lune 22. 2005
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page C3
in Il!f sp o rtia n i» (© bseruer
Laying Tracks®Music
Star athlete achieves in new pursuit
by N icole H ooper
T he P ortland O bserver
Because of his promising past as
an NBA hopeful, some people see
Antoine Stoudamire as nothing but
a basketball star. But Stoudamire
debunks that typecast with his
pursued of another love, music.
The Portland native released his
first CD “Rebirth," in 2003, showing
the world that a handsome six foot
three athlete can be multi-talented.
This month, he released his second
and self-titled CD “Madgesdiq.”
The 33-year-old cousin of Port-
landTrail Blazer Damon Stoudamire
took the name Madgesdiq because
to him it means, “ Powerful, spiritual
and inspiring all rolled into one.”
Madgesdiq does not have the
larger than life, wannabee “bling
bling” persona that many would
expect from an MTV rapper or an
NBA player. Instead, he is calm and
his music is poetic instead of full of
rage and sexual vulgarities.
He said to pivot from basketball
to music took determination. In the
process he turned around a mindset
for those who loved him.
“Basketball was ingrained in my
family from an early age,” he said.
“But I was charting off on a differ­
ent road.”
Madgesdiq can now look at his
family as his biggest supporters.
“My friends see my mother sell­
ing my C D 's to church members,”
he said.
He said his new album is less
egotistical than his first, one he
described as “word play.” This time
around the album is more about life
experience and motivation.
When Madgesdiq isn’t perform­
ing, he works at Montego Bay Ja­
maican restaurant as a waiter and
also at Music Millennium.
“Working at a place that sells my
CD has been a humbling experi­
ence,” he said. “Everyone isn’t
moved enough to buy my CD, but
I haven't heard anything negative
from customers.”
In the music business, an aspir­
ing talent may get many rejections
before someone believes in them.
photo by N icole H ooper TT he P ortland O bserver
Madgesdiq (also known as Antoine Stoudamire) has turned in plays on the court fora successful music career.
On “R ebirth,” M adgesdiq pro­
duced the CD along with. High
Brow. This time around, Stoudamire
has B&M Management as a sup­
port system.
From a commercial standpoint,
-Madgesdiq (akaAntoineStoudamlm)
his music is described as more like
Common, who has had some level of
said Madgesdiq.
cross over success but nothing com­ positive he still has his favorites.
“Jay-Z is one of the most witty
Listening to Madgesdiq is not
pared to bad boys 50Cent or Eminem.
Even though, Madgesdiq doesn't rappers out there, and you can tell for getting up and shaking your
think that commercial rap is all that he takes time to make his rhymes," booty at the club. Instead, you will
Many alive commit suicide
lookin' cool in physical terms
hut dyin’ inside.
want to be someplace quiet so you
can chill, listen and enjoy the words
of the positive songs or listen to the
melancholy in songs like Poetic
Justice.
An example of his lyrics include
“Suggest you follow your own
dreams instead, if not might as well
kill yourself dead one to the head,”
and “Many alive commit suicide
lookin' cool in physical terms but
dyin’ inside.”