JVNEBVG

Jungle & Punk Rock music with PS1/PS2 era of video games mix them together and you get JVNEBVG; His high tempo and energy puts your mind in the middle of the best rave Y2K rave of your lifetime. Inspired by snowboarding game series SSX, JVNEBVG music will make you feel like your playing SSX Tricky.

Where are you from, JVNEBVG?

I'm from Park City, Illinois.

Where’s Park City located in Illinois?

Park City is in the north, like in the north right by Waukegan, Wisconsin like the border.

Describe your style of music?

I describe it as drum and bass mixed with hardcore and rap and stuff like that. So it has multiple elements, especially with punk too, with more vocals; and what I'm saying in the songs, it's kinda like the style I guess. It's like new tech, I call it.

You have a lot of SSX references in your songs. How has that game series influenced your music?

Yeah, So I used to play like hella SSX when I was a kid. Listening to the playlist and fusion frenzy as well; just like that whole style of music, I would listen to a lot. (So as a kid that was my favorite.) I mean, I listened to everything, but those were the specific genres was like the style that I really liked and enjoyed. So I was like you know, I kind of wanted to more influenced by that so I wanted to make music kind of like that, you know

Which artists growing up inspired you to find your new sound of music?

Dang, This is kinda difficult , because like a specific artist is kinda hard to pinpoint it. But I mean growing up I’d listened to a lot of Slipknot and 50 Cent. And I don't know the style vocals of Slipknot, like in especially, “Duality” that song I really like the vocals; how they mix them and everything. So I was really inspired by that. And then 50 Cent, just like how raw his vocals were and stuff. So it kinda inspired me to just to tell your story and kinda be who you are. So listening to him and Slipknot they influenced me a lot to make the music I write.

What's something about you that most people wouldn’t know?

I have played World of Warcraft, like a lot and I actually coach high school wrestling.

You're big on wrestling?

Yeah, I grew up wrestling in high school and stuff like all that. I come from a little wrestling family, so that's what kinda did out here, especially in the Midwest, you know?

Tell us about your new project, Park City.

So Park City is pretty much about where I'm from. Obviously it's named after where I'm from. But  essentially, all the songs in there, it's not like all of them aren't specific life stories of mine, but some of them are about things that I see in the world. like, that I saw growing up or like other people's stories that I've seen like, some friends & neighbors and stuff, and just kinda like the environment. It's like because it's pretty Park City is just like a trailer park located up north. So it's like a 2 little sided neighborhood. It's like on the other side of the tracks of Waukegan. So that's kinda like what the whole vibe is, you know, pretty much trailer park vibes and mixed with where I'm at now in life.

You have 1 song on Paradise on Park City that has a different tempo to it, can you kinda describe that track for us?

Yeah so Paradise was actually one of the last tracks we did on the project, by the guy who produced it all, Joshwa, he pretty much told me “check out this beat, I think it'll go well on the project.” And I just love the beat and I felt like I could tell a story in that song. So I was able to do those things, and I was like yeah this song belongs on the project. So even though it's a complete switch from what I'm usually doing, I just thought it fit the vibe and whole sound of the project and everything.

What motivates you every day to make music?

Honestly, I just fucking love making music man; Like it's one of my biggest passions ever. I'm like awkward as fuck as a person and shit, so like making music is kinda like where I feel like I can really be myself and separate myself from feeling anxiety and all that stuff. So making music to me is really just kind of a passion thing. I just really enjoy honestly making anything to be honest.

What message would you give to someone new that wants to jump to music but doesn't know what sound they would like to make? 

I'd say, like go experiment, just be open to new sounds. You know what I'm saying? Like, you only got one life to live, so it's good to experiment and just listen to things. There's a bunch of genre blending nowadays, so you can blend so many different styles and everything; So just get into that kind of stuff, especially different sub genres.

How do you feel about the new generation of music?

I think it's really cool. I mean, people are doing new things. They're bringing back old things. They're, like, you know, mixing new things, mixing old things. And I don't know. It's just kinda like how music's always been. It's always been, like, you know, just certain eras of people, like, whatever they got going on, you know.

What song right now from any artist that kinda, like, gets you up and pumping every morning?

I've been listening to “Safety Dance” by Men without Hats. It's like one of my favorite songs right now. Just like, I don't know, the fucking extended version's sick because the intro it's like open vocals and after they say safety dance, the beat kicks in. It's just something that's really cool that they made in the eighties. So that's kinda what I've been bumping a lot right now.

Where can we find your new project, Park City?

You can find it everywhere. It's all over, Spotify, Apple Music, and everything. It's not on SoundCloud yet, but it's gonna be on SoundCloud. I just the distributor is kind of annoying, so I gotta work around that. But it's on everything else though.

Thank you for your time.

Thanks man, I appreciate you.

Niah J

Everything goes in a full circle weather in society it’s Music, Fashion, or Art; with Indie/Alternative and R&B artist taking back the forefront spotlight in music it’s great to see a new generation of creatives put their spin and emotions into music genres that where in their peak eras for many of us that were growing up in the early 2000’s. Niah J is one of those artists who bring back that nostalgic sound many of us listened to BET during there prime era.

Where are you from Niah J?

Southside of Chicago.

Southside your whole life?

Yeah for most of it, my first four years was on the Westside.

Describe yourself as an artist.

I would say I'm more so into R&B and Soul, so I would say really soulful, I have a really soulful voice. I’m very versatile too, because I'm able to really replicate a lot of different notes and different things. Like I'm able to duplicate voices when I hear them. So I will say like I'm kinda versatile when it comes to music.

Growing up what artist inspired you to do music?

Beyonce and Chris Brown, those are the main two. Chris Brown more so for his stage presence. He has a really good performance and entertains really good. So I look up to him in that aspect for stage presence and things like that. Beyonce, she's very vocally advanced; Like when it comes to runs and stuff like that, that's who I really used to look up to because she's very very advanced; Like she can do anything and everything.

Outside of music, what do you do?

I'm into cameras and a little bit too in video editing, I went to school for media, I have a certification in media and broadcasting. So I kinda work on that on the side to, work on my own projects.

Have you ever done any types of interviews or podcasts before?

Yes, I used to have a podcast called Press Podcast where I would find underground rappers, singers, and entrepreneurs around the city and just gave them a spotlight on Fridays.

What made you stop doing that?

I really wanted to dedicate my craft to music. I'm really multifaceted, but I felt like my calling was music. So I'm really trying to put my all into that and see where it take me.

So whats your input on the current era of music?

I feel like there are a lot of talented people, especially coming out of Chicago for one. But all in general, I feel like there are a lot of talented people. I feel like one thing that the music industry lacks is genuineness. That's what art is really about, Art is really about being genuine to who you are, true to who you are, and it's lacking a lot of that which makes it easy for people to put out bullshit.

With the new rise of new R&B artists, do you think it has a possibility of becoming greater or Equal to Y2K R&B?

I think it does has potential, but part of me feels like some of it is converting back to the early 2000’s R&B. Like with a lot of artists that I find on Tik Tok they're really talented. And it kinda makes me fall in love with it personally because it sounds like some of the songs that I like to listen to from the early 2000’s, like the Ashanti's and the Rihannas. You got some people that are R&B and who are shifting to it bringing a different sound to it.

Tell us about your new single “Advantage Exchange”.

Well, my new single, Advantage Exchange, is basically about bending gender norms. Like a lot of the times men feel like they can do what they want and not have any repercussions towards it. And usually when that happens it's doesn't work in a woman's favor. If a man does something, it's because he's a man. But if a woman does something, it's because she's a hoe or you know.

So more asking for more equality between men and women.

Yeah It's basically, that's what it is. Like just showing women empowerment as well. Like, letting women know that just because when you get with a man doesn't mean you have to lose your backbone. Like when you get with a man, still stay true to yourself and know your worth. I’m really big on that, women empowerment, women keeping their backbone, whatever the situation is in their relationship, knowing their worth. Women's voices should be heard, no woman should be silenced, and I'm not for that. Every woman should be feel free to be able to express how they feel about certain things or what they've been through without judgment.

Your new single “Advantage Exchange”, how has that been influenced with the current way of R&B?

To be honest, I feel like it's it wasn't really influenced by the current wave of R&B or the R&B music today. That's what kinda pulls me apart from everybody else; I kinda revert back to the early Beyonce and Rihanna, I would say not 2,013, but 2,010s. That soulful pulling your vocal you know, pulling your vocals out of yourself, testing yourself to do different notes and runs, and singing was with a lot of compassion. I feel like that's where my singing was rooting back from. I kinda stem from those eras and just being able to really sing your ass off.

With your new single and other songs, how has music inspired you as a black woman in today's society?

Musically seeing my peers come up whether that's Muni Long, Teyana Taylor, I'm really big on her, so on and so forth. I feel like right now in this day and age, like, I just turned 22. A lot of things are coming into perspective with me. A lot of my inspiration really comes from, my ancestors. I'm not gonna lie. I feel like a lot of the inspiration really comes from the people before me, like the Nina Simone's and even before, you know, as a black person, we've been through a lot. So I feel like if I'm a do something, I’ll go out of the way and that's what really inspires me to do such to do as such.

A lot of music you hear sampled is inspired by early black soul singers.

One of my favorite soul singers is Nina Simone. I play a lot of her music, I really love her music. How versatile she is, She kinda puts me in the mind of Beyonce as well. Like it's just that strong vocal that right when she opens her mouth, it's right in your face. It's very strong, It catches your attention. It demands your attention, It's very dominant, and it has a really big statement it says something.

If you can travel anywhere in the world to go to any concert and preform your new single, where would you go?

I would say London, I feel like they really messed with the song. I don't know, I'm really big on the artist in London right now; so I feel like that's part of the reason why. Sasha Kiebel, she's really good, I really love she has a single called “Hold Up”. It's really good, like I can kinda relate to her sound. She's really good at her runs, she kinda has that 90’s, early 2000s kind of vocals, and it's not monotone. That's what a lot of R&B is today, like monotone. So she really challenges herself and pushes the norms, and she put that song out, It's really good.

What are some inspiring words you can give to new artists that want to step into music or get back into R&B ?

Don't be scared to be different. Be yourself. No matter what other people say, be yourself. Don't be afraid to be the eyeball because that's what's gonna make you different.

Where can we find your new single?

You guys can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube and SoundCloud at Niah J. The song is called Advantage Exchange. I also got the video out on YouTube too, so go check that.

Young Jasper

From music, skating to talking to an operation system; Young Jasper is one of the few artists I have personally had the opportunity to hangout and shoot a music video and just grow up with in my teen years to my adult. I stopped by Jasper crib to do a quick photoshoot and pick his brain about his career/life and his newly released single LoveSick.

All right, back with another interview, I'm with?

Que onda, Young Jasper, That's the name Young Jasper, you already know.

Where you from?

South side, Chicago, You know what I'm saying? Not really brick city, but definitely Brick City.

Describe your style of music to us.

I want to say like, uh, I don't want to say like, be/cliche and say it's different and shit like that, but it's definitely is its own vibe. Outside of the South Side of Chicago, outside of Chicago. It's just like own world, for sure. It's just it's completely different from anything you heard in Chicago from, like, what's going on right now.

What got you into music?

Um, shit. I've always been an artist, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's just that's that's just in the culture. And, um, you know what I'm saying? Around the time I grew up, you know, it was just. It was just kind of like, perfect. You know, I started, like, super early, so.

Is there a certain artist who’d impacted your career?

Definitely. Um, Wiz Khalifa, ASAP Rocky. Um, that was like my main two. That was like the two that really influenced me, for sure.

What's your favorite city you've traveled to so far?

Um, I'm gonna say Paris and Amsterdam. Paris and Amsterdam is like my two favorite places. Two. The two places I can hide out in the world. It's definitely Paris and Amsterdam.

If you were in any of those two cities right now, what meal would you go get?

In the morning in Paris. Definitely a coffee and some croissants. Maybe, uh, maybe, um, I don't know, some eggs or something. And then the Amsterdam steak and eggs.

You spent time a bit ago with Comethazine. Can you kind of tell us about that experience with him traveling around?

It was it was like, um, it was like, you know, your average fucking rockstar tour. It was like a whole bunch of fucking around and bullshitting and making money, and you know what I'm saying? Just like doing shows and yelling at people. Yeah, it was great.

Thats dope how do you feel about the current style of music right now?

Um, You know, I think it's, I think music is definitely in a great place right now, but, uh, currently what's being pushed is, you know, it's not so great, but that's okay. You know what I'm saying? I don't mean that bad music is like, you know what I'm saying? The forefront is going to take over for long. You know, good music will have its place and it will come back. But, you know.

If you could live in any era of music between the past couple of decades, which one would you live in?

It's a hard it's a hard battle between the 70s and the 90s. Yeah.

All right, so you got a new single out called LoveSick, Can you explain that one to us?

Lovesick is definitely a song that that you can interpret however you want to. And I want people to make it as personal as possible. And for me, I know you can just hear it in the music. You can hear it in the song. You know, if you really want to hear what it was for me. But I definitely want people to take it very personal for them.

Who inspired you to make this song?

Menticide, This song I made called Menticide inspired me to make LoveSick.

All right. You dropped two albums back to back in 2022.

Gabos 1 and 2. Yeah. Damn, bro, I shit those, like. Okay, so Gabos 1. Um, I think Gabos 1 or was it Gabos 2? I don't know, it might have been on tour on both of them, actually. But yeah, those are kind of like my favorite tapes I got, um, I got, um, tatted on my neck and shit like that, and, uh, yeah, I made some really good music in that time. Those are my favorite tastes because of the time that I was making it in, like, those are the most fun times, like, ever. Like in life.

What does Gabos mean to you?

It means game ain't based on sympathy. So you know that speaks for itself. Game ain't based on sympathy. I don't really I don't really sympathize for shit. So like, you know, I don't really expect people to do it for me, vice versa.

Then the following year after that, you dropped all your Scooba EP.

Yeah, yeah. That shit. Um, that was just like, you know, that was just like some quick, some quick, uh, preppy boy shit that I was on. Some preppy boy disrespectful Chicago nigga type vibe.

What's next for you as an artist? What type of projects you got coming up?

Right now, I got a project in the works that's actually about to come out within the next month or so, but right now we're pushing lovesick, and it's definitely all about Love Sick within these next couple of months, because this is a really big song and it's a really like it's a really important song for everybody to hear. And as far as what's coming after that, expect a lot of videos. Expect to be introduced into a world.

What are some creative things you do outside of music that kind of give you that boost and that creativity?

Um, I fucking, like, talk to computers. I code. Um, I fucking play with computers. I read and fucking write on them all day. Um, I fucking like, what else do I do? I skateboard. Um. Play guitar. I've been learning guitar for the past, like, almost two years. So. Yeah, I've been, like, getting really, really good, spending a lot of time on my guitar and shit and, um, learning about a lot of music and paying attention to a lot of rock stars and shit, getting a lot of inspiration from them. And, um, yeah, that's kind of just where my whole drive been that lately.

If you could perform a set at any concert right now, what concert would you want to perform at?

Uh. Any concert. It'll probably be, um. It'll probably be, like, rolling loud. Um, we, like, maybe, like, rolling loud or any, you know, anything that's just got a big headliner. To be honest.

Would be that first song you want to perform on your set.

I would love for lovesick to blow up right now, and that'd be my first song I come out to. Boom! Hit that bitch and go crazy.

The other year you did a collab with Joe FreshGoods and Vans. We seen you modeling in a little fit. Explain how that whole collaboration came together.

Um, that was some shit. That was some shit my manager put together. And then, um. Yeah, we just we just rocked from there. Um, he got me into it with Joe Freshgoods and shit. So he made that connection, and then. Yeah, it was just up from then on. Bro said he wanted me to, you know, be in the be in the shoot for the for his new drop. And it we just made that happen.

Word. What are some creative tackle? I'm that one more time. What are something creative you want to tackle or accomplish this year?

Um, I definitely don't want to be cliche and say money, but money. Um, money. More music. Like better music. I don't even care to make a fucking thousand songs. I want to make really fucking solid songs that, you know, like that introduces people to my life now because it's different than, you know, everything that I've derived, like when I was younger and shit.

Last but not least, what is your message to the youth that wants to get into the music but might be hesitating?

I must say, don't listen to me, do your own research. That's what the fuck I'm gonna say. And I'm gonna say also, don't listen to anybody the fuck else. Do your own research, and then. Yeah, you will see if it's for you or not.

Any any last things you want to say?

Love sick is out now on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Google. It's pretty much anywhere you can ask Siri. You can fucking ask Alexa. You can ask shit, anybody? They find it.

Thank you for reading, to listen to New Single LoveSick and more music from Young Jasper Click Here. More photos from our shoot posted down.







HXRY NOT HENRY PT. 1

From producing beats, rapping to singing R&B this artist has amazed me in his talent to make beautiful/ relatable music. HXRY is a Chicago based artist I’ve been lucky enough to watch his transformation from the beginning to the artist he his today. This is the most interesting interview I’ve done yet listening to HXRY down to earth answers straight from the heart. I’ve decided to make this interview two parts due to the length of the answers.

“Yo, it's your boy Harry, not Henry. That's HXRY you feel me and I'm here with my boy Jordan.”

Feeling good?!

So tell the tell the fans or any new listeners more about yourself, tell us about the style of music you make.

“I'm kind of in the middle of that right now, like figuring out what it really, But if I had to show somebody who didn't know me, I would say R&B or like electro, funk or something, you know?

Been producing for, what, ten years? Started singing like three years ago and motherfuckers heard me on track and said, Hey, That's your bread and butter. So I kind of went with that and just. I love that shit. Its purpose in it, you know.“

What got you into making music.

“Shit, It's high school man, this dude he claimed to be a rapper; He was a singer in my chemistry class; and he said he had a mixtape, and I lied and said I had one, too. He was like, Yeah, because you're no rapper if you ain't got no mixtapes. So I made a fucking little mixtape at home, downloaded some YouTube beats and shit off Audacity showed it to him. The next day I recorded off my web camera. He's listening to it nodded his head and shit. I was like, You fuck with that shit. This is my mixtape. He's like, Nah, this shit ass. I was like, Bro, give me my $100 bro, and everybody was like, How you do this? And I showed them and they had all the homies coming over to the crib and we was just like Man, we can't keep using YouTube beats. So I started making my own beats and they was making songs. They was long as fuck, I kind of condensed everything down and then that's how I started producing, Music always been around like my mom she’d song in a choir, My dad played drums and bass.”

So you come from a musical household?

“Yeah at first they weren't super excited about me telling them this is what I was doing. I was like, Y'all did that shit. They said, yeah, but we did it so you ain't have to. I was like, What the hell?! How the hell you create? So I ain't got to? It's just funny though man. But Yeah, Music Always been around; Mama played like Mary J. Blige, D'angelo, Disco. My Dad gave me all the weird shit. You know, rock, punk, old edgy hip hop; You know what I'm saying? So it's like a mixed household of music.”

So you blended both together and here now we got Hxry

“Yeah, Damn near, my dad big in the funk. It's like sometimes I make shit and I show it to him and this some shit I’d listen to.

When I first met you, you were living downtown on Clark Street, making these crazy beats, songs that no one ever heard sitting in a vault.

“Yo Clark St was crazy. Downtown two story loft. Just nothing but artists and shit, throwing events, you know. That shit was big in the Hypebeast culture, like skaters and shit like that coming through, you know pop up shops, music. It was just a hub since it was downtown and everything was right there. It just made you want to make… you felt like you just had to be doing some shit. Especially in a house full of all the people that you was in. Like, its was really just go hard or go home. Because I was I had just graduated college when I was living in there, so it was like that was me taking a step out. It was way out of my comfort zone. It was a fucking raggedy ass two floor, like wooden stairs falling apart as house, you know what I'm saying? It was a lot of opportunity, though, you know, meeting you. You mean a bunch of different artists and shit? Like fucking G Herbo. That was random as hell. G Hebro came upstairs and shit with some timberland boots in July, and I was like, Damn, boy, you got them big ass boots on. He's like, “That's how we do.” I was like, boy, you got five big toes in them big ass boots, he was like “Oh, you're a funny nigga.” know some funny shit, and I was just getting to know his ass at the time. Because he just had a kid. So I was just kind of picking his brain, you know? It's like people want to get connected with it more than anything. That shit make everything move around. Once you feel like you can relate to somebody's experience. Like sometimes you may feel alone doing some shit, you know? That's how I feel sometimes, and I'll be making music like feel alone with some shit. Then you put it out there, you put it on the tape and other people could hear it, and that's when they start relating to it. You know, “I got married to this song” or “you know, this helped me out of depression.” It's like, Damn, I wasn't the only one that was feeling that shit, you know what I'm saying? So it's like it's connecting with people always been the big thing. I think that house really started that shit for me.”

So tell us about Peace of Mind.

“Bruh Peace of Mind… Peace of Mind is my baby first born Shit. It was a summer random ass summer and I was going through a rough breakup. It was my first time living on my own, you know, outside of my parents and just really hustling and grinding every day. It was just a lot of changes, you know, I wasn't comfortable, and the only thing that made me feel comfortable is riding my bike, you know, writing that tape, listening to beats and just try to make a tape. At first, it's just I just was making music during that time period of my life and I listen to all the songs. I was like, Damn this all feels the same. It all feels together. So yeah, just and I always listen to the songs while I was riding my bike and it just gave me the title just came up like peace of mind, you know, because that's really what I felt when I was making it and listening to it. Yeah, that was crazy time.”

So with that the creation of this tape, it followed into your debut album, Reflections.

“Yeah, Reflections came from a different place. A show, I think with peace of mind, all of the music comes from me and my experiences and shit, so it's not different there. I guess. Yeah.”

You got me thinking about it like it ain't really different. I think as long as I'm true to the music and I put that shit in the music, I can always listen to it and be like, Damn, that's the shit I went through. I'm on the other side of that now. And that's that's really what reflections felt like. Like I had been going I was goin with a shorty for nine years, you know, We had just broken up and it was giving me time to reflect on myself. You know, a lot of people like to throw fault in the relationship. Oh, she did this, She did that. and it's like, damn, what did I do? Uh, that was really reflections for me, you know? Got a different type of peace. It was a solace in quarantine, you know what I'm saying? I was by myself a lot and just had a lot of time for reflection, so I just picked up a bunch of instruments bass, guitar & drums and just made that shit from scratch and I'm proud of that. Like that's my like, I made that motherfucker, you know, I ain't got no production features on that. I made everything. Peace of mind. I collab with Kaitlin Ellis, Ordinary Youngster, Aaliyah, Low Foul on Mr. Freeze. So it was like that was just really like peace of mind. Really felt like it rallied the people you know and as a reflection is really like it was more self-reliant. You know, when they get on they get the motivation and the and the get the the. Just like the change that I really needed for myself coming out of a long ass relationship and and self-identity, figuring out who I am. You know, I really feel like Reflections was a big ass time in my life as well. Held important and those the way the way those projects came together stick with me. I'm sure that's how I try to move forward in my next art, you know, and just make sure it's true to me and I'm not making, you know, casamigos music, club shit, random ass. Like, you know, anybody could do that shit. It's been they've been there, done that. They, you know, niggas they did a video in the strip club, throw some ones and shit and call it a day. It's like, no man, I don't move like that.”

What are some other like words and feedbacks you got from people who’ve listened to your album?

“A lot of people tell me I sound focused and I sound like I have no doubt in my heart. When I was making that, I knew exactly what I wanted to say. I was talking to my boy Mars out in LA and we was talking about that just like, What do you want to say before you even write the music? And I think once you figure that out. Is potent like and when it's potent, these people feel that shit. I think that's the most important if people feel your music.

People like, it's like it sounded like a real, real ass studio album. I was like, Bro, I did that in the crib shit, you know? People was really just telling me like, I could really tell what you, what you've been through, you know? And this helped me. Like I was going through a break up and, you know, these songs even like the way it's sequenced and all that shit, like people just a lot of praise on just how I put it together. I try not to let that get to me because it causes pressure for my next work. It's like, Damn, I got to make this one. Like, you know better than that one. I think it comes better when I'm not thinking about none of that shit and I'm just literally and surround myself and just how I'm feeling; And once I forget about the plays, the commodities, the fucking, the platforms I could be on, I just really start to focus on myself and my feelings. I think that's when the music the best. So I try not to, you know, listen to Too much on like where it gets people as long as they're relating to it and they feel it, you know, there's a gratification enough for me. But I think validation is a slippery slope. You know, you can be chasing that shit. So try not to Appreciate the praise, but I think I try not to just. Just drink the Kool-Aid of that shit so much, you know.”

Yeah, I hear you on that one.

So I've seen Lady, you've been working in classic studios a lot, which you've been cooking up?

Shit, man. I think, like, studios. It's like a whole different era of my life. You know? Mind was a era, reflects the era. You know, just working with classic, that's a whole different era. Like I've been doing this shit by myself for about ten years. So to really collaborate with somebody else and, you know, be around other musicians and shit and it really feel like I'm like putting my footprints down in the city because, My presence is usually online, you know, scattered stuff like that. People know about me on the Internet wise, but I never really felt like I had a Chicago traction. I think working with Classic just really kind of established that and just people kind of know me more in the city, just doing more shows, getting out there more, being outside, going to events and, you know, stuff I really wasn't doing before. And that just opens a whole new lane of opportunity for me to new people and collaborating. my band like things that that just happen, I think a lot of things come at face value when you're like in the city working with people. It's easier to connect and especially if everybody got good intentions and you're vibing, right? you know what I'm saying? You never know what comes from that shit. So like, Classic was one of the dudes, like first it was Jimmy my boy Jimmy. I was doing studio classes in quarantine. He used to come over and watch me produce and he had just started interning at Classic.

He's been there for a couple of years and he said he came back to me. He was like, Hey man, I've been here for a couple of years. I want to be able to help you out, you know, I got some leverage in the studio, you know, So he made a whole ass PowerPoint, and we had a meeting with classic, and classic you know, you can see the PowerPoint. Jimmy left the room. He was like, Hey, man, Jimmy should be your manager. I was like, why you say that? This nigga made a PowerPoint for you, bro. Yeah. I was like, Would you have made a PowerPoint? I was like, Nah. He's like, you know what I'm saying? So I think just kind of working with classic and seeing how he moved with Smino, that's like an inspiration, you know, in terms of how Smino can kind of move his own culture and everybody kind of just like feel that shit, you know what I'm saying? It's like to a to a certain extent, the artists start creating a culture and I think smino on the verge of that. So it's like good to be in close proximity to that, to see how that happen, you know? And I also know every artist got their own way of doing that. I think I'm just really trying to figure out what's mines.

But it's good being around, like, classic and everybody just hell of people I don't got to meet. Just being more active in the city. Brian from Pokey Studios, King Marie, A lot of talented people, Chance & Peter Cottontail. Just people that I’ve even seen on TV and shit. You know, that's from the city. Now I'm getting able to see him in person and just seeing how they got to the point to where they had, you know, it's it's just real eye opening for me because I'm still trying to figure this shit out.

Thank you for reading this part of the interview, stay tune for the second half of the interview and collection of photos from HXRY.

New Creative Direction/Summer Smash 2021

Summer Smash was definitely a hell of a way to finish out the last few weeks of summer. Three days of aching feet and large doses of caffeine to compensate for the little hours of sleep I had gotten. Running around and taking photos of the artist compared to going and seeing your favorite artist perform such a huge differences; I appreciate not standing in a crowd full of sweaty strangers.

I’ve been thinking about switching to a medium format camera like a Mamiya RB67. Shooting digit these past few years has been but it time to try something new, I haven’t been shooting lately to rethink concepts and art style. I’m want to go in a different direction with my art.

I don’t have too much to say this time around. Here a couple of my favorite shots I took at Summer Smash; enjoy and thanks for reading.

Rocks, Dirt and Healing

Its been a while since I done one of these and its has definitely been a long time since I’ve traveled somewhere outside of Illinois. Getting on a plane for the first since 2019 was very weird at first. Being stuck on a cylinder shape air type fast moving vehicle thousand on feet above the ground during a pandemic had me paranoid, but hey it felt normal once I got on the plane and sat down, everyone wore a mask and not one soul complaint about it.

Finally got the opportunity to go back to Arizona and got some hiking in around some of the mountains. Man it feels good to able to get out my natural surrounding and see new things; do new activities that I couldn’t normally do in a more urban city like Chicago. The only I forgot I dislike the most when I travel out to western states is all the driving I have to do.

For those who don’t know I’m not a big fan of driving long distances, after an Hour and half I cringe to get out the car and move around, but of course everything is so spread out; I be trying to telling myself just to hold on your almost there.

Driving from one side of Phoenix to the other from where I was staying is about an hour and 20 mins….. thank god for music I don’t know how people way back then travelled so much like how did endure those long journey by themself on horseback.

Well at least all the beautiful sunsets made up all the long drives, all the warm colors in the sky as the sun departed from us for the day was my favorite part of my day and trip. Hopefully I’ll make my way out there soon in a couple months.

I also had the chance to link with Healing Roots and Kashara Marie to do a photoshoot in the desert I had the idea in my head for a very long time. Roots and I had been trying to do a shoot for months and our schedules could never align. Luckily we were both out in Phoenix at the same time so we finally got together and created some magic.

I hope everyone staying healthy and safe, here some photos from our shoot and some from my journey, enjoy!!

Hesh Cardiel

Hard thrasher, music lovin’, PBR shotgunning, punk skater occasional high fashion model is how I would best describe south side artist Hesh God AKA “Hesh Cardiel”. For as long as I known Hesh, he has always incorporate skating into his music and staying true to his word about his life and who he is as a person. I had the opportunity to do a quick shoot and sit down with Chicago upcoming music artist and ask a few questions about music, fashion, and the potential future. You can see more of Hesh on his Instagram page @HeshCardiel after the read.

_DSC5150.jpg


What first got you into music?

Hesh: “I first got into music from my uncle. He put me onto hella rock, punk, and rap music. He was in a cover band and did shows in the city and seeing that at a young age inspired me to create my own music to be a stage one day.”

_DSC5170.jpg

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

Hesh: “The genre I make is grunge rap. It’s more of a feeling and thoughts that go through my head day to day. My creative process is disgusting. Haha”

Who inspired you to make music?

Hesh: “It’s like that old Eminem interview where he shows his notebook and it’s all random bars scattered through the page. I write down random lyrics everyday and somehow put the pieces together.”

_DSC5148.jpg

Which famous musicians do you admire?

Hesh: “I’m a big fan of GG Allen, Henry Rollins, Future, Black Sabbath, Kurt Cobain, Curren$y, and Earl Sweatshirt.”

What is one message you would give to your fans?

Hesh: “One message I’d like to give my fans is to keep goin. There’s a reason why you woke up this morning, don’t waste it.”

What brands have you modeled for?

Hesh: “I’ve modeled for Beast At Play, Preference Studios, Safe House, Endless Edge, Iridium, Falto, Fear Of God through RSVP ,and Louis Vuitton with Virgil.”

Tell about the time Virgil hit you up? What was it like?

Hesh: “I got contacted by his talent seeker after being recommended by Tylor Fakie. Working with Virgil was honestly surreal; It didn’t feel like work, it was playin dress up with everything I dreamed of seeing in person. We was playin Carti, skateboarding, and get T’d with the gang from London.”

_DSC5140.jpg

Whats next for you as an artist?

Hesh: “I’m in the process of releasing my first album in March. The goal is to stay consistent and flow out music videos I been holding on.”

Tell me about your new music video and what it means to you?

Hesh: “The new video for “DAYTONA 500” was fun as hell. My brother PPG Casper was in town and everyday we was on go skating and working on content everyday with the homies. Me and Max had been talking about shooting a music video for so long and the wait was worth it.”

Whole Lotta Red

Whelp this is take two for writing this blog post. I accidently delete everything I just wrote and had to start from scratch, safe to say I still dislike writing; I don’t know how people do this for a living, but hey where’s the fun in writing a couple paragraphs in one take…. A lot of fun actually.

Have your ever aimlessly scrolled through twitter and saw a photo concept the caught your eye? well I have in fact scrolling through Twitter threads with photography in it is my new favorite thing to do at the moment. For about hour and a half I’ll be scrolling down a thread of other people’s photoshoot ideas and concepts looking for inspiration for my next beautiful creation.

I found this dope all red nude shoot while scrolling, I had to make my own, I’m thinking about using other colors like blue, purple, maybe a green with other models and the mashed the together and make one whole collage with different colors in each shoot.

Thought 2:

Just when everyone thought we were out to the frying pan with lockdown and quarantine, everything starting to get worse again. Numbers are going back up and States are closing again, I was planning to a trip to Arizona to take some mountain, sunset and long exposure shots etc; but life had other plans for me and the world. So for now we wait to see what gonna happening in the world. Will there be a thanksgiving or christmas this year? Hopefully lets see what these next few weeks look like.

Here are some shoots from my all red shoot I reimaged I’m still planning to the other colors shoots soon, so stay toon and enjoy these photos.

Featured
_DSC5033.jpg
_DSC5064-Edit.jpg
_DSC5043.jpg
_DSC4991.jpg
_DSC5082.jpg

The Dugout

It’s almost Election Day I hope everyone is doing early voting. As much as everyone telling people to go vote , we should be telling people to go research all the presidential candidates and there running partners. To be honest both sides are terrible, major cons people need to speak more about.

But hey there are other 3rd party candidates running that should get some light they could actually be better than the two main parties that are plaguing our ever crashing country.

This month of October has been moving pretty smoothly for the most part. I finally started manning up and making more time to do some shoots, but this cold air starting to get to me. Lets see how long I’ll last out there.

It started snowing here in Chicago just after it was 75 degree like a few days ago... hate to say it but winter is coming.

A while back a friend of mine put me on to Viewbug a photography app. I had forgot all about it and now I’m using it more so expect some of my photos to be on there i’ll throw a link to my page soon once I get to use it more.

I had started to put this 85mm 1.8 lens to use more especially in these photos. I pulled up to a baseball field in Hyde Park and the homie was wearing a Negro League teams medium sandlot color Jersey. Enjoy the collection.

Featured
_DSC4799.jpg
_DSC4898.jpg
_DSC4900.jpg
_DSC4848.jpg
_DSC4932.jpg
_DSC4834.jpg

Water On The Sand: Bosthetics

Another day, another shoot, I’ve been working a lot lately…. ok a lot a lot, it’s October again, spooky season. The air in the city is getting cooler, I wanted to do at let least one to two photoshoots a week before it really cold to shoot outdoors. I need to make more time for myself to express my creative side to its fullest.

I had done a few shoots here and there since we went under quarantine, at first I didn’t what to do shoot, I felt it weird to go outside since all the media outlets would ever talk about was covid-19 all day and night. I useless don’t listen to the news a lot but with all that free time there was nothing better to do at time. You grow to learn that new media outlets will run with anything just to drive up views, even if it’s the same thing over and over again.

I spent most of that time going through the old hard drive and looking at some skipped photos I didn’t make the one cut at the time. once I was done sorting all the photos, I realized I was holding back a couple shoots, so it made a great time to post them and spread some creative through these hard times.

Bosthetics had hit me recently with some raw concepts for a beach shoot. I was excited to get to work cause I’ve been looking forward to doing a beach for a while now, so it was perfect timing the weather was looking good for that day, not to hot or cool, so I couldn’t turn down the chance.

The idea around this shoot was to incorporate many chairs that stack up and have her sit on the very top and than photoshop the stack the increase the height to give the illusion that she was sitting must higher.

Beach/Lawn stackable chair were out of season at the time of the shoot, I find it crazy that stair like that our out of season at the very beginning of Fall when it is still very warm outside. We had to make a improvise on the chairs we could find and just work around it.

Here just some of the photos I’d loved throughout the shoot, I hope everyone enjoys these and gets some creativity/inspiration from these.

Artists, Exclusives, & Updates

Hopefully this will be the first of many blogs; This year for me, so much has happen but not much has happen, I’ve created a lot of new projects at the beginning of the year; but do to the our new norms i’ve narrowed them down to three project so I’ll give updates through here.

So a little more into the title of this post, I want to showcase and talk to music artists, spent a day day with them and capture moment of day and talk about their latest projects.

Exclusives photos is something I wanted to do for a while, but Instagram and their censorship has always been a problem but with a blog platform on this site I’ll post them here and what made me decide the clothing for the shoot something similar to V/sual shoots

I have some photos from All-Star 2020 Chicago this year so I’ll post some of the artist photo I took below.

Lil Tecca, JID, Playboi Carti, Da Baby, Roddy Rich

Featured
_DSC1064.jpg
_DSC0771.jpg
_DSC8834.jpg
_DSC1261.jpg
_DSC9555.jpg