Mikey P of DaCav5 on From G’s To Gents | New MTV Reality Series Premieres July 15, 2008
Philadelphia, PA — As promotion for DaCav5’s new single “The Runway” is growing day by day, group member Mikey P is gearing up for the July 15 debut of the Jamie Foxx-produced MTV show From G’s to Gents. Hosted by Fonzworth Bentley, the high-energy reality show brings together 14 street-savvy G’s, challenging them to polish up and become gentlemen for a $100,000 grand prize.
With over three million plays on their Myspace page and a strong rapport with their fans, DaCav5 is gaining ground on a national level. They are currently preparing their album Guilty Pleasure for a September 2008 release. Mikey P is one of five fresh faces in DaCav5, while group founder B-Roc along with Benofficial, Soul and Mike-EEE round out this cutting edge Hip Hop crew.
“G’s to Gents is going to raise eyebrows, open eyes, and in the end, hopefully open doors for DaCav5,” says Mikey P of the experience. “This is just another avenue that I took in order to help DaCav5 cross over the line into national stardom!”
“The Runway” is available on iTunes, Napster, Amazon and Rhapsody. Performance dates over the Summer will include shows in Las Vegas, Miami, Atlantic City and other key U.S. cities. And, of course, DaCav5 fans can see Mikey P representing every Tuesday evening at 10:00pm beginning July 15 on MTV.
Mikey is looking forward to DaCav5 fan reaction to his appearance on the show. “You’re gonna see Mikey P in action! I cannot wait to see what my fans have to say - they are my motivation to keep doing what I do.”
Mikey P’s Bio on MTV’s From G’s To Gents: http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/g_to_gents/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=10092#bio
About DaCav5
What makes up a championship team? A strong army? A successful group? Bringing people together to create a winning combination is all about having a common vision and passion. In music, it’s also about having creative synergy and a long-term plan of action.
The five members of DaCav5 come from different backgrounds and perspectives, yet they are able to mesh their talents into a unified sound that is already resonating in the clubs and on radio. Their current magnetic dance song “The Runway” is making waves with tastemakers across the country, and they are well on their way to hit status as they prepare for the release of their album Guilty Pleasure this Fall.
DaCav5 is working hand in hand with Status Management to maximize the potential of “The Runway.” The single is available on iTunes, Napster, Amazon and Rhapsody. The group has garnered over three million plays via MySpace, and the song is already in rotation at Philadelphia’s Q102 and on 15 mixshows nationally. Performance dates over the Summer will include shows in Las Vegas, Miami, Atlantic City and other key U.S. cities.
Additionally, group member Mikey P is appearing in the MTV reality series From G’s To Gents. The show is produced by Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, and hosted by fashion afficianado Fonzworth Bentley.
All suburban South Jersey natives, DaCav5 is B-Roc, Benofficial, Soul, Mike-EEE and Mikey P, who all came together through an interesting series of events. Originally known as Da Cavalry, the crew was founded by B-Roc as a “hallway Hip Hop group.” He discovered many talented artists at Medford, New Jersey’s Lenape High School, but in the end it was 080 and Benofficial who became permanent members. Eventually, Soul, then known as Lost Soul, was added, and the guys recorded music together and individually throughout the South New Jersey/Philadelphia area.
In 2005 they came fully together after graduating college, and they added Mikey P to the mix. Now DaCav5, they recorded their first project The Most Popular Group You Never Heard Of, and performed their song “Tetris” throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.
Even with love from local Top 40 radio, the title of 2006’s “Philadelphia Idol” and a growing fanbase, DaCav5 was forced to split up as 080 moved on to honor his contractual obligation with the rock-rap group Thunderkatz. Mike-EEE came aboard, and the momentum was refreshed as they joined with Status Management to pursue their mission of success in 2007.
Each member contributes a distinct lyrical and personal dynamic to the group, which has resulted in a breakthrough to fans of all genres. In pursuing their desire to produce quality music, DaCav5’s name and likeness has elevated from a local buzz to a national movement. As they build their brand, the collective drive and determination that binds the group together shines through.
The vision of today’s “super group” has gone haywire with groups being forced together through label A&R departments and reality TV shows. DaCav5’s working relationship is completely organic, yet the look and vibe of the group rivals any popular band on the market.
“We are creating the belt curve instead of following it,” explains B-Roc. “We’ve got five different guys, five different races, five different styles - which means the fans will have their own member that they can relate to. The good thing about it is that it works! We’ve got the whole pop layout visually…but we rap.”
The music itself defies an easy description. Energetic Hip Hop infused with Rock, Dance and Pop with an instinctively catchy flow… that’s just one way to look at it. The merging of their creative vantage points has given DaCav5 room for expansion as they explore each new sonic avenue.
In 2007, they released their indie project Change Of Plans, which featured a collaboration with City High’s Robby Pardlo and spawned the songs “Suburbs” and “I Need A Freak,” both of which garnered a huge buzz for DaCav5. They hope to build on that success with their upcoming album Guilty Pleasure, and their first single “The Runway” is just a sample of how diverse the album will be.
“When fans listen to our music, I want them to feel good and vibe to it,” says Mikey P. “I want them to connect with what we are saying in the record. If we make a party song, then I want them to party; if we make a real song that connects with our individual backgrounds, then I want them to be able to grasp something from the song that they are able to relate to. Music is all about the way it makes you feel - so I hope it makes our fans feel good.”
The incredible connection between DaCav5 and their fans is a major force in their success thus far. While the fellas flock to shows and show support, the ladies are loyally showing big love to the group. “People say that 99% of our fans wear high heels!” smiles Benofficial. “The joke’s on the game though, because we love the ladies, and James Todd Smith made a prestigious career out of it. Honestly, I want the most diverse fan base you can imagine. We embrace all of our fans.” Three years ago they created their own online reality show, DaCav TV, and have brought in new fans from around the world with their antics.
DaCav5 has opened for the likes of Nelly Furtado, The Pussycat Dolls, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, The Fray, Maroon 5, Sean Kingston, JoJo, Cassie, Chingy and many other major label artists in various genres over the past two years. Their persistence and likeability keeps promoters intrigued, although it is ultimately their ability to grab the audience, and sometimes outshine the headliner, that keeps them coming back.
Kyle Piasecki, CEO of Status Management, has been working with the group intently, and is a major player in their day to day success. Affectionately known as “Pi,” Piasecki is dedicated to do whatever it takes to keep the momentum going.
“The group and I have a mutual respect for each other,” Kyle says. “They have been running the Philadelphia Tri-state region and beyond for a few years now, and have become a very powerful movement. When I first ran across the group, I immediately said to myself, ‘These guys are Superstars’ - and ever since it has been my goal to see to it that the world knows their music and gets the pleasure of experiencing the DaCav5 movement.”
The group attributes their chemistry to the combination of friendship, a sense of humor and positive attitudes at every turn. They carry a boy-next-door charm and exude innate sexiness, yet they focus on maintaining a realistic outlook when it comes to how they are received.
“We’re just a group of guys from the ‘burbs that like to kick it and have a good time,” explains B-Roc. “Of course, a lot of rappers won’t agree with our style of music, but at the end of the day it’ll be easier to look ourselves in the mirror because we are staying true to ourselves, without trying to be something we’re not. We’re not trying to save Hip Hop or anything. We just want to give people something new.”
Soul agrees wholeheartedly: “We want the fans to feel like they can relate to the music we make. It doesn’t matter where you come from. As long as you have the love and passion, you can make anything happen.”
