Milwaukee rapper Ice Mone has been busy lately. He's got a new album, "Pimp Cups, Fat Azzes and Fur Coatz" set to drop Sept. 17, and another one, "The Comeback Kid," scheduled for early 2007. But he doesn't always have to be in the studio to make waves.

In early August Ice took part in the second annual "Ace 'Em Up Day," which took place between 3rd and 6th Streets the same day the V-100 sponsored Jam 4 Peace was going on at the Brady Center. In an article published on July 31 on OnMilwaukee.com (onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/hiphopfest.html). Mone expressed his disappointment with V-100's disregard of the local hip-hop scene. Mone says that V-100 has acted hostile towards him since that article appeared.

"V-100 told me that due to some comments I made to (OnMilwaukee.com) they would blackball me if I participated at Ace 'Em Up Day'," he says.

He participated anyway, he says, because "Stace (Stacey Curry, the late car wash owner and community activist whom "Ace 'Em Up Day" honors) was my friend.

"They're trying to make me public enemy number one on this situation," he says.

Mone says he brought the Ying Yang Twins, who have collaborated with him in the past, to sound check at the Bradley Center before the show. There he was met by several security guards that were told to escort him out of the Bradley Center. Mone says the Ying Yang Twins were also told not to have any more contact with him the rest of their time in Milwaukee if they wanted to perform at Jam 4 Peace.

"I guess they were trying to intimidate me in front of my friends, but (the Ying Yang Twins) just laughed and said, 'Damn Mone, you must be like John Gotti around here.'"

Representatives from V-100 were contacted via telephone and e-mail for this story, but declined comment.

In the article, Mone said that he felt local radio stations, specifically V-100, were doing a disservice to local artists by giving airplay to more nationally known artists. He says he was simply told by V-100 that his comments to OnMilwaukee.com were unacceptable, without being told specifically which quotes were problems.

"I printed that article out and showed it to like five or six different people, and they couldn't find anything bad (in the article)," he says.

As far as the music goes, Mone is working with a mix of local and nationally known artists. "Pimp Cups" features production from Mr. Collipark [Ying Yang's "Wait (The Whisper Song)," David Banner's "Play"]. He also has beats from local producers Mr. Phoenix, Godxilla and Champ.

Mone has been a fixture on the Brew City hip-hop scene for some time now ("Pimp Cups" is his sixth album), but he doesn't see Milwaukee as having developed a signature sound yet.

"People migrate to the Midwest from all over, so we have a sound that's a little bit of everything. People have actually confused me for southern because of my sound."

"Pimp Cups, Fat Azzes and Fur Coatz" is available Sept. 17. It can be purchased online (see links below).

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