Sugar Junkie BTS from Bryon Summers on Vimeo.
Based out of College Park, Maryland, the band, Sugar Junkie has a lot of energy, and we captured some of it. We recently got a chance to ask them a few questions and snap a few pics of them in their natural habitat, so sit back and get to know Jamel, Anthony, and Shov. Oh yea, grab some candy while you’re at it.
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For everyone trying to break into the music industry, it’s common knowledge that the business is not for the faint of heart. Many artists and producers spend years perfecting their craft. Through studying their music, creating their own brands, and having a passion for their dreams, Armando Cadogan Jr. and Jamaal Castang are determined to create a name for themselves in the entertainment world.
Armando Cadogan Jr., better known as Hip-Hop recording artist Panama, started his journey in Baltimore, MD. As a theatre major at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Panama landed a role on HBO’s hit TV series, The Wire. On Season 1, during the third episode, he was cast as a drug dealer. Although the role was brief, Panama was called back for Season 4 as Bubble’s tormentor. While gaining recognition on the award-winning show, Panama was also in several industrial films for companies, such as The American Red Cross and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
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B. Summers
For the D.C., Maryland, Virginia, metropolitan area (DMV), good rappers are hardly a dime-a-dozen. This is not the result of a lack of talent in the metro area; instead, it is in my opinion, due to the DMV’s beloved Go-Go. Go-Go is a subculture of the Hip-hop culture. In fact, today’s Go-Go music consists of recycled raps and song lyrics over a live band’s beat tempo, which moderately resembles the original song.
The problem with the metro area’s unique musical genre is that the standards for membership in these bands aren’t very high. All you actually need to make a band, as far as vocalists and rappers go, is knowledge of popular song lyrics and maybe a trendy scratchy voice. For singers, you just have to attempt to hold a note.
Now the way the band sounds collectively doesn’t have a lot to do with the reason why the DMV doesn’t have a lot of rap stars, although, the individual sound of the aspiring rappers does. The standards are so low, that anybody and everybody who wants to rap does just that.
Recently, a few rising stars have shinned their way out of the category sub-par. Artists like R&B singer, Raheem DeVaughn, and rapper, Wale are now creating a new precedent for aspiring metro area artists. And don’t assume that these guys are getting their fame by “selling out” and loosing their DMV swag. They are actually using their love for Go-Go to gain exposure for themselves, as well as the metro area. With songs that either collaborate or point out the metro area trends like the Wale song Nike Boots , these artist bring a positive light to “The Area.”
They are proving that Go-Go is a gift and a curse. In my opinion, for every eight to 10 Go-Go bands, there is one good rapper and singer, and for maybe every 20 bands there is one great rapper and singer. But once in a lifetime there is a Wale, at least in my lifetime.
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