6

8-10 ...........................Skewby

12 ....................... F1 Diamond

14 ....... Mind Right, Money Right

18-21 ....... Memphis 10: Peaches

22 ............................. 2 Deep

23 .............................T. Scott

24-26 ........................Don Trip

Editor: Cory SparksOnline Editor: Daria GreeneContributing Writers: Tatiana JohnsonSales: Ricardo Hunter, R. AshfordDistribution: Connell BoylandArt Director: Rex2Publishing Consultant: Bryan Deese

CONCRETE Magazine - Memphis8001 Centerview Pkwy, Suite 205

Cordova, TN 38018901.531.6117

concretememphis@gmail.com© CONCRETE Magazine 2010

We at Concrete want to thank all of Memphis artists, business and readers for your continued support. We look forward to growing with you all in 2011.

8

Skewby, One of our most successful Freshman is a movement by himself! Source Mag’s “Unsigned Hype” has new mixtape project titled More or Less ...CONCRETE: What are the main issues you approached on this project?Skewby: The main issues I wanted to approach with this project were honesty, insecurity, and to love and appreciate simple things. For the most part the project is just speaking as a regular person. Not as a star. Not as a celebrity. Just as someone who enjoys their family, friends, and appreciates REAL things. That’s what More or Less is about.More or Less is about.More or LessCONCRETE: You’ve been a BIG infl uence in Memphis and you’ve always put out something that doesn’t sound like anything else out there. Going into your second mixtape, how have you changed?Skewby: You’re gonna see growth. I’ve become wiser and even more curious. Curious is a good thing because if you have more questions, you get more answers. I’m more creative. I’m a little less hype. I get to see the industry for what it is and the hip-hop culture for what it is. I don’t get excited to be apart of it anymore. I’m just excited about my fans, and about how people will receive me. Its great to be apart of this fraternity called hip hop, but I’m really not looking forward to it anymore. I’m looking forward to traveling and fi nding people who agree with MY music.CONCRETE: Are you saying that Hip-Hop is discouraging!?Skewby: No, I’m saying that the business side of it is discouraging. The culture is STILL great. The business end is crazy. It shows in your character if you’re strong enough to overcome it. Which is what I choose to do everyday. I still haven’t signed to a major record label. People expected me to do certain things after Proving You Wrong such as sign a deal, put Proving You Wrong such as sign a deal, put Proving You Wrongout a single and go after radio. I intentionally did not do those things. I feel like I have more to prove. I want to do more on my own. I want the respect of those who genuinely like music. Not those who like appearance or hype. But those who genuinely like music. Inside and Out. CONCRETE: Speaking of infl uence...most proclaim you the leader of this whole New Hip Hop in Memphis movement. How do you feel about that?Skewby: I don’t feel anyway about it because I feel like if I inspire someone, then that’s cool. I was inspired by people who came before me. Like the work ethic of 3-6 Mafi a and 8Ball & MJG. That really inspired me and the honesty in their music as well. But if I can do something to inspire someone else... That’s cool! I think it’s wack that people try to call it “New Memphis” because it’s nothing wrong with being a collective. But I was never a part of one. I wasn’t a part of it when I was unsuccessful, but I am now because I am successful?

continued on pg 10

10

CONCRETE: You’re such an artist! I’m trying to fi gure out how we can convey that to young kids: How is being an artist different from being a product? (in your own words)Skewby: Being an artist means failing. It means being fearless. It means not listening. It means doing what you want to do. That’s an artist. Being a product is the exact opposite. A product is meant to be sold and to make everyone happy. I do what I do to make people happy, but I don’t do it to ass kiss. I don’t go to D.C. and make Wale-type music so that D.C. will love me, and I don’t go to NYC and make east coast music so that they’ll love me. I do what I want to do, and hopefully THAT makes people happy. That’s it. I am art. I’m living, breathing art. I think rap music is full of products because not because people are scared to be artists...but because they have families to feed. The older you the more real things become. When I was 15 I really didn’t know or care what I was talking about, but now that I’m 22 I’m at the point where I gotta make things happen or I won’t be able to eat. I believe when that happens...That’s when “club anthems” and “stripper music” are created.CONCRETE: Lets talk about the fi rst mixtape you released Proving You Wrong, where you have a very strong message to go with the music. Like the young hip-hop spirit, like “I know what’s right”. It’s like being the little bastard teenager who’s saying, “Fuck off, I know exactly what I’m talking about.” With this mixtape, I’m expecting it will be a little different. I’m expecting that it won’t be super-preachy. Am I right?Skewby: Unfortunately, that’s just the type of person I am. I do so much to seek truth and to seek what’s right. When I fi nd it, I fi ght for it, and I want to share it with everyone. I do it because

I feel like (with the preachy thing) that if someone comes out with a hot album about weed or make ENTIRE albums about degrading women, then I can make an entire album about the thing I believe in, and it should be received the same way. But the difference in making an album about weed, women, and shopping...there’s no real substance in it. I want my message to have substance. Now More or Less is a little less preachy. More or Less is a little less preachy. More or LessProving You Wrong was really for hip-hop. Proving You Wrong was really for hip-hop. Proving You Wrong More or Less is More or Less is More or Lesssimpler and easy for you to sing with. It’s for you play around everyone. I honestly believe you had to be a certain hip hop head to enjoy Proving You Wrong. This mixtape will sit well with everyone and everyone will get my message.CONCRETE: How do you feel about the way Proving You Wrongwas received? “TO GET TRUE LOVE, YOU MUST EXPERIENCE TRUE HATE.”Skewby: I feel like it wasn’t big enough. It did get a lot of attention, but I am responsible for how much attention it got. I’m proud of what it did do. I’m proud that I got to tour with Lil Wayne and that I received “Unsigned Hype” in The Source. 9th Wonder is super close to me now. Those types of things make my little projects bigger than life.CONCRETE: From start to fi nish, how long would you say it took you to fi nish this mixtape?Skewby: It’s not fi nished yet. I’ve been working on it since the day after I fi nished Proving You Wrong. It didn’t take me this long to fi nish Proving You Wrong. But after it came out...we got kinda busy. (he laughs) Proving You Wrong was a pure Proving You Wrong was a pure Proving You Wrongmixtape. It took me two weeks to fi nish. It only had two original tracks. We even had the cover art complete before the actual mixtape itself. Proving You Wrong was meant to be a seed to Proving You Wrong was meant to be a seed to Proving You Wrongshow people that I had a talent. That’s why it is so shocking when people are like “Mane Proving You Wrong was great” and Proving You Wrong was great” and Proving You Wrongwe really didn’t put that much into it. That’s how amazing God is! More or Less has no outside production. It’s all original. More or Less has no outside production. It’s all original. More or LessEvery track is original. For two months I didn’t record anything, I just made beats. This mixtape will be awesome.CONCRETE: Playing off the title of this new project, More or Less, what does Skewby want “More” or “Less” of?Skewby: I want more love and less hate. I want more women, less boppers. I want more connections and less social networking.CONCRETE: What would name you movement?Skewby: RISE UP! That’s what I’m about everyday! It’s about options. Life is about options. Everyone faces obstacles and everyone goes through pain. You have to choose how you want to deal with them. You have no choice but to fall or Rise Up! And that’s what our crew is about. - Interview by Daria Greene

12

CONCRETE: For all the people who may not be familiar with you, give a little background on how far you’ve come in the game.F1 Diamond: I put out a CD last year titled “Pastor of the Traphouse”. It’s been a long journey because I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I try to walk away from the music industry in 2002 before I made my move to Memphis. When I got here I wanted to redirect my energy into other things like going to school, graduating from college, and getting my personal life together. I got back into the music industry to motivate my youth group called Scream. I started to see the effects that music had on young people. I knew that I had a God-given talent to do music. So, I started making songs for my youth group. They started to take the music to school and those songs turned into “Pastor of the Traphouse”. I thought it would be my only album, but I am currently working on another which is titled “Life Music”.CONCRETE: What is LIFEMUSIC, and the movement?F1 Diamond: People never knew how to describe my music. They couldn’t call it “gospel rap” and traditional gospel hip hop, because my songs are a bit more edgy. We speak life when everyone else is talking about death, killing, drugs. It’s just music with no real substance. It’s inspired by John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” I want to speak life into people’s situation. That’s what the whole movement is about. Encouragement. It’s music that lifts people up. We just want to maintain musical integrity. It’s Life Music. Music you can live to.CONCRETE: What does it mean to you?F1 Diamond: When I gave my life to Christ and changed my life around, I was a guy in the streets. People could not reach me with just stories. You had to reach me real life experiences. I want to make music for the guy on the corner. He doesn’t want to hear a cool biblical story. He wants to hear to hear things that he can apply to change his life around. There are people who cannot pay their rent. There are people who do not have jobs. Those people need things to apply to real everyday life. They do not need to hear about where they should party or drink. I speak about my life experiences, and it’s from a Christian perspective. There is so much music today that brings people down. I want to uplift.CONCRETE: What are we going to get with “LIFEMUSIC” What are you two trying to accomplish with this release?F1 Diamond: I just want to glorify God in everything that I do. People shun the whole idea of being a role model for the young people who follow behind you. I want to champion that cause. I want it to be known that it is okay to do the right thing and that it is cool. I want it to be known that there is nothing wrong with wearing a backpack when you’re on your way to school. It just seems that over the years being the dumbest person has become the coolest thing in our generation. Especially in hip hop. It’s like everyone’s trying to out dumb each other. Can I break my verbs more than you? Can I be harder than you? Am I more gangster than you? With the election of our president and things like that, smart is becoming cool again. I want people to feel that there is music that stands for something. This “live fast die young” mentality is not healthy. I am championing that cause. I trying to tell people to get old and have grandkids. Life Music.

14

We all know Swizz Beats is arguably one of the best producers in the game! He’s grown a good deal from his days of basic piano beats to his now

signature bells, whistles and party anthems. When he came out with his song “No Money In The Bank”, a lot of people including myself

laughed hysterically as the song became an instant party anthem. While the song was funny, not having money in the bank is no laughing matter.

According to a study done in 2009 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), 17 million Americans don’t have a bank

account (Un-banked). Another 43 million are what people call “Under banked” which means they have a bank account but use check-cashing

companies, pawn shops, liquor stores, and payday lenders to cash checks, pay bills, and borrow money. The study also shows that African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be un-banked or under banked than whites. So why isn’t this funny? While you may have your reasons, not having a bank account is costing you more than you even realize. Did you know on average those who don’t use fi nancial services pay close to $700 a year

just to cash checks and pay over 380% in interest when they need to borrow money. And that is not a typo! People who don’t have bank

accounts and need to borrow money usually go to payday lenders who give you a small loan and charge you about 15% of your

outstanding loan every two weeks. That means if you borrow $1,000 by the time you pay it all back you would have spent

$3,800! RIDICULOUS! Solution: Put Money in the Bank! Having a bank account can save you money and give you access to much needed fi nancial advice. Opening an account is simple. If you do it

online it is as simple as fi lling out an application, and signing the documents. If you rather do it face-to-face you will need two

pieces of I.D; a primary w/ photo and a secondary. A primary I.D. can be any state or government issued I.D. (Yes that can include a Jail

I.D. or benefi t card). A secondary I.D. can be proof of address, a bank statement, credit card or debit card. Unfortunately a birth certifi cate

and/or social security card is not considered I.D. for banking purposes if you are over 18. Once you have your I.D.’s, an account can be opened with as little as $25 and in most cases less than that if you agree to do some sort of direct deposit i.e. your pay check, SSI or child support.

18

20

Model Name: PeachesMeasurements: 32-28-34From: Memphis, TN via Detroit, MIHeight: 5’3Weight: 130Nationality: Puerto Rican and BlackPhotographer: Maximus AlexanderFacebook/ Twitter: NeitherAstrological Sign: Pisces

CONCRETE: Ever had a 1 Night Stand? Peaches: No (Concrete doesn’t believe you!)CONCRETE: Sleep or Sex? Peaches: Sex then Sleep, or Sleep then Sex. :)CONCRETE: Lights on or Off? Peaches: OnCONCRETE: What’s your Fetish?Peaches: Sexy LipsCONCRETE: Top or Bottom? Peaches: TopCONCRETE: Giver or Receiver? Why? Peaches: Giver, I Love to please my man!

21

CONCRETE: For those who do not know you. Introduce yourself.T.Scott: The T-Scott. A Rap Monster. I’m straight out of Memphis now repping Little Rock. Bringing real music to the table, industry or wherever you are!CONCRETE: What does your city mean to both who you are as a person, and as an artist?T.Scott: My city is me. I’m bringing my listeners into my world and let them see how I live life in my cities. Just showing them the different side.CONCRETE: I’ve interviewed many artists who have not grown up in so-called “traditional hip hop cities” who felt the only way that they could succeed in this business was to move to Atlanta, New York, Miami, or Los Angeles – what made you so confi dent that you could stay in Little Rock and succeed?

T.Scott: We have the streets and people behind us. We’re just fl ooding them with new hot music. We’re thirsty. We’re hungry. But most importantly we’re working, and we work hard.CONCRETE: Being an artist, and having the opportunity to have your voice heard by a large group of people, do you feel obligated in any sense to put into your music a message that maybe other artists would be too afraid to?T.Scott: Yes. Of course. You gain fans through your music. Not just through beats but through lyrics. I have all types of music, and I put my music into the streets. CONCRETE: Let’s Talk about when people will be able to hear a full-length album, and what they can expect once it’s available?T.Scott: The beginning of 2011 the album will be ready. All I can say is “Get ready for some heat!”

22

24

CONCRETE: Tell us about going up in Orange Mound.2Deep: It’s just another rough neighborhood, but it’s a good

place. It birthed a lot of phenomenal artists such as myself and 8Ball & MJG. But it’s the same common mishaps and

problems that other people face.CONCRETE: What had you been doing to get yourself out there?

2Deep: Four or fi ve years ago I was going state to state selling my mixtape out of my car. Then it evolved to the internet and people

following music. Then I just started doing a lot of videos and now just working this single, Nonfi ction, produced by Tone Yates.

CONCRETE: Nonfi ction, where did that concept come from?2Deep: It developed from a concept of me being real and rapping about truth and reality. My partner Tone came to me with the concept and I said that’s me 110%!CONCRETE: DJ 007 said you’re not a “gangster” rapper but more so a reality rapper, explain the difference?2Deep: Well I’ll say in 2010 there’s really a shortage of gangster rappers because a lot of the rappers out are claiming they’re gangster but were never really “gangster” before they started rapping; just rapping about a lifestyle that they don’t live. When I say reality rap, I really live what I talk about. When you hear me talk about pimping and moving state to state and just people being scared to play my music because of the stuff I talk about, there’s no extra exaggeration.

CONCRETE: I’m sure you’ve noticed rap and music has changed into mainstream, not as vulgar. How do you feel about rap right now?2Deep: It’s a good and a bad thing. I’m happy that rap is has evolved to so many phases; from crunk, snap your fi ngers, the dancing, back in the 90s it was gangster gangster and then the whole swag phase, it’s cool. But, on the other hand I grew up on some lyricism and controversy. You know the Tupac, Biggie, and T.I., just to name a few. I just hope the rappers continue to put their lives into the music because

after you leave the club people still want to hear music that they can get something from.

CONCRETE: You’ve done plenty of collaborations. Which are your favorites?2Deep: Web, Tone Yates, Trillville, Pastor Troy, Baby D, Skewby and Eightball those are some of my favorites.CONCRETE: It’s a must to know, what’s your main goal as a solo artist?2Deep: I would love to get to the mainstream with my music because there are a lot of lives I can affect but what I’m looking for is not necessarily to be the number one guy on the billboard if I can just make a name independently

and give the core fans what they want, I’m comfortable with that.

24

CONCRETE: Tell us about going up in Orange Mound.2Deep: It’s just another rough neighborhood, but it’s a good

place. It birthed a lot of phenomenal artists such as myself and 8Ball & MJG. But it’s the same common mishaps and

problems that other people face.CONCRETE: What had you been doing to get yourself out there?

2Deep: Four or fi ve years ago I was going state to state selling my mixtape out of my car. Then it evolved to the internet and people

following music. Then I just started doing a lot of videos and now just working this single, Nonfi ction, produced by Tone Yates.

CONCRETE: Nonfi ction, where did that concept come from?2Deep: It developed from a concept of me being real and rapping about truth and reality. My partner Tone came to me with the concept and I said that’s me 110%!CONCRETE: DJ 007 said you’re not a “gangster” rapper but more so a reality rapper, explain the difference?2Deep: Well I’ll say in 2010 there’s really a shortage of gangster rappers because a lot of the rappers out are claiming they’re gangster but were never really “gangster” before they started rapping; just rapping about a lifestyle that they don’t live. When I say reality rap, I really live what I talk about. When you hear me talk about pimping and moving state to state and just people being scared to play my music because of the stuff I talk about, there’s no extra exaggeration.

CONCRETE: I’m sure you’ve noticed rap and music has changed into mainstream, not as vulgar. How do you feel about rap right now?2Deep: It’s a good and a bad thing. I’m happy that rap is has evolved to so many phases; from crunk, snap your fi ngers, the dancing, back in the 90s it was gangster gangster and then the whole swag phase, it’s cool. But, on the other hand I grew up on some lyricism and controversy. You know the Tupac, Biggie, and T.I., just to name a few. I just hope the rappers continue to put their lives into the music because

after you leave the club people still want to hear music that they can get something from.

CONCRETE: You’ve done plenty of collaborations. Which are your favorites?2Deep: Web, Tone Yates, Trillville, Pastor Troy, Baby D, Skewby and Eightball those are some of my favorites.CONCRETE: It’s a must to know, what’s your main goal as a solo artist?2Deep: I would love to get to the mainstream with my music because there are a lot of lives I can affect but what I’m looking for is not necessarily to be the number one guy on the billboard if I can just make a name independently

and give the core fans what they want, I’m comfortable with that.

728

CONCRETE: Everything I’ve heard from you in the past two months is blowing’ out my eardrums. I’m excited about the new project – are you?Don Trip: Am I excited !? Of course! It’s a lot going on for me right now, what’s there not to be excited about?! It’s a lot of exciting things happening to me. Labels are calling me. The head of labels, I’ve yet to speak to an intern. It feels good. I’m fi nally seeing my work ethic pay off! I’m fi nally experiencing the fruits of my labor.CONCRETE: Speaking of Fruits of your Labor....You’ve been rapping for awhile, but you’re getting all of this “New Artist” attention. How do you feel about that?Don Trip: I’m fi ne with it. It’s like when you play ball. Most people play ball just to play ball. They play all through high school and college, and then they get to the pros. I don’t look at it like I’m a new artist. I’m a new artist to the major leagues.CONCRETE: Let’s stay local with this next question: being a Memphis representative, wearing your community on your sleeve, what are your thoughts on the current state of hip hop here in Memphis & how it affects so many young people?Don Trip: I think hip hop gives youth every aspect of the life except the truth. It shows you how it is to have a lot of money and it shows you how you get a lot of women. But artists don’t really give you the blindside to the industry. It’s a lot of funny business that goes on. You always hear a rapper say “I bought a Lamborghini.” But you never hear “My Lamborghini got repossessed.” That’s how I’m looking at the game right now. It needs honesty and that’s what I’m here for.CONCRETE: How do you view your music, in the context of Memphis street life, when appealing to a worldly audience?Don Trip: My music is a motion picture. My music feels I speak on my experiences. My music is honest. People like my music because they can relate.CONCRETE: You know, there are few artists that actually are truthful about whatever insecurities they might have, and put that into their music. Do you feel like that, again, something that helps you relate better with your listeners, or do you ever question whether or not you’re being to honest or if you should be doing that?continued on pg 6

7

continued on pg 6

28

Don Trip: I think there is no such thing as being “too” honest. I let my music speak. Besides interviews, I don’t do much talking or hold too many conversations. I don’t paint pictures nor do I write poems. Music is my outlet. I say whatever I feel like saying through my music.CONCRETE: You’ve undergone several hardships throughout your life. What has been most diffi cult for you, and has hip-hop helped you to rise up and overcome these obstacles?Don Trip: I will have to say not being able to see my child. Period. That’s the most current battle I’m having. I don’t like that the system is designed in favor of a woman. It doesn’t matter if she is right or wrong. You’re wrong if you’re the man. I didn’t have to go to court to make my child, but I have to go to court to see him? I have to pay a fee to see him, but I didn’t have to pay to make him. I grew up without a father. Being there for my son is the most important thing to me. He’s the reason I pursued music. I don’t want my child going through what I endured.

CONCRETE: Your song “Letter To My Son” has been gaining great momentum on the internet. It’s the emotional account of a father’s struggle. So many men can relate. How do you feel about its perception?Don Trip: I’m overwhelmed, but I’m sad at the same time. I just said something that a lot of men have wanted to say. I am not the fi rst person to go through this and I won’t be the last. I’m not looking for anyone’s approval. I just said what I wanted to say and I don’t make apologies.CONCRETE: I often discuss with artists the “quality vs. quantity debate:” is it better to release a lot of material, in hopes that everything that you drop attracts a new listener, or is it better to release less material, in hopes that listeners come to know what they really should expect from you, which is the best?Don Trip: I say both. This industry is so unpredictable. I can have 1200 views today and not a single view tomorrow. I’ll make 100 songs and only release 30. But then I may turn around and release another 30. I analyze my music. I don’t make music just to make music. I feel like the more material the better, but I’m trying to gain fans. I feel like I can gain them by putting out a lot of music and by putting out quality music.CONCRETE: Do you consider yourself a part of the beginning of a movement?Don Trip: I can’t say. I’m only one person. I hear a lot of talk of movements. The term is used to loosely for me. I can only hope to be a start of a movement.CONCRETE: How is working with Cool & Dre?Don Trip: It was an honor. I can’t take anything from those guys. It’s great. Working with them I get to do my music. They don’t make me conform. They make my job very easy. All I have to do is deliver. Defi nitely the producers I enjoy working with the most.CONCRETE: Any advice for any upcoming artists?Don Trip: Do what you feel like doing. If you feel that you’re doing too much, then you’re doing too much.

If you feel like you’re not doing enough, then you’re not doing enough. When it comes to music, I feel it should be fewer followers. There is no possible way for you and I to paint the same picture, or make the same song. Unless there was mimicking. We’re two different people. If you put a picture up and told two people to draw it. There would be two different paintings, as music should be.

28