I wrote about Mullyman and DJ Booman's Prince-sampling Ravens anthem "Purple Reign" on the Baltimore City Paper's Noise blog.

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, DJ Booman, Mullyman, Noise

My dance/club music column BPM runs in the Baltimore City Paper this week, with news on recent and upcoming events at The Paradox and new projects from DJ Booman. 

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, Baltimore club, BPM, DJ Booman, Paradox

Mullyman - Mullyman Vs. The Machine (DJ Whoo Kid/Shadyville/Major League Unlimited)

This blog's definitely been too dormant lately and there've been a lot of good mixtapes I need to catch up on and cover here, but first off I should definitely touch on Mully's latest mixtape, which was hosted by DJ Whoo Kid and has really gotten his buzz up to a new level it's never been at before. Cool thing about this is that it's not even a freestyle mixtape, lot of original beats by DJ Booman and MBAHlievable, with only one or two songs recycled from previous releases, so it's almost like a whole new album less than a year after Harder Than Baltimore. You can download it at Mullyman.com.

Mullyman - "Star Wars" (mp3)
This one really jumped out at me as a favorite right away, along with "Greatness" and "Show Da World."

Labels: DJ Booman, mixtape/album review, mp3, Mullyman

Greenspan - Got Green 2 (Federal Reserve/IllVibes-DMV.com/DJBooth.net)

In the two years since I reviewed Greenspan's first release Got Green?, he's been having a good run, dropping a couple mixtapes last year, doing lots of live shows and opening for the Clipse and Wiz Khalifa, guesting on releases by Mania Music Group and Wordsmith, networking with a lot of D.C. cats and getting a good online presence. So it's been gratifying to see someone I kinda noticed early on live up to some of his potential, and now he's got a sequel to that first record (although it's funny how he dropped the question mark for this one -- it's like the opposite of when Big Boi's label did Got That Purp and then Got Purp? Vol. 2). Like its predecessor, Got Green 2 kinda jumps all over the place, some original beats, some beats grabbed from a pretty wide variety of sources, and a lot of times that can make a rap record sound kind of messy and unfocused to me, but Greenspan's the kind of guy who has a really consistent energy and flow and is good at tying things together, so it works. You can download this on DJBooth.net, and Greenspan is doing a release party for Got Green 2 at Bourbon St. this Sunday afternoon.

Greenspan - "Calling Me" (mp3)
This was produced by DJ Booman and is definitely one of my favorite tracks, both lyrically and musically.

Labels: DJ Booman, Greenspan, mixtape/album review, mp3

Next week the first Baltimore Independent Music & Arts Festival will be holding showcases all over the city from August 26th to 28th, and there's some good Baltimore club and hip hop artists among BiMA's announced performers: Comp, Ogun, Mullyman, DJ Booman, Soul Cannon, Mickey Free, Scottie B., Little Clayway, April Love, Checkwun, and Prenz Bilal, among others.

Labels: Bourbon St, Comp, DJ Booman, flyer, Little Clayway, Mickey Free, Mullyman, Ogun, Ottobar, Paradox, Red Maple, Scottie B., Soul Cannon

Mullyman - Harder Than Baltimore (Major League Unlimited)

By now hopefully you know Mully's 2nd album's been out for a few weeks, maybe you read my City Paper feature on him, maybe you heard that he leaked the album himself and it's out there for anyone to download (on DatPiff, plus a hundred other sites if you look), and if you really like it you can go to a store or iTunes and cop it officially. I already kinda said all that I can say about the album and a lot of the songs on it, which I've been posting here for the past year and a half. But I will just say, I think this is a big improvement on his first album and a good foot to put forward for anyone who's still on the fence about Mully or hasn't checked out his music yet, hopefully it'll get some good buzz going for him. This albums got a few features, the joints with Smash and Sean Paul that I've posted before, the big song with Bossman, also Nik Stylz and Lady D.

Mullyman f/ C.R. Da Show - "Fast Or Slow" (mp3)
This is one of two hooks by C.R. Da Show on the album and this is probably my favorite of the songs I hadn't heard before, kinda hits this nice vibe of being hip hop and R&B and club music but really just a dope song period.

Labels: Bossman, DJ Booman, mixtape/album review, mp3, Mullyman, Smash

EDIT: shortly after putting up this post, I learned that MCBU has been postponed and will not be happening on Friday but at a later date -Al

Unruly & Senari Present
MY CREW BE UNRULY III
*In loving memory of Club Queen K-Swift*

$15 tickets for MY CREW BE UNRULY III are available now! The first 50 to buy get the MCBU goodie bag with mixtapes, free breakfast coupon, and other fun!

Tickets available here!
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/119282

It's that time of year again and we are thrilled to be back with our third year of Baltimore pride and the sweaty, summer dance mayhem that is MY CREW BE UNRULY. We've recruited the best of the best club producers and selectors from the Northeast for three rooms and seven hours of music at the legendary Paradox warehouse club in Baltimore City. Those who know, know that being here makes you feel like you're a part of history in the making - where club kids battle next to house divas and your flanneled Natty Boh-toting neighbors. In summary:

- 18+ for entry at all three rooms of the Dox, including the outdoor yard.
- FREE BEER and BYOB for those that are 21+.
- FREE BREAKFAST at 5am
- First 50 to buy tickets get free goodie bags / mixtapes / tshirts
- Kitchen serves fried chicken / pizza / mixers all night
- Baltimore club, hip-hop, and house jams all night long

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

(MORE LINEUP ADDITIONS TO COME)

SCOTTIE B / KING TUTT / SHAWN CAESAR
Chavy Boys :: Unruly Records

DJ QUIKSILVA :: 93.9 WKYS :: Unruly
http://www.myspace.com/hotboyquicksilva

JAY CLAXTON :: 92Q :: Unruly
http://www.myspace.com/thefranchisejclaxton

SUPA DJ BIG L :: Club Kingz Records
http://twitter.com/supadjbigl

ULTRA NATE :: Deep Sugar
http://www.myspace.com/ultranatemusic

ROD LEE :: Club Kingz Records
http://www.myspace.com/officialdjrodlee

DJ BOOMAN :: Doo Dew Kidz :: BmoreOriginal :: Bumsquad DJs
http://www.soundclick.com/djbooman

KW GRIFF :: Doo Dew Kidz

NADASTROM :: Bullitt
http://www.nadastrom.com/

DJ TAMEIL :: Brick Bandits
http://www.myspace.com/itsyamandjtameil

TIM DOLLA :: Brick Bandits
http://soundcloud.com/djtimdolla

SAY WUT :: Unruly
http://www.myspace.com/saywutmusic

NOUVEAU RICHE DJs :: Gavin Holland, Steve Starks, Nacey
http://www.nouveaurichedc.com/

UNCLE JESSE :: Unruly :: Crossfaded Bacon
http://www.myspace.com/unclejesse410

DEEP IN THE GAME :: Mark Brown, Cex, Schwarz
http://deepinthegame.blogspot.com/

SMASH GORDON :: SubHuman / Steez

Labels: Baltimore club, DJ Booman, flyer, K-Swift, King Tutt, KW Griff, NSW (Say What), Paradox, Scottie B., Unruly Records

Today's Washington Post has a big spread on the city's neighbor to the north, Baltimore, in today's Arts & Living section, including an article by Chris Richards about 92Q and Baltimore club music (you may need to grab a password from bugmenot.com to view it on the Post site). The piece features quotes from K.W. Griff (pictured), Say Wut, Porkchop, Cullen Stalin, and Wye Oak, and also mentions K-Swift, Blaqstarr, Rye Rye, DJ Class, Rod Lee, Mullyman, Booman and the Get Em Mamis (Chris also spoke to me for the article, but I'm not quoted in it, which is a situation I've been on the other end of enough times that I totally understand -- limited space, lack of a perfect quote, etc.).

Labels: 92Q, Baltimore club, Blaq Starr, DJ Booman, DJ Class, G.E.M./Tha Plague, K-Swift, KW Griff, magazines/newspapers, Mullyman, NSW (Say What), Pork Chop, Rod Lee, Rye Rye

Mullyman - "Get Ya Life" (mp3)
Here's the new DJ Booman-produced single from the Harder Than Baltimore album, dropping soon. I've always thought that "get your life" is such a classic Baltimore phrase, has been used in so many club songs, that someone needs to build a whole song around it, glad Mully got the same idea.

Labels: DJ Booman, mp3, Mullyman

It's time for a quick update on Tough Breaks: The Story of Baltimore Club Music, the book that I announced a few weeks ago that I'm in the process of writing:

- The Tough Breaks page on the fundraising website Kickstarter.com is now less than 2 weeks away from the donation deadline. I've already gotten more than 1/3rd toward the project's $5,000.00 goal, and can't thank the people that have pledged already enough, I'm so grateful to you all. But that still leaves a long way to go and time is quickly running out. I want to quickly stress: Kickstarter pledges aren't charged unless I meet the goal, and won't be charged until the July 1st deadline, so please pledge as soon as possible if you know how much you'll be able to pledge! Every little bit counts and no amount is too small (well, there's a $5 minimum, but still), and if you look at the list of rewards I've offered on Kickstarter, there might be something cool you're willing to pledge the minimum for (just $10 gets you personally thanked in the book itself, for instance, and there are much more interesting rewards for higher amounts). I'd love for everyone to pledge as much as they can by next Thursday, June 24th, just to not wait until the last minute, and leave a week to make up any remaining difference. The Kickstarter page for my project has lots of handy links to post about Tough Breaks on your Facebook or Twitter, or post widgets like the one at the top of this post on your blog, so please spread the word even if you can't donate!

- The interview with DJ Booman and myself that aired on WYPR's Maryland Morning last week is now streaming online, and features lots of talk about the book and the history of Baltimore club music, along with some club classics handpicked by Booman and a special new track he made for the occasion.

- On the official site for the book, ToughBreaksBaltimore.com, I assembled a handy guide to The Club Beat, the monthly column about club music that I've been writing for the Baltimore City Paper's Noise blog since 2007, with links to all 26 installments, including dozens of interviews with DJs and producers in the scene both big and small, legends and up-and-comers, and year-end lists of the hottest club tracks of the past three years. This stuff won't be in Tough Breaks, but will give you a good idea of what the book will be like and who will be featured in it.

- I've also started blogging about current Baltimore club happenings on the Tough Breaks site, starting with a piece about DJ Class's recent forays into pop music like his new song with "The Situation" from Jersey Shore.

Labels: announcements, Baltimore City Paper, DJ Booman, DJ Class, Noise, Tough Breaks, WYPR

Mullyman's latest video, "Home To Stay" directed by The Grench for Sleepin Giant Media, is on the MTV website, song produced by DJ Booman and a lot of other familiar faces make appearances.

Labels: DJ Booman, Mullyman, Sleepin Giant Media, video

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

Here's the new video for "Step Aside" by the Doo Dew Kidz featuring Mullyman that's currently on MTV Jams (and I guess would be pretty much the first Baltimore club video to get in rotation there, if I'm not mistaken). It's directed by Gearie "The Grench" Bowman of Sleepin Giant Media, who always does great work, but visually this is really on a whole new level for him. I also love how they mix in a little bit of K.W. Griff's "Pork and Swift" for a little K-Swift tribute at the end.

Labels: Baltimore club, DJ Booman, K-Swift, KW Griff, Mullyman, Pork Chop, Sleepin Giant Media, video

Here's the video for Mullyman and DJ Booman's "She Hurtin' Em" that's gotten some plays on MTV Jams. It was directed by Tabi Bonney, who's done much better work before in my opinion, the editing is so erratic on this that all the flashing cuts give me a headache.



And here's Mully's 'official street video' for "Imma Be More," which was directed by David "Super Dave" Manigault, and in my opinion looks (and sounds) way better than the video that got on TV. Obviously this is the original solo version, before Bossman jumped on the remix.

Labels: DJ Booman, Mullyman, video

My stuff on the Baltimore City Paper's Noise blog this month included a review of ScholarMan's new album, Free Spirit Of A Troubled Soul, and live reviews of Reina Williams @ Peace & A Cup Of Joe, Balti Mare and the Baltimore String Felons @ the Sidebar, and Bossman and Mullyman @ the Black Hole Rock Club with DJ Booman, DJ 5Starr, 100 Grandman, TestMe, Smash, Pork Chop, Skarr Akbar and others.

Labels: 100 Grandman, Baltimore City Paper, Bossman, DJ 5 Starr, DJ Booman, Mullyman, Noise, Pork Chop, ScholarMan, Skarr Akbar, Smash, TestMe

Labels: Ab Rock, Club Reality, DJ Booman, E Major, flyer, Sean Toure

Labels: Baltimore club, DJ Booman, DJ P-Funk, flyer

In the last few weeks on the Baltimore City Paper's Noise blog, I've posted live reviews of John Berndt's Multiphonic Choir @ the Windup Space, Man & Dog and The Feast of Epiphany @ An die Musik, and a year-end Club Beat column listing my top Baltimore club tracks of 2009, by K.W. Griff, DJ Pierre, the Doo Dew Kidz with Mullyman, DJ Excel, Rod Lee, Ultra Naté with King Tutt, and Say Wut, among others.

Labels: Baltimore club, DJ Booman, DJ Class, DJ Excel, DJ Pierre, King Tutt, KW Griff, lists, Mullyman, Noise, NSW (Say What), Rod Lee

As I did for 2008 and 2007, it's time to look back at what the most frequently used tags were on the site last year. The four numbers represent 2009 posts / 2008 posts / 2007 posts/ total posts on the site:

1. flyer (189/306/361/1199)
2. mp3 (144/120/103/489)
3. Baltimore club (91/114/76/349)
4. mixtape/album review (90/79/80/330)
5. DJ Booman (39/45/38/134)
6. Skarr Akbar (37/26/35/144)
7. Sonar (34/44/39/142)
8. Baltimore City Paper (33/25/35/153)
9. Mullyman (32/26/35/149)
10. 5 Seasons (31/65/102/298)
11. Bossman (29/29/42/168)
12. DJ Class (27/1/0/28)
13. Ogun (26/39/40/146)
14. Shaka Pitts (25/8/0/33)
15. Mania Music Group (24/8/0/32)
16./17./18. (tie) Unruly Records (23/30/11/75) / Club Reality (23/0/0/23)
/ magazines/newspapers (23/41/29/142)
19. Comp (21/17/38/121)
20./21. (tie) 41YO (19/0/0/19) / Blaq Starr (19/28/21/87)
22. Wordsmith (18/6/0/24)
23./24./25. (tie) ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM (17/0/0/17) / Tayland Promotions (17/0/0/17) / Noise (17/18/18/53)

Edit: I managed to forget video (31/18/1/50), which would've been tied for 10th place on the list if I'd tabulated it correctly at the time.

That’s 7 rappers, 3 Baltimore club producers, 3 venues, 3 blogs/websites, 2 labels, and a lot of other categories. Congrats to everyone that made the list, everyone else: grind harder, or actually e-mail me every time you do a show or drop new music.

Labels: Blaq Starr, Bossman, Comp, DJ Booman, DJ Class, lists, Mania Music Group, Mullyman, Ogun, Shaka Pitts, Skarr Akbar, Unruly Records, Wordsmith

Labels: 100 Grandman, Club Reality, Comp, DJ Booman, flyer, Mullyman, Ogun, Pork Chop, Skarr Akbar, Smash