For The Critics

If you’ve been following the site for more than a day (or listened to any of the songs on the sidebar) you’ve heard us post some tracks from the following Artist.

Franchise is a hip hop artist…YES! an Artist not a rapper, spitter, ect so on and so forth. He encompasses a different flow, a different presence even a different understanding of music that alot of today’s rappers just don’t understand or care to implement into their music.

This is….Franchise, Braddock’s Spokesman, Soon to be Pittsburgh’s Commander in Chief

ForTheCritics.com: First, I’de like to thank you for taking the time and letting us pick your brain a little bit about your views of hip hop and what your trying to do with your music. The first question I have is where did the stage name Franchise come from?

Franchise: Honestly when I first started rapping I was about 14 and my stage name was T-Rock hahaha and I knew I couldn’t rock with that for very long so I came up wit Franchise one day and it kinda just stuck foreal

ForTheCritics.com: When you sit down to write your music, what steps do you go through that bring you to telling your story?

Franchise: Everyday life, I might just be in the car gazing out the window thinkin of lines or even when I go out to clubs and what not….it’s crazy foreal, I get motivation for writing everywhere and with everything I encounter on my daily basis

Franchise: Everyday life, I might just be in the car gazing out the window thinkin of lines or even when I go out to clubs and what not….it’s crazy foreal, I get motivation for writing everywhere and with everything I encounter on my daily basis

ForTheCritics.com: There’s a few different types of Hip Hop…There’s the true gangster rap, backpacker music, Hypebeast music and so on…where do you feel you fit in the big scheme of things?

Franchise: Well truely I’d say I’m kinda in the middle of everything because I write and spit about things I’ve seen, experienced, and even things I’m going through presently….you may listen to perfect storm which is my 1st mixtape and say I’m commercial with a hood swagger then you may listen to newer tracks and also Schitzophrenic Mindset and say it’s hip-hop and I even have backpacker joints. I just been working on rounding myself and perfecting the craft for about the last 2 years of my life.

ForTheCritics.com: Who were your biggest influences in music and what artists are currently motivating you with your music?

Franchise: Well coming up it was definently the pioneers such as: Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Kool G Rap, Notorious Big, 2Pac, Big L, Big Pun, Jay-Z, Nas, Mobb Deep, The Lox, etc….as far as what’s present and in rotation now i haven’t really listened to the radio as much as I did about 3 or 4 years ago but I’m liking raekwons new album, when that dropped it had me real excited for hip-hop, I’m feeling how Fabolous is killin things, umm….lol I’m stuck foreal but I am open and entertained by alot of the music today I truthfully get alot of motivation from all the Pittsburgh artists doing their thing because it’s good to day that finally Pittsburgh is starting to come together and show more luv to one another as artists out here and I really do go to timebomb and other local spots and grab up everybodys tape when i hear people are dropping so it’s alot of everything and everybody that moves me musically out here.

ForTheCritics.com: This summer you dropped one of the best mixtapes in the city with Schitzophrenic Mindset and up until recently you were supposed to be dropping “Henny and Haze”…The fans are waiting so whats your next project and where are you headed musically?

Franchise: First off I will thank you for supporting and showing luv to SM i appreciate that. But Henny & Haze is still dropping we just pushed it back to the top of 2010 look for that sometime from Jan-Mar for sure but in the mean time I will be dropping an 8-track EP on November 16th over the internet and Itunes titled Money, Sex, & Drugs…all original beats and jus basically a mini-concept album which shall get the people involved and make them pay attention until H&H gets here ALSO i just did a video for a song i have off of the ep so lookout for that in about 2 weeks or so.

ForTheCritics.com: You have some more personal bars and verses on your last tape…What was the biggest situation in your life that influenced your music the most?

Franchise: Yeah I’m real big on keeping things genuine and as real as possible, I give the fans only what I know and what I’ve been through and a lil imagination here and there but having my son on December 17th of 2006 changed my life musically that’s what made me put things in gear and get this movement going.

ForTheCritics.com: If you could choose one artist to collab with on a track, who would it be and why?

Franchise: I always wanted to do a real/deep track with Styles P….I feel that even though SP is a gangster rapper he brings alot of versatility to the table and I just think he’s one of the illest lyricists still relevant to the game and still gets respect and thats how I would hope to be someday-respected as a lyricist and emcee.

ForTheCritics.com: Your also a part of one of the best up and coming groups/affiliations in the city [East End Empire] How does the EEE team help keep you sharp and on top of your game?

Franchise: We all are pretty much on each other…we rock shows together, hit the studio, go out-were all pretty involved in each others music

ForTheCritics.com: We’ve hit a couple points and got to know Franchise a little bit…is there anything words you have For The Critics?

Franchise: Stay tuned to the movement, TRIPLE E’s we coming up and defly keep it locked wit ya mans franchise cuz my next move is my best move

- Franchise x ForTheCritics.com

On Boaz’s last visit to NY he hit a few prominent NY DJ’s and let’em know Pittsburgh/412/Steel City, Pistolvania was on the rise…Here’s another video for ya’ll

Last month we showed a video called “Fly Everywhere I go” which was a pictorial of a campaign being run by Pittsburgh’s own Frequently Fly clothing. Today, He debuted part two of that campaign and we also got a hold of Mr. Frequently Fly to talk to him about his brand, the movement, the spacesuit and where he wants to take his clothing line…Also, below the line is the 2nd part to the “Fly Everywhere I go” Campaign…Get it.

ForTheCritics.com : Well, First and foremost…The question anyone who’s visited your site or seen you out is What does the Spaceman suit, Your logo and the name of your brand symbolize?

Frequently: I think the best place to start is with the name and logo. A large portion of it is self explanitory to an extent, but the entire concept of what is being done in regards to this brand is based on man’s obsession with flight. That can be traced as far back as Icarus in greek mythology and proceeds to current day astronauts. It’s translated in the urban culture as a representation of status as well as a sense of style, so we feel that we embody that sense…frequently.
The spacesuit was the translation of that same concept except it was a campaign that we felt was a complete representation. We hoped that it would also garner attention and actually get a conversation started, which is exactly what it did. The campaign is called “Fly Everywhere I Go”, so the whole idea behind it was to find a blatantly obvious way to represent someone being fly, and then put them into everyday situations. The main idea was being fly everywhere you go, so that’s why there are shots taken in the park, walking around town, on the bus, in a Taco Bell, in a hotel, etc. These are all places that people frequent on a regular if not daily basis but regardless of where you are your always fly.

ForTheCritics.com : Everybody starts somewhere, Talk a little about your path that ultimately led you to Frequently Fly…

Frequently: When I was in high school I had a desire to do a clothing line. Not a streetwear brand or a shirt line, but a full fledged clothing line. As I did the research and looked into financing the entire venture I got a reality check in terms of the amount of money that it would cost me to purchase rare fabrics as well as paying a seamstress, etc. So I sort of fell back from chasing that dream. Time went on and eventually I started to get the itch again, I was still designing shirts here and there, or just drawing them out in my sketch book that I kept. A lot of the ideas were just general, then one day I was in the shower and got an idea for a brand, so I slowly built on that idea from time to time scribbling ideas on the backs of napkins and envelopes. Even then it wasn’t anything that I was sure I wanted to pursue fully.
Things picked up some when I bought the Air Jordan Spizikes, the white and grey versions. I could not find any shirt that I liked to wear with those shoes, so I designed one myself. That is where the entire idea really came to fruition, a lot of people don’t realize that I never even intended for anyone else to have that shirt other than myself. But there was such a positive response to the initial mock up design that I decided to release it.

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We got in contact with 2x Pittsburgh Hip Hop Awards winner of the DJ of the year awards and asked him to touch on a couple things he’s seen in the city, The closing of WAMO, The grind of Pittsburgh artists and his hidden talent…WAMO (Pittsburgh number one station for hip hop and R&B) Closed it’s doors today at 6pm. We knew it was coming prior to this interview but here’s was DJ GQ had to say…Enjoy!

ForTheCritics.com: You’ve been doing the DJ thing in Pittsburgh for as long as I can remember, what got you started or interested in DJing?

DJ GQ: My dad is a Dj so i caught the dj bug when i was like 12 and then at around 14 I was doing parties all through high school and college. My mom used to sing so music was just always around so it was a natural thing for me to do.

ForTheCritics.com: So while you were paying your dues to get where you are now, What were some of the more difficult things you had to overcome?

GQ: Just getting in the game here [Pittsburgh] I mean I had to stay patient and I was really big on not stepping on toes to get ahead just had to wait for my turn and I kept trying to work on being better. To this day as far as PGH goes mad respect for Dj Rok and Shorty D, Before I even lived here those two ran shit and they still do, I always respected them for keeping it real…

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Searching for an Outlet

In every city you’ll find new artists grinding. You’ll also hear them scream that they’re the best in the city…Well Pittsburgh’s no different and we got to sit down and talk with Rell Mac, an upcoming talent out of the Garfield section of Pittsburgh. Here’s the conversation we had with Mac about music, politics and how it feels to be Searching for an Outlet in a city that’s losing it’s biggest voice for Hip Hop

ForTheCritics.com: What’s the inspiration behind the music you create?

Rell Mac: My family is my inspiration behind my music helping the Beenafactors get into a good situation drives me to make good music. My e Beenafactors family (J-Brown, Geo, Amen, MV, and AO) their my inspiration they keep me humble and keep me sharp we always have a lil lyrical exercise to make sure everyone is where they should be if not better that inspires me. My dude that passed away George “Killa” Kyles I know he’s looking down and that inspires me to make good music and strive to be the best.

ForTheCritics.com: Besides the Beenafactor family keeping you inspired how do you keep that motivation with the state of the game the way it is currently

Rell Mac: I stay motivated by being around people that understand good music, that lets me know there are poeple who still understand it out there. And people that want to make good music, like I’m one of those people that grew up on Classic albums such as: illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, Ready to Die, OB4CL, ect and I want my name being brought up in the conversation when those artist are named. I want my music to be remembered, I want people to play my music 10 yrs later and still value it I want to make timeless music thats what keeps me going and inspires me

ForTheCritics.com: Who were some of your biggest influences in not just hip-hop, but music?

Rell Mac: My biggest hip-hop influences would have to be the late 80’s and 90’s music cuz thats when I feel in love with hip-hop. From Daddy Cane, Rakim, Kool G, NWA, The Bad Boy Era, The Rocafella Era, The Death Row Era. Other than hip-hop I would have to say “The oldies but goodies” such as, Earth Wind and Fire, Al Green, Mike Jackson, music during that time cuz growning up in the household I grew up in thats what you heard. Sunday morning ya moms down stairs cleaning and she’s jamming to the oldies, you just learn to love them as you get older.

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ForTheCritics.com caught up with The Scholars and had a quick conversation about a few things…Mainly, The Scholars’ name, Extra Credit, The current state of artistry in Pittsburgh and Keeping your grades up. Take a look….

ForTheCritics.com: So, you guys just dropped Extra Credit as a Prelude to “Keep Your grades up”…Where did the Scholars name and the Academic theme come from?

Primavera: It actually started after we left college and began to work on a collab project in 2007. We’re both able to express ourselves in an intelligent manner and with wittiness. After brainstormin’ for about a week, and writin’ “The Scholars” down in my notebook on every line on the page, I called Ghost and pitched him the name, and he liked it. It stuck from there.

Ghost: Haha f*^#. Pretty much what Vills said.

ForTheCritics.com: So is “Keep your Grades up” the official album from the scholars?

Primavera: It’s still not 100% fully determined if “Keep Your Grades Up” is goin’ to be a street album or a mixtape, but we want it to be official.

Ghost: I myself, am leaning towards it being a mixtape because I want do some more work with DJ SpaceCity. He’s mad official on the ones and twos. I was thinking about dropping a solo street album before a Scholars street album.

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