Myk Fevah, an ’80s baby, was born in Hartford’s North End, where poverty, drugs and violence have become apart of everyday life. Instead of succumbing to the negativity around him, he found solace in something his older brother introduced him to in 1988 — hip-hop. Four years after being exposed to hip-hop, Fevah felt equipped with enough knowledge of the art form to begin crafting his own rhymes. He honed his skills and took any opportunity he could to showcase his abilities. Over the years his hunger and talent have caught the attention of local labels that Fevah temporarily called home. Eventually the labels closed up shop, but Myk Fevah was just warming up. We here at CTHipHop.net were able to up with the father, full time worker, student and husband, to pick his brain on the current state of Hip Hop and the game has changed for the indie artist.

Jack Nickelz: What is your view on the current state of Hip Hop?

Myk Fevah: The current state of CT hip-hop is a difficult question to answer. We, as artists have to figure out who we are first. There’s too many “rappers” that sound like what you hear in the streets or on the radio. The reason I said rappers, rather than artists is because rappers paint the same picture where as an artists, encompasses that picture and elaborate on it to make it something different. So the current state of CT hip hop is in limbo until artists find their own lane.

Jack Nickelz: How hard is it to hold down a state that is seen as being in NYC’s shadow?

Myk Fevah: In regards to the NY shadow, I don’t think we are in their shadow as we once were. I have performed in NY and get love there like I was there all my life. I think we have shown NY talent scouts that you can stop thru CT and hear good music on your way to Boston. But to fully be out of the NY shadow, we have to create our own cloud and be able to work with each other ~conquer and destroy…. as a ONE!!!

Jack Nickelz: How do you feel about doing collabs?

Myk Fevah: Doing collabs here is like going to the club trying to dance with a female…. people stick to who they know and will not give you a shot unless your name is got a buzz to it. The problem is doing collabs is simple, everybody thinks they that next big deal when a lot of times, they sound like the people that cosign them. A real artist will look at that as a turn off and a hungry artist will consider that beef because at the end of the day…nobody is signed…nobody has the “Wu-Tang theory” anymore!

Jack Nickelz: How hard is it to balance your career, work and your homelife?

Myk Fevah: Man, I ain’t gon lie, its difficult. I gotta pay them bills and make sure my household is straight, so I write my verses and/or songs during lunch…lol. As for the motorcycle club, it’s also an outlet but the main focus be the club so music is secondary. I try to get into a studio at least twice a month. I have been sitting on so many material because I have to make sure my house is straight, it grows frustrating to hear the music industry and local artists are putting out….Real Talk!

Jack Nickelz: What are some of the mistakes you see artist make when it comes o performing now a days?

Myk Fevah: Whoo…the mistakes artist make… where do I start….lmao….Nah, the one mistake I see at the shows is the artist try to play for the crowd solely. I feel you should make music you love and if you are performing what you love, don’t look to the crowd for approval. If they feeling you, they are….if not, this is your art….remember they didn’t understand Picasso either.

Jack Nickelz: What are the mistakes that you have seen promoters make?

Myk Fevah: Promoters….and their fucking favoritism. I have been to plenty shows where the promoter is the host and they introduce one artist one way and then their favorite artist a totally different way. That shit makes me so fucking mad. **PROMOTERS promote with an unbiased eye please, more artists will come your events if they feel they will be judged fairly**. Another mistake I’ve seen is the promoters don’t promote hard as back in the day. I remember an open mic used to have posters around the city, making you wanna go…now they may contact you if they have your number or you might have stumbled upon the show last minute.

Jack Nickelz: Do you think it’s hard to get a fair shake from judges when you perform?

Myk Fevah: A fair shake….at what!!! If you have judges who are stuck to one mode of music then add in crowd participation…. what is a fair shake. Judges need to use a scoring rubric during the competitions. I’ve been to shows where an artist won the competition because he scored well…his song was not the hottest but he had a total package performance. But I have also been to shows where niggas have no stage presence but a 100 of their peoples in the crowd and because of that they won…Artists will get a fair shake when people start respecting lyricism and lyrics and the lyricist and not that everybody sold 80 bricks on Tuesday, shot niggas on Thursday and went to church on Friday with da diamond flooded Jesus piece!!!

Jack Nickelz: How hard is it to find good and affordable recording studios now a days?

Myk Fevah: I’m so sick of studios…people want to charge outrageous prices for time and then wanna not be available a lot of times. It’s very difficult to find a studio, let alone one that understands my work ethic. Studios get people because….well I ain’t gonna tell my secret but know that if I do hit a studio, I don’t get charged the full rate…

Jack Nickelz: How can you tell which showcases are the ones you must perform at?

Myk Fevah: As far as showcases, every showcase is a gamble. I figured out the ones that people say are poppin , don’t be and the hole in the wall, be the ones that gave me the most exposure. But I’ll tell anybody, do a $200 showcase with my girl, A.D. Da General out of NY…then go back to your local showcases and see the difference…from artist to promoters to the atmosphere for an artist period…

Jack Nickelz: Anything else you may want to say to the fans and readers?

Myk Fevah: Thank you for having me for the interview… be on look out for The Blk Mamba 2 street album this summer…To my artist…*ONCE WE COME TOGETHER AS A CT UNIT…WE WONT BE STOPPED….but SEPARATED WILL BE IN THE SAME PLACE WE’RE AT NOW!!!

When I came up in the game,hip hop was very raw and uncut. Freestyles, cyphas and basement show were the norm. So when I found out that I would be able to have a flashback style taste of that, I had to come to my home girl, Dina Brass’ birthday bash slash charity event “Food Not Bombs”. As I stepped down the old wooden stairs into the dungeon of sorts, I felt like I was 16 again being asked to spit a verse at a party.

The vibe was so old school. The textures and the sounds looking like something out of an old Hip Hop film. It set the tone and mood for what would be a very organic Hip Hop event that would keep your focus for the whole night. Nothing pretty…just ugly…ugly and in your face. But when you combined it with the music and the energy it became a masterpiece.

A few sound checks later and my good friend, Kyle Young begin to weave sounds through the speakers.I almost felt a calm nervousness float through the artists as we revisited the raw atmosphere of basement bashes. As people made through way down the stairs, you could smell the krylon in The air. The walls filled with various tags and statements of artistic skill and mind state. The area was small…but as the tunes of Tribe called Quest filled my ear, I feel at home.

The cold brick, steel and wood become warm with a feel of hip hop. The lights, a combined effect of old Christmas lights and regular slightly dim bulbs set the mood. Now old school Outkast get the growing into a state of head nod as we wait to get things started.i stare at the old wooden stage covered with a old mat and remembered when this was all that we needed to feel like stars. No green room or elaborate stage shows. No champagne or expensive bottles, just some twist cap bottles that will fill tour lungs up with that harsh barley taste.

I look out at the assorted crowd that’s has been brought together. An assorted cast of race and shades only concerned with having a good time. Each person adding a bit of their energy to the excitement of the night. people mingled and made introductions, old and new. I listened into conversations and stories about how this person was met or what about Hip Hop brought that person to the event.

The lady of the night, Dina Brass, is dressed in a mix if neon pink and green. A modest mix compared to her live out loud stage performance style. Dina jumps on stage to warm up and entertain the crowd. With a mix of charisma and comedy she holds everyone’s attention. Dina flowed between thanking people for coming, impromptu freestyles and over all checking to make sure the mood was right. She informed people that the canned goods they brought and the donations that they made would be given to a good cause(Who says Hip Hop can’t be positive).

Rockoleone is a student of the game and through his hard work and determination he has developed in to a producer, a polished studio artist as well as an artist who can perform! His exciting stage show is a constant crowd pleaser and his versatility and ability to engage the audience keeps them wanting more.

Rocko is not only an intense and dedicated artist, he is also an “on air” personality and can be heard weekly on “THE FIRESET” radio show on 90.7 WTCC FM airing out of Springfield, MA reaching an audience of listeners all across New England. The show is also syndicated on www.blacksoulrythms.com expanding the Rocko fan base.

Jack Nickelz: So, how important is branding yourself now a days?

Rockoleone: The Intent to $ell brand is the cave that shelters various forms of entertainment (Music, fashion, modeling videos, photography, event planning etc.)  it’s like the show sons of anarchy every time you seen them they’d rolled as a unit and they all wore the vest that represented their motorcycle club They specialized in one area of expertise but when that venture wasn’t lucrative they have no limitation on how to pick up the slack in order to generate a profit. I believe in strength in numbers so it helps to give off a perception that draws your fans, followers, supporters in to your business and ultimately make consumers want to buy into our product and/or lifestyle the consumer has to be able to identify with your brand. No one wants to be a part of something if they don’t believe everyone else is going to be involved. So I’m here to provide a service make them feel like their apart of your movement and what you stand for that eventually your brand becomes then when you invest in the struggle you become shareholder of the victory

Jack Nickelz: So how did you come up with INTENT TO SELL?

Rockoleone: For the sake of investigation and incriminating myself lol (not to seem too extreme) but during the process of selecting a name for the company  I came across a old police report (not saying my police report lol) but after further review of the charges on that report that’s what stuck out to me. The way the climate is in hip hop culture today you need something clever that the people can relate to; make them ask themselves how come they didn’t think of that! I thought that the name seemed urban, simple but aggressive street savvy.  Everyone knows  Intent to $ell/intent to distribute means without coming across like mercenaries I took that idea and related to more of an legal hustle than illegal activity. From there I needed a logo so I acquired the services of MF Swayz (graphic designer/video grapher) for D.O.S. Media who helped bring it to life and helped give the name even stronger presence and it was 100 mph from there!!

Jack Nickelz: What type of plans do you have for your brand?

Rockoleone: My plan is to be a member of every house hold across the globe I want to be in the presence of those that aren’t being exposed to the fundamental elements of the hip hop culture.

I’m striving to make Intent to sell the be all to end all brands, to dominate without being selfish. Continue to grow and develop through strong work ethic and smart partnerships. To be as recognizable as the Wu-Tang logo. When you see that “W” you know what that stands for and who to associate that with or when u see that half bitten ‘half eaten apple you know that’s Steve Jobs/ Apple technology and them. I plan to use some of the same models and links as our predecessors eventually brand our own television sets as well lol

Jack Nickelz: What are some of the pros and cons of having a brand?

Rockoleone: The benefit of having a brand is that it has potential to carry over into other opportunities of business there doesn’t have to be one particular face or product for that brand or company. Sometimes over saturation and too much quantity can’t hurt also flooding the market doesn’t always help I had to learn how to spoon feed give it to you in doses. It really depends…a lot of brands aren’t fortunate to have a successful product that could sell itself for months sometimes years before you introduce the public to something new The down side like all things not meeting requirement expectations or projections is bad timing

Jack Nickelz: When doing shows, how important is it to have your brand represented?

Rockoleone: For example, the way I would market myself at the shows is I would have my own football jersey’s made with my name on ‘em and my birth year or I would have Yamila (DJ DooWops wifey) do air brush tee’s up for me. From there I moved on into the Defenders of the old school (D.O.S. t-shirts) anything that would allow me to stand out, look different from what other act were doing. That translated into Hartbeat Huskey clothing a division of Intentto$ell, etc.   So yea, you have to take the opportunity to put your brand on display, set up the lemonade stand sell your your merchandise CD’s DVD’s Banners etc also build with people that admire you and know what your all about as well as cross path of the potential fans that may now just be discovering you. Basically it’s them that dictate what you should do next or what they’d like to see from you.  If your pitch is good you may convince them to buy if your performance is ill the merchandise will sell itself

Jack Nickelz: What are some of the mistakes you see people making with their brands?

Rockoleone: You have to know your audience! They say you only get one chance to make a first impression but it’s also trial and error. You also learn as you go along if you don’t make mistakes your mind doesn’t develop your going to drop the ball sometimes doesn’t necessarily mean failure.  Many companies stay industry standard stuck and don’t know how to innovate and think outside the box. Once you learn the business then develop some of your own practices. Stop thinking the same formula is going to work for you on every occasion. In some instances, I agree if it’s not broke don’t fix it; but you also have to be able to challenge yourself. I also recommend that you to seek outside consultation like a branding agency to help evaluate, refresh your current brand, logo and overall image.

Jack Nickelz: What are some ways to get your brand out there?

Rockoleone: The few ways to advertise, market and sell of course you cover a plenty of ground through social media networks then you have your conventional way we discussed such as concerts, seminars word of mouth etc get off your pc, laptop you can’t just spam online everyday/all day there’s a difference between awareness and being annoying; being annoying can ruin your reputation. You have to go out there put in some good old fashioned footwork, network and mingle with the ppl get out there get a business card contact find someone to bother now and then utilize your surroundings, do videos get your visuals out there you have smart phone where you could cc text a group of contacts send reminders keep everyone in the loop about what you’re doing

Jack Nickelz: Well thank you for taking time out to do this interview, do you have anything else that you would like to say to the fans?

Rockoleone: I have to treat this like my acceptance speech moment lol I’d like to begin by saying thank you for allowing me the opportunity it’s been a pleasure you certainly asked some big questions!!  I’d like to acknowledge all of my friends, family, fans and supporters who continue to support me through my career. One hand washes the other. I have installments of music available The Rockoleone Campain: Politika album, on itunes, cd baby, Amazon every music is sold go on there and download that! The mixtape with Jack Nickelz “Laws of unintended consequences” on reverbnation. Look out for the album I have wit DJ Stress “The Efflorescence” hosted by Sean Price. Scars & Memoirs (Politika2) remember for songwriting and production duties or booking inquiry contact me at intenttosellrecords@yahoo.com

I also have Defenders of the Old school tee’s …Like us on Facebook @I seek & destroy mics (Campain) there’s also music floating around MySpace, soundcloud,youtube.com/Rockoleone s/o my machines Mic on deck and the good ppl over there @dotgotit.com and I can’t forget (K.S) Krumb snatcha  and The staff over at Mind Power don’t forget the Fireset Radio Show 90.7 wtccfm every tue/wed midnight-6am (est) That is all Respect every time, bless.

One of the best to ever do it, RA The Rugged Man, at it again with a joint produced by Apathy. The video is INCREDIBLE! RA has new material dropping on the 30th. If it is anything like his other releases, it is going to be in the running for release of the year.

I’m wondering if we can get RA to come back to Sully’s to smash it again? I’ve seen him perform three times… each one more memorable than the last. WIth his recent work with the Demigodz, I don’t see why this couldn’t go down.

Check the video below of RA destroying the mic at Sully’s acapella… we need to get him back there soon.

Check out his website for more info on RA…

At the 2013 Trinity International Hip Hop Festival, I had a chance to check out the Musicology 101 : Producer Showcase. I was there to check out a producer from Boston, Mass by the name of HiFadility. After watching him wow the crowd with his unique sound, we had a chance to sit down and chat a little bit. I hope you enjoy.

Hip Hop has always been on the forefront when talking about injustice or violence. From young black men getting gunned down in the streets to the Sandy Hook tragedy. So when I woke up this morning and saw the news, I decided that as a member of the Hip Hop community, that I should address what happened. To quote what I wrote on my facebook timeline…

“Let me explain a very simple point. When you attack innocent people. You don’t send a message. You don’t make a point. You don’t farther your cause. All you do is kill and bring death. no media spin, no special reasons, you’re just a killer. A monster and someone who deserves the pain that they cause. A baby knows that if no one hears you…you scream louder. The kids in my school program know that. You want attention, you call TV companies, you stage protests. Hell, the Walls of Jericho came down because of sound…no violence involved. Once you start attacking innocent people, you become the evil you claim to be fighting against.”

I’m far from activist, I’m far from a protester or a marcher for the righteous cause. I’m a father of a 14 year old boy. A teacher for the grades K through 5. I’m a son, a brother, a uncle, a cousin and a nephew. I am a person who gets his love by making music. A person who expresses themselves through this amazing platform known as Hip Hop. I know that no matter what we may think or say, War is apart of life…as is death. But unexpected death…undeserved death disgusts me. People love to blame other mediums and say they are the cause of violence. But we all know that violence has been around since the start of man. We are…at our core violent creatures.

But that never…NEVER justifies the events that happen today and those like it. You can’t tell me the little child, that is watching someone in his family run, deserved to be apart of this. Or the old lady who just wanted to cheer on her son, had this coming. A soldier…fine…a soldier is trained for war. They are trained for battle. But an old man that trained a few months just to cross the race off his bucket list, didn’t.

It shouldn’t matter who did this. What should matter is the fact that is was done. That innocent people where seen as nothing more then numbers of expected casualties. That we have come so far in this world that now everyone is seen as a target. If this is what we have become…then I pray that for our future generation that a change is made.

At the 2013 Trinity International Hip Hop Festival, I had a chance to check out the Musicology 101 : Producer Showcase. I was there to check out a producer from Boston, Mass by the name of HiFadility. After watching him wow the crowd with his unique sound, we had a chance to sit down and chat a little bit. I hope you enjoy.