Novem Life, Yo! » show

The “P” is free

novem — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:16:45 +0000

Run by one of the most positive people in Chicago Hip-Hop, B-Boy B, The Fly Paper is an urban, underground, free newspaper that’s documented Chicago’s vibrant Hip-Hop culture for the past decade and a half.
Next time you’re at a local shop or show, you might catch B-Boy B or one of his dedicated volunteers distributing the newest issue, discussing its pages and spreading a message of peace. Each Fly Paper is packed with content created by Hip-Hop artists and activists, and commenting on current events that affect the Hip-Hop community. As a veteran of the culture himself, B-Boy B reps old school crews such as ABC, The Feds and Zulu Nation, and has different a graffiti legend help design each paper’s cover page by drawing the masthead (flicks at top-right). Without a doubt, every issue is a unique expression of Hip-Hop’s positive side.
Recently, Novem collaborated with Fly Paper on a limited-edition t-shirt project (available on the right). In the process we got the history of the paper, as told by B-Boy B-

“The Fly Paper started in 1991, by passing out its first issue at the now extinct Lower Links. The first Fly Paper was a double-sided tabloid black-and-white newsprint sheet. We gave it out to the crowd at open-mic and poetry nights, graffiti events, gallery openings.

The Fly Paper grew out of the era of Hip-Hop enlightenment. It was the beginning of the COUNTER-GANGSTA movement, the native tongue, positive, educational and revolutionary rap music. Rap had something STRONG to say. It was no longer was satisfied with “this is how I party; I got new cars, digs and girls galore.” It no longer was satisfied with the “What ya lookin’ at, I shot this kid, cop killer, car jackin’, drug-dealin’ gangstaness.” It was a time of leaving all that behind. The time of knowledge was here. Positive revolutionary Hip Hop just started to emerge. Radio was playing everything that had to do with rap including edutainment, party and gangsta rap.

The FLYPAPER was started at this time to fill the void that Hip Hop Kulture had with the mainstream media. We produced the first FLYPAPER, back then called “The RAP SHEET.” The idea was to give a voice to our kultured as we saw fit to define it, not being defined by outsiders or journalists who did not overstand how our own kulture thinks.

The FLYPAPER has always been free, because information should be free. It is our story as oral traditions of that past were handed down; it is still our story today to pass it on. We need to influence public perceptions of our positive culture today to change tomorrow.

If you are interested in passing on some of your overstanding and skills to our urban dwellers please let me know. If you want to submit something for the FLY PAPER to publish, or want to be involved feel free to hook up with me.

Pass the knowledge. Much love and respect”

———

– R. Pepin + B-Boy B

Stay in your lane

novem — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:29:12 +0000

The Soundprophets are a trio of music producers based in Chicago, Illinois. Since the conception of Soundprophets during the autumn of 2003, the squad has produced a number of songs for some of Chicagos best up and coming hip-hop artists and singers. Novems own Adrian Vidaurre got a chance to sit down with the production team and pick their brains a lil bit.

How did Soundprophets begin?

D.Moon- When I was up at the University of Maryland I hosted a radio show for a lil bit. Through that show I met Dave Greenfield who is originally from Chicago. I eventually moved to Chicago and Dave introduced me to Trev. Trev was pretty much on the same shit I was on, making beats and what not and we eventually started working on stuff together. Its not very often that you meet someone doing the same things you are, and we were both using Reason, that was back in 2003.

What exactly is Soundprophets?

Trev- Soundprohets is a combination of both our styles. We both came from different backgrounds I was more of a Club DJ, where D has a more jazzy, laid back style, he knows how to play the drums and the sax where as I don’t play any instruments really. You know, no one has the same musical experience but we’re able to sync our styles up and come together to make a beat. I like to think that we’re still growing, who knows where we could be in a couple years, we could be on some intergalactic space rap.

DM- Yea, you really can’t limit yourself musically, we both can create original music and we have also sample stuff that catches our ear. Working with someone else you kind of have to learn to…

(Trev cuts in)
Trev– Stay in your lane…

DM– Haha, yea, you kinda gotta feel the other person out and like Trev said, stay in your lane.

What motivates you guys to make beats?

DM– Hip Hop all sounds the same to me, like there’s a lack of creativity. I want to change that trend and and come up with new fresh shit, not just do what’s expected.

Trev- I just like making beats, something to do besides watch TV.

Who have you guys worked with?

DM– We’ve done beats for Viru, Lighting, Kev Turner from Philly, Lotec, Iomus Morad,All Natural, Kataclismic, I want to work with people that bring a positive message to Hip Hop, something meaningful.

SF- Yea, Gansta shit is old.

What are some of your fav all time tracks?
DM– One that comes to mind right away is They Reminisce over you by Pete Rock and CL Smooth, I got too many to name though.

Trev– Thriller, I dunno, tons…. Quincy Fukin Jones man…

If you could work with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

DM- I grew up listening to Quincy Jones, that would be awesome, Prince is tight too.

SF– I wouldn’t mind working with Michael Jackson if he could get his shit together, and if we had some sort of long distance work relationship were I don’t have to come in contact with him.

DM– Haha… have Mozart doing my piano notes…

SF- Richard Pryor doing my interludes hahahaa..

Besides working on music, what are you guys into?

Trev– Drinking, fucking bitches, hey I’m single…hahaha.. You know, playing ball, smoking weed, living up to my black stereotype…

DM- hahaha.. Stealing music online, chillin, talking shit, just having fun…

Your guy Jason designed a exclusive soundprophets shirt for Novem, how does music and fashion relate to you?

Trev- Very inter related, every culture has a certain sound and look.

DM- Everyone likes a good t-shirt, t-shirts are a good way to express yourself.

Word… What current projects are you guys working on?

DM- We’re working on Iomus Morads album, doing some tracks for Lotec. We’re always working on our podcast.

Tell us a little bit about the podcast..

DM– We put a new one out every 2 weeks, we throw mixes on there, some tracks we produce, interviews with the people we work with.

Trev- There’s never a shortage of content.

Have you put out any albums?

DM- Not like out own soundprohets album, but we have tracks on Kev Turners album and Viru’s. Keep a look out for that Soundprophets album coming out in 2008 though.

Between the two of you, who’s the better DJ?

DM– Trev

Trev– Me, hahaha.. I have my experience, I’ve spun at Smart Bar, Sonotheque, Sub T… some other spots. I haven’t been spinning lately though.

DM- Yea, we’re looking to get back into that, with the new technology that’s out you can really do a lot more now, we’re looking forward to our Moonshine set, get a chance to unveil the new soundprophets live experience for ya’ll.

How do you guys feel about the new age DJ?, seems like vinyl is becoming a thing of the past..

SF- I used to be strictly vinyl, cd’s are and always will be wack. But I do like the new software that’s out there, being able to bring 5000+ songs with you is pretty fresh. There’s so many more possibilities now, you can remix on the fly it forces people to be more creative. You cant stop progress, and the end of the day though you still have to know how to be a good DJ, it doesn’t make things easier.

What are some of your fav samples?

DM- Nautilus By Bob James

SF- Curtis Mayfield.

D.Moon.. being that your not from chi, what do you think of the Chicago scene?

DM- It’s a very dog eat dog world, the hip-hop scene doesn’t seem to be very unified. If you can make it out of Chicago, you can make it anywhere.

WEBSITE

soundprophets.com

MYSPACE

myspace.com/soundprophet

———

– Adrian Vidaurre

Keep Your Eyes Peeled

novem — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 02:00:03 +0000

A lot of artists have strange personalities, but Show is just unique… and it shows in his art. When you meet Show, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the stylized eyebrows tattooed on his face, but it’s his demeanor that resonates. Show’s a good dude. I remember how his graffiti in the late 90s stood out cause of its bold, clean letters and a character he called ‘Big Fish.’ Now, Show’s put his distinct style to use, giving custom tattoos at Old Town Tattoo, in Old Irving Park.

How’d you get into art and where’d the name Show come from?
I’ve been an artist all my life. It wasn’t really by choice though, because I always got in trouble as a kid and would be locked up in my room. So I did art–you know without TV or toys, I just ended up crafting my own toys. I guess my parents made me paint to shut me up. But yeah, I just had the nickname ‘Show-off’ so that’s where the name Show or Show Bizo came from.

Where’d that style come from?
My style started evolving back in like 5th or 6th grade. I was really into Beetle-juice the cartoon, and I tried to draw cool cartoons in that way. I still remember my first art show too; I was in 6th grade, and entered 2 pieces in an art show at school: a jet plane dropping bombs and some ninja turtles shit. It was dope though; I got compliments. My influences now include Salvador Dali, R. Crumb, & Aerosoul Crew. They influenced me to start writing in like ’97.

Thoughts on graffiti?
Graffiti taught me to be the dedicated artist that I am now.

How’d you get into tattooing?
I got my first tattoo at 16; my second at 18 from this guy ‘Dreamer’ from Cali. I wanted to get into tattooing then, but didn’t have the resources at the time. When Click USC came to Chicago from Tennessee, he really pushed me to tattoo and convinced me to get my first power supply kit. Then I just started doing work on my own for buddies, gang-bangers around my neighborhood, whoever. I just worked out of my apartment back then.

When?
That was like 1999. So, I’ve been tattooing for 8 years now total, 6 years professionally.

How was that transition to professional work?
Tough at times. I went down to Nashville with Click and Debt and apprenticed for a year in a tattoo shop down there. Then I tried to start another shop with a buddy of mine, but that ended up falling thru. I spent 2 years in Nashville, total, before I came back up to Chicago and starting doing tattoos underground again. Then I traveled from shop to shop for a while, before eventually ending up here at Old Town, formerly Odin. It’s great here. I’ve got my own station, and I’m happily apprenticing Oaf. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.
WEBSITE

inkednation.com/showbizo

———
– R.Pepin