“Have you ever seen a rapper in a military uniform?”

Born in Waukegan, Ill., a small suburb of Chicago, Weigel’s childhood was largely affected by his father’s involvement in the military.

“My dad was active in the Army, so after I was born we moved a lot,” Weigel said. “He was stationed in a new place every three years, so I grew up in places like Germany, Hawaii and Tennessee.”

Such a prominent influence in his childhood, the transition from his life as a student at Lansing Eastern High School to the military was natural, Weigel explained.

“I guess I always thought about it,” he said. “As a teenager I would say I wouldn’t want to be like that, but no matter what I did, I’d look in the mirror and see a soldier. Senior year, I just said I’d do it.”

Despite Afghanistan’s status as an area rife with conflict, Weigel said that didn’t influence his decision.

During his year-long tour of service, Weigel will serve as a clerk while overseas as a unit supply specialist — a job that he received from training as a reserve. Because his position, the chances he’ll have to engage in direct combat are little to none, as the job mainly deals with supplying the base he is stationed at.

“I didn’t go to fight a war and I didn’t avoid the war because there was one,” he said. “I don’t look at the politics of it. I just have loyalty to my country.”

What it means to be an ‘Amature’

Weigel was first exposed to music while his dad was stationed in Hawaii, but it was truly the presence of his older brother that initiated the passion he feels for music today.

“‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ was just like my childhood,” he said. “My brother Joshua was the cool kid who would visit us during the summer, wearing baggy clothes and listening to groups like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.”

Joshua Curtis’ biggest influence on his younger brother would be his own rap about interest rates, something he concocted as a school project.

“I had a song, and we (recorded it),” Curtis said. “I told him to fill in the blanks, because I couldn’t go for two minutes by myself.”

Curtis put the finished project on a CD and played it for his schoolmates whose positive reaction spurred Weigel to keep making music.

Taking on his new stage name, The Amature, Weigel focused on rap beyond high school well into his time as a reserve for the Army. In 2007, he partnered up with another Lansing emcee Raphael “Rel” Downes, and became one half of their new duo Small World.

Despite not having released an album as a duo, Weigel’s commitments to the Army, the two have garnered a buzz due to positive messages in the songs they perform on stage. Since their formation in 2007 they’ve performed in venues throughout Michigan, including Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing, and Rendezvous Night Club, 226 E. Grand River Ave. in Lansing.

“I think he’s a dope young emcee who has a bright future in (hip-hop),” said Marc Raskolnikov, an emcee who books talent for the monthly Respiration hip-hop concert that takes place at Mac’s. “You can tell on stage that he loves this music.”

That love is a big reason why Weigel put his own spin on the word “amateur,” using the word’s origin as inspiration.

“I honestly wanted to change my name,” he said. “But my friend schooled me to the fact that amateur comes from the Latin word amare, which means to love.”

“An ‘Amature’ is basically me — a person who does something for the love of it.”

A fork in the road

In what Weigel calls as “facing the biggest fork in the road” of his life, he continues to juggle a burgeoning career as a hip-hop artist with his commitment to the Army. Having completed his training, his next destination is overseas in the heart of Afghanistan.

On that note, Tuesday afternoon was not a good-bye between Weigel and music after all — he plans on writing and recording music overseas whenever there is free time.

“I’ll always have my two best friends,” he said while pointing to his notepad and pencil.

The Weigel family’s farewell dinner for Wayne was less a somber sendoff, and more a celebration for him taking the next step in his career.

“We’re proud of our son because there aren’t many rappers who serve the country,” said Wayne’s father, Wayne Weigel III. “We’re glad he’s got that balance.”

Wayne’s mother, Teresa, lamented having to see her son leave, but gave her full support in a poignant exchange between the two.

“Stay inside the compound,” she said, chiding him playfully.

“Don’t do anything stupid.”

After watching his family leave for their return for Lansing, Weigel faced his upcoming challenge with a certain optimism that has become one of his trademark qualities.

“I’m going to be the first hip-hop act to perform for the soldiers,” he said. “I’m gonna be like “What’s good, soldiers?!”