B. Rich has been featuring a lot of new, previously unreleased material on his MySpace page lately, even though it's only been a few months since he dropped the Born Rich album. I don't know if it's stuff from another upcomng album, or just outtakes or mixtape stuff, but I downloaded a few songs off there that aren't up on the page anymore, so here's a few:

B. Rich f/ Anthony Hamilton - "Drive Away" (mp3)
When XXL streamed this on their website a while back, a lot of people commented that it sounds like "Whoa Now," which it kinda does.

B. Rich - "What Happen 2 Da Music" (mp3)
This is probably my favorite of these cuts.

B. Rich - "Jailhouse" (mp3)
Weird choice for a beat, rapping over the same Dido song that Em used for "Stan," but it kinda works.

Labels: B. Rich, mp3

Check it out, Scottie B. from Unruly Records in the current issue of XLR8R magazine, reviewing some Baltimore club records. "Watch Her Shake" has been getting some radio spins lately, and man, who ever thought 92Q would finally start showing Labtekwon some love after all these years?

Labels: Baltimore club, Labtekwon, magazines/newspapers, Scottie B., Unruly Records

Torchlight Entertainment Presents...

Mic Life Thursdays

Each and every Thursday at Upper Deck (34 South Eutaw St.)

YO, I don't know how many of you are familar with Vision, but this dude came through and destoryed last week, i mean ripped it down, and Shahid and J-Wun smashed it as well. However i think the chypher at the end of the night had to be the best part, 4 the second week in row in fact. Looks like we got a new Mic Life tradition write here.

This Thursday we continue on with Pro Wise Music Representatives

E-Won
http://www.myspace.com/wonemcee

&

Guy P
http://www.myspace.com/guypprowise

Show Begins @ 10pm

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

HOSTED BY Slick Vic Low
DJ POOH ON THE WHEELS

Mic Life, because Hip-Hop Is Life, so Don't Waste It!!!

http://www.myspace.com/slickleviathan

http://www.myspace.com/torchlight_family

http://www.myspace.com/miclifemagazine

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine

Logik of Loaded Clipz Entertainment is an MC/producer who's been sending me some of his tracks to check out. In the next few weeks he'll be dropping a mixtape with DJ RPM called BODYMORE MURDALAND-Itz A Movement featuring DK, UnReal, Comp, Backland, Ogun and more. But in the meantime, he's got a lot of beats streaming on his Soundclick page, and he's performing this Thursday, August 31st at the Latin Palace at the Johnel mixtape release party. here's some of my favorite songs that he's produced:

XO - "The Basics" (mp3)
This is the first track I heard produced by Logik, when it was on Street Radio Volume 2.5 and it's still probably my favorite. Like I said when I posted his song with ShellBe RAW, XO has a real ill unique voice, all grimey and gruff, I'm always checking for his songs on mixtapes.

Hazardous - "Home of Heroin" (mp3)
Hazardous, the Style Warz champ, on a real mellow Logik beat talking introspectively, some really sad mournful sounding shit.

Logik - "Put Ur Ls Up" (mp3)
And here's Logik rapping over one of his own beats.

Labels: Backland, Comp, DK, mp3, Ogun, UnReal, XO

Labels: flyer, Season The Microphone Monday

Labels: Backland, C Love, DNA, Golden Seal, Mullyman, Skarr Akbar, Sonar

MOMMAZ' COUCH MONDAYS (Every Monday)
Whats upz and stuff as such:

This is Grasshopper Philms premier spot phor making your weekends a tad bit longer...you pheel me?!

This and every Monday Raised Around It...ENT./Grasshopper Philms's (Mommaz' Couch MoNdays). It's a phorum phor creative pholks and nosey people who want to know what creative pholks do on MoNdays.

Not like the usual:
Why? Because -

Well dayum we just aint...come phind out why - here is a few samples:

- MCM has film screenings (Music Videos, Animations, Short - Feature
Films) by local and upcoming slick wit' it filmmakers/artist.
- An open stage for artist interested in performing in a very
unique phorum chill environment.

You won't even have to worry about eating before you drop by...just bring your hunger and be blessed by Mommaz' Kitchen.

This week we have auditions and casting calls for three upcoming movie projects. One is a submission for the BET netowrk.

Yo! this place is like Mommaz'...and rent is only $5....FIVE BUCKS! If you wanna' eat...bring like 5 more.

Mommaz' Couch MoNdays
5440 Harford Road
Baltimore MD 21214
(The entrance to the spot is on Hamilton Ave....right across from a free parking spot across the street from the blockbuster)
Time: 8pm doors open/Show hops off at 9:30 and runs till 1:00am

Directions on web: www.grasshopperphilms.com/MCM.html

w w w . G r a s s h o p p e r P h i l m s . c o m
email: mommazcouch@yahoo.com
C-rels:410.493.2857

Labels: flyer

"The Club Queen" K-Swift - The Jumpoff Vol. 7: The Summer School Edition (Unruly Records)

I've got at least 4 or 5 other K-Swift club CD's, but this is her first one since getting all over MTV repping Baltimore club music in a big way, and the first that I've picked up in a while, maybe not since Club Queen Vol. 6: The Return, and the only other Jumpoff CD I've got is the very first one in the series. And though she's got different mix series with specific purposes, like the line for the kids with all the swears edited out, or in the opposite direction, the aggressive Strictly For Tha Streets mixes, to tell the truth I have no idea what the difference, if any, is between the Club Queen series and the Jumpoff series. They both just seem like collections of whatever's hot in the clubs at the moment. In any event, she's back with another hot mix from Unruly, and although the CD store on K-Swift's site is temporarily closed right now, the mix is available at DTLR and the Sound Garden.

I'm not sure yet whether I think this is as good as Supa DJ Big L's new CD, but it's got some good joints on it like the new Cooli Hi, both versions of "Slyde,", lot of the new Rod Lee stuff. I particularly like Tigga's "What Again," which is like a crazy megamix of a bunch of different Bmore club tracks with Lil Jon shouting samples, all blended up together.

Rod Lee - "Music Rock It" (mp3)
Rod Lee putting a little bug in your ear about that old feeling you used to get from rockin' music back when you could party in peace. Sort of on the same sentimental tip as "Dance My Pain Away" but more mellow, I like it a lot more than some of his more aggressive new tracks like "When You Gonna Let Me" and "Da Block."

DJ Chris J. - "Aww Track" (mp3)
Probably the best track I've ever heard from DJ Chris J., I've also seen it referred to as "HH Theme" for some reason, but it sounds like it's just a loop of some of those stuttering sounds from the "Stay Fly" chorus.

Labels: Baltimore club, Cooli Hi, K-Swift, mixtape/album review, mp3, Rod Lee

Hip Hop 101
08/28/2006 09:00 PM - 5 Seasons
830 Guilford Avenue, Baltimore, 21201 - ladies $5, men $10

from Sonny Brown:

MR WILSON WILL BE BACK MONDAY AT HIPHOP 101.. SO COME ON OUT AND SHOW THIS MAN SOME LOVE..

XO
EJ
TEOP
BOSCO
TROUBLE
SHAKA PITTS $ MAX MILLIONS
KODE STREET

WITH A SPECIAL OPENING ACT FROM THE ONE THEY CALL J-CASA

DJ JABRIL AND J-VENOM ON THE ONES AND TWOS

HOSTED BY SONNY BROWN

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

MYSpace industry NETWORKING PARTY
Sunday Aug 27, 2006 at 5:00 PM

ATTN: MYSPACE ARTIST!!!

SEPERATE YOURSELF FROM THE POSERS! put up or shut up wit all that talk bout you the hottest. show up and prove it!!!

Come out BuiLd , politic & check out some live performances. A & R's back in the building.

Hip Hop and R&B performers, Producers, promoters, DJ's, Any and Everybody messin' with this music game. Any and every body welcome. Come thru, party, network, politic & Check out some of the hottest live performances in b-more. You can also Lets Get It Poppin' As Far As B-more & The Music industry goes!!! $10 @ the door For everybody!!!! This is a party for everybody. providing you get your name on the list, the choice to perform is yours. This is a party for everybpdy....not a show...but a function for people and by people in the entertainment industry.

If you wish to perform or audition for a future BEKAtainment event, contact N-A 443-504-6235*** Spots are limited first come first serve 2 song max.

PLEASE BE THERE BY 5:30 TO PERFORM!!!!!!

BRING YOUR PROMOTIONAL CD's AND OTHER ITEMS TO SELL OR GIVE AWAY!!!

nsI and DaveIll from NaturalProject will be on the 1's & 2's all night holdin down the beats

NaturalProject is sponsored by Pramus SkateShop located in Mt. Vernon | Baltimore City | www.pramus.com

Happy Hour Drink Specials!!! 2 for 1 drinks mixed or str8!!! 5pm untill 9pm

** 18 to come 21 to drink!!!** Must have ID

5 Seasons
830 Guilford ave
Baltimore, MD 21201

www.the5seasons.com

www.myspace.com/BEKAtainment

Labels: 5 Seasons, flyer

Torchlight Entertainment Presents...

Mic Life Thursdays

Each and every Thursday at Upper Deck (34 South Eutaw St.)

Show Begins @ 11pm

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

HOSTED BY Slick Vic Low
DJ POOH ON THE WHEELS

Even though Mic Life 2.0 is currently out of commision (2 weeks, wow what a run) Mic Life Thursdays shall continue 2 rock on!!!

This Week...

Aymen Shahid
http://www.myspace.com/vrblassassin

Jamma*Wun
http://www.myspace.com/jammawun

Born King
http://www.myspace.com/bornkinghiphop

Vision

p.s. Big up's 2 Born Devine, Tha Scholars and Sick Sense 4 coming through and ripping it last week.

Mic Life, because Hip-Hop Is Life, so Don't Waste It!!!

http://www.myspace.com/slickleviathan

http://www.myspace.com/torchlight_family

http://www.myspace.com/miclifemagazine

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine

Bossman - "A-Yo" (mp3)
Nieze from One Up first played me this track a couple weeks ago when the label wanted to release it as the first single from Bossman's album and they were debating whether or not it was a good idea. And a few days ago I got the word that they're moving forward with the record and that I could leak it, and it's already starting to show up on 92Q and AllHipHop and Bossman's MySpace page. It's definitely got that same anthemic vibe as "Oh" and it's been growing on me, it'll be interesting to see what this song does for his career.

Bossman - "You're Wrong" (mp3)
I posted about this track months ago when it first dropped but here it is, the street single that I guess will be the b-side to "A-Yo" now, beat by No I.D., an ill producer from Chicago (check his old stuff with Common and his cuts on the Rhymefest album).

Bossman - "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" (mp3)
This track has been on a couple mixtapes and it's one of my favorite recent Bossman joints. Everything I've heard off Law & Order is sounding pretty good and hopefully the early 2007 release date will stick and Virgin will really start moving on his promotion.

Labels: Bossman, mp3, One Up Entertainment

Last month, I wrote a City Paper article about Richard Burton and the Baltimore Believe Tour. And the big last concert of the summer, where they shut down a few blocks of North Avenue, is coming up this Friday, August 25th, starting at 5pm. Bmore artists like D.O.G. and C.R. will be performing, 92Q will be hosting, and Mayor O'Malley will be making an appearance. So if you're curious, this weekend is your last chance of the year to check it out this unique event.

(photo by Michael Northrup)

Labels: 92Q, Baltimore City Paper, D.O.G., flyer

Labels: Debonair Samir, flyer

For The People Entertainment is a Baltimore-based label that I've been in contact since I wrote about their artist Billo's mixtape a few months ago. Besides Billo, the artists on FTP's roster include Ace, Bear, Cutthroat, Lil' Shank and Yuk & Cut, and I believe all of the above are also members of the group The Squadre Committee. A while back they sent me a big package with a binder of information about the label, a DVD trailer, and a CD sampler from each of the artists. It seems like no two artists on the label sounds the same or even really makes the same kind of hip hop, which is kind of refreshing, you don't see that too often. They've got a few releases coming up soon from Billo and Cutthroat, but in the meantime, here's a few of my favorite tracks from those samplers:

Squadre Committee - "What's Good In The Hood" (mp3)
The Squadre CD is the only sampler that has 7 full tracks, and this is my favorite out of that batch, nice cinematic string loop.

Billo - "Where Da Block At" Remix (mp3)
When I posted about Billo's Daily Grind Volume One, I posted the original version of "Where Da Block At," but the remix is a whole new track, different beat and everything.

Cutthroat - "Exquisite" (mp3)
Cutthroat seems to be on more of a conscious tip, this track has a great beat and some deep lyrics, I'm looking forward to hearing more of his stuff.

Yuk & Cut - "Pimp Eazy" (mp3)
Now this beat is just hot. The way they scratch up that Juelz Santana sample is nice, too.

Labels: Bear, Billo, Cutthroat, For The People Entertainment, mp3

Hip Hop 101
08/21/2006 09:00 PM - 5 Seasons
830 Guilford Avenue, Baltimore, 21201 - ladies $5, men $10

from Sonny Brown:

WICKEDMAN
ONEIL
TROUBLE

AND A SPECIAL ENCORE PERFORMANCE FROM UNDERSOUNDS OWN

DAYS DIRGES
BREAKA 5

TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE 5 SEASONS

FOLLOWING AFTERWARDS WILL BE THE OPEN MIC SO EMCEES BRING YOUR "A" GAME.........

$5 SIGN UP FEE... THIS WILL GO TO THE MR. WILSON FUND... HE IS BACK IN THE HOSPITAL GETTING FLUID DRAINED FROM AROUND HIS HEART... HE IS ALSO WAITING FOR A HEART TRANSPLANT IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS... KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT THE SEASONS... EVERYTHING I MAKE DOWN AT THE SEASONS GO STRAIGHT TO MR. WILSON SO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IF YOU HAVE IT TO SPARE COME OUT WATCH SOME FOOTBALL, LISTEN TO GREAT HIPHOP AND EAT SOME FOOD AND DRINK MERRY....LOL

DJ JABRIL AND SONNY BROWN WILL BE IN THE PLACE 2 BE

FOOD BROUGHT TO YOU BY SAMUELS SOUL FOOD

DRINK SPECIALS BEFORE 10PM

10 FOR THE FELLAS
5 FOR THE LADIES

15 FOR THE FELLAS GETTING IN THE OPEN MIC
10 FOR THE LADIES GETTING IN THE OPEN MIC

Labels: 5 Seasons, flyer, Hip Hop 101, Sonny Brown, Under Sound Music

Labels: flyer

Skarr Akbar - The Bidding War Starts Now! (DJ Radio/Streetsweepers/Akbar Enterprize)

Last week I talked about The Cerebellum on here, and this week in the City Paper I've got a review of 3 of Skarr's recent mixtapes, including that one and this, which he released at the C Love/DNA event at Sonar last month. Skarr was also the last act of the night and just killed it with the short amount of time he was given. He's gonna be back at their event this month again, and at the Street Radio release party this Sunday too, so check those out for a chance to pick up the new CDs. I wrote a feature on Skarr in CP last year too. This mixtape is alright, a few really hot new songs and a lot of freestyles and old tracks. There's a couple of freestyles "with" Jay-Z and Eminem but it's not really them, or at least it's definitely someone doing an impression of Jay-Z (I wonder if it's NOE?).

Skarr Akbar - "Bang" (mp3)
This is Skarr's current single and it's pretty crazy, first time I've heard 92Q play a Skarr song multiple times when he wasn't a guest on Rap Attack. It's a real hard song but could really start to get him some of the attention he deserves.

Skarr Akbar - "Die Know" (mp3)
Sounds more like he's saying "die now," maybe the title is a typo. But it's such a dark, intense track, reminds me of "Judgement Day" from the Gritty Gang mixtape, which might be one of my favorite Skarr tracks ever.

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, mixtape/album review, mp3, Skarr Akbar

08/27/2006 12:00 PM - THE MILFORD MILL SWIM CLUB
3900 MILFORD MILL RD, WINDSOR MILL, MD 21224 - $20 / $25

JAZZIMAN ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS A SUMMER JAM YOU MOST DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT TO MISS! SUNDAY AUGUST 27TH, 2006 - 12PM TO 8PM @ THE MILFORD MILL SWIM CLUB IN RANDALLSTOWN TICKETS WILL BE $20 IN ADVANCE AND $25 AT THE DOOR A LIGHT BUFFET WILL BE PROVIDED. GRILLS ARE LOCATED ON THE PREMISES SPECIAL PERFORMANCES BY: IT'S A SURPRISE - NAMES WILL BE LISTED SOON! ***VOLUNTEERS AND SPONSORS NEEDED*** WWW.MYSPACE.COM/JAZZIMANENT MORE INFO COMING SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS EVENT IS SPONSORED BY: JAM EAZEY ENTERTAINMENT PROMOTER: BOSSLADY OF B-MORE WWW.MYSPACE.COM/BOSSLADY26 WWW.MYSPACE.COM/JAMEAZEYPROMO

Labels: Bosslady, flyer

Frank Ski at Club One tonight

Labels: Baltimore club, flyer

Labels: 5 Seasons, C Love, DNA, flyer

DK - King Me (730 Commission/Babygrande/Streetsweepers)

This mixtape has been out for a few months but my review of it just ran in the City Paper this week. DK is from West Bmore, and is signed to Baby Grande Records as a solo artist and has an album called Words Of Art due out later this year. In the past I've posted his appearances on Purple City's albums (I didn't realize it at the time but "Part Of History" was produced by One Up, Bossman's production team), and recently I got some e-mails from DK himself letting me know what's up with him. Even though he's kind of running with a New York crew, he definitely shows love for the whole Bmore scene, and he shouts out Bossman, Backland and Comp on "Classic Shit." Nobody Smiling and YoRaps.com ran interviews with DK recently, and King Me is featured in the current issue of The Source (w/ Ice Cube on the cover) in the Tale Of The Tape column. This is definitely one of the best CD's I've heard from a Baltimore artist this year and I'm looking forward to the album.

DK - "The Corner" (mp3)
Nice laid back track, one of my favorites.

DK - "Observing The Night" (mp3)
This was supposedly recorded when DK was 17, I guess around the time he had his deal with Jay-Z, but it's really as good or better than everything else on here. It doesn't even sound dated aside from having that Timbaland-style drum sound.

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, DK, magazines/newspapers, mixtape/album review, mp3, One Up Entertainment

Mic Scholars
http://www.myspace.com/thascholars

Born Divine
http://www.myspace.com/borndivine2

Sick Sense
http://www.myspace.com/ssdrksdtza

Vision

Mic Life Thursdays

Each and every Thursday at Upper Deck (34 South Eutaw St.)

Show Begins @ 10pm

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

HOSTED BY Slick Vic Low
DJ POOH ON THE WHEELS

Mic Life, because Hip-Hop Is Life, so Don't Waste It!!!

http://www.myspace.com/slickleviathan

http://www.myspace.com/torchlight_family

http://www.myspace.com/miclifemagazine

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine

Psta Gutta

August, 17 2006 at Latin Palace
508 South Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231
Cost: 15

Birthday Bash/ALBUM RELEASE .......... Lil Wayne Walk threw ... A&R's Coming Performances By .... Platinum, D.O.G, CR, Killa KAB, Psta Gutta, Raw DOC 21 and older .... Ladies in Free til 10:30.... $15 for tickets in Advance ... $20 until 10:30 ..... after that its $25 .... $40 for V.I.P. - No white tees, black tees, proper dress required

Labels: D.O.G., flyer

Torchlight Ent. & 3rd Eye Productions Presents...

MIC LIFE 2.0

Live @ Back Street Hall/Underground Mecca
405 North Warwick Ave. (real dope venue, nice sound system plus an elevated stage, decent size)
Every Wednesday

Doors Open @ 8pm
Open Mic @ 9pm
Feature Artists @ 11pm
Goes Until 2am
Ladies Free Before 10pm $5 After
Fellas $5 Before 10pm $10 after

"Real Hip-Hop at its best live in the flesh"

Hosted By Lyrical Leviathan & Black Wind

Dj J Venom on the wheels slicing it up like a samurai wit a fresh blade!!!

No white T's or doo rags (owners request not mine)

And I.D. is a must!!!

Mic Life
Because HipHop is life, so don't waste it!!!

TONIGHT!!!

J-Optimo
http://www.myspace.com/joptimo

Knottsworth & Yarbro
http://www.myspace.com/knotsworth
http://www.myspace.com/yarbromusic

T.M.F.

Sick Sense
http://www.myspace.com/ssdrksdtza

Young Ace

Shug Rock

Doe

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine

Labels: E Major, flyer, Under Sound Music

Congrats to D.O.G., who just signed a deal with Universal Records. I heard from a reader that he announced it on on Strictly Hip Hop on 88.9 last Friday, so I hit up D.O.G. on MySpace to confirm the news and it's official, they finished the deal on Friday. I've interviewed D.O.G. and written about him a couple times in the City Paper in the past year, and I've posted a whole lot of his music, and his appearance on MTV, here on Gov't Names, so I've been following his grind and I know they earned this, congratulations to the whole Invisible Set for making it happen.

(photo by Jefferson Jackson Steele)

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, D.O.G.

Architects Recording Studio presents Street Radio Vol. 3 (DJ Radio/Clinton Sparks)

As you can see from the flyer above, the release party for this mixtape is this Sunday, looks like a hot bill. I'm mad that I won't be able to be there, since I just realized I'm gonna be out of town that night, and it would be nice to be able to check out a show that's only a few blocks from my apartment. Jason Torres wrote a City Paper article about ARS about a year ago when the first Street Radio mixtape dropped, and since then they've kept at it with 3 more volumes, moving thousands of units of each. The new one is pretty good, although I don't know if I like it as much as volumes 2 and 2.5, at least in terms of song selection. There's some good joints on here that I was already familiar with, Bossman's "You're Wrong," D.O.G.'s "Big Bizness," ShellBe RAW's "Give It To Me Raw," UnReal's "No Problems." And there's some really good new shit from Backland and Little Clayway and C.R. too. This is the 3rd DJ Radio mixtape I've posted about here in just the past week, so you can tell dude is really killing shit around here right now. But one thing I have to admit I'm not really feelin' on these Street Radio mixtapes is how they'll slip in a handful of national records in with all the Baltimore stuff. I mean, if they're gonna do a Bmore mixtape, they should go all the way and not throw in some random Jae Millz or Rick Ross records I can hear on any other Streetsweepers mixtape. It was cool that they got Clinton Sparks to co-host this edition, though, since his profile is real high on the national mixtape circuit these days.

Blesst - "Talk Radio" (mp3)
The Boy Blesst has been on a lot of local mixtapes, and I like this track in particular, good concept and execution, nice flow. His song "B City" on C Love's mixtape was good too.

Tony Kurtis f/ Bossman - "Hooptie" (mp3)
Tony Kurtis aka Juteboxx is a local R&B singer and Bossman dropped a couple nice verses on his song. Bmore's got some good R&B coming out these days, Paula Campbell and Scola and C.R. Bossman's album is dropping at the top of '07 now, and he's got a lot of new music coming out these days, including a new freestyle on HipHopGame.com (thanks to Joe for the link).

Labels: Architects, Backland, Bossman, Little Clayway, mixtape/album review, mp3, ShellBe RAW, The Boy Blesst, UnReal

Sean Toure performing at Organic Soul Tuesday, August 15th
Real Hip-Hop Live, Inda Flesh!

Sean-Toure' emcee/producer beatmaker performing Live with the Organic Soul Band on Tuesday, August 15th. Come check out the show for only $5.00. See you in the place 2 be!

Doors open at 8:00
Open mic 8:30-9:30
Featured performance starts at 9:30 pm
Peace

Sean-Toure'
Star Seed Music LLC.

Go see Boot Camp Clique after the S.Toure show... You'll still have time to get there Nukka!

Labels: flyer

Labels: flyer, Sonar

Labels: flyer, Under Sound Music

ShellBe RAW
August, 13 2006 at BEKAtainment Showcase @ The 5 Seasons
830 Guilford Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201
Cost: $10

(illustration by Alex Fine)

Labels: 5 Seasons, flyer, ShellBe RAW

Profound and Ogun - Oil And Water 2 (DJ Radio/Streetsweepers/Real on Purpose Entertainment)

For as long as Ogun's been a champion of the Baltimore hip hop movement, Profound's been part of the Real On Purpose label and making moves alongside him. But as far as I know Profound hasn't put out a solo project, and never seemed to get as much exposure as Ogun or even Ammo. But whenever they do shows I always noticed Profound coming through with hot verses and a lot of energy. This is Ogun and Profound's 2nd joint release, but I never heard the first Oil And Water. They're only on 3 tracks together, so it's really a back and forth kinda thing, with guest appearances by Skarr Akbar and EJ, and "Bmore Shit" and "Truth Serum" are bonus tracks on here at the end. Also check out that Gritty Gang mixtape and Ogun's show at the Yabba Pot tonight. I won't be able to check out the show because I'm going to the beach, but it looks like a good bill.

Profound - "The Other Day" (mp3)
Lot of industry beats on here, but this is one of the best original songs, produced by Ms. Tris Beats.

Ogun - "I Can't Go On This Way" Freestyle (mp3)
Good beat choice, my favorite cut off the last Beanie Sigel album, and Ogun as always at his best when he's real passionate and autobiographical in his lyrics.

Labels: mixtape/album review, mp3, Ogun, Skarr Akbar

Labels: flyer

AllHipHop.com ran a story yesterday on Young City a.k.a. Chopper from Making The Band, who apparently just got arrested in Georgia because he was wanted for an armed robbery here in Baltimore. People always said that he lived in Bmore when he was reppin' New Orleans on MTV, and that article kind of explains why he was up here in the first place. When I interviewed Debonair Samir, he said that Chopper actually lives with his sister here, and he played me a track that Chopper did for that Baltimore Club Crack album. I don't know what happened to his Bad Boy deal, though. A few months ago it seemed like one minute he had a single with Diddy on the intro and his album was on the release schedule, next minute he was independent. I heard something about him releasing a track dissing Bad Boy's current artists, including Los, but I never heard it.

Before the Sun ran a story last week on "the Baltimore short,", I had no idea that those long capri shorts that go down to your ankles were a uniquely Bmore thing, or that folks like Mullyman or Skarr Akbar were making a regional fashion statement. I mean, you go to a hip hop show at 5 Seasons on Sonar during the summer, and at least half the dudes in the room are wearing 'em.

Labels: Debonair Samir, Los, magazines/newspapers

Skarr Akbar - The Cerebellum: General Part Four (DJ Radio/Streetsweepers/Akbar Enterprize)

I've got a review of 3 of Skarr's recent mixtapes coming up in the City Paper probably next week, so I won't say too much about this one right now. But it's been out a couple months already, and it's one of my favorite Skarr tapes to date (and I've heard a lot of them). There's appearances by the Arabz, and the Yung Huslas, and it comes with a disc of the trailer for his next DVD, The Understanding Part 2. Check out Skarr's MySpace for more info.

Skarr Akbar - "Freestyle" (mp3)
The "Think" break strikes again! I wonder what that beat is from, though. It sounds kinda like that Barnes "Jigglin' Shorty" record but not quite the same.

Skarr Akbar f/ Los and Drop - "Load The Clipz" (mp3)
From what Skarr says on the intro, it sounds like he's back with Da Bloc Inc., and there's a couple tracks on here with the triangle offense back together. I guess Los is still tight with them even after signing to Bad Boy, so that's pretty cool.

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, Los, mixtape/album review, mp3, Skarr Akbar

Torchlight Ent. & 3rd Eye Productions Presents...

MIC LIFE 2.0

Live @ Back Street Hall/Underground Mecca
405 North Warwick Ave. (real dope venue, nice sound system plus an elevated stage, decent size)
Every Wednesday

Doors Open @ 8pm
Open Mic @ 9pm
Feature Artists @ 11pm
Goes Until 2am
Ladies Free Before 10pm $5 After
Fellas $5 Before 10pm $10 after

"Real Hip-Hop at its best live in the flesh"

Hosted By Lyrical Leviathan & Black Wind

Dj J Venom on the wheels slicing it up like a samurai wit a fresh blade!!!

No white T's or doo rags (owners request not mine)

And I.D. is a must!!!

Mic Life
Because HipHop is life, so don't waste it!!!

This week the saga continues with apparences by...

Rebel Existence
http://www.myspace.com/rebelsonzai
tagworld.com/miclifemusic

Di-Faction
http://www.myspace.com/difaction
di-faction.com

Sonny Brown
http://www.myspace.com/sonnybrown2

Young Ace

Raw D.O.C.
http://www.rawdoc.com/

Sick Sense
http://www.myspace.com/ssdrksdtza
http://www.myspace.com/thespittersclub
thespittersclub.com

Mic Life
Because HipHop is life, so don't waste it!!!

http://www.myspace.com/slickleviathan

http://www.myspace.com/torchlight_family

http://www.myspace.com/miclifemagazine

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine, Sonny Brown

Labels: flyer, Ogun

The Tuesday Night Battle
Mic Versus Mic

You heard the battle on the radio and you think it was rigged
Come be the judge and see it for yourself raw and uncut

Whittens
4502 Erdman Ave
Baltimore, MD

hosted by Squirrel Wyde
Starting Tuesday August 1st

on the ones and twos
Unruly's own DJ Wil Roc

Reps from major labels will be in the house...so get your network on

come have fun and get the respect you deserve

free food...ooh tip the bartenders
must be 21 with proper ID

there will be opening acts before the battle starts
for info on how to be one of the opening acts
contact 443-865-0219

Doors open 9PM
Show starts at 10:30

Labels: flyer, Unruly Records

C Love and DNA - Respect, Vol. 1 (ItsBaltimoreBaby.com/Round Table Music Group)

As a fellow Baltimore hip hop blogger, of course I've got a lot of respect for C Love and I support whatever she's doing. And after the last few months of controversy and fallout from her leaving Style Wars and feuding with DJ P-Funk, it was good to see her land back on her feet with a new monthly event at Sonar, a release party of her first mixtape with one of Bmore's biggest mixtape DJs, DNA, keeping it moving on a positive, productive tip. It's got a lot of good tracks, some of which I've talked about on here recently, like the "Bmore Shit" all star remix, the Dirty Hartz/Mullyman joint, Golden Seal's "Sistahs Pimpin'" and Bossman's new single, plus some nice exclusives. Comp's got a new joint on there with an "I Wear My Sunglasses At Night" sample, but The Federation and E-40 already got that idea first.

One thing I like about a disc like this is that since it was put together by someone who's really knowledgeable of the scene, it's got a personal perspective to it, a flavor that some various artist mixes lack. C Love knows damn near everybody, and she's got most of the big names on here, but then she's got respected people who just aren't on every other mixtape, like Brown F.I.S.H. and Real 2 Real. You can order the CD from DNA's site, and I'm sure C Love will be hustling the mix at a lot of upcoming shows. If you check out C Love's MySpace page, she's got a few songs from the mixtape on her audio player, the Backland track is one of my favorites.

ShellBe RAW f/ XO - "Damn Shells" (mp3)
This has been my favorite ShellBe RAW track since I heard it on Street Radio 2.5 a while back, I think her whispery flow sounds better over these smooth kinds of beats. She's got a new solo mixtape dropping soon, when I saw her at the OOWE party I got a sampler with a few tracks from that, good shit. XO is only on the hook here but he's got such an ill voice, he sounds good on anything.

Dirt Platoon - "Movin'" (mp3)
I'd never heard of Dirt Platoon before, but this is the last track on the CD and it kinda snuck up on me and became one of my favorites, and it's produced by Phathead, who's also done tracks for Real 2 Real and M.O.L.

Labels: C Love, Comp, Dirty Hartz, DNA, Golden Seal, mixtape/album review, mp3, ShellBe RAW, XO

Check it out, Bossman performing at one of the big All Hip Hop Week events in New York.

Labels: Bossman, flyer

NEXT LEVEL & SUPER SUNDAY CREW @ CLUB CHOICES!

THIS SUNDAY!!!!! CALLING ALL HIGH SCHOOL'S AND THE SUPER SUNDAY CREW!!!! THE BIG NEXT LEVEL BEACH PARTY (WEAR WHATEVER YOU WANT).......PERFORMING LIVE!!!

A-MAZ-ON.......PRINCE......AND TAE-EAZY
(SHOOTING THE VIDEO FOR "SLYDE" AT CLUB CHOICES)

ON THE 1 & 2'S CLUB QUEEN K-SWIFT

HOSTED BY A SPECIAL GUEST (HAHAHAHAHAHA)

THE WHOLE NEXT LEVEL WILL BE IN THE BUILDING
YOUNG LEEK....THE KID....D.O.G... @ MORE!!!

GET THERE EARLY!!!!

9PM-2AM

CLUB CHOICES 1817 N.CHARLES ST.

FOR MORE INFO 410-752-4602 OR SEND A TEXT TO 443-858-0418

BETWEEN $10-15 (THE EARLIER THE CHEAPER)

Labels: Baltimore club, D.O.G., flyer, K-Swift, Next Level Records, Young Leek

Labels: flyer

Labels: Baltimore club, flyer

The Best Of Both Worlds, part 8: Debonair Samir
A more detailed examination of the music discussed in my Baltimore City Paper article about the crossover between Baltimore club music and hip hop.

Finishing up with the 8th part of this series of posts, I'm gonna focus on Debonair Samir , who was also the subject of the last 4 or 5 paragraphs of the article. Samir's been thick in the Baltimore club scene since the late 90's, and has been on some big local hip hop projects too. In the last few months, I've posted some of Samir's productions for Dirty Hartz and Mullyman and talked a little about his work with Aaron Lacrate. I'm not sure when that Baltimore Club Crack compilation on Koch is dropping, I've heard in the fall, but I've got a rough mix of it and it's some hot shit, tracks from Tim Trees and B Rich and Chopper from Da Band. Samir and Lacrate were also featured on MTV's You Hear It First about the Baltimore scene, and they'll be spinning club music at Sonar's indie dance party, Taxlo, next Friday, August 11th.

Samir's worked with so many people around here, he did a track on Bossman's independent album and some stuff on Bigg Patch's new album. And the other night at the Low Key God/Scottie B. event at 5 Seasons, the dudes from Tru Bill Ent. played a new song produced by Samir that sounded hot. Check out the "Samir's Beats" mp3 on Samir's MySpace page, which is the instrumentals from a bunch of his hip hop productions. Some of them are familiar, like Dirty Hartz's "Post Up" and Tim Trees' "Fire," and there's a crazy sample of the Golden Girls theme, and towards the end there's a weird remixed version of the "Soldier" beat.

D.O.G. f/ Jon Boe - "Soldier" (mp3)
Samir's produced several tracks for D.O.G., including "I Get Doe" featuring Jim Jones, "Higher," and a track from the upcoming album called "Mardi Gras." But when Samir told me that he did this track during our interview, I had to really give him props, this is my shit, the drums are crazy. The other MC on the track, Jon Boe, is D.O.G.'s brother, and he's got a solo mixtape that I'm gonna post about at some point. Champagne Dreams never did drop in July, but last time D.O.G. was on Rap Attack, he said they were about to sign something and make it a national release, so it's gonna be worth the wait.

Don Brody - "Back It Up" (mp3)
Don Brody is this cat that's on DNA's label and has been appearing on a lot of his mixtapes. His MySpace page says he's from Philly, but his solo mixtape, Hard Money has beats from Bmore producers like Akira The Great and Samir, and this is the cut from Samir.

G & R - "Git Ya Money" (mp3)
Not sure who G & R are, but I like this track, produced by Samir from the first Street Radio mixtape.

Joe Pesh f/ Danmoe - "Ridin' Stock" (mp3)
Here's a track from the new Street Radio 3, which I'll be doing a post about soon. Kind of a Southern vibe on this one.

Also in this series:
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 1: The "Think" Break
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 2: Blaq Starr
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 3: Dukeyman
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 4: DJ Ron Rico
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 5: DJ Booman
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 6: Nigga Say What a.k.a. Say Wut
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 7: Rod Lee

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, Baltimore club, D.O.G., Debonair Samir, Dirty Hartz, mp3, Mullyman, The Best Of Both Worlds

FAMILY FUN DAY COOKOUT BEN CARDIN PAVILLION @ LEAKIN PARK, BALTIMORE, MD 21201

Cost: FREE ADMISSION AND PARKING!!
Date: August, 5 2006 at
*
ENJOY A DAY OF ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD, GAMES, MUSIC (BY CROOKED STREETS), SURPRISE PERFORMANCES AND WONDERFUL VIBES @ THE 1ST ANNUAL FAMILY FUN DAY!!!

SPONSORED BY : GOLDEN SEAL, BROWNF.I.S.H. AND FRAMIN' PLACE

ADDRESS/ DIRECTIONS: Go west on North Ave and follow to end. Make left on Morris Rd. Follow to Franklintown Rd and make a right. Follow Franklintown Rd to first Parking lot on right.

Labels: Brown F.I.S.H., flyer, Golden Seal

Labels: flyer, Scottie B., Team Fifty

Torchlight Entertainment Presents...

Mic Life Thursdays

Each and every Thursday at Upper Deck (34 South Eutaw St.)

Show Begins @ 11pm

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

HOSTED BY Slick Vic Low
DJ POOH ON THE WHEELS

Mic Life, because Hip-Hop Is Life, so Don't Waste It!!!

http://www.myspace.com/slickleviathan

http://www.myspace.com/torchlight_family

http://www.myspace.com/miclifemagazine

Tomorrow night

Bishop
http://www.myspace.com/scavengeproductionsbishop

RAW D.O.C.
http://www.rawdoc.com/

Al The Great
http://www.alevanmusic.com/

Dezert Red

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine

The Best Of Both Worlds, part 7: Rod Lee
A more detailed examination of the music discussed in my Baltimore City Paper article about the crossover between Baltimore club music and hip hop.

Rod Lee is obviously a hugely important figure in both Bmore club and local hip hop. He's had the clubs on smash since the mid-late 90's, and ever since 2000 when he started doing songs with Tim Trees and Pork Chop, he's been making hits for every other rapper and R&B singer in Baltimore and jump-starting the careers of folks like Bossman and Paula Campbell. A couple years ago, it was common to say that a local artist couldn't get a song on 92Q without a beat from Rod Lee, and while that's no longer as true, which is generally to the benefit of the scene's diversity, he's still running shit. The latest single on the radio that he produced is Cooli Hi's "Take Down (Unruly's Harm Squad Mix)", which is featured on the City Paper's Big Music Thing

This article was the 2nd time I tried to get an interview with Rod, and unfortunately he's the only guy I didn't get to talk to. I called a couple times, and when I got him on the line he kinda blew me off and told me to call back the next week, which happened to be after my deadline. I've heard that he's been kinda press-shy since a couple publications aired out some of his personal business. But I dunno, maybe he was just busy, so I won't hold it against him, because I'm still a real big fan of his music. And he's still killing it on the club tip, with last year's Vol. 5: The Official and the reissue of Operation: Start-Up. This year, Morphius is reissuing the rest of his older albums, including my personal favorites Operation: Not Done Yet and Vol. 3: The Pressure. And he's got a new album coming out, but I have no idea what it's called; Morphius says it's called The Referee, the insert in the Supa DJ Big L CD says it's called The Game, and in SPIN last year he said it's called The Producer, so who knows.

Little Clayway f/ Rod Lee - "Call Me Clayway" (mp3)
I remember the first time I got the sense that Rod was kind of a big deal around here beyond just the club tracks was about 4 years ago when Clayway was on Rap Attack around the time this song came out, and they were acting all like "damn, you got a beat from Rod Lee? You must have a big budget." You can see the video for the song here.

Nature's Problem - "Shake It Shorty" (mp3)
Another one from back in '02, couldn't go 5 minutes without hearing this or "Whoa Now" on the radio that summer. Nature's Problem was Huli Shallone's group back in the day before he went solo, one of these days I'm gonna do a post about their old albums.

Tyree Colion - "Big Pimpin'" (mp3)
Shout out to Tyree, I don't know what the latest on his legal situation is but I hope things work out for him. This is a track from The Problem and the Solution, I remember hearing another Tyree/Rod Lee collabo on the radio last year, and I've heard differing reports on whether Rod produced Tyree's big hit "Bass Drop" but I have no idea if he did or not.

Scola f/ Rod Lee - “Turn It Down" (mp3)
Scola, aka Ruscola, the 5th member of Dru Hill, came back on the solo tip with this joint pretty recently. This is the original version, but there's also a remix with Bossman and Dollars from N.E.K. out there, and lately I've been hearing another version with some live drums on there.

Also in this series:
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 1: The "Think" Break
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 2: Blaq Starr
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 3: Dukeyman
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 4: DJ Ron Rico
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 5: DJ Booman
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 6: Nigga Say What a.k.a. Say Wut
The Best Of Both Worlds, part 8: Debonair Samir

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, Baltimore club, Dru Hill, Little Clayway, mp3, Rod Lee, The Best Of Both Worlds, Tyree Colion

MARY J. BLIGE AFTER PARTY AT........................
THE OFFICIAL HUMPDAY HOTSPOT AT CLUB 347!

Come cool off with the air conditioner blasting while DJ Debonair Samir keeps the music blazing!

INVITED GUESTS: BALTIMORE RAVENS Linebacker ADALIUS THOMAS, R&B SENSATION LATOYA LUCKETT, Russell Simmons Music Group producer SEAN BANKS, and MORE!!!!

Labels: Debonair Samir, flyer

Labels: flyer

Check out to 5 Seasons this Thursday to support Team Fifty and pay homage to the dude that more or less started this whole Baltimore club thing, Scottie B. Shout out to K-Con for the flyer, my name's on there so I'm gonna try and show up!

Labels: 5 Seasons, Baltimore club, Scottie B., Team Fifty, Unruly Records

Torchlight Ent. & 3rd Eye Productions Presents...

MIC LIFE 2.0

Live @ Back Street Hall/Underground Mecca
405 North Warwick Ave. (real dope venue, nice sound system plus an elevated stage, decent size)
Every Wednesday (Beginning Aug. 2nd)

Doors Open @ 8pm
Open Mic @ 9pm
Feature Artists @ 11pm
Goes Until 2am
Ladies Free Before 10pm $5 After
Fellas $5 Before 10pm $10 after

"Real Hip-Hop at its best live in the flesh"

Hosted By Lyrical Leviathan & Black Wind

Dj J Venom on the wheels slicing it up like a samurai wit a fresh blade!!!

No white T's or doo rags (owners request not mine)

And I.D. is a must!!!

Mic Life
Because HipHop is life, so don't waste it!!!

Got a Hell of a micnificent line up for this coming Wendsday (Aug. 2nd) that I know you don't wan't to miss!!!

Sean Toure
http://www.myspace.com/stoure

E The Poet Emcee
http://www.myspace.com/ethepoetemcee

Dre Belovid The Truth

Marshal E. Conway

Goshell
http://www.myspace.com/midclick

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine

Mary J. Blige's "Breakthrough Tour" will be hitting the 1st Mariner Arena this Wednesday, August 2nd! Tickets are on sale now at the Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations or online at ticketmaster.com. Or, keep jammin' to 92Q to win your free pair! Listen at 7am, 11am, 3pm and 7pm for the "Mary J Double-Play"...when you hear it, be the 29th caller to win the tickets!

Plus, don't forget about our "Pre-Summer Jam Party" on Hopkins Plaza across from the 1st Mariner Arena from 6am-6pm on Wednesday! We'll be broadcasting live all day long with live performances by Young Dro, Baby Cham, Huli Shallone and more! It's free for eveyone and we'll even give you a chance to upgrade your tickets to the first five rows!

Labels: 92Q, flyer, Huli Shallone