It seems more Big Urban artists are doing big things....

I'm alway happy when an artist that we've covered on the Big Urban is doing big things

Check out future @ myspace.com/youngfuture

Ike Staten is definitely the rapper that made it happen. When he took the other 4 boroughs by storm when he won NG Records & Rap Fanatics magazine's "Set Tha Stage On Fire" last month. This energetic 21 year old has an army well produced beats, and refreshing lyrics about women, day to day life, and the borough he represents....

By YaBoyJavi

 If you haven’t read a book since high school and you’re more than five years removed chances are Homeboy Sandman is not for you. The lyrically imposing emcee is not for the average A-B-C Hip-Hop fan. His clever rhyme schemes and creative conceptualization on Nourishment (Second Helpings) make the mixtape one of the best I’ve heard this year.

 

If you believe you can make it then “Buttermilk” is exactly what you need. On the track Boy Sand shows his lyrical prowess over a smooth trumpet carrying the beat. The Queens emcee turns into an anchorman on “Kain News” where he gives listeners a satirical broadcast of today’s pundit-filled uninformative news; covering everything from crime to the sorry ass New York Knicks.

 

The half-Puerto Rican/Dominican emcee earns points with YaBoy by using Latin vibes on “We Can Fly” where the use of arpeggiated guitar chords common in Dominican bachata dominate the beat. On “Guerra” (War) Homeboy implements a Spanish language hook to let adversaries know he’s prepared for drama.

 

Here are a few bars from Boy Sand on “Extreme Measures,”

 

Like I was Tom Cruise on a Mission Impossible/Dropped out da roof, cock back da tool, pass pop pops round the room…

 

I’m a lowa the boom like the boys in blue/Ya’ll gonna be da Amadous, I’m a do what I gotz to do.

 

Overall Homeboy Sandman’s Ivy League intellect and hood wit earn Nourishment a passing grade.

 

Visit myspace.com/homeboysandman or homeboysandman.com to listen to tracks off Nourishment (Second Helpings).

Jazmine Sullivan, is a 20 year old Neo-Soul/R&B/Jazz Singer haling from Philly. I randomly came across her music on someones myspace, and I was like "who the hell is this!" The song a was her first single "Need U Bad" Produced by Missy Elliot. I fell in love with it instantly, and I started digging around on facebook and the net for more of her music.

This girl has been in the game for a while she was first seen on apollo kids at age 11, singing "Accept What God Allows" and was signed to Jive Records shortly after.




The singer was dropped from Jive records, with the labels "pop" sound at the time they had trouble finding songs for her voice. She is now signed to J Record with a whole host of songs that I find simply AMAZING, she actually wrote "Say I" as recorded by Christina Milian.

And has a rendition of Resentment [also recorded by Beyonce & Victoria Beckham] that could make you cry.

Her Single "Need U Bad" is available on iTunes, and her album is slated for release later this year so be on the look out!

This is an interview we've been trying to get for a long time with Bay Area R&B songress Netta Brielle. She combines a progressive hip-hop sound with high energy vocals, that makes you just fall in love with her lyrics.

Netta has been doing her thing in the Bay Area for years making real noise over there. Opening for HUGE acts like J. Holiday & Trey Songz. She is also the winner of the 2008 Def Jam Mega Star Search, the brain child of ultra record executive Shakir Steward.

She was very open with me in talking about her childhood, her views on the industry, and the passing of her sister last year. Netta is amazingly down to earth with all the success she's had in a very short amount of time....So listen to a brief of the interview or read the full interview below

- Mr. Sykes

Mr. Sykes: In what some would say is a male dominated industry, what are some of the struggles you face being a female artist?

Netta B: I think it’s being taken seriously, you have a lot of women and guys try to get over. “Sell you dreams” Make you feel like they can do a lot of things for you but and the end of the day that’s really not the case, it’s a whole ‘nother story.

Mr. Sykes: What is easiest for you singing, dancing or acting?

Netta B: I love to do all of them equally. But my favorite thing about being an artist is performing. There’s nothing like being on the stage and making people feel good. With the music your providing, it’s a whole different feeling I feel like a whole different person on stage. So I think for me right now it’s really just performing. Having the people step away from a show with a piece of you

Mr. Sykes: You’re the winner of the 2008 def Jam Mega Star search what does that mean for you?

Netta B: I don’t know I’m still so Excited about it. I’ve been doing this for years and to finally have somebody like a Shakir Steward who’s like amazing in the industry have the slightest interest in me. It’s amazing and unbelievable so I’m still trying to take it all in. because that’s a really good position to be in.

Mr. Sykes: What was it like opening for J. Holiday

Netta B: It was really fun and he is so down to earth. He even came to me after the show and said he really liked what I was doing and to keep it up, and he gave me a lot of positive words. And it was really fun, and I just took in the experience and hopefully I can continue to open for big names.

Mr. Sykes: Last year (correct me if I am mistaken) but you lost your sister a few months before the release of “Meet Me On The Stage” how did that affect or inspire you.

Netta B: it was back a year ago in July we were getting ready to release the Mixtape, we were getting ready to have a Mixtape party. My whole family was going to be there. Unfortunately due to gun violence and all the things going on in the bay area she was a victim of gun violence. I t really did something to me and inspired me to be a role-model to young women and to show them, whatever you put your mind to and whatever you wanna do in life it’s possible. And really wish she was here with me for all the wonderful things that are happening. But at the same time I know she’s looking down and I’m bless to have her daughter with me and my family. It definitely tore me down but it gave me another outlook as an artist it opened up a whole new door for me. Now as an artist and me being successful in the industry cuz now I feel like I have to be an inspiration to younger kids and younger girls.

Mr. Sykes: When is the next time we will see Netta Brielle the actress on stage?

Netta B: I don’t know I just graduated from San Jose State University I Majored in theater arts so I really did a lot of the acting there. So right now since I’m out of school I’m really dedicate all my time to music right now. But hopefully very soon I can get in from of the camera on stage, commercials anything I just love being involved with the artists.

Mr Sykes: What inspired the title for the Mixtape?

Netta B: I really like music, music is my everyday its like air to me and a friend of mine got together and up the song together. And we were like why not talk about feeling a guy or liking a guy and maybe using music as metaphor.

Mr. Sykes: Why does music matter to you?

Netta B: Growing up it wasn’t easy for me, my mother was a single parent we definitely struggled. And had a lot of ups and downs and music was what definitely kept me going. And is what kept me inspired to be a better person, and to stay out of the street and not hang out with my friends who weren’t doing the things that they really need to do, in life growing up. So music is everything to me and because I’ve always known what I wanted to do at the age of five ‘til now and it’s everything to me it’s life.

For More From Netta B. Please Visit: http://www.myspace.com/nettabmusic

To Post a Myspace Bulletin Or a Facebook note To this post CLICK HERE

NG Records Presents “Set tha Stage On Fire” Hip-Hop and R&B showcase Sponsored by Rap Fanatic Magazine on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at Don Hills (511 Greenwich St. @ Spring St.) in New York City.


The winner-take-all showcase will feature 10 talented underground artists from the tri-state area. These artists wil be spewing flames and hitting high notes. There's going to be music for the playa and hustla in you, sensual tunes for ladies and gentlemen, and, of course, lyrics with substance.


Headline the night is NG Records recording artist T-Eazy. The Brooklyn-bred emcee will be performing songs live off his new mixtape "Tha Future in Tha Present.
"

Save the date in your PDA or mark it down on your calendar, but don't wait to long to buy your tickets because there going fast.


Email SetThaStageOnFire@gmail.com for artist booking or tickets.

HEY PEOPLE!

For next 8 weeks we are running the Who Is Big Urban? Campaign. So our readers can get more intimate look into the lives of the Big Urban Staffers.

And this week it starts with me! My Music, My Life, My World!

So WHO IS MR. SYKES?


I'm a Blogger and a picture is worth a thousand hits....or something like that, right?

So this is a little photo journal I put together, lets start with what's important to me:










My Family:
I come from a really big family so they are really important to me... And even though I don't get to spend as much time as I'd like with them. when we get together is always fun






MY FRIENDS: There are very few people I call friend, so these people are really special to me...




And these are a few of MY FAVORITE THINGS....

I got some time to chill with Brooklyn born rapper T-Eazy. This dude is two mixtapes deep and definitely making a buzz in the New York hip-hop scene. He was really down to earth and I felt like was talking to an old friend.

Mr. Sykes: You’ve been rapping since you were 14 so how as your style changed from then ‘til now?

T: It’s changed drastically; it’s gotten better and better, perfecting my craft doing what I do. Of course the more you do something the better you get at it, keep going the better you are at it. I’ve been doing it since I was 14, I mean doing as far as not just saying I rhyme. I mean doing it was far as going on stage and performing and having a CD, moving and things of that nature. But of course with each Mixtape that drops your marketing ideas become better, your flow, your delivery, everything is just going up…

Mr. Sykes: So Hip-Hop is a movement so how are you moving the movement?

T: I’m bringing great Hip-Hop back into the Hip-Hop world, industry, the community. A lot of people are just doing cliché, which is cool I’m not knocking anybody get your money baby. But what I’m doing is just delivering great music, and delivering it with a consistent flow. Hard lyrics, just that Brooklyn swagger…

Mr. Sykes: So what’s the best song you’ve written so far? Best track you’ve done?

T: Let me say this, I’ve got different songs that get different reviews. And as far as me I feel that…On my last Mixtape “7-1-8 Wit’ Me 2nd dose” hosted by DJ Joker. I had a song on that called “Never Let You Go” Featuring Neat Streetz produced by my man M-Extra…I would say that it was good song because it got a great response, we performed it great everywhere, touched everyone. Neat Streetz is featured on the song but I wrote her verse. So I wrote from a female perspective, so for me that was something different for me (Mr. Sykes: as far as input goes) Yeah I just showed that it was a great song.. I think it was good concept, but I still deliver great consistent music on different levels.

Mr. Sykes: Who are you listening to right now?

T: T-Eazy! [Laughs] My Mixtape just dropped April 22nd so I’m still fresh out, so I’m still banging me. But you know definitely you gotta still listen to people, you gotta know what’s out there. But I really don’t listen to the radio all day everyday that’s not what I do…

Mr. Sykes: So what your favorite place to go?

T: Studio, that’s where I create all the magic at!

Mr. Sykes: Music matters to you because?

T: Because it’s genuine and it’s pure… you there’s a lot of people that do it for money, some probably just do it for fame. Some people just do it for whatever reason that there may be. But I do it because I love to do it, and that’s the art that I create. I touch people on different levels, different emotions, song topics, and still create that good music the only way I could do it.

Get More From T-Eazy @ http://www.myspace.com/ngdafuture

Click Here to post a Myspace Bulletin or a Facebook Note On this post

*crowd in uproar*

*Jay-Z stands center stage in silence*
"You know, for a second..I thought we were in the mothafuckin Hamptons...New York City, make some NOISE!"
Naturally, for the first night of the Heart of the City tour, Mr. Brooklyn himself had to demand his respect.

Friday, May 2nd was opening night for Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige's "Heart of the City" tour. If you consider yourself a living citizen of New York City you would have been well aware of the sold out shows. New York's dynamic duo opened with "Can't Knock The Hustle" sending Madison Square into immediate uproar as they stepped out in complimentary silver outfits.




Mary took her half of the show next, doing naturally all the crowd favorites from her first couple albums. The whole crowd swayed to "Not Gonna Cry"; They passed overstuffed blunts to "You're all I Need"; They caught the Holy Ghost with Mary to "No More Drama" and held their hearts to "You Remind Me" and "Take Me as I Am". All in all, Mary put on her usual scream fest that we all love and adore. She forced you to reconsider what drives her on stage to a point of what resembles sheer madness-the Holy Ghost? Her life? Or a return to drugs?


"Flashing Lights" by Kanye West was a nice surprise-Now, of course, he didn't appear much to audience dismay, he's currently in Texas doing his own, "Glow In The Dark" tour (Coming to the Garden on May 13th). The stage became swallowed in black as the beat dropped, with strobe lights-very "Glow In The Dark" tour-esque,

She closed her set by shutting the stage down with "Just Fine"-accompanied by pyrotechnics and fireworks that were enough to blind people and singe off all synthetic hair weaves.
While, Hov's set was......
Hov's set.........

OPRAH was in the first row on the show, so I think these photos should make sense to you:

He did an EXCELLENT freestyle about the current stage of America and Obama.....

And Mrs. Hov naturally made a guest appearance. She ran on and did a little booty shake to "Crazy In Love" and ran off.




Memphis Bleek also showed his face, DESPERATE for a check:


All in all, I give Hov an A- in review....
It was a great, but typical Hov show with the addition of the politics..




Whether you came for the Queen of Hip-Hop and R&B, an American Gangster, or whether you wanted those "heroin tracks" one thing will always remain the same...
Baby you like....Hov.

Love,

Your neighborhood friendly,

This past Thursday 4/30/08 I attend a town hall meeting at Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY. I was a little late at but I had the feeling I didn't miss much. The energy in was still and sober as I entered. The we're people of all backgrounds: Black, White, Hispanic, even a few Asian people. Which showed the impact of gentrification throughout North Brooklyn, which played out in different ways within the span of the meeting.










A Time To Heal & Act: A Town Hall Meeting On The Sean Bell Verdict.

The meeting was moderated by April Sliver (left) of Akila Worksongs she's done a lot of great work in the Bed-Stuy, East New York, Fort Greene sections of brooklyn and the entire country and is just generally a great sister.

It was an open forum and there were panelists also, but all we're allowed to speak and ask questions.

The Panelists were:

City Council Member, Letitia James (right) (The 35th Councilmanic District, Brooklyn NY)

A powerful sister, and an amazing speak and she give most people in the crowd a reality check. That is just isn't about the life one young brother, it's about the lives of all our young black men. She voiced how she is afraid for her 17 year old nephew, who like many of us, may wear his Jeans low from time to time, or have on a hoody, or be out late at night. She spoke generally about community accountability. And really moved me and I felt what she had to say.







Community Activist & Hip-Hop Artist, Ashanti Baptiste (Fort Greene Young Film Makers)

This brother briefly spoke on how young black men are often generalized if they speak a certain way or dress a certain way. And this fear and mis-conception among the people that police our communities creates situations like the Sean Bell murder! And being an artist and a young man from the streets mentoring other young brothers that are likewise, they are targeted.

Chair of The Fort Greene Association, Ursula Hegewisch
Was one of only two white people on the panel, and honestly I don't remember what she said. Because she read what she had to say from a paper, and it sounded a little rehearsed and I really didn't connect. Don't get me wrong she is a strong community leader and what she had to say was surely valid it just didn't register with me.


Reverend David Dyson, (left)(Pastor of The Lafayette Presbyterian Church)

The other white panelists, a terrific man of God and I have to attend one of his services when I get a chance. Spoken on his largely mixed congregation, the Sunday after the verdict was delivered how the tone and the aura of the pew had changed. People had questions and needed answers. And how his church is taking a stand on this great injustice.


Laurie Combo, (right) Founder & Executive Director of (The Museum Of Contemporary Diaspora African Art [MoCADA])

A very heartfelt speaker, she spoke on how "We are the people, We've Been Waiting for" loosely quoting Fredrick Douglass. She explained how she started her museum from the ground up soon after finishing school, and wanted to quit and leave so many times. And how black people have become accustom to disappointment and failure and how she had personal responsibility to follow through with the project. No matter how hard to was, in aneffort to end this trend by being an example ( in which she has successively done so). Which relates to the Sean Bell movement in that, we just can't let this slide because of an ill judged verdict, this has been the way for to long. And it is important to be an army of one. these were encouraging words for me being a young black entrepreneur.

Community Activist & Author, Kevin Powell (left)(2008 Democratic Candidate for Congress)

Actually spoke first, and he let us know that people were text messaging him asking, why were white people present at the meeting. And how some people felt that they shouldn't be here, that this wasn't their fight. Powell immediately condemned these messages as pure ignorance. He said, "White people have been in Brooklyn before I was born, and they will be here after I'm gone." This was not the subject of this gathering nor was it relevant. We need these people as much as they need us, we are community and therefore all in the same boat. We have to stand together if this is to end once and for all.

After all the panelist spoke, people were allowed to approach the mic and ask questions and vent their feelings on the matter.

A lot of what was said by the audience was EXTREMELY irrelevantly and hurtful jargon. I was shocked at how some seeming educated people could be so ignorant and closed minded. I was at the point of tears a few times!

Some people spoke on largely on gentrification in the area, and how since there are more white people in the community police violence would only continue to rise.

Others spoke on there own personal agendas and irrelevant personal experience with the NYPD.

In fact the only relevant comments or questions raised that I can recall are:

A gentleman asked a question about the probability of special prosecutor for police that commit these types of acts actually being created.

That is what law makers and community activist are trying for.

Another gentleman brought up the fact that there is no type of psychological screening processes for those that would like to become police officers in New York City.

(So without a screening process of this nature in place, we could have a bunch of trigger happy people with hidden agendas walking the streets in uniform.)

One women spoke on creating a master directory of community groups, and organizations (yellow pages of sorts) So people have resources at their hands when these event occur.

Kevin Powell, stated that will soon be in creation with the contact information collected at the town hall meeting.

All and all my opinion is, the time for action is now! This is greater than just one life taken. It's about the lives of millions of inner city men of color. And the fact that this has happened not ONCE but THREE times, and the perpetrators (New York City Police Men) came off nearly scott free on all occasions!

When will it end? When it's me shot coldly in the streets, by the people that are supposed be protecting me! Or when it's your father, your brother, your son, your nephew, your cousin, your husband?


The greatest asset you have in this country is your voice! Use it! Make calls, write letter, join a march, post a blog, a Myspace bulletin, a note on your Facebook! It will make a difference.

For more infomation on this movement and updates on the case and the Bell family please visit: http://www.justiceforsean.net

So we went down to Fort Green park to meet up with R&B singer Melissa Duncan. This woman was wonderful to interview. She had some interesting things to say and she was really down to earth. She's bound to be a household name!

Mr. Sykes: Hip-Hop is vastly changing so how are you contributing to that change?

Melissa: I think we definitely contributing, when I say we, I mean my songwriting partner and myself (J.B.). As far as music goes we're just exploring a lot of things. Opening up a lot of avenues, we put in a lot of Jazz we wanna do some country with it. And not just because everything is popular, but because music is about everything! So we just wanna grow with it.

Mr. Sykes: What made you decide to come to Brooklyn? Cuz I know you're from Florida so made you want to come up here?

Melissa: Truthfully, J.B. and I just thought it was time for a change. So we where in Miami, and after High School we just thought it was time for a change. So it was either or New York or some place else. So we were like it's New York!

Mr. Sykes: Brooklyn loves you so you need to be here.
Mr. Sykes: So what have you accomplished since you've been here?

Melissa: Well I've been doing a lot of shows, worked with a lot of great people. And we record over at Brown Sugar Recording studio, so we worked with V.I. He's a great artist from Cleveland but he's out here too. But truthfully the biggest thing that New York has given us as songwriters is just an avenue to express ourselves. Where at home it would be a little harder to do.

Mr. Sykes: So in three year Melissa Duncan will be?

Melissa: In three years? Melissa Duncan will be, you know what we really believe is a household name. It's like you got Black & Decker, you got Kitchen-Aid, you got Melissa Duncan. We're just really trying to be in you homes, we wanna be in your hearts. And we look to really touch everything.

Mr. Sykes: Hip-Hop Living is what?

Melissa: It's living the free life. It's coming home really early in the morning, it's traveling a lot. I love R&B, I love Hip-Hop I love everything it's about because there is just so much energy. And sometimes living Hip-Hop is living over the edge and we don't wanna do that! Hip-Hop is just about living in the moment, is really what it is.

Mr. Sykes: Favorite summertime spot?

Melissa: My favorite summertime spot, would definitely be home in Miami! It's super hot! but it's the beach every single day. That's my favorite summertime spot.

Mr. Sykes: What do you like more performing or in the studio?

Melissa: I wanna be honest, cuz I want people to know the truth about me. I love being in the studio it's my own space where I can be creative and become whatever I need to be for that song.

Mr. Sykes: Music matters to you because?

Melissa: Music Matters to me because, it's very important. I know that sounds really vague. But that's just how it is. Not necessarily my voice or my music it's just it matters to me cuz it's important

For more from Melissa Duncan Check out: http://www.myspace.com/duncanmelissa

Link This to your myspace or post a bulletin CLICK HERE

I finally got the chance to do an interview with Hip-Hop group The Barbershop Quartet. A rap group that I'm actually a member of, scheduling was a little tight since we're working on our album, but it was good just to sit down and talk. This group has a strong history starting from way before I even joined. With influences from Spanish boleros to the heavy hitters of underground hip-hop. The Group consist of S. Kai, Geo ( The God Of Diction), Remmus, and yours truly Mr. Sykes all haling from Brooklyn New York. Our motivation is to be the saviors of hip-hop. Our music is real, and we talk about real issues...Album coming soon so watch out for us.

Mr. Sykes: So how long as the group been going on?

Geo: The group as been going since....

Kai: Gotta be three years now.

Mr. Sykes: How did it start?

Kai: We had this group called GS9, we had my man Wize, Geo, Remmus, MAC 40, L Ripper, Hurtz, Element... Anyway I guess you could say we were a hip-hop super group. And just started ripping tracks it was one of those high school things where we started making tracks. And the group already existed before we hopped in. But eventually whole shit split up so we started this new shit. Me , Geo, Remmus, and also you. (Mr. Sykes: every now and then) But still we this new shit going on and we making a lot of movement, working hard.


Mr. Sykes: [Paraphrasing] It's funny how you should mention not being in GS9 from the start, because when I had joined this group after you guys had been together for a while. And I remember being over at your crib one day just joking around saying like: this is like the Fugees and I'm like lauryn hill, I'm here but I'm really not. Then you said 'well I'll be damned if I call Remmus Mr. Roncal, or Geo Mr. Remirez.' And that's how I kinda got my name when I was just like well you can call me Mr. Sykes.

Mr. Sykes: Your Music Is different than everyone else's... There arent really a lot of rap groups out there now. So how are you going to bring back the rap group, in essence?

Geo: Just be real with it, just be real. There's no other way you can do it, as your real with yourself even when you're up there spitting a verse you're not just spitting a verse. You're expressing yourself, people can tell your being truthful. But if you're there just spitting Verses trying to make some money, just writing verses to write the verses, and cash in on it. Then you can tell you're being a fake it doesn't sound as good.

Mr. Sykes: Your music is different also in that fact that you guys flip a lot of Spanish samples, and like old school music, so where does that sound come from?


Geo: Well I grew up listening to a lot of Spanish music and stuff. In the house my mother would always play these old school boleros with sick organs and shit, and crazy singing. I just got the idea to start sampling Spanish stuff originally from my bother, he was the one who started looking thru Spanish stuff. And I'm just the one who caught on to it and I got more deep into it. And eventually I came across this group "The Enemy Of Mankind" and I was already switching all these Spanish samples. When somebody introduced me to this group and that inspired me even more. Cuz he wasn't just sampling English stuff, he was sampling Italian stuff, Spanish stuff and it still rocked as English hip-hop. He didn't even have to spit a Spanish verse and it still rocked.

Mr. Sykes: So with that said, best rap album of the past ten years?

Geo: There is no best... Kai: If you had to chose like one honorable mention?

Mr. Sykes: On a good day what joint could you rock all day and not be bothered by it?

Geo: well on a good day, recently "So. illaquists Of Sound" that one and "Ur Turn" That shit is ill

Kai: I'd Have to say "Blackstar" and it doesn't matter if it's a good day or a bad day...That Mos' and Kweli right there, you gotta feel that.

Mr. Sykes: Mine most people already know, is the "Unplugged" album from Lauryn Hill...I can rock that and it's been 8 years now I still feel it.

...

Mr. Sykes: whats the message behind the music?

Kai: The Message behind the music is life itself. Cuz everything we kick is life itself. It always has a relevance to something. We don't pick up a pen " and oh I'ma start some beef with this cat." Cuz i'm trying to make records sale. Naw it's like, this is going on, we're gonna write about it. We come with a concept we come a beat, we got an idea and we flip it. It's life itself.

Mr. Sykes: Vodka or Cognac?

Kai: I'm not really a drinker...

Mr. Sykes: sure make me look like the alcoholic of the group... I'll go with the 'gnac.

Mr. Sykes: Favorite Video game?

Geo: Metal Gear Solid 1

....

Mr. Sykes: What is hip-hop?

Geo: Hip-Hop is being yourself Kai: Hip-Hop is true expression

Mr. Sykes: What are we going to change the game?

Kai: We trying to bring good music to the peoples ears it's just as simple as that. Like what I just said about the TV and how I don't turn it on. It's the same thing with the radio. I really don't turn it on cuz there's not to much good hip-hop on there. You turn it on and everything is sounding the same. We want it to come to a point where you turn on the radio and you hear good shit playing. and it doesn't have to be us . But if one person or one group can get in there and rock that shit and make people understand it more than just this, chain, bling bling. That's bullshit, that's just jokes and stuff, it's gimmicks. Geo: It's not about trying to act gangster and trying to look cool. It's about making music.

Mr. Sykes: It is all about the music and we're knocking anybody per se. all that shit is valid but thats not all hip-hop is, it's better to have a balance.

Kai: All that shit has it's purpose like you said ain't gon' be no Crank barbershop quartet.


For more from the Barbershop Quartet Check Out: http://www.myspace.com/kaigs9