Boy-Cott Magazine #18

Boy-Cott Staff
Nutritional Facts
Serving Size 18,724 words (240mL)
Servings Per Container 15
Publisher
Jason Vaughn a.k.a. Black Mamba
Page #
Are you an Anomali?
Improv in Toronto
Shanel Cooper-Sykes
(The Revolutionary Woman)
Got Grits?
Choppin’ it up with DJ Sav One
2009 with The Legendary K-Otix
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8
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Boy-Cott Magazine #18
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Art Director:
Jennifer Sibbert-Flores
[email protected]
Thanks: To everyone who has showed us love on this
rocky journey to spread our message to the world.
Because of you, Boy-Cott Magazine is now an
international publicaton! Thank You All So Much!!
www.BoyCottMag.com
Chief Editor
Kwest Ambani a.k.a. Kwestro
illi Styles - Willi Styles! This man
B.C. - So Earl, you now go by the alias
Willi Stiles. Is that from the famous gang
member out of Oregon?
Anomali - No, my real first name is Willi and
about 10yrs ago my boy from NY used to
roll up and be like ‘Willi styles, Willi styles!(Like that song from the ‘Lords of the Underground’- ‘Many Styles’) So I used it but I was
using ‘MAD 1’ primarily at the time. Now that
a lot of major changes have occurred in my
life recently, I felt the unction to put on a new
man.
here has been creating logos for
a hot minute! He even created the
first Boy-Cott Logo that everyone
knows and loves. So, I most definitely have to give respect where respect is due. Willi Styles was under
the radar for a while, but now he’s
back in the game stronger than ever
with this clothing brand - Anomali! Let’s see what he’s been up to.
B.C. - For quite some
time you were under the
radar. Then out of nowhere you started a solid and legit clothing line.
What made you want to
get back in the game?
Anomali - Reassessing my
priorities, my son and a
relationship with God. Besides, I want to show my
son the world (literally) and
that aint’ free. Ha-Ha.
B.C. - The name of your
company is Anomali, but
the correct spelling is
Anomaly. What’s the reason behind that?
Anomali - The regular spelling is common, this way
looks more poetic and plus
I’m a casual fan of Italian
style and design. The ‘I’ at
the end has a connotation
of something Italian. Incidentally I aspire for this brand to reach their
level of craftsmanship coupled with my street
sensibilities.
B.C. - I’ve noticed you’ve been doing
some fashion shows on the regular now.
How have they been going?
Anomali - Well I’ve just barely got my feet
wet, but I’m thrilled to be involved. Shina Rae
(thank you Shina!) helped me with the first one
and it was small but I loved it. We are looking
forward to the spring show. We’ll have more
styles, more time and money and it’ll be in col-
laboration with a more established and popular street wear brand (I’m not saying who) at
another venue more suited for our vision.
B.C. - So Willi, you have a little boy by
the name of GIOVANNI right? How do
you manage to run Anomali Clothing and
raise your kid?
Anoamli - Caffeine! No it’s hard, especially if
you want to do both the right way, but when
you’re passionate about something, you find
a way to do it. I’m also learning that I can trust
certain people to help me in this endeavor.
(Thanx Ma, Mike and
Ellie!)
B.C. - Among of
all of your t-shirts,
which one do your
customers like the
most?
Anomali - I would
say the “Fly or Die”
print, but I might be
a tad bias toward
that one. Also the
“Laugh Now Fry Later”. People like that
one a lot too. I think
cuz it’s catchy and
most people get the
underlying meaning.
B.C. - Do you plan
to get Anomali in
any stores?
Anomali - Yes we
intend to. We have
someone working on it (my teammate Lauren Cain- Waddup Girl!) but I guess you can
say we’re working on the logistics of it all. The
main thing with that is we don’t want to go
to a highly coveted spot and not come correct, so we’ll take our time, so that we make
a good impression.
B.C. - Are you the type of artist that can
create on the spot or do you have to be
in a certain mood?
Anomali - I can create or articulate the idea
on the spot, but to fully accomplish the vision
it usually takes time. Adversely on rare occasions it comes to mind, I
sketch it right then and there and it’s mostly finished on the first draft.
B.C. - Are you working on any new designs? If so, can you leak
one or two to the readers out there?
Anomali - Fa sheezy’ my Neasly! Ha-ha!........
B.C. - Are you an Anomali by nature or force?
Anomali - Most definitely by nature. There weren’t many bookworms
in the PJ’s on
the Southside
of the Chi. I am
and have always
been a little nerd
artist who has
done
some
gangster things.
(Not a gangster.)
I left Houston in
2002 with like
$20 in my pocket and traveled
the states for 3
years partying,
working,
and
having assorted
sometimes dangerous adventures with only
God
watching
my back, and here I am. I’m also a guy who didn’t have to get a
lawyer, or go to court, but because of My Father, my son lives with
me and he’s safe and loved. These are merely examples, and I could
speak forever about the times. I was an exception to the rule but the
ANOMALI brand is not just about me. Anomali is about anyone who is
not a ‘mindless drone’ going thru life without seeking their purpose or
finding (and using) their gifts.
I c a n c r e at e
o r a r t i c u l at e t h e
i d ea o n t h e s p ot ,
but to fully
accomplish the
v i s i o n it u s u a l l y
t a ke s t i m e ”
B.C. - Who would you like to thank?
Anomali - I thank God for this vision, my mother, my brother Michael
(aka Mic Skills), Lauren Cain, Shina Rae, thank you Kim for my beautiful son, you Mr. Mamba, Kwestro, BBC, Karina Nistal, Jaycee, Kabrina, Rad, Perseph One, Walter, Yikes w/tkb, David Landry, Tominique,
Gonzo, Christian Azul, Verb, Gus (d.b. gang) and The Naysayer-Haters- yall make me want it more, you suckas!!!
For More Info. on Anomali Clothing:
www.anomalistreetwear.com
B.C. - Let’s talk about the history behind Improv in Toronto. Who originally
started Improv in Toronto and what inspired the movement?
Improv - Improv in Toronto started off
as a group effort, and has remained such
to this current day. The whole idea came
from a group in New York City called Improv Everywhere, which does random improv stunts all around the New York area.
Their actions inspired us to start up a
similar organization in Toronto, and the
rest is history.
I know we’ve all heard of pranks and practical jokes, but imagine a group of kids
(300-500) ranging from ages 15-21 playing
extremely hilarious, shocking, and unbelievable
practi-
cal
on
jokes
city.
Im-
your
prov
in
Toronto has
conducted
the
lowing
far:
fola
no
so
pants ride
on the subway & a fake award show including
the red carpet just to name a few. Check out
this interview and their website for the
full rundown.
B.C. - Do you guys get permits before you
take over streets, subways, or neighborhoods? Or do you just do it?
Improv - Improv in Toronto has
never gotten a permit for any of
its missions thus far, and it
is unlikely to do so in
the future. This is for
two reasons; first off
we try our best to not
give any forewarning about our actual missions, doing
so, takes away from
the surprise. And
the other reason,
is having a permit
would make things
too easy!
B.C. - What is one
of the scariest moments that Improv in
Toronto has experienced?
Improv - Improv in
Toronto often has
trouble with authorities who don’t always know exactly
what we’re up to. Every time a mission happens, we always worried that
the weeks and months of preparations
could be wasted if the authorities decided to intervene. That concern is always
there no matter what type of mission we’re
trying to run.
B.C. - What is one of the greatest moments
that Improv in Toronto has experienced?
Improv - I would like to say (although
very chees-ily), that one of my best moments in Improv in Toronto is whenever I
see someone smile or laugh at our event.
It’s just one of the most rewarding expe-
riences that I believe that everyone in
Improv in Toronto can get.
One mission that contained a lot of those
moments that sticks up in my mind was the
Finish Line Marathon, we brought a large
Finish Line banner and walked around the
City encouraging people to run through
it. The most vivid image was this one
kid, he seemed like he just learned how
to walk, breaking through line.
B.C. - What’s the next urban prank Improv
Toronto has in the works?
Improv - Generally we try to keep our upcoming missions as secret as possible,
so that word doesn’t get out. But in this
special case, we will give you a bit of
information on one of our upcoming
missions. Next month we will be holding a huge protest against protests.
It’s going to be completely ironic, and ridiculous, but we’re sure
it’s going to be ton of
fun, and get a lot of
laughs!
B.C. - At this current
time, how many people
are active in Improv
Toronto?
Improv - Currently
our facebook group
has almost 3000 members, but it is continually growing on a
daily basis. Of those
members, our biggest
missions
generally
pull out between 300500 people.
B.C. - Who comes up with all the prank
ideas?
Improv - Improv in Toronto is a completely volunteer based organization. Which
means, pretty much anyone and everyone is
encouraged to get involved in the creating and running of missions! Through our
website you can apply to join our team,
which is now run by a core team of 20 or
so people.
For More Info. on Improv in Toronto:
improvintoronto.com/
youtube.com/user/ImprovInToronto
hen I say the proof is in the pudding,
I mean it. Shanel Cooper Sykes is
such an anomaly. This woman has
single handedly brought back the proper definition of
what a ‘traditional woman’ is, and what her responsibility
is. In her journey thus far, she has empowered, influenced
and changed so many women’s lives that she has become
the blueprint of what a good women is. Currently, she is
conducting tele-seminars and selling her book “Stilettos
in the Kitchen: The Modern Girls Guide to Being a Domestic Goddess. So without any further ado, I give you
Shanel Cooper - Sykes:::
B.C.- So Shanel, where are you from and how was life like where you
grew up?
Shanel - I grew up in Milwaukee WI, but my family is from Louisiana. My childhood was very interesting! My family is very southern- I
guess you can say a ‘traditional down-south black family.’ We all lived
together in one house for most of my childhood. My grandparents
were Muslim and my mother was a model, make-up artist and taught
charm and etiquette to young girls. So I was like a little Muslim girl by
day, and kid superstar by night! LOL. My mother had me in acting,
singing and dance classes AND I was modeling and doing commercials
at a very young age. At the same time, my grandparents had me taking Arabic lessons, going to Salaam School (like bible study) and I was
praying 5 times a day! So I had a lot going on in my childhood to say
the least!
B.C.- What do you consider a good woman?
Shanel - A good woman is one who understands her roles. We have
many: Mother, Wife, Lover, Daughter, Sister, Friend, Teacher etc, and
now days (some of us) have had to take on the role of Provider, Protector, Breadwinner and ‘Warrior’ if you will- because of the shortage
of ‘Good Men’ (Which I believe is natural because there are 7 women to every 1 man on this earth.) To me a ‘good woman’ knows how
to adapt to whatever role she needs to play in that moment. She is
Humble (when praised), Submissive (when needed), Loyal (to whom
deserved) Powerful (all the time) and truly embraces her responsibilities as a woman with no excuses or complaints.
B.C.- I noticed that your viewpoint on a woman’s role in life is somewhat different than the typical American woman in today’s society.
With that being said, what made you become the person you are today?
Shanel - Yes- My views are very different! I believe it comes from my
upbringing. My grandmother was teaching me to cook, clean, take
care of the household and be submissive to my husband. While my
mother was teaching me to be a lady- to have poise, charm and grace.
She also taught me to be independent and to be an entrepreneur. So
I think I just infused the teachings of the both of them. I believe the
woman’s role is to take care of home, our children and our men, while
the man’s is to provide and protect. However- times have changed
and we now have the opportunity to do so much more than that, so as
women we have to know how to have balance. But I believe not too
many women now days know what that really means because we are
encouraged to be so independent that it’s become easy to say ‘I don’t
need a man.’ So when it is time to be in a REAL relationship, we don’t
know how to be comfortable in our role.
B.C.- To the people out there who don’t know what a ‘vision board’
is, can you fill them in and let them know how helpful this really can
be?
Shanel - A vision board is a tool to help you clarify and actualize
your dreams. Vision is a powerful thing that we possess as humans- and if you have the ability to SEE
something in your head, then that
means that you are capable of
having it! So a vision board
helps you to get the vision
out of your head and in
front of your eyes so
that you can
take
by: Black Mamba
the steps to make that a vision a reality. If you keep it in your head,
you can’t see it in front of you! And typically-we go where our eyes
are looking. So a vision board allows you to look
at your dreams and goals everyday. It’s
basically a board with pictures from
magazines or newspapers that symbolize the things that you want in
your life. Vision boards are tricky
though- because if you don’t know
how to do one effectively... it will
serve you no purpose. I talk a lot
about vision boards in my book
‘Stilettos in the Kitchen.’
B.C.- How are the Tele-seminars coming? The last one
I saw you post was
about going from
“ORDINARY TO
EXTRAORDINARY”.
Shanel - YesIt was AWESOME! I had
people all over
the world listening in. The
call had almost
500 peo-
Shanel - This fall! I’m so excited about it! I am calling
them ‘Stiletto Parties’ a book signing sounds so boring!
I want music... food, champagne! The whole nine, I
will speak a little, sign some books,.. Then were going
to party with a purpose!
ple on it. My goal is to have 10,000 people listening
in every month! I am going to create a membership
site to build a community of empowered people of this
generation. I believe my purpose is to inspire people
to unleash their full potential, and I feel like my teleseminars are a way to reach people that are hungry for
more out of life! Because anyone can pop the TV on or
switch on the radio and just so happen to be motivated
by something. But having to pick up the phone and
sit for an hour and listen attentively means that you
want it! I only want to motivate people who WANT to
be motivated! I have a burning desire to empower this
generation of people. We need it so bad. Or as I like
to say: ‘We need to get our
‘ISH’ together’!
B.C.- Do you think we’ll see a sequel to STILETTOS IN
THE KITCHEN? Or any other future projects?
Shanel - Absolutely! ‘Stilettos in the Kitchen’ Is a
lifestyle brand. The purpose is to empower women to
be sexy and savvy in the kitchen and in their lives. I
feel like real empowerment and ‘lifestyle brands’ have
never been combined. If they have, the sexiness and
fabulousness has been eliminated. I believe women
should embrace their femininity, and sexuality and
roles as women AND still be powerful warriors, or in
my terminology be a ‘Domestic Goddess.’ So Stilettos
in the Kitchen will provide solutions for every aspect
of an empowered women’s life. I will have a TV show,
line of home interior and kitchen goods, in October.
I’m launching an online health membership which is
called ‘Stiletto Body.’ I will have a ‘Stiletto Debit Card’
launching summer of 2010 along with a finance handbook. There is so much more, make-up line, shoes,
and apparel etc. There are also several ‘Stilettos in
the Kitchen’ books to come. I’m going for it all baby!
LOL.
B.C.- As you already know, you’re a huge influence on
thousands among thousands of people. My question is,
who influences you?
Shanel - I know this may sound clichè but the world
influences me. I observe where there is a need, a void
or lack of something and I look to fill it. I’m inspired by
people, their actions and behavior. I have been blessed
with incredible mentors so I look to them for inspiration too. I am also a young woman of this ‘modern
culture’ So I’m inspired by who most young women are
these days; the Beyonces and Tyras of the world, My
goal is to be right there with them, just using cooking
and empowerment to get me there.
B.C.- As a motivational speaker, has there ever been
a question during Q & A time that you just couldn’t
answer, or had a hard time answering?
Shanel - All the time! Because I am young, and still
learning and adding to my life experience everyday, I’m
often asked things that I have not yet faced. Sometimes people don’t realize that I am a speaker, motivator and lifestyle coach- not a therapist. So I get asked
very deep questions sometimes that I’m not qualified
to answer. There are so many people that need help
out there! I am thinking of continuing my education so
I can be more qualified to answer the tough questions
that will come at me.
B.C.- Now I have a question that’s on a lot of the male’s
minds. What kind of man is Shanel Cooper Sykes looking for?
Shanel - Who said I was looking for a man? LOL!
Well, I am very clear about who I am, what I want, what
I deserve and what I bring to the table. So I don’t have
long lists of ‘Shanel’s perfect man’ He just has to be
extraordinarily powerful! He has to make me want to
be a better woman as I inspire him to be a better man.
Period.
B.C.- Who would you like thank that’s helped you
along the way?
Shanel - Oh so many people! I stand on the shoulders
of giants! Even the haters help lift me up too! There
have been so many people that have passed through
my life that have added value and helped me get to this
point. Like I said I have incredible mentors and I have
great friends. My journey was definitely a challenge, I
made all of this happen from scratch! So there were
people who believed in me when I had absolutely nothing but a dream! And to them I am forever grateful!
They know who they are.
B.C.- When are we going to see the Shanel Cooper
Sykes book signing tour?
For More Info. on Shanel:
http://www.stilettosinthekitchen.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/shanelcooper
o real introduction on this story
folks. Reuben Levi explains it all! Enjoy the Insight:::
B.C. - So Reuben, I was curious, what’s the meaning behind the name
of Grits Apparel?
Grits - It’s pretty simple actually. Grits Apparel is fashion inspired by
a healthy dose of art, comics and Southern experience. It’s about life
and the art that is created from it. I’ve always been fascinated and
obsessed with music and art. From underground hip-hop to punk to
graffiti.
It’s more
than just
a T-Shirt
Company,
it’s a
Lifestyle
Suckaz!!
Another aspect of what we do is to shine the spotlight on Houston for
heads that don’t know. Houston has been an inf luence on the culture
for a long time. Traditionally, the street wear
industry has
looked to L.A. or New York to inspire trends,
but Houston has so much history, vibrancy
and eclecticism. Grits Apparel is a celebration of the city borne from our respect and
admiration.
You know the saying, “You are what you eat”?
Well, my lifestyle’s diet has been chock full
of Grits. So Grits is our canvas, where we
get out our creative frustrations. But once
it’s created, then it’s back to our roots. To the
independent hustle, to the grind that defines
the experience of artists in the South. As we
like to say, ‘ No Grits, No Glory.’
B.C. - As an artist, what types of things inspire you to create?
Grits - People and the music they make. Whether its chatter, art, or
food everyone creates something and that creativity, that music keeps
me going.
B.C. - On one of your t-shirts it states: from ‘The Roota To The Toota.’
What does that mean???? Haaaa.
Grits - The design you referring to is ‘Pork Barrel’ as in Pork Barrel
spending. To keep a long story short, and without being too political,
the design was inspired by Greed. I was playing off the irony of consuming the entire pig from ‘The Roota To The Toota’ and being a part
of a society whose entire existence revolves around everyone being
consumers. Whether it’s good for us or not, we eat it, we consume it
and we shit it out.
B.C. - So Reuben, since you’re a huge
fan of Soul and Funk music. Who
would you love to do a mural of? They
can be alive or deceased.
Grits - HMMMÖ I’m not into doing
artist depictions anymore. But back
in the day I did one of Bob Marley.
The crazy thing was that someone
stole the piece right off the wall! I
can’t remember the place name. Oh
yeah, it was the GRAB Bar! ... I didn’t
trip about it at the time. I was actually
kind of f lattered someone was willing
to steal the piece. Ya know.
B.C. - Along with your t-shirt designs,
I’ve heard that you also do graphic design for a couple of publications? Can
you give us some insight on that?
Grits - I dibble and dabble here and
there.
B.C. - Can you elaborate?
Grits - Yeah, Back in the day I started
a pdf magazine called HIST ( Phonetic
spelling of Heist). That was just me
fucking around. Since then I’ve been
busy as of lately but I’ve defiantly
working on a new zine to be released
sooner or later. I am just working on
the details.
But I do want to say, if anyone knows
the person who has it let me know
because I would like to put my John
Hancock on it.
I’ve done minor stuff for different
business around here, but Objectif
Magazine gives me the avenue to do
whatever I want, Egie and Mo want me
to go totally ‘against the grain.’ And
because of that creative license, I’ve
been rolling with them ever since.
Besides that I’ve worked with many
other talented people. Shout outs to
Objectif Magazine; Juan and Rishi (BBoy Hodown); Thomas (Tipping Point
Store); Jaekim (Stackcache); The Fucking Transmissions; Dane (SocaPassion); Dechazier (Black Marmalade);
Malik, Raygon, Keisha and the whole
crew at Overachievers; Dobale and
many others I can’t think of at this very
moment.
B.C. - I saw a post on Facebook that
you’re about to drop the ‘True Grit’
line. How’s that coming and what’s
the theme behind it?
Grits - Well first off ‘True Grit’ is the
theme for the newest collection from
Grits Apparel. I went back to my
roots, which is drawing, for inspiration.
Drawing is what I do, where I started.
Basically I’m a lover of drawing, comics, art and typography so I wanted
to combine all of those elements into
this line.Then one day I was watching
an old movie with my mom and the
name ‘True Grit’ starring John Wayne
f lashed across the screen. The name
fit perfectly with the clothing and the
attitude of Grits Apparel. So I went
with it.
Apparel is fashion inspired by a healthy
dose of art, comics &
Southern experience.
B.C. - If you could go back in the day,
and be any Soul or Funk artist, who
would you want to be and why?
Grits - Well first I would need a Delorean!!!... But not that stainless steel
joint...
I need candy paint and some swangas. (Laughing)
But for real, I would like to be Rick
James. You can say what you want.
He had one hell of a life. If I haven’t
learned one thing for sure it’s that I
should live life to the fullest all the way
to the end. knowwhatimtalkinbout.
B.C. - For the people that don’t know
where you can buy Grits Apparel, can
you fill them in?
Grits - Before I answer that question,
I want to inform everybody that all
designs are limited run so when they
are gone, they are gone. Individuality
is a strong component of what we do.
I don’t like seeing everyone with the
same clothes I have on, so I design
Grits with that in mind.
You gotta get the Grits while they’re
hot! Go to one of my favorite spots in
Houston, Chicle de Anya in the Heights
or go online www.weargrits.com.
B.C. - What’s a typical day
like for Sav One?
Sav One - Well, I still work a regular J-O-B, so I’m up at the crack
to get from the end of Brooklyn to
Midtown Manhattan. I do research
& statistics for an Economic journal, which basically means I number
crunch & provide all the data for articles I’ll never really get credit for
lol. During breaks & at lunch I find
time to update my website, manage a never-ending list of e-mails &
everything else it takes for me to
keep my sanity! After work, sometimes I’ll head over to Fat Beats,
spin some records & kick it with
friends, conduct an interview, or
hit up a show somewhere in NYC.
After that, it’s back to Brooklyn
to spend the night catching up on
all the stuff I missed while I was
out trying to have a life lol. It’s not
glamorous, but I’m more happy now
than I’ve been in a long while, so no
complaints! I could use an assistant
though ... any takers? lol.
Vi b i n ’
Interview by:
Black Mamba
DJ Sav One is another reason why Underground Hip-Hop is alive. If you haven’t vis-
w i t h
ited his site - TheUnderGroundComeUp.
Com, and you’re a fan of Authentic HipHop, then you’re really missing out...Sav
One exposes and interviews incredible Underground MC’s, DJ’s & Producers from all
over the world on the daily. So if you love
hip-hop and you don’t know where to find
new Underground Hip-Hop, check out
his site - TheUnderGroundComeUp.Com.
B.C. - Where were you born
and raised, and what was
life like growing up in your
area code?
Sav One - I was born and raised in
Queens, the 718 ... lived in the same
5 block radius for over 25 years.
Queens is one of the most diverse
places in the world; it’s filled with
a tremendous amount of character
& that has definitely impacted my
life & the relationships I’ve developed heavily over the years. On
the music tip, it goes without saying that growing up in Queens in
the 80s/90s was incredible! It was
a given that you’d either wanna
be an MC or DJ & since I couldn’t
rap to save my life, I went the DJ
route *laughs* I got my start doing
local parties & mixes with friends,
nothing major, but even at a young
age, getting paid to do something
you love is NEVER a bad thing! As
I grew older, the world got bigger, I
spent more time out of town & developing my skills as a DJ, but no
matter what, I always considered
Queens home. Even now that I
live in Brooklyn, I still go back
when I need to reminisce - all
I need is a pen & pad, and my
Illmatic cassette tape, I’m good!
lol.
B.C. - Recently, you launched a
New FREE Mixtape Series on
your site - TheUnderGroundComeUp.Com. How’s the response been?
Sav One - Thank you for the
opportunity to speak on this!
It’s a NEW segment I’m doing
on my website, with the help of
my homie, DJ Dyllemma, who
I’ve worked with at Fat Beats.
I came up in an era in hip-hop
where the mixtape was one of
the most influential pieces of
our culture. It was a chance for
DJs to showcase their skills on
the 1s & 2s and to break new
artists. With the birth of the internet & artists having the ability to expose themselves to
the world with a click of their
mouse, it’s been said that the
DJ is dead. I disagree, HEAVILY. It may not be as easy to
break new artists & DJs may
have evolved a bit, but we hope
to bring it back to the dope elements that originally made mixtapes what they were. Certainly
having the platform of running
my own website is beneficial,
b/c I can reach lots of people
& share this music with everyone for free. The response so
far has been real solid - I think
people are looking forward to
hearing some good music & we
definitely hope to keep everyone’s attention from week to
week. Stay tuned to TheUnderGroundComeUp.Com
for
those free mixes & thanks for
supporting us on that!
B.C. - I noticed that
you’re basically doing
P.R. for Eternia. How did
you two link up?
Sav One - I wouldn’t OFFICIALLY
call it P.R. lol, but I definitely do everything I can to help support. It’s
been a rewarding experience for
me, because I believe in Eternia’s
music & I believe in her character.
She is an artist that everyone should
be familiar with, because whether
in or out of music, she is one of the
most talented & most genuine people alive. As for how we met, it was
at Fat Beats while she was doing
a quick performance for an album
she was featured on. I had been a
fan of the music I’d heard from her
in the past & when she played me
her new material, I knew I wanted
to be involved. Her upcoming project is called “AT LAST” and it’s
entirely produced by DJ Premier’s
production partner, MoSS. This is
an album people definitely need in
their Ipods, CD Players and in their
lives. It’s been my pleasure to help
raise awareness about this project
& I guess the fact that you are asking me this, means we’re doing an
okay job thus far lol. Follow Eternia
on Twitter @therealeternia for updates.
B.C. - Currently, you’re
running TheUndergroundComeUp.com and it’s on
fire, but what happened
to The Analects, or The
Softer Side? What was
The Softer Side all about?
Is this the sensitive or poetic side of Sav One?
Sav One - TheUnderGroundComeUp.Com is definitely where
a lot of my time is devoted & I
do that for the love of the music,
straight up. The website was started with a friend of mine, “TS,” a
lot of people don’t now that, b/c
its been over 2 years. We started
the site as “The Analects,” which
was strictly home to very obscure
90s vinyl reviews. We wanted to
pay tribute to an era in hip-hop
that gave us our start & to artists
that did their thing, but never got
the shine they truly deserved. We
found out quickly that there was a
huge demand for information & this kind of music, so the
site took off. “The Analects” is still very much alive on
TheUnderGroundComeUp.com, but due to some hosting
issues, I merged the entire site & now you can find “The
Analects” under “Rare 90s Music” on TheUnderGroundComeUp.com. As for “The Softer Side,” that’s a funny
story! The Softer Side was originally created because of
the women in our lives *laughs* They were a little tight
that we weren’t showing love to RNB artists lol, so we
started posting “softer” music in that section, as well as
discussions w/ RNB Artists & even let our better halves
write in their occasionally. Unfortunately, TS had a baby
daughter not too long after we started the site & he could
no longer devote time to it. “The Softer Side” can now
be located in the “RNB/Originals” section, so definitely
check it out. The archives have some hidden treasures if
you go back & look closely lol.
B.C. - Over the years you’ve interviewed a
numerous amount of hip-hop artists. How
does it feel to come in contact with so
many influential people?
Sav One - It’s been an honor, to say the least. I originally
started the site, hoping to break artists that I felt were
real talented & were up-and-coming. The first interview I
ever did (for the site) was with Torae, over 2 years ago.
He recently signed with Duck Down & released “Double
Barrel” with Canadian producer, Marco Polo. It makes me
happy to look back & see that my insticts were right from
the jump. Slowly as I started to do more interviews, I
got recognized for solid write-ups & reppin’ dope artists,
which exposed me to more and more talent. I recently
interviewed DJ Premier & that was definitely one of my
highlights. He is undoubtedly my favorite producer & was
influential in just about every year of my life as a teenager
lol. Beyond that, I’m now able to use the voice I’ve been
given to share insightful interviews with artists I respect
“I always considered
Queens
Homeboy Sandman, Camp Lo, Elzhi, Royce Da 5’9,
Pharoahe Monch, Breez Brewin of The Juggaknots,
Drekidd, 14KT, BBAS, Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, JLive, and lots more!! Just check out my site for who I
listen to & definitely support what you enjoy!
Sav One - Family first, definitely. I have 2 beautiful nieces who live in PA & every chance I get, they are who I
wanna spend my time with. A lot of my closest friends
are involved in music, so it’s not always easy to work our
schedules right, but finding time to spend with friends is
a major priority to me. Aside from that, I’m like everyone
else, I want a little time in front of the TV every now &
again & I love sports! I guess I’m fortunate that some of
my hobbies bring in income & being involved in music
always offers opportunities to stay busy!!
B.C. - How do you feel about Hip-Hop being perceived as a joke in these insurance
and credit commercials (for ex: freecreditreport.com)?
Sav One - Marketing companies have always found ways
to line their pockets & benefit off the hip-hop culture, so
I guess it’s nothing new. I remember when Petey Pablo
used Seagram’s Gin in a line & raised Seagram’s sales
over 10% in urban markets. Who knows how much they
paid him, but I guess some artists find ways to benefit
home. Even now that I live in Brook-
lyn, I still go back when I need to reminisce - all I need is a pen &
pad,and my Illmatic cassette tape, I’m good!” lol.
like Eternia, Invincible, Kam Moye (Supastition), J-Live,
etc & show a side of them that I think people need to see
in artists. I’ve gotten to the point where I can interview
who I want & people respect that if I’m supporting them,
they are worth checking out, on a music & a personal
level. That means a lot to me! The most recent interview
I did was with Eternia & it was published in “Anattitude
Magazine.” It’s a beautiful 8-page color feature, so please
support it if you see it!!
B.C. - Besides being a DJ and running your
site. What else do you do for fun?
right back off it. In cases like you mention, its just a mocking insult to the artists that work hard at their crafts and
make a living doing what they love. I don’t watch much
tv, so I guess I’m fortunate I don’t have to see it a lot &
for the most part, I’m able to tune it out. Bottom line, real
hip-hop isn’t on the radio OR the TV much anymore anyway, so if you aren’t on a select few stations, Boy-cott
Magazine or TheUnderGroundComeUp.Com - chances
are, you aren’t getting the real!
B.C. - What artists are currently in heavy rotation on your
iPod or CD player?
Sav One - This is fun! Let’s see ... Eternia, Kam Moye,
Invincible, Finale, Reef The Lost Cauze, Statik Selektah,
B.C. - Do you DJ on the weekly tip anywhere?
Sav One - I’ve been stubborn since I moved to Brooklyn
about trying to get a residence somewhere. I feel like
I’ve had my time & I went through a patch where I wasn’t
digging any of the new music, so I kinda gave up on
promoting myself. In truth, I’m the worst self-promoter
in history, I spend all my time trying to advance other
people’s careers *laughs* That said, I’ve recently been
inspired A LOT by the music that has been dropping,
“
REAL HIP-HOP
why you’ll see me co-sign heavy for artists I respect. I
do that on the strength.
B.C. - What’s your next move Sav?
Sav One - I’ve been working on an LP for TheUnderGroundComeUp.Com. I don’t know when, if ever, it’ll
drop, but it’ll be a combination of exclusive beats &
rhymes from a lot of the artists I’ve interviewed, promoted, done shows with or just general connections
I’ve made in the industry over the years. It’s definitely a
process, but there is so much talent out there, it’ll work
out eventually lol. On top of that, there are the mixtapes
we discussed and I’m looking into switching careers, so
that I can lessen the gap between my job and my hobbies. I think if the music industry had been more stable,
I would have done that already, but if I’m gonna take a
isn’t on the radio OR the TV much anymore anyway,
so if you aren’t on a select few stations, Boy-Cott Magazine (BoyCottMag.com)
or TheUnderGroundComeUp.Com - chances are, you aren’t getting the real”!
so first step is to create this mixtape series & perhaps
it will inspire me to get out & get some weekly gigs
again. Maybe I can quit that 9-5 then lol! I’ll tell ya what
... I’ll put it to the readers: when you hear the mixtapes,
if you think I should start spinning weekly, hit me up &
let me know - I welcome the feedback and I could use
the push! :)
B.C. - What’s one of your favorite guilty
pleasures?
Sav One - Hmmm. Good question. I guess having the
ability to pick and choose what I’ll support on my site
can be kind of a guilty pleasure (sometimes). I definitely
try to support local talent, which in NYC means thousands of artists that I come in contact with daily. So
many artists submit music, it’s definitely overwhelming
at times. Going through the process of collecting drops
for mixtapes, trying to set up interviews, getting beats
or verses for a project I’m working on, you find out a lot
about different people’s character. You get a lot of “yo,
I got you!” and “anything you need homie,” but what
you really get is nothing lol. So, a while back I decided I
wasn’t going to support artists like that & while I would
love to support everyone, I’m not gonna promote an artist who really doesn’t give a damn that I’m alive lol. So,
yeah, it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure when I see an artist
submit music & knowing I can delete it and move on lol. I
feel guilty because I wanna support everyone, but at the
same time, I take pleasure in knowing I’m justified in the
stance that I take, ya feel me? It also gives me more time
to devote to artists that really deserve a push & that’s
chance, I should do it before I get too old, right? LMAO.
Then again, if I was smart, I woulda quit my job, signed
up to be Eternia’s DJ & we’d be touring right now ... no
one ever said I was smart! :)
B.C. - Who would you like to thank?
Sav One - First & foremost, I’d like to thank YOU,
Mamba & of course, Boy-Cott Magazine, for this opportunity. Eternia for her guidance and support, my
family & friends, Fat Beats NY, DJ Eclipse, BBAS, DJ
Dyllemma, Mauikai, all the readers and supporters on
TheUnderGroundComeUp.Com, Hex Murda, J Kim,
Matt Conaway, Audible Treats, & everyone on all the
networking sites that follows and RTs all the nonsense
I talk about *laughs* Seriously, I’ve got love for everyone, so anyone who took the time to read this, thank
you & reach out to me anytime DJ.SAV.ONE@GMAIL.
COM or follow me @ Twitter.com/DJ_SAV_ONE peace & love. ~ DJ SAV*ONE.