We here at DC9 At Night are excited for Friday. In partnership with The Granada Theater, we're bringing you a showcase including some of the most exciting voices in Dallas' hip-hop scene. Everyone's favorite Nawfside duo, A.Dd+ will headline the bill with support from Blue The Misfit, Sam Lao, -topic, Lord Byron, Jaeson Green, AV the Great, and your host- DJ Jay Clipp. You get all this, and all the surprises we've got up our sleeves for $15 admission. Tickets are on sale now, and there's still time to win the VIP package by doing a good deed for Dallas hip-hop.
To commemorate the occasion, and to help you get to know some of Dallas' most talented emcees, we asked each of these performers to participate in a short questionnaire. You may be surprised to find out what we learned. For instance, did you know that Sam Lao's got a scrappy side? Or how about AV The Great's gnarly favorite cocktail recipe? You learn something new every day. See you Friday night -- it's going to be a real knockout.
RAP NAME: AV The Great REAL NAME: Christopher Avant
If you weren't rapping, what would you be doing instead? I'd grow weed and be the dopest DJ, and would've broke all the artists on this bill by now. Funny 'cause it's true.
What's your favorite bar in Dallas to hang out at? Anywhere on the square in Den10 (Denton).
When you go to the bar, what do you usually order? It's called a Godfather. Shot of whiskey, shot of amaretto, splash of Dr. Pepper on the rocks. Gets you f'ddd up.
Whats your favorite vacation destination? Why? The studio, by myself- with a mic, monitors, headphones, Protools. I'm good.
What fictional character do you most relate to? Why? The Ninja Turtles. Attitude like Ralph, leader like Leo, knowledge like Donny, and when you get to know me- goofy like Mikey.
Who's your favorite boxer, real or fictional? My favorite boxer is two real people in one, so it's sort of fictional. Lets call him Ali Mayweather.
Have you ever been in a fight? If so, what's your best fight story? I'm from South East Denton. Of course I've been in a fight. We dont shoot, we knuckle up like men. I pieced up a cop pretty nice in college, for throwing me through a window for no reason. But when they double teamed me, goddamn, they slammed me. I held my own though. TO HELL WITH CROOKED COPS!
What are your New Years resolutions? I don't do years. I make the same resolution every day to be a better man, father, son, artist, in that order.
What were your favorite national records of 2013? Magna Carta Holy Grail- Jay Z was my favorite album. F*&k For a Week- Mike Jay was probably my favorite song last year. Really, I listened to a lot of old Miles Davis and Pac last year for some reason. I was really on that Killuminati.
What were your favorite local records of 2013? Fab Decue has this record called "Kennedy". That shit is bumping. Blue, The Misfits' "Livin No Care In The World", that's the banger though. And of course my record "The Conversation"- ahead of its time. Bar for bar, it can't be touched.
What was the first record you heard that made you want to make music? LL Cool J's "Rock The Bells" made me want to rap. Bun B's verse on "Murder" made me take this shit serious. Tupac's "Shed So Many Tears" made me want to put my life into it.
What do you know now, that you wish you would have known when you first started rapping? I wish I would've have know how to edit and shoot my own videos when I first started, cause visuals run the game right now. You can save a lot of time and headache when you can do it yourself.
RAP NAME: Jaeson Green REAL NAME: You the Feds?
If you weren't rapping, what would you be doing instead?: Probably a psychiatrist.
What's your favorite Dallas venue to play? The Granada Theater
What's your favorite bar in Dallas to hang out at? Slip Inn or Kush
When you go to the bar, what do you usually order? Whiskey straight, or a Budweiser.
Whats your favorite vacation destination? Why? I'd say Atlanta, GA- simply because almost everything down there is black owned. Not to mention the women.
What fictional character do you most relate to? Why? Wolverine, He can't die.
What is your favorite breakfast cereal? Frosted Flakes, with extra sugar on the top.
Who's your favorite boxer, real or fictional? Errol Spence Jr. That's my little bro, so I have to represent.
Have you ever been in a fight? If so, what's your best fight story? When have I not been in a fight? I have to fight every night to prove my love.
What were your favorite national records of 2013? Jay-Z's Manga Carter, Kevin Gates (Stranger than Fiction), T.I. (Heavy is The Head, Trouble Man), Justin Timberlake (20/20 Experience), Starlito (Cold Turkey).
What was the first record you heard that made you want to make music? Scarface "Dear Diary"
What do you know now, that you wish you would have known when you first started rapping? Cant mixed business with personal. Straight up!
RAP NAME: Lord Byron REAL NAME: Byron Neal
If you weren't rapping, what would you be doing instead?: Acting. Fun Fact: I was in Beauty & The Beast in high school, played a dancing napkin.
What's your favorite Dallas venue to play? Granada
What's your favorite bar in Dallas to hang out at? Wherever all the beautiful women are swimming.
When you go to the bar, what do you usually order? Modelo. If I left my identification card at home, which is a normality for me, then I'm ordering water on the rocks.
What fictional character do you most relate to? Probably the kid who asked Big Worm for the chilly cheese fritos in Friday and got insulted in the progress. Big Worm was an asshole, so is life, to me sometimes... Arnold from Nickelodeon and Sora from Kingdom Hearts.
What is your favorite breakfast cereal? Easily Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Fruity Pebbles. Never choosing between those, they both my boos.
Who's your favorite boxer, real or fictional? Mike Tyson, without a question. People would pay $15,000 for front row seats to a Tyson fight that only lasted three minutes. Black excellence at its finest.
What was the first record you heard that made you want to make music? Johnny Cash - Ring Of Fire
What do you know now, that you wish you would have known when you first started rapping? Um, I honestly have no answer to this. I study this shit, so everything that's happened/happening isn't surprising at all, to an extent. Very appreciative for everybody who's helped me progress, but all of this was ordained.
RAP NAME: -topic REAL NAME: Benjamin Martin
If you weren't rapping, what would you be doing instead? Film.
What's your favorite Dallas venue to play? Any room at House of Blues, no doubt.
What's your favorite bar in Dallas to hang out at? No bars, but I love loitering at Zini's.
When you go to the bar, what do you usually order? Juice. Pineapple and cranberry.
Whats your favorite vacation destination? Why? Austin. Life is simple there.
What fictional character do you most relate to? Why? Vincent Valentine, for multiple reasons that I can't disclose.
What is your favorite breakfast cereal? CT Crunch, baby.
Who's your favorite boxer, real or fictional? The main character guy from Mike Tyson's Punch Out? I dunno. I'm more into skateboarding than boxing.
Have you ever been in a fight? If so, what's your best fight story? I got into a fight in a swimming pool. I whooped the back of dude's head, literally, 'cause he moves like an ignorant fish in the water. Stories.
What are your New Years resolutions? Be Good & Do Well.
What were your favorite national records of 2013? Until the Quiet Comes by Flying Lotus. Duality by Captain Murphy. Apocalypse by Thundercat.
What were your favorite local records of 2013? No Meal No Deal - Tunk. ALL THE WAY.
What was the first record you heard that made you want to make music? Liberation by Outkast.
What do you know now, that you wish you would have known when you first started rapping? Nothing. This stuff takes time, I understand that clearly now. RAP NAME: Sam Lao REAL NAME: Samantha Christine Mattice-Lowery
If you weren't rapping, what would you be doing instead?: Wasting away at home, undoubtably.
What's your favorite Dallas venue to play? Not sure, haven't played them all yet. I'd like to give everyone a fair chance before I choose a favorite.
What's your favorite bar in Dallas to hang out at?: Too much of a homebody to have a favorite bar. Sad, I know.
When you go to the bar, what do you usually order?: Vodka Punch because I'm a pansy when it comes to alcohol. Don't judge me, it means my buzz costs less than yours.
What fictional character do you most relate to? Why? Katniss Everdeen. I own a bow and I know how to use it. And I'm fairly confident that I could overthrow a corrupt government in a dystopian world.
What is your favorite breakfast cereal? Golden Grahams mixed with Crunch Berries. Strange but delicious.
Have you ever been in a fight? If so, what's your best fight story? Yes. I remember my mom came outside and broke it up after the girls sister jumped in to help her. Mom gave me one of those little chocolate liquor bottles as a reward.
What are your New Years resolutions? Take over the world.
What were your favorite local records of 2013? Booty Fade - F#ck Like a Stripper, Killa MC - Loop 820
Blue, The Misfit - Suburbian Gangster Promo from Shane McCormick on Vimeo.
RAP NAME: Blue, The Misfit REAL NAME: Brandon BlueIf you weren't rapping, what would you be doing instead? Music Journalism
What's your favorite Dallas venue to play? The Granada.
When you go to the bar, what do you usually order? Whiskey and cranberry
What fictional character do you most relate to? Why? Gumby, because he has an imagination and a cool haircut.
Who your favorite boxer, real or fictional? Balrog from Street Fighter. When other characters were throwing projectiles, shocking enemies with electricity, or flying around- he stuck to what he was good at: punching. Punching only. There's a lesson to be learned there.
Have you ever been in a fight? If so, what's your best fight story? Once upon a time I drunkenly (and I use that term loosely) tried to fight a bouncer at a club in LA for bumping into me while I was talking to a chick. He was in the middle of dragging another drunk person out while I was talking shit to him. I'll spare the rest of the details, but when he came back, I lost that battle.
What were your favorite national records of 2013? Yeezus, Reflektor, Wolf, and Because The Internet.
What were your favorite local records of 2013? Dark Rooms EP, Son Of Stan's Divorce Pop.
What was the first record you heard that made you want to make music? "Up Jumps Da Boogie" - Timbaland & Magoo ft. Aaliyah & Missy Elliot
What do you know now, that you wish you would have known when you first started rapping? Trust your instincts. Take advice sparingly. Create your vision at all cost.
A.Dd+
RAP NAME: Paris Pershun REAL NAME: Arrias Pershun Walls
If you weren't rapping, what would you be doing instead? Real Estate or Radiology
What's your favorite Dallas venue to play? Trees
What's your favorite bar in Dallas to hang out at? Rack Daddy's
When you go to the bar, what do you usually order? Crown & Coke. Brown liquor is the only liquor to drink.
Whats your favorite vacation destination? Why? Barbados, because I met Rihanna and she invited me back to her mother's house for fish cakes.
What fictional character do you most relate to? Why? None. Im from the Nawf (North Dallas), and we Never. Associate. With. Fake. (See what i did there?)
Have you ever been in a fight? If so, what's your best fight story? Yes. So this Mexican dude, this white dude and black dude was talking that shit. Me and Bruce Lee were kinda tipsy, but prepared to throw down. I jumped on top of the bar and hit the Mexican dude with a Budweiser bottle. He fell, then I stomped him out. The black dude rushed me, trying to hit me with a pool stick, but Bruce caught his ass with a round house kick to the face. The white dude got scared and ran. These two bad black chicks bought us drinks all night. We left with them and got X-rated.
What are your New Years resolutions? To be more vocal and a bit more outgoing
What were your favorite national records of 2013? Oceans by Jay-Z, Money Interlude by J.Cole, Fine China by Chris Brown, Nosetalgia by Pusha T feat. Kendrick Lamar, Pound Cake by Drake feat. Jay-Z. There's really too many to name. What were your favorite local records of 2013? Drop The Roof by Tunk feat Rick Blaine, Like That by Fat Pimp, Audio Day Dream by A.Dd+, Where You Been by A.Dd+, Dirty Cotton Candy by A.Dd+, Drive Safely by A.Dd+ feat. Jaeson Green, All I Do by Prince Rick & Treal Lee feat. A.Dd+
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RAP NAME: SLIM GRAVY (Slimathy McGravy for short) REAL NAME: Dionte Rembert
If you weren't rapping, what would you be doing instead? Designing a clothing brand.
What's your favorite Dallas venue to play? Granada
What's your favorite bar in Dallas to hang out at? Club Dada
Whats your favorite vacation destination? Why? The studio.. Cause I can do whatever I want
What is your favorite breakfast cereal? Captain Kush
Who's your favorite boxer, real or fictional? Afro Thunder
Have you ever been in a fight? If so, what's your best fight story? Fighting my sleep... I always win.
What were your favorite national records of 2013? What Does The Fox Say?
What was the first record you heard that made you want to make music? Kanye West - Through The Wire
See also: -The 100 Best Texas Songs: The Complete List -The Ten Most Badass Band Names in DFW -The Best Bands in DFW: 2012 Edition -Photo Essay: The Tattoos of Dallas' Nightlife Scene
