Backland - Block Work: None Better (DJ Jabril/Block Boy Music)

I’ve posted so many songs and videos hyping up this project since it was announced way way back around January, so when Backland’s contribution to DJ Jabril and AllBmoreHipHop’s Block Work series finally dropped last month I wasn’t even in a huge rush to cop it since I felt like I’d already heard so much of it. Like a lot of folks in Baltimore, I will forever check for Backland just off the strength of how classic his 106 & Park Freestyle Friday rhymes were, but I definitely have enjoyed his last couple mixtapes too. Like a lot of successful battle rappers, he’s probably not trying to let that reputation cage him in, so sometimes you get a little less of that humor and cleverness and a little more kind of standard mixtape rapper bravado, but he carries it well and the beats are pretty solid. I do hate the song "Who Da Fuck Are U" where it sounds like Backland is doing an OJ Da Juiceman impression, though. DJ Jabril hosts it, Skarr Akbar did the artwork, and 100 Grandman, Hunit Stackz, Caddy Da Don, Comp and B.O.M.B. drop verses on it.

Backland - “Do You” (mp3)
This was already my favorite song on the mixtape when DJ Jabril came in at the end and shouted out "Al Shipley, Government Names." I love when shit like that happens.

Labels: 100 Grandman, ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, Architects, B.O.M.B., Backland, Comp, mixtape/album review, mp3, Skarr Akbar

Ogun - In My Spare Time (Architects Studio/Real On Purpose)

Recently AllBmoreHipHop.com did kind of a clever promotion to hype up the release of this Ogun mixtape and Skarr Akbar’s The Pursuit Of Happyness 2, dropping them the same day, contrasting their very different images and personalities by casting Ogun as ‘the hero’ and Skarr as ‘the villain’ and asking fans to pick their favorite of the 2 releases. Obviously they’re friends and peers, and Skarr even did the artwork for this tape, but it’s kind of a friendly competition thing. I thought that was a real smart idea, although to be honest I’m not even sure which one I like more -- they’re solid releases from both artist but not the best I’ve heard from either.

Ogun’s been doing his thing for a long time but where Skarr’s kind of always been a ‘mixtape artist’ and has kind of stayed in a particular lane for a long time, Ogun started out his career making a couple of really cohesive albums with a specific viewpoint and persona, and in the last few years he’s turned more to mixtapes and has kind of toyed with his delivery and his subject matter more. I’m not totally in the camp that thinks Ogun’s old stuff was more ‘real’ or ‘conscious’ or that his new stuff is too commercial or anything, but sometimes it does feel like he’s reaching outside his comfort zone, and not necessarily in a good way. Like his flow on “Get It How You Live” is just too different, almost sounds like he’s doing an impression of Smash and it’s just awkward.

Ogun f/ Sonny Reddz - “Real Life” (mp3)
Dope introspective song produced by Traum that uses the same sample as one of my favorite introspective Jay-Z songs, “You Must Love Me.”

Labels: ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, Architects, mixtape/album review, mp3, Ogun, Skarr Akbar

Architects Recording Studio presents Street Radio 7 The Overdose Edition: Hosted By Comp (ARS Productions/Surface II Air Street Media)

I was late to posting about Street Radio 6 the other day, so I thought I'd just post about the next installment back to back. This one is the same format, with an artist hosting instead of a DJ, this time Comp, but for whatever reason I'm not feeling this one as much. Plenty of artists I like, just not into most of the songs they used. Street Radio 7 features music from Skarr Akbar, Bossman, 100 Grandman, The Boy Blest, Ogun, Barnes, and many others, and you can download it at allbmorehiphop.com

Tonio From Da Top f/ QG and Bar Cardy - "Twist Ya Fingers Up" (mp3)
A lot of Baltimore cats try to make anthemic crunk records like this, and they are rarely ever this effective, like if I heard this on the radio I'd be blasting this shit.

Labels: 100 Grandman, ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, Architects, Barnes, Bossman, Comp, mixtape/album review, mp3, Ogun, Skarr Akbar, The Boy Blesst, Tonio

Architects Recording Studio presents Street Radio 6: Hosted By Ogun (ARS Productions/Surface II Air Street Media)

Last year when ARS brought back the Street Radio series with Vol. 5, DJ Radio, who had done every previous installment, was still on board. But starting with this one earlier this year, they've switched up to a no DJ format with an artist hosting, with ARS's own Ogun as the first host. With my review of the last one I complained about the song selection, but this time around I feel like they really picked some joints, including some of my favorite songs I've posted here in the last year like OOH from Brown F.I.S.H.'s "Let The Light," Nummy's "One Night In Baltimore" with Smash, 100 Grandman, B. Rich and Comp and Ogun and DJ Excel's "Ever Since I Saw You." There's also music by Skarr Akbar, Tay-Eaz, EJ, Barnes, Tha Profitt, Savage Da Beast, and many others. Download Street Radio 6 at allbmorehiphop.com

Blue - "Elevator Man" (mp3)
This song's really catchy, unless they jacked the beat or the hook from something I don't recognize (it's one of the only tracks on the mixtape without a producer credit), I feel like this has single potential. I don't really know anything about Blue besides that he's in the Gritty Gang, but I definitely wanna hear more from him.

Labels: 100 Grandman, ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, Architects, B. Rich, Barnes, Comp, DJ Excel, EJ, mixtape/album review, mp3, Ogun, Skarr Akbar, Smash

Architects Recording Studio presents Street Radio Vol. 5 (hosted by DJ Radio/blends by DJ 5 Starr)

I reviewed this mixtape recently for the City Paper's Noise blog, probably not the strongest entry in this series but I think better than Vol. 4 from a few months ago. It's got a couple songs I've posted about on here like Bossman's "Off The Record Part 2," Dave Da Barber's "Trapped," and Tonio: From Da Top's "17" featuring Skarr Akbar, Drop and Los, along with tracks by Comp, Ogun, Barnes, Savage Da Beast, Paula Campbell and Al Great, among others. I still don't know what the fuck DJ Radio is thinking when he says shit like "log on, faggot" after plugging a website, which I've heard him do on 2 different mixtapes now, like does he think insulting the listener is gonna get them to do what he says? When I linked the review on here the other day, I got an earful from an anonymous commenter that I like to call The Beacon Of Truth, who was super mad that I liked a Tony Bosco track and didn't mention Barnes, among other things, had an entertaining back and forth there. Anyway, you can download the mixtape over at allbmorehiphop.com/architects and make up your own mind.

Barrs f/ Little Clayway - "The Murderous" (mp3)
Clayway is someone whose music I bump more because of his personality and his stories than straight up rhyming skills, but I gotta say he really kills his verse on this, never heard him sound this mean before. Just saw Clayway recently and got an advance copy of his new double CD, Everybody Rappin', so keep an eye out for that coming soon. I still can't believe there's a rapper named Barrs and a rapper named Barrz on this mixtape. We're running out of fuckin' rapper names.

Labels: ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, Architects, Baltimore City Paper, Barnes, Bossman, DJ 5 Starr, DJ Radio, Little Clayway, Los, mixtape/album review, mp3, Noise, Savage Da Beast, Skarr Akbar, Smash, Tonio

I've had just a couple things up on the Baltimore City Paper's Noise blog lately, a review of the new Architects Recording Studio mixtape Street Radio Vol. 5, and a live review of the Sugarhill Gang @ Rams Head Live, although it's since come out that apparently it was a fake version of the Sugarhill Gang with only one real member, which explains why the show sucked so bad.

Labels: Architects, Baltimore City Paper, Noise, Rams Head Live

The Baltimore Scene held the Baltimore Crown Awards at 5 Seasons on Sunday, and I decided to stay home with my son that night, but I ended winning a "golden pen" award to match my "best blog/website" award from last year. So thanks to them and the voters, and congratulations to the other winners, full list below:

Hip Hop Artist of The Year: Mully Man
Poet of the Year: Taalam Acey
Vocalist of the Year: Chyna Doll
Band of the Year: Soul Cannon
Mixtape of the Year: Comp "The Man with the Hand 2"
Photographer of the Year: Kelly Connelly
Graphic Designer of the Year: Skarr Akbar
Blog/Website of The Year: www.allbmorehiphop.com
Studio of the Year: Architect Studios
Manager of the Year: EC (Frank Lewis)
Promoter of the Year: Tay Tay of Tayland Promotions
Under the Radar Awards: Tonio from da top
Most Likely to Succeed Award: Mully Man
Best New Artist: Black Sunn
Best Live Venue: Rams Head Live
Best Poetry Venue: The 5 Seasons/Warm Wednesdays
Best Hip Hop Venue: Club Reality

Golden Awards: Awarded to artists that take it beyond being artists and use their talent and energy to contribute to the scene/community

Golden Mic: Ogun
Golden Pen: Al shipley
Golden Stage: 5th L

Special Appreciation Award: Ahk of 88.9
Special Contribution Award: Lisa Stant

Baltimore Legend Awards
Inductees to The Baltimore Hall of Fame
(Joining: Fertile Ground, Labtekwon, Taalam Acey, D Chase, and Ogun)

Mr. Wilson (RIP), K Swift (RIP), Vicious V, Sonny Brown, Lo Key, Brown Fish, Comp, and Skarr Akbar.

Labels: 5 Seasons, ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, announcements, Architects, Comp, Mullyman, Ogun, Rams Head Live, Skarr Akbar, Soul Cannon, Tayland Promotions, The Baltimore Scene, The Black Sunn, Tonio

Architects Recording Studio presents Street Radio Vol. 4 (DJ Radio)

The 5th installment of the Street Radio series (there was a Volume 2.5 in there for some reason) comes about 3 years after the last one, and it seems like the series coming back after such a long dormant period is all part of the big push that Architects has been making behind AllBmoreHipHop.com and all the releases being pushed through there. And it seems like they're going at this all the way since the next volume is already being put together. This has kind of a good mix of familiar and unfamiliar names, has a few songs I've posted here like Bossman's "Break Me Off" remix, Ogun's "Go Long," and Mullyman's "Bmore Go Harder", and tracks by Skarr Akbar, 100 Grandman, Barnes, EJ, NOE, Heavy Gold, Banga Bill, and a lot of other folks I haven't really heard before or much. It's kind of a hodge podge, as any various artist mixtape will inevitably be, but some good tracks on here, some people I might have to check out based on this. There's two tracks with "swagg" in the title, which I should probably consider a good thing given how many more there could've been. You can download it, and the previous Street Radio mixtapes, on allbmorehiphop.com/architects.html.

Dave Da Barber - "I'm So Baltimore" (mp3)
I remember seeing 1st Fam perform this at the Black Hole a while back and it went over really well.

Labels: 100 Grandman, 1st Family, ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, Architects, Banga Bill, Barnes, Bossman, DJ Radio, EJ, Heavy Gold, Mullyman, NOE, Ogun, Skarr Akbar, Street Radio

100 Grandman - Gangsta Grillz: Welcome To Baltimore (DJ Drama)

When Architects Recording Studio first put the word out that ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM had the new 100 Grandman mixtape (which is already the #1 most downloaded release on the site the past week), I knew I had to check it out, and when they said that it was with DJ Drama, the first Gangsta Grillz with a Baltimore artist, I really knew I had to check it out, and I admit it was partly because I didn't really believe it at first. I mean, 100 Grandman's been doing pretty well for himself lately, with the great video for "Take It 2 The Top" last year, and some local radio rotation for "Wet Wet" (which, by the way, I absolutely hate now because it's the song that starts streaming every time I open ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, and that shit gets annoying fast). But I didn't think he was doing well enough to do something with DJ Drama, plus I couldn't find anything online about this being an installment in the Gangsta Grillz series, and on the cover they misspell the name of Drama's company, The Aphilliates (which has two L's, cause they're from Philly). But I went and listened to it, and as it turns out it's apparently legit, since Drama is all over the tape shouting out the names of tons of Baltimore rappers and DJs, and throwing in "R.I.P. K-Swift" (which he also said last year on a Lil Wayne tape). So I dunno how they hooked that up, but that's a good look. I feel like there's some unspoken cheeseball '80s theme on here because there are samples of Michael Sembello's "Maniac" AND the Cutting Crew's "(I Just) Died In Your Arms." There are guest appearances by Bossman, NOE, Smash, TestMe, and even a verse from Freeway.

100 Grandman f/ Tay Guns - "The Face Of Baltimore" (mp3)
This cat's name is spelled as Tay Guns on the tracklist, but I thought I've seen his name as Tay Gunz before, not sure which is right. Anyway he totally murders his verse, probably my favorite verse on the whole mixtape, so many lines I had to rewind: "I got my cake up/ I left my own shadow behind, he like 'wait up'!/ I lift my face up to see my city, homie/ I'm Home Alone 2/ a bunch of pigeons on me/ I'm so effin' fly/ I disrespect the sky/ I'm so fresh to death I get dressed and die."

Labels: 100 Grandman, ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, Architects, Bossman, mixtape/album review, mp3, NOE, Smash, TestMe

Gritty Gang - Street Certified Goods (Real On Purpose)

Three years ago, Ogun pulled together big diverse cast of Baltimore MCs for the first Gritty Gang mixtape, and for a while I didn't hear anything about the Gritty Gang and thought maybe it was just a one-off. But now there's a whole new mixtape out, with the same title as the first one, bringing back the whole concept. A lot of people that were on the first mixtape make appearances (Skarr Akbar, Ammo, Rockwell, Q Gutta, G.E.M.) along with a lot of people that weren't (Sonny Reddz, Kuan, Talal, Barz), everything recorded at Architects Recording Studio. 41yo posted a couple tracks that were leaked in advance, and you can hear more on the Gritty Gang MySpace page.

Sonny Reddz - "War Pop Off" (mp3)
I've only heard Reddz on a handful of guest spots in the past so this is really the first solo track I've heard and he really murders it, this is just a great violent banger.

Labels: 41yo, Architects, G.E.M./Tha Plague, mixtape/album review, mp3, Ogun, Skarr Akbar

This week WWW.ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, a site put together by the folks at Architects Recording Studio, launched and they've got a whole bunch of free downloads of full-length albums and mixtapes by artists including Ogun, Skarr Akbar, Bossman, TestMe, Barnes, Huli Shallone, UnReal, D.O.G., ShellBe R.A.W., EJ, Rye Rye and many others. I think it's great that there's gonna be a site like this from now on, and from Ogun's told me they've got a lot more stuff planned.

Labels: ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, announcements, Architects, Barnes, Bossman, D.O.G., EJ, Huli Shallone, Ogun, Rye Rye, ShellBe RAW, Skarr Akbar, TestMe, UnReal

Ogun - Checkmate (Architects Recording Studio/Real On Purpose Ent.)

This week in the City Paper I reviewed Ogun's new mixtape, although really it's been out for a few weeks already so you should already have it. Last year we named him the best male MC in our Best Of Baltimore issue and I really feel like his work ethic and the quality of his music has been crazy for the past couple years. I wish this was a full-on album with totally new songs and all original beats, but there's a lot of good stuff I've never heard on here before, along with things I've posted on the site previously like "Repetition" with Blaq Starr and Hots and "Go Long" and stuff he's performed live a lot like "It's Alright" and "Bmore Hero." The last song "Remember Me" is dedicated to K-Swift and Mr. Wilson, and the mixtape also features XO, Skarr Akbar, EJ, and production from Ms. Tris Beats and Bernie Dozier. Also, check out Mr. Shadeed's interview with Ogun here.

Ogun f/ Mykeey and Chyna Doll - "Hustle" (mp3)
This track was produced by Kick & Snares and is probably my favorite beat on the album, it just bangs hard. The two guests on here both sing on the hook, but Ogun sounds so different on the first verse that at first I almost thought it was someone else rapping, it's like he's doing some totally new voice, but on the second verse he kinda goes back to his usual flow.

Labels: Architects, Baltimore City Paper, Blaq Starr, EJ, Hots, K-Swift, mixtape/album review, mp3, Mr. Wilson, Ms. Tris Beats, Ogun, Skarr Akbar, XO

A message from The Baltimore Scene regarding this Friday's Baltimore Crown awards:

233 (or so ) Bmore​ peopl​e/​place​s and thing​s you shoul​d know

Congr​atula​tions​ to ALL Balti​more Crown​ Nomin​ees!​
After​ perso​nally​ sendi​ng out thous​ands of priva​te messa​ges,​ email​ blast​s,​ comme​nts,​ etc. We now have our Balti​more Crown​ Nomin​ee List.​ Thank​ you all for your suppo​rt.​
Thank​ you all that Voted​!​

This is one of the rare award​s where​ it's great​ to win but it's also great​ just to be nomin​ated.​ Out of all the choic​es of artis​ts,​ venue​s,​ etc in Balti​more,​ the public chose​ you as their​ very best choic​e and wante​d to see you honor​ed and appre​ciate​d.​ So we will be promo​ting EVERY​ONE who was nomin​ated with artic​les,​ poste​rs,​ and Balti​more Scene​ Campa​igns highl​ighti​ng the top nomin​ees in every​ categ​ory.​ The winne​rs of each categ​ory will be annou​nced at the Balti​more Crown​ 2008.​

Pleas​e Suppo​rt Our Missi​on In Honor​ing The Scene​.​.​

1. If you are on this list,​ pleas​e send all of your conta​ct info for our Balti​more Scene Direc​tory (​even if you think​ we alrea​dy have it)
Full name
Conta​ct Info:​ (​phone​ , myspa​ce addre​ss,​ and email​ addre​ss)​
2-3 line descr​iptio​n of what you descr​iptio​n of what you do (​optio​nal.​.​but ideal​)​

2. If you know someo​ne who is on this list or if you have been to a venue​ on this list and have somet​hing nice to say about​ what they do in the scene​ or how great​ their​ spot is and why, pleas​e send testi​monia​ls/​quote​s with the name of the artis​t,​ promo​ter,​ photo​graph​er,​ venue​ etc.
(for artic​les)​

3. If you know someo​ne on this list,​ try to messa​ge them/​myspa​ce them and let them know that you saw them and congr​atula​te them

4. Come to the Balti​more Crown​ 2008,​ Novem​ber 7th, 2008 and show your suppo​rt for the entir​e under​groun​d movem​ent.​
Thank​s Peace​!​
Pleas​e send infor​matio​n (1 and 2) to com/​balti​mores​cene or balti​morec​rown @gmail​.​ com Also there​'​s a few tiebr​eaker​s.​ Pleas​e Check​ Blog

Note:​ This list is total​ly from the publi​c vote.​ If you are not on this list and would​ like to be added​ to our Balti​more Scene​ Under​groun​d Direc​tory onlin​e,​ pleas​e send messa​ge with info:​ for futur​e netwo​rking​,​ promo​tions​,​ and to stay updat​ed with votin​g and futur​e event​s etc.

Thank​s again​.​
Peace​

Balti​more Nomin​ees from A-Z

Ahk of 88.9, Abroc​k,​ A-​Class​,​ Al Shipl​ey,​ Amoti​on of Deep Flow Studi​os,​ Anomo​ly,​ A & O film,​ Aquil​ Mizan​,​ Archi​tect Studi​ous,​ Arson​ists Camp,​ The Art Of Conve​rsati​on,​ The Artis​t Cafe,​ Ashle​y Haile​y,​ Axiom​,​ Azya,​

Baltim​ore Music​ Confe​rence​,​ The Balti​more Scene​,​ B-​Amazi​ng,​ B Fam, Bedro​ck,​ B-​EZ,​ B-​Fly,​ Be Free Frida​ys,​ Big Statu​s,​ Black​ Hole,​ Black​ Root,​ Bomb,​ Boss Man, B.​I.​G.​ Statu​s,​ Black​ Root,​ Brake​ Fast Recor​ds,​ BROWN​ F.​I.​S.​H,

Cash Land,​ C-​Love,​ Carol​yn Malac​hi,​ Chin-​Yer,​ Chuck​ The Mad Ox, COMP,​ Crutb​all

Dark Room Produ​ction​s,​ Daria​n Robbi​ns,​ Dave the Barbe​r,​ Da Truth​,​ Darao​ Johns​on,​ D Banks​,​ D Chase​,​ Deep Space​,​ DJ Jabri​l,​ DJ Newpo​rt,​ Doc Dolla​z,​ Diamo​nd Digit​al,​ DOG, Dot Spot,​ Drag

Eden'​s Loung​e,​ www.​Eleme​ntspa​rty.​ com, E Major​,​ Emanu​el Johns​on,​ E the Poet MC, 8x10,​
Faraj​ii Muham​mad (​NLLC)​, Ferti​le Groun​d,​ F-​Gutta​,​ 5th L, 15 minut​es of fame @ The Turnt​able Club,​ 1st Fam, F.​L.​E.​X.​,​ The 5 Seaso​ns,​ Fletc​hers,​ Frank​ Lewis​ (​E.​C.​
), Fred Locks​,​

Get Em Mamis​,​ Golde​n Infam​ous,​ Graph​ic Girl (​Karen​)​,​ G Major​,​ Gover​nment​ Names​,​ Grass​ Hoppe​r,​ Green​ Span,​ G Wizdo​m,​

Handl​er Brand​,​ Haven​,​ Headp​hone Music​,​ Helin​a Metaf​eria,​ Hilto​n Carte​r,​ Hip Hop 101, a 100 Gram Man, Huli Shall​one

Indel​lible​,​ Indus​try Thurs​days at the Suite​,​

Jade Fox, J5, Jah Hipst​er,​ J Who, Jamma​ Wun, J.​A.​M.​E.​S.​,​ Jesse​ Winst​on,​ J Funk,​ Joel Mills​,​ J Law, J Pope,​ J S.​O.​U.​L.​, JS AKA the Best,​

K. Barne​s,​ Kalad​a Produ​ction​s,​ Kane Mayfi​eld,​ Kariz​,​ Kelly​ Conne​lly,​ KG, Kia Colla​way,​ Kid Conne​ct,​ Kompl​ex,​ K Swift​

Labte​kwon,​ Lamar​ Hill,​ Latte​ Da'​s,​ Lisa A.​K.​A.​ Lieze​l,​ Live Beats​,​ Lois Life Blog Spot,​ Longe​vity,​ Love Peace​ Proje​ct,​ LOVE the Poet,​

Major​ Graff​ix,​ Mania​ Music​ Group​,​ Mark Henry​,​ Maste​rmind​s Photo​graph​y,​ Mauri​ce (of Raw Tech Studi​os)​,​ Mauri​ce (​Stick​y Face)​,​ Maysa​,​ McCra​cken,​ Midas​,​ Money​ in the Bank Enter​tainm​ent,​ Ms. Stres​s,​ www. myspa​ce.​ com/​balti​morep​oetry​spots​, www. myspa​ce.​ com/​balti​mores​cene

Nativ​e Son, Natur​al Remed​y,​ Nick Da Wonde​r,​ No Guts No Glory​,​ Notre​ Mason​,​ Numb3​rs,​ Nu-​Soul Unit,​

Olu Butte​rfly Woods​,​ Ogun Ooh of Brown​ F.​I.​S.​H., Only,​ Organ​ic Soul Tuesd​ays,​ The Organ​ic Soul House​ Band,​ Ottob​ar

Peace​ and a Cup of Joe, Pen Drago​n,​ Pengu​ins,​ Petul​a Ceasa​r,​ Pixel​,​ P-​Funk,​ Ponyt​ail,​ Posti​ve Enter​tainm​ent News Blog,​ Pover​ty'​s Threa​d,​ Pro & Reg

Q

Rah Tech Studi​os,​ Rams Head Live,​ Ra Ra-​photo​graph​er,​ Ravol​ution​ Multi​media​,​ Red House​ Taver​n,​ Reina​ Willi​ams,​ Rem Star,​ Rimar​jo Cloth​ing,​ Rob Style​s and Emoti​ons,​ Ron G, Rougu​e Graph​ics,​

Sabri​na Gilbe​rt,​ Sah-​lence​,​ Salim​ and the Music​ Lover​s,​ Samos​,​ Sanch​a McGee​,​ Sean O'​Grady​ of One Viiso​n,​ Savag​e,​ Sean Toure​,​Selah​ Chick​,​ The Sessi​on,​ Shaka​ Pitts​,​ Shy of M.​I.​B,​ Skarr​ Akbar​,​ SideF​X Studi​os (​Ryan and Zalin​sky)​,​ Silen​ce,​ Simba​,​ Si Notes​,​ 6 Wisdo​m,​ Slami​cide,​ Slick​ Vic, Soul Canno​n,​ Sover​eign soul feat.​ Chana​li Jones​,​ Sparr​ow,​ Speak​ Ur Peace​ @ Pejus​,​ Syman​tyx,​ Smash​,​ Sonar​,​ Solo D, Sonar​,​ Sonny​ Brown​,​ So Mani Stylz​ Cloth​ing,​ Sonja​ Imagi​ng,​ Sonny​ Redz,​ thesp​itter​sclub​.​ net, Stylz​,​Sugar​ Bear,​ Syman​tyx,​ Stree​t Heat,​

Taala​m Acey,​ Taste​ Inter​natio​nal,​ Tay Tay Promo​tions​,​Test Me, 3 Empy Cans,​ 347, The Artis​t Café,​ The 5 Seaso​ns,​ The Sessi​on,​ Thoma​s (of Raw Tech Studi​os)​,​ Timot​hy Cooper (The B), Tim Chris​tmas,​ Tim Hogan​ (​T.​H.​ Lawre​nce)​,​ Tim Trees​,​ Tisla​m The Great​,​ Tonio​ from the Top, Torch​light​ Enter​tainm​ent,​ Trace​ Blam,​ Tre Subir​a,​ Truth​ Be Told,​ Tya Antho​ny of Eyeni​ Photo​s,​ The Turnt​able Club,​ Ty Scrip​ts,​

U
V
Walte​r Maxfi​eld,​ Warm Wedne​sdays​,​ Wax Chemi​stry,​ Web, Word Slave​,​
X
Yabba​ Pot, Yo! Track​s,​ Young​ Wood
Z
*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​*​
And we HEAR you …
Those​ of you who enter​ed in the categ​ory sugge​stion​ secti​on as well.​

Thank​ you!
Your categ​ories​ will be added​ in next year'​s crown​.​

By publi​c vote:​

Album​ of the year
Best Book
Best Vocal​ist
Best Soul Singe​r
Best Mixta​pe
Most Consi​stant​
Best Lyric​ist
Most talen​ted (Hip hop, poetr​y artis​t)​ and band
Best DJ
Best Artis​t to work with
Most Profe​ssion​al Artis​t
Best Packa​ge Award​ (​lyric​s,​ grind​,​ prese​ntati​on etc)
Work-​aholi​c
Best Manag​er
Best Recor​d Label​
Femal​e/​Male Artis​t of the Year

Labels: 5 Seasons, A-Class, Ab Rock, announcements, Architects, B.O.M.B., Bedrock, Black Hole Rock Club, Bossman, Brown F.I.S.H., C Love, Comp, Deep Flow, flyer

Labels: 5 Seasons, Architects, C Love, flyer, Unruly Records

The new issue of XLR8R on newsstands now, the April issue with Bun B on the cover, has a big supplement about Baltimore music that a bunch of people from around here, including myself, were asked to participate in. It's not technically part of the issue (which means, unfortunately, that it's not part of the downloadable PDF of the issue available on the XLR8R website), but rather a pull-out sponsored by Converse, printed on newspaper like an old-school zine and included in the bag the issue comes with. The magazine's editor, Vivian Host, spent a few days in Baltimore back in January, meeting up folks like Labtekwon, Scottie B., Blaq Starr, Rye Rye, Death Set and others, and photographer Paul O'Valle took pictures, and put some more from the trip up on his own site.

The piece I helped with for the zine, "mixtape madness," is basically just me talking about a bunch of local hip hop and Baltimore club mixtapes. I was approached by XLR8R about this project not as a writer but as an interview subject, which I was apprehensive about just because I like to be a behind the scenes guy and I think it's a little silly for a blogger to be featured like any kind of celebrity, noone needs to see my ugly mug in a magazine. Plus, there was a whole controversy a few months ago about a few Baltimore musicians' images being used without their permission in a different pull-out ad thing in XLR8R, which made me a little wary. But I decided it was an interesting thing to take part in, and as it turned out they didn't use any of the photos they took of me (it was dark outside so maybe the pictures didn't come out well, but either way I'm fine with that). It's just credited to "Government Names," not Al Shipley, but the address for the blog is plugged in there and it's kinda cool to have it be more in the informal, zine-y style they were going for. The mixtapes I spotlighted and talked about were: Skarr Akbar and DNA's The Epidemic, Architects Recording Studio and DJ Radio's ARS Re-Loaded, Ogun's Bmore Hero, Darkroom Productions's Hamsterdam Vol. 2, Say-Wut's Club Chronicles: Level 1, DJ Mic Marvelous's Deja Vu, and Bossman's End Of Discussion. Also, I got a nice new pair of Converse for participating.

On a related tip, last year Tony Ware e-mailed me some questions related to being an mp3 blogger that I answered for a thing he was doing for XLR8R. But I kinda forgot to check if that ever came out, and just realized that the piece, MP3 Blogs: Musical Democratization, has been on the mag's website for 6 months now, and includes a couple quotes from me.

Labels: Architects, Baltimore club, Blaq Starr, Bossman, Darkroom Productions, DNA, Labtekwon, magazines/newspapers, NSW (Say What), Ogun, Scottie B., Skarr Akbar

Architects Recording Studio presents ARS Re-Loaded (DJ Radio/A.R.S. Entertainment)

It's been over a year since the last installment of the old ARS mixtape series with DJ Radio, Street Radio, but it looks like they're rebooting with a whole new series to go along with their new building that Architects moved into earlier this year. Ogun's now on their team on the behind the scenes side, as well as being an artist on their roster, which is a good look, and he's got a new song here along with that "I Get Money" remix. There really haven't been a lot of various artist mixtapes in Baltimore rap this year, and it's good to get a really high quality one here, mostly new music by D.O.G., Mr. Wilson, A-Ma-Zon (a kinda dope song with Sean Kingston), Dollars, Nik Stylz, Unreal, and Profound, who's got a new mixtape dropping soon.

Caddy Da Don f/ Tim Trees, Huli Shallone, Los, Skarr Akbar and Bossman - "Whole City Behind Me (Remix)" (mp3)
2007 is pretty much the year of the all-star posse cut here in Baltimore hip hop, and I love it, I hope it continues through 2008 and beyond. There's really no reason everyone in the scene that matters shouldn't be on a track with each other. Caddy Da Don's been on a few of these already, so it's only right that he's got one of his own, now, a remix of his single "Whole City Behind Me." I dig that it runs through all 6 verses in only 3 minutes, too, no messing around or dragging it out. Caddy Da Don has another track on this mixtape, where he actually does a song to the "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" beat that B-Banks played at the Beatman Battle II a few weeks ago, which is kinda hilarious to me, but he makes it work.

Labels: Architects, Bossman, D.O.G., Heavy Gold, Huli Shallone, Los, mixtape/album review, mp3, Ogun, Skarr Akbar, Tim Trees, UnReal, XO

This conference is about a month away, but I'm gonna start telling you about it now so that anyone who's interested can make their plans for that weekend and get tickets. I've been invited to appear as a panelist and it sounds like a really interesting event, I hope people come check it out:

Makingtherightmoves conference
July 27-29, 2007
@
THE BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER
Panelist include
, DJ Heat(Justo Award Winning DJ, WPGC 95.5 FM,Kelly Connelly( Music Monthly,Frank Johnson ( Alantic Records), Wil Roc( UnRuly),Rogue Versatile( Bmore Vibe Magazine),Mike MacIntosh( ARS,Architentects Ent) Antonio Motts ( U Turn Marketing and Promotions),Al Shipley ( Government Names Blog, Baltimore City Paper) Adeniya Omisore, Cheryl Slay ( Business Law attorney with a particular focus on Intellectual Property and entertainment industry matters) and many many more

KEYNOTE SPEAKER SATURDAY 4PM- 5 PM

ICE T
( NEW JACK CITY, LAW and ORDER, Multi- Platnium Recording Artist)

Deshawn Taylor ( Author, CEO Real Hiphop.com, BET's Ultimate Hustler Contestant

Liris Crosse (Best Man,The Source, XXL, Music Videos,),

Gary Gentles ( CEO/ Founder SingersRoom.com)

Venom ( Hot 103.9FM SC)

The WILD CHILD DNA ( Rountable Ent, Rooftop Ent XM66 RAW Radio, Mixtape King

DJ LIL MIC( XM,WEAA 88.9,KJAM 105K Tulsa OK, WQIZ 93.1 The Beat Amarillo,TX,Raheem Devaugh Tour DJ)

David Ivory ( Grammy Award Winning Producer, Songerwriter),

Pork Chop ( 92 Q, Big Phat Morning Show, Billboard Charted Artist)

FRIDAY
MEET AND GREET PARTY @
2139 Jefferson St Baltimore MD, 21205
Sponsored by ORIGINAL INC. Clothing
Music by DJ SPONTANEOUS
9-2 AM
2 Floors of Entertainment
Performances start @ 10
Baltimore's Best Sound System

Saturday

Panel Discussions 10 AM to 4 PM
DEMO Listening Session 4 PM to 5 PM

VIP Reception for ICE- T 5 PM to 6 PM

Fashion Show Powered by
AVON DORSEY &Style 101
www.style101.com

DOORS OPEN 6 PM
@ The Convention Center
Advance Tix 35.00
VIP 50.00
MORE AT THE DOOR

For Tickets contact
AVON 410-926-5184
HOWARD 484-347-7898
REGGIE 410-900-6380

AFTER PARTY & ARTIST SHOWCASE

Coors Light Models
Drink Specials
830 Guilford Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21202
The Mount Vernon Plaza
next to Dunkin Doughnuts

Sunday
Panel Discussions
10 AM to 5 PM
DEMO LISTENING SESSION
SUNDAY GUEST SPEAKER TBA
CLOSING EVENT TBA

Promotional Partners
UP and UP fashions: UPandUP.com

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE
PERFORMANCE SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE

Contact Howard Perkins 484-347-7898
Regg Hatcher 410-900-6380

Labels: 92Q, Architects, DNA, flyer, Unruly Records

Ogun - Bmore Hero: The Mixtape Of The Year (Real On Purpose Ent./Architects Recording Studio)

If you read the site, you should already know who Ogun is. He supports Baltimore hip hop more than almost anybody else, so if you care about it you should support him. Matter of fact, you should probably own this mixtape already, since he's been selling it since March. But you can get it off his MySpace page or at a number of local stores, or you can wait until the official release party at Sonar on July 19th, which he just announced this week. This CD has a lot of tracks that I've posted on here before, including the posse cuts "Just Us" (with Bossman, Backland, Skarr, Clayway and Comp) and "Bmore Shit" (with Tim Trees, Clayway, Mully and ShellBe R.A.W.), and a lot of other guest appearances. Check out my Noise interview with Ogun for more info on this release.

Ogun f/ XO - "Cyber Thuggin'" (mp3)
This song is hilarious and something really all of us can reate to these days. XO's probably my favorite local MC who I've never heard a solo project by, just has an ill voice and kills every guest appearance I hear, his verse on this is real on point.

Labels: Architects, Backland, Baltimore City Paper, Bossman, Comp, Little Clayway, mixtape/album review, mp3, Mullyman, Noise, Ogun, ShellBe RAW, Skarr Akbar, Tim Trees, XO

ShellBe RAW - Do You Like It Raw? (A.R.S. Entertainment/DJ Radio)

I haven't posted much about ShellBe RAW on this site, aside from a track here or there, mainly because I never heard her previous mixtape, although I first took notice of her on Hamsterdam and a mixtape by the group she first started rapping with, 360. And she's always been cool to me when I run into her at shows or get an e-mail or MySpace message, and she seems pretty down to earth on her blog. Still, I was kinda surprised at how quickly her profile has risen in the past year, the City Paper in particular being really supportive with a feature, a Best Of Baltimore award, a trading card, and then this week a spot in the 2006 local music top ten.

The most significant co-sign she's gotten, though, would have to be that of Architects Recording Studio. You can find A.R.S. in the liner notes of a huge percentage of Baltimore hip hop releases, and they've started releasing a series of mixtapes in the past couple years. But this new ShellBe RAW mixtape, which she threw a release party for last month that I wasn't able to make it out to, is the first solo project that A.R.S. have put their weight behind, and that kind of endorsement speaks volumes, considering the clout they have in this scene. It's kind of easy to forget, amongst all this, that she only moved here from Boston and started rapping a couple years ago, which makes her growth that much more remarkable.

I wasn't sure what to expect out of this mixtape, mainly because I hadn't yet been hooked by much of her music (although "Damn Shellz" is still my jam), but it's definitely a high quality product. Only handful of original beats but most of the freestyle tracks feel like real songs, too. And there's a ton of great features, this might have the best guest list of a Bmore hip hop solo CD I've ever seen, including Ogun, Skarr Akbar, D.O.G., EJ, Che Ray, I'm sure some people I'm forgetting. This is the kind of CD I want to see more of, serious unity among artists and quality collabos, and someone relatively new to the scene getting co-signed by people who've been in it forever.

ShellBe RAW - "Give It To Me Raw" (mp3)
Great use of a Method Man sample on the hook, and a few months ago on her blog ShellBe told a great story about meeting Meth and giving him a copy of the song.

ShellBe RAW f/ D.O.G. and EJ - "Big Business Freestyle" (mp3)
A posse cut with D.O.G. and the super underrated EJ over one of my
favorite beats of the past year, Lil Wayne's "Hustler Musik." No
relation to D.O.G.'s song that also has the title "Big Business."

Labels: Architects, D.O.G., Darkroom Productions, mixtape/album review, mp3, Ogun, ShellBe RAW, Skarr Akbar

The Top Ten 2006 issue of the Baltimore City Paper is out this week, and I contributed to two of the lists.

In The Year in Music, I wrote the blurb for The Roots album and a few other albums from my ballot showed up in the big list: T.I., Sonic Youth, and Lupe Fiasco (I like the Lil Wayne mixtape too but I didn't really think to vote for one of many Lil Wayne mixtapes in a year-end poll).

In The Year in Local Music, I wrote the blurbs for Blaq Starr's I'm Bangin' and Cex's Actual Fucking, and I co-sign the inclusion of
Skarr Akbar's The Bidding War Starts Now!, Profound and Ogun's Oil And Water 2, ShellBe RAW's Do You Like It Raw? on the list, as well as the honorable mentions of Dirty Hartz' It Is What It Is Mixtape Vol. 2, Karmella's Game's The Art Of Distraction, Labtekwon's Hustlaz Guide To The Universe 2.0, Supa DJ Big L's The Reality - Season 1, and Architects Recording Studio presents Street Radio Vol. 3

Right now would also be a good time to remind you that The Government Names 2006 Baltimore Hip Hop Poll is going on right now and you've got about 5 more days to vote, so please do if you have any opinion at all on the subject. I've gotten votes from over 50 people already, but only handful of those are well thought out ballots that include more than one or two CD's, the rest are just artists and their friends voting for their albums and nothing else, which is exactly what I was afraid of this poll becoming. So if you're an actual fan who listens to the music and doesn't just support yourself and your crew, please help to make this poll about public opinion and not who has the most dedicated volunteer street team.

(photo by Uli Loskot)

Labels: Architects, Baltimore City Paper, Baltimore club, Blaq Starr, Dirty Hartz, Labtekwon, lists, Ogun, ShellBe RAW, Skarr Akbar