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Written by Kevin Benoit
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Parlé Magazine: You had an amazing year in 2011 and it looks like it’s going to be very bright for you in 2012, what can fans expect from you this year?
Meek Mill: I'm just getting warmed up, getting my name out in the streets. Hopefully I'll be putting out the best music of 2012. I'm one of the hottest, newest artists out in the street, I'm trying to keep that name up, hold it up at its best.
Parlé: You started your career as part of a group, a lot of people don’t know that. How’d you get to this point though?
I was in a group, BloodHoundz, me and my little homies from around the way. But we all started getting locked up and everyone started going their different ways. We still hung with each other doing different things at different times. I ended up branching out by myself cause one of us might be locked up—its hard managing a group in the streets.
When you first got you, you were signed to Grand Hustle. How’d you hook up with T.I.?
One of my old managers, he was cool with Tip. Tip was willing to work with me but I was getting locked up, Tip was getting locked up so we never really got a chance to go all the way in with what we were trying to do.
Speaking up getting locked up, it's clear that you were locked up a number of times, but it's not so clear what you were getting locked up for.
Everything. Everything that someone in the streets would get locked up for.
(Laughs). Okay. And you're still on probation now?
Yeah. I'm about to get off though, soon.
How'd you end up as a member of Maybach Music?
Running into Ross on the road or rocking shows with Ross, he might be the headliner and he would stand around and watch me rock a show. Ross was on twitter one time and he was like, "Philly Wat Up". I hit him up like, "Yeah Ross, wat up? Why don't you get on this "Rozay Red" remix." It got about 20,000 retweets, everybody ended up supporting the movement, he saw the support, and he ended up doing the song.
Okay. And last year you had the song "Tupac Back," how'd that come about. Considering that you're from Philly, some might wonder why not a tribute to B.I.G.?
I didn't even make that hook, Ross made that hook. It just wasn't a Biggie type of beat, it was a Pac type of beat. I'm a young street rapper, he felt I could represent the song right, so I just spit over it and represented.
"I'ma Boss", let's talk about that record. Did Ross come up with that hook as well?
Naw, after my first meeting with Ross he told me, "Come back with something, let me know, I want to get on something." Went home, thought Rick Ross, got the right beat, brung the hook to him, he laid down his verse and the adlibs and that was that.
That whole creative process for that first album with you guys, how was it? I know you just said you brought that track back to him, but with you all being in different areas, did ya'll all get together in a room...
We did a lot of them together in a room, "Play Your Part", "Pandemonium", we did a lot of songs in a room, but you know Ross be on the road, I be on the road, Wale be on road. We really don't have no choice but to email sometimes.
I know people that have been talking about Meek for years. What can you tell people about your hustle over the last few years that got you to this point? Cause some people feel like you just stepped on the scene.
You can check on youtube, see me with the nappy braids at 15, going hard. Views are at 100, 200 thousand views and they didn't come from just now. I been grinding for a minute. People from Philly go to college with people from all over so it’s always gonna be people from your college talking about, "he's the shit". But you know, I been grindin’ for a minute. I actually been buzzing in my area for a minute—Phiily, Delaware, Jersey area.
You're only 24 now, the youngest out the crew, I just feel like your hustle is soo much more then people can even comprehend…
I'm actually going to put out a couple documentaries and DVDs to let people see what my life like, if you don't know. So it'll be coming soon if you don't know.
Parlé: Let’s talk about this Dream Chasers mixtape which has been a really good look for you. How’d you go about putting that together?
I wanted my first mixtape to have something to do with me. It's my first mixtape as a signed artist, I knew the whole world was going to hear it. It has something to do with me—my life, what I'm involved in, that's what I was doing at the time, so that's what made the most sense.
You got a lot of artists from Philly on the project, are you trying to develop that Philly movement again.?
Yeah, you know I'm from Philly so it would always be nice for some young cats to come behind me and make some money. That's why I always try to keep someone from Philly on my CD or something cause this where I came from. Always gotta leave the door open so that someone else could make money.
Do you listen to music like that now? Are there any artist who's grind you appreciate that aren't part of the crew?
I don't really bump a lot of people. I like Future, Drake, not too many people—Wayne, Tip. That's it really besides the team.
Before you drop the album, what do you want people to understand about Meek first and foremost.
I just want you to like my music. I try to understand the people, I make my music for the people to relate to me, no matter what environment they in.
Even XXL labeled you the "Street Dude" in their feature...
Uh huh, they probably labeled me the streets cause that's where I come from, but that's not all I'm about.
As far as what we can expect from Meek this year, even Ross came out "Hustlin' Hard", but then he had to smooth it out on the R & B tip. Can we expect that from you?
Of course, you gotta do that, you don't want to be performing in the grimiest spots of Detroit and Ohio cause you want to be hood. You gotta tune it down if you want to make money. Cause the streets ain't gonna feed you all the time. Streets ain't gonna give you no three time Platinum album or anything like that.
How did you use the internet to boost the buzz?
The internet is the best thing popping, it's free promotion. I tell people that, when young people ask what can I tell them. It's the best thing you can use, a free tool to get yourself out to the world at the click of a button.
How far are you along on the process for that debut album? Do you have a title yet?
Naw, no title yet. I really didn't even get the first session for my album yet. When I go to the studio and get involved with what type of songs I'm making, that's when I'll come up with titles.
Do you have plans for another mixtape before the album?
I don't ever have plans for a mixtape, I just do 'em from whatever music I have on the side.
Thanks for the time man. Much continued success.
Meek Mill came into 2011 a relatively unknown name in Hip-Hop, but that changed quickly as the year began to take off. He signed a deal with Maybach Music/Warner Bros., and Rick Ross became a mentor. XXL added him to their list of Freshmen to look out for. Then the hits came rolling in. Coming into 2012 it seems his buzz is unstoppable. We spoke to him recently about his journey, the music, Dream Chasers the mixtape and the future. Here's the whole picture behind Meek Mill.
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Written by Alaina Latham
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New artists come a dime a dozen, but Atlanta rapper, Future is slowly looking to become a rising icon. Putting a chokehold on the radio airwaves with his hit single, “Tony Montana,” Future has a bright one ahead of him. Having already spent years in the music business, Future has honed his craft under the wings of the Dungeon Family, an Atlanta-based music collective of acts like OutKast and Goodie Mob. Most recently he’s made noise of his own with the release of his mixtape, True Story. Future is ready for the world to understand why he can hold the honor of such a name. On a recent visit to NYC, Future spent some time with Parlé Magazine, he breaks down what he’s been up to and more.
Parlé Magazine: Let’s talk about the mixtape, True Story. Tell me what the thought process was like when you were putting that together.
Future: I wanted every track on there to sound as close to my life, I want you to be able to listen to the mixtape and understand Future.
Parle: Did you envision that the single, “Tony Montana” would be such a hit?
Future: Nah, I didn’t think it would blow up but I wanted it to. You have high expectations for records that you put out. When you first record them, you make sure you do it for the right reasons. I was doing the track for the streets and the club
Parle: The video looks great. It was shot in Santo Domingo, why did you choose there?
Future: Because we couldn’t get to Cuba.
Parle: I also heard that Drake approached you for the remix, how did that come about?
Future: People don’t know that he approached me. When he approached me, it wasn’t just for the song, it was for the movement and he wanted to find out what he could add to it.
Parle: You grew up in and with the Dungeon Family, correct?
Future: My cousin, Rico Wade, made who I am today, influencing the way I dress, the way I speak and the way I carry myself. He started the Dungeon Family with the leadership ability to lead so many artists, run a record label and be a producer. Soaking up his characteristics makes me into a much better artist.
Parle: How did the name Future come about? Are you that confident to carry the moniker?
Future: I am very confident to handle the name. The name Future came from the Dungeon Family, being around a lot of older dudes telling me that they can see the future in me. And then I lived up to their expectations.
Parle: With so many Atlanta-based artists, how do you set yourself apart?
Future: I don’t just rap, I give you melody. You wouldn’t get my songs from your average rapper because I’m being diverse and making astronaut music.
Parle: Do you have plans for your next single?
Future: The next single is “Magic.” T.I. jumped on the record fresh out of jail.
Parle: Why did you choose “Magic?”
Future: When choosing songs, I let the people choose my songs. I put mixtapes out and don’t pick a single, I let the people decide. The people picked “Magic,” “Racks” and the people picked “Tony Montana.”
Parle: How do you plan to stay true to yourself in the music industry?
Future: Things that occurred in my life make me who I am. Some people don’t understand the fact that every interview and every spin can make or break you.
Parle: BET selected you to be part of their ‘Rising Icons’ series, how has that impacted you?
Future: I have weird theories and being a ‘rising icon’, shows me that I’m going up.
Parle: What keeps and will continue to keep you stuck to the ground?
Future: Ten years from now, I can call someone in jail who has been in my life before I took off and they could remind where I could have been.
Parle: Do you feel that people are going to ride off of your shine?
Future: Yeah they are. When you get success no one is going to care about the music anymore. They want to know if you can get them a check today.
Parle: I’ve heard that you have your own company as well. What’s the FreeBandz movement?
Future: It’s a label, a clothing line and a lifestyle. Basically it stands for waking up every day and having the free opportunity to be whoever you want to be. Bands represent money, FreeBandz, no one can’t tell you, that you can’t make a large amount of money.
Parle: What’s next for you?
Future: The album, Pluto, FreeBandz apparel, the movie for “Tony Montana”, the production side of things and shout out to Santo Domingo for allowing us to shoot “Tony [Montana].”
Parle: For the people who haven’t heard you yet, tell them why they should listen to you.
Future: I’m setting trends and I’m taking you where music should be five years from now. I create my sound as I go and give the people what they want.
Future’s debut album, Pluto, will be released at the top of 2012. There’s more to him than “Tony Montana” and “Racks,” he’s in this game to change it and have people realize that the name is more than just that. Keep your ears open to what the Future has in store.
New artists come a dime a dozen, but Atlanta rapper, Future is slowly looking to become a rising icon. Putting a chokehold on the radio airwaves with his hit single, “Tony Montana,” Future has a bright one ahead of him. Having already spent years in the music business, Future has honed his craft under the wings of the Dungeon Family, an Atlanta-based music collective of acts like OutKast and Goodie Mob. Most recently he’s made noise of his own with the release of his mixtape, True Story. Future is ready for the world to understand why he can hold the honor of such a name. On a recent visit to NYC, Future spent some time with Parlé Magazine, he breaks down what he’s been up to and more.
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Written by Alaina Latham
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On an autumn day in New York City, sitting in the lobby of the Milford Plaza Hotel with a cup of Patron and Pineapple sat an upbeat Verse Simmonds. You’re saying to yourself, “who’s that?’” and then you Wikipedia him, find out the song(s) he’s known for and realize, “Ooooh, that’s him, that was my song!” Hailing from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and now residing in the music capital at the moment, Atlanta, Georgia, Verse wants you all to know him for more than “Buy You a Round (Up and Down).” With the release of his latest single “Boo Thang” featuring Kelly Rowland and a new deal with Akon’s Konlive/Bu Vision, Verse is in the road to redemption. But he never quite left the scene. People seem to forget the spotlight isn’t the only light. Verse is one-half the production team, The Jugganauts, who recently have writing and production credits on Jay-Z and Kanye West’s album, Watch the Throne. Another of his behind the scenes accolades is Rihanna’s, “Man Down” and R. Kelly’s, “Crazy Night.”
On the helm of the release of his new mixtape, Sextape Chronicles 2, Parlé Magazine was granted the opportunity to talk to the man about music in the limelight and behind the scenes.
Parlé Magazine: It’s been about a year since you hit the scene with your debut single, and people were talking about you being one of the biggest names to hit the scene in 2011, but then you almost disappeared on us. What happened after the release of “Buy You A Round?”
Verse Simmonds: I ended up being on the road, writing and producing with my partner. The label I was on ended up changing management. Now I’m with Akon’s KonLive and he wants me to be the face of it. This is perfect timing to revamp myself as an artist.
Parlé: How was the encounter with Akon?
Verse: I have known Akon for a long time, since 2003. Last year he asked for my help on his album. There he asked me to get down with his movement.
Parle: Take us back to the beginning.
Verse: I have a production company called the Jugganauts (Verse and Sak Pase) and we were producing for a lot of upcoming acts. We produced AK Sent’s album and that broke us into the industry. I moved from the Virgin Islands to Florida to Los Angeles and now I’m in Atlanta now everything is taking off.
Parle: A lot of artists either go to L.A. or Atlanta these days, is New York is no longer a market.
Verse: (laughs) New York is where you come for press. I think different markets take turns and the south is taking it now. One of my reasons for moving to Atlanta was the music scene. When you come to Atlanta, on the radio you can hear every party for the whole week. I visited one time and the second time I moved there.
Parle: How did you get with Kelly Rowland for the “Boo Thang” record?
Verse: We let Kelly hear the record and she loved the record so we let her get on it. It was a blessing to get her excited to be on my record.
Parle: With so much going on, how are you able to keep it going? How do you describe your work ethic?
Verse: I wake up and every day I am on a mission. We’re on a making music mission. I wake up and go to the studio or an airport. I’m working on a mixtape and the album.
Parle: What is the album looking like?
Verse: I’m trying my best to be really honest. It will be a real life perspective on relationships and bringing love back into the music. I want it to be music that women love, but men aren’t afraid to play.
Parle: How are going to set yourself apart from other young artists that are trying to do the same thing?
Verse: They have to be able to produce and write. Man, there is a lot of stuff that they have to be able to do. Hard work beats talent and I’m blessed to have both but I know I still have to work harder than the next man.
Parle: Let’s talk about your production credits on Watch the Throne?
Verse: It’s a blessing to have that kind of credit under my belt. We have “Made in America” and “Who Gon’ Stop Me,” and those were one of those it just happened moments. Kanye and Jay-Z wanted some stuff from us and we sent them some music. The first beat we sent them was “Who Gon’ Stop Me” and they loved it. A lot people don’t know that’s me on the hook though they think its Kanye.
Parle: Do you think you have moments of genius?
Verse: I’m a Virgo, so we’re perfectionist (laughs). Even in our moments of genius we might not see it as that. It may take someone else to tell us that it was genius. If I do [have those moment] I’m waiting for someone to come tell me.
Parlé: Thanks for the time, look forward to the album.
On an autumn day in New York City, sitting in the lobby of the Milford Plaza Hotel with a cup of Patron and Pineapple sat an upbeat Verse Simmonds. You’re saying to yourself, “who’s that?’” and then you Wikipedia him, find out the song(s) he’s known for and realize, “Ooooh, that’s him, that was my song!” Hailing from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and now residing in the music capital at the moment, Atlanta, Georgia, Verse wants you all to know him for more than “Buy You a Round (Up and Down).” With the release of his latest single “Boo Thang” featuring Kelly Rowland and a new deal with Akon’s Konlive/Bu Vision, Verse is in the road to redemption. But he never quite left the scene. People seem to forget the spotlight isn’t the only light. Verse is one-half the production team, The Jugganauts, who recently have writing and production credits on Jay-Z and Kanye West’s album, Watch the Throne. Another of his behind the scenes accolades is Rihanna’s, “Man Down” and R. Kelly’s, “Crazy Night.”On the helm of the release of his new mixtape, Sextape Chronicles 2, Parlé Magazine was granted the opportunity to talk to the man about music in the limelight and behind the scenes.
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Written by George "Fable" Robinson
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Music has long been regarded as the highest form of art. It requires an immense amount of passion and dedication to meet the masses approval and the sultry and talented vocalist Ms. Lalah Hathaway has more than enough of both to claim her spot on the music scene. With a career spanning two decades, daughter of the legendary soul singer Donny Hathaway, has released her sixth studio album Where It All Begins and continues to show new facets of her personality. Among those she expresses her deep love for her craft, ever changing life, as well as herself professed “techy-ness”. Check out what she has to say about this new chapter in her life.
Lalah: You know it was really in me before I realized I wanted to do it. Music was a very natural space for me to live in having always been a creative individual. There was never a time where I said “you know what, hey, I’ll do music”. I always wanted to dance or act or sing or do magic and stay in that space.
Parlé Magazine: Sounds like you really were developing that performing gene very early on. Of the many things’ you’ve done what would be your favorite thing about them and the career you’ve chosen?
Lalah: I really enjoy the live performance aspect of what I do. I really like being able to make these records, which become your legacy, and then go have conversations with people about this music and get that immediate feedback which I thrive on. It’s something about the subtly that you can’t put your finger on like a look that takes you in different directions that kind of shapes the art that’s being created.
Parlé Magazine: Speaking of creativity, you’ve been doing this for quite sometime now. What keeps you motivated to do more and expand?
Lalah: I reeaaally Love music! (Laughs)
Parlé Magazine: (Laughs)
Lalah: It’s really simple, it makes me laugh, makes me cry and one of the real tangible things in my life just like any man or woman that’s been in my life. It’s always been there at every turn, every land mark and milestone and has had like a human presence as long as I can remember. I love music like I would a person and that keeps inspiring me to keep going.
Parlé Magazine: And like people music always changes, which brings me to your new album Where It All Begins which holds a much more upbeat vibe than your recent music. Why the change?
Lalah: You know my first record did include a lot of stuff that was up tempo but I think that particularly after the Joe Sample album people saw me more as a Jazz or a Blues singer which is cool because I do that too. Really it’s just a different side of my personality. I am a person who likes Snoop or DJ Quick and likes to go dancing and has the big sub- woofer in the back of my truck. (Laughs) I really just like to do a lot of things with the intention of doing them well so this is just a chance to present a brighter color of me. Just adding more colors on the pallet.
Parlé Magazine: It’s always nice to switch it up as no one likes the same old thing, but do you think your current fan base will receive it well?
Lalah: I really think that most of my fans or people drawn to me at all will get it. You know back in the day if you purchased the Chaka Kahn record it may have had a beetles cover on it a Rick James duet and it didn’t matter how much stuff was on the record it was the fact that the thread of the record was still her. That’s where we are with it, so I can’t imagine that people would say that “I like her sound but I don’t like the song, so I won’t like the record”. That’s too much, they wouldn’t be a fan.
Parlé Magazine: Cool, now given the fact that your last record dropped back in 2009 did the creative process of trying something new take a lot of time? Why the gap?
Lalah: Ummm it happens. (Laughs) It used to be, when I was growing up, that people would put out a record and go away for a year or two. It’s a different time now. Now it’s so much about the concentration of it and really saturating the market with album after album. Although I will be making records at a faster pace than I ever have in the past I think with me it’s always been all about making the record that I want to make. I can wait for the right time as long as I feel it’s the right record.
Parlé Magazine: I assume when you take your time the creation of the songs are really meaningful. A few songs that stood out to me were Small of My back, Lie to Me and If You Want To. Are there any that really stood out or were important for you?
Lalah: I don’t really have a favorite. I do like all the ones you mentioned but I kind of gravitate between them right now. It’s just so hard to choose, like when someone asks me who my favorite singer is, it’s just so hard to pick one. I will say this is my favorite of all my records to date.
Parlé Magazine: And Spanning 20 years of work with six records completed how does it feel to have come so far?
Lalah: Crazy. And it really feels like after 20 years I’m at the beginning hence the title. I really do feel like I’m at the top of my game vocally and with what I can do and just now getting to the point where I can say “wow, I can do a lot more”. After all these years I feel like I’m at the beginning of the next 20.
Parlé Magazine: I understand one of your new endeavors for the next 20 years is to explore more of your love for technology through a Facebook app. Can you tell me more about that?
Lalah: The app is really cool because it gets people involved by sharing the songs from the album which is what they world naturally do anyway. We’re asking people to log into Facebook and the app then pick four of their friends to share it with and each week someone will win an autographed C.D. And the fact that it’s a Facebook app for me is great because I’m such a geek. (Laughs) It’s really cool way to try and get in front of as many people as possible.
Parlé Magazine: I hear you’re a big Apple and app fan in general, any chance there will be a Lalah Hathaway app on the market soon?
Lalah: I’m on my iPad right now (LOL). I hope so! I’m working on it right now, I don’t know what it’s going to do but it will have to be something cool like syncs with your Xbox or something for your car, something that’s cool and useful.
Parlé Magazine: Either way I’m sure it will be great addition to all the app’s everyone has now.
Lalah: Thanks.
Parlé Magazine: It was a pleasure speaking with you today and thanks for taking out the time to speak with us. I hope this and the next album brings you much success.
Lalah: Absolutely, anytime and I appreciate you.
Music has long been regarded as the highest form of art. It requires an immense amount of passion and dedication to meet the masses approval and the sultry and talented vocalist, Ms. Lalah Hathaway has more than enough of both to claim her spot on the music scene. With a career spanning two decades, daughter of the legendary soul singer, Donny Hathaway, Lalah has released her sixth studio album, Where It All Begins. On the project she continues to show new facets of her personality. Among those she expresses her deep love for her craft, her ever changing life, as well as her self professed “techy-ness”. Check out what she has to say about this new chapter in her life in our exclusive interview.
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Spotlight Feature
Sometimes, it must fall upon the journalist to ensure that what they are hearing in an interview is clear enough that they can truthfully and accurately present their subject's words as quotations. This may require asking for an answer repeatedly, admitting you missed something that could have been important, or actively picking and choosing which quotes should be completely captured in a form of verbal triage. Other times, it may simply require asking the subject to slow down because your cell phone's speaker is woefully inadequate. Such was the case with Kirko Bangz, and regrettably, I did not follow the advice laid out above. The following is what I can transcribe from my conversation with the Houston hopeful, whose Drake on promethazine approach has been reverberating within the scene.
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