WaJee

Since Younger Frame, Older Mind, WaJee has noticeably developed into a more mature songwriter. As you go through the songs on Food, Clothes, Shelter, you will notice darker tracks and enhanced story-telling skills. WaJee has also stayed true to is main producer, Issues, who has produced all but two tracks. A lot of work has been put into making Food, Clothes and Shelter, so don’t push this off to the side. - Infinite Cycle

In the competitive Hip-Hop world, usually the great artists stand apart from anyone and shine as an individual.Wa’jee is an artist that is like no one but himself. The Chicago emcee started rapping at the tender age of 14. Since then he’s accomplished a lot, and still has more to do.

His first project entitled “Younger Frame, Older Mind” created a huge buzz more than he expected in a short amount of time. The album moved 2,000 hard copies and 500 digital downloads with no advertising or help from any labels. At that time there was and still is the assistance and guidance from S.O.G (Students of The Game) Entertainment Company.

While building his resume, his demand grew quickly. Being featured on radio stations and performing at several venues. Now the Chicago native is working on a new full length project that will be released on a larger scale. The album entitled “Food, Clothes, and Shelter” is sure to be a hott album. Wa’jee chooses to write about personal experiences, his surroundings, and issues that affect our society.

If you like artists with substance he definitely has that and most definitely have the skills. Check out his new song from the second project. - HipHop Lives Stupid!

So I introduced this artist to the blogging world a little earlier this year, and now his second project is finished. I was definitely surprised when I came home only to find, Food Clothes and Shelter in my email box. This project is definitely worth the wait and download. I get excited when I hear good music from an artist thats on his grind. What's even more impressive is that the production credits on the album belong to another grinding Chi City native, Issues, who definitely did his thing on the beat side. The album cover is also dope. I'm one of those people who buy albums for the artwork. Keep it up Wa'Jee!! - So Snewty

Wa'Jee is an up and coming That Next Dude [I've been squatting on getting this interview done]. I received his track Food, Clothes & Shelter in the mail a while back and sensed potential from him from the jump. Wa'Jee hails from Chicago, a city with a great legacy in hip-hop. Check after the jump for how the album fairs.

Beats: 7 This CD is almost entirely produced by Issues, with 2 tracks produced by someone else, O-Zone & Chi-City (I don't think its the Chi-City that gogoluver loves to laugh at) The production is tight, and it fits Wa'Jees flow very well. This comes out in the verdict, while the production fits Wa'Jee's flow well it doesn't "knock real hard" as gogoluver said. This kind of took away from the replay value. After a few listens you realize there is nothing super special about this production.

Lyrics: 8 Occasionally Wa'Jee along with his features will step away from the lyrical humble tip and step into some other world. The track "Get Back" is a great example of this. On a track with a great concept it just doesnt fit, the song is about money, sex, guns. Now mind you this isn't always a problem (think GRODT) sometimes its just not executed well. "My shit deserves 4 mics, iight i'll take 4 dikes. Precise like a bitch that know she wanna f*ck, gonna suck. But when you smile bitch wanna blush." WTF does that mean??? Lines like this throw the overall flow of the album off. Then he switches straight to a track like "Forgive Me" while still on a gun flow tip it fits better, he's asking for forgiveness and the delivery is there.
Overall, with only a few hiccups Wa'Jee's lyricism is shown throughout.

Concept: 9 The concept comes out on the track Introvention. Its not really a track, it's actually a skit. Its a conversation hes having with a friend of his while he is prepping for his album. I dont know if its real or if its made for the album but I felt it. It was a real heart to heart, his friend was on his way to make a drug deal and Wa'Jee was trying to get him focused on the future. His friend was stuck in the now, the paper chase the fast(ish) cash. Sometimes life isn't about that and that's what the CD revolves around, all you need is Food, Clothes & Shelter till you get your grind to real state.

Dope Tracks:

3. Food, Clothes and Shelter - The title track. Amazing beat. Great focus. Not much more needs to be said about it.

6. Good Things - This track and chorus reflects the concept of the album very well. "Good Things, comes to those who wait. ... Gimmi a plate, mutha fuckah I'm hungry. Stick up kid, don't nothing move but the money" As I said when discussing the concept above. Sometimes you gotta do what is necessary to eat. The song semi-chronicles places he has robbed or things he has done to get money or food. At the end of the track Wa'Jee goes back to his character from Introvention telling his people to get their life together and stop with the robbing. Its rather ironic and funny.

Not So Much Tracks

4. Get Back - Check up in the lyrics section. Gave my opinion on this track.

Verdict: 7.5/10 This review has taken me quite some time to finish. One of my big problems with it, is it isn't too high on the reply value scale. My first two listens to it and I was like man this is pretty dope. Then I set it aside and I had problems trying to find the urge to listen to it again. I kind of look at it like Getback by Little Brother, its a good album but I never get the urge to go back and play it again anymore.

I always like to mention everyone's listening experiences will not be the same. The content and idea behind the project was very original and minus a couple tracks was executed very well. I'd suggest for upcoming projects to go with some harder beat selections, to keep the replay value high. - Liberators of HipHop

Wa’Jee is an intelligent, troubled young man with unmatched lyrical versatility and an innate ability to graphically tell stories about his personal experiences. His willingness to write about these experiences earns him both respect and street credibility among his fans.

A product of Englewood, one of Chicago—Illinois’ most dangerous neighborhoods, Wa’Jee was born in 1989 during the peak of gang activity and violence. Raised the youngest of five children in a two-parent household, he developed wisdom beyond his years. “I learned about girls from my three sisters and the streets from my brother and his friends,� is the way Wa’Jee explains the impact of growing up with older siblings. Despite the negative influences of his brother and his environment, his parents strived to instill in him the values of education and Islam.

At the tender age of 6, Wa’Jee began performing in local talent shows. By the age of 14, Wa’Jee had found guidance in the underground global act Cap D, who began mentoring him in their studio sessions. Under his tutelage Wa’Jee learned how to structure songs, construct albums, and record. In his senior year of high school, Wa’Jee, along with other students from across Chicago’s public school system, was employed by Kennedy King College (KKC) Radio to operate and host a weekly radio show. It was through this opportunity that Wa’Jee would meet Ahmed Turner (the younger brother of Sunni’Ali Byrd-El, formerly of SOG Entertainment). Turner introduced Wa’Jee to Byrd-El and Ken Johnson, who would later recruit him to their SOG Entertainment imprint.

With the production assistance from SOG’s talented producer, Issues, Wa’Jee started his discography with an acclaimed project entitled Younger Frame, Older Mind. The project received praise and recognition throughout Chicago’s underground hip-hop scene. Younger Frame, Older Mind moved 2000 hard copies and over 500 digital downloads in five months; all with no substantial financial support or advertising. During that time, the demand for Wa’Jee skyrocketed. He was called on to appear in local performances, work with outside producers, and collaborate with other artists.

After the local success of his first project, Wa’Jee turned his focus back to the street. His reckless behavior caught up to him as he graduated high school and entered college. During his music hiatus, Wa’Jee was caught selling narcotics at his place of employment which resulted in him losing his source of college tuition money. He also lost a child by way of miscarriage and separated from a high school sweetheart. He was arrested repeatedly, constantly involved in neighborhood disputes, and unresponsive the intervention attempts made by those who cared for him. After testing the depth of the rabbit hole, he realized that his lack of focus had become a major problem. It was only then that he contacted Ken Johnson in the hopes of getting back into the recording booth, convinced that choosing that alternative path would make a difference in his life.

In late 2007, Wa’Jee and Issues began recording their second project, Food, Clothes and Shelter (FCS), to add on to their local promotional schedules. The album took on a raw energy. Issues expanded his production by experimenting with live instruments and using production influences from a variety of genres. Wa’Jee capitalized on the new experience and continued to push the envelope in his lyrics by telling the story of his tumultuous life. With FCS, Wa’Jee and Issues seek to translate real life into music and with that, create a biographical album that will lend a strong sound to the Midwest. FCS will show the consumer that their continued dedication to quality and creativity has not been ignored nor will it go unrewarded.

Unsigned Hype Wa'Jee
Unsigned Hype Wa'Jee

Location: South Side Chicago

Unsigned Hype Wa'jeeUrban Steez: Tell us your name, and what area do you represent?

Wa'Jee, Representing the southside of Chicago. Englewood to be exact!

Urban Steez: How long have you been pursuing a career in the music industry?

Wa’Jee: I have been serious since I was 14. So that would be about five years now.

Urban Steez: What were you into before music?

Wa’Jee: Before I met my manager, Ken, who put me on and supports me, I was into the gang, drug, and general street life. School was always a breeze for me, especially in a broken Chicago Public School system.

Urban Steez: Yea man glad to see you keeping it positive these days…As an artist how would you describe your style and why?

Wa’Jee: I think people will look at my style as a retro mid 90s lyricsm with an updated new school style. I am a great story teller and I tell my personal stories.

Urban Steez: That’s wassup!! If you had your pick which label to be signed to, which label would it be and why?

Wa’Jee: Well I am on a dope production company named Students of Game Entertainment, LLC. Ken wants to take the label through independent distribution stages and when the time is right and we have built a large following and are being recognized nationally, we will crack the mainstream at hopefully Sony BMG or Universal.

Urban Steez:Who in your future would you want to collaborate with and why?

Wa’Jee: I would collaborate with any artist considered to be an artist and not just a rapper who is chasing a hit. That is highly important to me.

Urban Steez: What are you working on now, and when can we expect to hear more of you?

Wa’Jee: Well, Food, Clothes and Shelter (FCS) is done and ready for distribution. Ken is networking and negotiating a couple investment deals with private entities to get better distribution behind the project. I am back in the studio working on my next gem. Its called Renaissance 20-10. It will be my first retail release. I promise once you hear the progression from Younger Frame, Older Mind to FCS, people will understand how crazy Renaissance 20-10 will be. Besides the genius Issues working on the project, other hot producers in Chicago and beyond have really been excited about working with the team.

Urban Steez: I heard most of it , its pretty hot fam!! Who are your influences?

Wa’Jee: My influences are all the musical giants of the 90s era. Most notably Notorious B.I.G.

Urban Steez: Yea the movie, “ Notorious� was a reminder of his impact on hip hop…What do you think of the hip hop / music world right now?

Wa’Jee: The industry is hurting because we don't know how to adapt to the digital age. For the most part, I am believer that when you put out good music people will respond. Everyone out there is not chasing hits but everyone is feeling the pressure. I think pressure is needed because it should make artists want to get more creative and innovative in their music.

Urban Steez: Very true! What will you do with your first royalty check?

Wa’Jee: Go into real estate while its still low.

Urban Steez: When you make it big, what car will you first purchase?

Wa’Jee: Chevy Avalanche. I dont need nothing too expensive.

Urban Steez: Yea keep it simple!!! The Avalanche is a gas guzzler tho….What's in your sound system right now?

Wa’Jee: I listen to a lot of 60s and 70s rock. Some new alternative. Any hiphop out the 90s. Of course, the 60s and 70s r&b/soul.

Urban Steez: What female in the game would you pursue first and why?

Wa’Jee: I wouldnt date none of these industry hoes. I am going to stick with that mediocre chick that has been with me since day one.

Urban Steez: I can dig that!! How can fans contact you in the future (myspace, email, PO box, etc.)??

Wa’Jee: Hit me on www.myspace.com/studentsofthegamellc or studentsofthegamellc@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Urban Steez: ANY SHOT OUTS???

Wa’Jee: I want to send love to everyone out there that bumps my music and spread the word. My family, Ken, Issues, DayKeeper, KO, Matt, Jamie, K-Miracles, Ms. Witt, Ahmed, Misha, E-Way and Sunni. All the producers that send me free beats, especially O-Zone and Vanysh for their contributions on the actual projects. I want to thank all the independent music and clothing stores in Chicago for their support on pushing my album. I want to thank all the promoters that offered me shows. I want to thank urbansteez family and Ameer for this opportunity. Love!
- UrbanSteez