September: Welcome to the bQ. Universe
Thanks for being here. We're so excited to kick it off.
Editor’s Note
Earlier this year, in a different journo job, I found myself casually trimming down what authenticates Black culture for a community set on eradicating it. That experience birthed a question in my mind; what does it look like when we take matters into our own hands and frame our communities for ourselves? Then it pivoted into my responsibility.
As I ventured into my newfound purpose, I began to attract those with a similar task. It was only right to honor and celebrate their commitment in the very first edition of The bQ. Newsletter.
Members of MPB Room Live, a DMV-based music platform, took it upon themselves to build a foundation strictly for new, local artists. Brooklyn rapper Jus Jah is tapping into his environment that’s been built off the backs of Hip Hop’s founding architects. Adrian Kennedy hosted the NY Fashion Meets DC runway show to provide a newer space for fashion designers and creatives. Though they cover different facets of Black culture, they still provide new spaces to reinvent it. It is a never ending cycle of rebirth, something that bQ. has provided for my very own purpose.
The culture can never be at stake when its originators nourish, capture and define it. And I hope that’s what The bQ. Newsletter accomplishes. This is a moment for the young visionaries to rise, take their place and create new ways to introduce and modernize the timelessness that is Black culture.
I am so excited to share this with you all, something that’s been in the making all of 2022.
Welcome to The bQ. Universe.
We’re so happy to have you.
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Jus Jah: Bar Freda Performance Review
By Elijah Hamilton
Headshots of rapper Jus Jah (Credit: Jah-Sean Callender)
The first weekend of August, I got the chance to go to Bar Freda in Queens where they had an open mic night. Some of New York's best rising talent got the opportunity to showcase their music. It was pretty fire.
Located at 801 Seneca Ave., Bar Freda’s stage is in their basement.
In a way, I believe the intimacy added to the atmosphere, almost like you were on stage, right next to whoever was performing. The tight space helped audience members connect with Bar Freda’s performers.
About 20 people pulled up to listen to great music and buy bar drinks. The crowd within the limited space birthed an underground feel, similar to what you see in a movie, which also added The Vibes™ to the performance.
Jus-Jah’s set was incredible. During the 24-year-old Brooklyn rapper’s show, he got the chance to perform four songs. For the most part, I think he did a great job bringing the audience into it.
His single ‘Drop Dead,’ a song that embraces staying solid to your loved ones, even through moments of adversity, turned the audience up the most.
But all in all, the event was excellent. I recommend pulling up to an open mic. I enjoyed my time at Bar Freda and Jus-Jah’s performance was a great experience. His lit energy was worth it.
ADRIAN DEVELOPMENT HOSTS SECOND NY MEETS DC FASHION WEEKEND
by Amber D. Dodd
** All featured story photos taken by John Piitt Via Edits by Ken Rochen
International designer Norma EBanks struts with a model in the final catwalk.
On Aug. 27, in the National Harbor’s MGM Casino’s Theater, a lone runway darts into a stage hidden by plum-colored curtains, lit up by bronze lights.
This color scheme was a reminder that summer is over. But fashion never dies.
Just tone down your papaya and peach blouses for pumpkin-orange button downs. Stash that lavender eyeshadow. Switch for a Baltimore Ravens’ purple.
To close the summer, NY Fashion Meets DC geared up for their second fashion show, highlighting local designers and their ability to display creativity and artistic tastes. This is their first show since 2019.
“It was a lot of work, but with everyone that came and helped to assist us, it was pretty good and I appreciate that,” said Adrian Kennedy, the founder of NY Fashion Meets DC. “When you think about people, creativity and what they have to add and distribute, this is for people to show a different perspective of how they can connect with their community and show their creativity.”
All who were involved completed the goal of introducing communal aspects of fashion, while centering Black, local designers. This year’s show featured eight designers; Angelia Cooper (Angelinas Couture), Adia “Marjani” Walker (Dakueregansu), International designer Norma Ebanks (Creative Fashion & Design), Starbrille Cooper (Once Upon a Time Boutique), Tygerian Lace Burke (Tygerian Lace), Regional Wilson (La Vincient), Michelle Walden (Michi Knitwear) and Belle Flowers (Chante La Belle Epoque).
Flowers has been a fashion designer since 2010 and graduated from the ART Institute of Washington. Her catalog featured standout street and swim wear, including a drawn out, exaggerated backless bikini for an exotic getaway.
A DC native, Flowers said NY Fashion Meets DC served its purpose of connecting diverse fashion markets while still centering local designers and models. The show was a moment to “build brand awareness through showcases.”
“There was a guy that I met here tonight, he told me he liked my fashion and he also explained that he’s from Ohio and shared how some of Ohio’s flavor is really into dressing,” Flowers said. “That type of thing is always interesting for networking and learning about other people and our cultures.”
In the modeling world, fashion shows are a dreamy bonanza filled with beauty, opportunity and networking. Christian Scruggs and Robbie Arias, two mid-twenties male models, agreed with Flowers’ sentiments.
With all eight designers sharing models, the duo will have a plethora of catwalk looks to include in their portfolios, along with new model acquaintances to localize their connections. Scruggs and Arias met through the DC-based modeling agency, Proof Modeling.
“You always find people within the industry that make it so much easier,“ Arias said. “It’s so much more fun. You get to enjoy the actual ride.”
Scruggs echoed Arias’ sentiments.
“I think (local fashion shows) can represent a smaller-knit community and actually expand that community and give them more exposure through networking,” said Scruggs. “We all know somebody, and we can have that domino effect. It’s really cool just how people all around the world can be connected through fashion.”
Producer, actress and on-air talent Jacinth Headlam hosted NY Fashion Meets DC festivities.
“This is likely one of the biggest areas I’ve ever hosted at, I loved this location so much,” Headlam said. “…I love the fact that right out here in Chocolate City, we had New York Fashion week right here.”
Leading up to the fashion show finale, NY Fashion Meets DC also hosted a virtual seminar and discussions through WhoVa, a tech platform that holds virtual conferences. The Creative Minds Expo welcomed attendees to network with one another over shared values, including how-to build a successful brand and secrets to maintaining businesses in the ever changing world. Spirituality, motivational speaking, and mental health wellness were common themes.
“It’s surrounded by creativity and bringing people together, “ Kennedy said. “The turn out wasn’t what we wanted it to be, but it was still a start.”
‘People in Media & Film’ was the only in-person seminar for The Creative Minds Expo. From nonprofit consultant Mack Graham to ALIVE Podcast Network Owner Angel Livas, six panel members shared their experiences of battling the world for their dreams, and winning.
Photo Taken by John Piitt Via Edits by Ken Rochen
“These people are sitting up here next to me because they are hard workers, they’re trailblazers, they fought against the odds to survive and work their way to the top,” Headlam, who served as the panel moderator, said. “…I salute you guys, seriously. It takes heart to do these things we do.”
Bubbly and blithe, Headlam’s energy was the perfect pick-me-up to conclude NY Fashion Meets DC three-day festivities. She kicked off the show looking for the flyest outfits she could find. Before liability issues came about, a crowd-participant amateur catwalk session ensued. One woman sported her fluffy-feather mini white dress with equally green frilly shoes. Someone wearing tri-colored kimono, representing the non-binary flag colors, with lavender lightning bolt-shaped glasses waltzed the runway too.
DJ Giovanni pumped livelihood into the night. Electric and upbeat, he curated a combination of afrobeats, R&B and rap. (One could only expect any of the glitzy, dance bops from Beyonce’s RENAISSANCE. Alien Superstar? Made for the runway.)
Wilson’s La Vincient, Walden’s Michi Knitwear and Ebanks’ Creative Fashion & Design summer line were some of the standouts of the show. Founded in the Cayman Islands, Ebanks is an international-award-winning designer, with looks that reflect the love and joy commonly associated with the summer. Her vibrant colorways were straight from the Caribbean color palette.
“My collection is ready to wear,” Ebanks said. “It’s on the runway but you can take it anywhere – a party, a dance, a ball, a gala. Anywhere is where you can wear my collection to.”
Chardell Moore, a multi-disciplinary artist and founder of communications company, Motivation Moore, performed her song ‘Glow’ during the show intermission. Headlam encouraged networking by mic-passing to audience members during outfit changes. Local realtors such as Luchiea Hinnant and representatives of the Baltimore-based nonprofit, The Calming Leaf Foundation, plugged their mission purpose and elevator pitches.
“There’s power in collaboration, and when you bring everyone together from the models to the stylists to the volunteers behind the scenes, bringing art, fashion and all of that together, it all speaks to the power of collaboration,” Headlam said. “We needed this. That’s why I was having so much fun up there.”
Between Headlam’s hosting and designer looks, audience members snapped photos and IG lives of their own outfits. I flaunted my all-black sabbatical leather look, posing in mysterious deep blue lighting reminiscent of the bottomless, creative subconscious.
Rooted in my individuality, these photos reminded me that community is what really honors creativity. The festivities and success of NY Fashion Meets DC spoke to that universal sentiment.
blaQplight Spotlight: MPB Room Live
by Amber D. Dodd
Greg ‘Qure Sound’ Cromwell (left), Caleb Parker (right) and Sam ‘Maztr’ Ellison (standing center) examine MPB Room production (Source: Deevaani Williams)
During the stay-at-home orders of 2020, Caleb Parker, 29, and Greg M. Cromwell, 32, decided to build something timeless and vast: Maryland Park Bicycles, a virtual and in-person music platform that features up and coming artists around the DMV area.
After a successful first season, MPB Room Live, Cromwell and Parker are providing boundless opportunity after centering passion, music and community.
“Now we’re telling people we don’t have the capacity and there’s too many people here,” Parker said. “The whole cul-de-sac is filled with cars to the point where neighbors are complaining and we’ve got to get wristbands and security. We’ve got an operation here.”
Parker and Cromwell’s brotherhood lies at the nucleus of MPB. The two met as freshman year roommates at Norfolk State University in 2015. It is a friendship from coming-of-age movies, communicating through sharp eyebrow raises and kiddish giggles while finishing another’s sentences.
In the music world, many know of Cromwell as Qure Sound; the songwriting producer and music teacher that released his first full length project, “Curse Has Been Lifted” in April 2021.
“Greg can play anything with sound,” Parker said. “Greg gives off the vibe where he’s not afraid to try. It was at a point where I was uncomfortable speaking wise and he made it so that I felt comfortable sharing.”
Though naturally introverted, Parker brings an efficient militance and sense of leadership that grounds the team.
“What he has is vision,” Cromwell said. “You see shit that we don’t see. You see how things are coming together before it happens. Where is MPB going? And what does it look like when we get there?”
After returning from Norfolk, the two would casually make music over at Cromwell’s place.
The more Parker rapped over Cromwell’s piano beats, the more they sought out cameras to record their shenanigans. The more memory card space, the better lighting they wanted to capture nonchalant freestyles. The better the freestyles, the more people were invited into Cromwell’s space, which happened to be underneath an abandoned white brick building in the Capital Heights, Maryland area.
“Whenever we were giving directions to the studio, it was ‘White brick building that says Maryland Park Bicycles on the side!’” Parker said. “As a matter of fact we tried to buy that building –”
“But we’re broke, that’s why.” Cromwell said.
(The two argued that MPB’s acronym is interchangeable. Money, Power, Burgers is in their Instagram bio. Money, Pussy, Bitches is my close-second.)
The most important aspect of MPB is their tag: Inspired by P.G. County.
“This puts a stamp on what we’re coming to the layman who don’t know nothing about us,” Parker said. “But they can look at the shirt and say ‘Oh you from Maryland? Okay, cool.’”
“It’s a location tip for the whole operation.” Cromwell added.
“It gives it a local feel to it, like a crab leg.” Parker agreed.
Once “outside” opened back up in 2021, many ran into a larger issue: Who is going to platform all the art I/we’ve been working on? The question intensified for those without an Atlanta or Los Angeles music-business backdrop.
“Since everyone is chasing the same thing, and everyone is becoming lost in the vastness of it, no one is getting their shine,” Cromwell said. “So, we created a platform for people to practice and get up and perform.”
And that’s how MPB became MPB Room Live.
The live performance platform is recorded in the basement of a College Park single family home rented by Cam and Deevaani Williams. Cam is rapper Joe Dohn, part of Good Boyz Mob. He and the rest of GBM were featured in a “season zero” of MPB Room Live, a taste-testing project that took place during the pandemic.
Members of both MPB and GBM pose for a collaborative photo (Source: Deevaani Williams)
Cam now serves as the platform’s executive producer and Ryan Hunter, a member of GBM, serves as a host. GBM’s main producer, Sam Ellison, who produces under the alias Maztr, is the platform’s technical director. Deevaani is the social content media supervisor for both MPB and GBM.
“It was easy for us to see how stuff could pop off and why it had the right type of format,” Williams said. “After about a good year, when they tried to bring the next season up, they came to us and we revamped everything and started everything together as a partnership.”
In the Williams’ home, Cam and Ellison curated the former man cave into a studio that invited both “professionalism and comfortability,” a space where artists can tap into their maximum potential.
“We used to have a little desk in the middle, and it used to feel like a little spaceship with the lights off,” He said. “I feel like I was in a different world, ready to take off. I feel like artists need that.”
Kisses of orange, the color associated with creativity, freedom and expression, and purple, commonly linked to passion, royalty and imagination, are sprinkled throughout the basement.
To enter, one must walk through sun-bright 70’s door bead curtains. The basement’s linoleum floor is burnt sienna. Ethereal purple LED lights hang above the studio equipment. The black couch is where Parker or Hunter interviews each show guest. When artists are performing, the couch is removed. Cromwell sets up live band pieces including his red, Nord Stage 3 keyboard. A basketball-sized disco ball hangs in the middle of the basement.
Greg ‘Qure Sound’ Cromwell (middle) guides GBM producer NaisaiOnTheBeat (far left) on how to use his Nord Stage 3 keyboard while Cam Williams (far right) practices music (Source: Deevaani Williams)
“They really need that space to feel like they’re distracted, but, at the same time, you have the cozy couch, the curtains, the TV so they can feel like they’re at home too.” Cam said.
Season one of MPB Room Live ran every other Saturday from January 26 to June 4. Eight episodes featured 25 artists that fit Cromwell and Parker’s happy mediums: someone more than a hobbyist yet a “bit less of a professional or signed artist.”
“Eighty percent of people were in the mark,” Cromwell said. “We found some who were not as on the talent rank, but the energy that they brought really complemented the whole performance as well.”
Genre diversity was another main aspect. Rapper John Clarke, part of the series opener, carries an upbeat, intergalactic sound to his catalog. Episode two features neo soul artist Dreemur Dixon who embodies a much softer, wavier essence.
“If you look through our season, no one has sounded like other artists that we had,” Cromwell said. “There’s an afrobeat artist, there's rock too.”
With the uptick of virtual platforms and networks, Dixon finds the digital footprint a prominent aspect of The Artist today. She’s looking to perform at local events like Baltimore’s late-summer Love Groove festival. MPB Room Live footage can now serve as her résumé.
“Now people are coming on my page and liking my stuff,” Dixon said. “This gives me a portfolio in a way, to be able to show other businesses ‘I got this experience and I can do that.’ It’s also just a place where people can hear my voice.”
MPB Room Live is set up like a chill workshop; network, perform your music, strengthen the bones of your digital footprint. The live Twitch streams are posted onto their YouTube channels. On MPB Room Live’s Instagram and TikTok pages, viewers can also find photos, recap videos, reels, and behind the scene footage in social media content composed by Deevaani.
“We’re trying to attack the game from all angles.” Parker said. “All the stupid dances on TikTok, the Twitch stream, the postproduction with the classic web series, TV-show edits...I think the bigger the digital footprint, the larger the impact and the less excuses someone has to not support you.”
MPB platforms to artists outside of the PG County area. Baltimore native Da’Myah ‘Damn Da’Myah’ Wands is an alternative R&B artist featured on the season finale of MPB Room Live. She’d been searching for artists outside of her Charm City network.
“In my career, I do want to put Baltimore on the map,” Wands said . “There have been some cool artists in the DMV that I would love to share a stage with and be up with them and say ‘This is what the DMV has to offer, we got some good music out here and everything else.’”
Andrew Wilson, Vex Ghoul in the music world, recalled his time with MPB Room Live as “professional,” something that is not afforded to new artists.
“I realized, when you’re not at a certain level as certain people, a lot of people don’t treat you the same and treat what you’re doing as something serious,” said Wilson, who was featured on episode five. “They won’t really take what you’re doing too professional. So the fact that MPB treated me like a celebrity, I had a whole interview afterward, a backdrop, it was dope.”
Vex Ghoul (second left) poses for his MPB Room episode with MPB staff (Source: Deevaani Williams)
MPB Room Live is now gearing up for their season two premiere, sometime in October. Parker wants artists booked months in advance to create all-day, one-genre episodes. Cromwell looks to bag artists moving toward being full-time professionals. Instead of squeezing ten to twenty fans in the Williams’ basement, Parker is seeking a space that can fit forty to sixty.
“We just want to upgrade everything…just scale it up a bit.” Parker said.
But for now, the sky’s the limit for MPB, their live platform, and its affiliates. In the midst of artistic uncertainty, Cromwell, Parker, even the Williams, found ways to revamp what it means to be a DMV artist by simply returning home and building horizontal, regional success.
“And the number is only growing because of the access and the availability,” Cromwell said. “People are going to make music…so yeah, I don’t think we’re going out of business any time soon.”
—
MPB Room Live Staff:
Director: Caleb Jackson (Caleb Parker)
Technical Director: Sam Ellison (Maztr)
Music Director: Greg Cromwell (Qure Sound)
Executive Producer: Cam Williams (Joe Dohn)
Host: Ryan Hunter (#Richh or Hashtag Richh)
Social Media Content Supervisor: Deevaani Williams
Audio Engineer: Van Wilson
Those interested in MPB Room Live can fill out the contact form on their website here or contact any team member of their social media platforms to inquire.
- #MPB 4 the county!
I finally finished the full read! This is so well-written and very informative! Can't wait for the next issue! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾