On the first night of “Nemo” early this month, Times Square’s brightly lit advertisements washed in snow. Blocks away, at EVR Lounge – on 39th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues – the L’Afterworks Fashion event, featuring art by Chouaibou Njoya and Roman Primitivo, a video showcase by Bianca Boragi and music by Samy Le Borgne and Emilio Suriel, bore the brunt of the storm. The blizzard left the seats empty. And instead of performing, artists like Suriel spent the night chatting with those brave enough to attend.
Suriel, who goes by the hip-hop pseudonym E-Millz, works part-time at a Petco store for extra income. Hip-hop has long been an amateur interest of his. He laughingly described his first encounters with music, particularly those involving his childhood karaoke machine. As the music played through the machine, he would place a microphone near the speakers and record his voice over the beats. While times have changed – his family threw the machine away many years ago – his interest in the music has not ended. At 21, he has now written and performed music for two-thirds of his life.
He is fond of rap culture, but he disagrees with much of the genre’s subject matter.
“I wouldn’t make songs about selling drugs or anything that’s negative,” he said. “I want to get the word out about having a good time.”
Financial stability – not fame – is his goal. He hopes to make enough money to provide for his mother one day.
“Writing [songs] is my form of therapy and my way to have a better life,” he said. “It’s something I love to do.”
When asked who he would like to collaborate with on his music, he replied swiftly, “J.Cole, Big K.R.I.T., French Montana” among a list of other names.
“The rap game is evolving,” he said. “I think it’s growing.”
In 2010, he released his debut mixtape, entitled “The Cook Up.” He plans to release a second tape, “The Cook Up Volume 2,” later this year. E-Millz has also branched into film production. His most recent project is “The Man Behind the Machine,” a documentary about his friend who currently suffers from kidney failure. The film will likely premiere later this year.
Tené is a junior majoring in Journalism + Design with a minor in Culture + Minor at Lang. An Atlanta native, she moved to New York City with the desire of pursuing journalism as a career. She enjoys writing about pop culture, music, sports, and wrestling. She hopes to write for a magazine publication one day and ultimately, start her own magazine. Some of her favorite publications are Vibe, Complex, Bleacher Report, and Vice. In her spare time, she likes to listen to music (Kanye West, Rihanna, Aaliyah, Outkast, etc.), shop at thrift stores and American Apparel, and watch reality TV.
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you, However
I am having issues with your RSS. I don’t know why I can’t
join it. Is there anybody having similar RSS problems?
Anyone that knows the solution will you kindly respond?
Thanks!!