To promote the message that violence is wrong, local radio host Bigg Eddie Bauer created a YouTube video of 34 local rap artists who rap about ending gang violence, dispelling negative images and uplifting the poor.
The video, “Mud Massacre II,” was a monumental effort, said Bauer, of “Toledo’s Blazin’ Hip-Hop and R&B” station Hot 97.3 WJZE. Many of the artists have gang affiliations, Bauer said, and part of making the video was to put those rivalries to rest.
“As you know, the city is filled with violence, gang-banging and negative images of the poor and impoverished, but I was able to put together a project where artists, who may have problems with each other due to rivalries, worked together to shine a positive image and collaborative spirit on the music scene in Toledo,” he said.
The video was modeled after a similar video, called “Cincinnati Riots,” made in Cincinnati, where Bauer is originally from.
That led to “Mud Massacre,” which featured 20 artists and was released in October 2013. “Mud Massacre II” was released in December and features two parts, “Chuckie” and “Zion.” Bauer decided on the beats for the video and enlisted two producers from Toledo, Yung Chuck and duo Derrick Holcomb Jr. and Chuck “da Deuce” Browne aka The Beetz.
The project took two to three months to complete. The song “Chuckie” features 16 artists and “Zion” features 18.
“It was totally my creation from the ground up,” Bauer said. “After [the artists] sent the verses back, I spent many hours and days listening until the song was completed. Then we shot each person’s individual scenes.”
Bauer said at one time he wanted to be a rapper, but had no luck in the music industry so he went into broadcasting. His show “#GIMMEMYSHINE” airs 2-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. He hopes his video gives rap artists in the city their moment to shine.
“If I’m not going to be an artist, the least I can do is give artists a platform,” he said.
Some of the artists in the video include Stink Bomb, whom Bauer called the “hottest artist in the city,” Cuntry, Thee Untouchable, Mike Wit da Goldz, Yung Chuck, G5Juan, 7 Diamond, Prophet Mocmoud, Geech, Jimmy Paid and Kane.
“Mud Massacre” has 56,000 views on YouTube. So far, “Mud Massacre II” has gotten 10,000 hits in its first month.
“It’s called ‘Mud Massacre’ because Toledo is known as the mud and they’re killing the rap,” Bauer said. “That’s where it came from. … They’re killing it. They’re doing their best to get their shine on.”
Yung Chuck, the architect of “Chuckie” who boasts a national fan base, said he got involved with the video to showcase Toledo’s talent and to emphasize his core message. Yung Chuck said he had a difficult beginning in life; his mother did drugs and he moved in with his grandparents.
“I had a crazy life,” he said. “My whole movement is about uplifting, doing for yourself. When people say you can’t do anything, you can do it.”
Yung Chuck has been in the industry for two years and rapping for 10. In 2012, he went national with the group Educate Portege and can be seen in many of their videos.
Artist Mike Flamez has been a part of the rap scene in Toledo for 12 years. He contributed the first verse in “Zion.”
“It’s just an amazing thing Eddie put together,” Flamez said. “There’s not a lot of DJs in the area that take the time to do something like this. From my perspective, it is very well-appreciated. You just have to do everything for yourself in Toledo. Eddie is putting in his own money and time. It’s just a beautiful thing really because around here there is a lot of negativity, so it’s good we have something more positive to be about.”
