R&B heads may already be hip to Brutha, the L.A.-based quintet composed of real life brothers. But following the release of their eponymous debut in 2008, the fivesome is ready to take their level of fame to the next level. Citing that they didn’t have enough of a stake in the creative direction of their first album, Brutha is gearing up to release Vacancy, inspired by a wild three-day trip to the City of Sin.
The guys are keeping the album’s storyline under wraps, but share that they’ve locked in guest appearances from Rick Ross, Twista, Jadakiss and R. Kelly (he collaborates with them on “Talk Box” and wrote a joint called “One Day on This Earth”). Ahead of the album’s release, YRB spoke with the fearsome fivesome about how the album has something for both the ladies and the men, how losing their mentor Shakir Stewart affected their music, what it was like writing with the Pied Piper and what else we can expect from them in the future.
After a few days of making the rounds in NYC, the newest kid out of
Pittsburgh linked up with YRB at Washington Square Park for an interview
set in true K.I.D.S. style. Taking in the scene of the 90's cult film
which has become synonymous with his attitude on the mic, the 18yr old
kicks a quick verse before politicking about a number of not so juvenile
topics. Mac delves into his rap origins, shaking comparisons and how
the cult-classic served as a window into his musical mentality.
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It’s the early AM hours of the morning and an unmistakable
craving for the simplest listings on a dessert menu makes itself known. There are few means to subdue that restless
sweet tooth of yours. Your options at
this time of day are usually limited to an array of greasy eats that will weigh
one down in ways unaccommodating to the antics of the hour, be they scholarly
or festive. Luckily an exception exists, one that both tastes great and serves
late, Insomnia Cookies. A baking
operation initially begun by a college student for his peers and soon after,
other types of night owls, its small and inconspicuous store front on West 8th
Street plays host to a holy grail among New York City’s well concealed snack
food gems.
An idea with strikingly universal appeal, it’s a wonder how
an edible essential for sleep ridden students had never really been marketed
to such a core demographic prior to its inception at the campus of U. Penn in
2003. In describing the company’s
origins, Chris, a manager at the West Village, NYC shop explains “Starting the
company while he was still in college, CEO Seth thought it would be a great
idea to make some extra money. He had a couple of extra bucks on him so he just
opened up a small store in Pennsylvania.
It started from there.” Soon word of the milk and cookie delivery service's quality catering to a student's lifestyle jumped from feeding one campus to four, bringing to light just how profitable of a concept college juniors had cooked up.
With such a simple business model comes a simple endeavor,
“It was just about making cookies for cheap, selling ‘em for cheap,” Chris reveals. For just $1 you can get one of the most tasty
midnight snacks around town. Spring a
little more coin and partake in their menu’s deluxe items including a S'mores
cookie (a chocolate cookie packed with graham cracker and marshmallow) and a Ménage A` Trois (a blend of 3 different cookies in one). Need enough sugar rush to zap the whole group?
The 14” Cookie Cake ($18) should oblige all indulging insomniacs. If that won’t suffice residence hall specials
are very affordable ranging from fifty to three hundred cookies (in increments
of fifty) packaged in a variety of the customers choosing. All items are enjoyed nothing short of fresh
and moist with a dash of that special something that comes from a home oven.
With deliveries being made until 2:30 A.M. and doors open
until 3 A.M. (catering 9 A.M. to 7 P.M.), Insomnia is a savory secret to be
uncovered in downtown Manhattan. Whether
you find yourself in need of a munchies fix after toking up, or you’re doing
the best to keep awake while studying to get those grades up, you can’t go
wrong with some fresh baked goods named for your current state of sleeping
habit. If you’re the type that sticks to
popular picks, top sellers are the universal favorite Chocolate Chunk cookie
and the S’mores Deluxe which is favored by the late night crowd. If you care to reward your taste buds in a
more nontraditional manner then let Peanut Butter Chip, M&M’s cookies or
fudge brownies with a range of eight different toppings (basic trimmings all
the way to Snickers, Reese’s Pieces and cookie dough are all at your gorging
disposal) fall victim to the impending chomp of that sweet tooth.
The phenomenon of this sweets for cheap franchise has quickly
spread to now claim eighteen locations along the east coast and central regions
of the country, all taking root near major universities. Both NYC locations can be found conveniently
close to the NYU campus, the first at the NYU dining quarters on West 4th
street, and the second on West 8th Street. Although plans are underway to share the
great taste of Insomnia with the west coast, three and a half years of success
in the Big Apple has led the company to a third store opening here in the very
near future (its address is disclosed at this time). Keep your eyes peeled for news on the new
location, or you could just wait until you spot an increase in college kids sleepwalking
with cookie crumbs on their face. Either
way be sure to check out Insomnia for its best bite for your buck cookies and
other rich assorted treats.
Today's popular music isn’t easy to define. It consists of many elements
from different genres that coexist in our iPods to create catchy tunes that
travel through our ears, relating to our everyday lives and thus, capturing our
attention. Enter 2AM Club, a new breed whose perspective,
according to their emcee Tyler Cordy, is “that pop music can still be
smart.”
After
forming in L.A. circa 2007, the sextet played the town for a year organizing
their own special venue. The band cooked up a four-month residency dubbed
“Tiny Porno” at The Derby located in the city's Los Feliz
neighborhood. “We just wanted a place that was sweaty, sexy, loud and
intense,” recalls lead vocalist Marc Griffin. “It was just a little
black box that we could go wild in.”
“We threw it as a party
rather than like another group of dudes tryna hustle their band and their
flyers,” adds Cordy. It was during “Tiny Porno,” which hosted a
number of opening bands, odd sponsors and drink specials, that record labels
began to pick up on the noise, leading the group to a deal with RCA.
Since signing to a
major, the guys moved to NYC, toured with Philly duo Chiddy Bang and hip- hop
crooner Mike Posner and even opened for Questlove and Too $hort. Soon, the
blogosphere buzz was built after Chiddy Bang’s Xaphoon Jones remixed 2AM’s
first iTunes release, “Nobody’s In Love,” and Yacht put their own flare on a
remix to “Flashing Room.”
NEW YORK CITY
by Kristie Bertucci
Photography by Randee St. Nicholas
First look at
Matisse and one might guess that she’s a model. While that’s partly true,
Matisse is more than just a strikingly beautiful girl – she’s a talented
singer/songwriter, carving out a name for herself in the music industry.
Even with roots
based in acting and modeling (at six months old being in the spotlight on
One Life to Live and, by the time she was 15, seen as the face for John
Frieda’s popular “Sheer Blonde” hair products – along with her twin sister),
it’s her singing career that’s her real passion. Now, the 23-year-old’s
Madonna-inspired single “Better Than Her” is climbing the charts – something
that sort of shocked the pop-centric Matisse.
Naming
influences that range from Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Prince to
contemporary acts like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, Matisse has been interested in
music since she was a little girl growing up in Toronto, Canada. “I have such a
musical family that it just comes natural to me,” she says. “My dad played in a
band, so music was always around the house. As I got older, my sister and I
would sometimes sing with my dad at his gigs.”
Although music
was what she initially intended to do, it was modeling that deterred her when
Matisse and her sister won a Seventeen magazine modeling contest after
a family member submitted their pictures. “It was all a fluke,” she admits.
“But, really, it was a great vehicle to get into the music world as it turns
out.”
By 16, she was
working with music in conjunction to her modeling career, learning the business
and perfecting her songwriting skills. However, it wasn’t until she moved out
to Atlanta that she really began to experience the music world and her
enthusiasm to succeed grew.
“It was the most
creative, artistic environment I’ve been in,” Matisse describes. “I began
writing more, learned to produce and definitely learned a lot about sticking to
your guns. People are going to try to pull you away from what you want, but in
the end, it’s important to stay true to yourself.” That’s exactly what she
plans to do no matter how much people want her to be something else. She’s been
working with and learning from some of the biggest names in the industry, such
as Dallas Austin, Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Ne-Yo, Stargate and Kevin Rudolf.
When asked what
sets her apart from other female pop artists, Matisse took no time to respond.
“That I’m me, and I’m not trying to have any angle beyond that.” While other
newcomers feel the pressure to be the next big pop star, Matisse is satisfied
with showing the world her true self. “Musically, I don’t try to fit the mold.
I just feel that being myself is enough.”
And being
herself is what makes her so unique in a time where cookie-cutter reigns
supreme. While she may admire other top girl acts at the moment, she’s not
opposed to one day collaborating with them. However, for now, music is her top
priority, and she’s doing everything possible to make her debut album a real
testament of who Matisse is. ”[The album] will mostly be pop, but with
some dance elements and a bit of R&B thrown in. It'll be a fusion of
things. Really, I want to make music that I like and that I can be proud of.”
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