Uncharted Battlefest Highlight: Derek 'Blaze' Nguyen

Blaze

      Derek Nguyen, known as Blaze to everyone in the 'Forest City' Rockford-based battle leage, Midwest Battlefest, has been making music since the age of fourteen. Now, at age 19, he is CEO of the rapidly growing company. Of course, Blaze hasn't forgotten where he's come from.

      Blaze started his music ventures in a group, Outlaw Recordz, for a short while before internal conflicts caused them to disband. Blaze went solo and soon met up with fellow music artists, Ronald "T.R.I.M. Forte" Watson and Akeem Kizart in '09. Blaze was introduced to Hustle and Culture, one he considers his first REAL music group. To tis day, he reps the music company alongside other artists, including Zachary "Ayngel Halow" Coble. Blaze helped them produce their first mixtape, Jedi Mic Tricks, within a few short weeks.

      Through Facebook, Blaze met Keith "Da Rambla" Cotto from West Christiansburg , VA. After kind words, Keith invited Blaze to work with his personal affiliates, EMB/Most Hayyyted, alongside Zac "Da-Vine" Garcia. The two were the only artists in the affiliated with the group from outside the VA area and supported Da Rambla's newest album, You Can Hate Me Now.

      Febuary 2010, Blaze took a long hiatus from music. He felt that he had burned himself out after pushing out his tapes, The Initial Spark and Flashfire. He began focusing more on Battlefest and helping fellow artists improve their crafts. Whenever he wasn't doing what he could to support the local hip-hop scene, he was dealing with the everyday life of a teenager. School and work took priorety over his musical ventures.

Blaze

      Any work he COULD get in was spent writing, rather than recording music. "I have many songs that are written on my computer that have yet to be recorded, some spanning all the way back til 2008." Says Blaze.

      In the last several months, Blaze has been working on several projects, including "Back To Basics (B2B)" and "God Mode". Blaze has several music artist connections, including ties to Darian (Elgin, IL), Cassandra "Freshkidd" Ramirez (Oceanside, CA), Rohan Raj (Canada), Santhi Long (Iowa), the group BXC, Casmira Baclawski (Kenosha, WI), and most recently Axe and Xen of the Wisemen, which he is now a part of.

      Blaze showcases a versatile lyrical style and great vocal control which works in his favor, as he explores a vast variety of genres from Club, R&B, Old Skool and even Pop!

      "I Love music. This is my escape from the hardships of life. This is where I can express myself and to give my thoughts and ideas a medium to be projected. Music literally saved my life. my passion for this won't ever die and come summer 2011, Blaze will be back and will heat up the game for sure." - Blaze

~joeEFFINGmayo

Joemayo91@gmail.com

Uncharted Battlefest Highlight: Spud

Spud

      Having just won his second battle in Forest City's own Midwest Battlefest, Spud is working on a new mixtape, Graduation, due June 5th. The mixtape is a follow up to his last mixtape titled, Cram Session. Graduation, will have a 'high school' theme, which includes flashbacks and everything.
     
      The Mixtape will showcase Spud's own GOBLIN camp and a few other hopefuls. "Anyone that wants to be on it can just hit me up"    

      Spud aquired his odd nickname through a chain of funny stories. It began when his father nicknamed him 'Sputnik' after being born in the same year as the russian satellite. His uncle called him Spud instead of Sputnik and it stuck. It's a name that he enjoys because it gives him the comfortability and coonfidence he needs to use the spud for more serious uses.

       Spud's first ever battling event took place fairly recently in March at Battlefest Presents: March Massacre 2 (Shout out to, Blaze!) "My first battle was against Baby Ben, it went great. I got a comanding w. Before the battle, I was just in my own corner, thinking, getting over the nerves. I was quiet most of the time. I talked to Rude Flow and Dijion some. During the battle, I wasn't really thinking. It was like pure instinct. I knew bars and I delivered them like a robot on a task. (Laughs) After, it was great! My hands had stop sweating and I caught a lot of people by suprise, that was a good feeling. I could get comfortable and speak to people" Says Spud.

      Spud's music is about all the things he has seen and experienced. A lot of high school experiences and getting through the challenges.

      "I have a couple producers and numerous beats from fellow student, producer/rapper, Jdoug." Says Spud about his new mixtape, Graduation, coming out June th. "I got Anthony Dismuke, who produced beats for fellow GOBLIN camp artists, Ash-tre. I'm looking foward to getting produced by several members from the BXC camp. Right now, I'm just gathering to make Graduation the best that I can" says Spud.

~joeEFFINGmayo

Joemayo91@gmail.com

Boxcuttaz Music: Hip-hop does Rockford some good

Boxcuttaz Logo

      "We are about progression and positivety," Begins Linden Eason, co-owner of local music label, Boxcuttaz Music. "We all come from different backgrounds, some better than others, but we all connected to pursue what we love most and that's music. We all love to entertain. We are about bringing some more notoriety to Rockford in a good way."

      Linden has multple roles in the growing label. Apart from being co-owner, Linden is Chief Executive of Operations. "I oversee everything from top to bottom," says Linden, "I am an artist as well, so it's a tremendous task." Renaldo Cooper, co-owner, on the other hand, does a little more ground work. "I coordinate studio times to record the artists, produce some of the projects released, and manage each artist’s marketing and release plan."

      The music label started on New Years, 2009. "Well, Linden and I met each other via a mutual friend that knew we both were trying to build music labels." Says Renaldo. "Linden was a respected local DJ and I was coordinating studio time and music for some of the rap artists in the area." 

      "I was trying to do some new things musically and he introduced me to Renaldo and we had similiar vision." Adds Linden. "I had my own music team and he had his own group of artists. From there we decide to merge both together and Boxcuttaz Music was created."

      The name itself is an allusion to the saying 'thinking outside of the box'. "It means think outside of the box even if that means you have to go through it." Says Linden. "(We) came up with the name after watching a satirical version of an old martial arts film. Symbolically, BoxCuttaz represents the breaking out of the norm; bringing something new to the mundane. It’s being outside the box." Continues Renaldo.

      The label has done a few things for the community thus far. At the label events, they encourage everyone to bring canned goods, even going as far as giving a discount in exchange for donating a canned good. The canned goods, as well as some of the event proceeds, get donated to the Rockford Rescue Mission. "(We) are firm believers in self-growth, and respect for others, as well as the art one practices. We are constantly fighting for the bettering of Rockford schools and dwindling after-school programs. Our community’s students deserve the best."

      The Boxcuttaz Music roster consists of Rude Pillz (Renaldo Cooper), A.Teknopolis (Anthony Hunt), Gee The 6th Man (Gregory Yokley), Dizzy Delta (DelRashawn Boykins), Gamoliel (Jay Benford), Ayngel Halow (Zachary Coble), Toven (Karis Coble), and Pyce Wilson (Linden Eason). "We also have two experienced R&B singers that will be heard by the public soon." Says Renaldo.

      Here are some upcoming events to mark on your calender. May 7th is the Mayday Mayhem emcee battles presented by Battlefest and BoxCuttaz. It will be held at the Pirate Ninja Print Shop, located at 400 East State Street in Rockford, Illinois. Admission is $5, but if you bring a canned good, $1 will be knocked off your admission price. It’s a great and entertaining event and encourages everyone to join in as they build up Rockford as well as Rockford Hip-Hop. 

      Also, don't forget to follow Boxcuttaz Music on Facebook! Learn more about BoxCuttaz Music at Boxcuttazinc.webs.com @boxcuttazinc #TeamWilson  

~joeEFFINGmayo

Joemayo91@gmail.com

(originally posted on Examiner)

The definition of 'Souless'

"My brother once told me I'm emotionless sometimes" - Souless
Photo: Rigo Aviles

      Unfeeling, unmerciful, unsparing and unsympathetic. These words are synonymous with another word, Soulless. "My brother once told me I’m kind of emotionless at times," says local rapper, Rigo 'Souless' Aviles, "I learned not to have emotions or feelings."

      Souless describes his music as "unorthodox with jazzy beats." Often times, taking a different approach when dealing with familiar topics. "I'm not trying to outdo the other guy." says the young rapper, "I'm about making music that I like, music that sticks in your head."

      So what kind of music does Souless enjoy? Growing up, he listened to a lot of artists he considered 'hardcore'. Artists such as South Park Mexican, Biggie Smalls and Dr. Dre. Also listening to a lot of freestyle because it's what his father enjoyed listening to. Although hip hop is still his primary choice, Souless listens to everything, from Daniel Johnston to Jimi Hendrix, Mac Lethal and Brother Ali. "Right now on my iPod, I have nothing but Atmosphere playing non-stop."

      For nearly 7 years, he's been trying to perfect his trade. Fairly recently, he decided to start battle rapping at local events. "I’ve been battling for no less than just a couple of months, but I’m getting into it and I’m going to make my way to the top. Slowly, but surely." says a confident Souless who took the win in his battle at March Massacre 2 against Kay-Gee, another local battle rapper.

      "That battle went great for me," recalls Souless,"I was really nervous just because I had lost against Raco the Dragon just a month before." When asked how he prepared for the match, he replied," I practiced everyday for about 2 weeks and wrote as many bars as possible."

      So, recording or battling? When asked, Souless replied,"I prefer recording tracks better because I love making the music I write, but battle rapping is really fun and gets so intense. I love going toe to toe with another M.C."

      You can find several Souless tracks on his YouTube Channel. You can also see  Souless battle at Battlefest Presents Mayday Mayhem hosted by Blaze against Akeem Kizart on May 7th. 

“Keep an ear on the hip hop scene in Rockford. It’s getting bigger every minute.” - Souless

~joeEFFINGmayo

Joemayo91@gmail.com

(Originally posted on Examiner)