Being a newcomer to the Milwaukee hip-hop scene isn't easy.
The scene itself consists of many acts that have been doing music for a while, or fans that have been maintaining allegiance to certain artists while shunning others for years. Trying to get "in" is kind of tough, but once you do make it in, you become part of the establishment in a sense. Some people like you, some people hate you, but you all go to the same venues more or less, and if you drink...you all drink together.
That holds true no matter what side of the scene your music is "embraced" by. And, unfortunately, there aren't a lot of artists that can hold down a "North Side/South Side" crowd and an "East Side/Riverwest/Bay View" crowd. Prophetic is of course a great example of somebody who gets love from both "sides."
Relatively new to the public, emcee Tonye Dabipi is one of those people that could find his way into the good graces of ears around the city, sans the lines of stylistic segregation. He has the lyrical depth and pinpoint flow that any backpacker should respect and he has an authentic edge the streets can relate to.
I first became aware of Tonye through producer/engineer Adlib after he recommended "The Illmanship Memoirs" to me. There was definitely something there and I thanked Lib for the heads up. Well, just a few months later, we get to this week and I became aware that Tonye already has a new EP out called "The Intrepid EP." After listening to this new project, I'm completely sold on his talent to rock a microphone.
OnMilwaukee.com: Why did you choose to do hip-hop?
Tonye Dabipi: Before I got into my adolescence years, my older brother took me under his wing and I quickly began to develop my musical taste. He got me into Slick Rick, Rakim, KRS-ONE, Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace and Kool G Rap; basically hip-hop all-stars. I had an early start and I took immediate liking to them. So, once I got into my early teens I had a pretty good understanding of hip-hop music.
When I was around 14-15 years old, I heard GZA's "Liquid Swords," Nas's "It Was Written," and Ras Kass's "Soul On Ice." I didn't really understand the lyrics or content of those albums at the time, but those albums inspired me so much, it caused me to pick up a pen and start attempting to scribe my own lyrics. Fast forward 12 years and 15 rhyme books later and here I am recording my own material.
OMC: What inspired you to make this EP?
TD: After completing "The Illmenship Memoirs" I decided to go left a little bit and make something more edgy, grittier and raw. Since "intrepid" means fearless, I pretty much felt that I needed to come out of the gate swinging from track one to track seven, holding nothing back.
Plus, I think this year was a good one for hip-hop, and that alone inspired me to keep the quality music flowing. Overall, I think most of the songs on "The Intrepid EP" show off my technical skills as an emcee more so than "The Illmenship Memoirs."
OMC: You have a mixtape out and an EP, what's next?
TD: Currently, I'm working on new songs with Adlib as we speak. I have some cuts in the stash but I'm not sure just yet what I want to do with them, but I can guarantee quality. Other than that, I have no immediate plans to release a project anytime soon. I shall keep you guys posted though.
OMC: What do you want to accomplish with your music?
TD: Well, what I honestly would like to accomplish with my music is just solidifying myself as an elite hip-hop musician from Milwaukee, that didn't hinder the genre by making completely ridiculous and garbage music. Just kidding, not really, but seriously though, just being a voice for dope hip-hop music that has the potential to travel far beyond the city limits.
OMC: If there is one song that defines you as an artist, which one is it?
TD: Man, it's kind of hard to narrow it down to one but I'll give you two. "Cool Out" which is on "The Intrepid EP" and "Call It How I See It" featuring Annie B on "The Illmenship Memoirs."
Born in Milwaukee and raised in the Milwaukee suburb of Brown Deer, Concordia University Wisconsin alumnus Poppe has spent the majority of his life in or around the city and county of Milwaukee.
As an advocate of Milwaukee's hip-hop community Poppe began popular local music blog Milwaukee UP in March 2010. Check out the archived entries here.
Though heavy on the hip-hop, Poppe writes about other genres of music and occasionally about food, culture or sports, and is always ready to show his pride in Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
