by Adebisi Agoro
I have been able to catch a lot of live Hip Hop shows in Milwaukee lately. Last Wednesday I had the chance to catch “Home of the Brave” at YNOT II on the artsy east side of town. The establishment is cozy and good for an up close and personal experience. There was an interesting mixture of people in the room, old, young, white, black, latino, asian, gay, straight…but that’s what Hip Hop culture is doing nowadays, building bridges and closing gaps! The crew is diverse in makeup, and the main attraction was their lead female. Mad energy from a short little white girl who has a face like a doll. Hail Mary is her name and she stresses her rhymes on stage like she is determined to prove she’s official. Her hypeman did a good job of reinforcing her message laced raps about war and love and they rocked the party with good chemistry. Hail Mary was followed by Bezy, a more street-imaged rapper who was very confident in his delivery and who was also cited for doing the beat production and dee jaying for the self- contained troop. The small sound system couldn’t handle the big bass of some of his hot tracks, and at times the sound man struggled, but overall, the group put on a well organized showcase. The small but attentive crowd was dancing and some supporters even sang along on the catchy hooks, participating in the call and response Hip Hop is known for. Be on the lookout for these positive lyricists, “Home Of The Brave” at a venue near you…Currents interview coming atcha soon! What’s The Plan is the name of the opening track from Escape Artist’s freshmen debut, Past Due. After taking an in depth listen to this album I could definitely hear that the plan has been firmly set into action. Killing competition with articulate lyrics backed by intricate production, Escape Artist displays why his album is Past Due. A Milwaukee native, and former Marquette University student, Escape Artist admits that despite what he learned in college he had to take it back to the streets on his album. With tracks like Vet Thang, What’s The Plan, and Waiting On Me, Deshea Agee a.k.a. Escape Artist displays artistic depth and versatility. Escaping to different levels track by track, he addresses family issues and hometown love, along with honest words for the ladies. Overall, Past Due is a solid freshmen effort by the lyrically animated Escape Artist. Expect big things in the future from him. Respect is definitely Past Due.
by Adebisi Agoro