Macho, Just Wants to Make You Laugh

Meet Randy Nance. He goes by the name Macho. His goal is to make you laugh. His dream is to continue to make people laugh for years to come. The Saginaw, Michigan native traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada where he resides now, to pursue his dream. He is living in Vegas people. Of course I could give “The Hangover” run down  of things that may have happened. I do that a lot when I hear my friends go to visit Vegas. But I am pretty sure none of that stuff happened to Macho. I shall digress. Here’s a fun fact for you. Randy works as an On-Air Personality for Power 88.1 FM in Las Vegas. Pretty cool huh?

Read this awesome interview I did so you can get to know Macho and what his interpretation of bringing the funny is all about.

#1: Where did the nickname/stage name “Macho” came from?

My stage name is actually just MACHO. Facebook wouldn’t let me have just a first name so I rolled with it twice. The name derived from the wrestler Randy Savage. Friends from school called me Macho Man Randy Savage. The first part stuck.

#2: Who are you most influential comedians that fuel your passion of making people laugh?

I’m a fan of the art. So there’s a lot of comedians I look to. Rickey Smiley and Steve Harvey because they are both comedians that do radio as well. Just like me. I grew up in the Eddie Murphy era. I loved Redd Foxx and Robin Harris. Dave Chappelle, Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps, Kevin Hart, Gary Owen and Corey Holcomb. Even the comedians I know personally here in Vegas like Anton Knight, Booya, Bobby Stauts, J. Reid and Donnie Johnson all have helped fuel my desire to be a great comedian. But the passion comes from working. God gave me that.

#3: When did you decide that pursing comedy was what you ultimately wanted to do?

I was always a funny/silly person. People told me time after time I should do comedy. My response was “It takes more than being funny to be a comedian.” I still believe that to this day. But hosting live events like date auctions and step shows where I could interact with the crowd made me want to do comedy. May 6, 2011 was the beginning of my comedy career.

#4: Explain how the road to living your comedy dreams transitioned from Michigan (Your Home State) and to Las Vegas (Currently Reside).

If I never moved to Vegas, I don’t think I would have ever started. In Vegas there are so many venues and outlets for aspiring comics. If anyone has a comedic desire, this is a great place to start.

#5: What is your comedy based on?

My comedy is purely based on funny. I’m somewhat animated and silly. I draw on life experiences for material and also things I think about that just don’t make sense to me.

#6:  Can you share what your every first comedy show was like?

My first show was horrible in my opinion. It was a benefit comedy show where the honoree didn’t even show up. There were 14 people there, all of which were my guests. I had no stage presence or energy. I was just standing there telling jokes. Looking back, I did almost everything wrong and was still marginally funny.

#7: Is there a certain kind of ritual or mode you get into before you hit the stage and perform your comedy?

The only repetitive ritual I go through before a show is prayer. That’s it. I try to mellow out because I’m always nervous. 

#8: What has been the most important piece of advice you have gotten that helps you keep things in perspective as you continue to pursue your dreams?

Anton Knight and Joe Clair gave me the best advice on doing comedy. Anton spoke to me about my confidence after a show I did that didn’t go great. Joe told me to always have a beginning, middle and end. He said, Know what you want to say and be funny, funny, funny.”

#9: Where do you see yourself in 10 years career wise?

10 years from now I’ll definitely be a touring comedian. I may not be a household name, but I’ll have a solid career doing what I love.

#10: Is there anything you want to share with the readers or your fans about any upcoming events to look out for?

I encourage everyone to keep up with me via Twitter, Instagram (@macho1macho), and check my YouTube Channel MachoMan808. Love y’all.

I would like to thank Randy aka Macho for allowing me to interview him. I really appreciate it. Much love, respect, and success to you. Make sure you follow him on Twitter @macho1macho as well as his Instagram (http://instagram.com/macho1macho).

Please check out and subscribe to Macho’s YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/machoman808

If you still have dreams out there, it is never too late to pursue them. You just have to have the drive dedication to work hard and make things happen.

Stay Classy, Homies ^_^.

Welcome to the Bigbake Show

Anthony Baker aka Bigbake is not only a hip-hop artist, but he is the CEO/Co-Founder of Smokngunz Records. So I can only take a guess that he has the best of both worlds. Being an talented artist and molding other talented artists who love hip-hop just as much as he does. You may be wondering how did Anthony got his nickname of “Bigbake.” It actually came from his football and wrestling days in high school. Cool nickname huh?

 

The Saginaw, Michigan native has been laying down tracks and spitting rhymes for quite some time now. I had a chance to interview him to find out more about how his true love for hip-hop began, how Smokngunz Records became to be, and how his lyrical style sets him apart from other hip-hop artists.

#1:  When was the specific time in your life you fell in love with hip-hop and made a decision about pursuing a music career?

In 1996, I bought Twista’s “Adrenaline Rush”. This is what inspired me to start a musical career. It started out as poetry and morphed into hip-hop once I met my click (The Smokngunz) in the U.S. Army.

#2:  You are the CEO and Co-Founder of Smokngunz Records. Can you give a little background history of how the record label was created? What do you think is the most prominent factor that has helped the record label last this long? 

The Smokngunz was started in the barracks of 2-44 ADA in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Alexander Smith III (Smoke Digga), Haywood Clark (Wood District), and myself, Anthony Baker, Jr. (Bigbake) would have cyphers. Smoke Digga originally had the name for a group that he was rapping with earlier but they never used it. We like it so it stuck with us.

#3:  Who were some of your most important musical influences growing up? 

Music is my drug. I have kept it going on my own. Wood District is now a gospel singer and Smoke Digga is a family man. I just couldn’t give it up. I would do music for free if I would be able to live and prosper as well. I listened to music more than I watched television as a child. My mom used to blast Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, All of the Jacksons (together and apart LOL), Whitney Houston, and so many more. My father was more into bands. He played the guitar in a band when I was a child. Through him I listened to Prince, Maserati, The Gap Band etc. As I got older I listened to N.W.A., Rob Base, Salt-N-Pepa, Too $hort, Twista, Outkast, Tela, and waaayyy to many more artists to name. I have always been a music head.

#4:  Do you remember the very first hip-hop song you ever wrote? If so can you share what it was about?

The first song I wrote when I figured out that music would be my journey was called “A Nigga Like Me.” It was pretty much about a paranoid soldier’s thoughts in the military. It was very angry.

#5: What many elements do you think that current hip-hop artists are missing from their music right now?

Before the era of Kendrick Lamar and cast ( J Cole, Wale, etc.) I felt that the game was in a state of no substance. Drake opened that door again with the more sensitive rap, which was an ingenious move, then Kendrick Lamar blew the doors down. Now me are (rap is) more conscious again.

#6:  How would you describe your sound in four words? Explain the reason you picked each of those words.

My sound in four words:  Real, Militant, Truth, and Raw.

Real because it isn’t loosely based on my life, its what was happening at that point in my life.

Militant because I like to preach a lot, give directives and examples.

Truth because it is true LOL.

Raw because before the Drakes, Kendrick Lamars, and a few others, people wouldn’t say the things I say.

#7:  You have a blog on Tumblr (The Official Smokngunz Records Blog).  Explain what information you have on the blog site.

http://bigbake01.tumblr.com/ is raw and random at the moment. It will be informative about the movements of my associates and I. LOL (don’t judge me)

#8:  What gives you the most inspiration when you create lyrical content to your music?

Life gives me all of my inspiration. If I feel like being faithful or in love, that’s what I write about. If I feel like hopping in these streets and getting back to the grind, that’s what my music will focus on.

#9: What does the future hold for Smokngunz Records and Bigbake in the next 10 years?

I will be signing a few artists and releasing projects in the next 1 to 2 years. More signing at first. We will continue to be global. I will continue to push what we already have on the networks now, and simply grow and develop.

#10: Is there anything you want to share with the readers or your fans about any upcoming events to look out for?

You can check out the two singles that we already released:

Bigbake feat. Truth B. Told – “Hustler’s Anthem” (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hustlers-anthem-feat.-truth/id604365673)

Bigbake – “Next Level” (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/next-level-single/id590788950)

You can hit me up on ALL of the social media sites @bigbake01 (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, etc.)

Thanks Bigbake for allowing me to interview you. I appreciate it. I also want to salute him for serving our country in the Armed Forces and protecting us back at home. Much love and respect for that.

Listed below are links to check out Bigbake’s music as well as his blog site on Tumblr.

Official Smokngunz Records blog on Tumblr: http://bigbake01.tumblr.com/

Bigbake’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/bigbake01

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/bigbake01

Bigbake’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealBigbake

MySpace Page: https://myspace.com/bigbake01

If any artists are in need of getting digital distribution check out the ANB Distribution website: http://www.anbdistribution.com/

Again, you can also follow him on Twitter: @bigbake01

Stay Classy, Homies ^_^

20 Random Facts About AshleyNerdStar

Why hello there? ^_^. Since I am making a fresh new start in maintaining this awesome blog of mine, I thought I would share some random facts about me. Just so you can get to I am bearing my soul to you people. So here we go:

#1: I am scared of thunder. Thunder Buddies unite!

#2: My two favorite foods in the whole wide world are: tacos and blueberry pancakes.

#3: One of my biggest fears is not being able to reach my dreams.

#4: One of my favorite comedy movies is Stepbrothers.

#5: If I ever get a puppy, which I will, I shall name it Marshmallow or maybe even Josie. I shall love it with every fiber of my being.

#6: I loved cereal so much that I came up with at least 8 cereal combinations. I will share that with you later.

#7: My favorite NBA team is the Boston Celtics.

#8: When I eat gum, I eat 2 or 3 pieces at a time.

#9: I used to read books all the time when I was little. Some of my favorite books that I read were Judy Blume books. Favorite Judy Blume Books: Freckle Juice and Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret?

#10: I used to take tap and ballet dance classes when I was little.

#11: I used to play basketball. Now I am totally obsessed playing softball.

#12: I always had a dream of becoming a b-girl and dance in a crew.

#13: I wanted to be a doctor growing up as a kid. I thought of being to be a Neurosurgeon or go into Pediatrics.

#14: I go by many nicknames: Carter, AC, AshBandicoot, Ash Bash, Ash, and Ash Loney (Older cousins used to call me that as a kid) just to name a few.

#15: I can sing. I pick up lyrics and melodies really good by ear. I can sing soprano, alto, and tenor.

#16: I would like to take a huge road trip across the US and visit my family. I also would like to travel different places in the world like Korea, Japan, Africa, the UK, and more.

#17: I still watch cartoons. My favorite show that I love at the moment is Regular Show.

#18: In my lifetime I have only cried watching of three the following movies: The Lion King, Ghost, and The Color Purple. Don’t judge me.

#19: There are three inspiring people that I would love to meet to gain  more knowledge and wisdom from: Steve Harvey, Kevin Powell, and Oprah.

#20: Dream job that I am working towards: Entertainment Magazine Writer.

Hopefully this allows you to get to know me a little bit better. If you would like to share some random facts about you, feel free to. Don’t be scared. I am always up for meeting new people are learning more about them.

Stay Classy, Homies ^_^. 

Allow Me to Introduce Myself

Hey my name is AshleyNerdStar. And this is my brief story of how a girl from Saginaw, Michigan gave birth to something creatively special. Follow me if you will on this journey through the art of storytelling.

On November of 2011, I had a dream. I had a dream of creating one of the most interesting blogs in the history of my own mind. So the “AshNerdStar Hip-Hop Music Blog” was born. The blog initially focused on Hip-Hop music and culture. Readers of the blog liked it very much. In August of that same year, I stopped writing blog posts completely. Okay, I’ll be honest with you all. I was slacking. I procrastinated. I became a little bit overwhelmed. Why? Maybe I was afraid of just pushing myself into making this blog a big success as time progressed. Maybe I was just afraid of my own abilities. But I made a solemn vow to myself, that I would return, and keep writing no matter what.

So during the time of me taking a break, I had so many awesome ideas flowing through my big head of mine. I changed the blog name from “AshNerdStar Hip-Hop Music Blog” to “The AshNerdStar Report.” Why you may ask? I shall gladly tell you my fellow homies. The first reason I changed it was because I felt like the blog posts I was doing was in “reporting to the masses” format. I felt I was sharing content that I thought was cool in an interesting and constructive manner. The second reason why I changed the name was because I was really tired of saying “AshNerdStar Hip-Hop Music Blog.” It was too long. Third reason of why I changed the name because “The AshNerdStar Report” sounded pretty darn catchy.

About six months, ago I stumbled on this social networking site called “YouNow.” The website is a magical world where you can broadcast live and share your many talents to complete strangers. It allows you to interact and meet people in a cool way. Ah, the joys of the internet. One of my good friends Belle Bee (AKA Baby Mama) told me about this Cover Song Contest they were having. Yes ladies and gentlemen I can sing. I went on the website a few days before the open call of the contest to check it out. I have never heard of YouNow until Belle told me about it. Thought it was pretty cool. The open call for the contest took place a few days after that. I managed to make it to the semi-finals and then to the finals. Unfortunately I didn’t win the contest. I finished in the top eight out of over a thousand or more singers who participated.

After the Cover Song Contest had ended, I was invited to broadcast on the Featured Channel for about a week. During that time I really enjoyed broadcasting. There are people who actually became fans of me. Can you believe that?!?! Me! Apparently I don’t bore them when I broadcast just talking about random stuff or singing. So I made up my mind to keep coming on YouNow. Now I broadcast quite frequently on the website. I have also met and talked to so many cool talented people. Now my story transitions to the present. I hope that I have not lost you. If I have well I will write the Cliff Notes version of this story at a later date.

As I stated before, I have met so many interesting, cool, and talented people on YouNow. A few weeks ago, I started thinking how great it would be to interview and write blog posts about them. I wanted to promote what they love to do and why they share their talents so others can love it too. In addition to those interviews I also wanted to talk about all kinds of music that I am into. I am still going to talk about hip-hop, sneakers and other dope things I love. Don’t worry. I guess I just wanted to expand my writing horizons and discuss about many different things.

My dream job is still the same. I would like to be an entertainment magazine writer. It would be cool to interview musicians, actors, photographers, in addition to doing music, TV show, and movie reviews. Maybe dab into a little bit of opinion pieces here and there. I feel that this is my calling. So I wanted to re-ignite my passion for writing and keep that sum bitch fired up! I hope you all will join in this journey with me. Because it is always good for others to support your own dreams to take flight and at the same time help with theirs.

That ends my reintroduction of why I wanted to make a fresh start with this blog.

That I shall leave you with this quote for you to ponder upon:

“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” — Jessie Owens

If you don’t know who Jessie Owens is, Google it.

Stay Classy, Homies ^_^.

Additional Note: I still have the blog on Tumblr, but I decided to make one on here to gain more followers.