level-up! magazine vol 1. issue 1 2008
DESCRIPTION
LeveL-Up! Magazine Vol 1. Issue 1 2008TRANSCRIPT
March
ART AND BASKETBALL
You’ll never learn about this in your art appreciation class but after this session, you’ll understand why Da Vinci was so popular.
GET YOUR TUNE UP DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIMEToine Tracks, the man behind the Level Up release shows us how one beat can start a listening revolution that can be heard from Columbia College to Lake Michigan.
GASOLINA!
No matter how cold the windy city gets, Chicago artists are stepping up and bringing enough flames to light the torch carried by the Statue of Libetry. Hello Chi Town how ya doin?LE
VEL-
UP20
08ToineTracks
PRETTY SOON,
YOUR I.D. COULD
BE OBSOLETE....
PAGE 14
LeveL-Up! ModelLeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
Toine Tracks:“Music is more than making beats, my music is the beginning of a revolution that cannot be categorized or duplicated.”
LEVEL-UPToineTracks March 2008
TOINETRACKS...”PEACE & VICTORY”If you never got the luxury of ear gratification and customized beats on the spot, you should call up Toine Tracks. This Chicago native is the tech son of super producers Dre and Timbaland and after 9 years of making fierce tracks, he’s coming harder in 2008. With guitar riffs and intergalactic noises inner mixed with hi hats and a room full of bass, Toine Tracks proves to his opponents that sampling is a thing of the past and the new era of production lies in creativity and passion.
Don’t let the smile and low key
demeanor fool you. Toine Tracks is not
only random, quirky, and avant garde on
his tracks, he plays a mean rendition of
what he calls “life” on the keys. Self
taught and learning more about the
game, he surprises his clients with state
of the art equipment, a unique
philosophy on beat making, and a keen
sense of what they want before they
even tell him. As a Chicago native and
Marquette Park descendent, Toine has
been bringing the bass since his Gage
Park years. To thirst his hunger, he feeds
off this sincere dedication and drive to
make beats until his ears can take no
more. “It begins with a punch on the
Phantom X and floats into another level
of musical consciousness.” These days,
the beat maker is all about using the
technology he has mastered to level up
and flood every outlet of the Internet
possible. Representing the art and
music culture of our generation, he
credits Columbia for educating him on
the business and providing real world
experiences. When it comes down to it,
he depends on self to seek the
knowledge of how to master the art of
beat making. Keep your ears open and
your focus sharp, the beat master will be
bumpin’ in an iPod near you.
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
Drew Yung“Music and basketball are my two inspirations. My music reflects this deep passion I have for dominating on the court and on the mic.”
LEVEL-UPToineTracks March 2008
DREW YUNG & TOINETRACKSWhen this sibling duo start collabing in the studio, you would swear the vibe was as smooth as Timbaland and Justin Timberlake. Fresh and ready to take on the industry, Drew Yung is the teen underground artist that you will want to know by the end of this article.
SWEET HOME CHICAGO, the WINDY
CITY! Chi city natives are always on the nitty
gritty to make it. Whatever the hustle,
Chicagoans strive to be the biggest and the
best. May it be talent, movies, or clothing
keeping it fly, flashy, and fresh is a necessity.
While there are about a handful of mainstream
artists reppin’ the chi like Twista, Common,
and Kanye, the underground hip hop scene
has proven itself to be progressive; that
diamond in the rut you don’t always notice at
first glance. Chicago’s own Kool Kids have
been brought into the mainstream with the
Rhapsody commercial and even more tech
gens are using YouTube as a jump off for
stardom. With his first single “In the Paint,”
Drew Yung displays his passion for the court
and the mic. “In the paint not only means
domination on the court, but being tipsy and
dominated by liquor at the club.” Drew Yung
didn’t always know he would be a rapper, his
brother Toine Tracks surprised him one day
with a mini beat machine and a million dollar
idea. “When he started punching on the
buttons, I just started flowing and we’ve been
collaborating ever since then.” If the walls
could talk, they would speak on how the bass
came through the speakers at high
frequencies when “In the Paint” was being
recorded. Music isn’t the only thing this
brother duo are working on, their belief in art
imitating life will be reflected in a clothing line
to be released in the spring of 2009. Sitting
down with Drew, we talk about college life,
basketball, and why rapping is the best hobby
in world.
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
Graduation this spring means even more time for DY to get his rap and art game proper.
LEVEL UP I just got done
listening to your first single “In the
Paint,” how long did it take you to
write it?
DREW YUNG It took me around 2
hours. I finished most of it in one night
and then the next day in the studio, I
finished up the last verse of the hook.
Exactly what does “in the paint”
mean? I noticed references to
basketball but really didn’t get the
idea. In the paint means domination
on the court and being tipsy when you
out at the club. I wanted to talk about
both because rapping and basketball
is like an art.
And what was your inspiration
for this particular track? I wanted to
make a club banger, something for
people to bob their heads to. I was
thinking about basketball at the time
so I first thought about how I would
put a club banger with basketball. I
instantly thought about being “in the
paint,” which is a phrase for
somebody being slap drunk Being put
in the paint is like somebody
dominating you on the court, but the
real domination is being tipsy from the
liquor. That’s how I came up with the
two concepts.
How was your experience
working in the studio with your
brother Toine Tracks? It was really
easy because all I had to do was just
write the lyrics, present the ideas, and
tell him the concept of the song. From
there, he showed me how to format it
and we had a hit in about 3 hours.
So you’re at a big advantage
working with him, it seems like the
chemistry is on point.
Pretty much. Whenever I bring an
idea to the table, he knows exactly
how the beat should go with the lyrics
and we got about two songs done
within a day. When I’m recording, he
always tells me how my vocals are like
an instrument and play an important
role in the recording process.
Ok, million dollar question:
When you blow up, will you still go
to college?
Of course. You gotta still have
knowledge in everything. It’s not just
about rapping to me. I’m multi
talented. You have to learn how to use
the money that you are making, that’s
where the education comes in. I
believe it’s important to use your
talents to the best of your ability.
What are some other talents
that you have? I draw. I want to have
my own clothing line and make more
venues for myself. I’m just about my
business.
DREW YUNG
“ Everybody that’s not on with us now, don’t hop on the bandwagon when we blow up.”Over the years, Drew Yung has witnessed the separation between the hungry willing artists to the ones who were just in it for the trend. Being his brother’s protege has shown him that nothing is guaranteed unless you have the determination to want to make it. “The best things I could’ve learned from Toine is the art of staying focused and the importance of thinking big and striving for your dreams.
“I am in the paint you can call me Shaq, you can only try to hold me back.”
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
Dae Jones:“My passion is my savior.”
LEVEL-UPToineTracks March 2008
SADE GRANT...AKA “DAE JONES”“I am already passionate about what I do. I’m going to stay true to me. This is me, I’m Dae Jones and this is how you get it, take it or leave it.”
This Chicago native and former Cabrini
Green resident is staying true to self and
striving to make a difference in the lives of
little girls everywhere through her music.
With her first single titled “Sidekick,” Dae
Jones is bringing the fun fem swag back into
the club with this diverse track you can
dance to in front of the mirror or kick back to
and blast on your iPod. Ready to be released
in April of this year, Dae Jones can describe
the track in four words; “the song is crazy.”
Not only is she working hard in the studio
with Toine Tracks to perfect and bronze
“Sidekick,” her passion for dance and
working in the community keeps her busy
and driven. As leader and founder of the
dance trio Lovely Ladies, this dance diva has
competed in local competitions and opened
up for the multi talented heartthrob Chris
Brown in his annual dance down competition
in 06 and 07. Also, in 06 and 07, The Lovely
Ladies opened up for Wayne, Jeezy, Rich
Boi, Jim Jones, Chicago’s own Shawna, and
Young Dro during the Street Dreams Tour.
With dancing as her second passion, Dae
Jones has even found time to collab with the
GO’s youngest celebrity The Pope. With
plans for “Sidekick” to go double platinum
and get an endorsement from T. Mobile, Dae
Jones is preparing to release a mix tape,
something that is rare in the world of R&B.
Describing herself as bubbly and at the same
time down to earth, Miss Jones finds it
important to never forget where she came
from and reflect her gratitude for where she
is now by performing in charity events for the
children in her neighborhood. “I’m from
Cabrini Green and I did a show over there for
the children. After I performed, the kids
embraced me, they wanted to be me. The
feeling I got to be able to motivate those kids
was amazing.” In lieu of performing at school
and fighting through the crowds to get her
name on a list, Dae finds it more meaningful
to perform in multiple places on a larger
scale. On March 29, The Lovely Ladies will
be performing at the Mc McCormick Tribune
Cancer Center (3201 S. State). With bangle
bracelets adorning her arms and metallic
accessories to match her outfit, the soon to
be diva sits with me on a snowy and chill
Tuesday night to discuss her anticipation for
her upcoming mix tape, where she will be in
five years, and how her music can “change
the thoughts of a million girls out there.”
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
LEVEL UP What influenced you
to sing?
DAE JONES I would have to say
watching other artists and kinda
growing up with the music at home.
Of course it has become a passion.
I’m able to motivate people through
my music so of course it is
something that I want to continue to
do. I grew up listening to Whitney
Houston and Mariah Carey. I’m so
ashamed to say I didn’t watch
Michael Jackson when I was little.
Would you be open to
collaborating with other singers in
the future? Oh yeah, of course. I’m
really diverse.
With a female artist like Mary J
and the length of time she has
been in the game, what do you
think keeps her going and how will
you apply that your experiences?
Her passion and staying true to
herself. Of course I am already
passionate about what I do. I’m
going to stay true to me. This is me,
I’m Dae Jones and this is how you
get it, take it or leave it.
Where do you see yourself in
the game 5 years from now? Five
years from now, I’m trying to figure
out how many Grammys I’ll have. I’ll
be working on new outlets for youth.
I want to make dreams happen in
both the music and dance industry.
Are you working on anything
now?
Yes, I’m working on my demo
and I plan to put out an R&B mix
tape. The first single is called
“Sidekick.” The song is crazy. It’s an
upbeat track that you can dance to in
the club and kick back with. The
intent for the song is to go double
platinum and get an endorsement for
Sidekick. I also have a dance group
called The Lovely Ladies. They’re
based here in Chicago. It’s a small
group at the moment but we plan to
expand down the line. We’ve been
together for about three years and
have been in local competitions.
I understand that you’re
working with Toine Tracks on the
album. How has it been working
with him in the studio? It is a new
experience and at times it is
frustrating and tedious. Of course
anything that is worth it is going to
take hard work so I’m able to deal
with the pressure. It has been a great
experience and something new
because his production is different
from what I have been doing. I would
say the chemistry or how well we
work together on the track is the
best. Every producer you work with
might not bring that chemistry. Every
time he puts on a beat, I’m instantly
writing to it.
With the fusion of technology
and music, how will you survive in
the era of downloads and low CD
sales? I feel like some artists who
sing have a harder time. I sing and
dance. I give people something they
can see, I can sell out in the arena. A
performance can’t be bootlegged.
That’s why Chris Brown and Ciara,
for example are making so much
money form their tours because they
are giving the fans something they
can see.
MA MA
LIKE
G R I L S DESPISE
S
ME,
ME.
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
With their first single “Do Ya Thang,” The Cutty Boyz are mixing screwed dirty south flow with east coast lyricism and undeniable midwest swag.
It’s as good as gold when this Chi
town trio get together in the studio.
The musical fusion that they create is
real, raw, and life imitating art at its
best. As advocates of storytelling and
representing what they live everyday,
their first single “Do ya Thang” truly
paints a vivid picture of realism. It’s
like an episode of True Life minus the
background music and narration. With
influences from the late lyricist B.I.G
and G-Unit’s Lloyd Banks, the Cutty
Boyz are ready to make a name for
themselves may it be mainstream or
underground. Identifying themselves
as the group to cut the game and
separate the real from the fake Young
Trap, Jimmy, and $Q claim to be the
complete package the game has
been missing. With different
personalities, ages, and backgrounds,
the Cutty Boyz turn to Toine Tracks to
put that Midas touch on their style.
Establishing their belief in fans
downloading their music, the
definition of a rapper, and the reason
why women shouldn’t take it personal
if they use them in their songs, there
is no in between. They’re about as
real as they come. In the middle of the
afternoon post class and tangled in
the downtown evening rush, The
Cutty Boyz prepare to dish out their
goals for the mix tape they’re getting
together and where they see
themselves five years from now. In
preparation for the summer, they plan
on bringing the heat before daylight
savings times ends..
CUTTY BOYZ
Young Trap, Jimmy, & $Q:“We want to cut the whole game and separate the real from the fake.”
“We come from the underground, we want to be like UGK.”
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
We aint never selling out. We will always contribute.
LEVEL UP Why does the
industry need a group like you?
JIMMY We’re the complete
package. We come from diverse
backgrounds. We combine that east
coast, midwest, and down south flavor
all in one.
What artists influenced this
diversity?
$Q: B.I.G because he was a
storyteller and he came with
metaphors in his rhymes.
Jimmy: I would have to say B.I.G
too because when he first came in the
game, he was different and he
remained that way until he died.
Young Trap: Lloyd Banks
influenced me to start rapping because
of his punch lines.
With the work you’ve put in at
the studio, how do you feel about
bootleggers and internet pirates?
Jimmy: We don’t have a problem
with people downloading our music.
$Q: It doesn’t matter how the fans
are getting our music, what matters is
that they are listening. As long they
quote my verse, I’m cool wit it.
Young Trap: I think it does have an
effect on the industry. I like all my fans.
White people, I love you.
What’s your definition of a
rapper?
Jimmy: A rapper is a storyteller,
somebody that paints you a picture
with words and entertains.
How has your experience been
with Toine Tracks in the studio and
getting your single recorded?
We like working with him. He’s a
great engineer and promoter.
Young Trap: We saw his flier on the
train and called him up and been
working with him ever since then.
How long have you been
working with him? Since the fall of
2007.
What’s the longest you’ve been
in the studio with Toine?
Jimmy: Man, sometimes it feels
like we do 8 hour shifts like we at work.
[laughs]. The times vary but it’s usually
between 3 and 4 hours.
As a group, what’s currently in
the works?
Young Trap: As a group we want to
drop 2 albums per year, jump on mix
tapes, and record. I got enough bars to
do it. As long as we got Toine with us,
it can get done.
Jimmy: Everything we put out we
go hard on and give the fans 100%
That’s our main goal right now.
In 5 years, where do you see
yourselves?
Jimmy: We want to have two
albums done and be in the position to
put on other artists.
$Q: Signing checks.
Young Trap: Starting a clothing
label and having a couple of
businesses.
Let’s be honest, most artists in
the rap game are mainstream, will
you follow the trend?
Jimmy: We will never sell out, we
will always contribute to our
community.
Stereotypically, rappers
represent women in a negative light.
Booty shaking on videos creates an
expectation for all women to do the
same, how do you feel about this?
Jimmy: Different songs have
different topics. Obviously, we will use
the type of lyrics that describe what we
are talking about. We call ‘em like we
see ‘em and if you’re not that, then
don’t get mad.
Young Trap: Women don’t get mad
when 50 cent takes his shirt off but are
upset when women do the same thing,
it’s a double standard. We all know sex
sells.
$Q: Like Jimmy said, we call them
like we see them whether it’s for good
or bad.
“WHEN I MAKE IT,I’M PERFORMING IN IRAQ BUT JUST FOR THE SOLDIERS.”
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
Quintell Wright“I want to put truth in my music rather its funny or serious. People can either love me or hate me for it.”
LEVEL-UPToineTracks March 2008
QUINTELL WRIGHTFrom the hood to downtown, Quintell Wright is representing truth, energy, and the notion of thinking outside the box in his music. With his firt single “Dougie Fresh,” Quintell isn’t talking about the actual rapper but reflecting back on fresh, fun, and funky times of the 90’s.
From the gate, Quintell Wright is
telling it like it is and bringing back the
hip hop swagger that has been lost in
the flood of bling and half dressed
women. Originally from the south side
of Chicago, Wright emphasizes how
one shouldn’t let where they come from
have an affect on the way they act and
what they rap about. A trip to the
Caribbean last semester really opened
his eyes up to how the media affects
the minds of our population. “ “From
Sunday to Thursday, I traveled the
Caribbean and noticed that all of the
images we see on Save The Children
commercials and in the newspapers
wasn’t everywhere. I saw people who
were well dressed and not starving. It
were kids walking around with fresher
air ones than me.” The truth is, all that
we know should not be what is told to
us. On a foggy Friday afternoon, I’m
sitting at the Toine Tracks headquarters
and getting ready to interview Columbia
College student Quintell Wright. We
instantly get into a deep discussion
about Englewood, Obama, and the
importance of versatility and truth.
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
LEVEL UP Has college life
influenced what you rap about?
QUINTELL WRIGHT College does
influence the way I rap. I’m from
Englewood, the worst hood on the
southside, but just because you come
from there doesn’t mean you have to
reflect the ignorance you see.
So how did you meet Toine and
what do you like about his style? I
met Toine in the summer of 2007
through my friend Clay Reeves. He
was recording a joint with another
artist and I noticed he would be useful
in helping me with my dreams. We
linked up and have been cool ever
since. Toine gets his creative input
without overshadowing my style. If he
doesn’t like something, he’ll be brutally
honest about it. His beats are so
energetic and every beat I’ve heard is
random, it has no limits, it’s free.
Who do you consider your
competition and how are you
better? I’m nowhere near mainstream,
but at this point it doesn’t matter. If
[they] want to, they can bring it.
Listening to your tracks, I get a
sense of this rap philosophy. What’s
your inspiration? Through music, I
speak for people who can’t really
speak for themselves on a public level.
People laugh at comedians because
it’s true and they can relate or know
someone that does what the comedian
is talking about. I want to put the truth
in my music if it’s funny or serious.
They can love me or hate me for it.
Why “Dougie Fresh” for your
first single? I wanted to pay homage
to the the rappers from the 80’s and
90’s. Dougie Fresh was a cool mc and
people want to be like him.I know this
cat from Atlanta who has a fresh swag
and it inspired me to combine
everything together into a song.
What are the top five songs on
your playlist right now? I listen to
everything almost... my top five would
have to be Kayne- “Flashing Lights,”
Lupe Fiasco- “The Cool,” Gym Class
Heroes- “Viva la White Girl,” Shawty
Lo-“They Know Remix,” and Chris
Brown- “Take You Down.”
That’s a pretty good mix. Who
are your personal influences? Pharell
Williams. He’s a black suburban
producer who grew up around white
folks but is diverse because of his
creativity in music. For every song he’s
made for Britney Spears, he’s made
one for Jay- Z. He represents pop,
R&B, and hip-hop.
Pharell is most def. versatile. It
seems like you are into people who
have distinctive style. What will you
bring to the table? Something new
and refreshing. My flow isn’t boring.
It’s similar to being back in the 90’s
when it was more about creativity. I’m
a rapper but I feel like music can’t be
categorized. My music is about
clubbing, political consciousness, etc.
Some people say I contradict myself in
music but not one person is the same
24/7. We only have a main side that we
show more than the other. I know
people who don’t want to expand, but
I’m not sticking to one genre.
“NEVER INVEST TIME INTO PEOPLE
WHO DON’T INVEST TIME IN YOU.”
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
Benard Boss Penson:“You have to treat everyday like your last.”
LEVEL-UPToineTracks March 2008
BERNARD “BOSS” PENSONToine Track’s very first A&R rep is keeping the hustle alive and pushing hard to get everybody in Toine Tracks that extra push they need to get noticed. Call him the boss because he knows what sells.
Rick Ross may be the boss on
the charts, but A&Rs are just as
important as the artist who work their
craft on the mic. This Englewood
native is driven and focused on a
long time relationship with the music
industry. Today, you can see him all
around Chicago promoting Toine
Tracks and seeking artists interested
in being part of the new era of music
production and promotions. Mr.
Shaw proclaims promoting is his life
and he is dedicated to the hustle.
Getting the job done has always
come naturally for Benard. As a
Gage Park alumni, he and Toine
tracks were associates and linked up
last year.
“It’s our role to educate our kids.”
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
LEVEL UP Why are you interested in promoting Toine Tracks?
BENARD SHAW I feel like it’s an opportunity for us to work together as a team. Since I’m always traveling in the streets, I figured I might as well promote. I knew him since high school and we were cool.
Why music? Why not promote
movies or plays? Music is in my DNA.
I love music, that’s why I chose this
industry.
Who’s your favorite artist and
how have they influenced you do
want to do what you do. Biggie
because he stood up for all the big
guys out there. He had good music
and punch lines but was so ahead of
his time when he was alive. Today we
can understand him but back then I
think he was misunderstood lyrically.
2Pac and Jodeci were also some
favorites for me from back in the day.
Presently, 50 has motivated me
because of his work ethics. Just like
BIG, he’s ahead of his time and has
good music. What’s an average day
for you? Some days I work and then I
have class twice a week. When I
promote, I promote, that’s all I think
about.
Musically, where do you see
Chicago and the industry in the next
5 years? The south is running it right
now. Everybody is tired of all the beef
music. I think its about being creative
and making good club music. Miami is
runnin’ it too. Rick Ross built a whole
team down there. I think [we] got good
music too, but right now it’s not our
time. There will be a day when dozens
of artists will be coming from Chicago.
It’s just right now people don’t know
how to have fun anymore and it’s too
many haters. We should all support
each other to build a musical empire.
What’s your take on piracy and
the decline in CD sales? The better a
CD is, the more it will sell. The industry
really needs to bring down the price. I
know plenty of people who want to
buy the newly released CDs from their
favorite artists but they don’t have the
money to buy them. Bootleggers are
taking millions from the music industry.
We gotta go cheaper and come with
better material.
It seems to me like you have a
strong work ethic, what motivates
you? A quote that I live by is “ as long
I’m breathing, don’t stop.” That’s what
keeps me grounded.
You’re putting in so much work
for this cause but isn’t hip-hop dead
to some people? Hip-hop isn’t dead.
It’s alive. The people who say it’s dead
are the ones who have low CD sales.
Ok, since you’re really good at
promoting, how would you sell...a
worthless vacuum? I would sit down
and find out something unique about
it. I would then use what I learn as a
way to show my knowledge of the
product.
So you’re a researcher? Yeah.
How do you feel about young
children listening to rap music and
what affect do you think it has on
them? It depends on the environment.
Some kids can understand that it’s
entertainment and you have some kids
that actually do it. I believe that as
parents it’s our role to educate our
kids and remind them that what they
see in the media is simply
entertainment. A child might watch
Scarface a million times and not do
what he does. As adults we have a
role in a child’s understanding of real
life and fantasy.
“Bootleggers are taking millions from the music industry.”
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
“It’s time for us to educate ourselves and seek the truth about who governs us.”It started with a video on the cyber community
website YouTube and sparked a nerve in the veins
of Freddie Williams, better known as Toine Tracks.
Many of you have probably already heard that
Zeitgeist Movie is one of the most downloaded and
watched documentaries online to date. If you
haven’t seen it, you’re missing out on having that
“aha” moment. The light switch will flicker the entire
time you watch the images and take in the deep
indulged voice of the narrator. One of the many
issues discussed was legislation to push a National
I.D. better known as Real I.D. Ready to launch in
May of 2008, this national identification system will
combine your state i.d. and driver’s license. There
will also be a scan’able’ bar with your information
linked to it. This I.D. will be necessary for you to
travel and many states including Illinois opposes it.
A recent article in Parade magazine outlines some
details. You can find it on www.parade.com and be
sure to YouTube or Google it for more information.
Peace and Victory:
A movement for our generation.The movement has now begun and it calls for truth seekers to elevate their own minds and the minds of others to become more conscious of what is going on locally and beyond.
LITERATURE AND FILM: 1984 SICKO MY BLOODY LIFE:THE MAKING OF A LATIN KING
ZEITGEIST
George OrwellA chilling classic that can also be rented from Chicago Public Library if you’re a more visual person.
Michael MooreWhile it’s controversial, our healthcare industry is truly unsystematic. Learn about it for the good of us all.
Reymundo SanchezThis Puerto Rican Chicago native tells all in this narrative of gang life,survival,and the importance of bettering yourself.
Peter JosephThe importance of being informed is explored in this 2 hour must see documentary.
EDUCATE &
ELEVATE
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
“The music industry should
be a portal into another universe
of consciousness that we all
deserve to have. Knowledge is
something that no one can take
away from you and it’s vital to
always want to know what is
going on around you.” B. Ward
Level Up Podcast
In the next coming months,
Toine Tracks will be hosting a
monthly podcast available for
free on iTunes. The discussions
will vary from current events to
what local Columbia R&B/Rap
artists are doing.
You Tube
If you want to see the mad
scientist in the studio and get to
see how the magic is made with
various artists under T.T., tune in
and subscribe to Toine’s
viral videos. Simply go to
www.youtube.com and
in the search menu type
ToineTracks.
Tech Talk with Toine
Toine wants to expand his
knowledge of audio technology
to everyone in the second
edition of Level Up. He invites
you to write in or email with all
your tech questions. He will also
be giving tips on updating and
maintaining your Mac lap or
desk top.
Invisible Children &
national consciousness
The genocide and terror in
many African nations should be
brought to light. Thanks to a
group of college students, the
Invisible Children movement has
gained national awareness.
Toine Tracks is currently
working in the lab to create
musical awareness for the
Invisible Children cause. As a
movement, we are all pushing
to get more attention to other
places like Congo, where more
than 45,000 people have fallen
victim to the political unrest in
their villages. Go to:
www.invisiblechildren.com and
http://www.genocidewatch.org/
GenocideEmergencyIturi.htm to
learn more about what you can
do.
LEVEL UP YOUR MIND!Check out what’s in the works and become a part of our community.
Contacting Toine Tracks:
email: [email protected] or
Contacting B. Ward:email:
MySpace
• www.myspace.com/antoinetracks
• www.myspace.com/drewyung1
Artists are currently updating their
pages. Myspace information will be
available in a couple of months. If you
want to contact them, please get in
touch with Toine to get their information.
LEVEL UPChicago, IL
*an independent student publication*
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”
Good ‘ol honest Abe was getting
at something when he proclaimed this
truth.The irony behind his statement
lies in the history lesson that he freed
slaves when in reality, his own wife’s
family were slave owners and he made
the move for political ad possibly
personal reasons [the controversy of
his birth mother being a slave has yet
to be discussed]. Having watched
Zeitgeist has not only angered me, but
has justified the non-traditional way I
was raised and educated. As editor-in-
chief, the opportunity to
be a part of the movement
has given me the drive to
find out the truth not only
for myself, but for others
who are unaware of what
is going on. As a future
educator, I find it vital to
educate the masses, free
of charge. Letting go of
racial and socioeconomic
issues truly uncovers
what’s most important.
Survival. In light of 9/11,
Katrina, and now the Real
I.D. Act,we really have to
organize as young people to let our
government know that they will no
longer keep the wool over our eyes.
How many realities have to be
uncovered for us to see that we are
living in the end times of
privacy,adequate healthcare, free
education, and freedom of speech? As
citizens, we have the right to question
any and everything the people in power
tell us. We are facing the age of
fascism and total control over every
part of our lives if we stay complacent.
-B. Ward
LEVEL- UP
LeveL-Up!Magazine.Iss.1
Level-Up!
AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION
Level-Up
AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION