ROX-TV looks at upcoming events happening around the Underground. There is momentum in the air and things are starting to move. We talk HEXXX, Perturbator, The Harpos Book, and IBW Wrestling.
Welcome back to the ROX-TV website. With the cold nights slowly creeping into the Murder Mitten, my favorite time of year has finally returned. The wonderful “mad season” (English origin). Some might refer to this stretch as the “harvest season” respectively. The long year is finally coming to an end and the world around us starts to respond in kind. The leaves change colors, the fields are brought down, and an ancient time of celebration comes to the party. Maybe I’m crazy, but I can feel the difference in the overall vibe during these final twilights of Summer.
There will be a lot of good smoke hitting the streets as those glorious cannabis crops finish up. The weather turns “grey” and the temperature slowly slides down the pole, creating that perfect hoody weather. I wait all year for this in Michigan. In winter, things are too cold. Summer is always slightly hotter than I enjoy. And rounding out with Spring…well, it can be miserable coming out of the deep freeze. Those sad and lonely piles of leftover snow, waiting out the final days of winter in the corners of parking lots, fading away as Spring turns the life back on, it can get to you. The seasons in Michigan do offer a little something of everything though and I must give credit where credit is due.
Residents get a tiny taste of it all, which allows for some of the most versatile wardrobes in the country. We got shorts and we got Triple Fat Goose (old school throw-out). Well, with that being said and the current conditions remarked on, I will get to the reason why we have come together tonight. There is a lot of events kicking off in Michigan and these are some of the latest dispatches from the road. We got a little something for everyone in this article. There is an upcoming wrestling show in Westland, an Electronic Cyberpunk performance by Perturbator in Southwest Detroit, some exciting news from Chapter 17’s firebrand HEXXX, and an update on the Harpos book being written with the legendary Detroit music promotor/club owner Ruzvelt Stevanovski. ROX-TV is hitting all cylinders tonight so get out the cones, bust out that tower, pour yourself a drink and spend some time with us. Here we go…
#1 Breaking news from Chapter 17’s HEXXX
You know I’ve been pretty vocal about my homie HEXXX and his rise in the underground. Promoting his signature style of “West Coast Wicked Shit” which is that perfect blend of West Coast rap mixed in with that Juggalo sound (done correct). HEXXX honors the past, while keeping his creative sound unique and cutting edge within the jurisdiction of the underground (although I can see some serious breakout potential with this artist). Signing with Chapter 17, which is headed up by the Las Vegas mad man Ouija Macc and is a sub-label of Psychopathic Records. This bump up in the scene puts HEXXX on that top tier in my regards, as well as many others who follow the underground sound.
If these past few months are any indication of what is to come, the underground will never be the same again. The new blood has arrived with the flag bearers of Ouija Macc and HEXXX. They will take this Juggalo Nation into the next era (which in my estimation has already begun). History happens every day, people just don’t realize it. What we are watching now, will be remembered. I can guarantee that.
The times are changing, and with the torch being passed, the Old Guard can watch the fruits of their labor. The greats put their time in, and their marks have been left in stone. The countless artists (undiscovered and found) in America who cite the Michigan Underground Sound in rap for inspiration and influence is overwhelming. My generation saw the likes of Esham (Acid Rap Creator), Insane Clown Posse, Kid Rock (pre 1998 version), the supergroup of Natas, Dayton Family, the legends Project Born. Not to mention the likes of MC Breed, Top Authority, and many many more. Wherever I’ve travelled in this country, I can usually find someone to cite these artists and the Detroit/Flint connect.
I find that the artists who use what came before as guidance but still manage to remain original are the best. I believe that HEXXX is firmly in that category, and I stand behind the music he creates with a nod of hardcore approval. There will be an album review of HEXXX’s brilliant “Demon Season” coming this week on the ROX-TV website so stay tuned. We are going to smoke some “Russian Snow” that I recently picked up at “The Barn” in the 810 (3491 E. Bristol Road, Burton). I have recently re-committed to the green mother of smoke and have been trying to get on a regular regiment. Once I get my real “sea legs” back, I can really relax. The strain “Russian Snow” clocks in at 17.75% THC.
When I first got into the medical marijuana program, I associated sky high THC numbers as the golden standard for what was “good”. Over time I came to realize that although THC percentage is pretty cool, it is not the complete driving force for what I would consider a generalized “nice high”. Around 2013 I started coming into contact with lab tested smoke and in 2014 was given the medical keys to the kingdom. Sometimes strains that had a low THC count but featured some CBD (not the shit you buy at the gas station, which I am still not completely sure what it really is. The gas station CBD products remind me of the K2 Spice or fake weed that began circulating a decade or so ago. I remember cats getting “burned out” and in a relatively short time. You could find the “spice” containers all over the place. Designer drugs that the government allows to be sold on American shelves should cause alarm (although whips could be left out, being the only source of gas available for the vast swath of the country seeking a new perspective).
Holy shit we dipped into the forest, and I apologize for the dirt road trip. I was talking about HEXXX and the upcoming ROX-TV album review of his killer sounds…the MFCKN “Demon Season”. There are some great tracks and some special appearances…and we will be exploring it all this week. I was fortunate enough to speak with HEXXX about the upcoming review and he had some exclusive news that he shared with me about the “Demon Season”.
“And Mike, you’re the only source I’m sharing with… I’mma be dropping one more piece of Demon Season this month. Just when everyone thought that it was a wrap, I got one more surprise for yall, something to finish D.S. off in style”.
– HEXXX
You can see the rest of what he had to say and the actual review this week, so keep coming back. Besides the unknown surprise HEXXX has up his sleeve, he’s been pounding the pavement till there is nothing left (Thank you Kasbian). If you were to ask someone dominating in their chosen field and coming up with victories, I‘m sure they would say that “action” is what makes it all happen. Action will set someone apart from the pack, the people that talk about big ideas but seldom strike out into the real world with the action required to get it going will be talking to the end of time. Most of the critics in life come from that group of people, who seem to have serious opinions about things while simultaneously never taking a risk or getting some skin in the game. As I’ve grown older, I have come to view these negative forces as “time traps” which only slow a person down, with no real benefit of the experience.
Forever busy, most recently, HEXXX made an appearance in Ouija Macc‘s track “You’re Dead” featuring PSY/C17 Royalty. Among the ranks is DJ Chunk, HEXXX, Ouija, and of course…one half of the reigning underground kings, Violent J. The video has been burning up YouTube and just clipped over a quarter million views since last month. That’s a nice run. The guy is a hard worker and there is nothing more dangerous than when people of action end up together. The shit that can be accomplished by a small group of devoted movers and shakers could topple towers if so inclined. Moving on…
“The completion of harvesting marks the end of the growing season, or the growing cycle for a particular crop, and the social importance of this event makes it the focus of seasonal celebrations such as harvest festivals, found in many religions”.
-Wiki Source
#2 France’s own Perturbator is coming to Detroit
I was recently contacted by Speakeasy PR in California. My friend Monica tapped me into some great shows coming to Detroit this month. As always, I appreciate the heads up and the press credentials. Giving access to people reporting on the scene is a great way to get the word out and also supply the fans with a little extra insight on events they care about. (Visit https://speakeasypr.com/ to learn more about what they do and who they rep, top notch my friends)
I think Perturbator has a great sound. I came of age in the mid-nineties and there was some great industrial/electronic music being created. Perturbator has something that is familiar and at the same time, is entirely his own. That is the great trick…finding a new way to make things better. The show is going down tomorrow in Southwest Detroit. The venue is the El Club (4114 W. Vernor, Detroit. I’ve been there for some good shows, including Ouija Macc, Shaggy 2 Dope, Project Born, DJ Clay, Awesome Dre, and others. It has a nice vibe and the setup is easy to deal with).
So, for those of you who might just be getting introduced to Perturbator and his music, he’s got a lot to choose from. Probably the easiest way to describe his music would be “electronic music” which takes inspiration from different areas, most notably in Perturbator’s case “cyberpunk culture”. That is not the only source of the muse I’m sure, but it does weigh in on the sounds and I like it.
Perturbator first came onto the scene in 2012 with his debut release “Night Driving Avenger“. To date it’s just shy of a million views on YouTube. He’s been banging out far out music ever since. The tour bringing him to Detroit has taken Perturbator around the world and will be ending in November at the Electric Brixton in London. His latest release is called “Lustful Sacraments”. Check out his site for other North American stops before jumping the pond for more shows. https://perturbator.com/
#3 The IBW International Bigtime Wrestling presents “November Pain”
That’s right wrestling fans, we got a little flash for you as well. I’ve received word that IBW’s latest event will be going down on November 13th at the Token Lounge (28949 W. Joy Road, Westland). It’s going to be an explosive night of action, featuring over 20 of the IBW’s biggest names. Topping the bill is the monstrous Kongo Kong, the one and only Big Mama, Revenge of the Nerds, and many more.
The sports desk has informed me that tickets will be available for $15 bucks in advance and $20 dollars at the door. Here is the great news for families looking for a fun night out with wrestling, where tradition matters. Kids ten and under will be admitted for free. I think that is a real class act. Not only does it offer families a night to make some memories, but for the future to exist, the kids are so important. Nothing exists or continues to exist without the passing down of traditions. This is part of the natural structure of the family and is sacred. Anyone who wants to destroy the family is an enemy of mine.
So, get out there and support your local wrestling scene. It’s a great night out and is priced right in our forever rising cost of living. You can lose fifteen bucks running for the bus. Don’t miss the “November Pain” IBW wrestling show coming to Westland in November.
#4 The Harpos Book
I’d like to give an update to the ongoing project about Harpos. We will be dropping an article this week talking more in depth about the book, how’s its developing, and what people can expect when this amazing story drops on Amazon in 2023. The legendary Detroit venue has been the home to heavy hitting and groundbreaking music for decades. It’s a place with a long and extremely interesting history and the owner Ruzvelt has an equal background that will be explored in the book. This one is going to be good, so keep it on your radar.
That’s all the time we have for now but keep checking back. The action is starting to break out everywhere and the next few months will be bringing some serious action to Michigan. Until next time, stay safe and keep your head up, you never know what you might see.
Signing Off,
Mike Shepard
ROX-TV Editor
