Tonight was such a blessing I had great time, and I hope everyone that was in attendance had great time. And to all the young people out there, dreams to do come true if you stay on your grind and have faith.

Thanks to all the performers, SITY, Ade Marie, Chanes, Yung Squad, Carly D. & Arson, Yung Mac & Fats (sorry for the sound problems).

We had an awesome turn and please expect more great things from us in the future.

I'm on my grind stay on yours
- Mr. Sykes

PS: THE BIG URBAN MIXTAPE TEAM IS THE SHIT!!!!

So I got a chance to sit down and talk to the spirited R&B singer Adé Marie. She was preparing to leave to fly out to ATL to do a show, so I was glad to catch a moment with her. Generally I don’t speak this way about artists, but it was a real blessing to speak to this girl… I was not in the best mood that day and she encouraged me so much and made me laugh. She is definitely on the rise so watch out for her.

Mr. Sykes: There are a myriad of female artists out there, you have your Beyonce’s, your Ciara’s, your Ashanti’s, so how do you differentiate yourself from those people?

Adé: I differentiate myself by remaining true to myself always! Everything I do has to be a reflection of myself; I’m not trying to be Beyonce, or Ciara, or Rihanna or anyone like that. Every time I sing, I try to immerse my heart and soul into everything I do. When I’m working with other artists, songwriters, or producers I try to let them know who I am. I want them to know about the journeys I’ve been through in my life so that they can understand me. Also I wanna be a trend setter not a trend follower. I definitely don’t wanna be like anyone, I’m Adé Marie.

Mr. Sykes: When did you realize you where mean to be a singer? How did you know you were meant to be a singer?

Adé Marie: I realized I was meant to be a singer ‘cause God told me I was supposed to be singer. He gave me this voice, since I could talk. And When I was 4 years old I was given the opportunity to sing in front of a large crowd, and I embraced it. I enjoyed being in the spotlight and ever since that day I’ve always had the urge to be on stage. Going to concerts and seeing various artists on stage I always wished that I was in their spot, I envisioned their fans as my fans. So That’s always a feeling that was set in my heart…

Mr. Sykes: So who’s in your ipod right now?

Adé: Well I listen to various type of music, it ranges from Sam Cooke all the way to Maroon 5. I’m not just focused on any one artist…

Mr. Sykes: What do you feel is wrong with the current state of the music industry, what do you feel is right with it?

Adé: Lets do this backwards lets start with the positive. Music first and foremost makes the world go round so it’s necessary. But unfortunately music lacks the effectiveness that it used to have. Now a day’s people can just make a hit song if you have a hot beat. But the context of the music is not where it needs to be. I feel that’s a problem that needs to be changed immediately.

Mr. Sykes: Where in the world would you most like to visit?

Adé: I would love to visit the motherland that being Africa, if you haven’t known my father is Nigerian, so I’m part Nigerian. I would love to go back to the motherland and help out as much as I can…Mr. Sykes: What song did you sing in the shower this morning?

Adé: Oooo what song did I try to sing in the shower this morning? Well normally when I get up in the morning I try to do my vocal warm up, you know a little 20 min la, la, la before I start singing. Yesterday I started working on this new song so I was actually trying to figure out some lyrics to the new song I’m putting together.

So I made my way up to the BX (The Bronx for non New Yorkers) to talk to rap group Yung Squad. The group is made up of two gentlemen that go by the names Hollywood Hood, and Body Baggs. I first heard these catz at a performance at 50 Mics Tournament a few weeks back, and as I said then, it was the most hype, energetic, live rap performance I've ever witnessed. This dudes have some serious swagger, with something which consider to be a new sound. And as a group the posses a realness which makes the music they create all the more appealing. These Catz are not your average rappers.

Mr. Sykes: How long have you guys been a group?

Body Baggs: It's been like 3 or 4 years now. I met my man Hollywood about three years ago, doing a little battle in the streets.... Actually they wanted me to battle him, but you know they made a big deal about it. I realized I had a little talent in the game, so we hooked up from there.

Mr. Sykes: Your sound is real different from mainstream Hip-Hop, like at 50 Mics Jay-Z could have been on stage and it wouldn't have been that hype. So where does that sound come from?

Hollywood: ... That's us we're bringing a whole new movement from the last mixtape. You're gonna hear the difference from this mixtape. We got a whole new style, a whole new swagger we're bringing a whole new movement at the end of the day. Cuz it's Yung Squad! I bring the new style, the lyrics, the hype to it. He brings the swagger that's a whole 'nother kind of energy so when that comes together... It's YS

Body Baggs: To feed on to that, we're a little different than the average rappers, than the average dudes....

Mr. Sykes: With that said, if you guys got signed to a major lable what artists/ producers would you like to work with?

Body Baggs: I like Kanye...

Hollywood: I need a Dre beat off jump... I gotta get on a legendary, late, great Dr. Dre beat. It's everybody.... Pharrell, gotta be on that list, Swizz Beats.



Mr. Sykes: So who makes your beats now?

Hollywood: We have different producers, like whoever wants to work with us. We don't have an "Official" YS producer. But it's like we turn nothing into something all the time...(Thanks) 3rd Street Beats

Body Baggs: Shout out to Chris he did a lot of work with us too.

Hollywood: And we're working with Buddha " The Future" you already know Buddha.... (He did) That joint we performed at 50 Mics "Yung Squad Anthem"

Mr. Sykes: What's the message behind you music? What are you trying to bring to game?

Hollywood: Hip-Hop back, no gimmicks all the gimmicks are out the window. Everybody's using it all up. All the T-Pains'. Can be like T-Pain, can't do nobody's dancing not more. We gotta bring back lyrics back, and make real music we're trying to bring y'all that....

Yung Squad[Paraphrased] : We're not hating on anybody out there making paper...but it's time to change

Mr. Sykes: Oatmeal or Grits?

Body Baggs: Grits

Mr. Sykes: Favorite Video Games?

Hollywood: 2k8, 2k Sports

Body Baggs: Y'all wanna know, I really suck at all the games [Laughs] I don't know I'ma say Madden... Yeah I'll be with Madden on this one

Mr. Sykes: What is Hip-Hop?

Hollywood: Hip-Hop is a culture, it's a whole movement, it's society. Everything in Hip-Hop reflects what you do daily, you get up you get dressed in the morning. Whatever you got it's a Hip-Hop swagger that how I feel music motivates you to do different things. That's why we make music, not for "old" heads but for the middle crowd for everybody that's getting into Hip-Hop. They're gonna feel us, those who always been into Hip-Hop they definitely gon' feel us.

Body Baggs: I definitely agree with that.... But it's true Hip-Hop is a culture from the way we dress to the slang we use, it's how we present ourselves in general that's Hip-Hop


Mr. Sykes: Music matters to you because?

Hollywood: Cuz That's the way we gon' get rich and take over this game. That's how I'ma feed my mother, put a better roof over her head.... Take care of all my niggas
Body Baggs: There's a lot that comes with it. I'm not doing it just to do it [Music] Like I said I started out with the poet thing I realized I had talent, I don't wanna be a waste. Music is everything it's like in general.


Get More From Your Boyz Yung Squad @ http://www.myspace.com/yungsquad2

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I met up with Yung Mac and the crew from AVS records, at his car shop in Sunset Park Brooklyn. Actually we do things real down home on The Big Urban Mixtape, so I hitched a ride with them to the car shop.

Dudes had me cracking up in the car! He was really down to earth, and cool with jokes for days. And I think with Yung Mac it's more than just an image, the kid has dreams. It's important to know that Hip-Hop comes in many colors, shapes, and vessels.

Mr. Sykes: How long have you been rapping?


Yung Mac: I been rapping since way long ago, from when I first heard Diddy.... I started rapping early. Believe it or not 6-7 (years old) Everybody I went to like Jr. High with they all knew I was doing my thing. They wanted me to blow, but not everything works out the way it's supposed to.... Yeah buy I've been rapping for a long time.

Mr. Sykes: So who are your greatest musical influences?

Yung Mac: Tupac, I listened to Big L when I was growing up, Big Pun. I don't really like listen to rap to much cuz I kinda start sounding like the person I'm listening to. But I still listen to rap I ain't gon' like.

Mr Sykes: If you didn't rap you'd probably be a?

Yung Mac: I'd probably be still doing what I'm doing now, making money you know whatever... Anyway there is to make money I'd be doing that.... I'm not gonna say I'd be a lawyer or some shit thats not true. Wherever the market is to make money you'll see me there.


Mr. Sykes: Whats your writing process like?

Yung Mac: Yo I go in the booth and I'm off the top of the...Naw [Laughing] I sit down in the booth for a couple of hours. I open up my sidekick (LX of course) go to note pad and I rocks with it. Most of the them it comes out good, I'm my own worst critic so if the shit is wack I won't put it out.

Mr. Sykes: Now you mentioned Diddy, but who made you want to rap?

Yung Mac: I know Diddy isn't lyrical or nothing like that but that kid got the most swag in the world! Pretty much just watching him swag around and shit I just wanted to be like him: young entrepreneur, fly, flashy, having sex with R&B bitches....( I was cracking up) Why not? Why wouldn't you want to live that life, that's the life I wanna live minus the R&B bitches.

Mr. Sykes: Grilled cheese or Bread & Butter?

Yung Mac: Grilled cheese

Mr. Sykes: Love or Money?

Yung Mac: Love...and Money...Louney!

.... The love of money?

Yung Mac: Mofve....Ha!

Mr. Sykes: Favorite food?

Yung Mac: Big Mac

Mr. Sykes: hottest chick in the game?

Yung Mac: My girl

Mr. Sykes: 7th or 10th grade?

Yung Mac: 10th grade was my prime had a lot of R&B bitches there.

Mr. Sykes: What has your experience been being an Asian rapper? ( By the way he's Vietnamese not Chinese just to clarify)

Yung Mac: I try to drift away from being THAT Asian rapper but somehow it always pulls me back in. I'm just trying to go with the flow... The Asian community, I can't say that they accepted me or anything like that. Cuz I haven't really blown up or anything like that. From how my career has been going I really don't mind, I like the way it's going.

Mr. Sykes: Do you feel that they will support you?

Yung Mac: Once I get that deal and start making them hits! I'M THE BEST!!!

Mr. Sykes: Have you faced any backlash for other hip-hop artist...?

Yung Mac: Just me being the person that I am, being Asian, dressing fly having money. Not only in hip-hop, that's just pure jealousy from the get go. But the fact that I rap will just add to more envy, and stuff like that... That's with anybody.

Mr. Sykes: What are you doing to changing the game?

Yung Mac: .... Just doing me... I'd open the door for people, shout to Jin who I feel he tried to open the door for me. But I'm willing to open he door for people, But I ain't gonna hold the door for that long tho'. Cuz there's money to be made... Just fucking be a millionaire, I'm trying to be a trillionaire... WE THE BEST! I'd be a trillionaire; is that away of changing the game? Let me be real, I wanna make hit music cuz I know me and my team are capable of making hit music. Turning pop, making records with Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, why not? and for no fucking reason do a record with Nas!

For more from Yung Mac and the Crew from AVS Check out: http://www.Avsquad.blogspot.com & http://www.yungmac.blogspot.com

So this past Thursday I was invited to the 50 Mics competition @ spotlight live in time square. I'm very shy (even though most people can't tell) so when I got there, initially I didn't speak to anyone. I took a few pictures of people that where around before the show, and the venue itself. I spoke to my connect there Kareem Davis of Sandbox TV, had a drink and took in the atmosphere. And I realized how strange it was for me being at a show and not having to perform myself. I mean you hear people warming up in bathroom, and in green room. You see them pacing back and forth, nervously talking to their managers and friends; and for the time I'm on the other side of that.

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