Brooklyn, NY via Miami. No genre. No inhibitions. No worries. Boogs-Milli is the type of artist you’d expect of his particular brand, but not quite what you get. Milli is serious about “doing [his] own thing right now.” Taking full responsibility for rejecting the conventional, he can’t see himself personified by one specific genre. Hip-hop, soul? This up-and-coming artist is intent upon blurring the lines. The Florida transplant remixed Grammy award-winning artist, Alicia Keys’, “Teenage Love Affair” and made it his own, saying, “Everyone feels like they have to have a set of songs. I’d rather do what I like.” Working with fellow local artists Mr. V, Gemini Soundz, and Shay-J & IshyBeatz is on that long list of likes, increasing the depth of a grassroots movement among the Gainesville music scene’s talent pool. Yet, for someone so local, Boogs-Milli’s plan includes reaching much farther than central Florida. “I love the global market. I feel like everyone can relate. What I do is something that’s fun. It’s about living life; it’s kosher,” he confessed. More personally, he hasn’t always received due praise living life. “It wasn’t until today,” he said, “that my father supported me.” A Journalism major at the University of Florida, Milli took on the jobs of school, employment, and Hip-Hop. Yet, the real effects of American economic hardships on the young artist’s life stressed him further. He laments, “I got laid off from my job because of the [economy].” Nevertheless, the torture of the times, in his opinion, is positively affecting Hip-hop. “We’re moving into a more conscious phase because of the recession. It’s not always about toting guns, but coming from the hood is real, especially now. If Hip-hop was dead, we resurrected it,” he said. A self-proclaimed Obama-supporter in this year’s Presidential Election, Milli still has faith in the direction the nation could take. He sees it as a time to pour support into education. “Let’s make music; support liberal arts. If you haven’t learned your history, then you know nothing. Educating yourself is a must. Be the next Malcom X or Booker T.” Boogs-Milli has already taken the first step to making his opinions known. The only request he has is that you “keep it positive.”

Boogs Milli