Get Issue 3 directly from us, directly to your doorstep, shipping INCLUDED in price. (USA) Issue 3 features exclusive interviews from the one and only DJ Nappy Needles and also Loose Screwz from the enigmatic new record label/art firm Farfetched. Also scorching these pages is the hottest photography out there in our Salute to the Modern Pin-Up, Holla.
And you say Saint Louis, yes indeed till the lights go out, we like to scream it actually. When I was asked by longtime friend and festival organizer/Midwest Avenger John Harrington to come down to SLUMfest and do some interviews, I was ecstatic. I quickly decided to make Issue 2 strictly dedicated to the festival. Seeing that the mission of the SLUMfest organization and the Locash Movement is one in the same, and that is simply to blow up the Saint Louis scene, It’s a perfect fit and we are happy to be affiliated.
Without further delay we proudly present Issue 2 – The S.L.U.M.fest edition. This is a 28 page homage to Saint Louis talent in all forms, Complete with 3 exclusive interviews the first with festival organizer and promoter extraordinaire Robert “Roboo” Ford, the second with musical-social movement Red Zero and the third with The Force/Hawthorn Headhunters rock star Black Spade. We also cover the entire event from start to finish and everyone involved is covered from the Musicians and the B-boys to the Artist’s and Organizers and the most important part of any festival the crowd.
When my partner and I (Scott Calhoun of Cyanide Studios) realized the scope of this years event we realized we were not going to be everywhere, we were also inspired by the unity vibe of the festival and with the Locash Movement being a collective concept, we thought how cool it would be to take photo submissions from the crowd and everyone could have the chance to be part of the magazine as well. We reached out to the deep talent poole of professional and amateur photographers in Saint Louis and the response was amazing and the finished product is even better.
In this one publication we’re reppin not only ourselves but the S.L.U.Mfest organization all the performers and artists as well as the photographers and journalists that were there and even just the people taking pictures of their friends. Supporting this publication is like supporting yourself it’s all one love, we just put in one place and gave it a name. You can order yours here in print for 5 bucks or digital download, but I suggest getting one you can hold in your hand’s and if your were there, you very well could be in it! if you were not there, you will feel like you were. Follow this link.
HEEEEEEAAAARRRRSSSS KRRAAAAAAAAZZZZEEEEEE!! is one of the most colorful and talented people I know, he can rap, he can sing, he can dance, ( O.k. I don’t know about the dancing) he can act………..like a wild card, with all the launch codes, but what he defiantly does have, is a rapid fire flow that he can smooth out at will to create a hook that will instantly embed itself into your membranes, it always makes for good art when smart people are creative. Kra-z is one of the most sought after collaborators in the Saint Louis area, and producers never hesitate to hook him up. Even when he’s not performing he’s just a naturally entertaining person, get him on the mic and it’s ridiculous, Kra-z even. Here’s part of our conversation at SLUM fest after a few beers.
Sikboy: So how do you want to start this interview Kra-z?
Hears Kra-z: Hey, hey, hey…..yeah! hearz Kra-z we love him.
Sik: Ahhhhaha yeah that guy’s awesome! o.k o.k. what’s your next project and how can we get that.?
Kra-z: The next project is called Freedumb, it’s gonna be available online there are a couple of tracks on my bandcamp site now, I’ll also do some physical copies and bang those motherfuckers out. It was gonna be about 15 tracks but I’m gonna slim it down to the tightest ones 8-10 probably. I’m also gonna have a site called damnrealstl.com coming soon so watch out for that. Man, you got me lookin at the recorder thing like its alive, hhahhaaa.
Sik: Alright man you hold it, Mr I is fuckin loud right now so talk loud while you describe your music.
Kra-z: (extra loud) Ahh man, I go with the beat really, and I try to find certain beats that go with a certain feeling, then I just follow it, whether it’s rap, funk, R&B any shit like that it’s whatever. We’re doing a project with Screws from Scripts and Screws called Blank Generation, and that’s just an amalgam of all different types of shit all styles, were tryin to get a little Chili Peppers in there, it’s uh a melting pot of music it’s like a musical masturbation, your always gonna get off.
I highly recommend you download Kra-z’s debut album “Carnival of sols” along with some other gems for free at
My final 2 Slumfest interviews with Black Spade and Red Zero are in print in the Official S.L.U.M. fest 2011 Rap-up magazine presented by the Locash Collective, which available in the side bar . A comprehensive reflection on the festival as told by myself (Sikboy) and featuring a managere of submitted photography by Saint Louis’s hottest professional and amateur photographers, we’re comin through the revolution is beautiful. Holla ~ Sikboy
Pancho Rucker is a true Saint Louis young gunner, with clever as hell lyrics that pack plenty of “oooooh shit” punch lines, you cant help but to listen to what he’s talking about. He’s got party tracks that showcase his ability to rap mixed with some deep (real deep) emotional music, the kind you can feel. I only met him once and after watching his You Tube catalog I feel like I know him. Conceptual videos and production along with his sense of artistry, makes him a standout. I caught him and Kid Evil just minutes after Their S.L.U.M. fest performance and this is what they told us.
Sikboy: Tell me a little bit about your music and what you guys are doing out here today.
Pancho Rucker: “It’s our first time at slumfest and were very pleased to be a part of it. Basically if I had to put a finger on our music it might be old Ice Cube mixed with Outcast, It’s hard to put a label on really, I make life music, it’s all about that, something you can dance to, something you can think about, something that really has substance, I feel like the game right now is lacking that”.
Sikboy: Right on, tell us about some of your projects, and what you’re working on now.
Pancho: “Ok, the first project is on datpiff.com it’s called “Better Than You On Your Shit 2″ it’s also on STLmixtapes.com , I’m working on a project right now with them called “Fuego”, also I’m working on a project called Kurt Cobain music it’s a themed mixtape, it’s not all rock music but it touches on a lot of the things Nirvana really touched on”.
Sikboy: So you’re talking about their lyrical content, that’s dope. Kid Evil you handle the production, do you spin also?
Kid Evil: “Yes, I’m a turntablist first, a producer second, we both produce, most projects are 50/50 every now and then we do a feature with someone else but it’s typically us two.”
Check out Pancho goin off at S.L.U.M.fest just minutes before I talked to him.
You can download “Better Than U on Ur Shit Too” here
Saint Louis’s favorite blockstar Jia Davis is a busy guy these days, what’s he doin? Representin like none other. He is currently is 3 groups as well as working on a solo project, all makin major waves in the show-n-prove Saint Louis scene. Jia has been makin top shelf midwest music for a long time now, some call him a local legend or Saint Louis’s best kept secret, but fuck that I’m tellin everybody, Jia Davis is the truth he embodies Hip-Hop and he’s earned every stripe he’s got. He gave us a couple of minutes of his time between his two sets at S.L.U.M. fest.
Sikboy: Jai Davis Saint Louis underground, alot of people say legend, you’ve been doing it a long time and you got a lot of fans where you at these days?
Jia: Doin a lot of different things, from Bits-n-Pieces, 4$alebutnot4$ale, I’m an F5 records artist there’s a Committee Nation project in progress, workin on my album it’s a new, new project I’m ready to rip the stage up tonight and hold Saint Louis down.
Sikboy: What’s your new project called?
Jia: It’s doesn’t have a set title yet but there’s a lot of fun music on it. The 4$alebutnot4sale album was just released it’s called “Out the Crates”, the “Heavy In the Streets” album is almost done from Committee Nation, workin on mixtapes, workin on videos , it’s goin down SLUMfest STL 2011 know what I mean, It’s like a who’s who of Saint Louis underground Hip-Hop, everybody’s startin to get noticed.
Sikboy: There seems to be a big vibe of unity here today, for the scene and the city, would you agree?
Jia: Yeah, yeah it’s big for Saint Louis period, you normally don’t see this, everything is good!
Jia Davis has many killer projects goin on you can cop the brand new 4$alebutnot4$ale album here
Musical Mastermind Entertainment A.K.A. MME is quickly becoming a standout in the Midwest’s freshman class, like Mitch Kramer in Dazed and Confused they’re cool and talented enough to roll with the seniors. With 4 emcees and one singer they have the depth to explore many angles of one subject. Young, hungry and talented is a lethal combination, and with the sizable local fan base they are already building they have their eyes on outer space. We caught up with MME at S.L.U.M.fest in Saint Louis and this is what they had to say.
Sikboy: Broken down to basics what is your music about?
Muhammed Mastermind Austin: “Our music is a combination of our feelings projected mainly through Hip-Hop, then we have an R&B singer. It’s about our everyday life and our struggle trying to make it in this music industry, and just connecting with everybody”.
Lyrique: “It’s pretty much, real life as real as it can get, we’re not out her stuntin, like were gangsters or anything like that, were talkin about who we are and who were tryin to be”.
Sikboy: Right on, what’s your next project and how can we get it?
Lyrique: “Our next project is comin out this summer late July or early August called Sing for Free, Sell for Food, it’s the first R&B project comin out from MME, look for that comin out real soon. You can stay tuned to me on Twitter, follow me at Lyriquemme”
Muhammed Mastermind Austin: “Also I got a project called ADD (Artistically Day Dreamin) written and produced by myself, it’s comin out on Greedmontpark.com a company out of Atlanta so watch for that also, it’s MME till the mother lovin death of me”.
To keep up on official MME business check these links
Stay tuned for more S.L.U.M. fest interviews with Black Spade, Red Zero, and more right here, and we are hard at work putting together the Official SLUMfest Rap-up Magazine presented by the Locash Collective, Holla ~ Sikboy
Con-scious [kon-shuhs] – adjective- having the mental faculties fully active and aware of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc.
Em-cee [em-see]-noun- master of ceremonies.
Saint Louis emcee Lyfestile is remarkably well-balanced. On one hand his style reminds me of an all-star linebacker, fiercely loyal to his territory and you can’t get nothin past him. On the flip side to that, he also resembles an MVP quarterback, surgically dissecting an issue with intellect or just relentlessly pounding out artistic yardage with one well crafted banger after another, either way he’s solid and capable.
After being heavily influenced by local musicians as a youngster, he felt he had something to say and started his own journey in 92-93. Lyfe would frequent local hot spots for hip-hop like the Hi-Point and “The Science” on Fridays at Blueberry Hill, loitering tryin to do his thing. In those days the sidewalk ciphers were his training grounds. Today he’s progressed far beyond that, wrecked many stages, recorded his own jams and keeps some heavy company, but still loves politicking in the streets. In his recent track “See How it Sounds” he boasts “Music makes us high, plus we make a little money/ fuck VIP I’m outside lookin bummy.” Whether you catch him inside or out, if there is a worthy event in his area if he’s not playin it, he’s there somewhere. Lyfe is well-known around the city, but even if you didn’t know him he’s easily recognizable, with 4 foot dreads and a calm demeanor, he’s polite and quiet untill you give a mic or put him in front of a camera ( It’s always the quite ones).
The role of a “conscious Emcee” is one he’s willing to take on and won’t shy away from. He does however think of it as a gift and a curse. Not wanting to be categorized, he keeps a wide array of topics in his music, but more simply while drawing from his own experiences, he doesn’t want to talk down to anybody, he just wants to do the right thing. “I have the same problems as everybody else” he states. When I asked him what else he’s into he replied that he’s a dedicated family man and said “My family is the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” outside of that, he admits that he’s consumed by hip-hop and heavily into art, always looking for new ways to expand on his foundation. His thirst for knowledge has recently led him to try to get in touch with his partial Cherokee heritage ”It reminds me I have a lot to learn about myself” he says.
After years of building Lyfestile has paved some solid ground. An accomplished artist in his own right he also belongs to 2 groups, Altered St8′s of consciousness with his partner Amene, and Plan B with Nato Caliph, and DJing for both groups is Fly-DX of the infamous Wax Murderaz (remember when I said heavy company.) Formerly on the F5 label, Lyfesile and his partners are currently independent artist shaking the Saint Louis underground to its core, but also taking every chance to rep their city on the road as well. Recently returning from the SXSW festival in Texas, Lyfe says “It’s an amazing event with good people, food and weather, walking around politicking, plus we went so deep this time.” Family Affair, Black Spade, Corey Black, Tef Poe and Rockwell Knuckles joined the road trip to rep STL to the fullest. Here’s some footage of Lyfe and his partner from Plan B Nato Caliph, rockin some solo joints at SXSW. Nato kicks it off with “Prophecies“ and Lyfestile brings it home with “Obsession“ … powerful.
With his open-minded approach Lyfestile’s influences come from many directions, citing Soul, Jazz and Rock-n-Roll as inspiration, “I listen to KSHE95(STL classic rock station) all the time, the 70′s were so ill, my radio is all over the dial.” Listing Soundgarden, Black Sabbath, Three Dog Night and Credence Clearwater Revival as some of his favorite rock classics “I’ll put on some Credence right now!” he laughs. Being able to rock a party is a necessary skill that he defiantly possesses, but when it come to his personal preferences he says sad songs are his favorite.
One of his most admired artists from the Hip-Hop realm is Lupe Fiasco, as a big Lupe fan myself I asked Lyfe about one of my favorite Lupe Lines“And there ain’t no projects/Keeping it real is not an undersood concept” where Lupe speaks of a world where the youth don’t have to follow a certain path to be respected. “It’s an interesting quote” Lyfe says, “and I think keepin it real can be misconstrued, It’s annoying when artists say I’m really a drug dealer, I’m just rappin for the hell of it, I think it’s absurd because a lot of kids really buy into that, it just the wrong way to approach it” His sentiments can be felt in his track “Do’s and Dont’s” ft. Fly DX check it.
Last year in attempt to feed his never-ending hunger for expansion, Lyfe got together with friends John Harrington (Midwest Avengers) and Robert Raboo Ford (Hi-Point) amongst others and created the wildly successful Saint Louis Underground Music Festival A.K.A. S.L.U.M. Fest and everyone ate good last summer. “All the element of Hip-Hop are still alive Here” he explains ” I’m always happy to see someone new doing music here, that I don’t know of.” Seeing some divisions in the local scene these visionaries took matters into their own hands.“Todays scene seemed divided, we wanted to reinstate the sence of a Hip-Hop community and bridge the gaps between different crews, we book the best representations from each genre and bring them all together.” This years S.L.U.M. Fest is June 18th with over 70 artists booked, this event is quickly becoming the highlight of STL Summer’s it is held at Atomic Cowboy check out this link for more information. http://www.atomiccowboystl.com/wordpress/?p=510
The 2011 S.L.U.M.Fest promisses to be packed with plenty of culture and good times for all. It will be streamed live by RawCore radio and Locash Magazine is one of the many proud sponsors. Watch for the Official S.L.U.M Fest 2011 rap-up special edition of Locash Mag. (Print Version) available directly from this site shortly after we all recover from our hangover’s. Other than throwing the baddest party in the Lou, Lyfestile is putting together his solo album and says the long-awaited Plan-B album is also on its way. When speaking to such a dedicated artist, he sums up his experiences with simple rules like “Let your art speak for itself” and “Never compromise your integrity.” It’s refreshing to talk to someone who wants to see other artist succeed with no animosity, because he knows he’s good. ~ Sikboy
