one on one flix
through his music. Seeking playing his character to the
exposure in the music indus- best of his ability. However, it
try, he is hoping to set himself
seems that if the writing and
apart from his competition SurrogateS
direction were better he could
with his unique approach to
have been outstanding in this
composing songs.
tor, Jonathan Mostow, got a
role and delivered a perfor-
Asked to describe his
bit caught up in the special
mance that showed, without
style, Versatyle said, “I in-
Running Time:
effects he could throw in to
a doubt, that the same Bruce
corporate singing vocals in 88 Minutes
all my raps. I can battle rap.
make this movie seem more
Willis who dominated in the
Sometimes I even throw a
sci-fi than it needed to be.
Die Hard movies is still alive
Rated PG-13 for intense se-
little comedy in my verses
With a film like Terminator 3
and kicking despite it being
quences of violence, disturbing
to give it a little humor. Most
under his belt, Mostow should
many years later.
images, language, sexuality
guys that flow think that ev-
know how to work with spe- What I was unaware of
ery song has to be a serious
and a drug-related scene
cial effects. when first seeing this film is
song, gangsta, but I don’t
feel that way.”
Review by Crystal Riehl
Versatyle’s first break as Remember when you
a serious artist came when were young and people
he met underground music talked about the human race
producer E-Smoov, CEO of
living on the moon in the year
Since Day 1 Entertainment.
2000? Maybe that was just
Under E-Smoov’s guidance,
my childhood but Surrogates
he learned more about the
is about as futuristic as it
Overcoming the
music industry, production
gets.
and mixing. Using the knowl-
edge he’s gained over the
The whole premise is that
years, Versatyle is set to hit the human race is now iso-
struggle: Detroit’s
the scene with a double dose lated and everyone remains Bruce Willis in Surrogates
of what he has to offer. His in their homes. They also
first mix disc, titled I’m on 10,
have perfect robot versions
Overall, this film has its
that the screenplay was based
VERSATYLE
was released to the streets
of themselves (i.e. no matter
ups and downs. The story
on Oct. 15 . His second ef-
on a graphic novel. Although
how you look in reality, your
is interesting but also shines
fort, titled Every Piece Of Me,
I still haven’t managed to pro-
robot version is a gorgeous,
a light on how our current ob-
will serve as a full-feature al-
cure this book, I am excited
bum and is scheduled to hit
physically perfect represen-
session with gaming has the
to find it because I have read
tation of who you are so it
possibility to overcome our
By Moe Nitty
the streets early next year.
several reviews stating that
doesn’t really matter how you
own humanity.
the novel is much better than
Since before birth, Detroit-born rapper/R&R singer David “Ver-
No stranger to hittin’ the
really look because no one Bruce Willis is his usual
the film.
satyle” Richardson was no stranger to dealing with adversity. His
stage, Versatyle has per-
sees that you) who are the action-packed self in this flick,
mother, a young teen at the time, had been evicted for the first time
formed at all the hip-hop hot
ones who venture out into the
when Versatyle was just 1year old. It was just the beginning of the
spots such as Bullfrog Bar &
real world.
hardships he and his family would endure.
Grill, St. Andrews Hall, Suite
in rotAtion
100 Lounge, Club Celebrity,
Despite the seclusion of
As an adolescent, Versatyle had become accustomed to
The Hideout Lounge, The
the human race, all things tu-
bouncing from one shelter to another. Being that it seemed his
Ritz Soundstage and The multuous,
whole family was fighting the same struggle, there was no one for
Serengeti, as well as vari-
him and his mother to turn to for financial assistance.
violent and
Who Knew
ous clubs in Ohio. He has p a i n f u l
Reflecting on his also collaborated with Chico don’t exist
Artist
past, Versatyle stated, Debarge, Wacko & Skip
b e c a u s e
“At the age of 6, I can from UPT and FatRay, and
h u m a n s
Kevon Edmonds
remember sleeping in opened for Bones Thugs-
t h e m -
vacant houses with my N-Harmony, Stretch Money,
Review by Crystal Riehl
s e l v e s
aunt, mother, grand- Tone-Tone and K-Deezy.
don’t have
The name Kevon Edmonds
mother and my cousins,
Versatyle is scheduled to endure
by itself may not be wholly famil-
with no heat in the winter.
to open for Stretch Money
a n y t h i n g
iar to you, but as the lead singer
I was the oldest out of the
and Moe Nitty Nov. 18 at
bunch…feeding them all
when they remain cooped
and founder of the trio After 7 you’ve undoubtedly heard Edmonds’ sultry
TNT’s Bar & Grill in Clinton
bologna sandwiches and
up in their homes. Unfortu-
voice before.
Township, and perform at the
holding bottles for the
nately, this bliss doesn’t last
next Who’s Hot in Da Streetz
After nearly a ten-year hiatus from the industry, Edmonds released
babies. Just imagine a
Showcase, Nov. 21 at The
forever and the first murder
the album Who Knew on Oct. 13.
young boy, 6 years of
Defusion Lounge in Warren.
in ages occurs and the seem-
age, walking a half a mile
ingly utopian society is thrust
His first single off the album, Oh, is the perfect embodiment of Ed-
down the road to buy bo-
Asked to give a few
into an uproar.
monds’ style. His smooth, soulful voice captivates his listeners from the
logna from the gas station
words of inspiration, Versa-
Enter FBI agent Tom
very first word to the last.
daily to feed the family. I could remember asking my grandmother
tyle offered, “One of my fa-
if that was the way we were supposed to live”.
vorite quotes is ‘Get money
Greer who realizes he must What I didn’t know about Kevon Edmonds is that his brother is the
or sleep in the park!’ I use
leave the protection of his legendary Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. Another interesting fact was
As a youth, Versatyle found himself filled with confusion and
to sleep in the park and didn’t
surrogate behind and venture that Kevon Edmonds kept his brother completely out of the loop while
anger that he allowed to affect his behavior, leading to his being
like it so all I can do now is
out into the world in which
making this album, which was his first venture into the gospel world after
expelled from all Detroit Public Schools. He eventually began at-
get money”. only surrogates exist. His
tending an alternative school for delinquents. Sustaining through
his mainstream solo release in 1999.
all the turbulence, Versatyle still managed to graduate from De-
For more on Versatyle,
life is at risk but he vows to
find out what happened and
I was unaware that this album was gospel and was pleasantly sur-
troit’s Cody High School, following that up with time spent in the
check him out at facebook.
discovers a conspiracy bigger
prised. Most gospel albums bore me and seem a little too forced but
Job Corps to obtain more business skills.
com/2009verse, myspace.
com/versatyle313, and twit-
than he could ever have
this message, combined with Edmonds’ phenomenal voice, sold me in
Despite the hard times, Versatyle remained drawn to the allure
ter.com/Versatyle2009.
imagined.
seconds. I am now a true fan and can’t wait for the next single. Don’t
of music. In elementary school he entered his second grade talent forget to check out the video for Oh. You are sure to be as sold as I upon
show and won, singing a Boyz II Men song. By middle school, he
Reach Moe Nitty at
Yes, the concept seems
seeing it.
had begun busting rhymes with his classmates.
myspace.com/mrmoenitty, a bit ridiculous but intrigu-
moenitty1@aol.com, or ing at the same time. The
Who Knew is the perfect return for Kevon Edmonds. It opens the
All grown up now, 26-year-old Versatyle is still spittin’ rhymes,
send text to 5865307726. sci-fi concept is appealing door for a new group of fans and introduces his previous ones to a new
while incorporating the pain from his past to paint vivid pictures
but it seemed like the direc- genre.
The Michigan FrontPage • November 13, 2009 17
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