AXE and Marvel have partnered up to create a new team of characters as part of the new “Fresh-Men” series. Starting July 12th – fans will have online access to watch this 5-part series at AXE.com/Marvel.
The Fresh-Men expands on Black Panther and Wakanda as it tells the story of five students from the Future Minds School of Science and Technology, which is one of Wakanda’s outreach academies.
The new comic series has its own exclusive soundtrack “The Fresh-Men Mixtape” and it features the following artists – Dave East, Kodie Shane, 070Phi, D Savage, Louis IV and Akilz. The mixtape was produced in partnership with Mass Appeal Records and it’s available for streaming July 12th.
The Knockturnal was invited to the listening session at Mass Appeal Records where we had the first listen to the mixtape with Kodie Shane and 070Phi in attendance as well.
After the mixtape listening, Kodie and 070Phi engaged with those in attendance and even answered some questions.
One of the questions from the room was “Did you use any of the characters as inspiration for the tracks?”
Kodie Shane: “I read through the characters a little bit and tried to dive into it and try to just speak from the heart… I spoke for the really emotional character.”
070Phi: “I definitely had to tap in with the characters, see who they are, write from that perspective. Also, these characters are going through high-school – things that we all go through. So I found myself in that character when I was writing it and it helped me get it done.”
They were also asked about the importance of representation, for the younger generation that is able to see themselves in these comics:
Kodie Shane: “Personally, that’s why I like Black Panther so much because I just feel like it gave the whole generation a ‘WOW’ and ‘AH’ – I think it was a good moment. I think it’s important, I might’ve wanted to be a superhero if I saw Black Panther when I was five… I feel like it affects everybody differently, but I also feel like it’s a great thing for kids, for the younger generation for sure. Even for teenagers, it’s good to see people your age, people that you can identify with truly doing something you want to do, or something you never thought you could do. So yeah, it’s important.”
070Phi: “That’s huge. For us growing up, the entertainment world – it seemed impossible. I feel like now it’s getting to that point where it’s like, you know you could do these things if you just try to do them and it’s showing you that. Not only are people doing it in music but they’re doing it in things like this…”
Alongside their collaboration with AXE x Marvel, Kodie Shane is working on a possible 3-4 EP rollout that her fans can hear as an album. She also just did a SPRITE commercial. However, her main focus right now is recording. 070Phi recently dropped a video and has merch on the way.
We’re definitely keeping an eye out for these up & coming young stars.
