B&E Weekly Jams: 4/16 – 4/22/24

414 Day has come and gone, but there’s tons to celebrate in Milwaukee, including the city’s music scene. Catch up in this week’s B&E Weekly Jams! This week, we’ve got new music from Gold Steps, Klassik, Myaap featuring Chicken P and so much more. It’s definitely a good moment to check in with Milwaukee music, which is currently exploding. Don’t forget that you can check out more playlists by following Breaking And Entering on Spotify, get exclusive content on our Patreon, and check out this week’s playlist below:

AUDIO: JOSHUA JENKINS – “WHERE I’M FROM”

Joshua Jenkins’ newest heater is an open letter to all the haters. Listeners can easily visualize Jenkins spitting through a mean mug as he puts the game on notice about how where he’s from has made him different. Even stating that he started his own label at 14, Jenkins makes this single the newest set piece in the upward trajectory of his career.

VIDEO: Joshua Jenkins – “On The Way”

Joshua Jenkins returned with a new video recently, and he’s hungry as always with “On The Way” from his project “None Of This Is Promised.” Joshua mixes the substantial bars with the melodies on this one, pushing himself forward in every aspect of his life. It’s a track about trusting the process, and doing whatever you can in your power to get ahead. The video from Rob Randolph has Joshua in the streets and alleys performing the track, but you can see the determination in his delivery with each bar. “On The Way” is part raps but all motivation, and you can check out the clip below:

AUDIO: Joshua Jenkins – “None Of This Is Promised”

Looking to get a jump on 2024, Joshua Jenkins put out a new project just days before the new year kicked off, with “None Of This Is Promised.” With an ever-present energy on the microphone, you can hear the chip on his shoulder when he raps, although the new project brings an added depth of gained wisdom as well. With 15 tracks in total, Jenkins isn’t one to skimp on material, and all of it brings quality with a persistence that has been a core component of his sound. He raps about being patient, finding his opportunities, and grinding to get to the next ones. Check out the album below:

AUDIO: Joshua Jenkins – “Higher Place”

Joshua Jenkins has new music that dropped over the weekend, and he’s focused on elevating on “Higher Place.” The premise of the song is simple; you’re either with Jenkins or against him, and if he has to cut some people out of his life along the way, so be it. Jenkins is focused, and you can hear that not only from the lyrics, but in the delivery of his vocals as well. When he gets locked in, Joshua Jenkins is a force to be reckoned with, and he’s certainly growing with confidence on tracks like this one. Check out “Higher Place” below:

VIDEO: Joshua Jenkins – “Emotions”

Hip hop artist Joshua Jenkins collaborated with Famous Motion & Photography on the visual for his latest single. He’s found out in the nature preserve having a day to himself, with his positivity shining as bright as the sun. Jenkins raps about not letting intense feelings get in the way of focus; he lets himself breathe as he moves with intention, betting on himself the whole way. Joshua Jenkins is all about the right mindset with “Emotions” – check it out!

AUDIO: Joshua Jenkins – “Profits”

Joshua Jenkins’ new single, “Profits,” is a track full of raw talent and ambition. With a brooding beat and confident energy, Jenkins effortlessly delivers lyrics about his pursuit of wealth and success. The song features a veteran flow and commanding presence, solidifying his position as a constant in Milwaukee hip hop. Only his second single of the year, “Profits” leaves fans eagerly anticipating what Jenkins has in store for the future. As has been apparent for some time, Jenkins is dedicated to achieving his goals and leaving his mark. Check out “Profits” below:

B&E Weekly Jams Presented by Bublr Bikes: 3/28 – 4/3/23

There’s lots of excitement surrounding Milwaukee music right now, especially with the spring and summer concert seasons right around the door. We’ve got that captured this week with our B&E Weekly Jams presented by Bublr Bikes, which covers just some of the higlights coming out of the city. This week, check out new tracks from Grace Weber, 2Hi, Mwgli and many more! Don’t forget that you can check out more playlists by following Breaking And Entering on Spotify, get exclusive content on our Patreon, and check out this week’s playlist below:

AUDIO: Joshua Jenkins – “Just Getting Started”

Rapper Joshua Jenkins released his latest single, “Just Getting Started,” at the end of February, and it’s clear that his undeniable determination is on full display in this track. Jenkins’ verses are filled with raw emotion and an unwavering drive to succeed, making it impossible not to root for him. The mellow beat that he raps over perfectly complements his vocals, allowing him to showcase his talent and creativity in a way that is both authentic and refreshing. Jenkins demonstrates his commitment to staying on his grind and making progress in the Milwaukee music scene, and it’s clear that his hard work and dedication are paying off. “Just Getting Started” is a testament to Jenkins’ talent and his unwavering determination to succeed.

AUDIO: Joshua Jenkins – “Strange”

Joshua Jenkins has his third project of the year out, and you get the best of both worlds on “Strange.” As we heard on his previous drops this year, Jenkins works within varying degrees of substance on his songs, ranging from very meaningful tracks to healthy flexes that reflect where he came from and the swagger that possesses. “Strange” mixes those, with production from Spacecrime and Regal that have different feels altogether. The project shows Jenkins’ ability to handle beats and different topics with ease, weaving the two styles together seamlessly. It’s the latest addition to a catalog that is making waves this year, and you can listen to “Strange” here below:

B&E Weekly Jams Presented by Bublr BIkes: 5/23 – 5/29/21

With it finally feeling like summer, and the world looking more and more open, it feels like time to celebrate. That being said, Milwaukee music is ready for the warm weather, and that’s represented in this week’s B&E Weekly Jams presented by Bublr Bikes! This week, we’ve got new music from Reyna, Ian Ewing, D. Bridge & Renz Young and more! Don’t forget that you can get more playlists by following Breaking And Entering on Spotify, and check out this week’s playlist below:

AUDIO: Joshua Jenkins – “Spray Some”

Hip hop artist Joshua Jenkins has a new single out. It’s a hype-up tune about getting the party lit as he walks in; he’s ready to jump around and bring an explosive energy to the crowd. He doesn’t need permission from anyone to do it, either. You can tell from Jenkins’ output thus far this year that he’s having a ton of fun dropping music again, and this song is a perfect example of him bringing out that excitement.

VIDEO: Joshua Jenkins – “Attack On Titan”

Even with two projects out, Joshua Jenkins is letting the new music flow freely. With another project on the way later this year, he’s got the video for “Attack On Titan” out now. Produced by 8key, the track lives on bended notes and percussion that knocks just a little lighter than your average single. Jenkins is relentless with the flow, though, delivering bars like nobody’s business. While he kept a lower profile in 2020, Joshua Jenkins isn’t holding back this year. Check out the clip for “Attack On Titan” below:

VIDEO: Joshua Jenkins – “Lie 2 Me”

Hip hop artist Joshua Jenkins has another video out from his recent project “Chop Wood, Carry Water.” SaucedBrothers directed this one; Jenkins is shown in downtown Milwaukee as well as in his neighborhood, rapping about needing people to be honest and direct with him. He came from rough circumstances and therefore only has time for those with the right intentions. Anything less has him losing his mind; just because you could be family doesn’t mean you deserve his time. With “Lie 2 Me” Joshua Jenkins champions positivity and prosperity to align with his vision for Milwaukee’s creative scene.

B&E WEekly Jams Presented by Bublr Bikes: 4/18 – 4/24/21

We’re moving quickly through spring and into a busy summer, and the Milwaukee music scene is ahead of things with this week’s B&E Weekly Jams presented by Bublr Bikes! This week, we have a plethora of new music, including tracks from Larry Bull, Tay Drummond, Dinner Set Gang, Trapper Schoepp and more. Don’t forget to follow Breaking And Entering on Spotify for more playlists, and check out this week’s playlist below:

AUDIO: Joshua Jenkins – “Chop Wood, Carry Water”

Hip hop artist Joshua Jenkins has dropped his long-anticipated new album. Working with producer Spacecrime, Jenkins raps about hard work paying off across seven songs. The title refers to his mindset of nothing being perceived as a loss; everything is growth and lessons. He hasn’t taken any breaks and he’s spent a lot of time isolated to roll this out right. Fellow artist Bria features on “Overcomer” in a sentimental tale of the marathon it is to succeed in the music game; tears are shed and fears are conquered. Joshua Jenkins puts his highs and lows side-by-side with “Chop Wood, Carry Water” and he’s also got a companion EP “A Very Bad Thing” out along with it.

AUDIO: Joshua Jenkins – “Chaos”

Hip hop artist Joshua Jenkins has his first drop of the year out; it’s a song where he confronts survival. Everything is part of a plan and you’ll always make it out. After highs and lows, Jenkins has weathered the storm and is using what he’s learned to bring greatness to the world. Both personally and from a worldly perspective, these messages can resonate with all out of what we’ve been through this past year. We’re thrilled to see Joshua Jenkins back at it and hope to hear more soon.

AUDIO: Spaidez – “I ❤ BLACK WOMEN (STAND UP!)”

Spaidez is constantly working, and that allows for him to be topical if the situation calls for it. That’s the case for his latest EP, “I ❤ Black Women (Stand Up!)”, which he released on YouTube. Each song has a message, including opener “Living Single (Act 1)”, which ends abruptly when it’s time for the male perspective of the song to stop speaking. Act 2 of the song features Tyrone Randle, and also links to a GoFundMe to help with medical bills for injuries sustained while protesting and being hit by a car. The closer, “Foe The Birds” features Tru West and Joshua Jenkins for a strong way to wrap things up. The overarching theme of the EP is to stand up for Black women, and Spaidez is here to provide that. Check out the project below:

AUDIO: Spaidez – “Full Deck Baby”

A few months ago, Spaidez had informed the world that he was in album mode, and we’re seeing the final product of that work today with the release of his fifth studio album, “Full Deck Baby”. With ten tracks in total, the energy stays high on this one, anchored by singles like recent drop, “Elbow”. There’s also a total of eight features on the project, keeping things fresh at every twist and turn with different vocal styles and cadences. Spaidez works harder than most artists in the city, and consistently puts out work to match the amount of effort that he puts in, and this is a great addition to that catalog. Check out “Full Deck Baby” here below:

VIDEO: Mr. Nice Guy with Joshua Jenkins

One of our contributors, Ben Slowey, is more than on top of the local music scene. In addition to his work for Breaking And Entering, he also hosts the Mr. Nice Guy podcast, an interview-based show that reaches out to Milwaukeeans for conversations about what motivates them. Many of these shows fittingly involve the local music scene, and we’ll be sharing some of them here as well.

For this episode, Ben sits down with Joshua Jenkins, whose new album “Darnell’s Way” dropped over the summer and is out on all streaming platforms. They discussed music as a coping mechanism, Joshua’s new project, studying your craft, doing what’s necessary for yourself, and carrying legacies of those who have passed. You can check out more episodes of Mr. Nice Guy on YouTube, and check out this interview below:

#MKEMusicMonday Roundup: 8/13/19

Every week on Twitter, we share the Milwaukee music that gets sent to us. This is usually a good way to check out some of Milwaukee’s newest upcoming artists. We call it #MKEMusicMonday. Here are your #MKEMusicMonday submissions for August 13th, 2019:

AUDIO: Joshua Jenkins – “Motel”

Milwaukee artist Joshua Jenkins is moving just a little bit differently these days. It feels like with every release, including his latest “Motel”, Jenkins is elevating his game on the microphone. The Mike Regal-produced single showcases that, and with the aid of a vintage-infused beat, we get to see the Milwaukee emcee shine with an energetic flow. Not many artists are able to match the feel of their live shows on a recorded track, but you mentally get the image of Jenkins bouncing around while delivering these verses, full of pride of bars, including those surrounding his heritage. It’s refreshing to hear a confidence like Jenkins’ from a young artist, and you can check it out by streaming “Motel” below:

Big Beat MKE: Opening Round Night 4 Recap

ADHD

The final night of the opening round of Big Beat MKE 2019 was no joke, as another big crowd filed into Jackalope Lounj for two incredible battles, plus energetic performances from Josh Jenkins and G-Gifted. With matchups between Spice God and MystiK MusiK, and Spacecrime vs. Beat Council, nobody was holding back when it came to trying to move to the next round.

The opening contest was between Spice God and MystiK MusiK, and it definitely set the bar for what was going to be a spectacular night. Spice God brought lots of bass from the jump, but MystiK MusiK wasn’t reeling, packing a punch of his own. A particular highlight was a Mortal Kombat themed beat from MystiK MusiK, complete with “Finish him!” and “Fatality!” samples. Before the third round was even finished, there were hands with four fingers up in the crowd, asking for an overtime round. It was a tough call, but Spice God ended up getting the win, moving on to the quarterfinals on June 6th.

G-Gifted

The second contest of the night matched that same energy, as Spacecrime went toe-to-toe with a trio of producers in Beat Council. Both contestants brought out their gear, adding samples and adding to their tracks for the crowd. Host Twan Mack wasn’t satisfied after three highly contested rounds, so we went to overtime once again. Spacecrime almost fended off three producers, but in the end, Beat Council narrowly edged out the win, by a margin of only one vote from the judges. They’ll move on to the quarterfinals on June 6th as well.

After one round of competition, Big Beat MKE is already shaping up to be absolutely bananas going forward. We still have four more nights to be contested, and crowd reaction does factor into the scoring, so make sure you get to Jackalope Lounj on Thursdays to experience the madness live! Here’s your updated bracket below:

VIDEO: Josh Jenkins – “Melanin”

The ability to make a statement that reaches people is within very few people, but the latest video from Milwaukee artist Josh Jenkins, “Melanin”, does exactly that. The track in itself is a strong representation of the social issues affecting people of color, predominately African-Americans, but the video makes multiple statements on a new level. In addition to performance clips of the track from “Lionh3arted”, visuals including confederate flags, chains, and news report footage about the death of Dontre Hamilton and other notable deaths at the hands of police. The clip ends with an image and description of the death of Latare Nixon, who was killed by Milwaukee Police. It’s a profound impact to make in one music video, but Jenkins does so in a way that drives the messages at hand home. Check out the video for “Melanin” below:

AUDIO: ADHD – “No Days Off”

There’s enormous potential for ADHD to make a significant impact in Milwaukee’s hip hop scene, and they’ve already begun to do that with their latest EP, “No Days Off”. Comprised of G Gifted, JalenG, and Joshua Jenkins, the group is able to hold their own as solo artists, as well as a collective unit. The energy stays up on this one, featuring production from H.C.L.L.S., Swank God, and Pimpmall, as well as a cameo from Craig Jackson. If you’ve ever seen the group live, you know that the EP will carry over to their show well. With three releases under their belts now, ADHD is doing a solid job of cementing themselves in Milwaukee, and you can hear their progression on “No Days Off” below: