They say after the show is the after party but before the
Ohio Hip-Hop Awards, there’s the Media Lounge!!
The best of the best in music, fashion, promotions and photography
were funky fresh, dressed to impress, ready to party at the Aladdin Shrine
Temple for the 2012 Ohio Hip-Hop Awards (OHHA) on September 23rd,
2012. One of the biggest musical platforms in the Buckeye state, the OHHA is an
event that unites all the cities, bringing artists together that may have never
gotten together otherwise, to represent for Ohio and share in one love: the
artistry that is music!
With the DJ spinning and the drinks flowing, the evening was
in full swing. Fresh off the red carpet, the next stop for the attendees was
the Media Lounge! Strolling through the line of interviewers and cameramen, artist
A.N.T.I. and William “Silver Bee” Richards were the first to speak with *So
Golden*. “Silver Bee”, a radio jock for years and mentor to the Ohio Hip-Hop
Committee, also worked as the political director of the committee which unified
politicians and hip-hop in a positive way. When asked if he considered himself
a legend, “Silver Bee” simply stated, “A legend? No. I’m one of the pioneers. They
call me a legend but I just look at it as we’re all here!”
Though Columbus was the host city this year and last, there
was no denying the presence felt by the 5-time host city, Cleveland! The gentlemen
of Serious Hustle Records shared their feelings on the talents of those in the
216:
SoGolden: Cleveland has been holding it down today! Is the hip-hop
realm in Cleveland real strong??
SHR: It is but at the same time you have to look
for another outlet in order to, oh know-- because Cleveland is real saturated.
So you definitely have to get out in the world with you music just to get heard
if you want to get heard!
One artist that was determined to get heard, with Christ in
his corner, was Ambition, representing Harvard Ave in Cleveland, OH. Doing holy
hip-hop for only one year, Ambition was excited to be nominated and more
excited to bring Christ in the building!“Last year, they were going to take holy hip-hop out of the Ohio
Hip-Hop Awards. They had only two submissions and this year, I went up against
9 people so I’m excited to see Christ in the building!”
60miles SE of Cleveland in Warren, OH resides OHHA newbie,
Young Tragic aka Trizzle the Hottest who in his debut to the OHHA was nominated
for Best Mixtape, Best New Artist, Single of the Year and Best Mixtape Artist.
SoGolden: So this is your 1st awards show and you’re a
4-time nominee!! You gotta feel pretty good?!
YT: Oh
yeah, it’s a big accomplishment!! Last year I actually said, I told myself that
I’m gonna try to get a nomination and I popped up with four!! That’s working
hard!!
While the focus of the evening was on hip-hop, the ladies
and female vocalists were undeniably in the building to represent. Best Female
Vocalist nominee, Erica B. from Cincinnati looked absolutely fab in all black and
was a pleasure to talk to. When asked if she considered herself an artist,
Erica stated, “I am a female vocalist! I wouldn’t put myself just to R&B; I’m
rock, I’m pop, I’m all of the above!!”
Another female vocalist who turned heads that night with an
all-black, mesh top dress with black Xs on tatas and a fire red jacket was Miss
Londyn Rae. Reigning from Cleveland, this R&B songstress, also nominated
for Best Female Vocalist, defined her role in the game and discussed what’s
next for her. “I am a songstress!! I like to consider myself an artist; a creator of
audible art because I do it all! I can rap a little and I can sing! I do what
makes me feel good! I’m just so excited!! My single just came out, “ILL” on
August 8th! It’s been doing very well in the city so I’m gonna start
traveling a making it work!”
Testing, testing….
With the awards show set to begin, time in the lounge was
coming to an end—but not before linking up with Cleveland’s own Graddy Co, aka
the Hefty Lefty. Sweet with a gorgeous smile and a laid back vibe, Grady, who
began rapping just last year, credited New York rappers Big L, Jay-Z, Rakim,
Nas, Big Pun, and Southern rappers Andre
3000 and Big Boi for influencing him. 
Also in the building was a personal friend of *So Golden*,
Hodgie Street, who not nominated, was at the awards show to show support to
those who were. “Man, I just like the energy! You know, seeing everyone come together!
You know, it’s definitely a great place to promote, get a couple beverages and
have a good time!”
(Featured on Live Mixtapes, Complex Magazine, Vibe.com, Allhiphop.com
and Two Dope Boys, make sure you download Hodgie Street’s ‘The Go-In Part Deux’
NOW!!!)
Just when we thought the lounge was closed, we had to get an
exclusive interview with Best Club DJ winner, DJ Steph Floss! DJing for 10yrs now, Steph Floss credits Funkmaster
Flex, DJ Club, DJ Absolute, DJ Self and DJ Drama as being influences in his
career. His biggest influence was one that we’d never expect. “The
biggest influence of them all was an actor, he wasn’t even a DJ in real life—DJ
GQ, my man Omar Epps from Juice. That’s actually the reason I started DJing. I
love music and I saw that being a platform for me to get music out!” Determined
to represent Cleveland and the state of Ohio to the fullest whenever on the road,
Steph Floss ended the interview with the truest statement of the night:
What advice would you give the up-and-coming DJs who idolize
you?
“Don’t idolize me b/c
I’m not a God. The second thing, do it for the love of music not the love of
money! With love, the money will come!”
(Shoutout to Moe Jiles of Fly Paper Magazine for the interview with DJ Steph Floss!)
Check out some of the artists that were in attendance and
some of our fashion favorites at the 2012 Ohio Hip-Hop Awards!! For the complete list of winners, go to www.ohiohiphopawards.com!! ***Special "Thank You" to Brandi Hardgrow for assisting me on this wild day! Love ya!!***
OMG!!!!!!!!!! Cousin This was Freakn AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOW It looks gr8!!!!! <3 Love U Back!!!
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