BOSTON - Jon Hope loves his city and has a deep passion for great lyrical content. With no big money behind, he's forced to be driven to succeed in this game. www.myspace.com/jonhope41
PORTLAND - Dean Dickinson broke the 100 mark for pool riding. After thinking about planning a party at the Pink Hotel, they held an art show to raise money for the event. www.lotekbrand.com www.blackrainclothing.com
LOS ANGELES - 17 year old Stevie Perez does not mess around when he has a rolling deck under his feet. He's currently sponsored by Val Surf, ES, and Chocolate. Clean money.
CHICAGO - Mikkey Halsted is clean money from Chicago whose main focus is just workin' and grindin' 24/7, 25/8 . Double or nothin'. www.myspace.com/mikkeymusic
CHICAGO - Alternative Rock band, Treaty of Paris, explains that bands make money from merchandise and touring, not just from getting signed. www.treatyofparismusic.com
ATLANTA - We followed mixtape king DJ Scream to Mo' Music and Phat Hats where you can pick up his CD (for promotional use only) and hung out at a local billiard where he talks about his experience becoming a DJ. www.djscream.biz
DALLAS - The Horrifics is a horror punk band with an attitude that just rocks. They do it to have fun, not for the fame and money. That's legit. www.myspace.com/thehorrifiics
BOSTON - The Exigent Customs auto team tries to keep kids off drugs, gangs, and violence and into the garage while donating any money from car shows to the local food bank. www.myspace.com/exigentcustoms www.nhfoodbank.org
CHICAGO - Whadown! Mick Luter talks about representin the West Side Chicago, the late night liquor stores, and the get money atmosphere. Joe they under the act. www.myspace.com/mluter
DALLAS - You're gonna get your money's worth when you see The Orange live because they know how to put on a show. Get their album, A Sonic Collection of Short Stories from La La Land, here: www.myspace.com/theorangeband
LOS ANGELES - You don't need to be able to walk to enjoy life. Jesse Billauer started Life Rolls On to help raise money for spinal cord injury research, in the hopes of allowing 250,000 people in the U.S. to be able to walk again. www.liferollson.org www.zexsports.com www.hottunaint.com
PHILADELPHIA - Give me money! Stacey Wilson, a.k.a. Fly Girrl, has had some of her art pieces on MTV's Real World and various other art galleries. www.flygirrl.com www.myspace.com/flyart
SAN DIEGO - Artists decorate Flexdex skateboards and surfboards from local shapers to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. www.flexdex.com