Torchlight Entertainment Presents

Mic Life Thursdays

Each and every Thursday @ Upper Deck, 34 S. Eutaw St
From 9pm to 1am

THIS WEEK ITS GOING DOWN ONCE AGAIN AT THE UPPER DECK 34 S. EUTAW ST.

NO COVER CHARGE AND DRINK SPECIALS ALL NIGHT

SPECIAL PERFORMENCE BY THE TEST BIN KING

SEAN TOURE
REPRESENTING STAR SEED

HOSTED BY BLACK WIND http://www.myspace.com/rebelsonzai

DJ J VENOM ON THE WHEELS SLICING IT UP

10PM TO 2PM (AFTER PARTY INCLUDED)

MIC LIFE

BECAUSE HIP-HOP IS LIFE, SO DON'T WASTE IT!!!

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine

JAM EAZEY ENT., TORCHLIGHT ENT. & JAZZIMAN ENT. have teamed up to bring you XPRESSIONS WENDNESDAYS (EVERY WEDNESDAY) @ Symone's Soul Food Cafe.
Featuring the regions very best SPOKEN WORD, HIP HOP, R&B, AND MORE!!!!
*
OPENING PERFORMER & HEADLINER FOR MAY 31ST, 2006:

SURPRISE *** SURPRISE


HOSTED BY: JAHIPSTER (aaaaaaaah, shucks, Dr. Hips in da house)
*
MUSIC BY: DJ JAMES COLLINS OF FERTILE GROUND
*
SYMONE'S SOUL FOOD CAFE (GOOD EATING & LIVE ENT.)
8700-A LIBERTY RD. - LIBERTY PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER RANDALLSTOWN, MD. 21133
EVERY WEDNESDAY - 7PM TO 10PM
OPEN MIC FROM 7:30 TO 8:00,
FEATURED ARTIST FROM 8:00 TO 8:30,
MORE OPEN MIC FROM 8:30 TO 9:00
BOOKED PERFORMER FROM 9:00 TO 9:15
NETWORKING ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION/CYPHER FROM 9:15 TO 10PM
*
ADMISSION IS $5.00 BEFORE 8PM & $7.00 AFTER 8PM
*
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A PAID FEATURE....CONTACT:
MAHOGANY OR CRYSTAL @ 443-255-2834
EMAIL: MAHOGANYBAIGH@HOTMAIL.COM
WEBSITE: http://www.torchlightonline.com/
SYMONE'S SOUL CAFE: 410-655-8500

Labels: Bosslady, flyer

Love, Peace and Poetry presents:

HIP-HOP 4 LIFE!

ALL 90'S HIP-HOP & REGGAE PARTY!

Thursday JUNE 1ST

Doors @ 9pm

$5 B4 10pm, $10 after.

DJ LiL MiC on the Wheels

@ The Haven
1552 Havenwood Rd
Inside Northwood Shopping Center right across from MSU!
410.366.7416

Labels: flyer

Labels: flyer

Billo "The Hood Rockstar" - Daily Grind Vol. One (For The People Entertainment)

I don't know much about this Billo cat other than seeing his name on local bills here and there and this CD being in a lot of stores around the city since last summer, supposedly he's sold over 2 thousand copies of it. In fact, I think Daily Grind Vol. 2 is already comin' out soon. This is a pretty short mixtape, less than 40 minutes long, which I have to say is refreshing in a way. Sometimes if I'm checking out someone's music for the first time a whole hour plus of material is just gonna wear out my patience. I kind of like the loose, laid back vibe of the tape, too, all these interludes with random soul songs, not samples, the actual songs, playing out for a minute or so, the usual answering machine skits and so on. It kinda comes and goes too quickly for me to get a handle on Billo's lyrical style but I'll probably cop the next one on the basis of this.

Billo - "21 Gun Salute" (mp3)
That beat is crazy, all trebly and frantic, this track has been my favorite on the CD for a minute.

Billo - "Where Da Block At" (mp3)
This song has such a crazy vibe, all the shouting in the background and that harsh snare drum sound that reminds me of "Ambitionz Az A Ridah." It sounds like there's a 2nd MC on this track but the liner notes don't say who it is.

Labels: Billo, For The People Entertainment, mixtape/album review, mp3

Labels: 5 Seasons, flyer, Team Fifty

Labels: flyer

Tyree Colion - Tyree Colion presents Hustle Hard Blvd (Rare Entertainment)

If anyone ever asks me who the hardest working rapper in Baltimore is, I'm probably gonna have to tell them Tyree Colion. I don't know if it's because he was locked up for 11 years and he's making up for lost time, but for whatever reason, dude's work ethic is ridiculous. Last fall, he dropped the double CD mixtape The Problem And The Solution, along with a DVD, and now, less than 6 months later, he's back with a triple CD mixtape. Man, dude must live in a vocal booth. When I first heard about it, I figured maybe there'd be a lot of guests filling up the discs, but it's pretty much all Tyree, only a dozen or so tracks with features, out of 60. And he doesn't even do a lot of freestyles over industry beats, it's mostly original songs, and man, any one of these discs is better than a lot of people's whole CDs. I can't say I like every song on here, there's some ideas that aren't pulled off successfully, like the rude bwoy flow on "Blame It On," but for the most part it's real consistent. Tyree kinda reminds me of Pac, in that he doesn't have the craziest flow, but he's got so much to say, and you have to keep listening to see what he's gonna say next.

Apparently the release party ended up not happening, but later that week, Bilal Bahar of Crushforce called me up and got me a copy of the CDs before the artwork was even done. Bilal is a good dude that I've met at a few shows, and he's the host of the mixtape, and also works on WMAR's Baltimore Saturday Night with Steve Rouse, which Tyree appeared on a few weeks ago. Bilal mentioned something to me about Tyree getting arrested, and the other night at Style Warz, the runner-up was SL Danga from the Young Hustlers, who kept saying "Free Colion, he'll be home soon." So I guess Tyree is having some problems right now, hopefully that will work out alright for him. I don't know if the mixtape has been officially released yet or if they're holding it up because of that, but if you get a chance to get a copy, cop it. Free Colion!

Rare Ent.'s MySpace page has a few songs up for download, including my favorites "Blocka Blocka" and "My Projects" (both of which were produced by Darkroom Productions). Here's some more, though, one track from each disc:

Tyree Colion - "C.O.L.I.O.N." (mp3)
Good way to start off the tape, explaining his name and his backstory over a fly beat and a new flip on an old chorus.

Tyree Colion - "Huh Man" Remix (mp3)
The original "Huh Man" was over the beat from Cam'ron's "Get Em Girls," and while Tyree always played it in his live sets, I don't know if any Baltimore MC can leave their imprint on that beat more than Verb's "Get Em Verb." And that might be why Tyree went ahead and re-did the song with a new beat, produced by Skarr Akbar, and it's a banger. I remember the first time I heard the new version was when Tyree performed it at the Little Clayway release party, and I couldn't wait to get a copy of it.

Tyree Colion - "Time After Time" (mp3)
Usually I'm not real into Tyree's laid back ballad-type songs, but he did some cool shit with this Cyndi Lauper sample, nice doubletime flow, some political lyrics.

Labels: Darkroom Productions, mixtape/album review, mp3, Skarr Akbar, Tyree Colion

Labels: Baltimore club, flyer

Labels: 5 Seasons, flyer, ShellBe RAW, XO

TRU BILL ENT
RAW D.O.C. www.rawdoc.net
M.O.L. http://www.myspace.com/moneyonthelow

This week at
Mic Life Thursdays

Each and every Thursday @ Upper Deck, 34 S. Eutaw St
From 9pm to 1am

Hosted by Lyrical Leviathan

Dj Venom on the 1's and 2's

Shodekeh on the human beat-box

Mic Life Because Hip-Hop is life, so don’t waste it!!!

http://www.myspace.com/slickleviathan

http://www.myspace.com/torchlight_family

Labels: flyer, M.O.L., Mic Life Magazine

Labels: flyer

DK, Un Kasa and A-Mafia - "Harlem To B-More" (mp3)

A couple months ago, I posted DK's solo track on Purple City's album from last year, but they just released a new album today called The Purple Album, and this is the track DK is featured on. He's also got a solo mixtape out with Kay Slay called King Me that I should be reviewing that at some point, and also check out this interview.

Labels: DK, mp3

Happy birthday to Bosslady today, here's the next show she's putting on:

JAM EAZEY ENT., TORCHLIGHT ENT. & JAZZIMAN ENT. have teamed up to bring you XPRESSIONS WENDNESDAYS (EVERY WEDNESDAY) @ Symone's Soul Food Cafe.
Featuring the regions very best SPOKEN WORD, HIP HOP, R&B, AND MORE!!!!
*
OPENING PERFORMER & HEADLINER FOR MAY 24TH, 2006:

SOULFUL R&B SINGER "GREEN TEA" FROM DC -RESCHEDULED FROM MAY 17TH.

QUEEN SHEEBA

HOSTED BY: JAHIPSTER (aaaaaaaah, shucks, Dr. Hips in da house)
*
MUSIC BY: DJ JAMES COLLINS OF FERTILE GROUND
*
SYMONE'S SOUL FOOD CAFE (GOOD EATING & LIVE ENT.)
8700-A LIBERTY RD. - LIBERTY PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER RANDALLSTOWN, MD. 21133
EVERY WEDNESDAY - 7PM TO 10PM
OPEN MIC FROM 7:30 TO 8:00,
FEATURED ARTIST FROM 8:00 TO 8:30,
MORE OPEN MIC FROM 8:30 TO 9:00
BOOKED PERFORMER FROM 9:00 TO 9:15
NETWORKING ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION/CYPHER FROM 9:15 TO 10PM
*
ADMISSION IS $5.00 BEFORE 8PM & $7.00 AFTER 8PM
*
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A PAID FEATURE....CONTACT:
MAHOGANY OR CRYSTAL @ 443-255-2834
EMAIL: MAHOGANYBAIGH@HOTMAIL.COM
WEBSITE: http://www.torchlightonline.com/
SYMONE'S SOUL CAFE: 410-655-8500

*******AFTERPARTY*******AFTERPARTY*******

RUSH HOUR & SPONTANEOUS ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT

LADIES NIGHT - LADIES THE NIGHT IS YOURS

EACH & EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT @ RUSH HOUR SPORTS BAR & GRILL

9820 LIBERTY RD., RANDALLSTOWN, MD. 21133

POOL TABLES, DANCE FLOOR, BAR & FULL DINNER MENU AVAILABLE

$3 MARTINIS UNTIL THE BAR CLOSES / 9PM - 2AM

LADIES FREE BEFORE 10:00PM
LADIES: $5.00 AFTER 10PM
FELLAS: $5.00 ALL NIGHT

MUSIC BY: DJ SPONTANEOUS OF "92Q BIG PHAT MORNING SHOW"

SPINNING THE HOTTEST HIP-HOP, R&B, REGGAE, CLUB & DIRTY SOUTH MUSIC ALL NIGHT LONG!!!!!!!

ON THE MIC: HEAVYW8

25 AND OVER - FREE PARKING

DRESS CODE: NO WHITE/BLACK TEES

EARLY ARRIVAL STRONGLY SUGGESTED

Labels: Bosslady, flyer

Comp - "Bass" (mp3)

New track that didn't appear on Independence Day, heard it on 92Q recently and it's also up on Comp's official website, which I didn't even realize was still being updated. This is kinda hot, I'm feeling that beat.

Labels: Comp, mp3

Labels: 5 Seasons, flyer, Team Fifty

B-MORE'S OWN MS. STRESS - THE MADAME OF MURDALAND HAS MADE ANOTHER BIG STEP TOWARD HER SUCCESSFUL FUTURE

TUESDAY MAY 23, 2006 (BOSSLADY B-DAY) YAWL KNOW WHERE I'LL BE.

MS. STRESS WILL BE OPENING UP FOR THE WNBA'S WASHINGTON MYSTICS AT THE VERIZON CENTER IN DC.
SHE WILL BE INTRODUCING THE STARTING LINE-UP LIVE

THIS WILL AIR 7PM ON:

ESPN, COMCASTSPORTS.NET & LIVE IN TIME SQUARE

THIS IS A REAL GOOD LOOK FOR BALTIMORE & THE MUSIC SCENE IN B-MORE.

MS. STRESS WILL BE RAPPING OVER A BEAT PRODUCED BY BALTIMORE'S BEST FEMALE PRODUCER MS. TRIS BEATS

PLEASE TUNE IN ON TUESDAY MAY 23RD, AND SUPPORT ONE OF BALTIMORE'S OWN MS. STRESS THE MADAME


WASHINGTON MYSTICS VS. NEW YORK LIBERTY


Ticket Prices (Gate) : $58, $30, $21, $19, $10, $8

Verizon Center
601 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Automated Phone: (202) 628-3200
Receptionist: (202) 661-5000

Additional Phone Numbers To Know:
PURCHASE TICKETS: (202) 397-SEAT, (703) 573-SEAT, (410) 547-SEAT
WIZARDS SEASON TICKETS: (202) 661-5050
MYSTICS SEASON TICKETS: (202) 266-2277
CAPITALS SEASON TICKETS: (202) 266-CAPS
GROUP SALES TICKETS: (202) 661-5061
ACCESSIBLE SEATING: (202) 661-5065
EXECUTIVE SUITES AND CLUB SEATS: (202) 661-5110 EXT. 25
TTY: (202) 661-5066

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MSSTRESS1

COP SURVIVING LIFE AT WWW.CDBABY.COM/MSSTRESS NOW!

STRESSED OUT ENTERTAINMENT

MANAGEMENT: BIG RIO

PROMOTER: BOSSLADY (THE BIZ WOMAN OF B-MORE)

Labels: Bosslady, flyer, Ms. Stress

TAREEKA FEATURING LIL HEN
TUFFLON DONNA
GOTTI
APRIL LOVE-CLAYWAY RECORDS
AND THE HONORABLE LOUIS FARRAKAHNS GRAND DAUGHTER

QUEEN YONASDA!!!!!

TOMMORROW NIGHT AT THE 5 SEASONS...

COME ON OUT AND BUILD AND HAVE SOME FUN.. DRINK SECIALS AND FOOD...

LOOK 4WARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU GUYS THERE

Labels: 5 Seasons, flyer, Hip Hop 101, Sonny Brown

Labels: flyer, Season The Microphone Monday

Labels: flyer

Bosslady presents Baltimore State Of Grind: 21 Different Ways Pt. 1 (House Of Platinum Records)

Bosslady's been doing her thing promoting shows, running a label and P.R. company, and pushing mixtapes like the On Da Grind series. This is a new series on a kind of ambitious tip, nothing but songs about or featuring Baltimore in the title. She got a lot of the joints you should know already, like Bossman's "Oh," Diablo's "Jail Flick," and Comp's "B-More Anthem," plus heat from UnReal, Amadaye, Ogun, ShellBe RAW, Ray Lugar, Brown F.I.S.H., Tha Plague, M.O.L., Huli Shallone, whole lotta folks. The release party show was a real fun night, too. K-Con did her thing with the Hustle & Flow style cover art, and you can even order the album off CD Baby. She's already looking for songs for Pt. 2, so get in touch with her if you want to get on that. And Bosslady's birthday is on Tuesday, so here's an early birthday shout out to her.

BORNKING - "Blue Lights" (mp3)
BORNKING is an artist on Bosslady's HOP label, and a while back she gave me his street album, which I still have to write a post about sometime. This song is from a sampler for his forthcoming official album Bornified King, though, and I first heard it a few months ago when C Love posted it. I have to echo her sentiments that it's about time someone in Bmore hip hop addressed the whole situation with the Citiwatch cameras with the flashing blue lights that have been going up all over the city over the past year. There's been a few offhand references to it ("they done put cameras up over all the main strips" from D.O.G.'s "I Get Dough," and Midas's freestyle line "I shine in the hood like them blue lights"), but BORNKING is the first dude to dedicate a whole song to the topic. The closest one to my apartment used to be a few blocks away, but then a few weeks ago they put one up right down the street above the intersection where my girl waits for the shuttle to go to work every morning, and she says it makes her feel safer. It only had the blinking blue light for a day or two, though, now there's no light but I dunno if that means the camera isn't on or they're just being more on the low about it. Still, it's some strange shit, I have mixed feelings about it and I don't like how mysterious the city's being about them.

Mullyman - "Oh Baltimore" (mp3)
Today on my other blog, Narrowcast, I posted Randy Newman's "Baltimore," Nina Simone's cover of it, and this song, which samples the NS version. I'm sure most of y'all already know "Oh Baltimore" well, but it's still one of my favorite Mully tracks and I wanted to shed some light on the song's origins.

Labels: Bosslady, Bossman, Diablo, mixtape/album review, mp3, Mullyman, Ogun, ShellBe RAW, UnReal

The Baltimore Believe Tour
featuring Young Leek, D.O.G., Cooli Hi, and C.R.
Friday, May 19th
@ Booker T. Washington Middle School

Labels: 92Q, Cooli Hi, D.O.G., flyer, Young Leek

AllHipHop.com ran a Bossman interview a few months ago, and today on their audio section they've got a hot new Bossman song called "Your Wrong" (or maybe it's "You're Wrong"), I think it's a real good look for him.

Labels: Bossman

New joint by GEM POWAZ on www.myspace.com/urbanbizz
and will be shooting the video May 20th @ the BRASS MONKEY. All who would like to be seen in the video, come out and will hook you up!!!!
Brass Monkey- on the corner 1601 Eastern Ave & Bond St.
Fells Point Baltimore, MD.
Women show up Dressed to impress!!!!!!!
Men yanno how yall do, THUG IT OUT!!!!
7$ @ The door I will be there to give out the tickets

COME SHOW LUV TO BMORES OWN GEM POWAZ OF SLUM BUM ENTERTAINMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Labels: flyer

Rod Lee - "Hammerjacks Theme" (mp3)

From The Desk Of DJ Spice:
The Passing of a LEGEND, HAMMERJACKS closing its doors this month...
For the 2nd time in my life I am closing the doors of the legendary Hammerjacks. Sunday May 28th is the last time in history Hammers will throw down. TI will be performing live. My LAST Saturday night will be the 27th. We have had a great run and I am looking forward to making the next 4 weeks off the hook for you.
I was glad to get the call last year from the owner to take over the Saturday night. my VERY FIRST Djing job was the old Hammerjacks. I was 17 years old and they gave me a shot. it was hard to say goodbye to that Hammers and it will be hard to say goodbye to this one.
We are going to make sure that the next 4 Saturday's are OFF THE CHAIN!
Dj Spice!

Labels: Baltimore club, mp3, Rod Lee

Mic Life Thursdays

Each and every Thursday @ Upper Deck, 34 S. Eutaw St
From 9pm to 1am

Hosted by Lyrical Leviathan

Dj Venom on the 1's and 2's

Shodekeh on the human beat-box

This Thursday, May 18th:

BISHOP
www.myspace.com/scavengeproductionsbishop

MIDAS
www.myspace.com/midasmusick

XO
http://www.myspace.com/xocockednloaded

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine, Midas, XO

Labels: flyer

PERFORMING LIVE WEDNESDAY MAY 17TH @ SYMONE'S SOUL CAFE IN RANDALLSTOWN

FEATURED PERFORMERS:

"MS. STRESS" THE MADAME OF MURDALAND

SOULFUL R&B SINGER "GREEN TEA" FROM DC.

JAM EAZEY ENT. HAS TEAMED UP WITH TORCHLIGHT ENT. & JAZZIMAN ENT. TO BRING YOU

XPRESSIONS WENDNESDAYS (EVERY WEDNESDAY)

SPOKEN WORD, POETRY FOR THE SOUL, HIP HOP, R&B, AND MORE!!!! @

SYMONE'S SOUL FOOD CAFE (GOOD EATING & LIVE ENT.)

8700-A LIBERTY RD. - LIBERTY PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER
RANDALLSTOWN, MD. 21133

EVERY WEDNESDAY - 7PM TO 10PM, SO YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO GO TO ANOTHER SHOW

DOORS OPEN AT 7PM, OPEN MIC FROM 7:30 TO 8:00, FEATURED ARTIST FROM 8:00 TO 8:30, MORE OPEN MIC FROM 8:30 TO 9:00 BOOKED PERFORMER FROM 9:00 TO 9:15 AND A NETWORKING ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION/CYPHER FROM 9:15 TO 10PM

THIS EVENT IS HOSTED BY: JAHIPSTER

MUSIC BY: DJ JAMES COLLINS FROM FERTILE GROUND

ADMISSION IS $5.00 BEFORE 8PM & $7.00 AFTER 8PM

DIRECTIONS:FROM DOWNTOWN TAKE I83 NORTH TO 695 W TOWARD PIKESVILLE AND TAKE EXIT 18 RANDALLSTOWN. PROCEED NORTHBOUND FOR ABOUT A MILE AND CROSS OLD COURT RD. SYMONE'S IS LOCATED IN THE SHOPPING CENTER RIGHT NEXT TO LIBERTY COURT SHOPPING CENTER.WWW.MAPQUEST.COM

THIS A GREAT NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY. COME MEET NEW PEOPLE LIKE I DID YESTERDAY.

ALSO OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK IN THE COUNTY AND GAIN MORE EXPOSURE. PLENTY OF STORES, SHOPPING CENTERS, AND APT. COMPLEXES TO PLACE FLIERS, AND ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY FROM THE WINDSOR INN, SISTAH'S PLACE AND CORINTHIAN'S. (MORE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES)

ALSO: FEATURED ARTIST WILL BE PAID TO PERFORM. SO IF I CALL YOU TO BE A FEATURE, YOU ARE GETTING PAID

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

MAHOGANY OR CRYSTAL @ 443-255-2834

EMAIL: MAHOGANYBAIGH@HOTMAIL.COM

WEBSITE: WWW.TORCHLIGHTONLINE.COM

SYMONE'S SOUL CAFE: 410-655-8500

OPEN MIC...LIVE ENTERTAINMENT...HOT MUSIC... AND SOUL FOOD

1 LUV,

BOSSLADY (BOOKING, MARKETING & PROMOTIONS)
WWW.JAMEAZEYENTERTAINMENT.BIZ

Labels: Bosslady, flyer, Ms. Stress

Labels: 5 Seasons, Team Fifty

Old School Mondays
this week:
UNCANNY CLICK
STRESS
SKARR AKBAR
YOUNG HUSTLERS
TEOP

Labels: 5 Seasons, flyer, Hip Hop 101, Skarr Akbar, Sonny Brown, Teop

I meant to post this a while ago: the winners of Rod Lee's talent search, according one of the judges of the competition, LaTasha Jones from BlackTVonline.com:

1st Drakkar (16 year old rapper)
2nd Davon Curry (same as above)
3rd Tay Co (singer)

Here are the rest of the artist that are going to be feature on the Harm Squad Mix Cd that is going to be distrubute threw all Down Town Locker Rooms.

QP (Duo Rap Group)
Dynamic Compostion (Rap Group)
Killa Mentalz ( Female Singer)
Kesh (Female Rapper)
Edwin Navedo (Reggae Ton Artist)

Labels: Rod Lee

various artists - South Paw Entertainment (South Paw Entertainment)

South Paw is a Baltimore-based label comprised of two solo artists (D.E. and Gamin) and three groups (Lost Soulz, TriState and Kontroversi), plus a producer (Chris B.). The first time I heard South Paw was when they performed at the Bossman show at the Ottobar last fall, and copped the album after that but hadn't gotten around to posting about it. And since then, I've seen a few South Paw guys compete at Style Warz, and Lost Soulz seem to be doing a lot of shows these days, and were gonna open for Mobb Deep until the show got postponed. You can check out South Paw on their official site, and on CD Baby and MySpace.

Gamin - "Childhood" (mp3)
Gamin's other track on here, "All For Self," also appeared on DNA's Harm City 5, but this is the one I'm really feelin', it's just some personal stortytelling over a low key piano loop beat.

D.E. - "Fuck What You Pitchin'" (mp3)
This is like the polar opposite of the other track, it's just crazy aggressive. D.E. really stands out of the camp to my ears, maybe because it's easier to recognize the voices of the solo artists than the group members, you know how that is. First time I heard him was on a track with Mazon on the first Movement mixtape from '03. In my opinion this is Chris B.'s hottest beat on the album, all those 32nd notes on the kick drum are crazy.

Labels: mixtape/album review, mp3, South Paw

THIRD KIND CD RELEASE PARTY
HIP HOP SHOWCASE
HOSTED BY STEEZ & P FUNK
ARCANE : BRAKE FAST RECORDS : SONNY BROWN
J OPTIMO : WORDSMITH : BISHOP
9 PM DOORS - ALL AGES

Labels: flyer, Sonny Brown, Third Kind

Labels: 5 Seasons, flyer

Labels: flyer

Torchlight Entertainment Presents
Mic Life Thursdays
Each and every Thursday @ Upper Deck, 34 S. Eutaw St
From 9pm to 1am

This Week we got Ghosel and Di-Faction!!!

Hosted by Lyrical Leviathan

Dj Venom on the 1's and 2's

Shodekeh on the human beat-box

9:00pm doors
10:00pm open mic
11:00pm features
12:00am battles and/or Cypher

Free admission and Drink specials all night long! (That’s right, FREE!!!)

Mic Life Because Hip-Hop is life, so don’t waste it!!!

http://www.myspace.com/slickleviathan

http://www.myspace.com/torchlight_family

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine

Labels: flyer

Mullyman - "What You Know" Freestyle (mp3)

Mullyman - "Bumpin' My Music" Remix (mp3)

Word has it Mully's dropping a new single in a minute, and I was gonna try and hold onto these tracks and post it with them, but fuck it, I'll just throw these up because they're both a few weeks old now. New Mully verses over 2 of my favorite songs of the year so far, by T.I. and Ray Cash, respectively. First time I heard the "What You Know" flow was when he performed it at the Little Clayway release party, that part where he switches into doubletime is crazy. The "Bumpin' My Music" beat sounds a lot like Huli Shallone's "Don't Give A Fuck," I guess they're both based on the same old song and I'm gonna look ignorant not knowing what it is, but I love that beat.

Labels: mp3, Mullyman

Tonight Ammo will be competing for his 3rd consecutive win on 92Q's Tuesday Night Fights, so tune in at 7:45 and call (410)481-9292 to vote.

Labels: 92Q

Slick Vic Low/The Lyrical Leviathan

May, 9 2006 at Torch-Mic Tuesdays/K-Productions
Northwood Plaza 1570 Havenwood Road, Baltimore, MD 21201
Cost: $10

Labels: flyer

Labels: 5 Seasons, B-Fly, Dirty Hartz, flyer, G.E.M./Tha Plague, Ms. Stress, Ogun, Ray Lugar, Real2Real, Team Fifty

Hip Hop 101 Tonight at 5 Seasons: a screening of the Charm City movie:

TONIGHT TONIGHT TONIGHT.. WITH PERFORMANCES BY THE YOUNG HUSTLERS, TUFFLON DONNA, COMP, AND MORE... THE MOVIE STARTS AT 9:30PM AND ENDS AT 11:30PM COME ON OUT AND SUPPORT THIS MOVIE BY BALTIMORES OWN DERICK THOMAS.. $5 FOR THE LADIES $10 FOR THE MALES DRINK SPECIALS AND FOOD BY THE FAMOUS SAMUELS SOUL FOOD.. LETS MAKE THIS A GOOD NIGHT BALTIMORE..

Labels: 5 Seasons, Comp, flyer, Hip Hop 101, Sonny Brown

C Love posted a couple tracks from EJ, the Super Style Warz champ, including that "Drinkin' & Smokin'" song everyone who was at SSW should know, and also a couple tracks from the new mixtape by Tha Annexx Click, which is real hot and I'll probably write a post about at some point.

Labels: Annexx Click, C Love

Labels: flyer

Labtekwon - Avant God (Ankh Ba Records/Morphius Urban)

Morphius sent me a copy of this last year, after I wrote a post about the album before it, The Ghetto Dai Lai Llama: African Rhythm American Blues. But for some reason the Morphius still says "coming soon" and doesn't seem to be taking orders for it yet, but it's been out for a while. Other sites are selling it, if you just Google the album, it's easy to find. Labtekwon is a really prolific guy so I should finally write about this album before his next one comes out. I've heard a little about the album he's working on right now with DJ Booman that's gonna have a Baltimore club flavor, I'm looking forward to that.

Lab starts out the album real confrontational on the intro, saying "The following album was done in response to the wackness. The wack so-called underground white kids from the suburbs, the cornball black kids tryin' to act bling bling. All of you...suck" (although, does anyone even say "bling bling" anymore?). Labtekwon has always set himself apart from most other Bmore rappers with his abstract style and Afrocentric politics, but he's also had some choice words for the whole system that most MCs are trying get shine through. But I'd like to think that he's taken notice of the grassroots, live-show-based hip hop scene that's been thriving in the city over the past year, which is why I think it's cool to see that he's been performing a lot lately at events like Torch-Mic Tuesdays and Old School Mondays. His music is still pretty different from anything anyone else around here is doing, but I like to hear all the different sides of Baltimore hip hop, not just the people on 92Q and the people tryin' to be as gutter as possible.

Labtekwon - "Dr. Strangelove" (mp3)
Most of the beats on Lab's records are kinda weird and herky jerky, but now and then, there's a surprise, like when he suddenly starts flowing over the Lyn Collins break that's the backbone of Bossman's "Oh" and a thousand Baltimore club joints.

Labtekwon - "Yakub 2001" (mp3)
This is one of a handful of tracks on the album with a live rhythm section and horns backing Lab, who also plays piano on the track. It's really almost more of an R&B vamp, with him talking more than rapping, speaking on some real honest, thought-provoking stuff. But really the beats on the album are so loose and jazz-influenced that the live instrument tracks kinda fit right in.

Labels: Labtekwon, mixtape/album review, mp3

Labels: flyer

Labels: flyer

The T.I./D.O.G. show at Hammerjacks has been cancelled:

T.I.'s Baltimore appearance has been rescheduled due to the loss of his best friend Philant Johnson who was killed this week on May 3, 200 6. Initially, T.I. was going to keep it moving and come through to perform but will now take the time to mourn his great loss.

Tonight's T.I. Show has been rescheduled for Memorial Day Weekend. All tickets will be honored, stay tuned for more info.

Labels: flyer, Sonar

D.O.G.
opening for T.I.
Friday, May 5th
@ Hammerjacks

Labels: D.O.G., flyer

Love, Peace and Poetry presents:
HIP-HOP 4 LIFE!
ALL 90'S HIP-HOP & REGGAE PARTY!
Thursday May 4th

Doors @ 9pm
$5 B4 10pm, $10 after.
DJ LiL MiC on the Wheels

@ The Haven
1552 Havenwood Rd
Inside Northwood Shopping Center right across from MSU!
410.366.7416

THE celebration of REAL Hip-Hop in Baltimore.

this month we featuring 2 hot emcees
Ewon (8th Wonder) www.myspace.com/wonemcee
and
Labtekwon www.myspace.com/labtekwon777

Now folks aint been showin up to this thing like I thought they would. They been steady missing it. Well you gonna really miss it when its steady gone! so hallah fresh-

This is crazy to me cus you got a free buffet (and the food is good)!
Free parking in the shopping center
The best DJ in Baltimore - DJ liL MiC
2 Live performances from some local talented hip-hop artists
A party with some of your favorite Hip-Hop and Reggae music of all time-
(I bet u a $1 that 1 of your favortie Hip-Hop songs ever came out in the 90's!)
All that for $5 ?!?
Stop playin!!!!

LPandP Events- For the cultured urban professional.
Tell somebody.

http://www.myspace.com/komplexwordplay

Labels: flyer, Labtekwon

Torchlight Entertainment Presents
Mic Life Thursdays
Each and every Thursday @ Upper Deck, 34 S. Eutaw St
From 9pm to 1am
Hosted by
Black Wind

This weeks features are Shahid and ChemiKill (of Di-Faction)

Dj Venom on the 1's and 2's (real 1's and 2's this time)

9:00pm doors
10:00pm open mic
11:00pm features
12:00am battles and/or Cypher

Free admission and Drink specials all night long! (That’s right, FREE!!!)

Mic Life Because Hip-Hop is life, so don’t waste it!!!
http://www.myspace.com/slickleviathan

http://www.myspace.com/torchlight_family

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine

Hots - "From The Hood" (mp3)

Hots - freestyle from upcoming Lil Skrilla mixtape (mp3)

Hots f/ Tony Yayo - "Gangsta" (mp3)

Bossman f/ Hots - "Blam Blam" (mp3)

This week in the City Paper, I wrote a profile of Hots, the MC from Cambridge, MD, now living in Baltimore, who's in the One Up Entertainment camp along with Bossman. I posted the Hots song with Raheem Devaughn a few months ago, but here's some more tracks, some of which are unreleased exclusives I got from Nieze from One Up, and they played me some other tracks in the studio that were fire. The song with Yayo was produced by Aqua, the dude that did Jay-Z's "My 1st Song" and Beanie Sigel's "I Can't Go On This Way," I like that track. You can also watch Hots' appearance on MTV Advanced Warning, and listen to a radio interview he did recently.

Also in CP this week, check out Jaye Hunnie's article on ShellBe RAW.

5/6/06 EDIT: Hots has a MySpace page, and the audio section features a song I didn't post called "Hard Knock Hustle"

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, Bossman, Hots, mp3, One Up Entertainment, ShellBe RAW

Labels: flyer, Golden Seal, Ogun, Skarr Akbar

I gotta take a cue from C Love as usual and post this flyer.

Labels: 5 Seasons, Backland, Team Fifty, Unruly Records

Last week in the City Paper, Jess Harvell wrote a profile of Darkroom Productions. Also, you can still check out the mp3's from my last Darkroom post a few weeks ago.

12:50 pm Edit: Here's another Darkroom interview, from Awready Magazine, where they say they hate being described as a "beatmaking duo," which were the first words of my Hamsterdam review. My bad, y'all, I know some producers are sensitive about that term. Also, vote for Darkroom for the Justo mixtape awards.

(photo by Jefferson Jackson Steele)

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, Darkroom Productions, magazines/newspapers