On Da Right Trak Productions

Today’s Side Note: On Da Right Trak is not just a name; it is a way of doing business.

Under the leadership of Lance “Pee Wee” Arnold, ODRT, as they are known around northeast Wisconsin, has been blazing a path in the local music scene for over a decade, and have shown no signs of slowing down.

Along with Pee Wee, Ken “Kenfolk” Tresvant, Claude Robinson and Anthony “PC” Owens make up the power structure of ODRT. Their goal: To make sure all artists under their umbrella are “on the right track.” Be it a musical track that gets them noticed, or a complete package of an artist trying to get to that next level, the guys at ODRT are working hard to get it done.

From its humble beginnings, it has grown in to a company that encompasses the entire Midwest, and they are making inroads into the south in places like Atlanta. There is the ODRT Street Team; a promotional team that brings national acts like Dorrough and others to the Green Bay Area, and an awarding winning production and DJ service section.

I sat down with Pee Wee in the ODRT studio, where I learned so much about a very talented young man and his friends.

When did you fall in love with music?

1986, my dad was a pastor and had his own church, and I was the drummer. And after church service, I would jump on the piano and organ. And that was the beginning of my love for music.

Who are some of your musical influences?

I had a lot of church heroes. My god-brother was a drummer; my best friend was the choir director and an organ player that played around the world. I really didn’t have many musical influences outside of church.

How did you end up in secular music?

Growing up, I liked all types of music. Jazz, hip-hop, gospel, a little rock. After college, my dad bought me a keyboard, (that was still in the studio in which we did the interview) and brought it all the way to Marinette, WI from Chicago.

How did you end up in Marinette?

My step brother went to Alpena (MI) College, and met his wife, who was from Menominee, MI. They married and moved to Menominee. They didn’t work out, and when I was looking at school, my brother asked me to come help with the kids. Free room and Board? Yeah, let’s roll with it.

Did you study music in college?

No. I don’t know how to read music. Everything is done by ear. Something I have done since I was a kid.

How did ODRT get started?

Getting out of college, picking up the keyboard, just learning how to build a track, is how ODRT got started.  I met up with one of my friends that had a studio in his bedroom. He had a laptop and everything and I thought that was really cool. So I went home and bought ME a laptop and linked it up, and started from there. I did some tracks for a couple of people, and they loved it; Ken and I, (Kenfolk from ODRT) kinda named it together. “You need to get on the RIGHT TRACK”; you know what I’m saying? I don’t want to be the BIG producers like Timbaland and those guys; I want to be the one that started them off.

Describe the music that comes out of ODRT.

The music that comes out of this office is well thought out. It is not just pushed out. Every time you make a track, they are not all hot. I can go through ten beats, and out of those ten, maybe one of them is hot, at least to me. What comes out of this office is passion, sweat, tears, blood; we are brothers, so we fight. When it comes out of here, it’s a whole package. When we are done, we want to make sure we have put out a complete artist.

What do you want people to hear in that music?

The difference. You should be able to know the ODRT sound. It will be different from the rest. The quality of the music; the levels, the clarity, and just the way it is arranged. You will be able to know the difference.

Tell me about the artist under the ODRT umbrella.

PC and the AVG Boys. R&B Singer Devante; we pretty much do 100% of his tracks. We have done stuff with Kronic Soljha, K-Matic, the Lootme camp. Swiss Da Rockstar. Rozay Rell. Hust Mack. Lump G. NFL Cartel.

What do you look for in an artist to make them worthy to work with ODRT?

I am kind of a stickler. What I look for is someone that going to dedicate themselves to this more than ME. And that is hard.

Example?

Let’s say I give you a four track demo. By the time I have track two done, that artist should be well ready for a photo shoot, and a press kit, and a lot of people don’t know what that is. ODRT is pretty much myself, Ken, Claude and PC. We all work on giving something to you. Your effort needs to be 150 with us.

Best performance by one of your artist?

Devante. Recently, we brought in Dorrrough and Devante really did his thing there.

Worst performance?

(Laughing) You want me to have friends? The worst performance? Let me put it like this. If you don’t want to perform in front of three people, you did badly to me. Cause if it was three HUNDRED people, you would be rocking it. I think three that deserves the same as three hundred. Is that fair?

What in your mind is good about the music scene in this area?

The good thing is there is a hip hop crowd. That is probably the best I can say about it.

Negatives?

I think the way we study our craft and work on it needs to be improved. Anyone can get on a microphone and just rap, or just sing. But actually putting together a hit… that is another story. You need to have arrangements, change ups, and not trying to cluttering a song. Not a lot of people in this area are doing that. Everybody is just rapping to get a girl or something like that. It’s not 100% art.

One artist, alive or dead, you would want to do a song with.

Kanye.  I want to get in his head and see how he arranges things.

You are making a mix tape of your all time favorite songs. What is the first song on it and

 why?

#1 song would be a song I made called “Dem boys don’t play.” The beat of that song took me to a different level and let me know I can do this.

What was your first concert?

MC Hammer and Janet Jackson. Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan.

What would you tell someone aspiring to sit in your seat?

Study your craft, and every year, you should have worked on something that you know is your weakness. Every year, I shut down for two months, and listen to all my tracks, and figure out what I need to do better. It’s something I do on my own, cause I know where I want to go. 

 

R&B Singer Devone Doss

I found Devone Doss for our interview doing what he does best: Writing.

The Peoria, IL native and R&B singer, who recently earned his degree in Digital Media Technology from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, was sitting at his computer, working on brand new music when I sat down to talk to him. It was just a music track, but the track fit Doss to a tee: smooth &B with just a slight hip hop edge.

With hits like ‘I Need You’ and ‘Friday Night’, Doss gives live to a genre of music that at times is overshadowed in Wisconsin by hip-hop. His writing and his delivery harkens back to a time of soulful crooners such as Marvin Gaye and Donnie Hathaway, who incidentally are two of his musical influences.

What also sets Doss apart from other acts is his believability. When he writes, you feel what he is saying. You understand where he is coming from, because he is coming from a believable place. He has been through it all, and has come out on the other side a better man, and subsequently, a better songwriter.

              

                What do you want people to hear in YOUR music?

In my music, I want you to be able to feel everything I went through. I want you to be able to understand and just know that you can make it through any type of situation. The best writers are those that have gone through some adversity in life. You can’t just pick up a microphone and start singing, or even rapping for that matter. It has to make sense.

 When did you fall in love with music?

I was seven years old and I was listening to a lot of women singers. That is how I learned how to sing. I listened to Patti LeBelle, Chaka Khan, and a lot of gospel female artists. I would listen to their voices because I loved the vocal tricks they could do. One day, Stevie Wonder sang “Rocket Love” and my voice fit.

Who are your musical influences?

Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Michael McDonald, Commissioned.

Describe your music.

My music is fun, its feel good music, its love, it’s me.

You are making a mix tape of your all time favorite songs. What is the FIRST song on it and why?

IT would start out with Commissioned, ‘No more loneliness’. The first line goes: Lord I don't wanna be lonely, though I know you love me and you still care, I must confess that nevertheless, there is loneliness. (laughs). My goodness. Just a great line.

Best performance you ever gave.

1992; I opened up for EPMD, Father MC, Gang Starr, and Chubb Rock at Peoria Civic Center. I was with my dance group, called the Mercedes Boyz, and I performed in front of 12,000 people. That let me know that I could do better.

Was that the biggest crowd you ever performed in front of?

No, the biggest was about 17,000 at the Danville, IL Civic Center.

Worst performance you ever gave.

I got booed of stage in my hometown. That right their pushed me to do better. There is a saying in Peoria. ‘If you can’t make it in Peoria, you can’t make it anywhere.’ Peoria is like playing the Apollo in New York. They are VERY critical. I was dancing.

When did you starting SINGING in front of crowds?

I started really singing when I turned 19. From then on, it’s been real cool. I have been REALLY doing it.

What are the good things, in your mind, about the music scene in this area?

It’s easy to get seen. You can do a show anywhere in Green Bay or the Fox Valley. It might be a little bar, or a small function, but you can be seen. But the buck stops there.

What are some of the things that could be improved?

There is no togetherness; your either hip-hop or you’re not. There is not strong r&b presence. There is no professionalism in this area whatsoever. You will find that maybe 1 out of 10 are professional. And that is where it stops. A lot of artists need to realize that it is about rehearsal. Your performances have got to be A-1. All over the place. Every time you open your mouth.

What would you do to fix the local scene?

I would take one act from ALL the camps and make ONE labels with all the great artists up here. Ya’ll ain’t got to like each other; you just need to work together. This is a business.

What do you do when you know YOU are going to bring it, but the guy in front of you isn’t as good? Doesn’t that hurt you as well?

No. You always perform to the best of your abilities. It doesn’t matter if it’s one person, one thousand, or two thousand people.

One song that describes your life.

“Never Would Have Made it” or “Saw the Best in me”, both by Marvin Sapp. I kinda lived my life backwards. I went from doing tours and opening up shows for national artists to being homeless, going to jail, went to prison, abusive step-father, to graduating from College to furthering my life. No matter what I did, God still saw the best in me.

            One artist alive or dead, that you would want to do a song with?

Donny Hathaway.

What was your first concert?

Troop, as a dancer, as a singer, it was 112.

            What have you seen change in music since you started?

They took the fun out of music at the labels. Period. For example. If you fired the General Manager from the Packers right now, and replaced him with the General Manager from McDonalds, how do you think he will do? He will fail. Same concept. If you take people that have been in the game for years, and been successful, like Russell Simmons, THOSE are the cats that are no longer a part of any labels. It’s all about MONEY now, not artist development. They want to hit with what’s hot right now, instead of trying to develop artists. There is no substance in Music now. No Depth. You put Soulja Boy against Common. That is not even a competition. The game as we know it is over.

            What would you do to change it?

I would fire ALL the head reps right now. Fire them all. (R&B singer) JOE released his last album on his own. Almost like selling it out of his trunk. The album is incredible. But, big time artists are doing it on their own, because the labels don’t care about the MUSIC; they care about the bottom line. The labels have their own agenda. They want to take advantage of you. As soon as you open your mouth, they are looking at a plan to get you. And a lot of the artists today want to do it on their own, but they don’t know how. That is where learning about the business comes in.

 

"Spotlight" Artist J. Irja

The first thing you notice about J. Irja is that she carries herself as an artist. Perhaps it is the “Spotlight” tattoo on the left side of her head, homage to her entertainment company, Spotlight Entertainment. It could be the surgically enhanced breasts she recently had done, that, judging from the reaction to her outfit at a recent show, are “carrying” themselves on their own.

Either way, hip hop artist J. Irja, be it with her music, or her appearance, or perhaps a combination of both, wants you to know she is here to do her thing, her way. And she doesn’t give a damn if you agree.

With the new single “Blessed With The Curse” and identically titled upcoming mix tape, Irja looks to take her talents to a whole new level, while trying to increase the respect for the hip hop community in the Fox Valley area.

The 24 year old Irja, which means ‘earth worker’ in Finnish, seems to be hell-bent making her own rules in the hip hop game. According to her Reverb Nation page, “100% of my lyrics are original, and I am proud to display my intricate wordplay and quirky personality throughout my creations.” But that intricate wordplay wasn’t always on display.

“She’s a beast. And she was persistent,” said Spotlight CEO Reginald ‘P-Nice Roll da Dice’ Parham. “I started Spotlight in ’06. We had a studio on College Ave. in Appleton. She would come through, and I remember the first time she came through, she battled everybody. And I didn’t know who she was and I was like ‘this little chick is nuts.’  It took a lot of heart.”

When asked if she held her own in the battles, the answer was quick and decisive.

“No. My team was nice, all of them could spit. But that’s not the point. The point was she actually tried. I didn’t know any chick that would even do that,” P-Nice said. “Two years later, I saw her again, and she told me she was rapping, and I kinda blew her off. I saw her again this year, and she had some songs, and saw that she was serious.”

P-Nice feels that Irja has the ability to reach many people.

“She definitely has a story to tell. And a lot of females are going to come out and they are going to embrace her,” said the CEO. “A lot of us in general are insecure about who we really are and the things we been through in life. She puts it on the line. For her to do the things she does and say the things she says, a lot of people are going to be like ‘Man. I’ve been wanting to say that all my life.’”

When did you fall in love with music?

I have always loved music in general. I have been singing since I was three years old. That was my first time performing when I was three, I sang at a family wedding. I really fell in love with hip-hop at 16 when I truly got into the culture of it and actually found out more about music and fell in love with different artists especially Tupac. He was huge influence.

What do you want people to hear in YOUR music?

I want people to hear my story, because it’s something they have never heard before.  I want to give people that don’t have a voice a voice. ‘Like yeah, I feel her.’

What is your story?

My story is about progression and triumphing over any tribulations that I run into. I have had so many times that I have been knocked down but always get back up. It’s about perseverance. If I could sum it up in one word, it would be perseverance.

Who are your musical influences?

Rick Ross is huge right now. He is making some serious moves in the industry.  Also, eminem, Lil Kim, TLC and of course Tupac.

You are making a mix tape of your all time favorite songs. What is the FIRST song on it and why?

Lil Wayne, Mirror. It really describes how Lil Wayne is his own worst enemy, you know what I mean? Mirror really breaks down the turmoil and the chaos inside, and he really just puts it out there on the track; I love it. I can really relate to it.

Best performance you ever gave.

AT OB’s Brauhaus a couple weeks ago. It was amazing because people knew my words and I was into the crowd. The energy, on a scale of 1-10, was 100. It was just amazing.

Worst performance you ever gave.

That would have to be my first headliner show at Cue in Appleton. I tried to run too fast, and I needed a little bit more guidance than I realized. I tried to do the show too early, and by the time my opening act got done, nobody was there (laughing), but I still got up on stage anyways.

What are the good things, in your mind, about the music scene in this area?

There is a lot of talent artists around here. When I really started listening to people’s music, there is a LOT of talent artists around here.

What are some of the things that could be improved?

I think this area needs to embrace its hip hop community. We’re not gonna go away. You need to start embracing us and figure out solutions to the issues that are going on at the venues and not just shutting them down. Cause we are just going to move somewhere else.

IF you were boss of the music scene, what would you do to fix it?

Start having meetings where everyone can sit and be heard and not just take shots at each other. Just like they did down in Madison. Shah Evans has done a lot of things down in Madison that are really impressive. He spoke with the community and the police and everything and I think that if we adopted that principal up here, I think it would be really effective. We could have a place where we could go and celebrate the hip-hop community.

One song that describes your life.

My intro to my mix tape, Blessed with The Curse. It really gives you a very, very brief synopsis of how I got where I am.

One artist alive or dead, that you would want to do a song with?

Definitely Tupac and Rick Ross.

What was your first concert?

Believe it or not, it was a rock concert. I saw Cold, Dope and Flaw in concert. Won tickets on the radio. It was my first live concert.

How did you get here from Timmins, Ontario, Canada?

I moved around a lot when I was a kid. All around Canada I finally moved here and started going to school here. Graduated High School early and moved all around the Midwest. Trying to find where I fit in.

My favorite line in Blessed with a Curse is “little white girl but I’m not afraid”. IS that how you feel in this business?

 

Yeah. I came all the way from the bottom of the bottom of the bottom. You will see that as keep releasing more songs and mix tapes you are going to see my story progress and learn more about me. I really came from nothing. Nothing. NOTHING.

What gives you the confidence to grab the mic and step up on stage? Especially in hip hop, a very male dominated genre?

I have to do it. So people like me can I have a voice. I have to break that barrier. I just feel that this is what God put me here to do, and I am going to do it.