new jersey

(Photos) That NJ Ish: Mike Zombie’s First Annual Celebrity Basketball Game

HarleyQuinn_NJ Leave a Comment

zbb2

This past weekend was Willingboro, New Jersey‘s first annual celebrity basketball game, brought to us by our very own Mike Zombie! Since unveiling himself to the industry in 2013 by producing Drake‘s super-successful “Started From the Bottom” single, Zombie has put his town on the radar for many of music’s elite underground and mainstream leaders, and continued his momentum by hosting a charity event for the town’s community sports teams.

Taking place at Willingboro‘s John F. Kennedy Recreational Center, the Panthers basketball teams were split into the Blue team and the White team, consisting of some of the most prominent local celebrities that dominate both the music and sports industries. Just a few of those names include legendary battle rapper Tsu Surf, Big OOH!, Gillie Da Kid, NY Jets safety Calvin Pryor, Porta Rich, Empire‘s Black Rambo, Kazzie, Chill Moody and plenty more. Over 200 people packed the newly renovated JFK gymnasium, making for an excellent turn-out.

I’m not even going to pretend like I know how to describe a basketball game, so I’ll say that no one expected the Blue Team (Zombie‘s team) to come out with such a victory of 57-41. The most entertaining players to watch were Gillie Da Kid, who landed 3-pointers back to back accompanied by a smug smile and an energetic and warm attitude, and Calvin Pryor of the white team, who had a good start in the first quarter, weaned by the second, and came back to finish strong by the last quarter.

HarleyQuinn_NJ
Continue Reading →

Hosting: OSAU x Montclair State University Rap Showcase [Upper Montclair, NJ]

Marisa Mendez Leave a Comment

tumblr_nnuq0dki0t1qbuv6no1_1280

My best friend Kiana’s little sis Jenelle is all grown up, and currently attends my alma mater – Montclair State University!

She asked me to judge a showcase for OSAU so of course I said yes, and had the pleasure of meeting tons of eager, upcoming talent and giving them advice! Shout out to the winners Kaizen Kirk, Freakquencee, Leesy and Jae Crawford. Thank you for having me, MSU! Go Redhawks!
Continue Reading →

That NJ Ish: Jersey Packs Out SOB’s Past Capacity For Hot 97’s Who’s Next Live, Prompting Rant From Naughty By Nature’s Treach

Marisa Mendez Leave a Comment

Marisa Mendez x Mike Zombie x NJ

New Jersey is really on the rise with talent across the board right now, from producers to rappers, singers, writers, DJs…the list goes on. Last night was set to be such a big night for all of the above, as Hot 97‘s monthly ‘Who’s Next Live’ showcase featured an all-Jersey lineup, headlined by “Trap Queen” rapper Fetty Wap, “Back Up On It” rapper Dougie F. and “Yeah, OK” rapper Kazzie.

Unfortunately, though some of the opening acts like Signature, DJ Frosty and Chad B. were able to perform, the venue was shut down after only an hour due to over-capacity issues and trouble at the door. It got so bad at one point, Fetty wasn’t even able to get in!

New Jersey legends Naughty By Nature were in the building to support, and upon the police calling the event off, Treach grabbed the microphone and ended up giving a 30-minute speech about unity, police brutality, Jersey being slighted and more. He kept it quite peaceful, however, and I do commend the venue and the police for allowing him to say what he had to say. It was a pretty powerful moment!
Continue Reading →

(Video) That NJ Ish: Dougie F. Talks Jersey Movement, Mad Decent, White Girls & More On Hot 97

Marisa Mendez Leave a Comment

Dougie F x Hot 97_LifeIsTremendez

Right now is such a huge time for Jersey. Over the years, we’ve had an artist blow up here and there, but our state is finally buzzing with SO many talented individuals getting recognition on a large scale at the same time. We’ve got Fetty Wap blowing up with “Trap Queen,” Karen Civil building a freakin’ empire,  Mike Zombie signed to OVO and producing for some of the biggest names in the game (plus rapping crazy too,) Drewski, DJ Naim and DJ Wallah spinning on Hot 97, myself doing what I do (ya diiig,) Joe Budden still being relevant to hip-hop and pop culture, and now Dougie F. blowing up as well with his DJ Fire-produced single, “Back Up On It (Jasmine.)”

Dougie‘s track garnered the attention of Diplo earlier this year, who signed the Orange, New Jersey native to his Mad Decent imprint, and has since brought him on tour to stadiums around the country. As his name grows, Dougie stopped by Hot 97‘s Ebro In The Morning last week to discuss his rise to fame, as well as New Jersey‘s movement, his strong white girl game (LOL!) and more. Check out the interview below, plus the video to “Back Up On It.”
Continue Reading →

(Video) That NJ Ish: Fetty Wap Talks “Trap Queen,” Being In Love and More On Ebro In The Morning

Marisa Mendez Leave a Comment

Fetty Wap_LifeIsTremendez

Jersey, we have another burgeoning star on our hands! As our movement keeps growing with DJs (like Hot 97‘s newest additions, Drewski and DJ Naim,) media personalities (like myself, Karen Civil,) producers (Cardiak, Mike Zombie) and rappers on the come-up like Dougie F and Zombie (he fits here too,) we have another one to add to the list! Paterson native Fetty Wap is taking over the clubs in the Garden State with his breakout hit “Trap Queen,” and hopefully he’ll soon be taking over airwaves around the world with it as well. Now that he’s officially signed to Lyor Cohen, Todd Moskowitz and Kevin Liles‘ 300 label, anything can happen!

After Funk Flex premiered what he called the “biggest record in Jersey” on Monday night, Fetty Wap made his way over to Hot 97 to sit down with Ebro and Laura Stylez for Ebro In The A.M. yesterday morning.

The question on everyone’s mind is what happened to his eye, but unfortunately, he chose to remain mum on that for now. He says one day the story will come out, but for now, he likes the mystery and says that the fans seem to appreciate it as well. A quick scroll down his Instagram page shows that it happened in late February of this year, but that’s all we know!

Fetty did, however, reveal the very interesting process to “Trap Queen” coming to fruition, and admitted that he is in love with his girlfriend of a little under 3 years. Sorry ladies! Oh, and he just started music last year. What a start he’s off to, huh? Get the full 411 in the interview below!
Continue Reading →

(Video) That NJ Ish: Saturday Night Live Uses Woodbridge High School For Cameron Diaz Skit

Marisa Mendez Leave a Comment

LifeIsTremendez_Woodbridge High School x Saturday Night Live x Cameron Diaz

I have to share this awesome skit from Saturday Night Live this past weekend! I never watch the show, but I just so happened to catch this episode because I was actually there for the taping, thanks to my girl Christina and her hubby/SNL cast member, Kenan.

Though the actual skit has nothing to do with my alma mater aside from using its name (that’s not even our sign,) I almost fell off the chair when I heard ‘Woodbridge High School‘ being name-dropped! Go Barrons! It makes total sense that this happened, because Cameron Diaz (who stars in the skit) and I are pretty much best friends, after we were on the same flight from NJ to LA earlier this year and we smiled at each other. I’m sure she knew I was coming because of our BFF telepathic connection, and told the writers to incorporate my high school into the show. Amiright?

Check out the hilarious skit below, which features Cameron as a weird theater kid, and Kenan Thompson and Vanessa Bayer as annoyed parents forced to sit through the avant-garde performance. (The boxes are definitely the best part!)
Continue Reading →