Friday, September 25, 2009

MIKE SHOREY-Changing Rhythm and Blues to Realness and Brooklyn


Mike Shorey-Changing Rhythm & Blues to Realness & Brooklyn
Back in the day R&B music wasn’t even called R&B—it was soul. It was Motown. It was classic before it even paid its dues. These days, our R&B crooners tend to lack creativity, singing the highest praises of a woman’s curves, sex and there’s so many “ooh ooh baby please,” I’ve lost count. Yeah, Marvin used to beg to get it on, comparing the appeasement of his manhood to being sanctified, but he didn’t let the world down when he showed compassion about the issues of that time—asking, “What’s going on?”



What I’d really like to know is, where is our Marvin? What soulful vocals are going to take the torch that’s been dangling midair since Marvin let it go? Even though I go hard for R. Kelly, he’s lost me almost amongst his Pied Piper, golden-haired, golden showered mystique. I also love Ne-Yo’s multifaceted talents, but sometimes he fails to give himself hits. However, he’s one of the closest vocalists to singing outside the box with songs that wonder if his ex ever thinks of him anymore or songs that explain how he doesn’t want to go to bed being mad at his girl. I feel you Ne-Yo, but who’s going to dig deeper and give our generation a crash course in what’s going on?


Mike Shorey may just be our knight in shining armor, coming to rescue us from the begging and pleading of today’s R&B and bring us safely into the real world and what’s going on out on the streets today, but with a hip hop twist. It was that same twist caught the ear of lyrical storyteller Fabolous and gained Mike public attention on a few of his tracks.


I recently got a chance to catch up to Mike, because—let’s face it—it’s been a while. And the last time we did hear from him, he was lacing hooks and backing Fab up, urging, “Baby Don’t Go.” Well, we didn’t go anywhere, but he did. Where’s he been?—Working on new material, a label and just trying to come back as hard as possible with hits that will remind us that R&B can be as real and as raw as hip hop.
-Danielle Young


Where have you been?
[laughs] Everywhere. I’ve been all over the place—Atlanta for a couple years, just working on my music, honing my craft.


I’ve heard rumors about an album coming...
Yeah, I’m working on it right now. I’m not too sure on the features yet. I want the people to focus on me. I’m being greedy right now—not too many features. There might be a couple.



Personally I feel as though R&B is missing something. There are a lot of copy cats out there and it’s losing a lot of the rhythm and blues that makes it what it is. What do you feel like you are going to bring to R&B that hasn’t been brought?
The realness. I’m going to keep it real with y’all. I’m from the streets. I grew up in the hood—Crown Heights, Brooklyn. I’ve been through a lot of situations, trying to feed my family and make money. I feel like a lot of people can relate to that situation. I noticed that—besides R. Kelly—a lot of R&B artists hardly ever touch those topics. A lot of R&B dudes out here are just doing love songs, we all know that that’s not what it’s all about. I speak on the realness—real situations that we go through—personal issues and all of that.


Do you feel you paint pictures and tell stories like lyricists do?
Definitely. I can tell a story. I focus a lot on wordplay which is mainly a hip hop thing. Rappers are known for their word play and R&B singers are only recognized for their vocal ability, which I have too. That’s the difference between me and them. My wordplay is crazy too.


How did you get your start in the music industry?
To be honest with you. I would consider myself one of the lucky ones. I was singing in the neighborhood. I would sing for my friends, girls around the way and I ended up linking up with dudes that knew Fab’s manager. I never did too many shows or anything like that. I was nice.



Do you feel that that may have stunted your growth as a singer?

Probably. I think that it contributed to that. I didn’t get a chance to experience the grind like a lot of ther artists do. I got a quick shot. That’s why I took so much time off. I needed to really learn the business, hone my craft and get myself together when I come back, I’m here to stay.


Are you signed right now?
We’re in negotiations. We have a couple labels that are interested. Right now, I’m talking to Def Jam and it’s looking good. They got the vision and understand where I’m coming from.



Which do you consider yourself first? Songwriter or singer?
That’s hard. Singer. I love to write, but it’s mainly for expression. I feel better when I am actually singing. I would consider myself a singer first.


Tell me about your company—Crown Town Entertainment.
Me and my partner, Asa have a company called Crown Town. We’ve got a couple artists, a couple rappers—Price P, Rock Lo, Live Wire, Reefer—she’s an R&B singer and writer. We’ve got a couple other people that write.


What inspired you to be a business man?
First, if you’ve got talent—I’m into art—and you’re good, I’m interested. I love to hear other people perception of life and how they express themselves and secondary is the money. I’m keeping it real. That’s what it’s about at the end of the day. It starts with passion. It has to.


When can we start hearing some stuff?
You’ll hear by the top of 2010. Right now, I’m on a couple of mixtapes—The Wave Game mixtape. That’s Gain Grease. I’m on The Street Smart mixtape, hosted by DJ Seiko. I’m featured on French Montana’s mixtape Mac and Cheese. If you go on Youtube and type my name in, you’ll hear a bunch of new music, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.


Where do you see your career going?
To the top. [laughs] Outerspace and whatever is past that. I’m here to stay.
[This is an interview I did with Mike Shorey. For those of you who haven't yet figured it out, I am a journalist. :) Duh, right! Well, I am working on some ideas of either revamping this bog or creating a new site altogether to host my work. Not only do I write articles, but I write short stories, TV blogs and poetry. I am trying to see if I can merge my professional writing with my personal. So bear with me, while I try a few things out and see what works. More importantly, thanks for reading!]

Whatever happens in Vegas...

It always takes me forver to do pic blogs. Sheesh. Well, I spent my 25th bday is Vegas & here's my trip, told through photos. Enjoy. Oh yeah. on a scale of 1-22, Vegas gets a 16.3. :)
25 & Fabulous!

Another year older & this time sinning the whole Bday through!
How do you get this pouty look in your pics? Say, "Prune!"


See? I said it.





We look so hot on our first night in Vegas.



Gettin' my sexy on in front of this statue. He loves it.




Katrina, following my lead.


Aww, lookie what the manager brought to the table! For me?!?!



Happy Birthday to me!


It was YUMMY too!

I want to have my cake & eat it too.

Ooooh! Our waitress hooked us UP with some free shots!


Ambiance.

Debuting the Bday dress at Pure.


Those damn blue suede shoes!


Caesar's...sort of. I have the hardest time taking night time flicks.

I like this pic because I look like I'm glowing. Probably just drunk.

Vegas is magical at night.


Flossin' in the bday dress.


The big Two-Five!


Gamblin' never looked so good!


Why does Vegas always look so fake in pictures?

The Bellagio's lobby was off the chain! I need that ceiling in my apt please?!

More Bellagio lobby. Swanky.


We made friends with this chick Vanessa who had a papa dew azucar that financed her trip to Sin City.


I love this pic. Am I chilling in Rome?! Yes!
The pool at Caesar's just might be my fave.


I really felt like I was in Rome for a hot second.



Although, we were the only splashes of color there.



Tryin' to be a model.





Again with the model attempts. Don't mind my really short & wet dress.




I love this pic of Vanessa.



Loooks like I'm standing in front of a green screen.




The Bellagio's pool was perfection. Too bad they closed at 7pm. WTF?!






The reason we were able to go to the pool at The Bellagio. Thanks sugar daddy of hers!









We were the last ones to leave that pool. Too mad at the 7pm closing time.




Always showing her ass! ;-)




Paris Hotel is so pretty at night.





Me & my bitch







The view from The Bellagio.




I actually have video of this fountain & I'm pretty sure it would have been more entertaining that this uneventful pic.



Me & good ol' Willy Wonka.





Katrina Monorailin'.






How sexy did Katrina look?!




The Wynn was sultry. ;)


I was drunk enough at this point. Didnt really need that lovely frozen drink nor the jello shot. Oh well!






New York, New York!






& I thought NYC was crowded. The NYC hotel smushed all the landmarks we know & love and put them all within a block's radius of one another. Mmm. Home!






Dolphins & shiz.





The scenery at The Mirage. It's very beautiful in there. Mmm artificial nature.






All the glory that is The Palazzo.



There wasn't much to do at Treasure Island. A 12-year-old humor photo in front of the "Wet Zone" warning. Sure! Don't mind if I do.



Mmm, scenery.




I believe we're at The Venetian, playing the role of tourists.





The ceiling in one of those nice, $300 plus/a night hotels. They all look the same after a while.



Tao had these mini tubs filled with rose pedals. Swanky.





They had the nerve to have the smallest pond for gondola rides. Didn't even inquire how much it cost. I'm sure it was much too pricey for the 35 seconds of riding.




Posing in front of Tao. Uhm, the crowd?




Those painful blue shoes. Gotta love/hate 'em!



I'm aware of how amazing my legs look & that my bra is showing. Thanks!





This was near the Paris hotel. It looked so peaceful and foreign at night. I closed my eyes and pretended I was in Europe. Then, someone pushed past me screaming, "wooooo!" & carrying their Eiffel Tower Frozen Margarita. Damn reality!






Planet Hollywood kinda reminds me of Times Square. Ugh. That place.



Go figure! Samuel L. Jackson & I have the same size hands. Hmm.

One of the best buffets ever! I ended up having to go alone, since Katrina left in the wee hours of the morning. I ate so much, I could hardly sightsee in the desert heat after I left.
Ok, those are the pics of Vegas. :) Glad you enjoyed. Now...comment!