Artist Profile: Sugakane
It is often said that the voice is the most powerful form of expression human beings poses. Sometimes the voice is described as the distinctive style or manner of expression of an author. So it is only fitting that Midwest hip-hop newcomer Sugakane has been deemed “the voice of Kansas.” With his unmistakable growl and rollercoaster flow, this gritty MC is bringing a fresh new sound of hip-hop called “the knock- knock” on his debut album, Round One.
Born John Sweet, Sugakane was better known in the Midwest during the 90’s for his basketball accomplishments. A Prep-All star and collegiate All-American, Sugakane seemed destined for the NBA, not behind a microphone. But brushes with the law and other distractions hurt any chance he had of fulfilling his basketball dreams. Of this failure, Sugakane speaks candidly, “That was my dream but it wasn’t God’s plan. You know, I just got in my own way.”
With a release of a local disc, Block Monster and some special guest appearances, Sugakane went to Atlanta to “look for some guidance.” A chance meeting with Grammy award winning producer David Sheats aka Mr. DJ, (OUTKAST), Sugakane was told something I which he considers to be one of the most important lessons he has been told about the industry. “Mr. Sheats said that rappers weren’t doing their homework anymore. He said, “These rappers aren’t writing songs. On an album, you should have six or seven Platinum records and the rest should be Gold.” Sugakane didn’t sign a deal that day but he walked away with a new resolve and as he likes to put it, “with a fire lit under me”.
Sugakane returned to the Midwest where he signed a record deal with indie label Meanstreak Records and a management deal with Tanner Manning. Feeling confident with these decisions, Sugakane began to write Round Onewith up and coming Midwest producer Mikel Giffin aka Mike G. “Mike G is the Midwest version of Scott Storch, Timbaland and Just Blaze all wrapped in one.”
With the album’s blend of slick club tracks like “Party Ain’t A Party and “The Movement” to its made for radio joints like, “Rubber to Bust, Break You Off”, and“Baby”, Round One is an amusement ride for the ears.
The album crashes in with the statement joint, “Contender”, where Sugakane delivers the line "Pack you bags hit the showers cause you can’t write hits." Sugakane isn’t afraid to separate himself from other MC’s trying to make it in the music industry. “My style is by my own design. I call it rollercoaster. It’s all about mixing style and substance in a way that makes the listener want to listen.”
And speaking of style, Sugakane has a special message for up and coming Midwest hip-hopers or any artist for that matter. “Man, don’t flauge yourself. It’s okay to have heroes in this rap game. We all have them. I love them dudes from the East, the Dirty and Cali but if you ain’t from there don’t try to be them. Some of these Midwest MC’s are flowing about the Midwest but they are not representing the Midwest. They are sounding off talking about Top City this and Kansas City that but are sounding like they are from Houston, Atlanta, New York or Compton. How are they going to expect the industry to respect them if they don’t respect themselves and where they from? That doesn’t make any sense. Like the big homie Ice Cube said, “[Explicit] is dying over streets they never heard of.”
On Round OneRound One, Sugakane works every song like a maestro works an orchestra; with precision and command. From in your face tunes like “Nemesis” and “Like What” to the more playa songs he is known for in the Midwest, “Break Ya Off” and "Didja Hear Me", Sugakane eases from song to song like a point guard passing dimes to his teammates.
“This is a movement. These records are little bits and pieces of me. This album is for the party and the streets. It’s for the ghetto fab playas and my hardcore G’s. It’s a preview of what’s to come from Sugakane. It is what it is”
Round One is an album that epitomizes the Midwest’s new sound and its inevitable rise to the pantheon of hip-hop. The Midwest hip-hop sound has been re-defined and has a new contender to the elusive hip-hop throne. Sugakane: Round One.
