Rookie of the Year

[DJ Pain 1]
“I’m just, I just don’t think people understand the significance of all of us being here right now”

[Ja’Mel Ware]
“And what I see in this city, is a lack of the love of hip-hop. So I got my brothers, and I said ‘let’s do something about that.’”

[Intro: Chris Jewson]
It’s unheard of that we prosper in a city that don’t love us
Don’t like the music, like the scene, the diversity, still the come up
They kicked Mando out the club, and for what? For bringing numbers?
People do what people do, we entertain, don’t blame the artists

[Verse 1]
I met Mr. Get Your Buzz Up, March, my sophomore year
He spoke to my whole class, important that we hear
‘Cause he exposed me to the talent only miles away
That I didn’t even know existed, only knew a few in the state
We kept in touch, I didn’t budge, at least I didn’t try to
I sent my links, you know the works, but so did many in my school
I was in awe, but I was determined to impress my city
So I kept my head down and grinded, knew no one could mess with me
Then that summer, think we dropped like seven videos
Had like five in a week, it was weak, but life goes on
But the ethic must’ve sparked some sort of a buzz
‘Cause come September, I was in a cypher with DJ Pain 1
Who had produced for artists I grew up listening to
From 50 Cent, Ludacris, Public Enemy, ScHoolboy Q
I was rapping with artists I’d never heard of before
Who ripped the mic in ways I’d never seen in person before
Crazy raw talent right in front of my eyes
Come to find out, they were gon’ be streaming it live
For hundreds, hundreds of people new to understand me
Somewhere someone jokingly called the “Madison Grammys”
The Madison Hip Hop Awards - a local show
Put on to highlight the potential we have as a community to grow
With art we concocted like Dexter’s Laboratory
Honored, ‘cause I was nominated in three categories
Song, Video, and Rookie of the Year
Youngest cat in all three, alongside my brothers, no fear
Videographer, Producer, we were rallying
Let the voters vote and hope our favor they’d be tallied in

[Verse 2]
December 16th came, it was awards night
At the Majestic, new aesthetic, off of the corner right
Down from the capital square in Downtown Madison
Grabbed a slice at Ian’s, grabbed the gang, and we were traveling
We made it to the theater, we all had eager demeanors
Could hear the rumble up the street with the b-bump of the speakers
Took some pics, had an interview, it was my first one
Fingers crossed, the night would go well, wouldn’t be my last one
People came and introduced throughout the evening
Linking up and networking just like a social gathering
We were, all so ready to go, a great environment
Passion in the air was vibrating like a violin
We made our way to the seats with friends from my school
Jaws dropped when they found out we’re competing from high school
Against, the veterans of the city, all well established
Going ‘gainst eleventh graders, no one lesser than average
Was there, at this special affair, the host came out with hyster-ics
8 o’clock it was time as we all sat in our chairs
We were ready, we were nervous, but we were really ready
Pressure on our backs ‘cause we’re the only ones there under twenty
Song Of the Year, Mic Check was our song
It was funny, came out the month that I first met ShaH
First song, Devin and I made every beat, every line
When he got his recognition, god damn they weren’t lying
Erik and I directed Feel Good Incorporated
A turning point, both our voices meshed, so well correlated
Enormous pages in our books, got on stage while we just looked
God damn, my brothers got it, screams and shouts, I couldn’t be prouder
Screams were louder when they got up there
The prodigies of their art were there
My family, they were grinding
Film, producing, glad they’re honored, yeah
And they returned it to me, when the time came
When Antoine said Rookie of the Year, and then said my name

[Antoine McNeail sample]
“Rookie of the Year goes to… Chris Jewson!”

[Chris Jewson sample]
I'm just thankful, thank you all
I appreciate it

[Verse 3]
And I truly felt on top of the world
And I shook up with my bros as my head twisted and swirled
Grabbed my plaque, said my thanks, as I stepped to the podium
Picturing it the same as my high school’s auditorium
What I was used to, theater, used to do it
Then the focus changed, okay, now it was our music
It was something bigger than I could’ve ever imagined
And it was bigger than me and it was bigger than rapping
It was a whole room of people, hip hop at the core
Opening to us and showed respect, I couldn’t ask for more
And I think what shocked the most was how we took it so seriously
Just eager to build and learn more than we ever had previously
Unbelievable feeling as the night went on
Creatives collaborating all around us like a public convention
Business cards got attention, the wardrobe open, we stepped in
Blessed to say this chronicle shows we swept it
The underdogs ready, newest ones to step in the building
Walking around, I felt like I was the man of the evening
But I wasn’t, ‘cause it was something way bigger than me
And when Lucien got on stage, it was apparent to me
He said his award wasn’t for him, it was for us
For the music, for the city, for the art, and for the love of the game
To share our talents we’ve been working at for so long
And when the city doesn’t fuck with you, you gotta stay strong
As artists, as creators, as musicians
‘Cause the moment you lose focus is when you slip in this business
From Mendota to Monona and everything between
The bass inside our speakers that rumbles ‘neath our feet
Holding our brushes as the DJ spins
The city’s just a canvas that our words fill it in
And it doesn’t matter what they say looking in from the outside
‘Cause in the end, all that matters, remember
Art Never Dies

[Lucien Parker]
“This award is not for me. This award is simply a measure of our dedication as a puzzle piece to the hip hop infrastructure of urban communities, right? Right? And y’all did that. I didn’t do that by myself. Y’all did that, they did that, and we did that together.”