portunity to see Marvel’s
first woman-led film, because
every young person
deserves not only
to have their needs met,
but to also enjoy life!”
the campaign continued.
The academy chose
Captain Marvel because
“there are multiple female
characters in the
film that enforce diversity
of women in race,
careers, and talents,”
according to the Go-
FundMe page.
All excess proceeds
raised will go towards
Mount St. Ursula ‘Adopt-
A-Student’ program, for
girls who cannot otherwise
afford to pay for
tuition along with other
school philanthropies.
While the GoFundMe
received 161 separate donations
for the cause, the
most generous contribution
came from Longoria
at a whopping $2,000…
that’s a lot of popcorn.
19 BRONX WEEKLY March 17, 2019 www.BXTimes.com
from Page 1
Antwan J. Thompson. Photo courtesy of Amadeus
From blessings to beats:
The rise of the Bronx’ Amadeus
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Of course, one of music’s
most talented and prominent
producers is a Bronx guy.
His name is Antwan J.
Thompson, but you may
know him better as Amadeus.
He’s spent the past 18
years producing tracks for
quite the plethora of superstars
like Justin Bieber, 50
Cent, LL CoolJ, Missy Elliott
and of course the borough’s
own Jennifer Lopez.
When you can drum as
well as you can crank out
beats, it’s no wonder why
Chris Brown would keep you
on his speed dial.
That drumming is where
it all began years ago for
Amadeus at his home on
169th Street and Washington
Avenue.
“My mom would make me
go to church every Sunday
growing up whether I wanted
to or not,” he said. Little did
an adolescent Antwan know
that his weekly treks to the
Church of the Living God
at 4414 White Plains Road
would give him his fi rst opportunity
to produce beats
on an MPC2000XL and even
get more exposure on the
drums.
“From there I got closer
with God and I got closer
with music,” the 38-year-old
recounted about his childhood.
While practicing the
drums and his faith at Cardinal
Hayes High School,
Amadeus was noticed by a
fellow Bronxite, hip-hop mogul
Buckwild.
“He took me into the studio.
He began introducing
me to everyone in the industry
at that time and from
there I took it upon myself
to just network and network
and network,” Amadeus
said.
It was around that time
he coined his producer name
of Amadeus as well.
“I wanted to be the new
Amadeus Motzart of hip
hop,” he said.
That networking led to famous
NYC rappers like Lil’
Mo, Jim Jones, Remy Ma,
and Busta Rhymes giving
Amadeus his fi rst professional
production opportunities.
“They gave me a shot,”
Amadeus said.
Things only went up for
the faithful producer in the
following years. Amadeus
then linked up with Chris
Brown, most notably producing
nine tracks on his ‘Heartbreak
On A Full Moon’ album
along with many, many
others.
Any sports fan will also
recognize Amadeus’ work on
the First Take theme song for
ESPN from 2014 on as well.
“I love that people hear it
everyday,” he said in excitement.
With all of that stated,
Amadeus still doesn’t believe
he’s fully made it yet. “I
am blessed to come as far as
I have. Don’t get me wrong,
but there’s much more I want
to be doing, especially for the
Bronx,” he said upon return
from his weekly Las Vegas
residency at Drai’s nightclub.
In the past he’s hosted
events for his home block and
neighborhood called Amadeus
Comes Home, in which
he brought other producers
and artists like Tony Sunshine
to the Bronx, showing
kids how to produce and explain
what it takes to make it
in music.
“It was a bunch of people
hanging out on the corner
of the block doing the right
thing,” he said.
Amadeus also still attends
the church that literally
showed him the light for
production as well.
It’s pretty fi tting that
Amadeus’ mission is to “be
a light for the Bronx,” in his
own words.
To learn more about Amadeus’
music and future plans
for Bronx philanthropy, follow
his Instagram at amadeusbpm.
Actress sends Mt. St. Ursula
girls on free Super Hero viewing
The Academy of Mount St. Ursula girls are all smiles after learning that a $2,000 donation was received
by the school so they could attend a viewing of Captain Marvel. Photo courtesy of GoFundMe
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