Check out 25’s unsigned and undiscovered series, “The Breaks” featuring Poe Picasso.

Words by Tray Laws |Photo Courtesy: Poe Picasso

In 2006, Poe Picasso picked up his pen and began writing rhymes that he eventually recorded a year later. Once his project was finished, the Brooklyn rapper only shared his music with friends. He had no intentions of releasing it for the world to hear. But his friends felt the heart Picasso sculpted into his music, so they pushed him to release it publicly. Those tracks became Exhibit A: The Real Hip Hop Project, released in January 2009. With Exhibit A, Picasso wants to prove that New York still has more to say. His flow is equipped with appeal, consistency, and intelligence. On the track “She Cries,” Picasso raps maturely about the many issues of Mother Earth, and how the people are contributing to her pain. On “Waste of Lead,” Picasso aggressively gives his view on the state of hip-hop and that it needs to be saved. This mixtape, a compilation of respect demanding, lyrical, feel good hip-hop, is a good start for Picasso as he makes his contribution to the ‘Hip Hop Museum.’

Although it took him two years to put out his first “Exhibit,” Picasso weighed his artistic scale, and realized he was heavy enough to put out Exhibit B: Manifest Destiny in November 2009. Picasso is aware of the load he carries in his aim to be the best out of New York. The city is home to some of the most well known rappers: Biggie Smalls, Jay-Z, and Nas. Yet, while proving he is worthy of being in the same realm as his predecessors, Picasso has figured out how to do it his way. The rhymes Picasso conceptualizes, paint the picture of his city in a different hue.

25: The name Poe Picasso definitely grabs attention, how did you develop the stage name?

Poe Picasso: It was simple. The Poe part I came up with, and the Picasso part my friend came up with. Me and my friends always use famous names or names of influential people; he suggested adding Picasso on the end of it and it just made sense. The Poe Part is from Edgar Allan Poe and the Picasso part came from Pablo Picasso.

25: A lot of your fellow New York Rappers talk about The Big Apple in their rhymes, how did the city that never sleeps influence your sound and your Mixtape Exhibit A: The Real Hip Hop Project?

Picasso: New York was the main influence. New York was basically known for its lyrics that had some kind of toughness behind it. So, Exhibit A would just be a re acquaintance with New York; letting the people know that there are people in New York who are still lyrically in this who can make it. Plus, growing up in New York you have to, well not everyone, carry a certain prestige. I cant say I’m from New York and people hear my music and think ‘nah you don’t fit in that realm.’ I think that’s what motivated me more to push it to the next level.

25: In your song “Bask in My Glory” you say “the Internet makes a loser feel important,” and “Since when was it cool to be a lame, cornball, or a nerd, but I guess that’s what works.” What did you mean by those lines?

Picasso: Basically, when you’re online its different from being in person. When you’re online you can do and say whatever because you’re behind a monitor and no one can see you. So they can post stuff with no real credentials or post stuff in whatever look that works for the moment. Being yourself just doesn’t work anymore-now you have to have a story. Before, what made you stand out was your specific flow. Now it’s about what you’re wearing and what kind of watch you have. The music has become the secondary element.

25: On your Myspace page bio you describe yourself as a Messianic (mes•si•an•ic) Adj. 1. Relating to the belief that someone or something will bring about a complete transformation of the existing social order. How will you achieve this message through your music?

Picasso: I do so by keeping it as honest as possible. You can tell when a person is just rapping to rap by how many ‘cool lines’ they try to write. I write in honesty so I don’t feel like I’m just writing. So, If I’m keeping it as honest as possible and people feel that then the change has began and the message spreads. The way I use my words when I write, it’s poetry and that’s where the art form takes shape. I always have a message I’m trying to convey because as artists we have people that listen to our music and internalize the message we’re trying to convey. We’re the voice of our generation so it’s important for our listeners to get the message.

25: What’s your plans in the near future and where do you see the Poe Picasso brand in 5 years?

Picasso: My plans for the future are to be the number one artist. The best. If I’m not the best then I’m doing something wrong. As far as the Poe Picasso brand I see it being on the forefront carrying on the art form. I want my name to be the staple of New York, The flagship artist like when you think New York you think Poe Picasso. I know that sounds a little far fetched but that’s what I’m working for.

25: Anything else you would like to add?

Picasso: My next project, Exhibit B is one of the best bodies of work about to break. I’m very competitive and I’m not OK with being just OK and a lot of artists are OK with that. I think the healthy competition is lacking, not a beef type of thing, but by being the best it would push other artists to be the best.

You can find Poe Picasso’s Exhibit A: The Real Hip Hop Project and Exhibit B: Manifest Destiny at myspace.com/poepicasso

Check out 25’s unsigned and undiscovered series, “The Breaks” featuring Coco and Breezy.

Words by India Banks |Photo courtesy of Hi-Def Photography

“Constantly on the grind” is clearly an understatement for identical twin designers Corianna and Brianna Dotson, better known as Coco and Breezy. The two natural born hustlers have worked their way from Minneapolis, Minnesota to the fashion capital of New York City at the age of 19, where they’ve resided since August. Recognized back home in Minneapolis for their eye-popping, neon colored patterns and bold style, they’ve both managed to piece together time as dancers and freelance models for Ignite Modeling Agency and Vision Model Management. And now with each other as their inspiration, Coco and Breezy have created an eccentric line of eyewear called “Gemela Amor.” Their clock seems to never stop ticking.

The idea for the trendy specs came about by mistake. One night, Coco and Breezy were experimenting with metal studs, one of their favorite accessory and they accidentally spilled them on a pair of shades. At this moment, the idea to create their own custom eyewear was born. Since April, the twins have been brainstorming and promoting their innovative creation and gaining exposure. Earlier this month the two were excited to see Ashanti donning a pair of their shades at the VH1 Hip Honors Award Show. These mysterious, dark, studded shades have become a signature part of the twins’ image which they use to mask their self-proclaimed coyness. Frequently designing new frames for their numerous orders, Coco and Breezy rarely get a chance to live like average teenagers. As newcomers in the big city, the two upcoming designers feel they have the drive to get over any hill no matter the height.

25: Tell me about where you guys grew up?

Breezy: We are Coco and Breezy, and we are from Minneapolis, Minnesota. We are now living in New York, and we’re 19. We are identical twins and we are very close like we haven’t been separated for more than 24 hours. Coco and Breezy are identical, but Corianna and Brianna are paternal. When we were 15 we did more dancing, then from 15 to 17, we focused more on modeling. Now we are focusing on just designing. It’s hard because we don’t get any sleep, but it works out because it’s two of us.

Coco: People know us for our style. We express our feelings through our style like people are intimidated by us, but we’re mad cool. We just have our own image.

25: Who/what are your main inspirations?

Breezy: When we first started designing, we would feed off each other and inspire each other. But now I would have to say Michael Jackson because of he was into all the studded jackets and metal.

Coco: He just had that look and Grace Jones too.

25:  Did you ever think coming from Minnesota was a hindrance in your ability to succeed in the industry?

Breezy: No not really, because it’s great to start in a small state. We were locally famous. We were in all the local newspapers, and everyone knew us. You have to make it in your state before you go to bigger states. Being in Minnesota helped us proceed in the big states.

Photo Courtesy of CocoandBreezy.com

25: With the industry being so competitive now, how do you see your designs for your eyewear different from those of other upcoming lines?

Breezy: Sunglasses are definitely getting big in this industry. I feel like ours is more different and artsy. It just comes natural, like we don’t have to think.

Coco: We just do what comes to mind. We believe that fashion is art.

25: What advice would you give to students who are pursuing the same goals as you?

Breezy: They have to go through hard work. We always have to be two steps ahead. Some people get to the top and become too comfy. Don’t wait or depend on somebody. You have to go hard and get what u want.

Coco: We don’t have a real management team because we did it all ourselves. Work hard now, play later. Everyday we grind!

The line “Gemela Amor” by Coco and Breezy can be viewed at cocoandbreezy.com

Check out the first installment of 25′s unsigned and undiscovered series, “The Breaks” featuring Yung Reno.

New York is not only the birth place of many music industry legends such as KRS-One, Jay-Z, Grandmaster Flash and DJ Kid Capri, but it is also the birth place of the music, the culture and the lifestyle that we know today as hip hop. Even with the title of being the birth place of hip hop, New York has lately fallen off the map and is constantly being replaced by the emerging hip hop scenes in Houston, Tallahassee and the Bay Area in California, but new up and coming artist and Queens native Nick “Yung Reno” Hamilton is determined to change that.

A reserved junior political science major at Howard University by day and a flashy emcee by night, Yung Reno shows the versatility of any successful artist on his mixtape, The City is Mine released in April 2009. On the track “Bars” he freestyles at a local radio station shouting out Howard University and the DC community, and shows his softer side with his track “Cupid,” a classic boy meets girl love story. With only his first mixtape under his belt, Yung Reno has a lot of work to do if he wants to put New York City back on the map and take his career to the next level, but with a heart full of determination, he doesn’t seem to mind.

25: Where did you draw inspiration from when recording The City is Mine?

I had the idea for the mixtape before I even got to Howard. The inspiration just came up basically from listening to a lot of different artists and by personal experiences from back home in New York and all around the city so that’s why I named it that.

25: Who is the person that inspired you to pick up the mic and start rhyming? How did you feel when you heard this person perform?

I would say Jay-Z being the New Yorker that I am and also UGK as a group. And Jay-Z being a New York dude and just seeing what he’s done. He started out like making himself as his own song like his own brand and you know who wouldn’t wanna do that?  And I just wonder if a little fella like me can do that. And UGK, they were just something different from what I was used to. They’re from Houston, Texas and I’m from New York and they had a different type of slang and different stories. I really think they kept it real on a regular. It was just what they said and how they put things together. Pimp C being more socially conscience. He’s more of the environmentally charged part of the group. They’re just really different from what I’m used to.

25: What sets you apart from the rest of the rappers that are out today? What is it about your lyrics or flow?

Well it’s the fact that I don’t have one type of sound. You know, some come out here gangster, some people be doing the social conscience rap. I feel like I’m good enough to be all around and talk about a little bit of everything and not just have one preference.

25: How different is Nick Hamilton the student and Yung Reno the artist? How do you balance both identities?

Well Nick is more reserved while the artist is more out there. Yung Reno the artist is the flashier one, not that it’s an act or anything, it’s just different kinds for different people. You can’t be Yung Reno in intro to political science or political science 101 or nothing like that. I guess I’m good at balancing both. Maybe because I’m not faking in either one of them. It’s all work and dedication.

25: Where do you see yourself musically in five years? What do hope to achieve?

Well I’ll be 25 then, and my sex appeal will probably be starting to fade, but in five years I see myself on top of the charts and a few million in. You know, I can see myself with a brand name because I started out early. I see myself in the upper echelon. As far as what I hope to achieve, I hope to change lives. Hopefully someone can hear what I’m doing and they can see themselves doing it. Just listening to my music and taking away from it whether its advice or just something to get through the day. That’s better than success.

You can find The City is Mine as well as new tracks from Yung Reno at myspace.com/yungrenosce