Story Created:
Sep 22, 2008
Story Updated:
Oct 9, 2008
Mother, Son Create Hip Hop With Positive Message
Carole Meekins
Katie DeLong
MILWAUKEE - When you think of hip hop, do you think of racy images?
You may want to think again, after you hear one Milwaukee group. They’re entertaining others with a strong beat and a positive message.
Music: “Who are we? The Double Team Players. What else do you see?”
They might be the coolest mother/son singing team you’ve ever seen. They’re Da Double Teamm Play-yazz, and they’re Positively Milwaukee.
Music: “’Cause we’re Double Team Players and we got your back. We’re like a sign of stress relief with a hip hop attack.”
“We try to catch you with the beat, so the kids will sing the hook and listen to the message, which is always positive,” Shemmi Gyeez said.
Forty-five year old Gyeez and her 16-year-old son Bray Jaay have toured the country with their talents.
TODAY’S TMJ4’s Carole Meekins: “Shemmi, looking at these pictures, I can see that you have been all over the area performing all over the place. These are great.”
Their hip hop is positive. Their lyrics promote peace and they use their music to urge kids to reject violence, drugs and bad behaviors.
Music: “We don’t like to fuss and we don’t want to fight, and we’re only trying to motivate to do what’s right.”
Gyeez says her son, Bray Jaay got her involved with motivational hip hop when he was just two and a half years old. They’ve been performing together ever since.
Music: ”We’re going to do our thing, let it ring out loud, till everybody shout out our name.”
“I really like teens and kids and I hope my music can help them be stronger in school, stop some of the violence and let them know everything ain’t negative. You got to work really hard for what you want,” Gyeez said.
Mom and son often take their act to schools. Young people listen because it’s a language they understand.
Bray Jaay knows he’s lucky to be able to work with his mother.
“I’m smart enough to know everybody’s mom ain’t like this. I have friends. They mom ain’t like this. Some don’t even know they mom,” Bray Jaay said.
Music: “We don’t want to hurt no folks. We only bring hope, ‘cause we don’t like dope.”
“Bray Jaay is glad mom leads him away from bad influences.
“She took time to keep me out of the streets and running around and I know that and I thank her and love her for that because if I was out here I’d be doing the same thing probably,” Bray Jaay said.
“I’m having a great time. You can do anything you want if you put your mind to if you want to,” Gyeez said.
This dynamic duo is striking a chord with our youth, proving the hip hop beat can be filled with music and lyrics parents want kids to hear.
Gyeez and Bray Jaay are planning to appear on BET and they continue entertaining kids at schools throughout the area.