Guess Who's Next - Young Scolla

It's no secret that I support the locals, just take one minute to look around this blog and you'll see how much love I have for my favorite known unknowns. I generally don't post about events but this one is different.
The homie Young Scolla is doing an instore at Freshman Clothing this Saturday, it'll be hosted by CiCi Ross, he'll be showing the music video for "Decisions" and copies of his EP "Escaping Reality" will be available for sale.
This is what I love about this instore: Young Scolla? Detroit artist. Freshman Clothing? Detroit business. Everything about this screams Detroit and I'm happy to see it happen.
I guess you would consider this Young Scolla's Detroit send off as he is preparing to head down to Texas next week to perform at this year's SXSW (South by Southwest) festival.
He'll be performing at Urb Magazine's Official Next 100 stage next Thursday along with some other favorites including BJ the Chicago Kid, Dom Kennedy, 88-Keys, Izza Kizza and XXL Freshman Donnis (BTW the last three will be performing at the Crofoot in Pontiac tonight for the Crowd Control Tour with Kidz in the Hall).
This instore is more than supporting a musician and a clothing company, it's about supporting Detroit. I know this is probably a very cliché phrase right now, but everyone involved is making moves not only for themselves but the 313 as well.
So if you have a second on Saturday, swing through, say "what up doe" and Support Detroit.

Battle Royale: Over - Drake

In all my blogging history ...

That's cheesy, but I don't think I've ever seen anything like what's going on right now. What am I talking about? Drake released his first official non-So Far Gone, non-Young Money, single "Over" on March 4th ... as in roughly three days ago. Within 24 hours of its release freestyles began to pop up. One by one, rappers took to the beat in hopes of committing lyrical homicide on the Boi-1da produced track. Granted a few rappers have gone in on the "Lemonade" beat (which I still haven't heard the "original" and at this point I don't know if I want to), but no one cared to do it within three days of the song releasing.
 

It's fair to say Boi-1da is definitely getting more recognition for this beat than Drake is getting for his wordplay on it. Now I'm trying something new here, I'm sure this is not going to happen often (or will it) but with all the freestyles coming out I decided to put them on one post as a Battle. What this means, everyone took on the beat, but they may not all be your favorite, so on my Matrix (red or blue pill) which do you choose?


Diggy Simmons: The Young Run has been making quite a buzz for himself after the release of his mixtape "First Flight" back in December and was among the first to tackle this one.


Noah Jones: This New York bred Californian dropped his album 'The Incinerator' last fall and has done tracks with Crooked I and Nipsey Hu$$le.



Young Slapz: From Detroit and one half of the Skigh High Ent. duo, NGC. He has opened for the likes of Wiz Khalifa and next week will be opening for Travis Porter.


P.L.: This Ann Arborian (yes I make up words this way, but who knows it may be real?) has been dropping freestyles faster than Interscope Records dropped Charles Hamilton, it's only natural he did this one.



Young Scolla: His EP, 'Escaping Reality' just dropped not too long ago and he's currently in the studio working on his next project 'Renaissance Dreams.'


Ro Spit: This MC is a lot more than half of Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique his hybrid 'The Oh S#!t Project' has a lot of people saying: Oh S#!t, Ro can really Spit (totally stole this from someone on Twitter don't remember who but remember seeing it, don't sue me :-) ). He'll be performing at this year's SXSW (along with the other half of Detroit).


Royce Da 5'9: When I got wind of this one, I can honestly say I was surprised. If you don't know who Royce Da 5'9 is you should probably not be on this blog. Bar Exam 3 is releasing sometime soon and I'm prepared.


Now for the real question, who do you think killed it?

Yay or Nay: U.S.R.

Basic Alex Lead: U.S.R. the clique.

I've been almost slacking on the posting (forgive me), but I decided to just combine these songs into one collective post. You've seen me post on U.S.R. a few times before and I don't know what these fellas are doing but am I the only one that seemed to notice that when one drops they all drop and it's not stopping. Sunday, Young Scolla released his 'Escaping Reality EP' the prelude (and teaser) to hold fans over until 'Renaissance Dreams' realeases. Last week, the camp released their first episode of USRTV, K-Bunz will be releasing 'One Way In, No Way Out' soon in anticipation for his mixtape '5 Miles to City Limits,' and most recently Co-CEO E. Keas debuted the launch of OurStyleKicks.com, an online sneaker marketplace. It's definitely a ripple effect with them and I can barely keep up. Today's Yay or Nay: U.S.R., a joint from Willy J Peso, a joint by J-Neely feat. K-Bunz and Willy J of U.S.R. and Jay Cro's promo video "Young'n Intro"

College Girl - Willy J Peso



Pour it up, Light It Up - J-Neely feat. K-Bunz and Willy J Peso


Click HERE to download.

"Youngn's Intro"

The Future - Young Scolla

Valentine's Day is the day for love (common knowledge) and if you know me, music is my love. I'm not a creator of it, but yeah it's something like important to me. Today (and yesterday) a few things released that made my day.

To kick things off, DJ K-Fresh — who runs Renaissance Soul one of the first Detroit-ized (my blog, my made up word) sites I ever read — released the: 'Hell No We Won't Go: 'Nam Mix' yesterday evening. It's not a hip-hop mix, it's not a soul mix, it's a vinyl mix with hit songs from the 60's and 70's and features songs like: "If You Want Me to Stay" by Sly and the Family Stone and "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream. Speaking as Alex, listening to music on vinyl is the BEST way to listen to music, it has a certain sound that just ... it's indescribable. Definitely something different than what your used to, but I know every music fan (no hip-hop heads or pop tarts) music fans will appreciate this.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD 'Hell No We Won't Go: 'Nam Mix'


Basic Alex Statement: I hate Ohio, but I like Fly.Union. I did mess up for a minute with the whole not having Value Pack 3 but the fellas released Value Pack 4 today which features the like of Dom Kennedy (who was recently at Michigan State Univ. performing with BJ the Chicago Kid). I guarantee the next XXL Freshman class will feature Fly.Union (and I don't say that kind of stuff often).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD 'VALUE PACK 4'



We always scream Support Detroit and now here's your opportunity. The homie Young Scolla released his EP 'Escaping Reality' tonight for Valentine's Day. It went on sale tonight and is basically a name your price deal. It features songs produced by Tecknowledgy, Syrenn and Charlie Hilton (who produced 'The Future" feat. Bryant Stewart) and has a guest spot by K-Bunz, who is releasing his mixtape sometime soon. It's a pretty dope project that is a nice little something to hold people over until the anticipated Renaissance Dreams releases later this year (Days? Months? Weeks? who knows).



CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ESCAPING REALITY EP

The Moment - Young Scolla

USR the clique.

I think I start every post about them with that phrase, it's so lame (but whatever). The talented gents have started doing webisodes of their lives during different events, trips and whatever other mayhem may ensue. They released the pilot episode tonight entitled: 'The ATLiens,' which documents Young Scolla, K-Bunz, Keas, Jay-Cro and Fab 5 Ent. as they travel to the Detroit of the South for a show with the Cool Kids. Check it out.

Yay or Nay: I'm That N***a - K-Bunz

USR the clique. Every time I see or hear from USR, I always think of USDA (I'm random like that). Anyway, K-Bunz is releasing his mixtape '5 Miles to the City Limits' soon and tonight he leaked a track produced by Young Scolla from the upcoming project. Maybe you remember hearing K-Bunz on the track "Infatuation" with Scolla, maybe you've seen him before or maybe you know him from Twitter...all of that is null and void with this anthem of sorts "I'm That N***a." That being said: (ahem) Yay or Nay: I'm That N***a by K-Bunz produced by Young Scolla.

So Far to Go - Young Scolla

Young Scolla went on a final Twitter rant for 2009 and it was addressed to independent artists. Throughout the years, and definitely in 2009, we have seen many artists that have great potential with a bad business sense, stay shelved while others who are more gimmicky with a better team conquer the charts and collect awards. It may seem like a rant, but I think it reads more like a plea from one artist to another.

"Artists need to learn to change the dynamics. These guys forget that the power is in their hands and the ball in their court.

There is no label without the artists and there is no industry without artists, which means you have what the label heads want and need to keep a lucrative business. If you're really a dope artist and you take the time to determine that you have that power, then your success is as far as you would like to take it.

...

People admire what they or others can't do, if you're a simple muhf*cker and you put little effort into your craft then anyone can do what you do.

I'm sorry but a lot of you "musicians" put little effort into your craft...and yes that means more than just songs.

Your image has to be right, stage presence & performance has to be on point and your media etiquette has to be polished (that regards interviews, being in the public eye).

A lot of the up and coming don't realize that they can end up getting signed and sit on a label shelf.

Finding themselves in the position where they're doing the same things they could've done as an indie, except now you're contractually obligated so the label gets a cut of the money you're already "not really making" lol.

Your Brand = your image. It's your way of doing things, your style, your "swagger (lol), your message, your notoriety.

Simple and Plain, when someone sees a certain style of dress, do they associate it to you? or when you have a conversation with your friends about whether Jay-Z would do a song with Soulja Boy or not and someone says "no", that's because Jay has built a brand of excellence (not to knock Soulja Boy). You understand that Jay only presents himself as being someone of high-quality in all aspects of his life.

All of that attributes to your brand. How do you want people (the consumer) to perceive you?As an indie artist, impression is everything...you have to pay attention to detail and you have to realize that you can't cut corners on everything. You have to be willing to invest in yourself or at the very least link up with someone who can do so. Quality attributes to your brand....What are u going think of an artist who hands you a CD with their info written in permanent marker as opposed to an artist who hands you a packaged CD or at the very least one with a printed label?

You're going to take the presentable package more seriously or even more so think that they have money behind them or are important and you pay more attention.

Ya'll gotta realize that as indies, we're not competing against people in our neighborhoods or our cities or even states. EVERYBODY IS A MUSICIAN NOW A DAYS and to make it, you have to consider yourself to be up against the top in your field.

If the person at the #1 spot is doing it, you have to be doing it better.. (I mean business wise not necessarily their style/genre of music)

#1 Rule of advice...STUDY YOUR CRAFT! That's what's gonna separate real artists from the muhf*ckers who just "do" music just to do so. Your awareness of your craft is a big part of what determines whether or not u get into the game and how long your career lasts as well as how well of a position you're in when you enter the game (contractually).

If you don't do your research then you better make sure you have a GREAT team around you and that you trust the hell outta them otherwise you will get pimped..."

Let the Beat Build - Lil' Wayne

Royalty Ent. and the peeps over at ScollasWord.com have teamed up to present to you The "Hell of a Night" Remix Contest. If you're not familiar with either, JFin dropped his mixtape 'InFINity & Beyond' last month (and also did a video interview with Tha 'A' Side check that http://thaaside.blogspot.com/2009/07/like-it-or-not-jfin.html) and Scolla's Word is the homie Young Scolla's blog (with the help of Binks).

The goal is to remix JFin's song "Hell of a Night" there's an open verse on the version Scolla posted and which leaves you aspiring rappers and such an opportunity to display your skills. Here's the official lowdown from Scolla's Word:

Participants have until 8.23.09 to submit to scollasword@gmail.com their remix versions to "Hell Of A Night".
The top 4 remixes will be chosen and JFin will choose the final two verses to make the official remix live on ustream. The Final remix will be placed on the 1st Official "ScollasWord Mixtape" as well as blasted to the ScollasWord Web List (Over 100 major blogs)


*Participants will judged based on production/recording quality, creativity, delivery and track presense.

Interested? Well download the contest mix for "Hell of a Night" here and get started.

Yay or Nay: Will Grinden

Young Scolla turned me on to this guy and I wanted to know what you all thought (don't I always?). His voice to me sounded like Gucci and Jeezy (maybe it's his kind of raspy voice?). Don't know much about him except that he's from Detroit, U.S.R, and currently working on something. (I guess I know enough). I'm posting two tracks by him, one track features Young Scolla (who also wrote and sings the hook). YAY or NAY: Will Grinden.

"Swagger Right" feat Young Scolla.


"The Business"


*Edit (11:57p) So Will Grinden hit me up and informed me that he sang and wrote his own hook. Well, him and Scolla both did ...so I was half-right. lo siento ;)

Thank God I'm Famous - Lil' Wayne

You saw my post about the weekend-long event, 3 Days B4 Fame, that was hosted/sponsored by Get Fresh Society, USR, Karmaloop, WJLB, and among others. Well I got this in my e-mail today from the homie Young Scolla, and it's a video that Binks – of Top Joint Studios and the other writer on Scolla's Word – put together of Day 1, Fashionbly Late. Check it Out.

3 Days B4 Fame (Day 1) from Young Scolla on Vimeo.

This is a Movement - Young Scolla

This past weekend one of the biggest events to hit Detroit this summer took place, 3 Days B4 Fame, and I was lucky enough to attend Days 1 and 2. It was thrown by U.S.R. but was sponsored by and featured a gazillion (ok maybe that's an over-exaggeration) people. I had fun, LOTS of fun, then again I have fun everywhere I go. I guess the best way to jump into this would be to talk about Day 1.
Day 1 was 'Fashionably Late' and took place at the Crofoot in Pontiac; it was a fashion show and a concert and of course a fiesta! (lol). Well, I got there a lil' on the late side and missed a few performances including Big Shan's, but I walked in on Yung GooD performing "Transformers" (he did 'GooD' BTW). I spent the first few minutes really saying hey to people and scoping the place out to see who was there. Crowd was pretty much what I expected.I walked in the same time as Big Sean and the rest of Finally Famous arrived, naturally U.S.R., Young Slapz, your favorite blogger Cliff Skighwalker and Ro from Burn Rubber were there as well.
Now on to the actual concert/fashion show. Like I said Yung GooD performed, as well as, Dusty McFly, Earlly Mac, Big Sean, the man of the weekend Young Scolla, and JFin. There were others but those are all the performances I caught. Some of the lines featured were Fanciee Clothing, Get Fresh Society, Brother's Four, and Freshman Clothing. My problem: The stage was too congested. The way it went you had the performers doing their thing while the models were strutting around them, showing off whatever line it was (think BET's Spring Bling or Rock the Runway). However, since there were more people onstage than just the models and performers (basically the entourages) that distracted me and a few others I talked to. You couldn't see one or the other (model/performer) and the stage really wasnt large enough to have all those people on it to begin with.
For the actual performers? No complaints, I liked them and the songs they performed (though my opinion may be somewhat biased because I actually listen to some of these artists anyway). In between the running around Scolla actually made time to perform and performed "Infatuation" (which I love) and Big Sean performed "Hollywood" w. Earlly Mac and "Iraq" w. Dusty McFly. The closing performance of the night was JFin. The everything (can't really just call it a concert, or fashion show, or party) doubled as the mixtape release party for JFin's InFINity and Beyond mixtape; though I was late I managed to get a hard copy of the mixtape too (YAY!).
Day 2 was a pool party at Chandler Park Aquatic Center. It was hosted by Ray J., WJLB was there, reps from Monster Energy drinks were there (and giving out Monsters! ) and most of the people you saw at Day 1 were at Day 2. Though I did have fun here, there were a few complaints made by some others I spoke with. The biggest one being the timing; according to the flyer the party was to be from 2 p.m.- 7 p.m. However Ray J. didn't show up until after 6, which means nothing was really happening because the host wasn't there.

It's a saturday, it's nice out, and it's a water park so naturally there were lots of kids there. When Ray J. showed his 5'4" frame they came like the antelope stampede in The Lion King straight out the pool and over the picnic tables to Ray J. I found it funny how I was nowhere near the water but ended up wet one side. But the kdis weren't the bad ones, I spotted a lady let go of her son (he had to be about 1 because he had on a little swimmers diaper thing lol) and run up to Ray J. leaving the baby standing there almost getting ran over.
I left before the step show so I didn't get to see the MSU Iota Phi Theta's step, but I saw them stroll and such earlier and I also caught a couple of other step teams practicing; they were all cool.
Now I didn't go to Day 3,but I caught some of the livestreaming from the Loft, Dante Marshall's Loft that is. I really wasn't surprised when they announced the "secret location" of the private party, like not at all surprised. Not going to comment on it because I wasn't there, but ONE thing I did hear happened (via the livestream and attendees) and had to mention was the problemo around Big Sean's arrival. Apparently some unknowing soul at the door tried to charge Big Sean to get in and he wasn't taking that well at all. On one hand the situation is ironic because of the message he delivers in his song "Hollywood" but on the other if I were him I'd probably be upset too (Ok, I'd be heated).

Overall thoughts: Depending on how you are as person, 3 Days B4 Fame could've been fun or a bust. I personally enjoyed myself and I like the idea of the whole event. From what I understand there will be another event next year (and I'm sure it'll be bigger and better than this year's). If you missed this year, don't fret, everyone gets their 15 mins. in the spotlight, 2010 is YOUR year! ( ;-) lol)

Rockin' With The Best - Jadakiss

So possibly the biggest even to hit Detroit this summer takes place July 10 - 12, that's next week. 3 Days Before Fame sponsored by WJLB and Karmaloop is probably going to be the highlight event this year. The weekend is full of different activities like the fashion show and concert on Day 1, The Pool Party on Day 2, and a private party on Day 3. There's no guarantee that by Day 4 you'll be famous, but you can try to get your 15 mins. of shine. Check the flyers below for more information. (Click the flyer to enlarge it)

Yay or Nay: If I Was With You - Young Scolla

Young Scolla's The TPT Experience promo mixtape was scheduled to be released yesterday but due to some unforeseen circumstances( at least that's what I'm assuming) it didn't happen. But to be fair to his fans and those interested he leaked a track off the mixtape yesterday to hold them over until it actually drops. So, YAY or NAY: "If I Was With You" - Young Scolla


TO DOWNLOAD THIS TRACK, OR ANY YAY OR NAY TRACK, CLICK THE DIVSHARE LOGO AND YOU WILL BE REDIRECTED TO THE DOWNLOAD PAGE.

Don't You Know - Young Scolla

I've been on this Detroit hip-hop/rap kick lately, especially with everyone releasing mixtapes this summer. So there's this guy by the name of Young Scolla, who I discovered through Twitter. Actually I had heard of him before because of the group he's affiliated with, USR. Anyway, he's releasing SEVERAL things in the upcoming months and is working on putting together a BIG three day event in the city of Detroit. His promo tape The TPT Experience drops next Friday and I figured now was the perfect time for you to get to know Scolla and what he's all about.


Name: Young Scolla
Role: Rapper

Alex Washington (AW): What makes you different from other Detroit rappers?

Young Scolla (YS): I'm different because I'm me. I know that sounds funny but what I mean by that, is that I don't try to convey anything else other than my own personal story and that of the environments I've been in. My life story is completely different than any others, so I feel like the fact that I speak on that separates me from others; not to mention I sing/rap/produce.

AW: What is The TPT Experience?

YS: The TPT Experience is just that, an experience. It began as a way to promote the album (The Perfection Theory) which will be coming soon. I planned on doing a track a week, which I did for a few weeks, before deciding that I'd compile the songs I recorded as a promo mixtape. I began creating more original music and that brings us to what it is today, The TPT Experience.
My hope is bring people geniune music, that they can identify with and generate more interest in my music. This mixtape is not even a shadow of what I'm working on with "Prelude To Perfection" [mixtape] and "The Perfection Theory" [album].

AW: Dream collaboration, who and why?

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