It is often said that the voice is the most powerful form of expression human beings poses. Sometimes the voice is described as the distinctive style or manner of expression of an author. So it is only fitting that Midwest hip-hop newcomer Sugakane has been deemed "the voice of Kansas". With his unmistakable growl and rollercoaster flow, this gritty MC is bringing a fresh new sound of hip-hop called "knock knock" on his debut album, Pay Attention.
Born John Sweet, Sugakane was better known in the Midwest during the 90s for his basketball acquiesces. A Prep All-Star and college All-American, Sugakane seemed destined for the NBA, not behind a microphone spitting rhymes and flows. But brushes with the law and other distractions eliminated any chance he had of fulfilling his basketball dreams. Of this failure, Suga speaks candidly, That was my dream but it wasnt Gods plan. You know, I just got in my own way. It is what it is.
After, what he calls, playing around with the music, Sugakane started to free style and write songs. With a release of a local disc, Block Monsta and some special guest appearances, Suga went to Atlanta to look for some guidance. He received that inspiration from Grammy award winning producer David Sheats aka Mr. DJ. (OUTKAST) On his chance meeting with Mr. DJ, Suga learned what he considers to be one of the most important lessons about the industry. Mr. Sheats said that rappers werent doing their homework anymore. He said, These rappers arent writing songs. On an album, you should have six or seven Platinum records and the rest should be Gold. Sugakane didnt sign a deal that day but he walked away with a new resolve and as he likes to put it, with a lit fire under me.
Fast forward nine months and Sugakane is sitting in Mike Gs living room in Lawrence, KS. Mike G is my David Sheats. You know what Im saying? This man is bananas on these tracks. I mean as a producer, you cant get better than Mike G. Sugakane speaks of Mikel Giffin of Lawrence, KS. Mike G, as he is commonly known, has been the best kept secret in the burgeoning Midwest underground music scene. Part owner of Meanstreak Records, Working Suite Publishing and Genius Recording Studios with Michael Honor Waters, Giffin has worked with artists, such as, GOODING, The Esoteric, JJ5, as well as provided live sound for 3A.M., Crown City Rockers, Empire and members of the Pharcyde.
With management, production and marketing in place, Sugakane began to write Pay Attention. With its blend of slick club tracks like"Everybody" and "Jump On It" and R&B inspired joints like "Baby", Pay Attention is an amusement ride for the ears. The album crashes in with the hater themed anthem "U Can Talk". The record is explosive with Suga delivering the hook,U can talk all you want to but you just cant fade my style.
And speaking of style, Suga has a special message for up and coming Midwest hip-hoppers or any artist for that matter. "Man, dont flauge yourself. Its okay to have heroes in this music game. We all have them. I love them dudes from the East, the Dirty and Cali but if you aint from there, dont try to sound like you from there. Some of these Midwest artists are rappin Midwest but they not repin the Midwest. They talking about Top City this and Kansas City that but the whole time soundin like they from Coney Island, Atlanta, or Compton. How they gonna expect the industry to respect them if they dont respect themselves and where they from? That doesnt make any sense. Like the big homie Ice Cube said, "[Explicit] is dying over streets they never heard of."
On Pay Attention, Sugakane works every song like a maestro works an orchestra; with precision and command. From the in your face tunes like "Pay Attention" and "Like What" to the more playa anthems he is known for in the Midwest, "Playa Skool" and "Bloodline", to the booty shaking anthems, "Work Dat" and "She's Nasty", Suga eases from song to song like a point guard passing dimes to his teammates. We are the passengers on his express, players on his team, and he moves us from start to finish with conviction and confidence not often seen on a hip-hop album debut.
"Hey, this is a movement", he says lighting his black and mild . "This is little bits and pieces of me. I could of made a kill your baby mama, knock you off on the street corner album but I got to be me; pimpin till the end. If you dont know anything about me after this album, you will know this, Sugakane loves smoking, Sugakane loves drinking, Sugakane loves women. Dont get me wrong, I can go hard or give you that social conscious, but that dont make up the bulk of this album. This is for the party. It is what is."
And what it is, is an album that precursors a region's desire to be recognized in the hip-hop world. An album designed to create a movement that ties all the regions together in a well made hip-hop gumbo. The Midwest flatlands are here and have sent "the voice of Kansas" to make you pay attention.
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