Crazy Hood Garcia

Happy being able to follow his dreams Garcia offers the following advice "If you get into music for any other reason other than the love of hip hop culture, stop. Don't get into a respected genre of music for the pursuit of riches and discredit what others have worked so hard to accomplish." With a lawyer by his side and Crazy Hoods Productions in his crew, he leaves the business matters to friend and business partner DJ EFN so that he can focus on making good music and being a father to his daughter. If you were to read his eulogy he would hope it would say "First, I was a good father, second, I was a man who dared to dream. Those are the most important things in life to me. Nothing else matters. I could die broke and happy as long as I have the love of my daughter and knowing that I followed every dream I ever had. "


In 2005, after years of hard work and perseverance, things finally began to spring board for Garcia's dream to work with the artist he had grown up admiring. Originally known in Kendall, FL as Gambit, Garcia changed his name to rep his last name and Latin roots. Venturing away from SOUTHBEAT,whom he was signed to at the time, he and friend DJ EFN were trying to push vinyl on DJ KHALED. Relentless, he approached the Diaz Brothers with an old school hip hop sample Planet Rock, again handed to DJ KHALED he later gets a call from DJ KHALED asking him to come into the station. "Clap Your Hands" was being put on rotation, played 15 times within an hour.

The wheels were in motion, featured on MTV's MY Block, TLC's Miami Ink, URB Magazine, UPN's face for urban marketing within local Miami, Garcia was living out his dreams. Labels were approaching but the deals weren't working in his favor nor was he willing to leave his family Crazy Hood off the contracts, so he decided to remain with Crazy Hood and further the underground movement. Even if he doesn't get the credit, Garcia is fine with it because he's proved to himself first that he's accomplished all he set out to do.

Remaining on his grind, Garcia is anxious to work again with his longtime friend and mentor, Nick Fury, who produced Garcia's first album Antisocial. Nick and Garcia go way back to 1995.

Currently, putting the finishing touches to his mixtape "Back From The Dead", to be released in two weeks. WhoUFeelin asks Garcia in which direction he is going with his upcoming album

The DYSFUNCT. From the visuals on his Myspace page, www.myspace.com/garciachp surrealism is the reply. Peep the visuals and tracks for yourself.





Granting WhoUFeelin's request for an interview

WhoUFeelin: Does It really come down to not knowing the right people? You once mentioned "its all dubbed out shit, nobody listens to good music anymore", How do you feel about the DOA statement?

GarciaCHP: I don't hate autotune...It can come off right when used in the right situations. It just got to the point that originality went out the window when everybody jumped on the bandwagon and over exploited the sound. But what can I say? I can't hate the game only the player. As far as knowing the right people of course that's important. But without talent eventually the people will cast you out.

WhoUFeelin: On a typical day in Miami, you can be found?

GarciaCHP: All over..I'm constantly on the street hustling..I get my grind on for real.

WhoUFeelin: Who do you associate yourself with?

GarciaCHP: Anybody who is true to their craft . My main squad is and has always been Crazy Hood Productions. That's my family and they are responsible for making me who I am today. Another crew I show much respect to from the 305 is MayDay (www.myspace.com/firstdayofmay). We came up in the same era and the music in my opinion is untouchable. Also, my friend Nick Fury.

WhoUFeelin: Who are some artist/producers you would like to work with?

GarciaCHP: I have been asked this repeatedly and one artist never changes, Andre 3000. As far as producers I would like to work with Danger Mouse, I love what he did with both Gnarls projects. A dream artist to work with would be Beth Gibbsons of Portishead.

WhoUFeelin: You were a guest on TLC's Miami Ink, what did you get a tattoo of?

GarciaCHP:That was a tattoo of the cover of my first album Antisocial. I got about 14 tattoos now and counting.

Garcia prides himself in staying diverse, lyrically speaking on things effecting many artist. Referring to a 2006 interview he did with South Florida's City Link, www.southflorida.com/citylink/sfe-cl-011106cover,0,616216.story Garcia's raps are all about YOU. He doesn't project an image of cash he doesn't have, his rhymes favor modesty over flash. In an analogy of pursuing success Garcia puts it this way " Its like a fucked-up haircut, you're waiting for it to grow out. You know it's going to eventually be good, but it's hell getting there. You're right here, almost where you want the hair to be"

As we speak, Complex Magazine & Grey Goose Entertainment are running a contest for "Rising Icons" featuring Garcia CHP, vote for the Rising Icons on the September 5th BET Network Special, www.complex.com/GREYGOOSE/Local-Market-Rising-Icons#Miami

For booking info
www.crazyhood.com
twitter.com/garciachp
www.myspace.com/garciachp

Billion Dollar Baller DJ E.L.I.

Reppin Chitown is DJ E.L.I.

www.myspace.com/djeli

It’s a lot of pressure to carry a name like “Mr. Offical”, especially in a musically driven city like Chicago. But when Chicago artists need their songs exposed to the world, there’s only three letters that come to mind……..E.L.I.! Starting his career as a live DJ for Billion Dollar Ballers Entertainment, DJ E.L.I. has quickly become one of the most popular and well respected DJs in the nation.

Not only does he continue to tour nationally with such acts as MARZ, Tech N9ne & Paul Wall, but he has also conquered one of the largest nightlife scenes in the world. With such credentials as Excalibur, Sangria, RadioStar, Zentra, Ontourage, Privilege and many many more, DJ E.L.I. has made himself a staple in the Chicago club scene, working alongside such world renowed Djs as DJ Nonstop, DJ Flipside, Dj Nephets and others.

Rest is not an option with the busy schedule that this 23 year old phenom takes on on a daily basis. Aside from his rigorous club and touring schedule, DJ E.L.I. seems to also be getting it done on the mixtape scene as well. His highly popular “2 Hot 2 Handle/2 Cold 2 Hold” mixtape series has become a stage for him to showcase his broad range of mixing techniques over multiple genres of music. From mashing mainstream artists with up and coming artists to combining such musical styles as hip hop, reggaeton, bachata, freestyle, house, progressive, euro, etc.

Aside from just Djing, E.L.I. has also widened his portfolio to include modeling and producing. Now under the CRUNK!!! umbrella, DJ E.L.I. combines his goal driven, over the top lifestyle with a company that matches him to a tee. When asked about his newly formed relationship with CRUNK!!!, DJ E.L.I. said “it’s basically like draining my personality, putting it in a can and taking me home with you.” With the sky as his only limit, DJ E.L.I. continues to soar high above the competition and break ground in ways that the entertainment industry has yet to see. Only time will tell what DJ E.L.I. has in store next…………

You can follow him via www.twitter.com/djeli or his WordPress www.DJELI.WS

Choze 2 b Different with Johnny Martian

Out to prove that young people still have love for the Hiphop culture, Jhonny Martian aka Choze is filling up WhoUFeelin's airwaves.

After hearing Tru Quality and selecting "Weekend Lover" for the Myspace playlist, Whoufeelin stumbled across Choze and the rest is history in the making.

From the bio section on his myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/chozeakajohnnymartian.

While Portland, Oregon, is filled with talented hip hop artists, it has also been known as a city that’s difficult to break out of, especially for musicians seeking more national and international attention. But in the last few years there has been a growing hip hop movement of young rappers and producers trying to make their niche in the nation-wide music scene. One of the central players in this movement is Choze, a young rap artist seeking to be one of the best in Portland and to bring more attention and focus to the talent in this city. His mission is both personal and altruistic, and the barriers that musicians face in this region only fuel Choze to push his own music and the larger music scene.

Of course, it hasn’t always been an easy journey musically or personally, and Choze’s authenticity comes from his experience as a young person of both the beauty and the tragedies of life. "I know that all of my family members in heaven are pulling for me and giving me strength to make a success of myself." This success includes moving forward to break out of the moniker of "Mixtape Rapper" Choze notes, "There was a point in my life, and I’m still trying to get out of it, being labeled as a mixtape rapper because I never really had a producer to be my right hand man and to help me craft my sound. I’ve always had to do industry beats up until this point."

Now gaining increased attention via the MySpace Music community and word of mouth in his hometown, Choze believes he has what it takes to be the first young rap artist to break out of his state. As part of this break-out, Choze has released 3 mixtapes, Appeared on over 10 mixtapes from various up and coming DJ's across the country and he is now back in the studio, equipped with new producers.

Currently working on a new mixtape as well as an EP titled "A Versatile Mind", All while creating his own record label Neu Beginin Records along with friends and fellow MC's Saint & Wingate (The duo are better known as Tru Quality).

Choze’s mission is to put his music, the local hip hop scene, and Portland on the map. This mission drives him to keep his music real and original, also to reach out to fellow artists and fans who share his passions and goals of making Portland bigger and better. Because of this, Choze is an artist of the people. His success is the success of his fans and other local hip hop musicians. His recognition will be Portland’s recognition. He represents the city’s best.

On that note log onto http://chozeandnbgang.blogspot.com/ and follow Johnny Martian aka Choze

Downtown's Sweetheart

VA$HTIE
I wouldn't rather go downtown with anyone else other than Downtown's Sweetheart, Va$htie. With an impressive resume for being a creative director in Young Dro's video and being a stylist for Pharrell at BBC, I just wonder why she never got more credit. She's got tons of creativity and Colorz, forever being a teenager.
www.myspace.com/violettenewyork
www.vashtie.com/blog

Multi-Task with DJ Protege

Mixtape of the moment for WhoUFeelin is Multi-Task mixed by DJ Protege, ATX's own homegrown. WhoUFeelin invites you to download for free, Multi-Task. No other mix you've heard makes the record talk to you with Lean & Drive, a Cars beat featuring Pharrell and Busta Rhymes versin, Bob Marley, Pitbull with Santana, Celia Cruz, Jane's Addiction, Lil Jon, and Wine O all on one 37 track mixtape, Multi-Task by DJ Protege


http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1lZGlhZmlyZS5jb20vP296d3htZTR6M3Rt

Nominations for SEA

ATX, time to show some luv for local few, DJ Grip, www.myspace.com/djgripmusic . DJ Grip is not only a local Dj but also a Dj showing luv to nearby cities and towns with his Save Texas Rap shirts and mixtapes on http://www.dollarznsince.com/

Log onto http://www.southernentawards.com/ and drop your boy, DJ Grip, a nomination.

Also, vote for Will Hustle, www.myspace.com/willhustle.

Here's your chance to be heard, log on and vote, http://www.southernentawards.com/

Drake, Among HipHop Royalty

After hearing Cash Money and Drake in the same sentence, WhoUFeelin began to ask "who is this guy from Canada creating such a buzz but also being shown love from the West Coast to the South and all the way up through the East Coast. Not only can he act, but he can also sing and rap. A triple threat some are saying while others are discussing his associations to HipHop royalty and CoverGirl beauties.

Soon, http://www.bossip.com/ was asking the same question and quoting the Queen of HipHop, Mary J. Blige, and why she was feelin Drake. If the Queen of HipHop is giving Drake props, he must be worth of WhoUFeelin. Drake is lyrically skilled in choosing his vocabulary carefully as he spits a verse over a chorus he himself is singing on.

Quoting Drake from his BET Awards after party appearance on BET, "I'm always looking for a better way to say something, my mother was clever in instilling me with that curiosity" Drake is definitely easy on the eyes for the lady fans but he is also artistically talented in versing a track for the fellas. Sure enough, three weeks or so WhoUFeelin is having a conversation with K-Day legend, Julio G, who happens to be in the city for Unite The Mic tour and he states "Drake, is who I'm feelin, I like that he's not all tatted up. HipHop needs that, it can't be all thugged out".

Suddenly, WhoUFeelin recalls a quote from local artist, Zeale, www.myspace.com/zeale32, "Smart is the new Gangster."

It is clear as night and day, WhoUFeelin is feelin what everybody else is saying by HipHop needs a saviour. HipHop needs to be on socially conscious level and not just conspicuous consumption.

Peep, Drake's "Best I Ever Had" video, http://livesteez.com/watch/ffessB/Official-Drake-Video-Best-I-Ever-Had%22%3E Though there is much eye candy in the video, it doesn't take away from the fact that women can and must embrace their sexual empowerment.