Hip Hop in Milwaukee? Oh yes, and it's growing bigger by the minute, especially with artists like Hip Hop duo, Streetz-N-Young Deuces making noise from the North to the South. From winning awards and receiving nominations at typically southern awards shows, to being on mixtapes with multiple DJs that vets in the industry try to get on, these artists are making a statement. That statement you may ask? Well from what we can see, the Midwest has a movement and it's time to take notice.
Giving love to their city everywhere they go, respecting the need for DJ support, and have an incomparable grind, their statement of Midwest is a movement, can not be ignored. Even with southern company, Crunk Energy Drink sponsoring them, Streetz-N-Young Dueces still seem to be staying humble and grateful for every step they are making in this business. Also co-founding local label, EMP Entertainment, Streetz-N-Young Dueces are finding a way to help other artists in their area reach the success they have achieved thus far.
Yo! Raps got the duo to stop their grind for a quick minute so we could find out about their
achievements, their goals and about EMP Entertainments roster.
Tell us what sets your duo apart from all the rest of the artist coming up in the industry?
Streetz: Well I feel like we are coming from a whole different place that people aren't used to. We always think outside of the ordinary so when people hear us it's different.
Young Deuces: Yeah, we're a little more open to new sounds then most, we touch every aspect of Hip Hop. We'll rock a club spot, get off on some East Coast joints, put all into some soulful music, we just try to make music that everybody can feel.
How did you meet?
Young Deuces: We're cousins, blood cousins, actual family so I guess we met at the family reunion [laughs].
You're nominated for an S.E.A. in the category Indy Group Of The Year, congratulations! How does it feel to be recognize for all your hard work at such an important awards show? And Do you have plans on going to the S.E.A's?
Streetz: It feels great to be seen in that kind of light, you know we had a good year. We just want to keep it up and do good music we have our work cut out for us now because the light is shining our way and everybody wants to see what we are going to do to take it to the next level.
Young Deuces: Yea it feels extra great, what really makes it feel good is the fact that we don't have nobody behind us and we got that nomination. We have no vet, no big name, no industry player behind us pushing us and getting us spots, it's just us, everything we been in and done and accomplished was because of us and our team. That's makes it feel like the hard work really paid off. Now if we can do this on our own then imagine what we can do with someone in a position to co-sign and get us to the places we can't get right now.
Streetz: And we are definitely going to be going down their, with our camera crew so you can check it out at SNYD T.V (www.youtube.com/streetznyoungdeuces).
You have worked with several hard hitting DJs, can you name a few for our readers and touch a little on how important it is for you to work with the DJs you've worked with?
Young Deuces: DJ G-Spot (Entourage DJs), DJ D-Ceezy (Hittmenn DJs), DJ Mr. King (Hustle Squad DJs), DJ Heathen (Core DJs), DJ Whut It Dew (Future Star DJs). As you can see we work with a lot of DJs and their coalitions. It's so important to work with DJs because without them, you get no play, no street credit, no rep. With us, we work with any DJ big or not because it's a blessing that people want to do something with your artistic work, mix it, and present it to their fan base and the world, not everybody has that. Without the DJs Streetz-N-Young Deuces wouldn't be where we are at with our music.
Streetz:Also DJ Giovanny (Team Invasion Midwest), DJ Aspekt (All Out All Stars ) and Watsman (The Bakery) have showed us much support. You know it's a blessing and it's very important to work with the DJs, they are your link to the people with out them it's really hard to get a buzz, we've successfully built a buzz through out the mixtape scene and we have every and all DJs to thank for that.
With over 15,000 copies sold of your mixtape We Want In Vol. 2 (Hosted By DJ G-Spot), radio support in other cities, and media attention throughout the internet and print, have you had any backlash from other local artist due to your success, or have they been more supportive realizing it can be done by local artist?
Streetz: Well to my knowledge we have the support of peers [laughs], so I haven't seen any hate.
Young Deuces: Yea the city is behind us 100%. We all respect each other through the city and our fellow artist support us because we don't forget about home. We rep Milwaukee everywhere we go, always in a Mil hat or throwing up our "M's" for the city, so when they see us it's love because we show love back. Yea we move around a lot, but we stay in the city, we know who's hot and even though we're not pulling the strings and we're not in a position to put anybody on yet, we still help out whenever and how ever we can, doing collaborations and drops and showing up to shows to support. So when we do a show it's packed, all the local celebrity's are there, all the trappers, hustlers, college kids, regular 9 to 5ers, everybody is there, because we put on for city...
You have collaborated with artist such as Scarface's Green City member, Spark Dawg, who are some of the other major artist you have collaborated with?
Young Deuces: Yung Texxus, Mims, Nucci Reyo, Rain, Blinky Blink, White Boy and we're working on something with Wes Fif soon, so be on the look out for that.
I have never been to Milwaukee. What is the up-n-coming hip hop scene like?
Streetz: It's crazy. It's a lot of talent out here, a lot of people out here grinding and putting in work. We have like a grab bag of Hip Hop in our city, you go on the Eastside it's heavily lyrical and conscious music, you go to the Northside it's very hustler orientated/trapper music, you go to the Southside it's real hard core and tough music, but then it's a lot in the city who's very soulful and some who are really club influenced, come to our city and you'll get a bit of everything.
You are co-founders of the independent label, EMP Entertainment, who are some of the artist you have signed to your label? And what are they working on right now?
Streetz: Well we have Astro who is a rapper/producer he's hot, been getting him placements with his beats. Then we have Aliesa Nicole who is a writer and singer, she is very talented and unique with her style. Next we got Taliaferro who is just all over the place and were putting things together for all of these artist so look out for them soon. EMP Entertainment has a lot to come
In 2006 you beat out Bun B's group Mddle Fngz, and several others for Up & Coming Artist of The Year at the Get Em Magazine Awards, that must have been extremely exciting for you. Were you shocked to have beaten such a prolific artist for that award?
Young Deuces: We were extra amped because we were going up against some good quality groups and artist like them and Slim Thug's group The Boss Hogg Outlaws. I'm still surprised we had won because we're from the Midwest, at a southern award show, but we spent so much time grinding in the South that it paid off. Much love, respect and luck to all them and their careers cause they get it in heavy. But yes that was a good moment for Streetz-N-Young Deuces!
Streetz: Hell yeah, we went in knowing we weren't going to win [laugh]. Shout to Bun B and the Mddle Fngz.
What are some of your future goals with your music? What's next for Streetz-N-Young Deuces?
Streetz: Well we are getting into writing songs, trying to get placements mixtapes, maybe an album, endorsements we doing it all, just stay tuned.
Young Deuces: Also we want to bring more light to the Midwest. We've been overlooked in Hip Hop a lot but we've done so much as a coast. We want to do like the South did or how the East did back then or how the West did. We got so much talent but nobody is bringing it altogether like how DJ Khaled brought his movement together. We got so much talent, but everybody is like, pushing on their own movement which isn't bad, but if we brought it all together, all the new cats, all the big dawgs, we would be a strong force in the game for real. Streetz-N-Young Deuces , Yung Berg, Bump J, Trick Trick, Tech N9ne, Ray Cash, Rhymefest, Rico Love...I mean we got a lot of good MCs. And I didn't even name the obvious like Kanye, Lupe, Common, Eminem, D12, Nelly, Bone Thugs...but I'm telling you now the Midwest movement is coming.
You are sponsored by Crunk Energy Drink, how did that come about?
Young Deuces: Money Motivator Mgmt., we have great management, no lie. We would be at these conventions, conference and always run into the people at Crunk Energy Drink and so our management talked to them and told them how open the market in the Midwest is. It just so happened that they already had plans to branch in the Midwest, so they just stayed on it every time we seen then and then Kevin Doyle reached out and then BAM...it all happened. Shout out to Kevin Doyle and the good folks at Crunk Energy Drink.
Streetz: Basically they just liked what we were doing for the Midwest. Crunk Energy Drink is a great company and yes we really do drink it before every show [laughs].
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Young Deuces: Life and our city. A lot from our city, we feel the Milwaukee story hasn't been told. I mean T.I brings you to Atlanta, Lil Wayne brings you to New Orleans, Jay-Z makes people yell Brooookkllyyynnnn and they aren't even from New York. We want to do that, we want people in China throwing their M's up, because they feel our music and when their done with our music they feel like they just took a trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Streetz: Yea because we work of emotion, it's better that way. We want the fans to feel our music, not just in the club, but in any atmosphere, at home, in the car, on the block, when they're down, when they are in a good mood...all aspects.
What has been some of the biggest highlights in your career so far?
Young Deuces: I have to say being in The Source magazine, that was huge for us. The Source was the Hip Hop bible at the time so for them giving us the "Off The Radar" label it really helped boost our position.
Streetz: Yea, The Source did it for me too, it was unexpected and in a good issue.
Can you give us 5 adjectives on what you feel describes your music and give an explanation on each adjective you choose.
Young Deuces: Timeless, because we make music that 10 years from now you can play and be like "Damn, this is still my song". Motivational, just like Jeezy, we're trying to motivate a new breed, we do it for our city and all other small cities who don't have a big demand in the game, it can be done.
Streetz: I would say hype, all energy, because we are very in your face and to the point with our music, movement and style. Big, because of our sound and what we are going to be when it's all said and done.
Young Deuces: Universal, because we can pretty much rock on any beat, style, sound and any topic.
And last but not least, let our readers know where they can hear more of your music and find out more about you.
Young Deuces: They can just Google us we pop up easily, or check us out on your favorite DJs mixtape or at our many websites: www.Streetz-N-YoungDeuces.com and www.myspace.com/streetznyoungdeuces
