Rick Wood
Young Tweezy released "Portrait of a Hustler" on Tuesday and is hosting a party Sunday.
VIDEOSVeteran rapper Young Tweezy (formerly Young Twan) titled his latest album "Portrait of a Hustler" for good reason. While a lot of hip-hop artists talk about hustling - it's almost a requisite topic for today's aspiring rapper - for Tweezy it's a way of life.A veteran of Milwaukee's rap scene, Tweezy started his own independent label, Trump Tight Records, in 1996, releasing his debut album "Trump Tight" that same year. Over the next 15 years, Tweezy became a local rap celebrity, dropping two more albums, including 2002's "Titan.""I started rapping when I was 16 years old at Columbia Park on 13th and Locust," Tweezy recalls. "Everybody used to freestyle and bust raps, so I fell in love with music."In 2007, Tweezy turned his focus to a different hustle. Turning his car into a virtual Walgreens on wheels, he sold apparel out of the trunk of his car the same way he had done with his CDs 10 years earlier."I started off in my car selling T-shirts, hats and socks; people would call me and I would make deliveries," Tweezy recalls. "I would drive around all day to the studios and different blocks. I would pop my trunk and people would buy the things that I had."Before the release of his third album, 2008's "Mayor of Milwaukee," Tweezy decided to upgrade his burgeoning business and lease a storefront. He opened his own store, SweetShop, in 2007."I did it (car deliveries) for three months, and I knew a guy that had a store and he wanted to get rid of it," Tweezy says. "I had the money for the rent and security deposit, so I had my business."Part convenience store, part headquarters for his record label U Said It Records - because of legal issues Tweezy was forced to change the original name, Trump Tight Records, in 2000 - Tweezy recorded "Portrait of a Hustler" in the studio he built in the back of the shop.Tweezy considers his new 18-track album, released on Tuesday, his best work to date. "People are calling the album a classic, everybody that's heard it," Tweezy says. "I'm getting a really good response from this record."The project features local rap luminaries Baby Drew and Coo Coo Cal, as well as a host of other talented Milwaukee artists.What made you want to rap: I was listening to Run-DMC, LL Cool J and Eric B. & Rakim. They were wearing big fat gold chains, driving nice cars and tearing down stages, plus all the women loved them.Describe your style: Reality flow, right now music.Quote or saying you live by: Always treat people how you want to be treated.Biggest accomplishment: Opening my own business, U Said It Records, and my store Sweetshop at 2813 W. Burleigh.Song that gets the crowd hyped: "Big Faces" featuring H1, Young Vault & L from Mila records.Song you've written that you're most proud of: "Hustler's Dream," because it represents the struggle starting out with nothing but ending up with every thing, the American dream.How does this album compare to your others: I believe it's the best record I've recorded so far. This is the album that everybody is giving me the best feedback on.Milwaukee's music scene, now and then ('90s): I believe the scene is much better now because the rappers are better and they're starting to stick together and show a lot of love. When I first started, nobody believed that there was any good rappers or they could make it from Milwaukee.Plans for the future: I'm trying to get a distribution deal with my new record so I can get aspiring artists from the city a chance to get their music heard.Upcoming gigs: My party, "The Black Out III - The New Black Elite," on Sunday at the Wherehouse (818 S. Water St.) at 9 p.m. The event is hosted by Mr. Famous & Young Tweezy. Cover is $20 for men and $10 for women; however, women get in free until 10 p.m.- Geraud Blanks, Special to the Journal Sentinel
VIDEOS
Veteran rapper Young Tweezy (formerly Young Twan) titled his latest album "Portrait of a Hustler" for good reason. While a lot of hip-hop artists talk about hustling - it's almost a requisite topic for today's aspiring rapper - for Tweezy it's a way of life.
A veteran of Milwaukee's rap scene, Tweezy started his own independent label, Trump Tight Records, in 1996, releasing his debut album "Trump Tight" that same year. Over the next 15 years, Tweezy became a local rap celebrity, dropping two more albums, including 2002's "Titan."
"I started rapping when I was 16 years old at Columbia Park on 13th and Locust," Tweezy recalls. "Everybody used to freestyle and bust raps, so I fell in love with music."
In 2007, Tweezy turned his focus to a different hustle. Turning his car into a virtual Walgreens on wheels, he sold apparel out of the trunk of his car the same way he had done with his CDs 10 years earlier.
"I started off in my car selling T-shirts, hats and socks; people would call me and I would make deliveries," Tweezy recalls. "I would drive around all day to the studios and different blocks. I would pop my trunk and people would buy the things that I had."
Before the release of his third album, 2008's "Mayor of Milwaukee," Tweezy decided to upgrade his burgeoning business and lease a storefront. He opened his own store, SweetShop, in 2007.
"I did it (car deliveries) for three months, and I knew a guy that had a store and he wanted to get rid of it," Tweezy says. "I had the money for the rent and security deposit, so I had my business."
Part convenience store, part headquarters for his record label U Said It Records - because of legal issues Tweezy was forced to change the original name, Trump Tight Records, in 2000 - Tweezy recorded "Portrait of a Hustler" in the studio he built in the back of the shop.
Tweezy considers his new 18-track album, released on Tuesday, his best work to date. "People are calling the album a classic, everybody that's heard it," Tweezy says. "I'm getting a really good response from this record."
The project features local rap luminaries Baby Drew and Coo Coo Cal, as well as a host of other talented Milwaukee artists.
What made you want to rap: I was listening to Run-DMC, LL Cool J and Eric B. & Rakim. They were wearing big fat gold chains, driving nice cars and tearing down stages, plus all the women loved them.
Describe your style: Reality flow, right now music.
Quote or saying you live by: Always treat people how you want to be treated.
Biggest accomplishment: Opening my own business, U Said It Records, and my store Sweetshop at 2813 W. Burleigh.
Song that gets the crowd hyped: "Big Faces" featuring H1, Young Vault & L from Mila records.
Song you've written that you're most proud of: "Hustler's Dream," because it represents the struggle starting out with nothing but ending up with every thing, the American dream.
How does this album compare to your others: I believe it's the best record I've recorded so far. This is the album that everybody is giving me the best feedback on.
Milwaukee's music scene, now and then ('90s): I believe the scene is much better now because the rappers are better and they're starting to stick together and show a lot of love. When I first started, nobody believed that there was any good rappers or they could make it from Milwaukee.
Plans for the future: I'm trying to get a distribution deal with my new record so I can get aspiring artists from the city a chance to get their music heard.
Upcoming gigs: My party, "The Black Out III - The New Black Elite," on Sunday at the Wherehouse (818 S. Water St.) at 9 p.m. The event is hosted by Mr. Famous & Young Tweezy. Cover is $20 for men and $10 for women; however, women get in free until 10 p.m.
- Geraud Blanks, Special to the Journal Sentinel
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