May/June

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CHECK OUT THESE HOT ALBUMS

From the Editor’s Desk These past few months have been wonderful. We have met some really talented people from all over the state and the country. I have even been in touch with artists in Canada and the U.K. G-Entertainment Maga-zine is well on its way to becoming a household word. I feel that we are truly blessed to be able to share the tal-ents of others through my vision. Since its inception G-Entertainment Magazine has grown from Birmingham throughout the Southeast. We have big plans for the future of the magazine and we al-ways look forward to the feedback from you the readers. We would also like to thank all of the artists, promoters, and venues that keep inviting us to your events. If we haven’t been to your event or venue yet we are on the way. For those of you that keep asking for a hard copy of the publication...don’t be surprised if you find G-Entertainment Magazine in a store near you.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HAROLD “G” ABRAM, JR. MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS LA’TOYA FLETCHER-ABRAM CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS PAUL H. FRANKLIN KENNY LUK D. JEROME SMEDLEY DELANI MAKE UP ARTIST LA’TOYA FLETCHER-ABRAM

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G-Entertainment Magazine can not accept responsibility for claims made by it’s advertiser. Advertisers who place ads in G– Entertainment Magazine do so understanding that G- Entertainment Magazine will not accept responsibility made by them in their ads; nor will the publisher be held financially accountable for errors in advertising, regardless of fault, beyond the partial or full cost of the ads themselves. Opinions expressed in G- Entertainment Magazine are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the management, staff or advertisers.

May/ June Page 8

Contents Features

Gospel Entertainers

Sanchez Tanniehill…………...……………………12

Priceless Productions……………………………..14 Fashion & Style

Guest Model …………………...…………..…….20

G’s Angels (G.E.M. Girls)………….………….24

Gerald (Bonzaiii Unleased)………...…………30 Art

Curtis Patterson…………………………………...36 Hip Hop

GEM Girl Crystal……………………...………...40

Naimah………….……………..…………..……....44

Joseph Clark aka I.N.O.V.I.A.……………..46

GMC Facuilty………...…………….……….…...54

T-Manic Records………………………………...60 R & B

Ree’Al………………………………….……..…….64 What’s Going on in Birmingham?

G-Scenes…………………………………..……...68

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ftÇv{xé gtÇÇ|x{|ÄÄ

“You can sit

down and

drink a cup

of coffee to

it.”

`r. Tanniehill suf-

fered with Spinal Menin-gitis at the age of six weeks old. He stayed in the hospital for three months and the doctor said that he would never walk or talk. He says that he made through due to the prayers of his mother and he thanks God for her. He has been singing since he was three years old.

GEM: Where were you born?

Sanchez: Birmingham, AL (Children’s Hospital)

GEM: How did you get started in the music in-dustry?

Sanchez: One day my cousin keep begging me to record. We have our own studio in Alabaster and I recorded my first demo since then the Lord has been blessing me.

GEM: Who influenced you to make music?

Sanchez: My cousin.

GEM: Who or what in-spires you to make your music?

Sanchez: The Lord… Jesus.

GEM: What style of mu-sic do you have?

Sanchez: Gospel with a R & B style to it. You can sit down and drink a cup of coffee to it.

GEM: How has the mu-sic and radio industry treated you so far?

Sanchez: Its been great. You have your ups and downs. You got to keep going and striving to do your best.

GEM: Have they played you on the radio yet?

Sanchez: I have been on the radio in Calera.

GEM: What are you thoughts on the current state of the music indus-try?

Sanchez: There is a lot of talent out here.

GEM: How do you sepa-rate yourself from other Gospel singers?

Sanchez: I pray and I interact with the fans on facebook.

GEM: Who would you really like to work with?

Sanchez: Morris Sapp, The Clark Sisters and Kryst Lyke

GEM: What type of vibe should the listener ex-pect when he/she hears your music?

Sanchez: A mellow-relaxing sound.

GEM: How did it feel that first time that you heard your music on the radio?

Sanchez: It was late at night and it felt good.

GEM: What should fans expect from you in 2011?

Sanchez: Great things and something new.

GEM: What project are you working on now?

Sanchez: I’m pushing the “Work of an Artist” now. They are selling it in a couple of stores in Alabaster (Come to the Waters and Amen Cor-ner).

GEM: Do you have a website?

Sanchez: www.justmesanchez.com

www.facebook.com/sancheztanniehill

www.twitter.com/musicman

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GEM: Who would you lie to give a shout out to? Sanchez: Kryst Lyke, my mom, the whole Bir-mingham family, and Shelby County.

GEM: How long have you been in the music game?

T won: I’ve been in there about 17 years now.

Debra Price: I’ve been singing since I was a lit-tle girl.

GEM: Have you been doing Gospel music the whole time?

T won: I was doing com-pletely secular music Hip Hop-R & B and eve-rything until I got to a crossroads where it was-n’t brining me any joy anymore. I just got con-victed and the Lord told me to do something crea-tive don’t do the same thing that everybody else

is doing rap to a music that’s going to bring life instead of death. I talk about something more than flashy cars, women, money and all this other negative stuff.

Debra Price: Gospel al-ways Gospel. My mother raised us on that “Oldie Goldie” Shirley Ceasar, the Wonder Boy and The Five Blind Boys of Alabama.


T won: Flint, Michigan

Debra Price: Sylacauga, Alabama

GEM: How did you get started in the music in-dustry?

T won: I was play-ing football at Flint Northern and my aunt had me go to an audition for this group with 3 other guys. I didn’t have any experience, but when I got there it seemed like a lot of fun. I got into it had to learn some dance moves. I went

home that night and stayed up until I had them down packed. Since then I bought my equipment and learned to produce my own music

Debra Price: My mother had us thinking that we were going to be the next Jackson 5. we would come home from school and practice. We had little talent shows in Sylacauga as well, but it was mainly churches.

GEM: Who influenced you to make music?

Debra Price: The Clark Sisters and Shirley Ceasar (I was one of her opening acts). I was raised in an interracial church, so when I came to Birmingham people would tell me that I was so country. I had to real-ize that this little voice of mine is God’s gift to me to minister to every-one, not just to a certain group of people.

T won: I love ballads, I love slow songs… I’m old school. Give me some Baby Face, give me some 112, De La Soul and Heavy D they

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cele

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Page 14 May/ June

they had a big impact on my life when I was growing up.

GEM: The music and the radio industry can be hard on new artists. How has it (the industry) treated you so far?

Debra Price: We speak blessings...we speak blessings… It seems like we get more invita-tions out of town. We can go to Geor-gia...Florida...Tennessee and its just crazy praise. When we come back home we don’t get as many invitations, but we know things are in God’s timing. It’s best to speak blessing upon everybody regardless of what’s hap-pening in Alabama for us.

T won: She put that very eloquently, but we don't get any love from the local DJs. The ones here have their favorites and that’s cool, but if your going to do that at least be across the board for everybody. When we first came out (Gospel rap) all we had was the SYF Family, Mr. Rich, Priceless Camp, and just

Page 15 May/ June

just a few others. Me personally, I like to do things over seas. I like to do things outside of the box. I’ve done some things with some people in Nigeria, Cincinnati, and Florida all online. GEM: How do you sepa-rate yourself from other artists? T won: I think that our walk and the way that our lifestyle is does that for us. There are certain venues that we will do and certain venues that we won’t. We have morals and there are cer-tain things that we will not compromise on when it deals with music and ministry. We know the difference between the business aspect of it and the ministry side. Those that are not really for the ministry side weed them-selves out. When it comes time to really minister to someone, talk to them about God for real, or quote a scripture from the Bible that would do it. We really don’t have to do any-thing God weeds them out for us. That’s what separates us. Debra Price: I think also being a gospel, Chris-tian, saved-sanctified couple. Don’t get me wrong there are struggles in everything. We’re

learning to gel and to really put God first. Our goal is to be a blessing to other married couples. GEM: Who would you really like to work with? Debra Price: Richie Righteous, Detrict Ha-den, Ms. Shirley Ceasar, and The Clark Sisters, T won: Timberland, Baby Face, Smokie Nor-ful, the list just goes on and on with the people that have had an influ-ence on my life. GEM: What type of vibe should the listeners ex-pect when they hear your music? Debra Price: The word something that I am say-ing to touch them. T won: Urban Gospel, Rhythm and Praise, Hip Hop, a big giant melting

pot, Pop, East Coast & dirty South Hip Hop, but talking about the word of God. Mostly, testimoni-als, GEM: Do you have a website? Debra Price: www.sonicbiz.com/twon www.sonicbiz.com/debraprice www.reverbnation.com/t_won www.reverbnation.com/debraprice GEM: Who would you like to give a shout out to? T won: God, my wife, my family, you guys for doing what you do and all of the local Gospel artists. Debra Price: Daddy God and like my husband said you guys. It really mean a lot to us that you reached out to us.

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`ÉÇ}t e|ÅtÇ|

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Irion Lane (Monja Rimani) was in born in New Orleans, LA. She is of African American and Native American decent. Growing up in some of the roughest areas of the city, she stayed focused on family and her education. As a child, Irion partici-pated in local fashion shows and talent shows. At 18, she was scouted by Whi-lemina Modeling Agency while work-ing in Lakeside Mall. She followed up with the agency and de-cided that her son and attending college were more important than one of her life's aspirations. She at-tended college, ma-joring In Business Management with a minor in Marketing. Now living in Bir-mingham, AL, after losing everything in hurricane Katrina, she is a working mother, wife and model. She has re-built her life through hard work, dedica-

tion, and faith. She enjoys traveling, shopping, learning new things, and spending time with her beautiful family. She began working on her modeling ca-reer in January of 2010 and that is where her alter ego “Monja Rimani” was born. She has made a name for herself as a classy, sexy and pro-fessional model. She is always looking for opportunities to fur-ther her modeling ca-reer and always inter-ested in new business ventures. Now man-aged by CC Jones- The J Group/J. Allure

Management, her brand is sure to be in demand. Height– 5’6” Weight– 140 lbs Hair– Black Eyes– Brown Age– 25 Measurements- 34-26-40

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Bonzaiii Unleashed Clothing the concept is trends die culture is birthed. Basically, it was created in 2001. a friend of mine saw some of my artwork and dared me to put it on some shirts. I did it and it’s been fun ever since. I’m working with a few artists. Jafaar has done an ad for me. We are working on a hip hop artist’s album. His name is South Paw.

GEM: Has it been ex-tremely hard to get your clothing out there?

Gerald: Yeah, believe it or not. The easy part is designing it and the hard part is knowing how to market it. A lot of time is used up actually learning it or doing it wrong. I learned the value of trade shows.

GEM: What made you start designing cloths?

Gerald: I would say that it was a vision, of course, Fubu kind of sparked it and my friend poured gasoline on it. It was a real simple almost graffiti style. When I did it everybody liked it. I promoted it in Mobile, AL too. I connected

with some people in At-lanta, Georgia.

GEM: Where did you grow up?

Gerald: Birmingham, Alabama (where East Lake connects with Tar-rant).

GEM: How does it feel to own your own busi-ness?

Gerald: I love it. I love the headaches. I love the heartaches.

GEM: What do you see in the future of your company?

Gerald: I’m going to definitely merge my clothing company with media. I’ve been run-ning into to people that have been writing mov-ies, people that own re-cord labels, and many of my clients at my barber shop are film makers.

GEM: Do you have a webpage?

Gerald: www.bunzaiii.com

GEM: Do you have any shout outs that you want to give?

Gerald: Definitely, shout outs to the Ware family,

the Thomas family, a big shout out to South Paw (he’s an up and coming artist here in Birming-ham), Jafaar (he’s a good humble dude. He’s go-ing to go far. I heard his single is the most downloaded in the U.K.) Jona Crooner has some good work coming, it’s a bunch of them I can’t even name them all.

Bonzaiii Unleashed

Page 31 May/ June

“The easy

part is

designing it

and the hard

part is

knowing how

to market it.”

Page 32 May/ June

Photographed by Delani Newton Makeup by LaToya Fletcher-Abram

Women Bunzaiii Ts available @ Cultures 615 Matthews Ave Bham, AL 35215

Bunziii

Page 33 May/ June

Trends Die Culture is Birthed

Page 34 May/ June On her: vest by Bunziii Opposite page on her:

T-shirt by Bunziii On him: shirt by Bunziii Collection


Page 35 May/ June


I am a painter,

more of a teacher and have been an artist all of my life. My mother was an artist. I went to Ram-sey High School and was an athlete. I did really use my gift until I got to college. No one tells a Black kid that you can take the talent that you have and make a living at it. I’ve been painting for 30 years now. I’ve just made the transition from being an Art Teacher in the Birming-ham School System to being an Art Therapist in middle Georgia.

GEM: How long have you been teaching your craft?

Kurtis: I started teaching in 2005. I was teaching in the Birmingham School System K5-the 8th grade. Right now I’m teaching grown ups. Veterans that are down on their luck that are try-ing to make the transi-tion back into society.

GEM: What made you want to teach art?

Kurtis: Actually, the way that I became a school teacher was I was work-ing for Medicade in the

Birmingham regional office. One day I was on break and I went down to the Board of Educa-tion and I asked the re-cruiter what did I need to do to get into a class room. Long story short, after talking with the re-cruiter for about 50 min-utes by the end of that day I had an offer to be the Art Teacher at Put-nam Middle School and Wilkerson. Two weeks later I was working at Putnam.


Kurtis: Birmingham, AL. I was part of the first in-tegrated head start class. I was also part of the first integrated group that attended Ramsey High School.

GEM: Who influenced you to become an artist?

Kurtis: I was an only child. I didn’t get en-couraged or discouraged from doing it. After I got out of the Navy I took an art appreciation class at the University of North Florida. After see-ing some of the work that my teacher had done I knew that I wanted to

pursue art.

GEM: outside of this particular art teacher. Who have you worked with?

Kurtis: Paul Ladnier (former art teacher) is the best artist that I’ve seen. Lois Freshman-Brown… There are too many for me to name off the top of my head that I have studied with. A couple of good painters at the American Univer-sity and they presented it when I was in the Navy. I picked up a lot here and there and I majored in Art History at the Uni-versity of Montevallo.

GEM: How does it feel to own your own busi-ness and for people to buy your art?

Kurtis: The humbling part of it for me is I never think that my work is good enough. I can do a painting, be at a show or post it and whereas you or somebody else can look at it and be en-thralled by what you see. When I see it I see one brush stroke that I should've done this way or one brush stroke that I should've done that way.

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“No one

tells a Black

kid that you

can take the

talent that

you have

and make a

living at it.”

So I’m always self criti-cal to the point where a while back I would do my work and end up throwing it in the dump-ster and my partners would jump on me. Be-cause they knew that was good...to good for me to be throwing it in the dumpster.

GEM: What do you see in the future for you and your paintings?

Kurtis: Right now I want to do work that people appreciate. You don’t have to look at my work and say that it is as good as Picasso’s or this artist or that artist. It doesn’t have to be considered an important work. The thing that I found with art is that the viewer whomever that viewer is finds something that speaks to him/her it is an important piece. It does-n't have to be an impor-tant piece for the critics, but it is an important piece for you. As an art-ist you only have to speak to one person and that one person is the viewer right then.

GEM: What would you say has contributed to your success so far?

Kurtis: Being surrounded by good people and art work. God places you in a position to be around people that can make a difference in your life. The job that I have now caters to the vets that have served their country but have fallen. We need to thank the vets for the lifestyle that we have. If you have the help then help them and that’s what I try to do.

GEM: Do you have a webpage or site where the readers can see your work?

Kurtis: [email protected] www.facebook.com/curtispatterson

GEM: I want to give a shout out to my co-workers, the people that have worked with me, thank my teachers, and I hope to inspire people to do things that touch your fellow man.

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Art by Kurtis Patterson

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ZX` Z|ÜÄ VÜçáàtÄ

Page 41 May/ June

Photographed by Paul Franklin Makeup by LaToya Fletcher-Abram

What’s your ethnic-

ity?

African American

What’s your Zodiac sign?

Taurus

Where were you born?

Birmingham, AL

What’s the craziest thing that you have ever done?

I never really did any-thing crazy.

What’s your favorite hobby and why?

Singing.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Shopping.

Who do you admire?

My mom.

What’s one of your personal goals?

To become successful, so I can take care of my son.

What do guys compli-ment you on the most?

My smile...my teeth.

What’s your favorite body part on yourself?

My face.

What do you look for in a guy?

A good personality.

What is the first thing that you notice about a guy?

His shoes.

What turns you on?

A good kisser.

What turns you off?

No education...no job.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Body oder

What super models do you aspire to be like?

Tyra

Do you plan on model-ing for the rest of your career or are you using this as a stepping stone to do something else?

Yes, I plan to model.

Are you willing to travel great distances for a job?

Yes

Would you be comfort-able becoming a video vixen?

Not really, I don’t want to show everything.

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Na’imah: I grew up here in Birmingham, AL an area called Wylam from ‘93 on up until I became an adult we moved to Hueytown always on the west side.

GEM: How long have you been in the music game?

Na’imah: I’ve been rap-ping since 1996, but I’ve been into music since I was about five playing the piano. My mom got me enrolled in this pro-ject at Birmingham Southern when I was younger. I played clari-net in the band and I played drums too.

GEM: When did you re-cord your first song?

Na’imah: It was in 1996. I was in a group call Threat 2 Society (T2S) back in the day me and another child-hood friend. She had a studio in her attic and my mom was like Na’imah there is a girl across the street that raps. I was like really!!! So, I ran across the street and knocked on the door introduced myself. We kicked it off

and in about ten minutes were recording our first song. It was called “Playa Hating”.

GEM: That person that you recorded with does she still make music?

Na’imah: Yeah, her name is Kane Carter. You’ve probably heard of her. She’s a producer, rapper and she has a cou-ple of artists on her label now.

GEM: What are your thoughts on the current state of the game?

Na’imah: It’s real rocky, but my main focus is...female. Like I always say the males are going to get into the music game regardless. It’s hard for women because they don’t look at us as rappers. They look at us as a women that are sup-posed to be at home do-ing other stuff. I think it’s the year of the fe-male. We need to get out and let our voice be heard. We don’t have to talk about guns and vio-lence. We can talk about anything really, but you have to say it in a way so they will listen.

GEM: Who influenced

your style?

Na’imah: I would say growing up I was on that Cash Money. They are different. Every artist that they have is differ-ent and every time they come together they make hits. And my aunt she used to always tell me when I was little you can do anything that you want to do. She passed last year and after she passed I got a little push and I knew it was her. So, I’ve just been going.

GEM: Who do you want to work with in the fu-ture?

Na’imah: I want to work with a lot of producers and singers. There isn’t anyone in particular. I just want to work with a lot of people outside of the Hip Hop genre.

GEM: Tell the readers about your writing proc-ess.

Na’imah: Sometimes I write before I get the beat. I will be sitting in the car and I will start bobbing my head to no music. I get this rhythm flowing in my head and then I will start writing. Then I will go to the stu-

Na’

imah

Page 44 May/ June

“My rap

name used to

be the Joker

that’s because

I was so in

love with the

Joker.”

do two songs in 30 min-utes.

GEM: What made you want to make a docu-mentary?

Na’imah: When I was in a group people will hear your music, but they need a face to put with that. I said that we were going to just film our everyday lives. Other artists started seeing it and feeling it. They started asking me could I do it for them. I started doing a lot of artists like Nova, Nina, Queen of Trill and Ms. Mayhem.

GEM: If you could choose one rapper to say that who you would like to be like. Who would it be?

Na’imah: Well, my top five are Lil Wayne, Jay Z, Diddy, Queen Latifah, M.C. Lyte and Roxanne Shuntae.

GEM: What have you been doing to get your name out there?

Na’imah: I put my name on everything. I put my name on cds and flyers. My name is Muslim/ Arab. Muslims and Ara-bians know what my

name means, but a lot of other races don’t. So, when they ask me I say the bosom in paradise and then I hand them my music and they would be like ok that something different. That’s how I market… different. My rap name used to be the Joker that’s because I was so in love with the Joker. I have figurines and everything. I wanted to use my own brand, so I started using my own name.


Na’imah: www.revernation.com/naimahelmore

www.youtube.com/naimahelmore

www.myxer.com/naimah

GEM: Do you have any shout outs?

Na’imah: Yeah, first, I want to give a shout out to G-Entertainment Magazine doing some-thing different, letting us get our shine on, its just another way to bring us to the forefront and let people know what we got here in Alabama , 95.7 Jamz with Alabama

Now, Goodfellas Radio who always plays under-ground artists they’re the ones who broke my re-cord in “We the Crunk-est” to #4 and from there people started lis-tening and requested it everywhere, the stores, the whole hood of Wy-lam, my family, my friends, and everybody. I love you and thank you for supporting me.

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JOE CLARK AKA I.N.O.V.I.A.

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Joe Clark aka I.N.O.V.I.A. raps with a group called Battle Cats. “We do music and our business is our music.” He is working on his on clothing line called Power Forward Music Movement. It’s basically a collaboration of music artists, drawing artists, and all types of people coming together using our talents to make it to the top. GEM: You mentioned that you’re an artists as well as a designer. Would you tell our read-ers how long you have been doing this on both sides. I.N.O.V.I.A. : As far as the music goes I’ve been doing this since I was twelve years old. I would lock myself in a room and write write write. That was a way for me to get my frustra-tions out and a way to get my thoughts out. As far as the fashion part it came after high school. I never really got all the clothes that I wanted to wear, so I came up with different styles and I saw people catching on. I felt that I should go to

go to school for it. I went to Alabama A & M and got my degree in Fashion Merchandising Design. GEM: Where were you born? I.N.O.V.I.A. : Birming-ham, AL. GEM: Who and what influenced you to get into your business? I.N.O.V.I.A. : Since like the age of 6 I always lis-tened to Hip Hop. I used to listen to the older men on Video Soul rapping and I thought that I was to young to rap. When I saw Kris Kross I saw that I could be young and rap. That’s when I realy started writing to myself. Around the age of 12 I was started doing it for real. GEM: What have been some of your ups and downs when it come to you being an entrepre-neur? I.N.O.V.I.A.: Money...getting people to believe in you and be-lieve in your idea. It’s just hard. When people are familiar with and just know you it’s hard to get them believe in what your trying to do. It takes someone from the

outside to recognize the talent that you have. Money is the ups & downs. Trying to have a job to fund your dream is hard. GEM: What do you see in the future of your company? I.N.O.V.I.A. : As far as the music goes I see me everywhere. Just chang-ing lives with my music and to have a following that believes in what I say. As far as the fash-ion goes I want to do the same thing just open minds up. I don’t want any crazy clothing, but some of the things that I’m going to put on my shirts are going to be up-lifting and open your eyes to everyday life. GEM: Are you presently on a record label or do you put your own music on wax? I.N.O.V.I.A. : We put our own music on wax, but I’m still signed to a label out in California call In the Earth Re-cords. He has my first CD which is on I-tunes right now called Dreams. The group that I’m in again is called Battle Cats. We’re not really

Really signed we're free agents for real, just en-trepreneurs trying to make it to the top.

GEM: How do feel that your business can con-tribute to the social growth of the city?

I.N.O.V.I.A. : I think that it will bring more life to our city. If we go to other places like At-lanta we have more things to do. I believe that my clothing and mu-sic can bring life to Bir-mingham.

GEM: What makes you vision different from other businesses or art-ists of your type?

I.N.O.V.I.A. : I think it’s because everybody is different in general. I think that some of the things that I’ve been through will open the doors for other people that have gone through some of the same things. I believe that a lot of the things that I’ve been through have not been touched musically or fashion wise. I don’t hear anybody talking

about what I go through everyday, so it’s differ-ent from the next man’s music or the next man’s fashion.

GEM: Do you consider yourself an underground rapper?

I.N.O.V.I.A. : Yeah, I do consider myself an un-derground rapper ‘cause nobody knows me yet.

GEM: Do you consider yourself rapper, pro-moter, businessman or all three?

I.N.O.V.I.A. : I think it’s all wrapped into one. It’s like Joseph in the Bible. I got a coat of many colors. I have a lot of talents. I don’t want to leave this Earth and God asks me why didn’t I use all of my talents.

GEM: Musically, what type of style would you say that you have?

I.N.O.V.I.A. : I would call it reality rap. I talk about everyday life.

GEM: Musically, here in the city who have you worked with?

I.N.O.V.I.A. : Big

Prophet, as far as being on stage with these guys, LP, 7even and many more.

GEM: Who would you like to work with?

I.N.O.V.I.A. : Sebastian, Jafaar, Merc Camp, Kenny Luk and Tig Knight. I will work with anybody.

GEM: Do you have a webpage where people can get in contact with you?

I.N.O.V.I.A. : www.twitter.com/therealjoeclark

www.facebook.com/i.n.o.v.i.a.

GEM: Do you have any shout outs that you want to give?

I.N.O.V.I.A. : Shout out to 7even, Battle Cats, my dad Joseph Clark, Sr. (he’s doing his thing Jo-seph House, Inc.), shout out to my church More Than Conquerors, Pastor Green, Jo Jo, Jada, & Joshua (my kids), and everybody. Shout out to everybody.

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“I would

call it

reality rap.

I talk about

everyday

life.”

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By LaToya F. Abram

The rap group GMC Fal-cuity is made up of the following members: G, Tezzy, Ro, Twan T, Mr. B and DJ 2side.


G: I grew up in different places. Ensley, 5 Points West, Bessemer, Brigh-ton, West End, Weno-nah, New Hill, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

Tezzy: Central City, Midfield, Wylam and now I’m in West End.

Mr. B: Riley, Lugmond Village, and West End.

Ro: I was born in Hous-ton, Texas and came here and grew up in Powderly.

Twan: Bessemer, Brigh-ton and Wenonah.

DJ 2side: Bessemer, Ensley, 5 Points West, New Hill, Virginia and Norfolk.

GEM: What type of style would you say that you have?

G: All different types of styles. Lyrical, hip hop, dance but everybody in the group is a solo artist, so we got our own styles.

Tezzy: Free style...no writing.

Mr. B: I just love music.

Ro: Give it life.

Twan: However it comes to me that’s how I give it.

DJ 2side: I just spin re-cords.

GEM: How long has the record company been together?

G: About three or four years. We are all like family, so we really been together our whole life.

GEM: How long have you been in the game?

G: About three or four years.

Tezzy: Two years.

Mr. B: About three.

Ro: On and off for about ten.

Twan: About three or four.

DJ 2sides: I’ve been spinning records for about six years now, but I have been dealing with music basically all my life.

GEM: How would you describe working with a group vs. making music

as solo artist?

G: Being with a group you have more minds on a chorus or a hook. Eve-rybody putting their in-put in is like making a Thanksgiving feast.

Tezzy: I like doing something with every-body.

Mr. B: I’m versatile.

Ro: I wouldn’t mind do-ing some things solo, but I love my group.

Twan: It doesn’t matter to me.

GEM: Ro, what’s the significance of the ban-dana?

Ro: (laughing) sur-prise… when I feel like I’m ready I’ll take it off and present the face to the world.

GEM: Do you consider yourselves underground rappers?

G: Independent artist ‘cause we do everything by ourselves. We really don’t have anyone to help us out. People ask to help us out, but w only deal with the ones that we trust.

Everybody: Our music is underground.

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GEM: Has the radio played any of your mu-sic?

G: Yeah, Jukebox plays our stuff a lot. He is one of our biggest support-ers, Goodfellas Radio, N Works and Street Slang.

DJ 2side: Friday and Su-day between the hours of 10pm and 1am. We are played live at the Fox-trap.

GEM: I know that you appreciate the value of a good beat. What makes a beat good to you?

Twan: If I could feel it and I’m rocking to it that’s a good beat to me.

Ro: It all depends on how much the producers loves his music. Many people say that they can make good beats, but only the ones who love it come out with the best results.

Mr. B: A beat to me is like a human. I want to feel it’s pain. I like to feel all that emotion from the beat.

Tezzy: I like a full beat. More sounds… sounds, sounds, sounds. If you got different sounds in there I’m willing to buy

GMC FALCUITY

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a beat.

G: Like everybody said its all about the feeling. I like bass... Piano. For the harmony you can give me trumpets. I like the stuff that sticks out...snares and claps.

DJ 2sides: I like to feel the boom and the bang. If I can feel it in my heart then I can feel it. If I can feel it in my soul I know everybody else can feel it.

GEM: What should the listeners expect when they hear your music?

G: The truth.

DJ 2sides: Power.

Tezzy: Reality and no fiction.

Ro: A lot of the stuff that we see (pointing) and a lot of the stuff that you hear aint what I’m doing. I probably did it 2 or 5 years ago. You would see the same things if you stayed where we stay.

Twan: Look for the mes-sage. Me personally, I’m trying to give out a posi-tive message.

GEM: Musically, who have you worked with?

Coast 2 Coast DJs, I really want to hit the is-land DJs, Canada and Europe. They get more exposure than we do in the United States. GEM: Does the name of your group stand for anything? G: GMC stands for Get Money Clique ‘cause we get money by any means necessary. Falcuity, eve-rybody always say we spell our name wrong, but we don’t spell it wrong. It’s Falcuilty. That means that we are falcons a whole bunch of brothers in unity. GEM: Do you have any shout outs that you want to give? DJ 2sides: Shout out to myself, the group, Dough Boy, Cuzzo, Jukebox, G-Entertainment Magazine, Platnum, Playboy, and my DJs in ATL. G: Shout out to every-body that has something to do with GMC. Shout out to my mom, Juke-box, DJ CK, Sane, Vol-tron Productions & Fire-bird. Tezzy: Cane, Joker, Loy-alty, Lo Key, Shank D, Wylam, Wenonah, & ROA. Mr. B: First and

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Foremost I want to give a shout out to God because without him I wouldn’t be here right now. None of us would be here right now. I want to shout everybody else that’s supporting us. Ro: Shout out to God, the GMC family, Weno-nah High School, We-nonah Elementary, Pow-derly Elementary, every-body that knows us and helped us. Twan: I want to shout out God, Mom Dukes and everybody that had an influence on my life. G: Shout out to G-Entertainment Magazine. Mr. B: Shout out to G– Ent. Magazine for taking the time out to do this interview. DJ 2sides: Shout out to God. GEM: Do you have a website? G: www.facebook.com/gmcfalcuity www.twitter.com/gmcfalcuity2 www.youtube.com/gmcfalcuity205 Www.myspace.com/hillborn 205.545.6004 Check ‘em out on Black Opts too!!!

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TManic Records is a new label here in Bir-mingham, Alabama. The label currently con-sists of Go Hard Ent. Busta Free, Bama Sky, Vic, Brandon Alexander and Lashon Thomas. The label started in Oc-tober 2009 as a recording studio and we had artist to come in that were really good and it pro-gressed into what we have now.


Lashon: Tuscaloosa.

Young Don: Memphis, Tenn.

GEM: What style would you say that you have?

Frank Neddy: Unique.

Photo Slim: We got a lot of different styles street style or corporate. We can take it either way.

Mack: We come straight from the heart.

Bama Sky: It’s just in-credible.

GEM: How long have you been in the game?

Frank Neddy: about two years together (with the group).

Photo Slim: (Busta Free) we’ve been going for about 7 years.

Young Don: I got years under my belt, but I’ve really been making a name for myself for the last two years.

Bama Sky: I’ve been rappin since I was about 12.

G-Money: (A&R) I’ve been doing this about a year.

Lashon: (assistant) I’ve been with TManic since 2010.

Vic: (Busta Free) since about 2005.

B.A.: (CEO of Busta Free) we’ve been rap-ping since ‘05. I’m an artist myself, but I stepped back somebody had to finance and be the head of something. I got with Tre in 2010, we played ball together at UAB.

GEM: How would you describe working with TManic Records?

Frank Neddy: Easier, before we got with TManic we used to deal with a lot of people that were jiving with the stu-

dio time. Now, if we need to get in there we can and the quality is much better.

Photo Slim: It gave me an outlet for my music something that I didn’t have. I record my own music at home and I let Tre do everything else as far as promotions, mix-ing it, mastering it so you deal with him you get everything. It’s just easier.

Young Don: I’ve been getting the run around with a bunch of cats out here. Never walk but always talk! I don’t have to sweat no more. He will get your name buzzin.

Bama Sky: I’ve been rapping a long time and I’ve been dealing with a couple of cats that aint on their thang like they are supposed to be. I was with a group Boys of the South (we still here). That’s when I was with my boy G-Money and a couple other cats, but they went their sepa-rate ways. G called me and put me to Tre...so, let’s work.

G-Money: I looked at

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his record label is on an-other level and I like that. He is about busi-ness. I don’t mess with a lot of people here any-way. But, I know who’s real and I came to him.

Vic: All I can say is that this is the most legit business going right now.

GEM: Do you consider yourselves underground rappers?

Tre: Some of the artists here are already main-stream. Some got stuff on the radio and playing in the clubs. In a couple of months all of the art-ists are going to be main-stream.

GEM: What should the listeners expect when they hear your music?

Frank Neddy: that straight drop. That mu-sic that makes you say I feel what they are say-ing.

Photo Slim: we got that humorous music...we got that life music. We got whatever you want. Aint nobody rappin the same way.

Young Don: Life...Pain...the

Streets...Happiness. Just a variety of everything.

GEM: Musically, who have you worked with?

Frank Neddy: We have been working with each other.

Photo Slim: I’ve worked with a few artists: P Stone, Birmingham Jay, Young Don (We’ve both done a track with Young Buck), it’s a few artists locally and in other states.

Young Don: Slim (my right hand man), Stone, Buck, Pat, Chat, Shine... everybody just about. Young Don featuring Young Don : )

GEM: Who would you like to work with?

Frank Neddy: Gucci...Webbie

Don Deezy: Rocko.

Photo Slim: Anybody that’s working hard.

Young Don: Face Mob, Bun B, Pimp C & Pac if they were here and Jeezy.

GEM: Does the name of your record company have significant mean-ing?

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Tre: When I was playing ball everybody use to call me T Man. I just put the “IC” on the end of it and that’s where it came from.


Tre: www.tmanicrecords.com

GEM: Do you have any shout outs?

Frank Neddy: G Money, the members of the group, and everybody working with Tmanic.

Photo Slim: God for the blessings that we are go-ing to receive.

Lashon: They need to watch out for us ‘cause with God on our side we are rising to the top and not looking back.

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Ree’Al: Birmingham GEM: How did you get started in the music in-dustry?

Ree’Al: After I saw " The Five Heartbeats" music chose me. GEM: How long have you been in the music game?

Ree’Al: Seriously about the music 5 years. GEM: Who influenced and what inspires you?

Ree’Al: Great artist like The Roots, Eryka Badu, Pink, Stevie Wonder & many more. Being able to do a great work in my community inspires me." I LOVE My Com-munity" The music in-dustry opens many doors. GEM: The music and radio industry can be tough on new art-ists. How has it treated you so far?

Ree’al: It’s really all about believing in your-self & getting outside your city. You have to KICK doors down & not wait on anyone to do anything for you. I will

say this I work very hard & everything I have worked for. I have been blessed to be respected by radio executives & when you hear me on the radio it’s because I've earned the right to be on there. GEM: How do you separate yourself from other artists?

Ree’Al: I'm a female hustling for every inch I get in this industry. My music is a mix of pop, hip hop, R&B, Neo Soul & Inspirational & since I'm an independent artist I wanted to show all my love for different styles of music. GEM: Who would you really like to work with?

Ree’Al: I would Love to work with Stevie Won-der, Jermaine Dupree, Knarls Barkley, Brian Cox, Tyrese , Eryka Badu, Pink, Alicia Keys & more.... But if I had to pick one it would be Ste-vie Wonder. GEM: What type of vibe should people expect to hear on your album?

Ree’Al: A fun vibe be-cause of the eclectic mix of all genres of music &

style. It will make you wanna dance , rock out, fall in love, respect your-self, remember your family ties & make you think. GEM: I got to ask for all of the male readers... Is Ree'Al single?

Ree’Al: Yes I am single & Thinking about doing a who wants to date Ree'AL show!!! GEM: What album have you been listening to lately?

Ree’Al: Knarls Barkley & a lot of old Motown artist for inspiration to write for many artist that I’m working with. GEM: What should fans expect from you in 2011?

Ree’Al: Collaborations with some great artist you will hear about soon & working as an A&R for Audio State 55. GEM: What is your ulti-mate goal by the end of your career?

Ree’Al: To make an OUTSTANDING mark on history & a continu-ing growth in my career by stepping into movie roles & more..

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roles & more.

GEM: Do you have a facebook, myspace, or a webpage where fans can reach you?

Ree’Al: REEALMu-sic.com

GEM: Who would you like to give a shout out to?

Ree’Al: My manager Ken Smith (205)227-9096 , Orlandez & Patricia Pickett, B.Mason,Danny Mosley, James Bevell, Henry Panion,Chris Coleman , Bird (Durdy Muzik) D-ReaL& many others...

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G-Scenes… See What

Open mic in Stone Mountain GA.

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t’s Going On In The City

11

American Turtle Association Mardi Gras Party

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