Patiently Waiting
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ise men have always said, “Timing is everything,” and that couldn’t be truer for Memphis’ own Paid Respect Eastside Promoting Swag Stupid a.k.a. “The P.R.E.P.S.” The trio of Freestyle, Polo Richie, and ‘NSane the Freshman was in the right place at the right time when they saw rapper Kia Shine at the barbershop. “We ran into him at the barbershop and we asked him to listen to our music. He didn’t even want to give us back our CD,” Freestyle recalls. “At the time, they had a record called ‘All We Do is Get Money,’ and it was really hot,” interjects Kia Shine. Before then, the P.R.E.P.S. were just three solo artists who had created a hot record. It was Kia Shine’s idea to formulate the trio into a group. “People were coming up to the truck asking me, ‘Shine, is this new music yours? and I was like ‘No, it’s theirs’,” Shine says. Shortly after meeting up with Kia Shine, the trio
officially became a group. “Instead of us coming up with a name, the name sort of came to us,” Polo Richie explains. “We’re from East Memphis. We have our own trend and our own style.” However, their style is in no comparison to anybody else that’s from Memphis. Their music is fresh, innovative, and within its own genre. “You wouldn’t even think it’s the same group,” explains Kia Shine. “They’re not just artists, they’re producers as well. They have a little more substance than those who compare them to other artists.” Within ten months of recording as a group, the trio has a new video debuting on MTV for their single “White Vee.” They even have a major mixtape dropping called First Semester with Don Cannon. “As far as music is concerned, we’re taking everybody back to the basics,” says Shine.
together, their music has developed over time. Freestyle and Polo Richie sold beats under their production team BNR and ‘N Sane the Freshman was previously known as “East Memphis.” Together, the trio offers a brand new sound that has its own flavor of fusion. “It’s like we’re leaders of the new Memphis,” says Polo Richie. “Trust me when I say ‘White Vee’ is the simplest record we have,” says Kia Shine. While the trio continues to grind, they’re not limiting their options. “We’re working with a lot of different producers from Drumma Boy to KE,” they explain. “But first we are definitely going to define who we are first.” Words by Lexi Lex
They’re more than grateful for the artists and DJs, in Memphis and beyond, that have recognized their music. Although they’re a fresh group
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