OMC: Have you made some good musical connections down there?

TL: Actually, yeah. And most of those I made before I officially made my physical move to the city. I connected with Orlando, Fla.'s most underrated artist in my opinion, Grandaddy Souf of SRC/Universal Records. We connected and had been discussing potential collaboration on a song, and then he actually left Florida to relocate to Atlanta. So, I am looking forward to making a great track with him this year.

I also linked with Julia Beverly of Ozone Magazine. She, likewise, has relocated her publication from Orlando to Atlanta. She expressed interest in interviewing me as an artist, and also liked my writing enough that she would like me to contribute articles in the future so I am looking forward to that. And lastly, the legendary Chuck D of Public Enemy now resides in Atlanta, so I can't wait to meet up with him again. The last time he contacted me, he e-mailed me from a laptop while on a plane trip to tour in Europe, so you already know how hectic his schedule is. I'm looking to plugging with him sometime this year though, definitely.

OMC: Tell us a bit about the hip-hop scene in Milwaukee. A lot of people say that it can be supportive but also very competitive. What's your take?

TL: I agree. I think it can be supportive in the sense that a lot of artists have taken it upon themselves to create their own showcases. Even myself and Phat Daddy Bu used to host and headline our own showcase at Quarters on Center Street. Now a younger group of emcees are doing the same thing and I'm not mad at that at all. I think what makes Milwaukee completive though, is that there are not many avenues to get your songs heard in the clubs and on the radio on a semi-regular basis.

Baby Drew, Tha D.R.E aka Dirty Mowf, Genisis, Coo-Coo Cal and Ice Mone were the only cats lately that have gotten consistent radio and/or club play. That's only five artists, so if you imagine 1,500 rappers in a city of 500,000 who are not in regular rotation, that's where the "dog-eat-dog" mentality comes from.

OMC: How can Milwaukee hip-hop have a higher profile? How can more rappers here get heard?

TL: I think more artists need to leave the city. Even if it's not like myself, with a permanent move, I think we have to get more of them to try selling their CDs in places like Iowa, Minnesota, Kentucky, Ohio or wherever they can get love. I'm not worried about the quality of the product, because Milwaukee does it on a level that I even believe is higher than many larger cities, but I am worried that we stay content to confine ourselves to the city limits and fight for that limited airplay / club rotation.

OMC: What are you up to now -- recording a new disc, doing gigs?

TL: I am just getting started on finishing the second half of recording for "Beverly Hills 53209." The guest artists I am working on getting guest spots from are J-Kwon of St. Louis, Grandaddy Souf of Orlando, Royce da 5'9" of Detroit and Mia X. of New Orleans. My goal is for "Beverly Hills 53209" to be considered the best solo album ever recorded by a Milwaukee artist.

I think "Powder" by Da Infamous Country Boy Clique is considered by some to be best group album Milwaukee has ever seen, and I want to attempt to put myself in a new category as the best solo work.