GRUNGECAKE

Category: Interviews

  • Interview: Actor Michael Sirow talks about his role as Tate in Lionsgate’s new action/thriller ‘Boneyard’ movie, working with the star-studded cast, and more

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    Yesterday evening, I had the honour and privilege of interviewing movie actor Michael Sirow, the spirited man portraying Tate in Lionsgate’s ‘Boneyard’. It draws inspiration from a true crime story involving the skeletal remains of eleven women and girls discovered in the New Mexico desert. The direction follows Police Chief Carter, portrayed by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Detective Ortega (Brian Van Holt) and Agent Petrovick (Mel Gibson). If you aren’t familiar with the storyline, watch the not-yet-rated trailer below to see a multi-agency effort to identify and apprehend the killer.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS5OoPsRkKs&h=315]

    During our chat, Michael Sirow shared what it was like to work with such a legendary cast, the script, what made him take the role, where they shot the movie, and a bit about his work as a producer. Here it is.

    GRUNGECAKE: When did you know you were going to take this role?

    Michael Sirow: Right when I read… Well, I read it. I read the script. And then I reread it very quickly, again, for the reason that there was a separate draft and a later draft, which had been done right then. So I read that one after. So, the second time I read—because I read it twice in a row. So I just was like, “Yes, I want to do this!”

    GRUNGECAKE: Was there anything specific about [the script] that spoke to you?

    Michael Sirow: I, the character had a lot of scenes with girls. So… I’m being stumped. Okay… (He laughs)

    GRUNGECAKE: (Then, I laughed, and I laughed really hard.)

    Michael Sirow: I’m joking. (He laughed) And I get to, I get to say some… I get to behave naughty. I get to be very… and I don’t get to… I don’t get to get away with that at home. I get in a lot of trouble, so… (He laughs)

    GRUNGECAKE: Got you.

    Michael Sirow: So no, no, look… I think that and I like this question because it’s something that I felt would make me uncomfortable to do and say and perform certain things.

    GRUNGECAKE: Okay. (Nodding)

    Michael Sirow: And so in on a serious note, and just like, you know, if I didn’t feel like this was a character where it was just a one dimensional—you get up there and you just say a bunch of stuff and look really, you know, act really nasty. It’s just there’s more more to this guy, I thought, then that.

    GRUNGECAKE: Definitely! He had some some depth to him.

    Michael Sirow: Yeah, [it] was fun, so…

    GRUNGECAKE: Yes, indeed. How was it working with your cast members? And do you have any teaching moments from working with the cast?

    Michael Sirow: Oh, boy, um, first of all, they were some of the best I’ve ever encountered. If not, like top top tier, like it was just just the overall experience. Not because you know, Curtis (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson”) is who Curtis, and Mel (Mel Gibson) is Mel, or Brian and Nora, are who are who they are, but they were just so… and that’s the thing I really have been stressing on a lot of today is just they’re, they’re so easy going and down to earth. And when you’re there past the first couple hours and you realising “Okay, they’re great conversationalist,” you know, like, it just you’re talking about everything else, but the work while you’re waiting around, because there’s so much waiting around.

    GRUNGECAKE: Got you.

    Michael Sirow: But then, when we start getting into it, it’s just like, “Okay, well, let’s just do what we know how to do.” And then, there’s always a little extra coddling to Michael because I need the hand holding. (He smiled and I laughed.) It was… listen, the rehearsals were you know, it was like Summer camp. This to me was what I identify as just really loving what you do. It’s just the perfect version of that because you do… I didn’t want it to… I didn’t want to wrap. I wanted to keep going. I could have shot another three weeks. The only thing I would have changed was I mean, you can’t really do anything about it, but the scorching desert heat is something that…

    GRUNGECAKE: Okay (nodding and smiling).

    Michael Sirow: We shot it in Vegas, so it was no joke over there.

    GRUNGECAKE: Yeah, it’s not a game. I was living over there for three years, so I know what you mean. Okay.

    Michael Sirow: Yeah.

    GRUNGECAKE: Because of that heat, were there any scenes that you found difficult to shoot?

    Michael Sirow: Um, man, we… the raid. There was a raid that we shot. We jumped out of a van and I… may call you Richardine? Right, that’s your name?

    GRUNGECAKE: Yeah.

    Michael Sirow: Richardine…

    GRUNGECAKE: Yeah…

    Michael Sirow: The amount of sweat the amount of faints that just the overall (I laugh) but it was great though. It was like, “Why does this turn me on?” (I laughed) You know, it was kind of like one of those things where it was like we were really enjoying it because we really getting into it.

    GRUNGECAKE: Yeah.

    Michael Sirow: But we were disgusting because we’re so filthy (We laugh). And I, you seen the film so you know what scene I’m talking about.

    GRUNGECAKE: Yes.

    Michael Sirow: That day in particular, people were dropping. I’m not ashamed to say it but it was like we were dropping. No, not in the way where we were fainting, but it was so hot. Like, they just when we would finish, you know, an 18 pack of water. So, the poor PAs would go and they’d come back and it was it was a lot. It was a lot, you know, but you feel like “Well, I don’t have to go to you know any gym for the for the next two months or anything.” (I laugh) It’s really just, sweating out all my body weight.

    GRUNGECAKE: You got your cardio in and everything thing else.

    Michael Sirow: Oh my God! Yeah, yeah, but it was… in that van before we got out that was, you know, it’s like, okay, you know, [sound’s people] “We’re rolling! “Oh, wait! Hold on, hold on!” You know, and it’s like, “No, no, we’re gonna die! Someone’s gonna die!” And so, and I felt bad because those guys… those guys because I had short sleeves on I think.

    GRUNGECAKE: Okay.

    Michael Sirow: But those guys were all in SWAT gear. So I was just like, “Somebody’s going to pass out and we’re going to have to get an IV into into somebody with a bag of sodium sodium chloride. But it was yeah, it was very fulfilling. It was just a great time, you know?

    GRUNGECAKE: So, it says in your bio, that you worked as a producer, also…

    Michael Sirow: Yeah, I started getting into that. And, you know, what’s interesting is like, I got some… An actor friend of mine years ago, was sort of like, “Look, you know, these days of waiting by the phone, you know, going very, just, you go in, you go home, you go and you go home, you know, as far as just auditioning, and then you leave it at the door. And that’s that, and you’re waiting for a phone call.” He’s like, “Those kinds of, you know, those days are coming to a close. And, you know, everyone’s out there trying to create their own opportunities.

    GRUNGECAKE: Yes.

    Michael Sirow: And he was right! He was right. And this was a person of note, and he’s someone that someone’s… you know, everyone’s very familiar with, but he’s like, “Look, I got a lot of my own shit that I’m, you know, I’m passionate about and this and this.” And I said to him, “Yeah, but, you know, you’re you!” (He laughs). So, and I appreciate… but he’s like, “Look, look, it starts off with, you know, the producing, which is a whole separate conversation entirely. But producing can just be is something like where you’re going and just as simple as making an introduction between two sides. It’s, it’s, you know, but then you have, you know, all the other mechanics that come with it, which, you know, that’s for… That’s for smart people. (He jokes and I laugh).

    GRUNGECAKE: What’s the name of your production company?

    Michael Sirow: Oh, I don’t… I don’t it… That’s just me. That’s just…

    GRUNGECAKE Oh, that’s just you!

    Michael Sirow: Yeah, yeah. I just go where I’m told… You know, just… I show up!

    GRUNGECAKE: Good, good. Okay, my last one for you. Because it says online that your birthday is November 15th. Is that accurate?

    Michael Sirow: It is! It is.

    GRUNGECAKE: That’s my birthday, so that’s… crazy!

    Michael Sirow: No, it’s not!

    GRUNGECAKE: Yeah!

    Michael Sirow: That’s why this has been my favorite interview so far! I knew there was a reason that you didn’t… And listen, I felt so bad because I had to punt all the the calls from from last week to this week. But I… there’s a reason you kept me. You didn’t you didn’t throw me out. So I wouldn’t have known! Are you going to do anything special for this birthday?

    GRUNGECAKE: Yeah, I might be in Cape Town (South Africa) this year.

    Michael Sirow Oh my God. That’s crazy!

    Michael Sirow: That’s why this has been my favourite interview so far! I knew there was a reason that you didn’t. And listen, I felt so bad because I had to punt all the the calls from from last week to this week. But there’s a reason you kept me you didn’t you didn’t throw me out. So, I wouldn’t have known so there’s that’s crazy special. Are you going to do anything special for this birthday? Yeah, I might be in Cape Town this year.

    Michael Sirow: Oh my God. That’s crazy!

    Michael Sirow, the New York City-born actor, whom I awesomely share a birthday (November 15), was one of the best interviews I had in a very long time. He was funny, cool and welcoming. The chilling action/thriller is available on-demand nationwide and will be in theatres in the United States on July 5. If you’re into this genre of film/movie, check it out with a friend or many. Let’s discuss how you feel about it in the comments.

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  • Interview: Kokota Afrika discusses South Africa’s thriving culture, promoting Amapiano, and who’s up next from the scene

    Editor’s Note (July 2, 2024, 9:31 AM EST): An earlier version of this article referred to Modupi Ntisa as Module Ntisa, copied from an email from the company.

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    Three months ago, South Africa’s digital culture hub Kokota Afrika—run by two young South African men Modupi Ntisa (left) and Lesedi Mashilane (right)—and GRUNGECAKE connected to discuss South Africa from the lens of a native or tourist, building a brand from scratch, the nightlife in Johannesburg, the culture, Zone 6 and who we should be on our radar.

    GRUNGECAKE: Many Americans travel to South Africa before venturing out to other African countries. I’ve even suggested it to fellow Americans because of our similarities in culinary options, luxury living, and brand recognition. If I hadn’t been to Johannesburg, South Africa, how would you describe it to me as a foreigner or tourist? What makes the country and the people great?

    Kokota Afrika: Johannesburg is a city that was once describe[d] to be the City of Gold but today, it’s a social hub filled with talent. From musicians to painters Johannesburg has it all. Some describe it to be a jungle with everyone fighting their way to the top of the food chain. I think that’s the beauty of all. It create[s] a sense of culture within the city with everyone striving to bring something new and unique to the table. This is a city that never sleeps.

    GRUNGECAKE: I met you guys during my first trip to South Africa. Since then, we’ve witnessed growth in your business in six months. From the parties to the follower count (nearly 400,000), you’re running a popular platform, Kokota Afrika. How long has Kokota Afrika been in business? What would you say has been the most rewarding thing (or things) you’ve accomplished as a brand so far?

    Kokota Afrika: Kokota Afrika was established in 2021 in hopes of presenting the world the true African gem that was embedded in the core of the South African musical scene, Amapiano. Since then, we have become a major factor in the development of the genre, working so hard to discover the undiscovered. Artists like Uncle Waffles, Pcee, Justin99 and Toss, to name a few, are artists we worked so hard to place center stage of the industry and we do not plan to stop any time soon. Kokota Afrika is a reward on its own. We look at it as a community and not a social media page and leading the people in this community is the greatest reward we could ever ask for.

    GRUNGECAKE: How would you describe the music scene in Johannesburg? Which part of Johannesburg would you say has the best nightlife and why?

    Kokota Afrika: As I stated before, Johannesburg is a jungle. Every one that lives here is hungry for their top spot in the musical scene. This kind of environment is necessary in the development of music in South Africa because it forces everyone to bring their own uniqueness to the table allowing for the music here to become more and more diverse.

    GRUNGECAKE: How paramount is South African culture to you as individuals and as a brand?

    Kokota Afrika: South African culture is what built us, it’s what built Amapiano. Without the South African culture, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation as two individuals. So to answer your question, the South African culture is the most important thing to us and to our brand.

    GRUNGECAKE: You guys also contribute to programming in Soweto (a 45-minute drive from Rosebank) at a thriving club called Zone 6. Tell us about some of the shows you’ve produced and what you have coming up in June and July.

    *Kokota Afrika didn’t answer this question, unfortunately.*

    GRUNGECAKE: You’re around and support many talented local artists through the performance series you produce and through artist management. Who are some artists you believe should be on our radar, and why?

    Kokota Afrika: Kokota Afrika prides itself on discovering the undiscovered. There are artists all around this country who deserve to sit centre stage of the musical scene and they are Tycoon, Jaylooks, Sjavas Da Deejay, Stixx.

  • Interview: Michael O, the esteemed multi-talented musician and actor who worked alongside The Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason, Jr on ‘Japa’

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    Approximately two weeks ago, I talked to a multi-talented individual named Michael O—real name Michael Odokara-Okigbo—about his journey in the entertainment business as a music maker and an actor. In 1990, the music maker-performer was born to Nigerian parents in New York City, one of the most populous and diverse places on the planet and grew up in Maryland until he was twelve years old. Then, a young Michael moved to Portland, Maine, where the African-American population was 0.4% and is currently 8.62%. Six years later, the performer and producer was accepted to the private Ivy League research university Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.

    During his time there, he doubled as a Global Health and History major. It was then he joined The Dartmouth Aires, and it led them to a second-place finish on NBC’s ‘The Sing-Off’.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=petdL88Oucw&h=315]

    Weekly, there were over 6.5 million eyes on the a capella group, wowing audiences and positive feedback from the likes of Ben Folds of Ben Folds Five and Shawn Stockman from Boyz II Men, according to his biography online. His online portfolio also reveals, that in 2013 after graduation from college, Michael O relocated to Los Angeles, releasing his debut extended play, ‘In the Beginning’ which sounds vastly different from his latest work. In 2015, Michael was in ‘Picture Perfect 2’ portraying the leader of The Singboks. For the motion picture, he performed a solo on the song ‘Anywhere You Want It’ for the American Music Award-winning soundtrack. Also, his profile says he has featured on several records as a vocalist, performed in multiple countries and venues like Merill Auditorium, The Lincoln Center, Caesar’s Palace, and performed live for President Obama at the White House.

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    With a list of incredible accolades to list, I wanted to get to know the artist better because I think he could be on the cusp of gaining more recognition for what he’s doing since he’s recently collaborated on a record with the current CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason, Jr for the remix of his song, ‘Japa’. But before we get into that, let’s start from the beginning.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diulU73AoN0&h=315]

    As I learned more about Michael O through online research, I needed to get into the mind of someone who spent most of their life in a place I am not familiar with. I don’t know many people who live in or visited Maine, so I asked the ‘Japa’ singer about his experience. He answered, “Maine was really quiet. It was super chill. Not a lot… You know, it was a really peaceful state, but I was definitely looking forward to branching out. It’s a great place that I could call home because it’s super quiet. It’s really peaceful, so whenever I need some type of tranquility, to escape the noise, whether the noise is internal or external, I go back to Maine.”

    And since there are stark differences between Maine and any city or borough in New York City, I had to ask which dwelling place his mindset is most like to which he laughed and replied, “That’s a really interesting question. I’m a hustler by nature. Maine is very quiet, very chill, so I do have those aspects, but right now, it’s fitting that I’m in New York City.”

    Since his debut release titled ‘In the Beginning’, Michael O’s music has evolved. As far as his production choices, he is a world away from where he began. I asked Michael O to describe his transformation. He explained, “It’s been just a process of growing up and elevating and finding my own sound. And that takes time. You know… I’m an independent artist, so it takes time to find out who you are. So, I’ve definitely done the steps, done my homework, and the sleepless nights trying to figure out how to pay for this and this artist life. So, I’ve done the backend to get my own sound where it’s heading and I’m really excited to where I can go, too because now, I’m getting to a place where I don’t give a f*** about what people have to say about my music. I am a person of genuine creativity from my heart. And that’s something I’ve been searching for for a very long time. I’m proud that I’m getting to that point.”

    GRUNGECAKE: Your sound has changed tremendously from the release of your debut in 2013 with ‘In the Beginning’. In your own words, how would you describe your evolution? If you can remember, what was the direction then?

    Ah, okay, so I see your questions. You ask some really good questions! So, I was told back in 2013… I had just started writing music, just got out of college, and I started having some meetings and I was told that my work wasn’t good enough… just from having those meetings. It was for me to prove myself that I could write and produce my own work, and just do my own work. So, it was mainly just a mission for me just to make music that I was connected with, so I was really inspired by R&B music, Soul music. I’ve also been really inspired by Nigerian music. Even, there were some aspects of that that I didn’t know how to best do at that time, that were even in my first EP. But it was mainly for me to prove to myself that I can actually to write and produce.

    GRUNGECAKE: You’ve had some moments in the past, namely appearing on NBC’s ‘The Sing Off’ with The Dartmouth Aires in 2008 and ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ as the lead singer of The Singboks in the 2015 film. Looking back at those moments, how did you feel about them now?

    Good ways to expand and get better as an artist, and also, good betting points to see where I want to go, where I want to push. I have big dreams, man. Big, big dreams, and sometimes, those dreams are very, very scary. So, those are just good benchmarks to know, “Yeah, I can achieve and manifest the goals that I set forth and hopefully, go higher.

    GRUNGECAKE: I’m told you’re currently in Lagos, Nigeria. Are you currently promoting your music when on ground? Are there plans to shoot an official music video for the remix to ‘Japa’ produced by Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason, Jr?

    Yeah, potentially, but we just also finalised the EP, which we will be releasing this coming Summer, and we shot two music videos for the EP itself. As you know with artists, we’re always on to the next one, onto the next one. So, I’m like already onto what’s next. I’m onto pass 2025-2026, so, I’m excited to release this EP for people to connect and to vibe into who I am. It’s definitely been an elevation from my previous work to this upcoming project, and ‘Japa’ as well. I’m proud of how that’s elevated—my sound and where I’m going.

    GRUNGECAKE: How was it working with Harvey Mason, Jr on that record?

    Yeah, he’s the man. Good, good dude. He’s also like a great mentor that I go to for advice, that I ask to hear songs to see what he has to say. But the fact that he loved this record and jumped on this record is incredible. And he did it, just cause he liked it, liked the record. It’s crazy!

    GRUNGECAKE: Anything else you’d like to let the readers know?

    I mean, I’ve been on this vibe… just trying to continue to self-discover. I’m always asking the hard questions and what’s next. So, I hope people who read this—not even so much about music or tech or anything—I just deplore them or hope that they can search within themselves and keep pushing. If it’s something that they want to do within their lives, there’s something that’s etching them to do… just make sure that they get to it, and start it because #1 life is very short, and #2, you never know what tomorrow brings. So, hopefully, that can just inspire people, whether it’s through my music or what I do with technology.

    In April, Nigerian-American artist Michael O released the official remix to his song ‘Japa’ with fellow Nigerian artist Egar Boi. The smooth Afropop production finds the artist singing about greed and envy, hoping and wanting a better way to climb the ladder of life or success. Stream it below. ‘Japa’ was co-written by the Recording Academy’s current CEO, Harvey Mason Jr.

  • Photographer Spotlight: Lincoln Fields

    Capturing a perfect photo is much more than just pushing a button and having someone say “cheese”. There are angles, lighting, F-stops, white balance, a creative vision, and much more. With there being so many photographers out in the world, we decided to ask the people who they thought the best was, and I must say the suggestions were really dope. Like, it wasn’t just aunties saying that their nephews were the best picture-taker in the family. We chose a few out of the hundreds of submissions and decided to ask them a few questions. Lincoln Fields is the first artist.

    GRUNGECAKE: In what ways do you inspire through photography and what is the most important message that your work portrays?

    Lincoln Fields: Our society lacks authenticity. Everyone wants to look picture-perfect with no blemishes in sight. I’m not like that. I like to tell the raw stories of all my subjects. My work is intended to inspire people to be able to look in the mirror and despite their imperfections, to confidently love themselves. God made no mistakes when He created us so, I want my work to speak to that.

    GRUNGECAKE: Who is your favorite modern-day photographer?

    LF: Definitely Jason M Peterson. He does black and white photography based out of Chicago. His ability to analyze a scene and before even taking the picture being able to see it in black and white is amazing. His images are very minimalistic, but still vividly tell a complex story.

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    GRUNGECAKE: Define the perfect picture. When have you known that you captured “that perfect picture” in the past?

    LF: My perfect picture is two-fold. On one side, it’s when I’m looking through the viewfinder and the composition, pose, lighting, and overall mood all blend together beautifully before I snap the shot. This is often followed by an “Aye, this is the money shot!”. On the other side, it’s when I let nature do its thing, and I just take shots from my hip without even looking. Although this has only happened once, I can honestly say I got, in my opinion, one of the rawest shots of my career. To some, it may look like a basic picture, but I know its [a] real story.

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    GRUNGECAKE: What galleries/museums would you want to display work at?

    LF: I’ll be honest I’m not a fan of galleries/museums, for the simple fact that I have a mild form of ADHD. I literally cannot stay in one place to actually take everything in. However, the one museum I could definitely see my work is in the National Museum of African American History. That would be an opportunity of a lifetime.

    GRUNGECAKE: If you could take a portrait of one celebrity, who would it be and how would you shoot it?

    LF: Lil Uzi Vert, no question about it. I would shoot him in the place where he can most naturally be himself, a concert. His outfit would have to be something iridescent because he has such an energetically reflective personality. I would capture mainly close-ups of him, so you can feel his rock star-like emotions as if you were there. Uzi is also very interactive with his fans, so I would also photograph him crowd diving and surfing.

    GRUNGECAKE: If you could give the younger photographer version of yourself some advice knowing what you know now, what would it be and what would you change about the way some things played out?

    LF: To know your worth! This is something that I still struggle with to this day if I’m being honest. There’s been so many gigs that I have gotten that either I was severely underpaid or left feeling like my photos were less than. I wish 14-year-old Lincoln had realized that art is supposed to be timeless and the only way to create something timeless is to not have what the world wants in mind because the world’s opinion never stops evolving. The great Nina Simone once said, “You’ll use up everything you got trying to give everybody what they want.”

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  • Toronto music legend Keysha Freshh launches ‘GRUNGECAKE PRESENTS’ playlist (Interview)

    It’s been a while since Keysha Freshh had one of these moments with me. If you aren’t familiar with the former Sorority member, the Hip-Hop group was named one of Exclaim’s ‘Canada’s Greatest Supergroups’. None of us could imagine the world would turn out the way it has. From the coronavirus outbreak to the global protests against police brutality, we are living in unprecedented times. We caught up to talk about how COVID-19 has affected her, self-care, new artists that should be on my radar, and more.

    Listen to her handpicked selections, totalling in four hours and eighteen minutes, below. It features many obscure artists I didn’t know about until I viewed her tracklisting.

    GRUNGECAKE: It’s been a while since we’ve connected in this way. How have you been?

    Keysha Freshh: Too long to be honest. All is well, I have zero complaints! I see you’ve been out here THRIVING!

    GRUNGECAKE laughs.

    GRUNGECAKE: One day this month (May), you reached out to me to ask if you could make a playlist for GRUNGECAKE. I don’t know why we never thought about it before, but it’s a genius idea. Do you make playlists often? Who are the top three new artists on your playlists? Why should they have our support?

    Keysha Freshh: I know! It just came to me! We live in a generation where the industry, as you know, is single driven. So now, we have the power to create the listening experience we want. I love the fact that I can curate my audio environment, and just let it play. And I wanted to share that with the GRUNGECAKE viewers. Top 3 for me, definitely Leila Dey, Lex Leosis and Kalisway, also (sorry, I know you said 3) Matt B. Those artists are all bringing something new and vibrant to music in my opinion. They each have a unique and confident sound.

    GRUNGECAKE: Are you dealing with any losses? Have you been blessed to create during the quarantine? Any healing or self-care in your daily activity to cope with what’s happening?

    Keysha Freshh: I’ve honestly been cleaning my space, cleansing my space and praying over my space. I personally have not had any close losses due to what’s going around, but I’ve had close relatives who are older, contract it, very scary. I’ve been writing and crafting music for other artists, actually. I’ve been spending more time being me on social media, creating funny videos and classic content. Less music-focused, more visuals focused, short clips on Instagram and the likes. Also, taking this time to network and connect with people who, under normal circumstances may be unreachable. I recently was on Sway Calloway’s IG Live.

    GRUNGECAKE: Do you have any post-quarantine plans? How do you think the world will look after this? Are you worried?

    Keysha Freshh: I plan to relocate after quarantine. Quarantine has given me the courage to go after things that otherwise seemed unattainable. I realize, that we do not control time… so the least we can do is utilize every second of it. The world will be very remote after this, it already is… but it will be at proportions we’ve never seen. I’m worried for the mental health of society after this, especially the essential workers. People who’ve lost their family members, they’ve had to kind of compartmentalize their grief because we are actively dealing with a pandemic, once it settles, this will hit people hard, I think about these things often.

    GRUNGECAKE: Are you binge-watching anything? Are you in isolation with family? Have you become closer?

    Keysha Freshh: I’ve recently binged watched a few things. ‘Money Heist’, ‘Outer Banks’ are my top two quarantine binges. I also really liked ‘Black AF’. I’m quarantining with my parents, brother and uncle.

    GRUNGECAKE: You told me about a new artist today. Tell the people who she is, and why you think people should know about her? Is she on your current playlist?

    Keysha Freshh: Her name is BILLBOARDBABY and let me tell you, she will be a household name very soon. I’m a huge fan, and I’m excited to see her blossom. She’s very confident, her wordplay, her flow, her bars, her style… everything about her is on point. She’s ready for the world. She currently doesn’t have any songs out streaming but she’s working on an EP. If you check her IG (@billboardbaby), you’ll see some videos and freestyles there. You’ll get the exclusive.

    GRUNGECAKE: How can we learn more about what you do? Where can we find you?

    Keysha Freshh: IG (@freekeysha). Twitter (@freekeysha) or just google “Keysha Freshh”.

  • Secure the BaG: Get to know Blimes and Gab, the newest musical duo to feature on HBO’s ‘Insecure’ (Interview)

    “That’s one thing about Blimes and I: Everything we do is just natural as hell. Nothing is forced. Nothing’s contrived. We don’t pay under the table for shit. Everything is just off the strength of us being cool as fuck.”

    If ever you needed one sentence to describe the Rap duo of Blimes and Gab (BaG), it’d be this one. On first glance, maybe you wouldn’t peg these two women to become the next Rap group to pop. The first time I had heard of them, I was taking a ‘Women In Hip-Hop’ course my junior year of undergrad—shoutout Oneka LaBennett!—and I thought one was featuring the other. It wasn’t until towards the end of the video that I realized they actually go together; this fashionably dressed hipster White girl with a beanie and cut off wide-leg pants and this Black girl with a cap and Seattle street swag were trading bars as a team, not at each other. And ever since then, Blimes & Gab have steadily risen. Each track they drop showcases the lyrical skill and sheer talent both women possess. Whether they’re giving listeners a “sixteen” or hitting harmonies, these two are ready to take the rest of 2020 by storm. We spoke about one of their songs being featured in Issa Rae’s fourth season of ‘Insecure’, Twitter beefs, writing their own TV show, and their upcoming album. Get to know Blimes & Gab through an interview with GRUNGECAKE CEO and Editor Richardine Bartee below.

    GRUNGECAKE: Your debut album ‘Talk About It’… I had the pleasure of listening to the tracks in advance and to kind of get the vibe of what you guys are going for. I also saw one of my favourite songs, ‘Hot Damn’, was on there and has like a remix to it. I remember the video release. It was one of my favourite videos that Blimes released, so I was excited to see that on there. So, I just wanted to get the inspiration behind the album and why you guys called it ‘Talk About It’?

    Gab: Well, this album is obviously Blimes and I’s first collaborative project, so it was definitely—this whole project and experience—has been a learning experience as well as just, you know, honing each others’ skills, learning about each other. The big takeaway from this album, I’d say is, I guess, camaraderie? Maybe that’s not the best word, but like… Really it’s just two dope ass people coming together and making dope ass art! Two ladies from two different walks of life. Like, when we first put out ‘Come Correct’, the song and the video are dope, but I personally think the reason why it blew up was because of imagery; seeing a Black girl and a White girl rapping together, it just made people talk. So, that’s why we named it that. We make people talk, whether it’s about how we look or how we rap, people are gonna talk.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9OjAmM-cQ4&h=315]

    Blimes: Yeah, I agree with Gab. Definitely, the catalyst for the album was ‘Come Correct’. It’s what made people go “I love seeing them together and I want more of it.” And all of the opportunities that we’ve seen because of ‘Come Correct’ have been a direct response to people seeing us together and wanting us to be together. Our agent started booking us together from that. We got a manager from that. The team was built around the two of us working as a unit instead of separately and it was very organic. And, like Gab said, seeing us together made people talk; whether it was about politics, lifestyle choices, whether it was about good weed, comparisons, old heads who were skeptical, but are gonna turn to believers when they hear this album, whether it was people commenting on “where female rap is right now”; whatever it is, we made people talk. And that’s what made us make this album, and that’s what gonna make this album successful—is that when Gab and I get together because we are Yin and Yang because we are different but able to come together in harmony and make something beautiful with those differences. It’s gonna make people talk. And we welcome those conversations because they’re important in pushing any culture forward, but especially this one. This album has got R&B songs, Funk and Soul-inspired songs, you’ve got Dance, you’ve got old school Hip-Hop shit—so with this album, we were like y’all wanted to talk about something well here, here’s something to talk about.

    GRUNGECAKE: So when you say old heads don’t understand it, where does that come from specifically? Because I thought that an older audience, or the people that consider themselves “mature Hip-Hop listeners” from the Golden Era, I thought that they’d appreciate you guys’ skill because you guys are actually rapping and there’s lyricism. Is that not the case?

    Blimes: So let me clarify, and thank you for asking for clarity on that because it didn’t come off the way I intended. So, the majority of people who’ve been championing us are fans of the old school who love the lyricism, and I’m really grateful for that. And I’m especially grateful for the young’uns who weren’t around for that era who are listening and still appreciate it. But what I meant was, the skeptics who believe that nothing good can come of this younger generation of artists. The skeptics who are stuck on “no one’s doing it like Wu, no one’s doing it like Lady of Rage, no one’s doing it like they used to.” I just meant that there’s kind of an answer (in this album) for everybody, the people who say “the younger generation isn’t doing shit, the younger generation isn’t really about it, isn’t really lyrical, has no good content”. We’re the answer to that.

    Gab: I think that our main fanbase [is] definitely either old heads or lovers of old-school Hip-Hop. But they’re also still the most, like, apprehensive, especially towards a new artist. And then we’re female (rappers), so I know for a lot of ‘em, they kinda already have a preconceived notion of what we’re gonna sound like and what we’re gonna talk about. So it’s one of those things where, once they get past their preconceived perceptions, then they fuckin’ love us and they’re our biggest champions. But it usually takes a little bit of pushing; and that’s why it helps to have those cosigns like Method Man, Slug, and Bahamadia, and people like that, so that at least they can be like “Oh! If they fuck with them, then obviously we should, too.”

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd8_JJPL2k0&h=315]

    GRUNGECAKE: Okay! I totally understand. Thank you for clearing that up for me, that’s wonderful. So—

    Blimes: I appreciate you asking because truly, a lot of folks will think they know what you meant and just go a different direction, so right on!

    GRUNGECAKE: Nah, we’re trying to do responsible reporting here.

    Blimes: Our whole fanbase was about to be like “Wow, really?! Fuck them! Alright, bet! Wait hold up, we been holding you down!”

    Gab: We love the old heads! I love old niggas, personally, so…

    Everyone laughs.

    GRUNGECAKE: So you guys have an awesome video for ‘Feelin It’. People that we’ve covered in the past, like the young lady formerly from THEESatisfaction, and a few other Seattle artists — I saw some of them were in there. Was their placement intentional? How did that come about? What was the creative concept behind the video? How difficult was it to pull off?

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbsOLkn2YdE&h=315]

    Gab: This video was shot by Andrew Imanaka, who did the ‘Come Correct’ video and he’s been shooting videos for me for years. He’s a fellow Seattleite. It was kind of a no-brainer for him to shoot it. He understands our aesthetic and what we’re looking for. As far as getting people for the video, I just wanted to get everybody there – and you know, obviously there were plenty of people that couldn’t make it, or whatever the case was – but for the most part, I think we got a great group of folks that represent Seattle and the culture. So you seen Cat in there. You also seen Antoine Vincent, who’s been my producer since the beginning. He’s like my right-hand man. You also see Jarv Dee. And it was like a party vibe, so as you can see in the video, it’s a party but it actually was hella lit. Like, niggas was in there drinking and smoking. We were cracking up, music was playing and stuff, so it was all very natural and organic the way it all came about.

    Blimes: Well, she covered that one! Haha!

    GRUNGECAKE: And so that song, it’s going to be featured on ‘Insecure’?

    Gab sings: That’s the plaaannn!

    Blimes: Gabby, and our management would tell you, when it comes to sync, nothing is final until the episode airs. So, I’m sure by the time this interview comes out, we’ll know… But as of right now, all systems are a go for this to air in the new season!

    GRUNGECAKE: Okay good! We’ll put those positive vibes out there and hopefully, that happens like it should!

    Blimes: I’ve been such a fan of this show since its inception as a short-form web series on YouTube, ‘The Awkward Black Girl’. Me and my roommate, Darby, who is also a Black woman filmmaker, we’d watch it obsessively and I could relate, cause she was rapping in her head all the time, and that’s how I would go through life, you know?! It was such a refreshing piece of content, to see like how real she was; and it’s a lot like this new wave of Hip-Hop, where people are being honest about their insecurities, like when Kendrick (Lamar) blew up and he was just so honest, and it was really, really new for mainstream music. And I felt that way about ‘Awkward Black Girl’, and to see it upstream and become ‘Insecure’ for HBO, I’ve been so thrilled for Issa and the whole team—and to have one of our songs featured on it? It’s the biggest deal for me. It’s probably one of the most important achievements of ours, in terms of what it means to me.

    GRUNGECAKE: Beautifully said! I can’t wait to watch the episode. And then in the same vein, you guys have a TV show coming! Talk to me about that. How did that come to be? Is it based on the relationship that you two have? What are some things you can share about the show?

    Gab: So, we had a show sometime last year, and our manager at the time invited Nelson George to come to the show. He (Nelson George) is an amazing screenwriter, author, and Hip-Hop culture historian. Like, he’s one of those people. You don’t know him, but you know him at the same time. Like, if you see his name, you’ll be like “Oh, I see this nigga in everything!” He’s one of those people. But anyway, he came to the show and I remember—I’m laughing because I be thinking “Damn, that’s crazy! That really was him!”—the venue, Gold—Diggers. It’s like a small, intimate venue. And I remember, I was performing and there’s some old guy sitting there just having the time of his life, and I remember thinking “Damn, this nigga close as fuck!” And then, come to find out, that was Nelson laughs. So we end up having a meeting with him shortly after the show, and we’re choppin’ it up and that’s where he told us who he was and how he used to write with Chris Rock and everything. And I’m such a comedy movie buff, so we immediately clicked, and I’m just like asking him questions and he’s disclosing all the shit. So, halfway through the meeting, he’s like “Your music? Tight. It’s cool and everything, but your personalities? I like your personalities. Y’all charismatic as fuck. We should think about a show.” And that was crazy for me. In this industry, you don’t really hear that. Somebody being like “Yeah, the music is aight, but I like y’all for y’all”, like, what?! I’ve never heard that before. So, that kind of started everything and we ended up linking with some folks over at, where was it again, Blimes?

    Blimes: It’s a very interconnected team. It’s Focused Noise, Adler Music Group, and Foundation Media. It’s a music booking agency, a film production company, and a couple other avenues, but they all work closely together.

    Gab: Yes! So, we ended up linking with them, and they’re the ones helping us write the show. It’s just been so crazy how it all came together like that. When I moved to LA to do music, it’s not like I never thought that something else would happen, or that I’d never dabble in other areas, but just the way it came about and how we’re really in the process. Like, it’s not “I’m thinking about writing a show”. No, niggas are really writing a show to be produced. It’s just crazy! Like, I have friends who want to pursue this. They went to school for that and moved to other countries to study or moved to LA to do film and show-writing and TV, and then there’s me. “Hey guys, I’m writing a show!” That’s just hella fucking crazy to me. But it’s really dope. Like, I said, that’s one thing about Blimes and I: everything we do is just natural as hell. Nothing is forced. Nothing’s contrived. We don’t pay under the table for shit. Everything is just off the strength of us being cool as fuck! And being good at what we do, and having good personalities. Talent is really just half the battle.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zrldum-_QY&h=315]

    GRUNGECAKE: That’s what I wanted to say when you mentioned having friends who’ve travelled and relocated, and studied things like this, but they always say it’s all about the opportunity and when it presents itself. Like, he (Nelson) didn’t know whether you went to school for it or not. He just knew you guys had something.

    Gab: Right, and we really could’ve just brushed it off and been like “That’s tight, but we’re focusing on the music.” But it’s like, what?! To have someone like Nelson George believe in us and actually want to work, and then, actually keep his word and everything? I can’t think of a better way for this to have panned out.

    Blimes: And just to touch on a little bit of the content, it’s funny that Gab mentions her friends who went to school for it. They’re probably like “Oh okay, I see you, out here just writing a show”; like, it’s kind of like when you start dating somebody and they’re like “I could be a rapper” and they just start rapping off the cuff. Like, they get comfortable and you’re like “No, no, you don’t know what I’ve done or what I’ve gone through to be here”, right?! So, I tread lightly with my friends who have studied this and who are very passionate about this, just because I know that it has come out of nowhere for us and it really is about right time, right place. As well as charisma and networking and all that. So, what we’re writing about? It’s who we are: this unlikely best friend duo, and in a bigger picture, it’s about what we go through as individuals and as a Rap group in the music game. On the more micro scale, it’s about everyday shit that everybody deals with. Relationships, money, housing, the gay thing, the not gay thing, online dating, how to be genuine in this day and age with social media. It’s gonna be a lot like a ‘Broad City’ meets ‘Atlanta’. It’s scripted comedy based on actual events in our life.

    GRUNGECAKE: I like that! And that’s going to do really well cause it’s current, it’s right now. That’s perfect!

    Blimes: Thank you! I can’t wait for folks like you to see it. Especially folks who have been following for so long, who are gonna know some of these stories as they’ve happened on the Internet.

    GRUNGECAKE: Word. Y’all tweets are wild!

    Gab laughs: You know, I just be thinkin’ shit!

    Blimes laughs: I think it’s pretty PG. Gabby’s the one that covers the wild end of the spectrum and I’m proud of her for it.

    Gab: And that’s still very much tame. Like, in this climate I can’t even really get it off how I get it off, but I say what I can.

    GRUNGECAKE: I think there were some tweets about how people hold microphones… It was hysterical.

    Gab: I’m just very much an observational motherfucker. It’s all I do, whether it’s in my lyrics or my comedy or the shit I like. It’s very much all observational. So usually, if I say some wild shit, it’s probably some shit that other people are thinking, but don’t wanna say. Like, we’re all seeing it, but who’s gonna talk about it?!

    Blimes: I want to hear this story. I must’ve missed this Twitter showdown.

    Gab: Well the meat of it is very much just the mismanaging or mishandling of the microphone. Like how some people just completely cup the microphone? It’s just a whole thing, from it just looking wild – like the main dispute from the people in the comments was that “well it looks cool” and I’m like well it doesn’t look as cool as you think it does because it’s wrong – to them just fucking up a very basic thing. How’s somebody gon’ hear you and you cupping the mic? It’s just science man. The sound cannot project if you’re covering the part that is designed for it to project your voice, like c’mon. Like I get it, maybe the way I say some shit comes off harsh or very matter-of-factly, but I get it like they all just watched rappers and people in TV do it but that doesn’t necessarily make it right!

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    Blimes: Wait, so there were really people arguing “but it looks good”?

    Gab: Yeah, the main arguments were that it looks cool or that they’ve been doing it their whole life and nobody said anything. And it’s like, again, that don’t make it right! And that don’t mean shit because you probably just been around motherfuckers who don’t know, just like you, your whole life, so how they gon’ tell you? I don’t know why people try to play the game of wits with me.

    Blimes laughs: Gabby can get interaction out of any conversation. She just knows how to ignite the people. And that is something that I have looked up to since we met and became a group.

    Gab: Thank you for spinning that into a positive light, Blimes!

    Blimes: It’s a gift, man. Blimes sings: Da da da da-da-da-da-da.

    GRUNGECAKE: Can you guys just talk a little about the Shelly’s video? It’s my favourite.

    Gab: “Shelly’s” is what we like to call our secret weapon. It’s very much different from everything that you’ve heard from us. At the same time, though, for the people that know Blimes and myself’s catalogue, I think it’ll be something that’s not necessarily expected, but still like an “I knew y’all could pull something like this off.” I’d compare it to almost like a roller rink type of anthem, get you up and dancing. The kids is gon’ love it, and your grandma’s gon’ love it. It’s one of those “for everybody” songs. I’m not doing any rapping. I’m singing the whole time, and Blimes is rapping as well as doing vocals. I’m very excited about this. It’s my favorite one to perform. And for the video, we used green screen. I’ve never used green screen before, so I was very excited about that. It’s dope. It’s a throwback 80s type video and it’s got like the old Kid Pix-type graphics.

    GRUNGECAKE: I love Kid Pix, man! Laughs

    Gab: You remember Kid Pix?! What a throwback! But yeah, it’s hella reminiscent. Kind of hard to explain it without just playing the song, but it’s very much a throwback feel but still for the modern-day.

    Blimes: I never expected that we’d have to hone our pantomiming skills, but it’s definitely something we had to do throughout this process of creating this video and… It’s gonna hit them over the head. It’s different from anything you’ve seen from us, different from anything you’ve heard from us, and Gab nailed it when she said this one’s for everybody. You can’t really show ‘Come Correct’ to your grandma, although I did – she didn’t quite understand it very much – but you could definitely show, depending on your grandma, the video for ‘Shelly’s’. Some grandmas are with the shits, and I respect them for that. The average grandma will slide into the 2-step for ‘Shelly’s’ real quick. And I’m excited for that.

    Gab: And the name of this song actually has a whole other story to it; the name “Shelly’s” came from an actual experience Blimes and I had in the studio.

    GRUNGECAKE: And what was that?

    Gab: So, we’re literally recording one day, and the studio we record at is directly next door to a club. So, we go outside to have a smoke break and we’re just chillin’ and talkin’. It’s Blimes, myself and our producer Lou. And we’re smokin’ and choppin’ it up and Lou tells us about how this club gets wild on the weekend. It’s all these “Shellies and shit” be around. And we’re like “What are Shellies?” And he’s like, “You know, like, drunk bitches! You know the bitches that always be yelling. I can hear them from the studio and they’re always just fuckin’ screamin’, just drunk White girls.”

    Blimes: Yes, it’s typically of the fair-skinned variety.

    Gab: Right, like just hella jalopy. So basically to test his theory, I yell out “Ayo Shelly!” Like, I just call out Shelly because he’s like “I guarantee there’s a bitch here named Shelly, and that’s who I’m talking about.” So I’m like, “Yo, Shelly!” and no bullshit, literally right after I yell that, this car that’s driving by, this girl’s like hanging out the window and she goes, “I’m Shelly and it’s my birthday!” And we’re like, “Yo, what the fuck?!” We laughed at that shit for so long. I don’t even know if we finished recording that night.

    Blimes: You can’t make this shit up. Couldn’t have spotted a better Shelly.

    Gab: We even throw that kind of skit into the video to give some context to the name of the song. But that shit happened, like 1000% happened the way we said it did.

    GRUNGECAKE: I’m excited to see that. I can’t wait! And so you ladies are friends with Chika right?

    Gab: Oh yeah! I mean we haven’t met in real life or anything, just kind of an Internet relationship but yeah, that’s the homie!

    Blimes: Yeah, we’re Internet cheerleaders of each others’ success.

    GRUNGECAKE: Yes! I like her album a lot, she’s really cool. I’m looking at a list of other female artists that you guys are friends with, and just kind of like looking at their names like Awkwafina, Kehlani, Qveen Herby. I feel like all of you have something outside of music that you also do. Even Chika, she seems more politically-driven and active in being an activist. So I’m really excited, as a fellow woman, to see other women out here. Because it’s been a trying two decades –

    Gab: I was gonna say, what a trying life?!

    GRUNGECAKE laughs: We’ve come a long way since Kid Pix! It’s beautiful. So, I just wanted to congratulate you guys on just existing and doing what’s normal and organic for you. You guys aren’t amongst the women who have to compromise or belittle themselves or get naked – if they don’t want to – and so I think it’s beautiful, a beautiful space to be in and to be able to support.

    Gab: Thank you. Thank you. We appreciate that. It’s definitely time for the men to like, you know, kinda relax. We’ve seen what y’all have done with it thus far, and I think y’all can just… Not, no more. Let’s try something different.

    Blimes: Can I double down on that? Because yes.

    Blimes and Gab have a contagious energy. The laughs and jokes were plentiful the whole interview. One of the most apparent things about them though is that these two are not messing around, and they didn’t team up just for fun. They’re not oblivious to what people’s initial perceptions of them may be, but they know they have the chops to destroy any appearance-based negativity. They’ve done their homework and can rap their asses off, constantly paying homage to the pioneers that paved the way while acknowledging that, as “new-school” artists, they’ve got something to say too—and it’s heat. Blimes and Gab haven’t missed since ‘Come Correct’ blew up in 2018. Later that year they dropped again, this time with the single ‘Nasty’. Gab opened the song with a skillful flip of the Ma$e classic ‘Feel So Good’. In 2019, they showcased their versatility with ‘Un Deux Trois’ and ‘Feelin It’, proving that they can give the old heads something to ride to with their top down and then turn around and give the kids a party anthem. The two also have a knack for making great music videos in an era where the art of the music video is a bit lost on artists, especially newer ones. There’s a reason why Blimes and Gab are in those credits we all look forward to as an ‘Insecure’ episode finishes; you know, where they show the artist and song name because Issa knows us viewers want the info on whatever song was playing when she and Molly were driving down Hollywood Blvd. Issa sees the vision. You should too. B.a.G knows what they’re doing, and they’re doing it well.

  • GRUNGECAKE to interview Oxlade on Instagram Live

    Next week, GRUNGECAKE will interview Oxlade about his new EP ‘Oxygen’, life in quarantine, and all of his accomplishments in such a short time, on Instagram. Join us at 11 o’clock Eastern/4 PM GMT+1.

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  • Multi-talented Canadian artist Emmett Lucius Pharaoh talks influences and inspiration for seductive single ‘Thousand Times’: Interview

    Emmett Lucius Pharaoh is a singer, songwriter, and producer whom recently released his first single ‘Thousand Times’. The simplistic yet rhythmic beat mixed with light chords, keys, and melodies result in a hypnotic, Lofi R&B sound dripping with sensuality. Emmett’s sultry lyrics describing a steamy encounter with a woman is only amplified by his strong yet smooth voice.

    When I googled Emmett, I noticed that there were no records for him or his music catalog. I decided to reach out to him to gain some information on the mysterious artist behind this erotic single.

    Where are you from?

    I’m originally from Edmonton [Canada], but relocated to Calgary [Canada] where I was raised. Calgary is a nice city, it’s one of the top three cities to live in the world; we’re really progressive here.

    When did you first begin to create music?

    I knew that creating was my interest at five years old. I started writing more seriously around the time I moved out at sixteen. When I was twenty-one, I began producing.

    What made you get into producing?

    I knew I wouldn’t be able to work with a producer and be on his timing if I truly wanted to express myself. I thought it was important to take my time and work within my own range, so I learned to do it myself.

    Did you produce ‘Thousand Times’?

    I did. Yes. I actually wrote the song about an encounter I had with a woman. I went to the studio to record it right after our time together. I’m mostly inspired by experiences and women.

    You stated that the song was influenced by a woman. Who or what are your musical influences?

    Pulling from childhood, I would say Brian McKnight, Lauryn Hill, and Luther Vandross. Modernly, Frank Ocean, and Drake. Drake was a big influence of mine in high school. To see another light skinned man, maneuver his way through the industry really helped me. Even Kate Bush; her sound is so creative an abundant.

    I noticed you have a wide range of musical influences. How would you describe your musical sound?

    For the most part, melodic, hypnotic, catchy and re-playable. There are a lot of different phases of my creations, so my musical sound is vast. ‘Thousand Times’ is just one aspect my work—the softer, sexy side of me. I also do a lot of rapping which will be released in the future. This project is to set up a duality to other aspects of my creative self.

    Do you have any upcoming projects that we should look out for?

    Yes, I do. I haven’t announced much but ‘Thousand Times’ and the singles to soon follow are off of my project ‘Songs from The Sun’, which is planned to be released in July. It’ll have twelve songs—all equally enjoyable.

    I look forward to hearing your new music and upcoming project. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to interview you.

    No, thank you. This is a new experience for me, and I am excited to see where this goes. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and this is the first song I’ve released, so I’m excited to see what direction it takes me.

    Emmett Lucius Pharaoh’s project, ‘Songs from the Sun’, is scheduled to release this July.

  • Straight out of Jacksonville: Who is Lil Westside? An interview with the rising Floridian star

    I’m not wearing nothing but white tees until I achieve my goals.

    Meet Lil Westside, the versatile rapper-singer out of Jacksonville, Florida with big things in store for 2020. Everything about Westside, from her charm and work ethic to her infectious personality and pure talent, point to a star in the making. With a musical style all her own, Westside is her own favorite rapper; and after you hear ‘Tyler’, her first single of 2020, she’s going to be yours too.

    We spoke about everything from the scandalous backstory of her moniker to her relationships with YK Osiris, Yungeen Ace and even T-Pain. Get to know Lil Westside below.

    GRUNGECAKE: You once said your fans (and haters) don’t know how much it took for you to drop. So, my first question for you is, when did you get started making music, and how did you get started?

    I been making music since I was five-years-old. It’s always been a thing. From elementary all the way til now, just freestyling. Taking it serious though, I was about 14-15-years-old, my next-door neighbor had a recording studio and he let me just come in and freestyle over Drake’s ‘I’m On One’. That was the first song I ever recreated. And Tyga’s ‘Well Done’, Meek Mill’s ‘Ima Boss’, songs like that, that whole era.

    Does your name come from your hometown, Jacksonville, Florida?
    Originally, I went by Westside Keke. It’s a Jacksonville thing: “westside this” and “westside that”, but my name now, Lil Westside, actually came from a girl I know; she used to call her girlfriend “lil westside” to be funny, cause she knew her girlfriend actually had a thing for me and was making fun of her for it.”

    Describe your relationship with some artists that were in the same position you’re in now, just a few months ago; namely YK Osiris?
    YK is my cousin’s cousin. We from the same area. We was window shopping before he signed his deal. We was with a big known drug dealer in Jacksonville watching him buy all this stuff, and YK said: “Just wait. We gonna be able to do that soon. We’re gonna make it.” Two weeks later, this man goes viral and is signed within a week. Being around YK motivates me in a lot of ways. It gives me that hope and helps me remain passionate about the fact that I will make it.

    In fact, just a few weeks ago in February, he asked me to open for him in Jacksonville. We couldn’t get it together because of schedule conflicts, but it’s stuff like that. I toured with him back in 2018, I opened one of his shows in Chicago; that’s my relationship with him. Other people I know, who were just in my position and have blown up recently, are like Tokyo Jetz. Yungeen Ace, even BoonkGang I met; I’m actually on his album that he dropped under the name John Gabbana. And some more established people that have co-signed me are Famous Dex, Sauce Walka, 1800 Jackboy, Ralo, I even spoke to Frank Ocean and he co-signed me.

    It’s so important that YK is also from the same city as you. We all know how important coast/city solidarity is in Hip-Hop.
    Forreal! And there are people here that only mess with you to a certain extent. Besides YK, there’s still no one here that’s done anything big for Jacksonville, and I’m going to be the one to change that.

    I only wanna make it so I can help, so I can give back. Of course, I wanna make it to be in a better position, take care of my family and myself, but I’m also just a very giving person and one of my priorities, when I’m on, will be my community back here.

    Speaking of artists like these, I noticed you are also very motivated by Famous Dex. What about Famous Dex inspires you?
    So Dex started, before ‘Drip From My Walk’, he was breakdancing in the background of the videos from this rapper Billionaire Black from Chicago. I watched that and I was like, “Who the hell is this nigga dancing to some Drill music?!” So, I been following him since then, just from someone else’s music video and just listening to his story about where we came from, how his mother passed away, everything it took for him to break through, and it just motivated me tremendously; Dex really gave me hope that I could make it. You know Chicago’s the deadliest city, so watching this man blow up from the hood, I really feel like we’re the same people. We got the same energy, he just don’t know it yet. Dex real deal inspired me to keep going.

    What and who, besides Dex, inspires you?
    Oh, uhh, I would have to say New York! New York inspires me, in general. New York and Louisiana, and my uncle Trey. He used to listen to Master P and Hot Boyz. I used to watch MTV Cribs with him, and I saw Big Tigga in the basement and all that. I’m the only girl in the family, and all I used to be around was my uncle. He used to have me freestyling around his homeboys for money around five or six years old. He didn’t even do music. It was just what he was always around and that inspired me.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=760cyy5kYA4&h=315]

    I’ve noticed a Drill/Rage element to your music in addition to traditional rapping and lyricism. Florida’s not very known for that kind of music, so what inspired that for you or where does that element come from?
    Honestly, it comes from me. It comes from my energy. I don’t drink and I don’t smoke, so I handle my anger very differently; people who know me will tell you I have ADHD. I don’t sleep. I have so much energy. I don’t get tired. Literally, when I used to play basketball, they called me Jumping Bean. All this energy I have, especially if it happens to be anger, I channel it through my music.

    What’s funny is at one point, I actually had to make a decision between rapping and playing ball, but God made that decision for me when I started getting bad grades. But when it comes to ball, I was the shit and still am!

    With a start like ‘Tyler’, what do you have in store for the rest of 2020? And is there anything not set in stone yet, but that you really want to do?
    I like to plan. But with ‘Tyler’, I didn’t even want to go with ‘Tyler’ actually, but Yams (Richardine) said we’re gonna do that as the first single for the year. If you look at my story on Instagram right now actually, the last story, the song playing is ‘G-Thang’. I was originally going to drop that first, but we went with ‘Tyler’. So I have something for the ladies coming, but it’s hard for me, because of how I identify, to figure out what will go for the women and what won’t.

    That actually segues perfectly into my next question. As you get bigger and bigger, how do you plan to navigate being an LGBTQ+ rapper?
    Great question, yeah. So, like take Young MA with ‘Ooouuu’, when she said: “Damn she make me weak when she deep throat!” It’s like marketing genius, cause whether people “agree” with it or not, whether they support who she is or not, when they first heard that they said “did you hear what she said? Wait, wait, run that back.” Which equaled more streams. And I’m glad she just said it straight up, put it out there from the jump, and said “take it or leave it.”

    Now for me, I’m trying to make it to where the gender of the artist doesn’t matter when you’re listening to me; it’s just fire. It’s just good music. Especially because I know it’s still hard for some people to hear me, a woman, speak about what I do with other women. But if they relate and like the music before they slap a gender on me, then at the very least, they’ll know I make good music and be less likely to judge me solely on the fact that I’m LGBTQ.

    That’s incredible. Having them recognize the talent and skill in the music before anything else is a good tactic. Speaking of that, what’s your favorite song that you’ve made?
    ‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop’, for sure. What’s crazy is, I did not like that song at first. But the reason that I love that song now is because at that point in time, everything in my life was going horribly. I freestyled this and went in the studio and recorded it, and then, a month later my whole life changed behind that song. I met Yams (Richardine) behind that song. Complex wrote about me because of it. That’s how I met Frank Ocean, that’s how I spoke to T-Pain and his manager. It was on the radio. I spoke with Alamo Records, Atlantic, and Sony behind that song!

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7p5mxQrZhc&h=315]

    I had asked my closest friends which song I should shoot a video for, and my best friend immediately said ‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop’. I asked two more people and they said the same thing. No hesitation. So, I did. And nowadays, if more than 3 people say the same thing about something, I’ll go with it. Because it’s so hard as an artist to know what will go and what won’t. So, sometimes you’ve just gotta listen to others, if there are enough people saying the same thing. I really hated that song at first, as the creator of it, and look what it did!

    That’s so real. The company you keep is vital! Are you looking to get signed or stay independent?
    My ideal scenario is to let the world hear me, whether I sign, whether I don’t sign. The goal is to touch as many people as possible. I would love to get signed, but whatever happens, happens. I do need help with marketing and stuff, so I’d like to have a team for that, which getting signed can help with. But I just want to be a rapper, be an artist. I want to be able to invest and open up a record label, but my main goal right now is to be heard and to be able to give back – and of course, being signed would help with that but again, whatever happens, happens.

    How do you decide who you want to feature on your music, or whose music you agree to be featured on?
    They have to have the same vibe as me. I don’t care if you can rap your ass off if you not humble. If you don’t have a plan, or a real reason for having me on the song, I’m not doing that. I take my craft very seriously, and something that has my name on it is permanent. Also, a plus if the person asking me to feature has taken the time to learn the industry, like copywriting and rights, etc.

    Some people just want to use your name and put it on their music for the clout, so when it comes to this kind of decision, I feel energy too. I’m very alert; I think that’s why I don’t smoke, cause I don’t want anything to impair me in this stage that I’m in right now. You know what, candy is my drug if anything.

    I saw a great snippet of a song and music video you seem to have been working on, called ‘Hoochie Mama’. It was hilarious and the song was great, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. Will that be another song for the ladies?
    Nah, ‘Hoochie Mama’ isn’t out yet because I am not getting sued – I can’t clear that sample.

    First off, I direct all my own music videos, so thank you so much for that, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

    Here’s the thing that ‘Hoochie Mama’ taught me though. Ever since I posted that and people heard it, bigger names than me have bit off it, recreated it, or reached out to me to tell me they love the concept, the song, everything. But nothing comes of it. And I realized that’s what’s so frustrating to me sometimes about labels and the music industry; I’m an up-and-coming artist whose work you really like, but instead of picking me up and working with me, they give it to someone already established or already signed. So, I’m still gonna do what I gotta do, but I can’t lie like what happened with ‘Hoochie Mama’, for everyone but me, didn’t bother me. But it just puts another fire under me to keep going and make sure the next thing isn’t given to someone else, it’s mine.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx2x2SkJJpU&h=315]

    Man, I feel that. I was hoping you were going to say it’d be dropping soon or something because I really loved that snippet and it made me wonder if there’s anything outside of music that you want to venture into – there was acting and comedy in it as well.
    That’s the thing. I can do anything, and I wanna do everything. I can act. I’m really good at teaching and speaking – I wanna be in all those arenas, not just music.

    What about fashion?
    Facts! I have a clothing line, ready to be launched actually. I just need to get a few more logos, but I definitely wanna do something with fashion as well.

    Back in the day, I actually wanted to be a model for Ralph Lauren, man! Before I cleaned my Facebook up, I was all over that thing in Polo, Rugbies, Ralph, everything. I even got a letter about being some sort of representative/model for them, but I was young and didn’t know what the hell was going on so I ignored it.

    Describe your fashion.
    I’m… weird. One minute I like to look casual, then spiffy, and then, one minute I like the football jersey look. Next minute, I’m on some rockstar shit, skinny jeans – but at the end of the day, the one consistent thing is that the kicks always gotta be on point. I can wear anything, as long as my kicks on point. But yeah, I told myself at the beginning of this year, I’m only wearing white tees until I accomplish my goals.

    Who are your dream collaborations?
    My top three right now would have to be: Rico Nasty, Stunna4Vegas, and I’d say the last one is Young Dolph.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=704s4FsYiYI&h=315]
    I can see your energy mixing well with all of theirs. What about your favorite artists? Are they different from your dream collaborations?
    Favorite artists… Rico Nasty, K Camp, and (A$AP) Rocky actually used to be my favorite rapper too. But right now, most of all, my favorite artist? Mainly myself! I don’t have many current favorite artists because I listen to a lot of older music, like I was just listening to the SOS Band – sings “No one’s gonna love you, the way I dooo.”

    That’s one of the best answers I’ve gotten to that question. What about your favorite albums of 2019?

    Yungeen Ace’s ‘Step Harder’, Fabolous’ ‘Summertime Shootout 3’, and Tory Lanez’s ‘Chixtape 5’. ‘Chixtape 5’ is probably my number one—flipping all those songs and then getting the original people on those songs?! Incredible.

    That’s great that you mentioned that because I want to ask you about your songmaking process. What comes first, the beat or the lyrics, the melody?
    Oh the beat comes first definitely, melody comes second, lyrics come last. I can’t just rap man, where’s the melody?! Unless I’m freestyling. But if I’m writing and making a song? That’s my process. It’s easy to remember your own lyrics without writing them down, especially when you got a melody. It’s all based off of the beat for me.

    Describe yourself and your music in one sentence:
    One sentence! Man, okay. So, I’m a lyricist – Wait, I got it. Weird combination, but listen: If Famous Dex and Da Brat had a child, it’d be me. I would be the seed. That’s the sentence. Because Da Brat was lyrical and had that swag and energy, and then, Dex is just an inspiration in grinding for me.

    Amazing. And how would you describe yourself?
    Helping people is my main goal, in all of this. I want to give back, help other artists, educate people, and help.

    From ‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop’ to ‘Tyler’, it’s clear Lil Westside is only heating up. She’s as funny as she is impressive and is hellbent on experimenting, taking time with her music and remaining positive. The dedication to her craft was apparent throughout our entire conversation. Her passion shone through as she spoke about other artists getting opportunities for their music to be heard, her connection to Jacksonville, giving back and being able to separate the real from the fake. Westside won’t disappoint any audience; she has the skill and the bars to sway any old head, the melodies and catchiness for the newer generation, the versatility to be a rapper and create songs for the ladies, and a personality for everyone. Plus, she just got a fresh line up and another crisp white tee, so she’s in attack mode for the rest of this year – get on her before you’re late to the party. Check her out on Apple Music, Spotify, TIDAL, YouTube, SoundCloud, and even DatPiff. She won’t disappoint.

    Lil Westside is also very active on social media. Get to know her even further by staying updated via her Twitter and Instagram.

  • NEW|NOW Interview: DioMara

    [media-credit name=”Courtesy of the artist/Mike Magnum” width=650 align=”center”][/media-credit]

    Alternative R&B singer-songwriter DioMara stopped by the YouTube Space in New York City to talk about her album ‘Alchemy’, what inspired her single ‘I Just Want U’, and performed it a capella on ‘NEW|NOW’. We decided to launch our podcast with the DioMara episode because, for us, she represents resilience, independent drive, business, and more. Watch the interview below to see what we mean.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie5mV0rFSmc&h=315]