Three years ago this Thursday, the Club Queen K-Swift passed away, and since people in Baltimore think about her every day and some are still writing songs about her, I wrote a post on the City Paper Noise blog about three recent tribute tracks by Isaac Stalk, EJ and Comp. K-Swift forever!

Labels: Baltimore club, Comp, EJ, K-Swift

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. 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

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

Brown F.I.S.H. - Bootleg III: F.I.S.H. & Friends... The Mixtape

Brown F.I.S.H. is a pretty important group in Baltimore hip hop that I feel like I've never really given enough coverage to on here, partly because a lot of their activity predates this site (I remember seeing them open for Black Sheep way back in '02). Plus, they're really deep into a whole different side of the scene (roots reggae and slam poetry and live R&B bands) that I'm not as into, although I totally respect what they do. In 2006, they did a special invite-only show called "F.I.S.H. & Friends" that was basically an unplugged performance with no sound system and a lot of special guests. I remember getting the invite but I wasn't able to go for some reason or another, and kept hearing how great it was afterwards. Now, there's a DVD full of footage of the event, which looks like it was a lot of fun, and this album/mixtape/compilation-type CD, which basically compiles a lot of remixes and collaborations the group recorded from 2004 to 2007, along with some performances from that show. There's just a lot of jams on this, including all-star remixes of "45" and Golden Seal's "Sistahs Pimpin'," and guest appearances by D.O.G., Symantyx, Greenspan, Heavy Gold, B-Fly, C Love, EJ, and Skarr Akbar.

Brown F.I.S.H. f/ Symantyx and Greenspan - "Cry Baby" (mp3)
Symantyx and Greenspan are two of the new Baltimore MCs who I've been the most impressed with in the past year or two, so I feel like Brown F.I.S.H. are really watching the scene and taking notes when they put both of them on a song like this. OOH has a line on here about how Brown F.I.S.H. was pissed when they didn't get a trading card back when City Paper did them, and I didn't really decide who got one or who didn't at the time, but I have to admit, that was definitely an oversight, Brown F.I.S.H. should've gotten one.

Labels: B-Fly, Brown F.I.S.H., C Love, D.O.G., EJ, Golden Seal, Greenspan, Heavy Gold, mixtape/album review, mp3, Skarr Akbar, Symantyx

Labels: EJ, flyer, Minlus McCracken, Sean Toure, Turntable Club

Bear - All We Got Is Us 2008 edition (For The People Entertainment)

Last year, I wrote about the original version of Bear's All We Got Is Us album, and was told at the time that it would be re-released later on. So when I finally got the re-release recently, I kinda put it to the side thinking it was more or less the same CD with some minor changes. And after I saw Bear open for Beatnuts at the Ottobar, I decided to listen to this and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was not only almost a completely different album, but also a far superior one. It keeps three songs from the original, as well as a few of the archival freestyles by Bear's late friend Young Jit, but everything else is new, and this really might be my favorite album from For The People Entertainment to date. The label's production team is just getting stronger and stronger and Bear's got this kind of thoughtful, low key personality that comes across really well here with the right songs, the right concepts, the right beats. EJ guests on the track "We Bosses," although he's not credited in the liner notes.

Bear - "Don Cornelius Shit" (mp3)
The fact that his 2 nicknames are "Don Cornelius" and "Bear" kinda makes me wonder if he's a fan of Achewood.

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

EJ - The Westside Hustle (Carnigie Records/DJ Radio)

EJ is a guy that I've always been impressed by, from the first time I saw him perform at an Ogun event a few years ago to when he won Super Style Warz, which is why I put him high on my most anticipated of 2008 list of Bmore MCs I hadn't heard solo projects from but wanted to. So I was happy when EJ called me up earlier this summer hyping up his new mixtape, and he was really giving me the hard sell and acting like it was the greatest thing since sliced bread and he should be on the cover of the City Paper and this and that. And it ain't really like that, but it's still pretty good, one of the better mixtapes I've heard this year, so I gave it a review in the paper this past week. It also features guest appearances by Skarr Akbar, Heavy Gold, XO, and others.

EJ - "Same Ole Thing" (mp3)
This is a song that I quoted and talked about a bit in the review, and it's still one of my favorites, really shows another side of EJ.

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, DJ Radio, EJ, Heavy Gold, magazines/newspapers, mixtape/album review, mp3, Skarr Akbar, XO

I've got a mess of local music stuff in the Baltimore City Paper this week: a feature on the Dream Nation Marching Unit (which was something that never would've occurred to me if one of my editors, Bret McCabe, hadn't latched onto something I wrote about them in my review of the Charm City Community Block Fest and realized it would make a great story), and reviews of CDs by EJ and Ron Rico (more on those releases on Gov't Names in the next few days).

(photo by Rarah)

Labels: Baltimore City Paper, EJ, magazines/newspapers, Ron Rico

Milestone Media's 2nd annual Making The Right Moves Entertainment Conference will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center next Saturday, August 23rd, and admission is free. I was at the event as a panelist last year and wrote about my experiences there, and I'll be there again this year, to cover the event and to host a panel about independent artists at 2p.m. Here's the full itinerary for the event (UPDATED 8/14/08), including the concert the night before:

Download the original attachment

Making The Right Moves Entertainment Conference

Official Intinery

Friday August 22, 2008

Black Hole Club

216 German Hill Rd

Baltimore, Maryland 21222

410-285-ROCK
This is a professional event be on time which means well before your perform

8:00 – 8:30 DJ Harvey Dent / DJ Franchise & Staff Arrive

8:30 – 9:00 Doors Open

9: 45- 10-00 Q 45

10:05- 10: 20 Slim Mil
10: 25- 10 :35 Brother
10-40- 10:55 Beveready
11:00- 11-15 Battle Music Group
11: 20- 11: 35 Gramz
11:40- 11: 55 EJ

12: 00- 12:15 Greenspan
12:15- 12:30 Skarr
12:45 2 Pistols

Club ends 1 :55

VIP After Hours

Making The Right Moves Entertainment Conference

Official Intinery

Saturday August 23, 2008

Baltimore Convention Center

1 W. Pratt Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Fu Yah Martial Fusion Challenge

Presented by The Bamms
8:00 AM- 1 PM
9:00 AM- 11 AM Load In and Sound Check

10:00 AM Vendor Set Up
11:00 AM Interactive Booths Begin

12:00 PM Main Stage Event Begin
ACT 1: J Butts ACT 2: SURPRISE GUEST ACT 3: OPEN FOR NOW

PANEL SESSION:

Authors/ Publishers and Spoken Word Panel - The Urban Written Word

Featuring:

(Deshawn Taylor, Lamonica Bratcher, Rafphael Gordon, Feleica Pride, Willie BAM )

1:00 PM

ACT 1: Kim Poole ACT 2: DEVANTE

ACT 3:

PANEL SESSION: Marketing and Promotions - I have my space and you tube now what ?

Hosted By: Rita Lewis - Marketing of BET J

Featuring: ( Mottz, Swen, Mathew Brown, Miesha Rice )

INDUSTRY THE REALITY SHOW FILMING BEGINS
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2:00 PM
ACT 1: Kyonte ACT 2: DG2 ACT 3: Battle Music Group

PANEL SESSION:

I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.T - "DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS"

Hosted By: Al Shipley - Baltimore City Paper & Governmentnames.blogspot.com
Featuring:(Mike Flight, Jim Fetzer, DOMINATION, Shaka Pitts, Mike Sky)
INDUSTRY THE REALITY SHOW FILMING Cont'd
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3:00 PM

ACT 1 L –Jay ACT 2: JONI DEGA

ACT 3: Ikea Turner
PANEL SESSION: Matthew Lesko - "How To Get Free Money"

INTERACTIVE SESSION: !! MASTERS OF THE BEATS !!

Featuring: ( Jay Funk, Say Whut and More...)

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4:00 PM
ACT 1: 11’s EDGE

ACT 2: Kanika

ACT 4: Main Girl

IICE INC Modeling and Promotion Company FASHION PREVIEW

MY TIME TO SHINE- SHORT FILMS AND DOCUMENTRIES " WHAT IS A HAK " by Bernard Threatt

PANEL SESSION : INDUSTRY POWER MOVES P1

Mrs. Sterling " INDUSTRY POWER MOVES "

INTERACTIVE SESSION:

I GOT THAT FIRE (tentively w/ SLIP N SLIDE DJ's)

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5:00 PM
ACT 1: BEAT BOX ACT 2: M QUEST
ACT 3: COMIC BOOK HEROES

PANEL SESSION: INDUSTRY POWER MOVES II

Hosted by: Terrance J of BET 106 & PARK
Featuring ( Rashod Ollsen, Paul Gardener, Mary Nicols, Shadeed Elezer )

INTERACTIVE DJ SESSION:

( DJ JONNY BLAZE, DJ SPONTANEOUS, and more)

6:00 PM
ACT 1: MS STRESS

ACT 2: KARRON JOHNSON

HIP HOP SAVED MY LIFE w/ RAPHAEL GORDON

PANEL SESSION: Producer VS. Beat makers: What is the difference ?

Hosted By: Kelly Connelly

Featuring: ( Diamond D, Dame Grease, BOOMAN, Shaka Pitts, Ademyi Omisore )

7:00 PM
ACT 1: BREE & Friends

ACT 2: The FA.Culty ft. Lil Clayway, Nik Stylz & Phreestyle, P. Lucky

With Young and Fly Records

ACT 3: T. LYLES - SHOWCASE

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8:00 ROUNDTABLE MUSIC GROUP SHOWCASE

FASHION SHOW

F/ TAINTED INK MODELING GROUP

10:00 PM Event Wrap Up

Labels: Black Hole Rock Club, EJ, flyer, Greenspan, Jay Funk, Little Clayway, Ms. Stress, NSW (Say What), Skarr Akbar

Labels: DJ Booman, EJ, flyer, Team Fifty