October '71, Pittsburgh's smoggy tale + Sir E.U on the drums

Rob Stokes—drummer, vocalist and composer of ‘October ‘71.’ Polaroids by Maxwell Young

“Legendary bills.” That’s how Washington, D.C. transplant Rob Stokes refers to music performances of epic proportions. An avid supporter of the DMV creative community, Stokes uses this expression in regard to the talented individuals who have become his comrades in the District’s locally-based, globally-minded music scene. But we would be remiss if we didn’t mention Stokes’ own iconic programming. Since the last time we checked in with the Pittsburgh born musician, he’s notched performances at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the world’s smallest live set held at the cheeky Los Angeles retail joint, Virgil Normal.

On January 4th at Songbyrd Music House, the classically-trained jazz drummer/hip hop producer/emotive crooner debuted a new body of work and band bearing the same name, October ‘71. Described as a house band, it features familiar players from Stokes’ previous bands and collaborations. They’ve been given codenames to elevate the heist style of music they portray. For example, “Mr. Biggs,” really Ledroit or Jay Z, hides in plain sight, donning a trench coat, Kangol cap, and Wayfarers. He shreds the guitar like the turntables aren’t his real get-off. Maybe they aren’t. Enigmatic as ever, he was missing from Songbyrd. Sir E.U, however, was conspicuous in his vintage suit—appropriately rockstar-chic as he graced the drum-kit for the first time live.

‘71 is not necessarily a who and when, though, rather a where. The songs on the album build up this image of a retro Steel City, smog-ridden and "steeped in sin and a MLB Championship.” As a fellow Pittsburgh native, it gave me chills to not only hear this narrative in a whole other city but to also hear listeners not from Pittsburgh react to these lyrics enjoyably.

There’s much more to come from Stokes and the October ‘71 unit in 2019. For starters, the project has not been released on streaming services, so keep an ear tuned for that, but we’ve also heard that there are some visuals that have yet to be shared.

Browse the brief photo recap of his performance at Songbyrd below. Polaroids by Maxwell Young

Rob Stokes writing lyrics prior to ‘71’s set and Opaline DC founder, Briona Butler (foreground). Polaroids by Maxwell Young

A fresh “throw up” in the men’s bathroom diffused through Songbyrd’s hallways.

“Pendy on the keys” (left) & Jesse Sattler (right)

Rob Stokes (left) & Sir E.U (right)

InTheRough Presents Exclusive Music

The ITR channel grows. Come to the website for detailed articles about culture scenes across the country. With 60 playlists released on the ITR SoundCloud, this channel also grows to feature more music to savvy listeners. From now on, look to ITR SoundCloud for exclusive music from artists rising through the underground.

Fortunately, the Exclusive Music series kicks off with hip-hop emcee Yucky. His style hits differently. Sometimes it’s self-described “emo-trap” or bangers come across clearly like punk music or glitzy bops. Thanks to Yuck, the Pittsburgh native drops four songs available to his fans only at InTheRough.

"Mind your fucking business!" - Jay Cousteau

Jay Cousteau shot by Maxwell Young.

At 18-years old, Jason Goolsby was wrongfully restrained by Washington, D.C. Metro Police officers. They responded to a call alleging suspicious activity outside of a Citibank in the Southeast quadrant of the city. If you check the transcript of the pre-emptive 9-1-1 call, you can understand the lack of probable cause and the absurdity of detaining three adolescent boys, who at the time of the incident, were “waiting at the door to let people in…”

This was over three years ago in 2015. Protests followed with the trending hashtag, “#JusticeForJason.” Law suits were filed. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser reneged on a promise to sit face-to-face with Goolsby. And since then, 2,946 American citizens have been shot and killed by police.

“I feel like life has always been fairy tales. Now when I talk to kids, I don’t try to scare them, I just try to let them know that shit is real,” Goolsby told me.

Polaroid by Maxwell Young

Goolsby is more commonly known as Jay, or Jay Cousteau, at least in D.C.’s creative community. That’s how I met the rapper/streetwear designer/party-thrower in November—unaware of his past.

Cousteau is the name of the artist collective in which Jay belongs. Founded in 2015, it is a band of multi-faceted creators spanning music, fashion, graphic design, and photography. They are a rambunctious group of youth as seen during their brother and founder El Cousteau’s set at U Street Music Hall the day after Christmas, but they also support the community hosting annual holiday toy drives.

“We’re on the same team. Everybody has their own thing, but we all fall under one family tree,” he said regarding Cousteau.

Approaching 22-years old, the Northeast, D.C. native spent the better part of 2018 curating and releasing content. Maketto, a multi-purpose, boutique restaurant and retail spot on H Street, Northeast, has become a central creative outlet for the rapper, hosting pop-ups and music events at the venue. We’re sick we missed his summer extravaganza featuring rising talents including Odd Mojo, Lil’ Dream, and El Cousteau as well as established DJs Filet Mignon, Koleco, and Manesqueeze.

“When people say D.C. is crabs in a barrel that’s excuses,” he said. “We can eliminate the crabs in a barrel.”

Collage, ransom note-style letters accentuate Jay’s most recent musical offering, Chuck Brown Cousteau. It is a nod to D.C.’s most famous Go-go musician while also positioning the Cousteau collective as the next torchbearers of District culture. “I always pay homage to my city,” he said.

Perhaps the biggest statement Jay made last year, though, was the release of his “Cousteau” sweatshirts. Black hoodies emblazoned with a red “Cousteau” across the chest hid a message only visible from the back of the garments with their hood raised, reading “Mind Your Fucking Business.” It is a powerful statement when you consider the racial symbolism of black sweatshirts alone, but also as you understand Jay’s racial context in Washington, D.C. Yet to be honest, just as the hoodies allude, I don’t think Jay is concerned with people knowing his past. The fact that I gathered pertinent details about his incident with police from old news reels, and not Goolsby himself, reiterates the sentiment that Jay is not defined by his past nor does he want his past to define his work today.

Peruse Jay Cousteau’s SoundCloud and listen to some of our favorites below.

Inviting all rappers and producers to the Uptown Cypher at Full Service Radio

PSA to all DMV area emcees and producers: sharpen your skills and flex your muscles at the ‘Uptown Cypher’—broadcast at the end of every month via Full Service Radio.

Washington, D.C.—An extension of Late Bloom Radio presented by Uptown Art House and InTheRough, the Uptown Cypher is for hip-hop heads young and old, for the rookies and the veterans. Across three episodes, the two-hour sessions have been congregations of rappers and beat-makers from all corners of the DMV. It’s been rewarding to provide a platform for some of our favorite artists including Nate G, Greenss, and Tedy Brewski, while equally as refreshing to have real-life introductions to D.C. legends Fat Kneel, Discipline99, Thrtysmthng and Y.U—producers whose music is secure in my Apple Music and SoundCloud libraries. Similarly, I hadn’t heard of Fauva Gahd or Mavi before they spit off the dome, and now I’m anticipating their next live sets. Shout out Chris Allen and Reggie Volume for sharing work as well.

For host Jamal Gray, the Uptown Cypher is an updated version of an old concept. The musician/curator was recording freestyle sessions, like this one here featuring a young Sir E.U, eight years ago as ‘The Carryout’ on YouTube. “A cypher doesn’t mean just rhyming. It’s about sharing intellect and ideas,” he said on the final episode of 2018.

It’s funny watching people walk through the lobby of The Line Hotel trying to figure out what commotion is happening. Full Service Radio is hard to miss. It’s a fish bowl with a head-to-toe window-pane exterior and deep-sea blue walls complete with a selfie-worthy neon sign, plush furniture, and more microphones than the non-musical person probably has ever seen. Each cypher takes on a life of its own, especially with “@THEBESTRAPPERINDC” aka MartyHeemCherry rapping at the top of his lungs. Libations are always flowing, too, so the more potent the bars, the more potent the reaction in the room.

The Uptown Cypher is open to the public, but come correct because as Nate G told me after one rapper brought written verses to a session, “There are unspoken rules to this.” Listen to all three cyphers below.

The next Uptown Cypher will be live on FullServiceRadio.org at 7pm, EST on January 30.

Polaroids by Maxwell Young

Full Service Radio

1770 Euclid St. NW

Washington, D.C. 20009

Cherry - Lost EP

It’s only a few hours into 2019 and the New Year’s Eve party is leaving from a house on the North Side headed towards Oakland, Pittsburgh’s college town, to the after-hours spot Ritual. But, this young music artist who just dropped out from U. Pitt as a Freshman also lived and recorded songs on Meyran Ave where the club was. He told me to pull up on him to listen to his stuff after we met at the NYE house party.

Cherry

I passed on Ritual, I’d been before, and I appreciated the artist’s invite to the press to listen to unreleased music. Cherry, a 19-year-old from Fox Chapel, showed me his flat, aptly lit with deep purple considering the time was past 2 a.m. Cherry is part of a larger community of college students who make music in Pittsburgh.

“I have the lowest amount of support right now,” Cherry said. He recognized he’s at the start of his career ready to build his act. His first step, the debut “Lost” EP, which is available for your listen now.

In his apartment, Cherry played various tracks he produced, as well as others like Wali. Sometimes, Cherry sounds like a mix between Lil Peep and Trippie Redd. His lyrics lovely, melancholic, generally emotional but it’s refreshing because of the pop beats and riffs. I caught his lyric. “You’ll never find me ‘cause I’m lost in the dark.” Check out the song “Rainy Days.”

This year, Cherry plans to followup “Lost” with his “Found” EP. Follow his social media for updates here.