This week is the Baltimore City Paper's annual 'Sizzlin' Summer' issue, and I wrote a fun piece that's kind of a playlist of local summer jams. I talked to folks like DJ Booman, E Major, Shaka Pitts, PenDragon, Kane Mayfield and members of Kadman, Jumpcuts, Rapdragons, the Art Department, the Cameron Blake Band and the Out Of Your Head Collective, and they picked songs by Wye Oak, LMS, Skarr Akbar, the Annexx Click, Junkers, the Get Em Mamis, Rhinovirus, Billie Holiday, Celebration, Sri Aurobindo and Brown F.I.S.H. We've even got a player on the CP site where you can stream some of the songs.

(illustration by Alex Fine)

Labels: Annexx Click, Baltimore City Paper, Brown F.I.S.H., DJ Booman, E Major, G.E.M./Tha Plague, Kane, PenDragon, Rapdragons, Shaka Pitts, Skarr Akbar

K-Mack - Night Ryda (Knokville Entertainment/Banga Bill Enterprise)

This week in the City Paper I have a feature on K-Mack, going back through his whole history with the Annexx Clique in the '90s up to his new solo album. And I gotta be honest, this is the first article I've ever done about an artist where they straight up told me they hated it, hated the story and the light it put them in and the quotes I chose, hated the headline and the photo. I feel bad, just because as far as I know I've always had a pretty good track record and don't think there are a lot of people who can say they regret sitting down with me for an interview, although who knows really. I mean I can't control how people feel when I review their stuff but when I'm using someone's own words to profile them, I dunno, it's a shame they weren't happy with the final product, although he was cool about it, didn't get too over the top, just told me how he felt. Anyway, I don't wanna dwell on all that too much, I stand by the article and I thought it was important to tell his story, I'm just saying take it with a grain of salt since K-Mack wasn't happy with it and I understand his reservations. The album is pretty great, and is available for free on ALLBMOREHIPHOP.com, where it ranked in the top 5 downloads in the site's first week, and it features production by Banga Bill, cover art by Skarr Akbar, and is dedicated to Mr. Wilson.

K-Mack - "What They Hate" (mp3)
There are so many good tracks on here I thought about posting, "B City" and "Never Change" and "Big Dawg" especially, but this one really knocks the most, in my opinion, great song.

Labels: ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, Annexx Click, Baltimore City Paper, Banga Bill, mixtape/album review, mp3, Mr. Wilson, Skarr Akbar

Labels: 5 Seasons, Annexx Click, battle, Darkroom Productions, flyer, Shaka Pitts, YoTrakz

I wasn't planning on posting anything new on this site for another week or two to bring it out of hiatus, but after I heard the news a couple days ago, about the passing of Mr. Wilson, I knew I had to acknowledge that. As a member of the group JI-900 and the label Star Status Entertainment, and founder of events like Hip Hop 101 and the Baltimore Fresh Fest, he's had an important impact on Baltimore hip hop over the past several years, and although I only met him once or twice and heard a relatively small amount of his music, I always had a lot of respect for him and I wish I'd been better acquainted with him when he was alive. I'm getting together a little something to acknowledge his passing for the City Paper soon, so anyone that wants to contribute to that with pictures, stories, memories and details of his life, please contact me. Details about funeral arrangments are here and I believe there will be a Hip Hop 101 event dedicated to him in the near future as well. Below are a few of my favorite Mr. Wilson and JI-900 tracks, and after that, some very poignant words about Mr. Wilson by his good friend Sonny Brown:

Mr. Wilson and Mullyman - "Gutter" (mp3)

JI-900 and Mack of the Annexx Click - "4 Da Love" (mp3)

Sonny Brown, Mr. Wilson and Mo Gant - "You Ain't Shit" (mp3)

JI-900 and Little Clayway - "Play Tough" (mp3)

Backland and JI-900 - "U Better Move" (mp3)

Sonny Brown, Snoop Dogg and Mr. Wilson - "Gangsta Ish Remix" (mp3)

From Sonny Brown:

I was really sitting here and contemplating on if i should type something about my dude or if i should just chill the fuck out and just reminese over him by myself. But I feel like to all of the friends I have, i feel like maybe i should share a piece of who i considered one of my most dearest and best frie.. NAAAA... I will consider him someone closer then a friend.. i will just say my brother. I met Mr. Wilson in 2002 when i got out of jail. My homeboy and another brother of mine Will introduced us. Will kept telling me that i needed to get my album done and he knew where to record it. He kept telling me the dude that ran the studio was a real G (lol) and the nigga can rhyme his ass off so i'm like ok Will take me to the studio. Now mind you i am fresh outta jail, still in some sort of way smelling like jail, cqarrying my bag full of court papers and books and shit and i am getting ready to record my first song in a real live studio. Well, when we got there I told my man Will "Yo, this studio CLOUD 9 studio (to my folks that dont know, Cloud 9 was a real nice studio for local artist here in Baltimore) He told me "Yeah, but its MR. WILSONS NOW. I say "Mr. Wilson? what in the fuck? I heard of him. I got in the studio and the first thing i remember was the graff on the wall that read STAR STATUS ENT.. I walked down the hall and made a right and there was everybody... smoking fogs, weed, drinking, and B-ILL behind the boards banging out CRACK! B-ILL was and still is one of the best producers in bmore city 4real. The first person i met was MALIBU.. he was a cool mother fucker and to this day the same as i met him COOL! Then i met KC.. Kenny..lol.. Now kenny? he was my MAN.. He knew every episode of my favorite Show SANFORD AND SON..lol so we immediatly went back and forth on the show.. then i met Mr. Wilson..

Now When i met him, he shook my hand and he asked me if i had something to record. Mind you all I'm JUST GETTING HOME maybe 2 hrs ago and he already asking me if i was ready to record. I told him i did'nt have any money and he said "Man, i knew you just got home yo.. you part of a family now".. I went in and recorded '"COME ON" As soon as i recorded that we recorded a string of records.. But he ones we banged out and got the most love for was "UMMM HMM", "Ride with me" and "YOU AINT SHIT" I went from just being a nobody nigga that just got out of jail to being a dude recording with MR.WILSON and JI900.. From all the recording we just developed a unbreakable bond.. the recording actually got us into just MAKING MONEY AND HISTORY TOGETHER. Such as the Fresh fest, recording the infamous SNOOP DOGG record DOE CHEESE, Blammy awards, Beat battles, HipHop 101, Madame of Murdaland battles, constructing his first video to do 2 years on BET UNCUT and so on and so forth.. IF IT WASNT FOR MR. WILSON I WOULDNT OF NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOSTING EVENTS. Pfunk gave me the oppurtunity.. If it wasnt for Wilson and my dude Excel i wouldve retired from the rap game and jumped back to selling drugs again.. But he always told me.. "yo god gave you a gift that alot of people dont have.. so use your gift and show the world who you are". I use to think that was corny. But it in some sort of way made sense. I learned alot from him.. I learned what true friendship meant. I learned what loyalty meant. I learned how to love my family better and Most of all My business mind sharpened all because of him. Sometimes you meet people in life and you never know why you let them in.. Then you just sort of get used to them.. then its like you gel with them.. i talked to this dude like 6 times a day EVERYDAY.. then one day.. i just didnt call him because of my situation then 1 week went by in he's in the hospital in a induced coma.. I know people say that one day your here and the next day your gone thing.. it really makes since but you know what? In a few months i may heal.. and i may take for granted life like we all do from time to time.. I refuse to do it again. I know i came back and i promised to do more with myself.. But now? I have absolutley no choice right now.. Its always something, first my leg now this.. I am REALLY on a mission to do well and feed my friends and family. I watched this dude say he wanted a 2004 S500 benz and frommoney at hiphop 101 and our many legal hustles he got one..... In 2 weeks. I watched him do EVERYTHING he wanted to do and then some, He's gone so now i have to live for him and myself. Damn this shit hurts man.

I will make sure that his name is'nt in vain. I am bringing back HipHop 101 because i know if he never got sick then he wouldve kept it going. i am going to keep STAR STATUS going because he actually managed me before my personal manager Mika and i am the President of that label. I am going to do a fresh fest this year.. Why? because he started them and i will continue to make that happen.. And last but not least I am bringing the 2nd annual WILSON BLAMMY AWARDS because again if he was here he wouldve done it. And the funny thing is I was told i wasnt going to be able to pull it off in the 2 weeks it took me to put it all together and regardless on how sloppy it went.. It was a success... So just imagine whats gonna happen now that i know what to do..lol.. I hate fucking haters..lol.. i feel like i need to be doing ALOT of things on my own and or with the help of my family such as VISION, MALIBU, KD, BACKLAND, WILL, MANNY, BMORE BRIAN, LOKEY, BRIAN, KENNY, JFUNK, RASHAWN, JABRIL, B-ILL WIDOW,PFUNK, DJ EXCEL, MISSY, SONJA, MIKA,TYREIKA, and OMAR LITTLE. We will not let your name go in vain Wilson. For you guys that didnt know him.. you felt him because his hand was in EVERYTHING. I wish i couldve went to that HELL RELL joint LAST NIGHT because HELL RELL was his favorite emcee.. but it aint official until i speak on him They might of said something about him but shit dont matter unless I SONNY BROWN speak on what he did so fuck it .. I love you Mr. Wilson.. you are and will always be my best friend/brother and you truly will be missed.. Man i cant stop crying yo but i know your plight here was completed and you are now in your rightful place with god! I love you yo!

Either myself or Rashawn from Welding ent will be letting everyone know where the arrangments will be held so just keep the family in prayer and in spirit. If anyone would like to make monetary donations to Mr Wilson or send flowers of condolences or anything please call this number 443-803-3885 and ask for CHRIS. Once again, if you want to make MONETARY DONATIONS AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND CARDS AND OR FLOWERS OF CONDOLENCES PLEASE CALL 443-803-3885. Mr. Wilson was more then just a person in this community but he helped out alot within the community and paved the way for alot of you young emcess trying to get up in the game.. So I know 4sure if some of you cats cant at least send a card or something for a real legend man dont even bother to holler at me.. If you just want to talk and let at your feelings about him you know how to reach me..

Love is Love and always remember him!

Sonny Brown

Labels: Annexx Click, announcements, Backland, JI-900, Little Clayway, mp3, Mr. Wilson, Mullyman, Sonny Brown

The City Paper's biggest issue of the year, Best Of Baltimore 2007, is out this week, and I wrote more than twice as many blurbs than either previous year that I contributed to the issue (that was one rough deadline week, believe me). The blurbs I wrote and awards I had a hand in deciding are as follows:

Best Band Web Site: Karmella's Game
Best Singer/Songwriter: Lizz King
Best Male MC: Skarr Akbar
Best Female MC: Jade Fox
Best Hip-Hop DJ: DJ Vicious V
Best Club DJ: KW Griff
Best Club Music Producer: King Tutt
Best Beatmaker: One Up Entertainment
Best Summer Jam: "Chicken Box" by Silohette (which I posted recently)
Best Posse Cut: "I'm So Fly" Remix by Skarr Akbar featuring Bossman, D.O.G., Barnes, A-maz-on, Heavy Gold, and SK (another one I've posted)
Best Doomed Major Label Contract: A-maz-on
Best Music Radio Show: 92Q's Rap Attack
Best Place To Hear Hip-Hop: The (New Turntable Club)
Best New Club: Lo-Fi Social Club
Best Karaoke: Hip-Hop Karaoke at Latin Palace

I haven't had a chance to read through the rest of the issue yet, but obviously, you should pick up a copy for yourself or at least browse all over the site for all the interesting and right on and totally wrong awards I had nothing to do with. The party is on Thursday night and I've tried to contact every winner whose category I wrote to make sure they get their invitations, but there are still a couple of people that we never got an address to mail them to. If any of them still need ad invite, e-mail me ASAP and I'll let you know who to call. Congrats to everyone who won, hopefully I'll see you there.

(cover image by Kevin Sherry)

Labels: 92Q, Annexx Click, Baltimore City Paper, Baltimore club, Barnes, Bossman, D.O.G., Jade Fox, KW Griff, magazines/newspapers, One Up Entertainment, Skarr Akbar, Turntable Club

B-Ill - The Best Of B-Ill: Chapter 1 (Banga Bill Enterprises)

Banga Bill is a producer who's down with Star Status and Street Official Records and a lot of other labels, and if you listen to Baltimore hip hop at all you've heard some of his work over the years. I reviewed this mixtape for the City Paper recently, and it's a double CD that features his work with a ton of great Baltimore artists (Mullyman, Barnes, JI-900, Tha Annexx Click, Backland, Los, Blesst, Sonny Brown) as well as some pretty major out-of town MC's (Freeway, Joe Budden, Snoop Dogg, The Clipse, Jae Hood, Drag-On, Ghostface Killah, Memphis Bleek). Don't be confused by the cover art, though, none of the Baltimore rap featured on The Wire is on these CD's. But check out Bill's MySpace page where you can buy a lot of these tracks via Snocap.com. Since it's a double CD, I'll post a track from each CD:

Silohette - "Chicken Box" (mp3)
The chicken box is such a Baltimore thing, when I heard this for the first time a year ago I thought it was so brilliant that someone here made a song out of the concept. This track should've been a huge hit, in my opinion. Is her name spelled Silohette or Silowette, though? I've seen it both ways.

Los - "Ain't Shook At All" (mp3)
This is a pretty short track but it's hot, and it's always good to hear something from Los, he needs to put out a solo mixtape or something already.

Labels: Annexx Click, Backland, Baltimore City Paper, Banga Bill, Barnes, Los, mixtape/album review, mp3, Mullyman, Sonny Brown, The Boy Blesst

First of all, let me say that this is not The Government Names 2006 Baltimore Hip Hop Poll Results, which I posted the other day, and also that I kind of apologize for my attitude in that post. I knew going into it how it might turn out, and I still got a little bitter about it, and inadvertantly disrespected some of my favorite artists. But it seems like people understand now that I wasn't trying to diss anybody, and it's water under the bridge. Now, onto my official year-end wrap up, which is completely my opinion and noone else's. I won't say much about what my opinion means, because I'm just one person and I have my own biases, but the fact that I've heard this much local music, and that I know too many of the artists to feel any obligation to any one of them beyond saying how I really feel about their music, should speak for itself. But still, take it with a big grain of salt and understand I'm rooting for everybody. Enjoy the feast of mp3's, discover some artists you might like, click the links and get to know them. I'll be posting less often for the next 3 weeks or so, so you'll have plenty of time to digest this.


1. Little Clayway - Still Movin' Independently: The Takeover (Clayway Records)
Government Names review
Clayway Records website
Little Clayway on MySpace
Little Clayway - "Clay Family Story" (mp3)

This is kind of an offbeat choice for #1, I don't think a lot of people heard this one, but in my opinion it was just the best, most complete album I heard out of the scene this year. Clayway doesn't rap real fancy but he has a laid back, conversational flow you can relate to, and by combining new material with some older career highlights, he put together a good, balanced album. But what I really loved about it was the personal storytelling perspective of songs like "B-More Hip Hop" and "Clay Family Story," squeezing years of history into brief songs and letting you inside his head.


2. Dirty Hartz - It Is What It Is Vol. 2 (Dirty Hartz Ent.)
Government Names review
Dirty Hartz on MySpace
Dirty Hartz - "The Hartz Is Here" (mp3)

Verb and everyone else in DH can just rhyme their asses off, and with a really hot selection of industry beats and original tracks by Debonair Samir, they did the mixtape thing more consistently than just about anybody this year.


3. Tyree Colion - Tyree Colion presents Hustle Hard Blvd (Rare Ent./Hustle Hard Blvd)
Government Names review
Rare Ent. on MySpace
Tyree Colion - "Help Me" (mp3)

I was pleasantly surprised by how highly this placed in the poll, considering that Tyree got locked up before it was officially released and as a result it was never really promoted or heard by many people. But I think everyone that heard it has to respect the accomplishment of a triple CD where every disc is as consistent as most other dudes' whole mixtapes.


4. UnReal - Dat Boyz A Problem (UnReality Ent.)
Government Names review
UnReal on MySpace
UnReal - "Breath" (mp3)

UnReal has been a favorite of mine going back to his track from Hamsterdam, and he really pulled together almost all of his best joints for this one.

5. Mullyman - Still H.I.M . (Major League Unlimited/DJ Gemini)
Government Names review
Mullyman on MySpace
Mullyman - "Old School Tribute" (mp3)

Mullymania never totally lived up to my expectations, but he really came hard on the follow-up mixtape and let people know he wasn't going anywhere.


6. DK - King Me (730 Commission/DJ Kay Slay)
Government Names review
DK on MySpace
DK - "You Ain't Fooling Me" (mp3)

I don't think people in the city really realize yet who DK is, let alone how talented he is and that he's signed to a mid-sized national indie label. Maybe when he drops the album they'll start noticing.


7. Tha Annexx Click - Banga Bill Presents Chapter 16: Tha Return Of Da
Blue (Knokville Ent./Street Official Ent.)
Government Names review
Banga
Bill on MySpace
Tha Annexx Click - "Funky Fresh" (mp3)

Tha Annexx Click is one of those crews whose history goes back way further than my knowledge of the scene, back in the 90's, so I don't know how this measures up to the old stuff, but it made me a fan.


8. Skarr Akbar - The Cerebellum: General Part Four (Akbar Enterprize/DJ Radio)
Government Names review
Skarr Akbar on MySpace
Skarr Akbar - "Picture Me Rolling" (mp3)

Skarr released so much music this year that it's hard to say what his best release was -- he just put out a DVD/CD at all Downtown Locker Rooms this week that I haven't heard yet -- but this one is my favorite of the ones I've heard.


9. Barnes - The Last Shall Be First (Street Official/Sugar Water)
Government Names review
Barnes on MySpace
Barnes f/ Goddi - "Real Nigga" (mp3)

Barnes did it big with radio hits and national distribution this year, but I think the fact that he got locked up right for a while right after his album dropped kinda hurt his momentum. He really put out a quality album, though.


10. Bossman - BulletProof B (One Up Ent.)
Government Names review
Bossman on MySpace
Bossman - "You're Wrong (live)" (mp3)

Bossman hadn't really released too much new music since getting signed last year, but then recently he unleashed a whole 2 CD mixtape to make up for it, and I hope it really gets people ready for the Virgin album in the next few months.


11. PX (Parts Unknown) - Hood Therapy (Street Legal Entertainment/BRM Music/MDL Music)
Government Names review
PX (Parts Unknown) on MySpace
PX (Parts Unknown) - "Hood Therapy" (mp3)

I still feel really bad about disrespecting PX the other day, because they've been in this scene a long time and really didn't fuck around with this album, got good distribution and made sure people came out in droves to cop it, and not a lot of people around here have really accomplished that. And they've got a real unique sound that's all them, too.


12. B. Rich - Born Rich (Sure Shot Recordings)
Government Names review
B. Rich on MySpace
B. Rich - "Angels" (mp3)

For a lot of people around here, B. Rich's story is a cautional tale about how not to get treated by the industry. But it's really to his credit that he came back on an independent level all these years later and actually made an album that was better than his first.


13. Midas - Pay-Per-View (Team Green/Beat Game)
Government Names review
Midas on MySpace
Midas - "Movies" (mp3)

I think Midas is one of the most promising MCs in the city right now, and this feels like a really good appetizer for the album he's dropping in '07.


14. PenDragon - Revenge Of The Harm City King (Team Arson Music/DragonMoon Records)
Government Names review
PenDragon on MySpace
PenDragon - "Sweet Dreams" (mp3)

Probably the best pleasant surprise I heard this year, as far as getting sent a CD by an artist I hadn't previously heard of.


15. Ray Lugar - Exclusive Respect II (Stay Hi Ent./Team Fifty)
Government Names review
Team Fifty website
Ray Lugar - "I Know" (mp3)

I just did a big City Paper feature on Ray Lugar and the Low Key God that's coming real soon, so I won't say too much other than that these dudes are legends and you need to be familiar with them.


16. Labtekwon - The Ghetto Dai Lai Lama V. 777 (Ankh Ba Records/Morphius Urban)
Government Names review
Labtekwon on MySpace
Labtekwon - "The Gift" (mp3)

I don't know why Lab went back to a 2005 album and re-released it with some minor adjustments, but every change he made (compare the old version of "The Gift" to this one if you have both) made it better.


17. Comp - Independence Day: Bang-A-Rang Mixtape Vol. 3 (DNA)
Government Names reviewa>
Comp on MySpace
Comp - "B-More Anthem" (mp3)

Like B. Rich, Comp is someone else I respect for getting fucked over by the major label system but still coming back independent.


18. Backland - Back In Business (Charm City Records)
Government Names review
Backland on MySpace
Backland - "What Would You Do?" (mp3)

I think I would have liked this mixtape more if I hadn't gotten his previous one, The One, which is really great, right around the same time, but it's good to have Backland back on the scene.


19. Finacy - Napoleon Complex (Infinite Legacy)
Government Names review
Finacy on MySpace
Finacy - "Round 1" (mp3)

I only got around to really listening to this album a lot lately but it's been growing on me fast.


20. ShellBe RAW - Do You Like It Raw? (A.R.S. Entertainment/DJ Radio)
Government Names review
ShellBe RAW on MySpace
ShellBe RAW f/ Che Ray - "Do It For You Freestyle" (mp3)

ShellBe really earned her hype with this one, although I kinda wish there were more original beats, since the ones that are on here are good.

21. Cutthroat - Words Can't Explain It Chapter 2.5 (For The People Entertainment)
Government Names review
Cutthroat on MySpace
Cutthroat - "Painter" (mp3)

The production on this album is really beautiful and subtle, Cutthroat succeeded at making a really different album from most of the stuff on this list.


22. C Love - Respect, Vol. 1 (ItsBaltimoreBaby.com/DNA)
Government Names review
C Love on MySpace
Brown F.I.S.H. - "45" (mp3)

What up, C Love! It's harder for me to rate various artist mixtapes but there's some great tracks on here.


23. Mike Malachi - Malachi's Way
Government Names review
Mike Malachi on MySpace
Mike Malachi - "What Y'all Really Want To Do" (mp3)

This record sounded really promising but inconsistent to me, I hope Malachi lives up to his potential on the next project.


24. Gritty Gang - Street Certified Goods (Real On Purpose Entertainment)
Government Names review
Real On Purpose on MySpace
Ammo - "(Say) Gritty Gang" (mp3)

Nobody brings people together in Baltimore quite like Ogun and ROP, this was a real interesting project and I wonder if it's gonna keep going, good assemblage of people.

25. Real2Real - Playground Legends (Street Official Records/Headnod Entertainment)
Government Names review
Real2Real on MySpace
Real2Real - "Like It Or Not" (mp3)

I think I need to listen to this some more, it might be better than I realized.



26. The Yung Huslas - Strickly Business Volume One (Rare Ent.)
Government Names review
The Yung Huslas on MySpace
The Yung Huslas - "Pop!" (mp3)

Along with Ammo, these kids are making being a teen rapper from Baltimore more respectable than the stuff getting played on the radio, they gotta be good to get co-signed by Skarr Akbar and Tyree Colion.


27. Hots - The Introduction (One Up Ent./Lil Skrilla)
Government Names review
Hots on MySpace
Hots - "Criminal Individuals" (mp3)

This is another one that's kinda grown on me with time, might end up belonging higher on this list in retrospect, but I'm not sure yet. Anything with One Up beats is worth copping, though.


28. Billo "The Hood Rockstar" - Daily Grind Vol. 2 "We Got Another
One" (For The People Entertainment)
Government Names review
Billo on MySpace
Billo f/ Yuk and Cut - "I'm Ballin'" (mp3)

This one's a little inconsistent to me but when it's good it's pretty damn good.


29. M.O.L. - Money On Da Low (Top Of Da Hill Records)
Government Names review
M.O.L. on MySpace
M.O.L. - "You Don't Know" (mp3)

There's kinda too many MCs that I can't tell apart in this crew, I think if any of them dropped a solo joint I'd like it, though.

30. Ray Victory - Ready 2 Go! (Strong Arm Entertainment/Nite Life Entertainment/DJ Nelly Nell)
Government Names review
Ray Victory on MySpace
Ray Victory - "Same Shit" (mp3)

Another mixtape bogged down with too many freestyles, but the original material is on point.


31. Third Kind - Disaster Relief (Sweatbox Recordings)
Government Names review
Third Kind on MySpace
Third Kind - "The Movement" (mp3)

Some of the production on here is really crazy, crate digging shit.


32. Profound and Ogun - Oil And Water 2 (Real On Purpose Entertainment/DJ Radio)
Government Names review

Real On Purpose on MySpace
Profound - "Cash Crop" (mp3)

This mixtape kinda has me hyped for Profound to do a full-on solo joint.

33. Alevan - Came Here 4 (Alevan, Inc.)
Government Names review
Alevan on MySpace
Alevan - "Ride Wit' Me" (mp3)

Maybe a little too mellow but a real consistent mood and a pleasant surprise from a crew I wasn't familiar with before.


34. Bigg Patch - Goldenboy Volume 2 (Diamond Life Records/Unruly Records)
Government Names review
Bigg Patch website
Bigg Patch - "Move" (mp3)

A few great tracks but some real repetitive lyrics and weak hooks.


35. Golden Seal - The Official Brown Sugar Mixtape (DJ Booman)
Government Names review
Golden Seal on MySpace
Jahli of Golden Seal f/ Ogun - "Cicadas" (mp3)

I was a little disappointed there wasn't more Golden Seal on here, way too much of a mix without much focus.


36. Under Sound Music presents Breaking Ground, Vol. 1 (Under Sound Music/DJ Impulse)
Government Names review
Under Sound Music website
Tislam The Great - "That Feelin'" (mp3)

This is one I kinda panned in the paper but some of the tracks have really grown on me.


37. B.O.M.B. - King Of Da Streets Vol. 1 (Jimmy Beamz)
Government Names review
B.O.M.B. on MySpace
B.O.M.B. - "The Best Of You" (mp3)

B.O.M.B.'s loose, spoken-word-type flow is an acquired taste, but I think I'm starting to acquire it.

38. Jon Boe - Before The Storm
Government Names review
Jon Boe - "Sunshine" (mp3)

This might be the nastiest, messiest, most aggressive mixtape I heard all year, but sometimes that's the kinda thing you really wanna hear.

39. Architects Recording Studio presents Street Radio Volume 2.5 (A.R.S. Entertainment/DJ Radio)
Government Names review
Ogun f/ Che Rae - "My Life" (mp3)

This one was chock full of joints, even though it's like a 'half' edition, I think this might be my favorite in the series so far.


40. The Black Family - The City is Ours
Government Names review
The Black Family on MySpace
J-Nina and Ill Will - "For Baltimore" (mp3)

Another crew where I think having a lot of unfamiliar MCs made it hard for me to tell them apart or get to know their voices, but I think some of them, especially J-Nina, I'd check for.

41. Labtekwon - DJ Jazzy Jerk presents Ghettoclectic Volume WON (King of the Slow
Burn) (Ankh Ba Records)
Government Names review
Labtekwon on MySpace
Labtekwon - "One In A Million" (mp3)

Lab does everything different from the norm, so even his freestyle mixtape is gonna go a bit off the beaten path, but the whole theme of R&B slow jams works really well.

42. Bosslady presents Baltimore State Of Grind: 21 Different Ways Pt. 1 (House of Platinum Records)
Government Names review
Bosslady on MySpace
Amadaye - "Late At Night" (mp3)

A solid compilation based on a novel theme.

43. Imperial Records presents... Operation: Shutdown (Imperial Records/DJ Spontaneous)
Government Names review
Young Dip on MySpace
Bless - "Who Is He?" (mp3)

Not bad, but I'm looking forward to hearing the new Young Dip mixtape, to get a feel for his solo material.


44. Comp - Bangarang City (DJ B-Roc/DJ DMA)
Government Names review
Comp on MySpace
Comp - "Yea" (mp3)

The Comp tracks are good but there's really not enough Comp on here.

45. E Major - The Major General Mixtape (Under Sound Music/DJ Impulse)
Government Names review
Under Sound Music website
E Major - "Bless One" (mp3)

Eyekon really showed versatility with the beat selection on here.


46. Skarr Akbar - The Bidding War Stars Now! (Akbar Enterprize/DJ Radio)
Government Names review
Skarr Akbar on MySpace
Skarr Akbar - "What I Want" (mp3)

It seems like this mixtape was a little more popular than The Cerebellum, but too much of this material is old to me for me to like it as much. It does have some of his best joints, though.

47. Huli Shallone - Huli Shallone (Hit 'Em Hard Records)
Government Names review
Huli Shallone - "For My Shorty" (mp3)

Huli just didn't come as hard on this as his first album, it felt like a few singles with a lot of filler. And then the best single he dropped this year, "Work It Good," wasn't even on it.


48. Team Green - The Hostage Vol 1 (Team Green/Beat Game/DNA)
Government Names review
Team Green on MySpace
Midas - "Team Green Commandments" (mp3)

The first mixtape I heard with Midas on it, after already being a fan of his from Style Warz, but a little too much of other dudes and not enough of him.

49. D.O.G. - Walk On Air: The Mix Tape (Invisible Set Entertainment)
Government Names review
D.O.G. on MySpace
D.O.G. - "Icy Yo D.O.G." (mp3)

Champagne Dreams probably would've been near the top of this list if it had dropped this year, but since D.O.G. got signed to Universal and pushed the album back once again, all we got this year was a mixtape that was way too short.


50. Yung Gist - The Baltimore Son
Government Names review
Yung Gist - "Holla @ Me" (mp3)

This had its moments but definitely did not live up to the "best rapper baltimore has ever seen" hype. He could stand to mumble a little less, it makes it hard to hear what he's saying.

Labels: Annexx Click, Banga Bill, Barnes, Bosslady, Bossman, Debonair Samir, Dirty Hartz, DK, lists, Little Clayway, mp3, Mullyman, Skarr Akbar, Street Official, Tyree Colion, UnReal

Labels: 5 Seasons, Annexx Click, DJ Booman, flyer, Labtekwon, Mullyman, Ray Lugar, Scottie B., Skarr Akbar, Team Fifty

Hip Hop 101/Old School Mondays
"Best Weekly Event" - Baltimore City Paper
10/09/2006 09:00 PM - Five Seasons
830 Guilford Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201 - ladies $5, guys $10

Ok he couldnt come last week but he will be here mos def this week.

BOSSMAN
G.E.M
Tyrekia
Ms. Stress
Dutchess
Kaliko & Raina Williams form the Spitters Club
Silloette
and some special guest surprises for all

Not to mention.. My official Birthday party is jumping off tomorrow night!

Come on out and get your life

Dj Jabril on the ones and two's, Squairral Wyde and Sonny brown hosting the event, $10 for the fellas $5 for the females.. Drink Specials.. its going down

$20 dollar admission for the emcee battle.. the winner of tomorrow night goes on 92q's tuesday night fight and battles for the best in baltimore

-Sonny Brown

Labels: 5 Seasons, Annexx Click, Bosslady, flyer, G.E.M./Tha Plague, Hip Hop 101, Ms. Stress, Sonny Brown

Tha Annexx Click - Banga Bill Presents Chapter 16: Tha Return Of Da Blue (Knokville Ent./Street Official Ent.)

I guess this is the return of Tha Annexx Click, although I've never heard any of their old stuff so it's all new to me. But I bought on the strength of B-Ill's name, since he's done beats for Mullyman, Barnes, UnReal, Backland, a lot of people, so you've probably heard him shout "Banga Bill!" at the beginning of a few tracks on 92Q yourself. And one of the reasons this mixtape is so consistent and one of my favorite Baltimore CD's of this year is that it's all original beats by Bill, no freestyles. The Click is two people, a male MC named Mack, who sounds a hell of a lot like Jadakiss, and a female MC named Silohette. They kind of take turns doing solo tracks, and do a handful of tracks together. C Love posted about this mixtape a few months ago (I guess that's her thumb in the picture of the cover, haha) and included Silo's "Cleva Girl" on her Respect, Vol. 1 mixtape.

Mack - "Ain't No Sunshine" (mp3)
I would've thought that this Bill Withers sample would've sounded played out, but B-Ill makes it sound fresh on this.

Silohette - "Can't Quit Her" (mp3)
A banger that comes on right after "Ain't No Sunshine," my favorite stretch on the CD.

Labels: Annexx Click, Banga Bill, mixtape/album review, mp3, Street Official

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

Madame of Murdaland 2
all-female MC battle
This Monday, March 27th
@ 5 Seasons, 830 Guilford Ave.

Last year's champion Ms. Stress will compete with Krazy (Hustle Hard Blvd.), M.T., and 2 other finalists who will be announced tonight on 88.9 FM.

The winner gets a Championship Belt. $250, 8 hrs studio time, and a gift pack from Unreality Entertainment

Featured performers at the event: Tha Plague, ShellBe Raw, and Siloette from the Annex Clic

Labels: 5 Seasons, Annexx Click, flyer, G.E.M./Tha Plague, Ms. Stress, ShellBe RAW