Anyone with even a passing familiarity with modern rap music will know this statement from area rap artist Unkle Samm is something of an anomaly. “There is no cussing in my rap,” Sammy Eversole explains, who goes by the stage name Unkle Samm. “When I first started writing songs and performing, I would think about my mom being in the audience, and I just couldn’t see having swear words as part of the lyrics. Actually, when I was quite young my mom would give me money to buy CDs, and her only stipulation was that it not have a Parental Advisory sticker on the front. That got me in the habit of clean rap, I suppose.”
Sammy will be in concert in Madison this coming Sunday at 8pm, May 24th, at the Electric Lady. “I know it’s a Sunday, and normally people might not want to be out late, but this is Memorial Day weekend, so most people won’t have to work on Monday and I figured it would be a good night for the show.” This will be a ticketed event with tickets available on Eventbrite, or at the door. Doors will open around 7pm.
“I have two friends opening the show for me,” continues Sammy, “Arnold Wayne and Chazzy B. Also, an artist friend of mine will be displaying her work, she actually did my last album cover. Then after the show we plan to just hang out and socialize, make the most of our time together. It should be a lot of fun.
“I’m from Austin, Indiana, so not too far from Madison, but my brother is Taylor Eversole who plays and sings here a lot, so he kind of convinced me this would be a good town to put on a show. I started doing music in the 8th grade, but I didn’t devote myself full time to music until about 2 years ago. I put my first album out last year.
“People who know me and follow my music sometimes describe me as a ‘conscious rapper’, which I guess means I’m a bit more introspective and thoughtful than some of the mainstream rap. I’m not all about having the most money or the most women or whatever. I don’t act gangster. I write more about relationships and the normal things we all experience in life, like financial struggles and friendships and striving for happiness.
“And when I say my songs don’t have cuss words, that doesn’t mean they are all Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers. I deal with adult themes, some of the unpleasant things that many of us have to face in life. But when you commit to not using cuss words, it can be even more of a challenge. You can’t take the shortcut of some shocking word, you have to be clever and find a way to make just as much impact. I’ve been writing this way for so long now, I honestly don’t even think about it anymore.
“I like to think my songs are relatable, and I try to keep the rhyming witty and sometimes a bit humorous. I look up to Ludacris a lot for how rap can be clever and have a deeper meaning below the initial impression. I’ll try to use a metaphor to express one thing, but it can also suggest a deeper understanding when you think about it.
“The other thing people say about my music is they can understand what I’m saying, the lyrics are clear and easy to hear. I’m trying to share a message, that’s the whole reason I’m up on the stage, so I make a point to keep it clean and clear and crisp.
“I’m keeping ticket prices pretty low, just $12 in advance, so I’m hoping to see lots of new faces when I play in Madison. I encourage people to come out, give it a listen, and judge for themselves. There’s nothing like good rap music, and nothing like hearing it performed live.”
HOT TIP OF THE WEEK
Have you gotten down to Madison’s waterfront lately now that the weather is getting warmer? The scene along the river is lively and electric, with almost as many golf carts as cars on the street, and huge crowds at the parks, the playgrounds, and Chillbilly’s ice cream stand, now that it’s back open. But one of the true highlights of our outstanding mile long riverfront is the Lighthouse floating restaurant and bar. They are featuring live music down there starting mid-week with a recurring appearance of the ever-popular Beecamp Bottom Boys, and running every night til Saturday. Actually, we boated past the Lighthouse this past Sunday and there was a solo singer out on the deck, entertaining the impressive crowd. Madison has so many fun things to see and do all over the city, but the riverfront is a crown jewel, for sure. Hope to see you down there!
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