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Featured Artist: Shameless Plug

Stage Name: shameless plug

Real Name: phameless slug
Age: 3,282
Hometown: hopatcong, nj
Website: http://myspace.com/shamelessplug

Shameless Plug is a Renaissance Man. His style ranges so far in each direction; its as if he has a split personality similar to Jekle & Hyde. This man bangs a true underground flow then releases us with with a serenade of vocal genius that can only be described as angelic. It was destiny how this artist seemed to trip and fall; landing in the center of hip hop. Maturing his character as he grows with the music, Shameless can be found everywhere. He grinds his solo work, pushes through with killer collabs, and rocking with his band; The Yes Yes Yalls. Take a trip into Shamless' music and you can find yourself joyously lost for days. Pay attention to his intricate structures and rhyme schemes... and don't forget... YEAH thats him singing too!

Q&A

How did you come up with your stage name?  

it just fit.

Has it always been this name? If not; what were some earlier names? 

my first name ever was manatarms. like the he-man character. i just thought it was cool. then it was apathy. then i found out there was somebody named apathy. then it was al sharp, which is the name of a song by the beta band. then i changed it to what it is now. recently i found out there's another al sharp. i doubt he named himself after that song tho.

What got you into being an emcee? 

the music i listened to and the company i kept growin up.

When did you spit your first rhyme? What was the topic? Do you remember and pieces of it? 

ages ago. wish i could remember how old i was. it was on some callin out fake thugs shit. cos there's a whole lotta them where i came up. i remember the first cipher i ever took part in. i was just standin there listenin and they thought i wanted to rap so they cued me in. i had never freestyled before and i only had that one verse written at the time so i spit it. one of the kids thought i was aimin it at him and proceeded to come back at me. it didn't go very well.

What is your inspiration?  

i write what i know.

At what point of your career do you feel you truly developed who you are as an artist; and what do you feel contributed to this? 

 it's just a constant rising up. i hope i always continue to develop and never peak. i'm never satisfied with anything really. and not just when it comes to music either. that prolly contributes more than anything else.

How many albums do you have and what are their names?  

there's two albums and an EP under the name the yes yes yalls, which is me as the vocalist (singing and rapping) and twoname jenkins, ryan gilligan and greg barbone as the producers. the names of those are 'boundaries', 'why, why, why?' and 'whinehouse'. then there's a handful of albums and EPs i'm on as part of a group called dumhi, which is all produced by a cat outta philly named haji rana pinya and features whoever the hell he happens to be workin with at the time. the ones i'm on are called 'vote dumhi', 'they call me bruce', '3 seats from heaven', 'flowers' and 'indian summer'. i only rap on those tho. no singin. haj won't let me sing. haha.

At this current moment; what is your favorite part of hip hop?  

the ability to take chances.

At this current moment; what do you hate about hip hop?  

the people that don't take those chances.

Best Emcee now: 

aesop rock. i swear he's actually some futuristic rap robot created by aliens from another galaxy.

Best Emcee 10 years ago: 

andre 3000. he's prolly my favorite of all time as well.

What do you hope people would say about you as an artist?  

he could do it all.

Worst Emcee now:

turn on your radio.

Worst Emcee 10 years ago:

see above answer.

Hardest part of hip hop for you?  

fitting in and being accepted by my contemporaries. i'm a bit of an oddball.

Best all around hip hop song ever...  

definitely somethin from the early-to-mid-nineties "golden age". i can't pick just one tho.

Finish these sentences:

Hip Hop should thank:  bob dylan.

When i write i:  pace back and forth and chainsmoke.

When you listen to my music:  you'll be reminded of a ton of different people.

In my music; i shock myself the most when:  i don't try too hard and it works anyway.

The track i am currently working on is: something very indie rockish with lots of layers and vocal effects. i'm going through a weird phase right now.

My favorite type of track is:  a dark, happy place.

---

What should we look forward to from you?  

whatever i feel like making. it'll be a little bit of everything.

upcoming shows?  

come to jersey. i do shows usually once or twice a week somewhere.  stuff comin up in new york and philly as well.

upcoming songs/albums?  

new yes yes yalls and dumhi albums coming soon. as well as a couple of mixtapes and an album with my man john blake. we're calling ourselves the nayno.

future collabs? 

somebody tell rick rubin and el-p to holler at me.

Anything else?  

plenty. stay tooned.

Featured Artist: Jive The Universal

Stage Name: Jive the Universal

Real Name: Michael

Hometown: Hackettstown, NJ

Website: www.jivetheuniversal.com, www.thestiz.com

Look up Truth in the dictionary and I am sure you will find a picture of Jive The Universal. A true emcee, a true musician, a true audio genius, and most important; a true man. A man who only speaks the truth, finds faith in Jesus Christ, and a man who truly knows his identity. Jive, continually reinvents himself through music. He also finds time to perfect the work done by others in his personal studio; The Stiz. He is an emcee who can sing; and yet a singer who can emcee... he is not one or the other he is the essence of both. Throughout Jives work he will morph from rap cadence to melody and back around without interruption. Seamlessly manipulating his listeners to the point where they are addicted. I proudly introduce you to Jive The Universal...

Q&A

How did you come up with your stage name?

Well, it was a bit of a morphing process. When i was 17, my whole crew was delivering pizzas for all the different pizzerias in town. We all had CB's hooked up in our cars so we could talk and tell each other where the cops were hiding out. It was like a big party line, good times. Apparently the etiquette of citizen band radio is to have someone else give you your 'handle'. Needless to say, i was always rappin and singin when there was dead airspace. These dudes "Crazy Eddy" and "Mr. Big Stuff" thought it was mad funny and came up with "The Jive Man" for me. I went with it, eventually dropping the "Man". Later on, i added the "Universal" because i got so thoroughly involved in so many aspects of music. I sang, rhymed, played guitar & bass, ran a recording studio, wrote songs, produced beats, and whatever else i got into that i can't remember right now. Universal is just a reference to the various attributes now in my repertoire.

Has it always been this name? If not; what were some earlier names?

My first name was Dynamike, and my first studio was called Dynamike Studios. The name got played out quick, and i eventually found a few other people using the same name. I was also pretty wack then. . .haha.

What got you into being an emcee?

A Tribe Called Quest did. I was already playing bass guitar when i really got into hip-hop. The more i listened, the more i wanted to be a part of it.

When did you spit your first rhyme? What was the topic? Do you remember and pieces of it (write a few of the bars)?

Haha, have fun finding an honest emcee that will actually answer this question.

What is your inspiration?

Jesus Christ, my beautiful wife, and my 3 little mans, in that order.

At what point of your career do you feel you truly developed who you are as an artist; and what do you feel contributed to this?

Oh man, hmmm. . . well, i've always been an original dude. My music never sounded like anyone else, even if it was half garbage in the beginning. As i grew in my faith and grew as a man, my music matured with me. I could apply the originality properly, and the outcome would work. On that note, i'm claiming the first rapper ever to rhyme over the 7/4 time signature. 90% of cats won't even know what that means, but for those that do - it'll rock your world. The track is called "I Can't Stop" from my album "Helping You Feel Better"

How many albums do you have and what are their names?

one solo album called "Helping You Feel Better"

one EP with my old rock band Advantage to Crush, it was called "The Observers EP"

i was a part of about half of Nine Circles new album called "Situations"

the rest is just demos and collabos.

you can get just about everything i've done in the discography section of my website: http://www.jivetheuniversal.thestiz.com/discography/

At this current moment; what is your favorite part of hip hop?

Honestly, it's the amount of heads involved. Rappers have been paying the bills in my studio lately http://www.thestiz.com/media/audio/

At this current moment; what do you hate about hip hop?

I hate that mainstream hip-hop is mostly elementary. I miss the lyrics of 90's hip hop. I feel like producers are pushing the limits, but the emcees are just stayin the same. I know there are a bunch of exceptions, but i'm speaking about hip hop as a whole.

Best Emcee now: (and why)

Pharoahe Monch - hands down. Lyrics- dude has more wordplay and well thought out punchlines than anyone out. Flow- his phrasing and rhyme schemes are so complex, you could listen for years before understanding/following it all. He's got as much rhythm with his words as Hendrix had with his guitar.

Best Emcee 10 years ago: (and why)

Big Pun, though Mos and Common were dope then too.

Actually, can i say Pharoahe Monch again?

What do you hope people would say about you as an artist?

He's dope, and there is no one that sounds anything like him.

Worst Emcee now: (and why)

There are so many emcees, actually i should call them rappers, either way there are a ton that i can't tolerate at the moment.

I'm not much of a trash talker though, so they'll remain nameless.

Worst Emcee 10 years ago: (and why)

Whoever it was, they aren't using up any of my brain space.

Hardest part of hip hop for you?

Finding the time. Some people say hip hop is life, but my priorities are straight. . . some people may hate, but there are some things in my life that come before music.

Best all around hip hop song ever...

for me, it's Common "The Light"

Finish these sentences:

Hip Hop should thank: Jesus Christ

When i write i: try not to get stuck in my own box, or make anything routine.

When you listen to my music: have an open mind. Different doesn't mean bad, it just means you gotta give it a few more listens. It'll be worth it.

In my music; i shock myself the most when: i hear something in my head and i can get it on paper - or lay it down in the Stiz just how i heard it.

The track i am currently working on is: (description) A collabo from my boy D.Roc www.drocmusicproductions.com

My favorite type of track is: one that makes you think

---

What should we look forward to from you?

Maybe a song or two here and there ;)

upcoming shows?

Maybe an official cd release show, but we'll see - most of my time is spent in the Stiz

upcoming songs/albums?

I'm actually thinking about putting out a rock EP. Not like Weezy, but legit. Rock music is half of me. I have a bunch of songs that i never did anything with, i just need to assemble the project properly.

future collabs?

Got some stuff in the works with my R&B homie and super producer - D.Roc. We see what else comes my way.

Anything else?

If you wanna buy my album - it's on iTunes, Amazon (mp3 and hard copy), Rhapsody, Napster, and a bunch more places.

If you don't want to support me, but still want my music - it's all good - go here: http://www.jivetheuniversal.thestiz.com/download.html and click the obvious link "CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD. .etc .etc . ." (there's no pop-ups, it'll just start downloading)

Featured Artist: Profyle

Stage Name: Profyle
Age: 25
Hometown: NYC, NJ... Nomadic
Website: www.myspace.com/profyL3

From the beginning; fate, has directed Profyl3 down every path... an artist who doesn't claim a hometown because he is on the constant move wherever the wind blows. He takes life as it comes and then turns his emotions to rhyme. A true emcee who speaks only truth and mixes his honesty with the most intriguing punch-lines and metaphors.... his evolution of emcee-ing is a direct relation to his evolution to being a man. Traced even in his stage name. When "Pro" was younger his nick name was "Low Profile", but as he morphed into a man and broke his shell; he is now an outgoing spirit known simply as Profyl3...

Q&A

How did you come up with your stage name?
Has it always been this name?
If not; what were some earlier names?

The name was actually given to me prior to rhyming. During my first year of college I developed a stoic personality. I was known as that mysterious kid. I stayed rockin a fitted, brim low and my headphones on blaring. Thus I was dubbed low profile. After a while the name shortened and my personality changed. I'm a bit more social now..

What got you into being an emcee?

Fate. The story is long and one day ill explain it but for now know this. I didn't expect for this to happen. It just did.

When did you spit your first rhyme?

I was tipsy chillin wit friends. Someone started a cypha and my boy dared me to jump in. I did and its been a dominoe effect since then.

What was the topic?

Oooo.. Wow. I dunno. I was kinda sorta drunk. But people were biggin me up after. So I guess it wasn't half bad.

What is your inspiration?

Music has always been an outlet for me and when I first started ryhmin I realized that this is the perfect way for me to channel my emotions. Since then what inspires me is a great beat. That beat that gets your mind racing with so many ideas that you just get anxious. All I wanna do is step in the booth and murder it.

At what point of your career do you feel you truly developed who you are as an artist, and what do you feel contributed to this?

Summer of 06. I was pretty much homeless so I was stayin at my boys crib for a few months. He introduced me to a rapper called buddhakai. Buddha was an older head who has had experience in the game and industry. He was truly one of the illest lyrical emcees I've eva encountered. I spit a 16 for him and he was impressed. He took me under his wing and we spent countless nights in the lab recording til 6am, then I had work at 7. That was a crazy summer. Now buddha had his own demons but brought out the best in me. That's just how he was. Selfless. He taught me so much and helped me develop my style and flow. Shout out to him.

How many albums do you have and what are their names?

I only have one Ep and its called Manifest Destiny. I have a few projects in the works.

At this current moment, what is your favorite part of hip hop?

The movement aspect of it and its elements which consists of the emcee, dj, graf head, and b-boy. Hip hop is more than just rap music. An avid hip hop head knows this but the majority of people now have forgotten. My girl put me up on the b-boy tip. I've gone to a few jams and I gotta say this, if your looking for hip-hop, all you need to do is go to one of these. Back to that one question of what inspires me. You can add that to the list.

At this current moment; what do you hate about hip hop?

I don't hate much. There are some things that I don't agree on, but why sit there hating and do nothing about it when I can just do me and love it.

Best Emcee now:

Eminem. Since he's been out he changed the game. He made it lyrical again. His last couple albums were not as great as his first 3 but I heard this freestyle he did on satelite radio.. He fuckin killed it. I was in shock cuz I hadn't heard him rhyme like this since 8 mile..haha. Also that nick cannon, mariah carrey diss was ill too. He ripped it. There are a list of emcees that I can continue on with who are underground but I don't wanna make this into a novel. Tho slaughterhouse is now one my favorite rap groups.

Best Emcee 10 years ago:

Big pun... Why you ask? No, not cause ima fellow puerto rock. But did you not hear Capital Punishment?!?!... Classic. Redman and Method man. Blackout was hot and since they just released the 2nd one, yea you can put them on as best emcees now also.

What do you hope people would say about you as an artist?

"Whoa, he's really good!!" "Did you just hear what he said?"

Worst Emcee now:

No comment

Worst Emcee 10 years ago:

I dunno.. Master p?

Hardest part of hip hop for you?

Getting heard. Even with the internet there's a lot of talent out there doing the exact same thing as I am. So trying to stick out I guess. But whateva, I just do me and make the music I love. Even if just just a handful of people recognize me and appreciate what I do, that's all I need.

Best all around hip hop song ever...

This is tough one.. Thanks mike for makin me think. @$$ hole.. Ummm.. Fu-gee-la by the fugees. Amazing album and great song. You can play that at a club and people will go ape shit. Also just lay back and kick it. All around song.

Finish these sentences:

Hip Hop should thank: I don't think hip hop should thank anything. I think we should be thanking hip hop for even existing.

When I write I: transfer words into energy.

When you listen to my music: pay attention!!

In my music: I try to grasp the listener and help them escape from there daily lives.

The track i am currently working on: its untitled. And in the works. Still needs a hook. Its featuring nolo smart. Another good artist. We each have two verses in it.

My favorite type of track is: An epic one

--

What should we look forward to from you?

Just keep your eyes and ears peeled.

upcoming shows?

Soon

upcoming songs/albums?

I'm working on a mixtape entitled and an album. Dates and names will be given later in time.
future collabs? I'm down to work with anyone as long as they have talent and do not waste my time.

Anything else?

U rock Mike.

Featured Artist: Spa

Stage Name: Spa
Real Name: RJ
Hometown - Hackettstown, NJ
http://www.myspace.com/spathegod

Since a youth, Spa, explored tape-decks and radio stations for music... not just any music; but great music. From day one; Hip Hop became his love. Competitive spirit and the idea of being the best; combine to create what Spa considers "the game; the sport" of hip hop. Which was the most intriguing part to him then... and continues to be his favorite part now. Spa considers his introduction as an emcee; a natural progression of his love for Hip Hop. He spit his first rhyme over one of his favorite beats: "1,2,3" from the Lost Boyz' Legal Drug Money album. Spa develops with every song and every verse; a true perfectionist. His search for perfection within himself is directly related to his love for great music... Spa holds high standards for not only music in general... but also applies these standards to his own work within the booth.

Q&A

How did you come up with your stage name?

a few people take claim to the creation of the name Spa, but basically I had a headband that said the word spa on it (it was a promotional headband from the brand of water called "spa") and the name kinda stuck from there...

Has it always been this name? If not; what were some earlier names?

I think I was gonna use Avalanche at first, lol

How many albums do you have and what are their names?

I have dropped 2 complete mixtapes, first one called The Mixtape which I go in on and really let people know the lyrics are real... then came Stop The Presses which was more serious and I recently released an album with my boy MCMF called NJ Transit which we are really pleased with and we have gotten some great feedback on. My album Raise Your Glass has been a career in the making and is finally almost done.

At this current moment; what is your favorite part of hip hop?

same as always, competitive spirit of, it's the game, the sport, the idea of being one of the best... lotta diversity now too, so many types of hip-hop.

At this current moment; what do you hate about hip hop?

fickle fan base

Best Emcee now: (and why)

I'd say Slaughterhouse as a whole lyrically is the illest right now, Royce Da 5'9 specifically is so dope Bar Exam 2 should be used as a guide on how to rap, Joell Ortiz shit is nasty as hell too...

Best Emcee 10 years ago: (and why)

Jigga hands down, I think he still may be but he takes verses off now to make complete songs, D.O.A. was a hot song but the lyrics are just okay, some tracks he is more concerned with riding the beat...

What do you hope people would say about you as an artist?

that I make good music

Worst Emcee now: (and why)

if someones wack I probably don't listen to them, I always wonder how that Baby Bash dude ends up getting songs on the radio

Worst Emcee 10 years ago: (and why)

no idea

Hardest part of hip hop for you?

trying not to DL everything!

Best all around hip hop song ever...

this is basically impossible, "electric relaxation" by Tribe

Finish these sentences:

Hip Hop should thank: the pioneers of course

When I write I: get frustrated

When you listen to my music: you will never say "that line was wack"

The track i am currently working on is: I'm workin on a whole album, Raise Your Glass, whole album is based around the theme of living life to the fullest, celebrating each day

My favorite type of track is: a primo beat!
---
What should we look forward to from you?

a classic album

upcoming shows?

hopefully soon

upcoming songs/albums?

Raise Your Glass hoping to have it out by September, if not around Thanksgiving

Future collabs?

real excited about a track I did with my boy Praverb from VA dude has worked with some real good artists and we made a classic track called "Soundtrack" with my boy Jive on it as well...