wait till ya hear wats come-n off Shot Records, oh my my!
Rapper family shares talents in music, sports
Vallejo Times Herald
By RHONDA REASON-THOMAS
Special to the Times-Herald
Vallejo has never left the hearts of the Stevens brothers, E-40, D-Shot and Mugzi, who've traveled around the world performing rap, making movies and creating marketable products for the hip-hop culture.
Keeping it moving with much success in the entertainment business the past 15 years, Sic Wid It Records in conjunction with 3030 Records is sponsoring youth baseball at Wilson Park, producing local rappers and creating educational products for children.
Growing up in Vallejo during the 1980s - a time when crack cocaine, drive-by shootings and gang warfare were prevalent in the city - the brothers turned stories of the streets into a pot of gold.
Now, giving back has become a huge priority for the rappers, who want not only their own children to grow up in a positive environment, but other youth as well.
"Forty has always wanted to sponsor a baseball team here in Vallejo," said Mugzi as he stood outside the Vallejo studio door.
"Even though we live in other cities, our hearts are here in Vallejo. We've always wanted to get a team here," Mugzi said. "Baseball goes a long way with the Stevens family. We all started playing baseball at Wilson Park."
Mugzi also coaches his son's Little League Farm team in Fairfield.
"We're doing our best to give back to children in our community," Mugzi said. "I'm out there coaching to teach the children and get them to the next level where they need to be. As a coach, I can see them blossom. That's what touches my heart more than anything, is to see a kid expand into being something good. Even if they couldn't catch the ball, but now they could, that's something good. That's something that makes any grown man say, 'Hey, I do have something to offer these kids.'
"Youth sports, Salvation Army and many local community organizations have benefited from the Sic Wid It family donations."
Vallejo rappers are getting exposure under the label as well. Turf Talk released his first CD, "The Street Novelist," under Mugzi's 3030 Records about six months ago and now his second CD, "Turf Talk Brings The Hood" is selling well in stores. Mugzi's, "Lifestyles Of The Disobayish" CD, along with The Sic Wid It Umbrella - "Fedi Fetchin' " CD are all doing well and include collaborations with rappers
B-Legit, Poppi Cas, Kaveo, Tha D.B'z, Mossie, Celly Cel and many others.
While E-40 was in Atlanta on business last week, his brother D-Shot was at the Vallejo studio working on his newest hip-hop creation with his three children Hamp, Dantrell and Bria by his side.
The trio has been helping their father with lyrics, background vocals and other talents for his new hip-hop doll that teaches children how to count, recite the alphabet and identifying animals by sounds.
The 18-inch, African-American male doll comes dressed like a rapper with a follow-along book and music CD that plays hip-hop educational songs for children. Various rap artists performed songs for the CD.
D-Shot talks about how he came up with the marketing idea.
"I noticed how kids really respect a lot of rappers," said D-Shot as he pulled up the graphics of the book's cover.
"I had the idea to create a doll for about 15 years. It's taken this long to sculpt it exactly the way I want it. Plus, back then, my mind wasn't mentally ready to take on the task."
He went on to open the music files for the CD that comes with the doll. His son Hamp and his friend Tony rapped on the track called "No Homework, Stay Up Late," while 16-year-old up and coming Vallejo rapper Lay Low rapped for children who want to learn about animals.
"It's strictly kids stuff on a child's level," said D-Shot. "It gives children a chance to learn and it's something to entertain them as well."
Keeping his hands busy,
D-Shot's debut as movie director for his film "Obstacles," is now a featured movie on Black Entertainment Television (BET) program line up.
"As rappers, we're not 100 percent positive in our lyrics, but I strive to teach my children and others in the community what reality is," D-Shot said.
"Those rap songs and movies we've done are not real, it's just something we've created in our heads.
"I edited the movie ("Obstacles") at home so I could show my children that daddy's editing all this stuff into the movie, it's not real.
"So when they play video games, watch movies or listen to rap, they know what's real and what's been created in someone's head - like Daddy did at home."
Coming back to Vallejo to produce talented artists that lie hidden like diamonds in the rough, could ultimately pay off for those seeking an entertainment career.
"Vallejo is so rich with talent. I went to school with professional baseball players like Ricky Smith (coach at Bethel), Tony Longmire, racer Jeff Gordon, Tina Davis, an executive with Def Jam Records, radio publicist Lamar Fuller and Kym Norsworthy. These are names amongst the greatest professionals in our country and they came from Vallejo."
"We have something to be proud of," he said.
http://timesheraldonline.com/Stories/0,1413,296~31523~2809318,00.html#top
Rapper family shares talents in music, sports
Vallejo Times Herald
By RHONDA REASON-THOMAS
Special to the Times-Herald
Vallejo has never left the hearts of the Stevens brothers, E-40, D-Shot and Mugzi, who've traveled around the world performing rap, making movies and creating marketable products for the hip-hop culture.
Keeping it moving with much success in the entertainment business the past 15 years, Sic Wid It Records in conjunction with 3030 Records is sponsoring youth baseball at Wilson Park, producing local rappers and creating educational products for children.
Growing up in Vallejo during the 1980s - a time when crack cocaine, drive-by shootings and gang warfare were prevalent in the city - the brothers turned stories of the streets into a pot of gold.
Now, giving back has become a huge priority for the rappers, who want not only their own children to grow up in a positive environment, but other youth as well.
"Forty has always wanted to sponsor a baseball team here in Vallejo," said Mugzi as he stood outside the Vallejo studio door.
"Even though we live in other cities, our hearts are here in Vallejo. We've always wanted to get a team here," Mugzi said. "Baseball goes a long way with the Stevens family. We all started playing baseball at Wilson Park."
Mugzi also coaches his son's Little League Farm team in Fairfield.
"We're doing our best to give back to children in our community," Mugzi said. "I'm out there coaching to teach the children and get them to the next level where they need to be. As a coach, I can see them blossom. That's what touches my heart more than anything, is to see a kid expand into being something good. Even if they couldn't catch the ball, but now they could, that's something good. That's something that makes any grown man say, 'Hey, I do have something to offer these kids.'
"Youth sports, Salvation Army and many local community organizations have benefited from the Sic Wid It family donations."
Vallejo rappers are getting exposure under the label as well. Turf Talk released his first CD, "The Street Novelist," under Mugzi's 3030 Records about six months ago and now his second CD, "Turf Talk Brings The Hood" is selling well in stores. Mugzi's, "Lifestyles Of The Disobayish" CD, along with The Sic Wid It Umbrella - "Fedi Fetchin' " CD are all doing well and include collaborations with rappers
B-Legit, Poppi Cas, Kaveo, Tha D.B'z, Mossie, Celly Cel and many others.
While E-40 was in Atlanta on business last week, his brother D-Shot was at the Vallejo studio working on his newest hip-hop creation with his three children Hamp, Dantrell and Bria by his side.
The trio has been helping their father with lyrics, background vocals and other talents for his new hip-hop doll that teaches children how to count, recite the alphabet and identifying animals by sounds.
The 18-inch, African-American male doll comes dressed like a rapper with a follow-along book and music CD that plays hip-hop educational songs for children. Various rap artists performed songs for the CD.
D-Shot talks about how he came up with the marketing idea.
"I noticed how kids really respect a lot of rappers," said D-Shot as he pulled up the graphics of the book's cover.
"I had the idea to create a doll for about 15 years. It's taken this long to sculpt it exactly the way I want it. Plus, back then, my mind wasn't mentally ready to take on the task."
He went on to open the music files for the CD that comes with the doll. His son Hamp and his friend Tony rapped on the track called "No Homework, Stay Up Late," while 16-year-old up and coming Vallejo rapper Lay Low rapped for children who want to learn about animals.
"It's strictly kids stuff on a child's level," said D-Shot. "It gives children a chance to learn and it's something to entertain them as well."
Keeping his hands busy,
D-Shot's debut as movie director for his film "Obstacles," is now a featured movie on Black Entertainment Television (BET) program line up.
"As rappers, we're not 100 percent positive in our lyrics, but I strive to teach my children and others in the community what reality is," D-Shot said.
"Those rap songs and movies we've done are not real, it's just something we've created in our heads.
"I edited the movie ("Obstacles") at home so I could show my children that daddy's editing all this stuff into the movie, it's not real.
"So when they play video games, watch movies or listen to rap, they know what's real and what's been created in someone's head - like Daddy did at home."
Coming back to Vallejo to produce talented artists that lie hidden like diamonds in the rough, could ultimately pay off for those seeking an entertainment career.
"Vallejo is so rich with talent. I went to school with professional baseball players like Ricky Smith (coach at Bethel), Tony Longmire, racer Jeff Gordon, Tina Davis, an executive with Def Jam Records, radio publicist Lamar Fuller and Kym Norsworthy. These are names amongst the greatest professionals in our country and they came from Vallejo."
"We have something to be proud of," he said.
http://timesheraldonline.com/Stories/0,1413,296~31523~2809318,00.html#top
