Money Monsters are giving their fans a taste of their ‘swavor’

Written/Interviewed By: Lakamar ‘Lucky’ Austin

North Carolina’s own Jaken “Ken” Alston and Demonte “Tae” Simmons are working to build a name for themselves around town, emerging as hip-hop duo the Money Monsters. With the release of their newest single “Swavor” these boys have their sights set on breaking through the local hip-hop music scene and making their mark. With Tae hailing from Roanoke Rapids, N.C. and Ken growing up in nearby Garysburg, these boys know it’s not easy trying to break through from small towns to the big time. Now seniors at Southern Guilford High School in Greensboro, this up-and-coming duo is determined to push forward and win over local fans by giving them a taste of their ‘swavor’.

“We don’t stop. If one place turns us down we go to another. I mean it’s just the grind. Everybody has to grind in the music business anyway. So we just grind. We already knew that Greensboro was going to be a challenge anyway that’s why we took the Charlotte route first. So, I guess you can say that we just don’t give up,” says Demonte Simmons.

CPM: Since 2010 you’ve been doing music together, how did you both initially meet?

Tae: We were practically raised together but when the record label was started we already knew the dudes that started it, and basically we linked up and been doing our music together for a year, almost two years now.

CPM: So how did Money Monsters come about, where did the name come from?

Tae: We are two young guys, [we] love to spend money, shopping wise, so we got that name from spending money really. But the name itself means [that] if it’s about money in a good way then, we’re down for getting the money; whatever it takes to get the money in a good way.

CPM: Where did you come up with the idea to combine the words “swag” and “flavor” into a single?

Ken: We came up with the word swavor from “swag” and “flavor” cause we was just playing around in the studio … we were like swag is getting old and everybody is saying it, so we have to find out something new. So, we put swag and flavor together because it was something different … and it also means Swag With A Vicious Original Reason.

CPM: What are some of the challenges you have faced being an independent hip-hop group in a smaller southern market like North Carolina?

Ken: One of the challenges we have is actually getting North Carolina to cooperate. That pretty much sums it up. North Carolina is one of the hardest places … say if we go to Charlotte or something. We can go there and rock out. If we were to go to our own city (Greensboro), it’s going to be a little harder.

CPM: So what is it that drives you to be successful and to not give up in the music industry?

Ken: We can say our families. If you see a struggle, you want to get out [of] that struggle.

CPM: Tell me a little more about the video that you have in the works.

Tae: They [are] going to love the video. It’s a live video of two teenagers, two young men, doing what young men do, basically. We’re crunk, we’re amped; we’re doing the swavor dance in the video, so I mean … we just giving the people what they want to see.

CPM: What can the Money Makers fans be on the look out for next?

Ken: As far as an album we are still going through material.

Tae: So it’s not a date yet.

Ken: But they can be expecting not to turn from any song. That you’re going to listen to the whole CD without turning.

Tae: Just put it in and let it play

Ken: Just let it ride