INDEPENDENT
FEST
S.W.I.M. TEAM PRESENTS
MARCH 28, 2015 // LAKE SNOWDEN // ATHENS COUNTY, OHIO
JUICY J
The year 2006 was owned by Three 6 Mafia, when the Memphis, TN group reinvented the rap wheel by winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Hard Out Here For a Pimp" from Hustle & Flow). The trio already had a healthy collection of hits under their belts, as tracks like "Sippin On Some Syrup," "Stay Fly," "Poppin' My Collar," and "Slob On My Nob" were carefully crafted proverbial club bangers. 2000's When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 and 2005's Most Known Unknown were Certified Platinum, adding yet another notch in Three 6 Mafia's successful belt. But what happens after that? Sure, the mainstream radar is piqued, but how
do you keep the world's attention? For front man producer/rapper Juicy J, it was taking things back to square one. J spent the years that followed creating a street team, shooting videos, and releasing mixtapes (along with the album Last 2 Walk) all in the name of the collective Three 6 buzz. What he found though was a burgeoning solo career that transformed him from one part of a colossal whole to a standalone superstar. As Juicy J readies his second solo album [Stay Trippy], he takes his knowledge of the game and of music to next level trippiness.
"I'm a producer, I never considered myself a rapper," admits Juicy J née Jordan Lonski Houston. "So I always kept my ear to the street and always tried to find out what was the next big thing, what was hot." When the North Memphis native released his debut solo project, 2009's Chronicles Of the Juice Man, he kept the talent localized, with features including former Three 6 Mafia member Crunchy Black and J's older brother Project Pat. The album was Certified Gold, but that wasn't enough for the Juice Man. He continued to release mixtapes year after year, dropping a whopping three mixtapes in 2011 (including the critically acclaimed Blue Dream & Lean). Consistently checking for new talent, J would meet newer Rap acts on Twitter and forge relationships. It was there that Juicy J met Wiz Khalifa and the result of that friendship was a coveted spot in Wiz's Taylor Gang. While Wiz built a solid foundation out of his Taylor Gang army, Juicy J is building one of his own. Welcome to the "Trippy Movement."
The Trippy Movement originated out of Juicy J's decision to keep his music real to himself. "Everything changed once we got the Academy Award. A lot of money kicked in," J recalls. "[Three 6 Mafia] went through a transition where the label was trying to tell us how to make the music, and they wanted the music to go in this kind of a way, in a Pop way and all this extra stuff. You go through those transitions when you've been in the game a long time. You just grow." For Juicy J, though, the choice was to swim the mainstream to the tune of the music he wanted to make. As for the origin of the word trippy? "A lot of people connect the Trippy Movement with drugs, but it can be however you feel," he says. "I mean, I always say being trippy, you do what you want when you want. So it's whatever you feel, what makes you happy. Kind of like being rebellious. It's being like, 'Fuck everything else, I'm going to just do me!'" His self-funded movement proved to be fruitful in more ways than one. From selling "We Trippy Mane" t-shirts on his website (thejuicyj.com) to cups and other merchandise, Juicy J found an extra entrepreneurial income he never planned on making.
As he maintains that Stay Trippy mantra, Juicy J embarks on his next solo project. The album will arrive in 2013 via Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Records in conjunction with Sony/Columbia. "It's going to be pretty much like my last mixtape, Blue Dream & Lean. Me being ratchet," he promises. The project is more focused, as Juicy J is in total control, and being given what he likes to consider the freedom to do whatever he wants creatively. His forward thinking production-cap remains on as J crafts a project that still appeals to Three 6 Mafia members, but speaks to Hip-Hop's next generation as well.
Collaborations include The Weeknd, Chris Brown, Yelawolf, Bei Maejor, Trey Songz, along with Taylor Gang affiliates Lola Monroe, Chevy Woods, and of course Wiz Khalifa. The flagship single "Bandz A Maker Her Dance" has already made its rounds, originating on Juicy J's Twitter page. "I put 'Bandz A Make Her Dance' out myself on Twitter and it popped on the Billboard charts and it was climbing the radio charts," he explains. "I'm doing everything that I want to do. This is me. This is Juicy J individually as a person. This is me, all me. So that's what I'm giving. I'm giving the fans me, this is me personally." The next step is the 2050 Tour with Wiz Khalifa, tackling 50 cities in North America. "I mean if I got something on the charts, I need to be out here shaking hands and kissing babies," Juicy J jokes. After that it's back on track to complete his album.
Juicy J's two-decade run in Hip-Hop has brought him to this very moment. While bridging the gap between old and new fans under one trippy umbrella, Juicy J has cracked a code most veteran rappers struggle to decipher. Making uncompromised music that anyone can relate to is this producer/rapper/businessman's forte. It might be hard out here for a pimp, but Juicy J makes it look easy. Running Sony Music is part of his five-year plan. With ambition like his, it's bound to happen. "Why not stack millions on top of millions?" Juicy J says of his foolproof formula. "That's when you get the billions."
UPTOWNE
BUDDHA
Damn! A red hot hip-hop melting pot, Uptowne Buddha, is bound to move you. This dynamic and diverse 5-to-8-piece live instrument hip-hop group seamlessly crosses boundaries between the languages of neo-soul, hip-hop, the jam scene, and the emerging sounds of the future. The band has released one full-length studio effort, entitled “Written”, and has been nearing the final stages of production for their full-length follow up.
MOJOFLO
“Marked by blazing horns, funky bass lines and a front-woman with sizzling pipes… Mojoflo rides a wave of old-school swagger mixed with contemporary cool”
Kevin Joy – The Dispatch
“Mojoflo mixes funk, soul, jazz, hip-hop, and reggae in an intoxicating brew that sounds a bit like a more contemporary version of the great funk band Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.”
Rod Lockwood – The Toledo Blade
“Mojoflo is, in a word, sexy… The band has found a good balance between variety and continuity. With everything they played, they sounded like themselves, but it was always hip, never monotonous.”
Jamie DePould – Capital Chimes
“Mojoflo: It’s as fun to listen to as it is to say. Playing both horn-driven instrumentals and vivacious ditties with accompanying lyrics, Mojoflo successfully mixes elements of jazz, funk, hip hop and rock into an eclectic groove they can only call their own”
Emily Rippe – Toledo City Paper
“Mojoflo has never been about grand concepts or narrow focus – their free-flowing hopscotch from jazz to blues to funk to hip-hop to rock is more about satiating the diverse musical palate of an eight-piece ensemble. Versatility is the name of their game.”
Chris DeVille – Alive!
DJ SMIT
DJ SMIT abruptly entered the Ohio University party scene in 2014 and hasn’t looked back since. He has collaborated with other brands, such as Renowned Clothing, to bring some of the largest parties to the southern part of Ohio. His efforts can be seen as an attempt to bring the whole state of Ohio together, as some of his larger events target audiences not only in the small college town of Athens, but other major cities such as Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, Akron, and Cleveland as well. He is the official DJ for Lavi$h Limit$ Music Group and has connections with various artist throughout the state. He DJs many of the local events and showcases but has visions of expanding his name and brand even further, ultimately looking to leave behind an international stamp on the world.
YIZZ0
NATION
In the summer of 2010 three friends, JaVaughn “I AM CG” Graves, Solomon “Dolo” Brown, and Denzel “Slife Barrow” Sims, joined forces to form a creative super group known as Team Yizzo. With a burning desire for success and a common passion for Hip Hop the three solo artists began expanding their talents to more than just music. This expansion united them with other talented young artists, entrepreneurs, and visionaries
seeking to promote self-expression through the means of art, birthing Yizzo Nation Entertainment. After the release of CG’s college anthem “Dorm Muzik” in late 2010 and the release of Slife’s fan favorite “Charlie Sheen” in early 2011 Yizzo began to gain much notoriety as they took the leap from college rappers to professional artists.
Yizzo front man I AM CG began his career in 2009 with the release of his first mixtape iAm: The Black and Purple Mixtape. During his second semester at Ohio University he was forced to declare a major, but because he didn’t play any instruments the university would not allow him to study music. Disheartened, he approached his advisor spilling his dreams and desires to be a great rap artist and entrepreneur, in which she suggested he study the English language and utilize the resources and classes that college has to offer that could help enhance his gift. Following her advice I AM CG began studying film, entrepreneurship, African American history, and every legendary writer, poet, and artist new and old. In his final semester he decided to pack up and leave a few credits shy in order to test his abilities in Los Angeles where he began work on his debut album, The Fearless LP. I AM CG seeks to inspire, influence, and empower his audience through his music and creative projects.
Dolo strikes fear in the hearts of his opponents. Polishing his bars with the grit of the underground Dolo is inspired by gangster films and anime cartoons. Being Yizzo’s jack of all trades Dolo is also the crew’s sound engineer and in-house videographer. Raised on the North Side of Columbus, Ohio, Dolo Brown represents a generation who refuses to be anyone but themselves.
Yizzo’s silent assassin Slife Barrow comes from the East Side of Columbus. His desire to rise above the negativity that the streets have to offer, often leave him spending many late nights in the studio. Wealth allures him as he’s constantly reminded how close it really is. His desire to be successful against the odds, fuel Slife’s battle for the people who share similar struggles.
Today CG, Dolo, & Slife continue to chase their dreams by entertaining the world with their positive and innovative spirits geared to encourage self-expression of individuality and bring people together with the belief that we are all one in Yizzo Nation.
CAL
SCRUBY
Cal Scruby is 25-year-old product of Cincinnati, Ohio. He started rapping in 2011 with his first release, “Best Foot Forward,” which he recorded himself in an Ohio State University library. Scruby then began working on his second project, “Boy Genius,” with producer Alexander Dreamer. The project was released in September 2012. The project’s first single, “Fux with Me,” was featured by Zane Lowe on BBC Radio1. Cal released his third project, “SCRUBBY,” in October 2013. It featured production from Alexander Dreamer and Cincinnati native producer Mac Niff. The project received praise for its originality, variety, and cohesiveness.
In 2014, Scruby signed with multi-award winning entertainment company, Riveting Entertainment as their first artist under the newly developed management department. After graduating from Ohio State University in August 2014, Cal moved to Los Angeles to start working his first album.
DJ ACE
DJ Ace has been following his passion for music and using his talents on the ones and twos for the past 10 years. He has become a campus favorite at Ohio University, from Sorority bid day parties and formal events, to keeping the night alive at your favorite Athens Ohio Bars. He has mastered the art of mixing and his sets feature an array of artists and genres, including techno, dance, pop and hip hop. Let your ears do the deciding and check him out on Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/dee-jay-ace or Mixcloud https://www.mixcloud.com/dee-jay-ace/ now!
DJ B-FUNK
The man behind DJ B-FUNK, Brandon Thompson, has been producing music since late 2012. He started making house edit and trap bootlegs of classic hip hop songs before stepping into making original house music tracks in 2013.
However, he has been a professional DJ for over 10 years with the last 5 years being solely devoted to moving dance floors with his booty shakin’ style of EDM. Raised on Hip Hop and Top 40 music in his home of Athens, Ohio
he has a strong understanding of the crowd and uses this past knowledge to weave a seamless mix between Electro, Progressive, Trap, Moombah, and Party Jams in his sets. Many DJs/Producers are really producers who try and DJ and it shows with prerecorded stagnant sets they play over and over. DJ B-FUNK is a DJ first, that keeps things fresh with a constant mix of genres and styles focused on creating a truly kinetic experience.
He is Co-Founder and the musical force behind, Dave Rave, a Production Company focused on EDM he and his friend started at the perennially undisputed #1 Party School, Ohio University, when they both felt the scene needed a stronger EDM presence. He has found his path full of career defining performances. Since 2010, DJ B-FUNK has been able to perform 3 separate times at one of the nations largest college music festivals, #Fest, put on by Prime Social Group. He has shared the stage with acts like 3LAU, Krewella, 12th Planet, MGK, Big Freedia, B.O.B., and Time Flies. His initial performance at the Athens Halloween Block Party in 2010 was so well received by the crowds of 15,000 he was asked back for 4 more years of headlining performances and has been the only DJ to have that honor. In 2013, he earned opening opportunities for Paul Oakenfold, Candyland, and Zedd and built on that success in 2014 with several festival performance including Paper City Music Festival, Farm on Fire, and Ohio Dreams to name a few.
Finding musical inspiration from heavyweights like Above & Beyond, Swedish House Mafia, Arty, Diplo, Skrillex, and Paul Van Dyk, DJ B-FUNK has one thing on his mind. If you’re not smiling or dancing, he’s not doing his job.
EASTY
Easty is a DJ/Producer who is no stranger to rocking the party. Having relocated to Athens 10 years ago from Georgia, he has been blowing up dance floors in the Midwest ever since. With years of experience DJing and producing, he has developed a stalwart knowledge of music and beats. With a diverse style spanning all the way from Dubstep, Trap, and Bass music to Party Jams, Experimental, and Electronic, his sound does not disappoint. Known for his high energy and stage presence, his sets are not to be missed.
blond
In a local scene overflowing with quality music, Blond has established itself as the band to watch in Athens, OH. The band released their debut EP, Be My Friend, in January 2014, the frenetic surf pop energy of which has been channeled into a more cohesive sound. This exciting musical chemistry has been captured on their debut album, Loser, which will be released in May 2015. In the meantime, the soaring vocals, driving rhythms and tight instrumental interplay highlighted by their live show can be enjoyed on a new EP, Live at RTV. Blond is rapidly establishing a reputation throughout Ohio and will be touring the east coast in May in support of their new album.