Art of - WeMerge Magazine

FREE 

Local Arts & Entertainment Magazine 

FALL 2010 

www.WeMergeTalent.com 

The 

Art of 

Pooch 

CELERY 

See pg.34 

WeMergeTalent.com - Bringing You Music, Low Brow Art, and Community... 

WeMerge Magazine - www.WeMergeTalent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 1

2 

Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 

WeMerge Magazine - www.WeMergeTalent.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

WeMerge Table of Contents • WeMergeTalent.com 

Pg. 2 - Letter from the Editor 

Pg. 2-5 - Pooch (Cover Story) 

Pg. 6 - BLP Babble 

Pg. 7 - Oh? Radi...Oh?, Ladezma 

Pg. 8 - Anthony Burks, Tom Parker 

Pg. 9 - 12 - Local Businesses & Editorial 

Pg. 13 - Groovolution 

Pg. 14-15 - Editorial 

Pg. 16 - Invi, Nikki Copeland 

Pg. 17 - Local Businesses 

Pg. 18 - Fonda Cash’s Students 

Pg. 19 - 21 - Local Businesses 

Pg. 22-23 - DMAC 

Pg. 24 - Erika Taguchi-Newton 

Pg. 25 - Local Music Artists 

Pg. 26-27 - Who’s Next Gallery 

Pg. 28 - Teens Merge, Spred the Dub 

Pg. 29 - FW4S Records 

Pg. 30 - Tattoolapalooza 

Pg. 31 - Tattoo Artist Jesse Smith 

Pg. 32 - Monterey Club 

Pg. 33 - Bang Hair, Hoop So Fly 

Pg. 34 - Pam Bruno, Celery 

Pg. 35 - Ghost Post Publishing 

Pg. 36 - Freedom From Bondage 

Pg. 37 - Inked Productions 

Pg. 38 - Local Businesses 

Pg. 39 - Grace Café & Gallery 

Pg. 40 - F.A.T. Village 

Pg. 41 - Art Wear 

Pg. 42 - Crackhead Jesus 

Pg. 43 - Local Businesses & Performers 

Pg. 44 - Art Scavenger Hunt 

Pg. 45 - Purple Haze, Marvlec 

Pg. 46 - Art’s Coffee Shop, Mega Bite Café 

Pg. 47 - Local Business Cards 

Pg. 48 - Solid Sound Studios 

Pg. 49 - Some Advice for Bands 

Pg. 50 - We Asked, They Answered 

Pg. 51 - Kevro’s Art Bar 

Pg. 52 - Rock n Faces, Craig Mcinnis 

19 th Street Auto Salvage 

Pg. 53 - The WeMerge Graffiti Page 

Pg. 54 - Velcro Hash (Back Cover) 

Pg. 55 - Coupon: Lifetime Supply of Celery 

Pg. 56 - Map to hidden treasure 

Facebook.com/WeMergeMagazine 

MySpace.com/WeMerge PickUpWemerge.com 

WeMerge Magazine 

President 

Creative Director 

Dwayne Adams 

info@wemergetalent.com 

Vice President 

Chief Editor 

Renda Writer 

editor@wemergetalent.com 

Contributing Writers: Ashley Lombardo, Brian Dillingham, 

Brian Breslaw, Rachel Galvin, David Cintron, Ashley Allred, 

Matt Beck, Casandra Tanenbaum, Alexandra Seheult, 

CR Bauman, Maritere Taveras, Seth Kravitz, Pilot Rai 

Graphic Designers: Rob Smith (RobSmithArt.com) 

Brian Dillingham, Craig McInnis (CraigMcInnis.com) 

Marketing: Melinda McGee (LocalWebsiteRankings.com) 

College Promotions: Andrew Ackerman 

Cover Art: Pooch (PoochIsland.com) 

Contributing Photographers: Johnny Zhang 

(Flat12.vze.com), John Steffey (RabidRabbitStudio.com), 

Rachel DeJohn, Dwayne Adams 

Research: Michele Barenfeld, Nicole Esposito 

Proofreaders: Bethany Lee Auchter, Maritere Taveras 

Webmaster: Brian Dillingham 

(Brian@WeMergeTalent.com) 

Videography: www.LeafHouseProductions.com 

Copyright©2010-11 WeMerge, Inc. All rights reserved to 

WeMerge, Inc. All content included in this magazine: text, graphics, 

logos, icons, & images, are the property of WeMerge, Inc. and/ 

or its content suppliers (writers, photographers, illustrators, and 

others) and protected by US and international copyright laws. No 

content is allowed to be reproduced in whole or in part without 

written permission from WeMerge, Inc. WeMerge Magazine 

contains the opinions and experiences of other people and 

the publishers do not necessarily approve, agree with, and/or 

condone those opinions or actions. WeMerge, Inc. cannot be held 

responsible for these opinions or actions. We provide a community 

service to our readers. All collaboration or verification of event 

postings are the responsibility of the reader prior to relying on 

such information for any action that may be taken on their behalf 

or on the behalf of others. For all legal issues call our lawyer. 

Special Thanks to Michele for her guidance against the cheeze 

& support against the struggles. Nicci “Bean” Loren for helping 

with imagination. All the haters for giving us motivation. Nicole 

for her support. Robert Sugar for his unmeasurable knowledge. 

John Hunter for all his help with the production. And last but not 

least, the Bonus Red Dot for always being an extra free bonus. 

Celebrity WeMerge Supporters 

Celebrity WeMerge 

Magazine readers 

(L-R): Richard 

Roundtree, who 

played the lead 

role in the 1971 

movie, Shaft; 

Chris Carrabba, 

from Dashboard 

Confessional; Waldo 

(we found him). 

Thank you for all your support. This issue is slicker than a 

harpooned hippo in a banana tree. Which is why I have to 

agree with my editor when he says “that you have to get up 

and go.” Pilot Rai even sang once that “you need to walk, run, 

take a train, fly. Cause you’re either punching a clock that pays 

minimum wage or getting high. So when this song comes on 

the radio, ya gotta get up cat...go go go.” These words couldn’t 

be more true for most of our society. That’s why this magazine 

is FREE. To give people that motivation that it can be done. 

You just have to get off your ass and do 

it. Even this magazine was started off the 

words of...”Why don’t you guys have a 

magazine?” Next thing you know with a 

little research...we had one, and look at us 

now. It’s a lot of hard work with no money, 

but we get to do what we love. Create. 

- Thanks, 

Dwayne Adams 

WEMERGE ADVERTISING 

If you would like to advertise with 

us, send an e-mail or give us a call. 

We will be happy to send one of 

our reps out to meet with you. 

Editor@WeMergeTalent.com 

(310) 404-4184 or (561) 305-2070 

Promote your business, website, art, 

& music to 20,000+ readers in Dade, 

Broward, Palm Beach & Martin Counties 


Letter from 

the Editor 

S 

Staying in one place never got 

anyone anywhere. You’ve got to 

get up and go, if you really want 

to go somewhere. That’s the point of 

this magazine. That’s why I do what I 

do. Inspiring you inspires me. The goal 

is to inspire you to get up and go. Go 

somewhere with your art, with your 

music, with your business. Get up and 

go. It doesn’t have to be a geographical 

place. It can be a level of success or a state of mind, or some sort 

of metaphorical, metaphysical place. Whatever it is, wherever it is – 

you’ve got to go. You owe it to yourself to go there. 

That’s what I’m doing… what we’re doing… that’s what WeMerge 

is doing, and we’re doing it hard – hardcore. Carpe diem. 

Our Creative Director, Dwayne Adams, and I are sticking to our 

commitment to expand WeMerge, and take it national. We’re 

putting the pieces in place. So right here I would like to give a 

special thanks to Joey Schneider, of Joe’s Gems in Raleigh, North 

Carolina, for planting the seeds for our growth in North Carolina. 

I’d also like to recognize all of the artists in this issue with national 

ambitions, like cover artist Pooch, who is exhibiting right now in 

New York, and the guys from Footwork 4 Self Records, who are 

touring all over the US, making South Florida proud. 

Special thanks to Rachel Goldberg and Michael Penn of Osceola 32 

Gallery in Stuart, for hosting our WeMerge Martin County Expansion 

Party, helping us expand into our fourth county. We know how to 

walk before we run, and how to run before we fly, so running into 

yet another county in Florida sets us up perfectly for flying into other 

states in the very near future. Think globally. Act locally. 

On a personal note, since 2007 I’ve been trying to go to one 

place, and one place only – Los Angeles. Why? That’s where The 

Ellen Degeneres Show films, and my goal is to perform my poem, 

“Half Hearted,” on her show. You can help by going to www. 

RendaWriter.com to sign my online petition. Also, please go to 

www.EllenTV.com/show and Facebook.com/EllenTV to let Ellen 

know that you support my dream. 

Pooch 

What’s the last thing that comes to mind when you look at our cover? 

And the last thing when you look at the art on the next few pages? What’s the 

last thing that comes to mind when looking at the highly intricate surreal fantasy 

scenery painted by Pooch, the cover artist for our fall issue? The last thing you would 

think of when looking at Pooch’s art… could it be… Disney? 

Well oddly enough, it is in fact Disney that is at the root of Michael “Pooch” Pucciarelli’s 

artistic influence. The intricate mechanical look of the nautilus submarine at the 20,000 

Leagues Under the Sea ride at Disney World captivated a young Pooch during a family trip 

to the Orlando theme park and settled into the young artist’s mind, leaving an indelible 

mark that would stay with him as he grew… and as his sphere of influence grew to include 

the works of artists such as Salvatore Dali, MC Escher, and HR Giger. Giger is the Swiss 

artist that is credited as the father of the biomechanical style, and is the author of the book, 

Biomechanics. He also designed the alien in the Alien movie series, and his influence can 

be seen literally ON Pooch; his skull drawing is tattooed on Pooch’s stomach and a framed 

pencil drawing of that same skull hangs above Pooch’s work station like an homage to 

one of the greats at Pooch’s tattoo shop in Lake Worth, Altered State Tattoo (2402 N Dixie 

Muerto Mechanico II 

“Support the scene, or there will be no scene to support.” 

Peace, 

Renda Writer 

Chief Editor 

WeMerge Magazine 

We Can’t Change the World, 

but We Can Change Our Ways 

Madame Mollusk 

2 



Hwy). When he’s not painting in his home studio or 

shipping his paintings off to galleries in New York, 

Seattle, or Los Angeles, this is where you can find 

him, sitting by the Giger piece, tattooing custom 

work on the skin of customers who are looking to 

turn their bodies into canvases. 

Like with painting, Pooch is completely self-taught 

as a tattoo artist and has earned himself the welldeserved 

credit as one of the best in the industry. 

One of the most humble and down-to-Earth artists 

you will ever meet, Pooch is happy to take time out 

of his day to chat at his shop, a nice reminder that he 

is more concerned with things like art, creation, and 

imagination than ego, pride, or material success. 

In his book, The Art of Pooch Island, he even has a 

quote from Albert Einstein that says, “Imagination 

is more important than knowledge,” and it’s with a 

healthy dose of imagination that Pooch was able 

to reach back to his early Disney World memories 

and pull them through a life of pop surrealism and 

lowbrow influence to create his own theme park, 

Pooch Island, which is also the namesake for his 

website, PoochIsland.com. Although it may only 

exist in his mind, and on canvas and computer, 

Pooch Island is a place where skeletons ride roller 

coasters and the all mythical elements of a bizarre 

theme park world are as real as the acrylic paint that 

comes from Pooch’s palette. 

The artist’s dedication to his fantasy world is 

evident in his predilection toward doing series, like 

the Muerto Mecanico series pictured along with this 

article, which helps the viewer to delve further into 

his surreal surrounding than an isolated individual 

piece, while also showing Pooch’s commitment to 

his style and theme. 

Continued on next page 

Nautilus Girl 


What’s next for Pooch? His exhibition at Last 

Rites Gallery (owned by one of Pooch’s influences, 

Paul Booth) in New York City will be in full swing 

by the time you read this, and in addition to more 

tattooing and creating more art, Pooch has plans 

to build a big box that will open up into a diorama 

sculpture of Pooch Island - a good tool to have just 

in case a wealthy developer should come across it 

and consider it a worthy model for the building an 

actual Pooch Island theme park. He has also recently 

begun painting on guitars, which is a medium that 

is close to the heart of an artist who spent 10 years 

Muerto Mechanico I 

in the band Raped Ape and is now in a new band 

called Trailer Shark. 

Pooch’s own musings on his life as an artist 

are simple enough, “I like ornamented, intricate 

things… Really detailed pencil work is at the core 

of what I do.” Statements like this stand out while 

4 



discussing the daily role that art 

plays in his life, a reminder that once 

you’ve tapped into your talents 

and created a formula for artistic 

productivity, the rest is just followthrough. 

Just do what you love, and 

keep doing it. t 

For more information on Pooch 

please visit www.PoochIsland.com 

Nemo’s EthnoBotanical Experiment #5 

Custom Painted Guitar 

Muerto Mechanico III 

Bomber 


The 

BLP Babble 

By Matt Beck, founder of Brotherly Love Productions 

matt@brotherlyloveproductions.com 

Support the scene or there will 

be no scene to support. 

I’ve dug this phrase 

since I read it in the 

header of WeMerge 

Magazine’s earliest 

editions. Generally, I’m 

out-and-about several 

nights each week, and 

I’m increasingly amused 

by everyone who says that 

the South Florida music 

scene is nonexistent while 

they stand in front of a band 

giving it their all. 

Being a jamband forte kinda 

guy, back in the day there were few 

musical outlets for me. However, 

bouncing between Crazy Fingers’ 

Pompano Pier Grateful Dead 

tributes and Way of the Grooves’ 

Alligator Alley jazz explorations, with 

an occasional South Florida Jam 

at the Culture Room, I made due. 

Then roughly three years ago, during 

Langerado’s peak, I must have 

sensed a changing tide. That’s when 

I began my all-purpose live music 

production company, Brotherly 

Love Productions. In this thin 

transient land, very few venues were 

open to original music and very few 

bands were giving it a go, but with 

the housing boom and influx of 

outsiders…the scene was growing. 

A wise man (my bank) told me 

at the time that no one would take 

me serious unless I could persist 

three years. The same must be 

true for bands… and bars. The 

Hurricane Lounge in Delray 

Beach is celebrating four years, 

while providing six nights of live 

entertainment and hosting our 

weekly BLP Sunday Night Cookouts; 

the Funky Buddha Lounge & 

Brewery, its Bamboo Stage and 

welcoming larger space are now 

always an option; the Titanic 

Brewery in Coral Gables and its 

unique vibe just off the UM campus 

playing regular host to BLP shows. 

I feel like things are coming full 

circle. BLP has grown up with bands 

like The Heavy Pets, The Resolvers 

and Cypress. Way of the Groove’s 

Pastorius brothers have both done 

stints with The Pets, helping gain 

them serious national attention; 

Crazy Fingers’ Corey Dwyer is a 

likely sit-in at our Hurricane party 

each week following his gig around 

the corner; The Resolvers have 

upped their game, added horns 

and infinitely expanded their sound; 

following some line-up changes, 

Cypress is sounding better than ever. 

There certainly is a scene. Spread 

the word, bring some friends and 

face the music. As always, we hope 

to see you out! t 

6 



WHAT IN THE HELL IS 

GOING ON WITH RADIO 

TODAY??? There was a 

time when music lovers 

could tune in to a station 

and listen to undiscovered 

music and decide for 

themselves if they were 

going to purchase their 

album or a ticket to that 

band’s show. 

People, this was a long time ago. For the last 

fifteen years, all you’ll find is either remnants of 90’s grunge or this bullshit 

nu-metal that is created for people that don’t give a shit about a scene. Who 

doesn’t love Nirvana? I do. You do. But if I hear “Come As You Are” in my car 

one more time....well, I’d end up telling Kurt to shut the f*ck up. And he doesn’t 

deserve that. As for Buckcherry’s, “You’re Crazy Bitch”, stab me in the eye with a 

salad fork. I’m not saying that everyone should listen to Arcade Fire or Against 

Me. The question I’m asking is why doesn’t radio take chances on new bands. Of 

course the the answer is money, but don’t they see that radio will be obsolete 

in 5 years? Thank the invisible gods above that I can burn my own cd’s and plug 

in my mp3 player to listen to decent tunes. If not, I’d be slapping my steering 

wheel to Nickelback and Disturbed. Next thing you know I’ll be writing my 

congressman to keep digging for oil in the Gulf of Mexico and ban same sex 

marriages. I’m just saying, people...together we can stop “Mandatory Metallica”. t 

We Don’t ‘ Need No 

‘ 

By Brian Breslaw - BBreslaw@gmail.com 

Stinkin Guitar 

By Alexandra Seheult - ag.sehe@gmail.com 

Most people would imagine a typical rock band to be composed of a 

guitarist, bassist, drummer, and a singer. This wasn’t the case when the 

local band LaDezma started in 2001. At the time, Alex, Abe, and Dave 

believed they didn’t need a guitarist in the band and they recorded their first 

demo, We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Guitar with just two basses, drums, and vocals. 

Entertaining the fans is a huge priority for the guys in LaDezma. After a while 

of playing with two bassists, the boys realized that if they were going to put 

on a kick-ass rock show for their audience, they would need to add a guitar 

to take their music to the next level. So front man, Alex, took on the role of 

lead guitarist and singer while Abe and Dave continued their respective roles 

as bassist and drummer. In 2005, the band added Chris as the lead guitarist, 

which allowed Alex to focus more on vocals as well as interact and jam out with 

the crowd as the true front man he is. Each member of the band is driven by 

their passion for music and entertainment, along with the love for their fans 

and their friendship. As I watched them rehearse their set, which is usually 50 

to 60 songs, it was so easy for me to imagine these guys rockin’ out on stage. 

There is a constant flow of energy between them that’s impossible not to feel. 

Catch LaDezma at several local bars and clubs such as World of Beer in 

Coconut Creek on September 

10 th, The Dubliner in Boca Raton 

on November 6 th , and future 

dates at Murphy’s Law and Dicey 

Riley’s in Ft. Lauderdale. Their 

latest album, Bringing it Back, will 

soon be available for purchase. t 

www.LaDezma.com 


8 




Being “Bummed Out” 

Never Felt So Good 

By Rachel Galvin - ravenprods@yahoo.com 

Alyn Darnay and Larry 

Gotterer are bummed out. No, 

they aren’t sad, but rather they 

are the award-winning creative 

geniuses behind the new pilot 

Bummed Out that was recently 

filmed all over Broward and 

Palm Beach counties. 

This movie could have been 

named the ‘Misadventures of Zeke and AJ.’ “It follows middle aged guys who 

bumble from one misadventure to the next,” explains Darnay. After doing much 

darker award-winning short thrillers, directed by Darnay, like Art of Roadkill and 

Smooth Operator, Gotterer wanted to write a comedy. “We think it has potential 

as a cable series. We have ideas for six or eight more,” said Darnay, who also plans 

on sending it to film festivals. But making a movie in 100 degree heat wasn’t easy 

on this ten-day shoot. It wasn’t just the weather that was tricky, but also the fact 

that Darnay had to act and direct at the same time. “It was quite a challenge. 

I watched people on the crew to see those who liked things I liked and those 

members of my crew became my barometer. With comedy, everything relates on 

timing. It reads funny on the page, but [when you are acting], you have to hunt 

for the humor.” 

The laughs were not just in the script, but behind the scenes too. “The crew was 

laughing all the time. It was a happy set,” he added. Gotterer, who also spends his 

time in advertising and marketing, dove into acting in this one. “The sillier and 

crazier it got, the more comfortable I felt,” he said. “We are normal people playing 

not so normal people.” 

Besides working on this project, Darnay also promotes his book, 

The Script … A Breakthrough Guide to Scriptwriting. t 

The Endurance of Quality 

By David Citron - David@techwriter.info 

10 


At an age when his high school classmates were playing in garage bands 

and wearing Beatle haircuts, Gary Lawrence was performing big band music, 

American standards, and traditional jazz at his summer job in the Catskills. The 

year was 1968, and Gary was performing with musicians twice or three times his 

age! “If a classical musician enjoys and performs the music of Chopin and Mozart, 

it doesn’t matter that it was written before he was born,” says Gary, regarding his 

performance and appreciation of music older than he is. “Quality endures forever.” 

After many years of playing private parties in New York, he formed a Roaring 

20’s Big Band, The Sizzling Syncopators, which has appeared on national TV 

and has recorded for several labels, including CBS Masterworks. Since relocating 

to Florida in 1978, Gary has been the leader of two radio station orchestras, at 

WFTL and WLQY. 

As a pianist/conductor, Gary has performed with such well-known performers 

as Shirley Bassey, Mel Torme, Cab Calloway, Mickey Katz, Tiny Tim, and 

Howard Keel. He also toured with the internationally renowned Epstein 

Brothers klezmer ensemble. Gary has just returned from three 

months as bandleader on the Holland America Line’s Eurodam, 

cruising across northern Europe. 

Today, because the troubled economy is especially 

causing budget problems for nonprofit organizations, 

Gary’s latest project is organizing live music 

programs that can be fundraisers for 

them, funded by grants which he will help them 

obtain. Other current projects include 

Songs of the Sunshine State and The 

Classic Jazz Trio. To book a performance 

or discuss possible grants, contact Gary 

Lawrence at (954) 346-8863. t 


The Succession of 

SoFloRadio 

by C.R. Bauman – 

crbauman@comcast.net 

With the untimely retirement of AM radio legend Neil Rogers back in May of 

2009, exiled producers Jorge Rodriguez and Boca Brian had to step it up with 

something for themselves. But how? Radio has only rotted from the core since 

Rodriguez first co-hosted Rogers’ show over 20 years ago. The cutthroat spirit of 

the corporate system that put all the pride in the packaging and not the product 

has polluted our airwaves. 

Enter SoFloRadio.com, an open-language and organic online radio station 

broadcasting now for over a year, the brainchild that is “doing local radio because 

local radio stations don’t want to” as Rodriguez puts it. FM/AM is fail. South 

Florida radio was once our voice where hosts and deejays looked out for what 

we wanted, but has since given in to the superficiality that made MTV go from 

music to marketing, from the jive to the Jersey Shore. SoFloRadio is where every 

opinion can be called out and challenged. But with a click of a mouse and a fix 

of SoFloRadio, Miami has found a new medium. 

You can hear Rodriguez and Brian on 

the Jorge Rodriguez Show streaming live 

weekdays from 12pm until 3pm, with 

past episodes archived on the site. In 

the past year the station has grown to 

feature more programs such as The 

Beast Show and Love and Sex with 

the intent of covering more subjects 

and most importantly more of 

South Florida. t 

Do you have 

the time....to 

drive to Altanta 

(A tale of two Green Days) 

By Brian Breslaw - BBreslaw@gmail.com 

Well, thanks to the large corporation 

that puts processed food on my table, 

I DID have the time to go and see the pop punk band that cured a flanneledout 

audience from the dismal grunge era. And yeah, I knew it wasn’t gonna 

be my “Kerplunk” and “Dookie” Green Day, but I knew it would still be a good 

show. And Green Day did not disappoint, and they played all the hits, and 

there was cool lights, and stuff exploded,,,,so basically it was like seeing Great 

White. All good. What I didn’t expect, or really even think about, was the kind of 

crowd I’d be driving six hours north to go party with. WHO SAID IT WAS OKAY 

FOR YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE TO GO SEE GREEN DAY AND NOT BRING YOU!!! I 

wasn’t expecting kids with blue hair, but c’mon. Middle-aged conservatives 

with shirts tucked in and birkenstocks??? You could certainly feel the level of 

discomfort when Billy Joe commented on how religion is bullshit and mocking 

“the heavens above.” He even baptised a four-year-old crowd surfer. 

The whole night was based on an intense game of “operation smoke 

a joint in public and not get arrested.” I’m not sure if it was 

the Bible belt or the new VH1 friendly Green Day, but this 

was the lamest crowd on Earth. I mean, take it from the guy 

who drank five Bud Light “Bombers”, smoked a joint and a 

cigarette at the same time, and was chanting “BURNOUT”. 

And if your folks ever bring you home a hooded sweatshirt 

from the Green Day show, you had better be thankful. 

THEY PAID 75 BILLS FOR THAT SHIT! (This was brought to 

you with the help of Redbull & Advil.) t 


12 




Dance! 

Dance, Magic: 

By Casandra Tanenbaum, Hoopsofly.com - hoopsofly@yahoo.com 

As skyrocketing quantities of YouTube dance memes 

and the popularity of Dancing with the Stars and So You 

Think You Can Dance indicate: dance is fashionable again 

and the masses are salivating over a smorgasbord of 

flashy costumes and footwork. The South Florida 

arts scene includes an exceptional variety of 

dance companies, performance troupes, schools 

and regularly scheduled events catering to dancers and 

dance lovers alike. Which are you? Which would you like to 

be? Yeah, we thought so. Come on, don’t be a wallflower– 

NOBODY puts Baby in a corner! 

In the world of classical dance, the local scene is quickly recovering from 

the demise of two nationally-known institutions: Ballet Florida in West Palm 

Beach and Klein Dance in Lake Worth. Luckily, studios are springing up to fill 

the void! Look to the Florida Dance Conservatory in West Pam Beach and 

Downtown Dance in Lake Worth for classes along the spectrum from ballet 

(even “en pointe,” masochists!) to modern dance for youth and adults, and some 

movement arts considered less traditional like yoga and West African dance. 

Bellydance is truly South Florida’s best kept secret. Groovolution, a new 

studio in West Palm Beach, and the Goddess Store in Hollywood, specialize 

in elite and beginner level bellydance instruction, and our region is swept into 

a collective of hip shimmy spasms when national bellydance conventions like 

Gathering of the Tribes spin into town on regular, seasonal cycles. And you 

thought hurricane season was fun?! 

“But I don’t have the patience, coordination, or TIME for lessons, and I STILL 

JUST WANT TO DANCE!!” Well, lucky for you, the trancedance phenomenon has 

landed. Check out the Alternative Dance Network via Facebook or MeetUp to 

find a great event near you with live drumming, sweat-drenched smiling faces, 

and nary a critic to torpedo your technique. The magic is, that dance is alive 

here in South Florida. Let’s get out there and dance. t 

Age of Robo Sapiens 

By: Maritere Taveras - Sodacanashtray@gmail.com 

ART 

after dark 

Art, Music, FilM & reFreshMents 

For all ages! 5 - 9 p.m. the 2nd Thursday of every month. 

September 16 | OCtOber 14 | NOVember 11 

561.832.5196 | norton.org 

This program is generously underwritten in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum 

and Library Services. Media support generously provided by Clear Channel 

Radio, The Palm Beach Post and PBPulse.com. Graphic design provided by d+g 

Communications Group. Printing services provided by SouthEastern Printing. 

Life as we know it is doomed. Progression is spinning faster than an emo at 

Respectables drinking IPAs. Whatever happened to simplicity? We fell into the 

black hole of multiverses and iHaves. Now, we are so deep down that we don’t 

even know where to go next. Robots are just around the corner. So was Phil ahead 

of his time when questioning Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Buh-bye Homo 

sapiens, this is the rise of the Robo sapiens – faster, smarter, successful-er, and 

even more full of shit. The age of man evolves with a twist and unlike any other 

era, this one is evolving fast – almost too fast. Machines making machines. For 

just $2,500 you can purchase Zeno, a robot that not only sits, walks, understands 

speech, makes eye contact, knows people by name and recognize faces, he can 

also remember conversations. Humans can hardly 

even hold a conversation! And they think this 

is the answer – robots made to help bring back 

humanity. No comment. Save the planet? We 

need to save ourselves! (I have much more faith on the 

planet doing an excellent job on its own.) We are lost in 

contentment. Lost in society’s standards and their false sense 

of accomplishments. What truly matters is then forgotten with 

age. These scientific advancements are setting us back, 

before we know it, there won’t be anything left. The 

Customer Service Department 

is now hiring, has 

anyone seen Zeno? t 

14 


www.WeMergeTalent.com 

Magazine - www.WeMergeTalent.com

5 Recording 

Studio Session Tips 

And These Tips Won’t Stick Through Your Zipper 

I can’t tell you how many times an artist has come in to the studio and left 

with next to nothing. Actually, I can. Approximately 17,500 times, give or take 

a smidge, at no fault to the engineer. Down at the bottom of the frying pan 

of situation it all boils down to 42 things. Roughly. Unfortunately we won’t be 

discussing all of these factors at this particular moment in time. I can, however, 

lend a few hints on how to have a successful studio session without wasting 

your time or your money. 

1. PRE-PRODUCTION - I cannot stress the importance of this step 

in the recording process. Know your lyrics. Know the structure. Know 

your song and how it’s going to be played. You don’t want to find 

yourself spending your time writing in the studio. This could become 

quite profitable for everyone but the artist. YOU. 

2. MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS - Most recording studios are pretty 

laid back. Once you’ve rented the space, you could sit and watch TV or 

battle it out on the xbox, with 6 of your boys, for all they care. You’re 

the one paying and the customer is ALWAYS right. I suggest limiting 

the people you bring along to band members, managers, agents, 

significant others, and maybe a good pal for support if you want. 

Having a crowded area can be a bit of a diversion. 

3. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE - Be on time for your appointment. 

Professional studios book more than one session a day and have 

several engineers waiting to get in. This is their 9-5, per se, and they 

rely on that time and your punctuality. So if you show up one hour late 

for a four hour session, don’t be shrilled to find that you’ll probably still 

be paying for the four hours. Use your time wisely. 

4. DON’T BE SHY - If it’s questions you’ve got, be it large or small, 

don’t be afraid to speak up and ask. You’re the boss Tony Danza. And 

don’t be coy when it’s your time to shine. Let it go. Show Angela Bower 

and the rest of the employees why you’re the head honcho. 

5. HAVE FUN - Bottom line, this is rule number 1. Numeral UNO. 

The be all that ends all. Alpha, and maybe even Omega. I mean, it’s 

only work if you make it work. Have a good time, live a little, but 

remember, it’s not a party either. Drink responsibly. Ultimately a sound 

recording is forever. You want it to be as good as possible and that’s 

why you’re in the studio. t 

Paul “Pilot Rai” Raimondo - PilotRai@gmail.com 

Owner & Engineer, Reverse Polarity Studios 

& Vocalist for “The 7D” 

www.The7d.net 

Myspace.com/unirbny 

Reverse 

Polarity 

Studios 


16 



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Build Self Confidence & 

Enhance Your Creative Mind 

Fonda Cash’s Vocal & Performance Lessons 

Fonda Cash has been singing and performing 

professionally for 30 years. She specializes in vocal 

training, stage performance and artist development. 

You can see her students live at Fonda Cash’s Teens 

Who Rock Show once a month at Connolly’s Sports 

Bar & Grill in West Palm Beach. Any establishment that 

is in need of great entertainment with a big following 

contact Fonda Cash at (561) 308-9406 to book a 

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hear her students’ music and more. 

Facebook.com/FondaCash 

MySpace.com/FondaCash 

MySpace.com/FondaCashMusicWorkshop 

18 

Hannah Mahoney 

MySpace.com/HannahMahoney12 

Facebook.com/HannahMahoney12 

YouTube.com/HannahMahoney12 

Hannah Mahoney is a 16-year-old singer/songwriter 

and guitarist from Royal Palm Beach, FL. Her music 

genres range from country to pop. Her ultimate 

dream is to be a Country Music Recording Artist. 

She is currently taking frequent trips to Nashville 

to achieve her goals and dreams in the music 

business. 

Lexi Luca 

Facebook.com/LexiLuca 

MySpace.com/LexiLuca 

Sultry, soulful and unique, this is Lexi Luca. She 

has incredible tone and a controlled, powerful 

and dynamic voice to back it. Lexi is currently 

being shopped for a major record deal and hopes 

to start touring soon. Her genres range from R&B, 

Blues, Rock and Pop to Country and Dance music. 

Lexi has already recorded her first solo album and 

is currently getting radio airplay globally. She is 

available for private parties, studio and club work. 

Alex Grafton 

MySpace.com/AlexGrafton 

Alex Grafton was born in 1996. He writes his 

own original music and is currently working on 

recording his two self-entitled albums You’re So 

Overrated and The World as I Know It. Alex is going 

on his third year as a musician and plays a variety of 

different instruments. He has a five octave range. 

His voice is very versatile. It has a warm soft tone for 

those meaningful ballads and an edgy rocker high 

register for when he really wants to belt something 

out. Alex is looking to form a band that plays 

Alternative/Pop Rock. He is available for private 

parties, club and studio work. 


Brandi Lynn Collison 

Facebook.com/BrandiDragonfly 

MySpace.com/BrandiLynnCollison 

Imaginative, sweet, pretty and talented, this is 

Brandi Lynn Collison. Brandi is a young aspiring 

singer/songwriter from Wellington, Florida. She is 

currently forming an eclectic band and is in need 

of a bass player. To hear Brandi’s studio tracks, 

check out her videos and find out where she will be 

performing next, visit her on Facebook & MySpace. 

Emily Sall 

MySpace.com/EmilySallSings 

Although she is only twelve years old, Emily Sall 

has been entertaining audiences in South Florida 

for several years. In 2006, Emily starred in Lake 

Worth Theater’s production of Annie. She knew 

then that she wanted to sing professionally, so she 

turned to Fonda Cash to learn, practice and perfect 

her craft. Emily is an aspiring singing/recording 

artist residing in Wellington, Florida. She performs 

a variety of music, including soulful ballads, 

kickin’ country, pop hits and old time rock and 

roll. To contact Emily, call (561) 313-4063 or email 

SherrySall@comcast.net. 

Dominique Marie 

MySpace.com/DominiqueMarieMusic 

This is Dominique Marie. She is a 14-year-old whose 

passions in life are singing and performing. She 

attends G Star School of The Arts, where she studies 

acting and video production and is currently taking 

vocal & performance lessons with Fonda Cash. You 

can see her perform live once a month at Connolly’s 

Sports Bar & Grill in West Palm Beach at Fonda Cash’s 

Teens Who Rock Show. Visit Dominique’s MySpace 

page to watch her self-made videos, hear her sing; 

find out all the latest info, show dates and more. For 

booking info please contact Fonda Cash. t 



Project Audio Inc. is here to provide our 

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20 




We here at WeMerge Magazine 

believe that everyone has a story to 

tell. So, in aiming to give our readers 

the story of Digital Media Arts 

College in Boca Raton, we decided 

the best angle would be to let the 

people of DMAC tell it. We put out a call 

for submissions to the staff, students, 

and alumni of the school, asking for 

their stories, for original anecdotal 

accounts of how they ended up at 

DMAC, why they have chosen to 

enter the realm of digital media, 

and whatever else they want to talk 

about. What follows is a collection of 

six varied accounts of lives that have 

passed through the doors of this 

institution for the digitally inclined. 

We invite you to read on, and if your 

story sounds anything like the stories 

that follow, but the only difference is 

that you haven’t yet been to DMAC, 

we also invite you to go check out the 

school, where you just might be able 

to add the most important chapter to 

your story. 

AJ Brockman Lucas Priamo Sergio Melicio 

Dave Baer Amanda Bergman Markeis Miller 

by: Renda Writer 

AJ Brockman 

DMAC Alumni 

My name is AJ Brockman and I am a graphic 

designer! I also have SMA (spinal muscular atrophy), 

one of the 40 forms of muscular dystrophy, and I 

have been confined to a wheelchair all of my life. 

Graphic design (and art in general) has always 

been my passion, and now I am doing what I love 

for a living. Can you ask for much more? I originally 

wanted to get into broadcasting as a high school 

student but later found the Adobe Suite and realized 

this was what I was meant to do. 

I always promised myself I would get a degree, so I 

began looking at local colleges with an emphasis on 

a BFA. Then came Digital Media Arts College. After 

graduating, I was hired by Vision Haus Photography 

+ Design as the Senior Designer/Project Manager. 

Now, I am even working on projects for the college 

itself and never imagined I would be designing 

the very things I thought were so impressive as a 

high school student. DMAC prepared me to be a 

successful artist and I would not have done things 

any different! 

Lucas Priamo 

DMAC Student 

My whole life I have been drawing and have been 

passionate about art. One day, as I was walking 

through the mall, I saw something that caught 

my eye. It was about 50 wooden art easels set up 

in the middle of the mall. After making my way 

over I discovered that they were easels set up for 

high school seniors who were part of a drawing 

competition for a scholarship to Digital Media Arts 

College. That led me to take a tour of the campus 

and subsequently enroll in DMAC’s jump start 

program. This meant that in my junior year of high 

school I started taking night courses in graphic 

design at DMAC. This had opened up a whole other 

world for me. 

By the time my senior year in high school came 

around I decided to enter myself in the very contest 

I had seen at the mall the year before. Turns out that 

I won the contest, with a full ride scholarship for 

my undergraduate degree at DMAC. Since starting 

22 


classes, I was able to take my passion and skills 

from drawing and illustration, and apply them in 

mediums in both graphic design and photography. 

It wasn’t long before I started freelancing and doing 

professional work outside of school. Before even 

graduating I was able to set up my own company 

and add real professional work to my portfolio. 

As part of my required internship, I was asked to 

design the school’s official 16-page brochure and 

subsequently produce their 30-second television 

advertisement. I now have a portfolio that reflects 

my ability to apply the knowledge gained from the 

curriculum into real world applications and projects. 

Sergio Melicio 

DMAC Alumni 

Since a young age I was always a big fan of 

Star Trek. In 1986, after noticing the special short 

CGI effects in the movie The Wrath of Khan and a 

couple of CGI TV spots, I decided to study computer 

applications in Brazil, at that time in the DOS 

system. Unfortunately, I was in the wrong country 

and was studying at a wrong time to develop 

my CGI skills, and was also working with small 

resources, but I started slowly to move myself to 

accomplish my goals. 

In 1989, after my first job as an architecture 

designer and after jumping around to many 

advertising agencies, I got a job as a Disney 

Representative in Brazil. After a couple years of hard 

work, I had the honor to launch for the first time in 

São Paulo, the Disney Video Collection with Donald 

Duck, a VHS and magazine product called Video 

Print. Between the Disney success and many other 

Video Print products launched, I resigned from the 

position with blessings from my friend and mentor 

Marcia Bagnolesi Zarmatti (at the time she was the 

Division Director of Operations), and with enough 

financial resources I moved to the USA in 1995. One 

strange and happy ending episode happened in 

1998 when I was hired to be an art director of a web 

company in Pompano Beach. On my first day of work 

I was called to a Board of Directors meeting, a unique 

environment for an art director to be in. I jumped 

into the elevator and arrived at the conference room 

where 11 well-dressed people were waiting for 

me. One of the gentlemen at the end of the table, 

someone I will realize later to be the CEO, walked 

in my direction with a nice smile on his face, shook 

my hand and with a strong Australian accent said: 

“So Serg, I heard you speak Portuguese!” To make 

the story very short, they offered me a position as 

director of its subsidiary company in Brazil with all the 

“perks” that I could not refuse. Years later, I decided to 

resign from the position and start to consulting as 

an art director once again. Today, I am still in the art 

field, and this time working at Green Advertising in 

Boca Raton as an interactive art director. 

Well, it took me a long time but here I am. With a 

long way to go and many projects in mind, I cannot 

wait until when I will be capable of developing some 

of my work into a movie. I hope to be creative and 

design a movie which most audiences will like and 

will involve space and bizarre creatures for sure. 

Dave Baer 

Professor of Digital Media Arts 

Digital Media Arts College 

“Playing those damn video games will never 

amount to anything.” That’s what my parents used 

to tell me. 

In 1996 id Software released a first-person shooter 

game that would change the gaming industry. Quake 

brought real 3D graphics to life and multiplayer 

action to the forefront. No longer were you left to 

just playing against the machine, you were pitted 

against other human players from around the world. 

I really got into that. I built friendships with people 

who, to this day, I have never met in person, and 

gaming became a huge part of my life. And because 

of its user-friendly editing abilities, I was able to 

create skins for my characters which I painted using 

Photoshop. Quake was the game that made me say, 

“I want to make video games!” 

At the time, I was just coming out of painting 

and airbrushing custom cars for the past 8 years. I 

was really into drawing, and I could use an airbrush. 

Since I can remember, I’ve always been artistic in 

some way or fashion. From painting cars to creating 

music, to graffiti–my life was always intertwined with 

art in some way. So in 1999, while actually looking at 

another school for special FX makeup, I came across 


International Fine Arts College (IFAC) in downtown 

Miami who had a program for learning computer 

animation. The makeup school was supposed to 

open a branch in Miami but ended up moving to 

Canada instead, so my next choice was 3D. 

I had been a big fan of visual effects in movies 

for years. Jurrassic Park, Star Wars, all the Alien 

films, Predator, Terminator. Those were the big 

movies that got me interested. I was already familiar 

with computers, putzing around on my old man’s 

PC back home, but when I saw what you could do 

with computers and make it look so real I just had 

to do that for myself. So I went to IFAC and for the 

next four years I honed my craft. Learning things 

such as the 12 Principles of Animation, lighting, 

texturing, compositing, concept art, storyboarding, 

etc. We were put through the entire gamut of the 

CG industry. I learned what it took to become a 

CG (Computer Graphics) artist and after earning 

my Master’s in Computer Animation from Miami 

International University of Art and Design in 

2004, I set out in the industry to get a job doing 

what I loved. 

One reason I stayed on to earn my master’s was that 

I wanted to teach. I wanted to show others how to do 

what I was so passionate about. So a few short months 

after graduation I was hired at Digital Media Arts 

College in Boca Raton. I thought it would be a good first 

step in my career and actually didn’t plan on staying 

for more than a year or two. But the interaction I had 

with students, the way the college was set up to learn, 

the great knowledgeable staff, and the eagerness of 

fresh, young talent coming in every semester has 

kept me here for the past seven years. Each new class 

brings me another chance to show them how cool and 

exciting this industry is. And now with our brand new 

campus, things are even better at DMAC! 

Amanda Bergman 

DMAC Student 

I met a group of my friends in the last two years 

through other friends and found out that most of them 

went to DMAC. Each time I met a new one and found 

out they went to the school it made me so excited. I’d 

end up talking about DMAC to them for hours. 

One day my roommate brought home a classmate 

on my birthday. She introduced him to the group and 

he hung out with her for a while. At one point in the 

night everyone had gone outside. I went inside to 

get a drink, after a short time he followed me in and 

asked me what the party was for. I smiled to him and 

said it was my birthday. Shocked at how no one told 

him, he wished me a Happy Birthday. After that we 

never went back outside. We talked with each other 

the entire night, forgetting the party. Throughout the 

next few months we kept hanging out, talking on the 

phone, or texting each other. We are currently going 

into the third year of our relationship, and I couldn’t 

be happier. 

Markeis Miller 

DMAC Student 

Me coming to DMAC started when I came home 

to Florida from school in Alabama for Thanksgiving. 

Once I got down “here,” I missed my family, my 

friends and the city so much that I did not want to 

go back to Alabama. Me and my cousin were driving 

in his car the day after Thanksgiving and I was telling 

him how bad I wanted to move back but I didn’t 

think my credits would transfer to any school down 

here. But my cousin told me “you have to at least 

look.” Then we argued for about 10 minutes because 

I just knew that no school would take my credits. So 

I told him, “If you can find a Graphic Design school 

down here I will look at it. So he Googled “Graphic 

Design Colleges in Florida” and Digital Media Arts 

College was one of the schools that showed up. 

The thing that really got my attention was that 

DMAC offers a BFA and also an MFA. At the time, I 

was going to school to get an Associate’s Degree 

in Graphic Communication and I always wanted to 

get a Bachelor’s to have a better chance at getting 

a job once I graduated. And I was also paying rent 

and bills while I was in Alabama; if I moved back to 

Florida I wouldn’t have to pay any bills. Once I got 

back to Alabama after the break, I called DMAC and 

asked them if my credits from my school in Alabama 

would transfer. About a month later I ended up 

moving back home and started going to school in 

January 2010. I’ve been loving DMAC ever since. t 


The Who’s Next 

Gallery Winner 

Erika 

Taguchi-Newton 

The Who’s Next Gallery in our magazine has become 

a great barometer for finding out what the readers want 

and what they want to see more of. The fantastical image of 

a young girl playing a violin while riding the back of a giant 

armadillo in a procession of snails that was featured in last 

issue’s gallery garnered enough attention to merit a 

full page to showcase more work from local artist 

Erika Taguchi-Newton. Enjoy, 

and be sure to flip the page 

to see who you think should 

be in our next issue too. t 

www.RavenGirlsNest.com 

24 



Endorsed by Sennheiser & InEarz Personal Monitors 

Download the new single, “NME” 

on iTunes and Amazon.com 

Inspired by Led Zeppelin, Portishead, 

Alice in Chains, Heart, Stevie Nicks 

Has worked with: 

Maurice Gibb (The Bee Gees) 

Matt Knobel (Lenny Kravitz) 

Rashawn Ross (Dave Matthews Band) 

Sharief Hobley (John Legend) 

Marv Green (Warner/Chappell Music) 

Matt Kramer (Saigon Kick) 

Crease (Roadrunner Records) 

Nick Marinovich (Yngwie Malmsteen) 

Phil Varone (Skid Row) 

Melissa Burnos.com 

MySpace.com/MelissaBurnos 

Facebook.com/Melissa-Burnos 


???The Who 

Here, in the “Who’s Next Gallery,” we provide you with some 

samples from artists we are considering for the next issue. We 

invite you to email us and tell us which artist’s work you like 

best. The winner gets a free page in the following issue. Also email us 

if you would like to have your work shown in the Who’s Next Gallery. 

editor@wemergetalent.com 

Stephanie Rodriguez - stephanierodriguezillustration.com 

Susana Bendek - www.behance.net/suebendek 

Sloth - www.anastizzle.deviantart.com 

Susan Clifton - www.susanclifton.com 

26 26 

Support the the scene scene or or there there will will be be no no scene scene to to support 

WeMerge Magazine -- www.WeMergeTalent.com

? 

“When I work, I work very fast, 

but preparing to work can take 

any length of time.” 

- Cy Twombly 

’s Next Gallery????? 

Trek6 - www.treksix.com 

LeeAnna Yater - www.leeannayater.com 

Migdalia Pace - www.recyclemybag.com 

WeMerge Magazine -- www.WeMergeTalent.com 

Support Support the the scene scene or or there there will will be be no no scene scene to to support support 

27 27

Teens 

merge 

by Ashley Lombardo - Ashley@WeMergeTalent.com 

By Ashley Allred 

ashley_allred@ymail.com 

“So, um, is it just background music 

or are there words?” The extremely 

brilliant, engrossing, self-taught musical 

escapades of Ameen Mettawa are much, 

much more than merely “background 

music.” Shaped mostly by psychedelia 

and “noise rock,” his sound can’t be 

compartmentalized, as the changes are 

drastic from one song to another, with each being based on a specific influence. 

And that’s exactly what it is: sound. Beautiful, raw, varied and undisturbed. 

To clarify, Healthy Animal’s songs don’t have vocals or words, frankly because... 

they don’t need vocals. With the earlier mention of psychedelia, Ameen isn’t 

referring to Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd, but his influences lean more toward the 

“spaced out weirdos with mountains of droning guitars” side, like Spacemen 3, 

Pocahaunted, and My Bloody Valentine. He also enjoys and incorporates genres 

such as shoegaze, drone metal, post-punk, 80s indie punk and super emotional 

folk into his work, paving the way for a diverse fusion titled Healthy Animal. 

The name, originally used as only a song title taken from a National Geographic 

caption, has a minor connection to the growing-in-popularity experimental 

band Animal Collective, also a heavy influence for Mettawa. Locally, Totally 

Nebular and Hear Hums have won his attention. With little to no knowledge 

of how instruments are traditionally meant to be played, save for the drums, 

Ameen schooled himself to play the guitar. The guitar is his favorite instrument, 

because of all the peculiar abilities it possesses beyond strumming chords. For 

example, “Even just leaning a guitar up against an amp, gives an interesting and 

different sort of feedback each time.” While self-teaching, he took queues from 

Sonic Youth in as much as incorporating “extended techniques.” He often uses 

a flute to make a noise not unlike a singing saw, and has developed an interest 

in slide guitar from his no-wave predecessors. His songs are created simply by 

improvising on the guitar, drums or keyboard, and there’s no pattern, no routine 

— just the channeling of musical imagination. 

Once he creates something he likes, he continues recording it for a couple of 

minutes. Then, he improvises more, to make parts that sound nice with the base 

of the song. Finally, he makes noises with whatever is around at the time (flutes, 

auxiliary percussion, broken drum heads, whatever), or he records sounds 

happening in his room or through his window, and incorporates them into the 

song too, making a layered and riveting composition. The most intriguing thing 

about this “noise music,” unknown to the general populous of Gaga lovers and 

Y100 listeners, is that its creators possess an understanding and perception of 

sound that reaches farther than most can comprehend. An individual, a true 

artist, like Ameen, must be equipped with a special kind of ear and an artistic 

integrity that isn’t blinded by the clichéd music of the times. The schism between 

the common and unusual genres of music can unfortunately cause confusion in 

place of appreciation in the hearts of listeners, which explains the starting quote 

of this article, but listening to any Healthy Animal track will reveal that the songs 

are way more than just background music. t 

28 

www.lazyroar.blogspot.com 

www.soundcloud.com/healthy-animal/tracks 

healthyanimal1@gmail.com 


Spred the Dub and the Reef Road Rum Bar make dreaded Mondays 

a thing of the past. With a sound that can be described as “Steel Pulse 

meets Pink Floyd,” Spred the Dub makes it nearly impossible to stand still 

when they take the stage. 

Don’t believe me? You can try it for yourself every Monday from 10pm until 

1am at the Reef Road Rum Bar, located at 233 Clematis St. in West Palm 

Beach. With drink specials like $3 Red Stripe, delicious food, no cover (ever!) and 

DJ HiGrade spinning between sets, “you won’t find a better party on Monday 

nights,” says bassist Kevin Johnson. 

As people walk by Reef Road’s wide-open doors they can’t help but be 

drawn in by lead singer Mick Swigert’s smooth vocals, Corey Tyler’s tripped 

out psychedelic effects, drummer Joey Bitton’s funky rhythms and the hard 

hitting bass lines of Johnson. But don’t be fooled, just because they’re a reggae 

band and play the occasional Bob Marley song; don’t expect it to sound like 

anything else you’ve ever heard. Instead of cementing themselves in one genre 

they prefer to “add elements of dub, blues, ska, rock and surf,” says Tyler. Johnson 

explains that, “because our sound is so eclectic, borrowing bits and pieces from 

so many genres, it’s not uncommon to see rastas, hippies, punks, hip hoppers, 

old folks and youngins all sharing the vibes at the shows.” 

They hardly make set lists, instead they prefer to thrive on improvisation and 

the energy of the crowd, “you never know what you might get. No two shows 

are ever the same,” says Tyler. The only way to understand the hype is to see 

them in action and with reggae Mondays at Reef Road, there’s no excuse not to. 

SpredtheDub.com - Facebook.com/ReefRoad 

10 x 10 

4th annual one-night show of 

installation and performance 

art in empty storage units 

An ArtSite Project curated 

by Kara Walker-Tomé 

November 20, 2010 

5-10 PM - $5 admission 

Lake Worth Storage 

4166 S. Military Trail 

Lake Worth, FL 33460 

www.artsiteprojects.org 

Artist: Steve Backhus, 10X10, 2009/Photo by Jacek Gancarz 


When the 

Time is Right 

What’s cool about these guys right here… what 

helps set them apart… is that they know what 

they’re doing... exactly what they’re doing. They’re 

making plans and sticking to them. They are the 

Footwork4self Records family, and in short, their 

history goes like this: Two dudes grow up on hiphop 

in Minnesota in the early 90’s, and then life 

puts them on different paths… until one day, 

Ryan Kolquist runs into Ryan Britt (now known 

as Jabrjaw) at the Purdy Lounge in Miami. They 

reconnect and reminisce, and at the end of the 

conversation Jabrjaw says, “when the time is right, 

let’s get together and build.” Three years later, 

the two reconnect and do just that. They build… 

Footwork4self Records. 

The idea for the label was hatched by Jabrjaw 

(artist/co-owner) and his partner on the cut, DJ 

Dee Dubbs (artist/co-owner) some years before, 

but the recent introduction of Kolquist into the mix 

as CEO/co-owner has formalized their structure a 

bit, allowing them to expand the family by signing 

on other artists to the label’s roster, artists like 

Protoman, Lox Tha Rippa, and producer, Shawn 

Wayne. There’s a well thought out business plan 

for each of the individual artists on the label, an 

intense touring schedule, and a release schedule 

that includes the re-release of Lox Tha Rippa’s 

Written by: Renda Writer 

Photography by: Dwayne Adams 

underground classic CD, The Best Rhyme I Never 

Wrote, as well as an upcoming 12” vinyl single 

titled Funk Keeps Banging / Barley, Malt, & Hops 

by Jabrjaw & Dee Dubbs. The release of the single 

will start the campaign for promoting the release 

of their full length album, Eastern Specifics. New 

releases are also on the way for Shawn Wayne and 

for Protoman, who is the more “digital minded” one 

of the family, the one with the downloadable flow. 

His modern approach to the business provides an 

updated creative contrast to the overall “hip-hop 

retro” vibe of the family, giving the label’s roster 

some variety and stylistic range. 

Nobody in the family exudes the retro vibe more 

than DJ Dee Dubbs, who Kolquist speaks highly 

of, “You don’t find too many people like Dubbs. 

He’s an act in itself… a real turntablist.” And with 

the quiet wisdom of a DJ, Dubbs chimes in, “vinyls 

got weight. There’s weight behind it.” Kolquist also 

speaks highly of Rhymesayers Entertainment, who 

many readers might recognize as the label founded 

by Atmosphere frontman Slug, based out of 

Minneapolis, Minnesota... “We’ve done several shows 

with Toki Wright and other Rhymesayers artists in 

the recent past and will be doing more in the future. 

They are who I have grown up listening to, and seen 

evolve into the powerhouse they are today. Our 

overall touring plan is pretty serious. We’ll be doing 

shows in the Fall and Winter in Detroit, Las Vegas, 

Boise, Minnesota, and California to mention a few. 

(L-R) Shawn Wayne, 

Ryan Kolquist, 

Jabrjaw, Lox Tha 

Rippa, Protoman, 

DJ Dee Dubbs 

In 

between we will 

be doing local 

shows as well.” In 

speaking of local 

shows, our readers 

should know that 

they can meet the entire FW4S family and a couple 

new additions on stage at Propaganda in Lake 

Worth on September 17 th . For more info on that, 

and everything else that’s going on with the label, 

fans are encouraged to sign-up for the newsletter 

at www.FW4S.com. Kolquist himself will keep 

you informed as to what’s going on. You’ll become 

extended family. 

Timing is everything, and now the time is right for 

a record label whose name combines a respect for 

the “footwork” of hip-hop’s b-boy subculture with 

the “do-for-self” mentality of eager entrepreneurs... 

to follow through with all of their plans. Everything 

is happening according to plan. The time is right.t 


30 




The Monterey Club is where different cultures live. A distinct 

gathering place for people interested and involved in 

vintage car culture, bike culture, tattoo culture, 

live music, and the whole lifestyle. 

This is where the scene is. 

Support the scene. 

More than a bar 

and more than a 

music venue 

(954) 598-1887 

Open Tues – Sun, 11am-2am 

2608 S Federal Hwy, Ft. Lauderdale, 33316 

Next door to the Gold Coast Roller Rink 

MySpace.com/MontereyClub - Also on Facebook 

Sign up for our newsletter at: TheMontereyClub.net 

No Night is Ever the Same 

Check out DJ Sensitive Side every Tuesday 

Cupcake Burlesque, led by Miss Jenna Beth, bi-weekly 

Ft. Lauderdale home of the Saints and Sinners Car Club 

Connected to Kreepy Tiki Tattoo and Orange County Choppers 

32 



By Renda Writer 

When Tabatha’s 

Salon Takeover 

on the Bravo 

network aired 

on November 

28 th , 2009, it 

introduced the world 

to Bang Hair Salon in Ft. 

Lauderdale and its owner, Darren Anselmo. Now, almost 

a year later, the place has become somewhat of a tourist 

attraction, and Darren is still receiving e-mails from all 

over the world as the show airs reruns internationally. 

An extremely ambitious and personable entrepreneur 

with a background in real estate and an impressive 

handyman skill set, Darren is proud of how far the salon 

has come since the show aired and since he first bought an old 

gay bar called “Phoenix” in a historic 1950’s building and 

turned it into Bang Hair Salon seven years ago. Since then, 

Darren has succeeded in creating a family atmosphere that 

keeps his stylists happy and productive. He cites the family 

atmosphere and the overall “good vibes” of the place as the 

secrets to the salon’s success. The staff agrees… 

Ann Marie – “Real people, fun atmosphere, serious 

stylists, and great hair.” Paula – “I love working at Bang. 

The staff all work and get along really well together and I 

think this reflects in the casual and friendly atmosphere of 

the salon.” Veronica – “I think Bang has a great familyoriented 

salon with no drama. Plus, Darren 

is hot!” Cheryl – “I love Bang because 

everyone who works with me are great 

people and it is the most relaxed salon 

that I have ever worked at.” Leona - “I like 

working at Bang because we’re a family, 

Artwork by: 

and we’re also independent. Darren 

Migdalia Pace 

treats us well. He’s approachable. I 

RecycleMyBag.com 

don’t have to worry about going to him 

if I have a problem.” Guy –“I like 

working at Bang because 

it allows me to be 

creative, with an easy 

going atmosphere.” 

Dov - “Bang is that 

functional family we 

all want. It’s fun, laid back and filled with the creative 

energy that inspires me every day. I go to ‘fun’ everyday 

– not work.” 

Not only does Darren have the honor of having such an enthusiastic and 

appreciative staff, but he will also soon have the chance to expand the “good 

vibes” when he launches his Hair Junkies line of franchised salons across the 

nation. Bang will serve as one of the first in the new project, and salons in New 

Jersey and Ohio are soon to join the collective. Stop in at Bang Hair Salon for a 

haircut. Come see why its owner refers to it as “the Cheers of the salon world.” t 

south Florida 

hoopdance 

classes & custom hoops 

hoopJams & parties 

Fire & Glow perFormance 

www.hoopsoFly.com 

See our ad on Pg. 14 - 2312 NE 26 th St, Ft. Lauderdale, 33305, 

(954) 567-4344, banghair@aol.com, www.BangHair.com 


34 



Has brought you the 

following books 

“Funky Gorilla Fist” 

- A novella by Anthony Pepe 

reviewed in the 1 st issue of WeMerge 

“Walking from Memory” 

- A novel by D. Tori Morgenstein 

reviewed in the 6 th issue of WeMerge 

“That Defines the Light” 

- A book of poetry by Anthony Pepe & 

Tori Morgenstein reviewed in the 7 th 

issue of WeMerge Magazine 

Three very compelling looks at the 

tragic epidemic that is domestic violence. 

Raw, Uncensored, and Unapologetic - REAL. 

All Books Now 

Available For Purchase: 

www.thatdefinesthelight.com 

www.myspace.com/funkygorillafist 

www.myspace.com/warriorpoets 

www.myspace.com/warriorpoetsaloud 

www.GhostPostPublishing.com 


y Brian Dillingham – Brian@WeMergeTalent.com 

Bondage is described as slavery or involuntary servitude. Addiction is just 

that, the lack of choice. Art is freedom, and this freedom was on display for 

all to receive during the Freedom from Bondage event in Delray Beach this 

past summer. Todd Lim, published in the book, Addiction and Art, described 

the event as “a way to connect with others who share these experiences, as 

well as spread awareness.” 

How is art freedom from bondage? Todd Lim states that “sharing 

experiences through art has been a great release and a form of therapy 

and an inspiration to be therapeutic for others.” Manny Mendez, one of the 

displayed artists, had this to say while reflecting on his past, “I have a Master’s 

Degree in pain and misery.” And through art and wisdom he has evolved into 

having an outlook on life that, “Every day is a blank canvas… you just have to 

decide what you are going to paint today.” 

Meryl Joan Lammers, a displayed artist as well as the musical feature for 

the event says, “It is from death that new life has the room to grow with the 

wisdom of the past.” During Meryl Joan Lammers’ musical performance, she 

covered Hey Jude, by The Beatles, in the midst of a set filled with her own 

original music. During this song I came to my own realization of the line “Let 

it out and let it in.” In relation to the Freedom from Bondage event, “Let it 

out and let it in,” feels like a breath of fresh air while exhaling simultaneously. 

While the artists exhaled the bondage in their lives through art they also 

inhaled life through the healing of art at the same time. 

For more information about using art as a medium for overcoming 

addiction, contact Lynne Larson from Rumination Productions, the 

company that put the event together at ruminationproductions@gmail.com t 

36 



• Digital & Screen Printing 

• Custom Apparel for 

Men, Women & Children 

• Signage & Vehicle Wraps 

• Direct to Garment 

• Airbrush & Tattoo Art 

(305) 878-5426 

4467 SW 71st Ave Miami, FL 

InkedProductions.com 

Twitter.com/InkedPro 

Myspace.com/InkedPro 

Facebook.com/InkedPro 

info@inkedpro.com 


AndrewsArtWorld 

.com 

Enter My World 

Sign Up for my Newsletter 

38 




Upcoming Art Walks 

september 25 th 

october 30 th 

november 27 th 

500 NW 1 st Ave – The Art of Alex 

503 NW 1 st Ave – Sixth Star Entertainment 

504 NW 1 st Ave – Puppet Network 

505 NW 1 st Ave – Women’s Theatre Project 

506 NW 1 st Ave – Rachael Henriques Art Studio 

508 NW 1 st Ave – AVAILABLE ART STUDIO 

517 NW 1 st Ave - AVAILABLE ART STUDIO 

521 NW 1 st Ave – Art Wear 

523 NW 1 st Ave – Art Venue/Party Lofts 

523A NW 1 st Ave – Single Barrel Spririts 

525 NW 1 st Ave – Crossfit Sports 

537 NW 1 st Ave – Iron Forge Press 

541 NW 1 st Ave – CollideCo Branding 

545 NW 1 st Ave – Downtown Music Studio 

19 NW 5 th St – Krueger Audio Technologies 

21 NW 5 th St – Sixth Star Costume Studio 

23 NW 5 th St – Andrew’s Living Arts Theatre 

111 NW 1 st Ave – Blackbooks 

113 NW 5 th St – Alfred Phillips Art Studio 

115 NW 5 th St – Francisco Shourat Art Studio 

501 N Andrews Ave, Suite 101 – Signs by Tomorrow 

501 N Andrews Ave, Suite 102 – Victoria Park Ins. 

501 N Andrews Ave, Suite 103 – Gallery 101 

521a NW 1 st Ave – 18 Rabbit Gallery 

17 NW 5 th St – Sixth Star Entertainment & Marketing 

17B NW 5 th St - AVAILABLE ART STUDIO 

40 

40 



WeMerge Magazine www.WeMergeTalent.com 


Artwear LLC 

521 N.W. 1st Ave 

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 

954-916-7351 

www.digitalartwear.com 

Custom Printing on over 100 exciting products 

NO SET UP CHARGES - LOW MINIMUMS 

WeMerge Magazine www.WeMergeTalent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 41 


WeMerge Movie review 

by: Renda Writer 

Maverick artist and modern day 

Gonzo journalist Victor Hugo 

Vaca II has succeeded in writing 

and directing a controversial and poignant 

short film with the goal of raising awareness 

of an important social issue. At the very core 

of Crackhead Jesus, and the stimulus for it 

being written, is the finger pointing at a grave injustice in the legal system: 

the fact that nobody has oversight over the Florida Bar. Surrounding this 

central theme of corruption is a brilliantly cinematic film crafted in the wake 

of Hurricane Wilma that weaves art and music into the script like actors, to 

tell the story of a lawyer who has lost his mind, thinking himself to be “The 

New Messiah for the New World Order.” But to his wife, Tommy Rogers, the 

character also known as “Crackhead Jesus,“ is “just my lousy husband.“ 

His shattered life becomes our source of entertainment, and nowhere 

is it more entertaining than in the scene with his drunk speech given 

atop a bar, while nursing a stigmatic wound on his right hand, or when 

he gets beaten by his wife with a rolled up newspaper while sleeping in a 

hammock and then tries to walk on water. Coincidentally, these are scenes 

that the viewer can actively participate in, while attending a “Flow Party,” an 

interactive Crackhead Jesus viewing 

party organized by Victor’s Modern 

Art Music Movement that is helping to 

turn the movie into a cult classic, with 

participatory involvement through 

props like rolled up newspapers and 

water guns. Hugo calls his movie, “The 

Rocky Horror Picture Show for the 

Lied To Generation” and has taken no 

shortcuts in promoting and creating 

a stir around it with viral and guerilla 

marketing techniques that might have 

already brought the term, “Crackhead 

Jesus” into your frame of awareness. 

Now that you’re aware, the next step is 

to see the movie, preferably at a “Flow 

Party.” Contact Victor Hugo Vaca II for more information about the movie, and 

to find out the location of the next “Flow Party.” 

VictorHugoGallery.com 

42 



LeeAnna Yater, a South Florida artist/ 

designer creates both brightly colored 

custom-designed fabric and tile artwork 

that depict somewhat surrealistic and 

architectural inspired themes. In part, 

her fiber paintings are “assemblages” 

created through a combination of techniques that include: 

photography, painting, drawing, machine applique’ and 

computer manipulation. 

LeeAnnaYater@aol.com - LeeAnnaYater.com 


44 




Free Wi-Fi 

Serving 

Breakfast 

and Lunch 

All Day 

Artists: Come hang and sell your work here 

2036 N Dixie Hwy – West Palm Beach – 33407 - Just North of Palm Beach Lakes Blvd - We’re in the Art Colony Building 

(561) 574-4101 - artscoffeeshop@yahoo.com - Located in the Northwood Arts Village - Studio & One Bedroom Living / Work Spaces Available 

46 




48 



y Renda Writer 

As busy as we both are, it’s 

always a pleasure to find time for 

a quick phone chat with Judy Blem, a 

licensed booking agent and promoter with 

over 20 years experience, and founder of 

Main Event Talent Agency. We touch base from 

time to time, to chat as friends and “talk shop” 

photo by Donna Paul as professionals, so the other day I asked her for 

advice for our readers on the topic of getting gigs and doing them right. 

To paraphrase the discussion that followed, Judy said, “This is geared toward 

cover bands, because that’s 90% of the gigs that I book right now. For starters, 

it’s not just about how good the quality of the music is. There are lots of other 

aspects involved. If you think ‘your job’ is just to ‘show up and play,’ you’re not 

understanding the business side of being in a cover band. Most cover gigs are 

four hours long. If you’ve only got 35 songs in your repertoire, that’s not going 

to cut it. All bands could stand to rehearse more – learn new songs, work on 

your harmonies and your song transitions. Limit the ‘dead air.’ Have a set list but 

use it as a guideline; you have to be able to stray from the list to accommodate 

requests and play to the crowd. 

“As a rule of thumb, the later your gig ends, the younger the demographic. 

So add some contemporary pop and current rock to your repertoire, especially 

for playing late-night spots. Add some danceable music. People having fun stay 

longer. How good is your frontman? Not just his vocal skills, but his ability to 

interact with the crowd, that’s very important. Can he ‘work the room,’ engage 

the audience, and most importantly, push the liquor and food sales? After all, 

this is business. Put some bodies in the venue, make the register ring, and odds 

are, you’ll get re-booked. Invest in good equipment and learn how to use it! 

Your band may be great but you’re only going to sound good through a decent 

PA. The biggest complaint from bar owners is that bands are too loud, so watch 

your volume. Keep in mind that bodies absorb sound. You’re going to sound 

louder with less people in the room. Adjust your mains and amps accordingly. 

And don’t whine about it, you’re in a local bar not Wembley Arena. Customers 

shouldn’t have to scream to have a conversation. For booking, don’t just drop 

a note to a bar manager on Facebook or MySpace and claim, ‘We would rock 

your room.’ That’s ludicrous. You need an online presence, a professional promo 

pack with a decent band photo, audio and/or video samples, and a wellwritten 

introduction letter. But before you send that e-mail, GO to the venue, 

on a busy night, when they have live music. See if your style of music would be 

a good fit. Go see the local bands that are working every weekend. See what 

you’re up against. Watch them, see what they’re doing and ask yourself what 

the difference is between your band and theirs.” 

Our space limitations keep me from publishing the whole conversation, but 

the most important part of Judy’s advice is in the “go out there” part. If you’re 

serious about wanting something that bad, then “go out there” and do your 

research, so you can do it the right way. MainEventTalent.com t 


How important 

is the role of 

the mixtape 

in promotions 

and breaking 

new artists? 

Mixtapes have 

now replaced 

what used to 

be considered a 

demo for the average artist. A prospective 

fan, investor, label, etc. in 2010 looks not 

only to a song, website or live show, but the 

overall presence and image of the artist; best 

showcased by a mixtape. Mixtapes give a 

visual as well as a great sampling of audio to 

the consumer for a great price: free. In today’s 

industry an artist is left behind if he/she is not 

feeding fans, blogs, and media a constant 

stream of music, be it free or an official label 

releases. You will see a huge increase in the 

number of official mixtapes or free “EP’s” from 

major and indie artists alike in the next year 

as the mixtape becomes the promotional 

vehicle of choice for all 

artists. 

Nick Hiersche 

President 

Coast 2 Coast 

Mixtapes & Magazine 

nhiersche@coast2coastmixtapes.com 

What do you love most 

about being an active 

member of the local arts 

community? 

What I most enjoy about 

being an active member of 

the local arts community 

is the strong and lasting 

positive effects my Art 

Nouveau Events have had on 

the artists and the attendees. Nothing is more gratifying 

than to hear an artist express gratitude about the shows 

and the opportunities created for them. The shows also 

create an outlet for artists to push a little harder or try 

something new. I also enjoy the impact it has on the 

attendees. A lot of the people that come to my shows 

aren’t even that much into art; they just know it’s a great 

party. They end up not only having had a great time, but 

they usually leave with an artist’s piece and a whole new 

appreciation to the introduction of the local art scene. If I 

can help spread the talent in West Palm Beach and inspire 

others to pursue their dreams then I am fulfilled. Being 

an active member in my local arts community means 

changing people’s lives whether directly or indirectly, 

and most importantly 

a sense of UNITY. 

Teresa Korber 

Founder 

Art Nouveau Events 

tkorber@gmail.com 

Photo by AngelaTronickPhotography.com 

HBO Def Poet 

Jason Carney 

South Florida recently had the privilege of 

welcoming HBO Def Poet, Jason Carney to the 

local creative scene when he came through the 

area this summer for a 5-gig tour that included 

a performance at our own weekly 

showcase of talent, WeMerge 

Thursdays at Kevro’s Art Bar in 

Delray Beach (166 SE 2 nd Ave). 

The ex-skinhead from Texas 

with dynamic stage presence 

told compelling poetic 

stories of race relations, life 

in the South, and being 

a father of three. Video 

footage from his 30-minute 

feature performance at 

Kevro’s can be found at www. 

WeMergeTv.com. Jason also 

performed at the following 

venues, which we recommend 

for readers who are curious about 

the amazing art of spoken word 

performance poetry and want to 

support the local scene. 

Mello Mondays @ Club Bluster - 

Hollywood -115 N 21 st Ave. 

Weekly poetry event known for featuring 

nationally touring poets, 

hosted by HBO Def Poet, Asia 

Poets Anyonymous @ 

Dada - Delray Beach - 

52 N Swinton Ave 

Monthly poetry slam, 2 nd Tuesday 

of the month, Palm Beach County’s 

longest running slam 

The Stage @ RJ’s Lounge - West 

Palm Beach - 311 45 th St 

Reputable weekly Open Mic and 

poetry show, known for featuring 

nationally touring poets 

The Literary Café - North Miami 

Beach -12325 NE 6 th Ave 

Spoken word poetry venue owned by 

HBO Def Poet, Will Da Real One 

What is the mission of 

YourDemoReview.com, 

and how does it tie in 

with the role that it plays in helping the 

local music community? 

The mission of YourDemoReview.com can 

be explained in three simple words: reviews, 

education, and exposure. 1. We are an online 

music review company providing aspiring artists, 

musicians, bands, and songwriters of various genres 

professional critiques of their music - giving them 

a chance to be heard. 2. Our reviews, evaluated 

by real industry executives, are used to guide and 

educate the artist on the strengths and weaknesses 

of their music for improvement. 3. These days artists 

50 Support the scene or or there will be no scene to to support 

are looking for exceptional venues willing to allow 

them exposure, to express all that their creativity 

has amassed. We provide this unique opportunity 

by producing local events such as our most recent 

“93Rock.com South Flocal Soundcheck Showcase,” 

co-sponsored by 93 Rock FM and hosted by radio 

personality, John Spano. We are dedicated to our 

local music community by contributing to its success, 

- individually and collectively through education, 

advancement, and promotion…this is who we are. 

This is YourDemoReview.com! 

Tomeka Napper, 

VP of Business Operations 

Demo Entertainment Group, LLC 

YourDemoReview.com 

We’d also like to let Jason know that he is more 

than welcome to come back to South Florida any 

time. WeMerge will be sure to promote you and 

help you enjoy your time here. Venues 

interested in booking Jason for a 

performance are encouraged 

to contact Mike Pavlov, from 

Ring the Bell Management: 

pediment@aol.com, 

(305) 450-5221. 

Photography By: 

Cher/Musico Roots 

Photography 



52 



I linked up with CROME & YNOT at 

the “Wall of Fame” during Basel in ‘08, I 

was hyped to see CROME rocking the 

spot we took way back in the day. 

Ynot was there for the whole shit 

backing CROME up, cleaning his shit 

up and just really helping get that 

shit done, man I was so hyped I told 

CROME like, “Yo, I got a spot that we 

need to rock tonight.” YNOT was down 

to roll with us for the whole mission. 

When we finally got up to the spot 

that night I was really feeling the rust, 

it had been too long for me out the 

game to step up to rock a spot like 

that. Without a word YNOT stepped 

up for me and helped lace that shit 

for me, to be honest, I was basically 

helping him do my shit half the time, 

not too many writers are willing to 

get down like that pushing someone 

else’s shit and not even get any fame 

for themself, most writers are some 

fame hungry selfish muthaf**kas 

when it comes to bombing, only a 

down ass homie like YNOT would even 

do some shit like that. 

When we was almost finished I told 

Y, “Yo man, you gotta put your name 

on this shit man, you been killing 

yourself for us all damn day! “ 

I told him to smash the 95 sign 

that he painted with a big ass 

YNOT tag, and he didnt even 

wanna do it just so me and 

CROME could get all the 

fame, I made him put that 

shit on there and I’m glad 

I did. He held us down 

that night like he did so 

many other times 

in so many differet 

ways for so many 

different people. t 

Posted by: 

Richard Nixon on 

MSGcartel.com 


54

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