album. Minneapolis musicians have always broken new ground, especially when it comes to fusing diverse genres of music, and Just A Little Sample is no exception. Just A Little Sample is a groundbreaking collage of vocal social commentary over an expert jumble of up-tempo Hip-Hop beats with snappy high hats, kicks and poppy snares.

Kind of jazzy and a bit movie soundtrack-ish at points, Just A Little Sample’s blend of ambient styles has something for everyone. “Girls and boys, this is listening time” says the ’60s-style schoolteacher on “Operation,” the opening cut of Cologne’s 16-track album. The introductory song does a great job of preparing the listener for the sonically adventurous ride ahead (which features cameos by popular underground Hip-Hop artists including, Pigeon John, Paul Z, Slug, Circus and Awol One). “Believe Me” is a sinister track featuring the vocal clips of Charles Manson complaining about his treatment behind bars and letting listeners into a few of his diabolical thoughts. Just when the gloom and doom of “Believe Me” is about to become overwhelming for listeners, the hopeful and upbeat “Seventy One” comes to the rescue, with a helping of Bob Marley style happiness.

An instrumental track, “Seventy One” could very well be a song about the highs and lows of life or love. “Floating Away,” featuring Elias, has a hook that is reminiscent of a jovial seventies television show theme song coupled with matter-of-fact inspirational lyrics (“I’m floating away, up on a cloud one shiny day.”) “Faustus’ Diary” featuring Gentle Jones is a downer, providing another jarring dose of sad reality a la “Believe Me.”

The song sets forth a grim tale (Dr. John Faustas mutiliates a prostitute and then ends his own life) guaranteed to make the listener reflect on the darker side of life. Just when the exploration of the insane psyche is beginning to become wearing, you’re brought back to reality, well “Dreality” (with special guest DJ T-Rock)—a title derived from the words “dream” and “reality.” The suitably surreal music captures that Saturday morning hangover feeling exceptionally well.

“City vs. Soil” featuring Gentle Jones and Unsung is a hodgepodge of environmentally conscious punch lines and phrases certain to raise the anxiety levels of anyone concerned with the earth’s well being. Or at the very least inspire Jane and John Doe to start thinking about the issue. Set to a near trance-like musical accompaniment “City vs. Soil” requires close following in order to fully comprehend the gurgle of different sounds and thoughts that make up the track.President Bush (senior) also makes a cameo describing the Gulf war in “Sound Familiar?”

The similarities between the sampled speech and his son’s recent speeches surrounding the Iraqi war are downright eerie, oozing with all of the same egotism and political venom. Paired with a haunted, sci-fi beat, the track expertly captures the feel of the escalation of warfare and probably should have been titled “De Ja Vu’.”All of the tracks on this diversely styled album are vivid constructions, fitting of the colorful cover design provided for them by graffiti artist Charlie Kraft. Cheap Cologne isn’t afraid to venture into challenging territory (musically, politically or psychologically) and seems intent on daring his listeners to follow him throughout the winding trip that is Just A Little Sample.


Cheap Cologne V. The FEDS

Published in The Pulse of The Twin Cities
by Kandis Knight

The last time I hung out with Cheap Cologne I didn't notice all of the tats. Also there appears to be a certain "rock star" quality about him now that I hadn't noticed before. Being in Cheap Cologne’s presence is akin to listening to his music—meaning it’s a laid-back, cool and intellectually elevating way to spend some time. Maybe these changes have something to do with all the shit Cologne’s been through this past year, I think we can all agree that being chased down by the feds is no joke.

Cologne has made it through seemingly unphased, weathering the storm only seems to have made this local Hip-Hop super star's chi stronger. Cheap Cologne mulls over the fed’s next step. I was cruising Dunation when I first caught wind of the “feds vs. cologne” ruckus. The feds were cracking down on people who distribute pirated music from the internet and Cheap Cologne had became one of their targets. “One man versus the federal government—there’s a losing argument,” I thought to myself.

Cheap Cologne had made an album called The Double Black Album in which he put Jay-Z's lyrics to Metallica's music and created a new album. "I bought the Metallica Black Album on vinyl so I could scratch it and add it to part of the project," said Cheap Cologne. "I started with a couple songs using just loops, the Metallica whole parts as loops. Then I decided to break it down even more and sample just the individual kicks and snares from the drum kit and make my own beats behind it and still add their guitar melodies behind it. So every sound on there is from the Metallica record, even the scratches."

Almost immediately after Cologne decided to go public with his creation things began heating up between him and the authorities. "No later than one week after I got the CDs back I received an e-mail from the anti-piracy division at the RIAA threatening me with a $250,000 copyright infringement suit per copyright," said Cologne. "Basically I thought, ‘oh shit the whole project is shut down, at least I got some copies out there so people could listen to it before I got into trouble.’ I took it off my website."

A true musical genius loves to share his discoveries with the world, though. Before long I started seeing Cheap Cologne's name in Rolling Stone, then in Entertainment Weekly. Finally, I thought. A local producer has generated a national stir. I was delighted despite the fact that Entertainment Weekly didn't give Minneapolis any shine!

Nevertheless this is good for the Twin Cities Hip-Hop community. Cheap Cologne is constantly getting better at his craft and expanding his knowledge about the music industry, he is an artist who can make us all proud.

Something else Mr. Cologne is interested in—besides dodging federal prosecutors—is the local Hip-Hop scene. He's worked with all of the best. Anyway, shortly after the publicity surrounding The Double Black Album hit the national press, Mr. Cologne's website began to receive hits. "I had 150 thousand people on http://www.broke-ass.com/ in March,” recalls Cologne.

“My server was calling me saying ‘you're going over your limit this is going to cost you a fortune’. So I had to pay more for my hosting service so I could handle the hits and the transfer rates."

Cologne’s press schedule has been busy (The New York Times were his most recent interviewers before yours truly). It will be interesting to see how Cologne's career goes from here. For now, it looks as though the fear of prosecution has passed. Just recently, Cologne got a phone call from someone at The RIAA saying the warning e-mail they sent out was a mistake.

The feds made a mistake? Cologne explains, the agent said ‘I'm not telling you anything, I’m just letting you know that from our standpoint it was a mistake.’" “I said, ‘Well what does that mean?’ The agent said, ‘Sir I’m just letting you know that it was a mistake.’ After that he wouldn't tell me anything more. And I was like, ‘What are you telling me?’ And he said, ‘Well I’m not your attorney I’m just telling you it was a mistake.’

And I thought ‘Oh well, I'll lay low for a little while,’ but I didn't get any calls or anymore letters for a couple days and then I was like, ‘Screw it—I’m going to get it out there!’”

For more information about Cheap Cologne please visit http://www.broke-ass.com/. To listen to The Double Black Album you can go to http://www.bannedmusic.org/ (who estimated four to five weeks ago that 100-150 thousand people had downloaded The Double Black Album). Cheap Cologne has a new CD out called Sexy Grandma Remixes.

Like the true pioneer he is, he’s got an interesting CD cover (you’ll know what I’m talking about when you see it).Also, Cologne also has an instrumental CD coming out that he says emcees can do whatever they want with. Primarily though, he wants people to realize he makes good music and there’s more to him than the scandal surrounding The Double Black Album. “I want people to recognize me as a producer, not just a guy who did one of those remix albums.”

2004 Client Roster: Purest Form

Purest Form (Minneapolis)
Published in The Pulse of The Twin Cities
by Kandis Knight

The first time I saw Purest Form (http://www.purestform.com/) perform was at my own event, Tha’ Tunnel this past September. I remember when the group hit the stage a friend approached me and said “They’re really good, are they really from here?” “Yes,” I replied as we bobbed our heads and submerged ourselves into their performance, which was a breath of fresh air to the Twin Cities Hip-Hop community.

Purest Form takes Hip-Hop seriously. Purest Form is a local group that stands out because of their national-level-group focus and commitment (which continually tricks locals into thinking they’re from out of town). Listening to their music, observing their business etiquette, seeing their performance, one can tell Purest Form is serious about their work.

“As Purest Form we’re trying to preserve the Hip-Hop culture from when we were growing up and strive to elevate it. I don’t mean we want to keep it how it was in 1987 and rhyme like Kane (Big Daddy Kane) and Rakim but we want to be influenced by them and take their similar mental states and elevate it with the time lyrically and address issues that are prevalent today. That’s why we call ourselves Purest Form because we are trying to keep that purest form that is coming from the heart of Hip-Hop,” said A-Ron.Purest Form’s first full-length CD, Perfect Balance, was released September 2003 (available at Electric Fetus or online at CD Baby.com) and if there’s one thing these guys represent, it’s just that, a perfect balance of creativity, principle, skill and intellect.

The members of Purest Form, Alibi aka. Alex Leonard, 23, A-Quil aka. Anthony DuBose, 24, Dialek aka Anthony Powe, 24 and A-Ron aka Andy Winger, 22 are all St. Paul Central graduates and currently engage in professions from teaching to Web Site development, photography and, of course, music. These emcees are clean-cut and have a schoolboy image that’s backed by real-life post secondary education, an image befitting a Midwest Hip-Hop group.

With so much going on in their lives, they do struggle to find a perfect balance. “We can’t be as involved in the local scene as much as other groups and I think that’s misunderstood as cocky or elitist but it’s strictly the time factor because we all just graduated from college. We would love to spread ourselves out there but we don’t want to spread ourselves too thin because our major goal is providing quality music no matter how long it takes,” said Dialek, who also is the group’s music producer.

Since the release of Perfect Balance the group has been busy performing around town. To date they have performed six local shows, most recently headlining Try D’s “The Fu!@# Fund Raiser” on November 28 at The Red Sea, featuring an all star lineup of who’s who among local Hip-Hop artists.The members of the group have all paid dues even though many locals consider them a young, new group.

“We viewed ourselves as being old in the local scene because we’ve been doing this since high school, but when we released this album we realized although we’ve been doing this for a long time, we’re young and new to the local scene as compared to many local Hip-Hop artists,” said A-Ron.The group’s debut, long on quality music with no filler, is the kind of album that makes me proud to be a Twin Cities Hip-Hop fan. I could tell from listening to Perfect Balance that The Purest Form would provide an interesting interview and they didn’t disappoint, providing a conversation packed with lots of commentary on the local scene.

“The biggest problem with the local Hip-Hop scene and what I would like to see change is the level of respect for true artistry,” claims Dialek. “It’s almost turning into a comedy show here. To a lot of people, rap and Hip-Hop is entertainment and to other people it’s really a way of expressing what’s going on in their real lives with the intent of inspiring others to reach greatness. I’d like to see more people take pride in their craft regardless of who they’re performing in front of.”

“I’d like to see local Hip-Hop coming from the heart and there should still be a sense that you have to show and prove your skills that was how it was when we were growing up. People should push themselves more so that we can have a local scene where people aren’t trying to be like other places but other places are trying to be like us—because we do have a lot of talent here,” said A-quil.

“People rap around their friends too much here and of course your friends are going to tell you that you are good. I want to see people push themselves more, criticize each other more, constructively you know. I want people to tell me how to get better. I want to see the purest form of Hip-Hop return to the Twin Cities where we’re socially critiquing society and Hip-Hop to make it an art again,” said A-ron.

2004 Client Roster: Out of Bounds

Out of Bounds (Minneapolis)

Published in The Pulse of The Twin Cities

By Kandis Knight

I met a zealous Stephen Wayne from local Hip-Hoppers Out of Bounds while hanging out a few weeks ago at Tonic in Uptown. He was a ball of excitment and eager to chat about his group and their album, Hedfonmuzik. Wayne co-produced Hedfonmuzik for Twin Cities Hip-Hop group Out of Bounds.

Although they released their first CD in 2003, Out of Bounds has been performing underground for several years.

I heard of the group from several friends and so I was also excited when Wayne disappeared into the nightclub and came back with a copy of Out of Bound's freshman offering. "It’s electronic Hip-Hop, kinda it's own style," says Wayne, trying to explain the group’s unique sound. Chris Caesar, 27, is the front man for Out of Bounds.

His voice is hard-core and full of passion yet also capable of pulling off more reflective low-key moments. Throughout the course of Hedfonmzik his lyrics charge hard, coming across with an energy rarely seen outside of Red Bull addict circles. As I listened I had to ask, where does he get all of that intensity? The beats and samples complement each other like Hip-Hop set to a sci-fi movie soundtrack or Music Choice Soundscapes if you like that kind of thing. If not, trust me, it’s all good. I chose to listen to the CD while running around the lake so I could focus all of my attention on the lyrics and aesthetics.

Although it’s difficult to decipher all of the lyrics I was thoroughly satisfied with this project. I found myself listening to “Song For A Friend” four times, mesmerized by its rawness. “Wake Up Call” was another standout track. The lyrics on that track are dope, "Your beats are corny, your whole style bores me to death, I slept cause it's done so poorly. . ."

"We recorded on a Roland MC 505 Groove Box and so sometimes we got a cheesy sound," said Wayne. "Eventually we upgraded to an MPC 2000 and recorded into sonar, at a basement studio called Profile Music in St. Paul."Wayne graduated from Music Tech and is also working on his own Drum and Bass/ambient trip-hop album. "So far we have 30 beats finished for the next Out of Bounds Album. It took us four years to complete Hedfonmuzik," said Wayne. From track to track, Hedfonmuzik has a lot to offer, including cameos from Try-D, Josh Johnz, Dessa Darling, Zai and Joe Keith. Instrumentally, Out of Bounds collaborated with the likes of Cheap Cologne, Bill Collins, Anders Sonnenberg and Tom Lewandowski from Wookie Foot.

At the end of the CD comes a proper Twin Cities anthem, “Twin Towns,” featuring the scratches of Cheap Cologne. On this track Caesar gives Twista a run for his money with rapid flows destined to make everyone get up and get loose. Keith Goya, aka KG, 26, is the DJ for Out of Bounds.

While listening to the breaks and scratches you can almost visualize the intense energy it must have taken to achieve the sound Out of Bounds accomplished. If every Twin Cities group had a first CD this good, Minneapolis/St. Paul would be guaranteed to stand out on the national Hip-Hop scene.

So far the group has their CD in all stores that sell consignment and the group has sold thousands of CDs out of their backpacks. Wayne is currently doing the promotions for the group and is trying to launch an on-line radio site that features the music of Out of Bounds, Unification Theory, Medida, Pleasure Pause, Negative One and Josh Johnz to name a few. For more information about Out of Bounds please visit http://www.outofbounds3000.com/ .

Interview: MadSon

UNDER CONSTRUCTION....PHOTOS, FORMATTING COMING SOON!

By Kandis Knight

The Unknown Prophets, MaDSoN and Big Jess, recently released their latest contribution to Minneap-rap, MaDSoN's Peace Amongst The MaDness, and it’s an extremely timely project.

The CD begins with a poem called “Desiderata” performed by Marigua + Childs. I was impressed because I had found the same poem about two years ago at a thrift store. I liked it so much I retyped it, framed it and hung it in our studio. Although Marigua's voice is a tad on the rough side, it’s the power of the words that truly inspires.

"The intro was the last thing to be completed. I needed an alternative to my original idea for the intro when it fell through. My Dad loves that poem and would always tell us (Unknown Prophets) we should use it on our CD somehow. As I read the words I knew that it was perfect for the intro to Peace Amongst The MaDness," describes MaDSoN, aka Mike Madison.

When Marigua finishes her recital, moaning strings lead the listener into the next track, “Peace Amongst the MaDness.” The song captures a personal struggle between good and evil. Every lyric fits perfectly into this tale of light and dark in a post 9/11 world. "Aye Yo, I'm trying to reach the masses/ but I remain lost here in this cold and frozen sea of blackness/Drowning in this sadness/ I'm just praying that God can help me find some peace amongst the madness/Trying to reach the masses/ But I remain lost here in this cold and frozen sea of blackness/ Drowning in this sadness/ I'm just praying that God can help me find some peace amongst the madness.

"The inspiration for this song came from every experience MaDSoN has had to face in his life. "Every person and event in my life (inspired this song),” he claims. “I also wanted to create an album that would reflect the inner battles we all face within ourselves. In a sense, Good vs. Evil."MaDSoN takes us to the old school in track No. 3.

“Times Like Those” is a track about all of the things old school Hip-Hop and life used to be. "Will we ever live in times like those again?/ If we don't kill our roots we can grow again/ Will we ever live in times like those again?/ The holes in our souls we can still sew and mend/ Will we ever live in times like those again?/ Can we find shelter from all the cold and wind/ Will we ever live in times like those again?/ If we believe in ourselves then I know we can."If that hook doesn't catch you, the hook for track No. 4, called “Impress You,” will. "Joia Senser [the daughter of ex-Vikings player Joe Senser] sang the hook on that song. She has an amazing voice. Her work on the Unknown Prophets’ upcoming Against the Grain album is gonna blow people away," says MaDSoN.

Living up to its ambitious title, Peace Amongst The Madness offers songs that are lyrically rich and positive. "It's difficult at times (being positive) because you see so many negative artists with no content getting all the attention and radio play. Unknown Prophets have always been positive. Jess and I both work with kids and see first hand the effect the music has on the youth today and we feel it's our calling to change that. Our time will come."

“Ten Days Left” is the fifth track, and a prime example of the Prophets’ handling of dark subject matter with positivity. It’s a song about a soldier with 10 days left before going home from the war field—and it’s a party song. Ironically gun shots are heard just before the song ends."Each song is special to me in its own way, but if I had to chose [a favorite song on the album] right now it would be ‘Paradise.’ The instant Big Jess played me the beat I knew I had to have it. From the opera singing to the strings, the beat itself is a masterpiece. The hook was the last thing I wrote to it. I struggled trying to come up with a hook that would be worthy of the beat. One night, I woke up at 3 a.m. out of a dead sleep and had the hook in my head. I sat up, turned on the light and started writing it down."

From listening to Peace Amongst The Madness, I was intrigued by MadSoN's spirituality, and he’s very open to discussing it. "I was born and raised Catholic,” he readily admits. “I owe a lot of my spirituality to my grandma who I believe shaped and guided my faith throughout life. As I got older I felt like my faith was slipping along with the world around me though.

After completing the album and listening to it from start to finish I felt like my faith had strengthened and I was more at peace. I get a peace from the album that I can't quite explain."

Peace Amongst The Madness took this Edison High School graduate nearly six months to complete, although he and Big Jess had the idea to do solo projects since last November.

"With a full-time job, shows, and handling all the management for the Unkown Prophets ourselves, it was hard at times to meet certain deadlines we made for both our albums.  There's so much on my mind. My music's future success, the war, my career, etc. Every day that passes I ask myself "‘What should I have done that I didn't?’ ‘Did I waste another day or opportunity?’"

MaDSoN has soared to heights most don't reach by being himself and remaining true to the game. "I wanna be well known for my passion like Wellstone. I want the listener to feel my soul in each song. I want people to question their actions, their faith, their heart. Most of all, I want people to enjoy each song as much as I do and find peace amongst their own madness.

"Peace Amongst The Madness is available locally at Mindstate, Cheapo, Fifth Element, Electric Fetus and the Connect.Visit The Unknown Prophets’ website for shows, forums, etc.

2004 Client Roster: DJ Stage One

DJ Stage One (Minneapolis)
By Kandis Knight

As told by the legendary Dj himself.

When I was in Junior High I moved to Minneapolis from Dayton, Ohio. I’ve been back to Ohio, but basically I’ve been living here, Northside! I was first inspired to DJ because my mom and dad had this huge record collection back in the ’70s that I inherited. I grew up listening to everything—funk, jazz, rock—everything.

One day I was watching Beat Street on the late night tip. I was heavy into graffiti at the time (my tag name was Stage One) and I saw my man playing some records and all that so I was like, I could do that. Back in the day everyone had turntables in the house you know? I started grabbing old stuff and putting it together. I did it for the neighborhood back then and it blossomed into gigs.

I was in the clubs DJing when I was 18 even though you were supposed to be 21.A lot of things that have helped me nurture Hip-Hop here although it was hard to obtain certain things. Coming up I remember it being hard. Like you want to see certain Hip-Hop concerts but they wouldn't come here, so all you had was the record. Sometimes you'd have records that didn't have covers so you had to imagine it. It’s hard here for Hip-Hop artists in Minnesota.

Living out here in Minnesota we had to build our own set of standards and rules. I’m proud of the fact that Hip-Hop here started from nothing and now it’s a big thing. We didn't have videos and there was nothing to derive the culture from. It had to be built from scratch, like any other middle America city in the early ’80s.

Back in 1984, the one thing we had was the Hip-Hop Shop with Travitron, Freddie Fresh and DJ Dev Tronic on KMOJ and I got tapes from New York. I'd listen to tapes from radio shows like WBLS and 98.7 KISS with DJ Red Alert and Chuck Chillout. I did some work on the radio with Smoke and Delite and we had a show called “Strictly Butter” on KFAI back in 1995-1998 or something like that.

Those were formative years because a lot of artists were coming through at a time when the underground scene we now know was just starting to come about. The Rhymesayers were just getting started, they were called the Headshots, and they would come through and get on, Common Sense came through, Def Squad came through, a lot of artists came through. I feel I helped the local Hip-Hop scene.Some of the old school crews I miss, IRM, Truth Maze aka B Fresh, Kel-C, Curt, TLC, I miss all my old grafitti crews, Wild Style Crew, EB, Viper, the Juxtaposition Crew, I miss all of the crews even the ones we didn't get along with because there isn't a Hip-Hop machine like that anymore.

Now it’s a little more Millennium-driven as far as the technology. People are making an album in a day with Protools and people don't need to do graffiti when they can do art on their computers. I miss the old state of mind but I’m not trying to go back. It was more pure and raw because it was harder to get information, now we got the internet and things are easier. I don't want to sound like I’m a purest because I’m not. I’m for change and all of that but you have to admit that the whole way Hip-Hop is perceived now is different than what it was then. Look at fashion, fashion is driving it now it seems.

You don't even got to like Hip-Hop music but you can dress like a b-boy or b-girl. You know instant Hip-Hop, just add water or add the video. All you got to do is watch one video and you got a little game. The other thing that has changed is the fact that the DJ does not get represented in the new era. We got to do it ourselves and we got to be a soloist. Like CB4 when they broke up and it was just a dude by himself, it's corny. It's cool in a sense, it’s just that rap music and DJing are spreading thin between themselves right now versus the ’80s style when it was Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and Cash Money and Marvelous.

I got love for everybody here because they show me love. I deal with a lot of record labels, I get records and I’m trying to break records here, locally. The community wants to hear the music but there are not many DJs here supplying what they should be supplying. You hear people saying things like, “I got the new DJ Clue mix tape” or, “I got the new Sickamore” but they don't got the new Micheal Mack, or Disco T, Stage One, or Brother Jules. We are not really nurturing our own homegrown talent as far as the DJing thing.

I’m trying my best to expose people to as much new music as possible instead of only playing the top 40 hits that the radio is playing. I try to be an ambassador to the game when I play music. I try to let labels know that there is a community out here. They know about Atmosphere but they don't know about the others or that there is a fan base for their music. Like Saturday there was a show for an artist named Approach.

I was hip to him months ago, his label sent me the CD and the wax. So I just figured that the underground community knew about him, but no one came. We need to promote a little more and stretch our arms out and network to people in other cities and let people know that we have a community here that would like to hear your music. Something that does bother me is the fact that a lot of record stores are prejudiced against Hip-Hop.

They will stop selling records, or move the records around their stores, or they hire employees who do not know about the music so they are ordering hundreds of Lil' John CDs that never fly off the shelves and then they want to stop selling Hip-Hop all together. We need to strengthen this whole community and everyone needs to do a little more research.I feel like my career is growing, I‘m getting a little busier and making a little more money. It never started out being about the money, but one day someone handed me some money after a gig and then I was just like "I got to get that." It’s nice, I can make money doing what I love.

Being a DJ in Minneapolis is interesting. It’s always something new, it’s never the same atmosphere and that’s what’s fun about it. It’s a challenge every time, going through the crates getting ready for a show. I don't just have a set crate, I can't do a crate and leave it here and come back next Saturday and use the same crate. I’m always in a different mood and it’s fun to go off of who is going to be at a show performing. I'll build my crate off an artist’s character or the type of crowd they draw. I'll just start building. I may bring James Brown one night, then Portishead, sometimes rock, alternative, whatever. I like playing off people's emotions in a club. Sometimes they dance, sometimes they lounge. I can still put people into a state of mind.

Compared to a big city where they want the music now, they want to hear their song, and, if not, they are ready to rush the DJ. Here people know what to expect from you. I dig that.In my free time I’m also interested in activism. I’m trying to help fathers get more rights when it comes to child support and I want to help former prison inmates get their lives back together.

If Hip-Hop didn't influence me to be the person I am I wouldn't be into activism or as sentimental as I am. A lot of people I have dealt with have had a positive effect [on ther personal values] from Hip-Hop. I want to urge DJs to stop playing so much new stuff and start playing more classics because we are forgetting. There is a generation gap starting in 1988 and the story needs to be told. Hip-Hop here emerged in North Minneapolis.

Now it seems like Hip-Hop in Minneapolis is more of an entertainment thing—MTV versus a lifestyle. I urge people to come out and kick it. Everyone is in their own little worlds and their own little chamber. And for the record, I use a Stanton Mixer but I like Vestax Mixers and I’m using the Technique 1200 for life. I check in with http://www.allhiphop.com/ everyday. Also, Freddie Fresh has a book that everyone needs to cop. You can catch up with DJ Stage One at the Dinkytowner every Saturday and at Soul City Supper Club on Wednesdays and at The Red Sea on Thursdays. You can also e-mail Stage One at djstageon@aol.com.

2000 Client Roster: Latosha Evans

Artist Biography: Latosha Evans (Minneapolis)
By Kandis Knight

Latosha Evans’ gift to sing was evident to her friends and family when she was two years old. “Latosha showed strong music potential. She had the ability to retain lyrics and she showed a sense of perfect pitch since she was very young,” explains Tony Evans, Latosha’s uncle.

Music ran in the Evan’s family. Latosha’s grandparents were in a group called The Denver Traveletts and her uncle was in a famous group called the Union Harmonizer. These deep musical influences have played a major part in Evans’ musical development.

“As far back as I can remember Tosha had this passion to sing. I remember when we would walk down the street, and for no reason at all, Tosha would burst into a song. I always knew she had talent, and that someday it would pay off,” comments Jermaine Evans, Latosha’s brother.

Singing became a part of Evan’s life early, and she has never looked back. Evans studied the likes of Whitney Houston and the late songstress, Aaliyah as a pre teen. “I would spend countless hours learning all of their lyrics, their runs and their vocal style,” says Evans.

All of Evan’s practice and natural ability came to fruition when she met Karl Sutton. “There is just something about Latosha that is magnetic,” describes Karl Sutton, Evans’ manager and CEO of KAM Records (Minneapolis). Sutton was persuaded by Evans’ talent and the decision to sign her as the label’s fledgling artist was made.

These days you can find the young singer busy in the studio crafting her sound and completing her debut album (untitled) scheduled to be released in 2007 on KAM Records. Evan’s debut album will feature top notch production by Twin Cities hit makers, Trak Citi and others producers.

“Latosha is a young singer that is just beginning to see her potential. She has a lot of soul in her voice and should be poised to do big things with her first album. She definitely has a sound and is going to be developing a show to match the voice in the near future,” remarks Trak Citi CEO, Matt D.

The future looks bright for this Twin Cities artist, who is holding down the number one spot on I Sound.com. In 2007, expect to see Evans emerge on the scene with collaborations with Twin Cities heavy weights including, Trey of the Twin Cities R&B group, VIP. Evans will also be performing around the Twin Cities with Trak Citi and it’s affiliates.

For more information about Latosha Evans or for booking, please visit http://www.kamrecords.us/

Written by: Kandis Knight
Music Journalist