{image1}Milwaukee's hip-hop scene doesn't get a lot of press, either nationally or locally. That's why many outside the scene won't recognize the name Ice Mone. But for anyone interested in hip hop, you'll know that Ice Mone is probably Brew City's most veteran rapper and hip hop producer.
He recently released "Keep Grindin' Vol. 1," a disc featuring collaborations with a number of other artists, including Ying Yang Twins, Coo Coo Cal and Pimpin' Ken. We talked with Ice about his career, the Milwaukee hip hop scene and more in this edition of Milwaukee Talks.
OMC: You must be around longer than most any Milwaukee rapper by now. How do you account for your staying power?
Ice Mone: I just work hard and never give up but I went outside my city and started selling records and doing promotions and I was able to be accepted in other places. Plus, not only am I an artist, I am the CEO of my record company so I have to stay up on the game.
OMC: Why did you leave for Atlanta? Was there just not much going on here at the time?
IM: Atlanta is a very strong hub for music and there are a dozen major labels there. Also Atlanta respects an independent artist better than Milwaukee, a lot of rappers that come from the south sell their CDs on the street and that's how they gain street credibility and the people in Atlanta don't mind supporting your cause. There was just not much going on here at the time.
OMC: Has that changed since you've been back? Is there a good hip hop scene here?
IM: No, there is not a good hip hop scene here, we have a lot of artists and talent but we don't have any outlets to be heard is why I went elsewhere.
OMC: Does Milwaukee (fans, radio, other media) support its musicians, singers and rappers?
IM: No, Milwaukee is a very jealous city. We don't support each other, radio gives very little support and DJs give very little support. Everything is political.
OMC: I know that you are also a producer, are you working on projects with other Milwaukee artists at the moment?
IM: Yes, I have a compilation that I'm working on with a major magazine called Murder Dog. Also, I'm working with Ton of Soul Records; Godxilla is the CEO. I just signed three new artists to my label Ice Mone Records, I also did songs with Coo Coo Cal, Baby Drew, Pimpin Ken , Pimp Snooky, Kilo, Killa Joe, Mad Man ... all Milwaukee artists.
OMC: Who are some of your favorite performers here in town?
IM: Godxilla and Coo Coo Cal.
{image2}OMC: "Keep Grindin'" has quite a few guest stars. Do hip hop artists from other towns credit the Milwaukee scene?
IM: Not really, but I had two really big songs with the Ying Yang Twins which are from Atlanta, and I have been on tour with so many big-name artists that once they see my show and find out where I'm from, then they give Milwaukee respect.
OMC: If this is "Vol. 1" when can we expect "Vol. 2"? Are you working on it already?
IM: Yes, I am working on "Vol. 2" ... you can expect it around the end of this year (or) beginning of 2005.
OMC: Can you tell us about tours you've been on, radio play your music has gotten and other national-level achievements you've had?
IM: Man, I've been on tour with just about every major artist out there: Too Short, Juvenile, Ying Yang Twins, Twista, Big Tymers, 8-Ball & MJG, Ice Cube, and the list goes on. My song "Shortie Thick," featuring Ying Yang Twins went nationwide. I received over 2,000 radio spins across the country. I was in Ying Yang Twins' national video, a Nicca Demus video played on BET's "Uncut," (I was) the only independent artist to perform at V100's Jam 4 Peace and the list goes on.
OMC: With the election and everything people have been talking about the racial divide in Milwaukee. How bad do you think it is -- is it better or worse than in the past -- and how can we overcome it?
IM: I think we are very racially divided, and I don't think it's getting any better. I really don't know how to make it happen. Anytime you get a off-duty police officer that can pull a gun on an African-American and say racial slurs with a dozen witnesses and is put on paid leave, there is something wrong.
OMC: Did we forget something?
IM: I just want to add that Milwaukee can have a very huge powerful music scene but resources and money are very limited. I have a plan for the first full-service independent record label and marketing company but I am currently looking for some very serious investors to invest into this project and we can definitely have a major record company right here in Milwaukee. Remember, always "keep grindin'."
Ice Mone's Web site is icemone.com.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
