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The golden era of hip hop. Nore's classic ''What What'' dvd volumes. Son was on game before anybody really started this dvd shit, don't get it twisted. 

Moment Of Silence.

Life is funny. We as individuals work so hard to build a path to our dreams, but this world was not designed for us as blacks and hispanics to succeed. I, after living so many years through a nightmare, only want to build myself into something that would make God see that his gift wasn't wasted. I have many talents, so much love, niggas that would kill for me and brothers that live for me. Yet its still a struggle just to crack a real smile, so in honor of all my people who are fighting to smile, this song is for you. R.I.P to all the fallen angels.

Nitty Scott MC.

Bodega BAMZ - Say Amen Feat. A$AP Ferg

Heard them niggas can't eat in your bodega huh?

The Art of Rhyme

Crack documentary on the state of hip hop during the late 1990's. This film is about famous battles and battle MCs like JUICE, Supernatural and Craig G. The focus on Supernat gets a bit tiresome but stuff like this is still worth watching, nothing better than really digging in and learning about the culture. The documentary features many underground MCs from Project Blowed and The Lyricist Lounge but also hip hop originators like the The Last Poets and Crazy Legs. It's definetly deeper than rap.

Spit Gold Under An Empire

NEW AMERICAN NOISE and Sundance Channel deliver their newest project called "Spit Gold Under An Empire'' directed by Emily Kai Bock. This new documentary features fellow Brooklyn artist Kirk Knight and CJ Fly out of Pro Era, along with Angle Haze, Mykki Blanco, and The Underachievers. These new batch of artist which represent the new "Beastcoast" movement no longer look to the radio for inspiration, this new era of hip hop enthusiasts are seeking the purity of early hip hop intimate storytelling. Check it out and be on the lookout for my feature with Emily Kai Bock in the near future!

Jenesis' Under The Radar "Breaking Artist'' Search

JENESIS Magazine and WoodysProduce is looking for one talented artist to show off in our Under The Radar feature column. One lucky artist will get a FREE beat from WoodysProduce and will have it Premiered on DJ Booth &  jenesismagazine.com. The artist will also get an Under The Radar feature on jenesismagazine.com also.

Artist who submit to the contest must include their NAME, EMAIL, TWITTER LINK, and their BEST recorded track (stream if available) to WoodyandJENESIS@gmail.com.

WoodysProduce and JENESIS will check all the submissions and will announce the winner after going over all of entries. All entries must be in by Thursday, March 21st.

Pastor Young Guru.

@ Premier Studios with the Pro's. Be on the lookout for that.

CAPITAL Steez - 135

Happy Valentines day.

Long.Live.$teelo.

Joey Bada$$ and DJ Premier teamed up for the single “Unorthodox,” the two set out to produce a track that gave trivute to the past but was still relevant and fresh. For the official music video, the goal of renowned directing duo Coodie and Chike (founders of Creative Control), was to take the audience on an illustrated journey with Joey, Premier & Pro Era through the streets of Brooklyn. In this “Making Of” clip, go behind the scenes of that directorial process, as they shoot the initial background “backplates,” then move to the studio for green screen performances from Joey and crew.

Today on National Signing Day, my brother B.J Ross has officially signed to be the newest Defensive Back for the Memphis Tigers! Proud of you little big bro. 

Joey Fatts Feat Vince Staples - Lindo

With the much anticipated release of his new mixtape Chipper Jones Volume 2, Joey Fatts brings us a visual for the Stoney Willis produced track "Lindo". This track features fellow Cuttthroat boys member Vince Staples.

 "See I been worried bout the commas, never bout the karma. So sell it to the daughters and sell it to the mommas"

"Blessed"

The team at Blessed Faith LA are gearing up for the release of their latest hat. The heather grey "Blessed" Old English snapback will be availabe tomorrow at 12 a.m  PST. You can officially cop it at www.BlessedFaith.bigcartel.com. Support or drown from the wave! 

Free The World Boss

The Mob came through Hot 97 to chop it up with Flex, ans also took the time to have some fun and fuck around with some beats. Watch Ferg, Rocky, and the good goon Twelvy kick it off the top.

Rockie Fresh x JENESIS Magazine (Part 2)

Interview by Louie Lopez (@ThatzCrack)

On Friday, we dropped part 1 of our interview with Rockie Fresh as he talked about a few ways MMG has helped out his work ethic, what he’s learned on tour, and being surrounded by hard working label mates. Today this part 2 of the interview, Rockie talks his creative process, what kind of artist he is, and how he handled his projects from his first one to  now.

Since linking up with Ross for the first time, out of all the advice he’s gave you what’s’ something that’s hit home for you?

I think it was the fact that when we first met, even before I signed to him he respected the fact that I had a sound. With the Driving 88 project I really thought I was on to something but you just never really know until you get that recognition from somebody that you respect, but when you get that input from somebody that you really respect and I was fortunate enough to get input from two people I respect which was Ross and Diddy but when Ross, who was a person who makes totally different music then what I do but at the same time he influenced my career even before I started making my own music me and my homies used to ride around and bump his content and if you listen to some of my older records you’ll hear early Ross samples. For him to listen to Driving 88 and be like “man I respect you because you have your own sound and I never heard anything like this before” that was something that really stuck with me even if I would moved on and not signed with MMG just by him telling me that inspired me to keep making my music. His wisdom and knowledge of the game and how much he cares about his artist, that’s the reason why I made the move.

What are you most proud of on this new project?

I’m most proud of this project because one it’s my first label release and it’s something that I’m really grateful that I get to live to see with me only being 21 years old. The fact that I have that along with this tape is something that I really appreciate. Two, a lot of the tracks I’ve been dropping have been getting great a great response. I really feel like I made a next level project and I’m giving the people something different. As far as lyrically the content is really motivational. I feel like people that are trying to achieve a goal they can hear lyrics in any record and there are 17 songs on the tape. I also feel like me being able to hear it back and it being on the surface not being something that the people will have a hard time looking for. That’s what I’m most proud about this project.

What was your creative process through Electric Highway that makes it stand out from your last three tapes?

I took a different approach when I was creating this tape and the reason why is because I didn’t want this tape to be about “ah man this guy Rockie is just this incredible lyricist” and that just be the only thing. I want to motivate people but also bring out different emotions. The way I went about that is by being as real as I possibly can on these records. Talking about my direct perspective and talking about what I’m really seeing and thinking. What I did differently with this project is I really started writing. The beats that are on this project are on their because the moment I heard them I started writing. It’s more raw emotion.

It’s all more natural now correct?

Yeah exactly.

What sort of statement do you want to make with Electric Highway?

As far as a statement, you know I’m still a competitive artist. I do rap like sports. There’s people that get in the game to get they little money but there’s also people that want to get in and take over like Jordan and Kobe. That’s the mindset I’m coming with. I’m coming for that Grammy. I want to be number 1 in sales when I drop my first album. The type of content and the beats I choose is the seed of what is going to start growing into some of those dreams that I had. Now I gotta go hard but the key thing is for people to be inspired it’s bigger than other artist wanting to rap. I want a college student to pop in my mixtape and study hard. I want somebody that wants to be an athlete to put in my music and want to go into the gym you feel me? I want a girl who hears my project to know that there’s a cool dudes out there that isn’t trying to be on the typical stuff. That’s the mindset of the tape.

How did features and the production come about?

I really went right on the features, I got this artist out of Chicago her name is Sasha Go Hard she’s featured on the tape as well as Curren$y and Nipsey Hussle. Other than that, it’s just Ross on their. I just want to tell my own story. As far as production I kept it in the family. My producer, The Gift, jumped into each record. I also worked with Jerm and my homie Lunice who is part of the group TNGHT, they’re making a crazy buzz right now. Boywonder, Quincy Tones he took care of the intro, but other than that I just kept it within the family. Salute to my producer Gift cause we put in a lot of work on this tape.

What’s different about you and how you handle your music compared to your last tapes? 

I think the thing that’s really different is the maturity. I’m 21 now and when I started dropping tapes I was 18, I was living in my mom’s crib now I have my own crib you know I’m able to travel and go on tour. Also, being around the MMG team and being able to meet some of my role models and seeing certain things. Shit can get really when you’re really grinding. As far as the content before it was about impressing people now it’s about bringing change. Being from Chicago I see and hear a lot of wild stuff on a daily basis, I feel like my generation needs change so I want to bring that through my music.

Speaking on Chicago, it being a city where conscious rap was the form to come up to now it being all about the young kids and violence where do you see yourself in the Chicago rap scene?

I think I have my own lane and the reason why is because I really started making strides before the street music really popping like that. My first performance was in one of the biggest venues in Chicago for independent artist. I was the first Chicago rapper to spit there after The Cool Kids and before that Mac Miller sold out the venue. That was my motivation to keep moving forward. It wasn’t too many young people making music besides The Cool Kids out of Chicago when I first started. With that I’m inspired by different things. Kanye and Lupe; I respected their grind and success before the music that’s always the my mindset take successful people and use them as examples but at the same time have my thoughts and own twists to the music.

What kind of artist do you consider yourself?

I consider myself just as a legit artist. I don’t want to put myself in a box. Even with Electric Highway there are records where I’m completely singing but they are not giving you an R&B vibe or your typical auto tune track. It’s just different sounds. One thing I really appreciated was Andre 3000 “Love Below” project, you can never put that album in a box it’s just quality music. It’s all about giving the people quality music.

Who inspired you to take the lane that you choose?

As far as who inspired me I really got to give credit to Jay-Z, Kanye, Lupe and all those guys because they were telling their stories in their music and people responded because they actually related to it.

5 years from now where do you see yourself? Not only as an artist but as a brand in general?

As an artist and even a brand I definitely plan on having my first album out by then, to be a platinum effort and also to be Grammy nominated by then that’s something that I plan on. I also want to write a movie that’s going to be a resource for my generation. My next step will be working on my first film written and directed by me and two of my best friends. We always dreamed about doing that before I started rapping.  The motivation for that was seeing the Roc-a-fella movies and seeing guys like Luda and T.I telling their story through a big screen, same thing with Pac and Eminem. They showed me how possible it was and as a young person I’m only 21 I really want to make that contribution to society while ideas are still fresh in my min.

Make sure you check out the project at RockieFresh.com

Rockie Fresh x JENESIS Magazine (Part 1)

Interview by Louie Lopez (@ThatzCrack)

Words by Rockie Fresh

We’ve been keeping a close eye on the artist who’ve been coming out of the Chi. One of the latest making great moves is Rockie Fresh. You may have heard of him. He’s only one of the newest signees to Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group. With “Electric Highway” releasing on January 21st, we got a chance to talk to him before his 3D Listening Experience of the project in NYC. Here Rockie breaks down the 5 different ways MMG has influence him and his new project.

1. One just my work ethic you know what I’m saying? As far as all the team members go, I always had work ethic when it came to music I didn’t have the resources to work as much as I wanted to cause in Chicago the studios are always booked up and expensive to record. Before I signed with MMG I was recording a lot less because of my financial situation, now it’s one of those things where I’m in the studio all the time, It’s also the amount of songs that I’m trying to knock out per session are based off the way Ross records and how much music he’s able to put out at that level. He’s got 5 albums and getting ready to release his sixth.

2. As far as the touring, I was able to tour with Meek and Wale and just to see how many tours they do it really inspired me to continue to tour and really go head on with having a strong tour fan base and I actually did my first headlining tour after coming off the Meek and Wale tour last year. It was all inspiration for me.

3. Three would be quality. All these guys are giving people quality mixtapes and albums, that’s something that I want to be known for as an artist. Every time I prepare to release something it’s going to be great quality.

4. As far as with music with Electric Highway, I think the situation with MMG has allowed me to speak on things a little more freely because the simple fact that the mind set is different know what I’m saying. Now I have a lot of people looking in my direction, as far as what I have to say is a lot more important as when I was doing Driving 88 it was more so about getting people to notice. So just being able to take that responsibility is something that I feel like Ross, Wale, and Meek Mill do very well, same as Gunplay and Stally. All of them made great uses of their
platforms yet we have so much more to do. I just want to follow in their footsteps and set my platform.

5. The final thing really motivated me to get with MMG is the way that they handle things with the. When you’re a young artist and your trying to get in the game a lot of people tell your all the bad things about a label and want to scare you into thinking that labels are the worst thing ever, but just seeing how Ross handles things and the guys move with the team that has been built around us and how good the relationship is that showed me that as long as you’re making the right music and staying humble you can work out any situation.

Take a listen to Rockie’s collaboration with Rick Ross and Nipsey Hussle: