Brooklyn
Bowl Las Vegas, recently named “Best Live Music Venue” by Las Vegas Weekly and
“Best New Venue” by Vegas Seven, is thrilled to announce Waka Flocka Flame live
at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas.
Waka
Flocka Flame didn't want to be a rapper when he grew up. He didn't want to
write hit songs, perform in front of thousands of people at packed clubs or
hear his songs played on radio stations across the country. But more than a
year after bursting onto the scene with his debut single, "O Let's Do
It," the Atlanta rapper has managed to make more of an impact on the music
industry than most rappers who have spent their entire lives trying to do it.
And thanks to an influential cosign from fellow ATLien Gucci Mane, and a string
of chart-topping singles, including the remix to "O Let's Do It,"
featuring Rick Ross and Diddy, and his latest hit, "Hard In Da
Paint," it doesn't look like Waka Flocka is ready to quit rapping anytime
soon.
"I
never dreamed I would be doing what I'm doing today," says Waka, who
earned his unique nickname from a cousin when he was younger while they were
watching an episode of Jim Henson's classic puppet show, The Muppet Show (he
later added the "Flocka Flame" to the end of it at the suggestion of
Gucci Mane). "I never imagined I'd become a rapper, let alone a successful
rapper."
Born
Juaquin Malphurs in Queens, N.Y., Waka Flocka certainly had all the connections
to forge into music at a young age. He grew up around the corner from Murda
Inc. recording artist Ja Rule, lived near LL Cool J's grandmother and even had
a cousin who used to hang around the popular group Lost Boyz in the mid-1990s.
But when his mother Debra Mizay -- now the CEO of artist management group Mizay
Entertainment -- relocated the family to Riverdale, Georgia when Waka was 11,
he shied away from music and instead focused on his love for basketball. And
after his youngest brother died in automobile accident when Waka was just 14,
he moved even further away from it, instead opting to spend his time running
the streets of Atlanta with his friends.
"That
whole period of my life really messed with my head," says Waka. "I
ain't even gonna lie -- it killed me as a man. But it also made me stronger as
a man in the future."
At
18, Waka looked on as his mother began managing the career of Gucci Mane, who
had established himself as a force to be reckoned with in Atlanta at the time
by performing relentlessly throughout the South. Within two years, Waka began
messing around with music himself alongside local producer Tay Beatz, who
helped him shape his rambunctious personality on the microphone. "I was
going through so much at the time," says Waka. "I had so much stress
and so many issues. I couldn't release my emotions physically, so releasing them
verbally was the only option I had."
The
result was Waka's 2008 mixtape, "Salute Me or Shoot Me, Vol. 1,"
featuring the trap anthem, "O Let's Do It," a song that caught on
instantaneously in the A and quickly spread to other parts of the country. It allowed
Waka to take his show on the road and also earned him a coveted slot in Gucci
Mane's 1017 Brick Squad clique. "Gucci and them were kind of
shocked," says Waka, "because nobody really knew I was rapping and
then, all of a sudden, I had the biggest song in the South."
But
all the sudden success also took its toll on Waka. In January 2010, he was shot
several times at a car wash in Atlanta during an alleged robbery attempt. The
following month, legendary East Coast artist Method Man was doing an interview
on satellite radio and spoke out against Waka, criticizing the lack of lyricism
involved in crafting his style of music. He also endured a short rift in his
relationship with Gucci Mane recently after the rapper parted ways with his
mother's management company in May. The incidents earned Waka a reputation as
one of the most controversial artists in the industry -- a reputation that he
doesn't feel he deserves.
"People
have definitely gotten the wrong impression of me so far," says Waka.
"I don't know why they think I'm so controversial. I guess people just
don't know the real me yet. It's up to me to change their minds."
He's
spent the better part of 2010 doing exactly that. Earlier this summer, he
released "Hard In Da Paint," a catchy Lex Luger-produced track that
inspired a slew of freestyles by other artists. He also put the finishing
touches on his debut album, "Flockaveli" -- the first released
through So Icey/Asylum/Warner Bros. Records. Featuring the rowdy intro,
"Bustin' At 'Em," the strip club anthem, "No Hands,"
featuring Roscoe Dash and Wale, and the brutally-honest closing track,
"Fuck This Industry," it promises to be one of the most energetic
debut albums of the year.
By
naming it "Flockaveli," Waka -- who calls 2Pac his favorite rapper of
all-time -- is also doing more than just being controversial for the sake of
being controversial. "2Pac introduced me to a guy named Machiavelli,"
says Waka. "His back was always to the wall and people threw sticks and
stones at him and he had to keeping blocking them. When I recorded this album,
that's how I felt."
And
if anyone doesn't like it? "I don't care," says Waka. "I'm just
going to keep on making my music."
For a
guy who claims he never wanted to be a rapper, he's certainly come around to
the idea.
WAKA
FLOCKA FLAME.
Brooklyn
Bowl Las Vegas at The LINQ
3545
Las Vegas Blvd. South
SATURDAY,
APRIL 4, 2015 – 9:00 PM
Times:
Doors 8:30 PM || Show 9:00 PM
Ages:
18+ with ID welcome
Ticket
Prices: General admission tickets $20 ADV // $25 DOS plus applicable service
charges
Ticket
Info: Tickets are available online at www.ticketfly.com,
vegas.brooklynbowl.com, or to charge tickets by phone, call 702.862.2695.
Tickets available also at the Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas box office open daily at
noon.
For
additional information about Brooklyn Bowl, including the most up-to-date show
lineup, visit www.brooklynbowl.com. If you would like to be added to our email
list for first information about upcoming shows email
LasVegasNewsletter@BrooklynBowl.com. Brooklyn
Bowl Las Vegas is located at The LINQ, next to the High Roller Observation
Wheel on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.
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