Ironsoul - Marcis (Ironsoul Music)

I'd never heard Ironsoul before checking out this album, and although I tried to listen and give the whole thing a chance, unfortunately it's a type of underground hip hop that I almost never enjoy. That is, it's a guy bellowing humorlessly like he really really means it, man, over stridently flat-footed beats. Nothing against the guy, it's actually probably one of the better albums in that style that I've heard, it's just not my cup of tea. Marcis has guest appearances by A-Class, Reg from Pro & Reg, McCracken from Minlus & McCracken, and Bishop, and is available for purchase on CDbaby.com.

Ironsoul f/ Mic Brown and A-Class - "Bottom Dollar" (mp3)
I think A-Class is one of the best rappers Baltimore has, so right off the bat the last track on here that features him is one of my favorites.

Labels: A-Class, Minlus McCracken, mixtape/album review, mp3, Pro and Reg

Labels: Brakefast Records, flyer, Pro and Reg, Steez Promo, Tha Profitt

Labels: flyer, Pro and Reg, Sonar, Tayland Promotions

Labels: Club Reality, flyer, Jinxxx, Minlus McCracken, Pro and Reg

Labels: Bedrock, flyer, Pro and Reg, Tayland Promotions

Bex - Grow (9 1 6 Productions)

Bex is a Baltimore MC that I'd heard a couple times in the past guesting on Pro & Reg projects, but had never really heard his solo material until he e-mailed me his new album. And even though it's a pretty solid record, with dope production by Krazyfingaz on most of the tracks, it was really hard for me to get into because of the unrelenting negativity of the lyrics. I mean, ostensibly he's kind of a conscious, uplifting MC who's trying to put a message in his lyrics, but really every single song is just bitching about the industry or the way other rappers are and after a while you realize you know a lot about what he's not, but very little about what he actually is. I encounter this problem with a lot of indie rappers who aren't trying to be commercial, but man, on this album it was really just stifling and unpleasant, which is a shame because the guy can flow, he just has very little to say besides the same backpacker MC complaints you've heard a billion times, no real new energy or imagination to make it fresh. Ogun, Jade Fox and Regulus from Pro & Reg guest on the album.

Bex - "F Critics" (mp3)
As a critic I liked this song from the jump when I saw the title (lol), although he doesn't really go at critics too hard on this song after all, but it is one of my favorites on here, with a good beat from SideFX.

Labels: Jade Fox, mixtape/album review, mp3, Ogun, Pro and Reg

Labels: Bedrock, flyer, Kane, Pro and Reg, Steez Promo

Pro & Reg - Life Of A Vagabond (Pro And Reg Records)

Regulus and Proton are a rap duo who I reviewed an EP by in the past, and I recently listened to a free podcast they put on their website in advance of their new album. But even after listening to that stuff, as well as this album, Life Of A Vagabond, a couple times, I'm not totally feeling their sound. I dunno, it probably seems like I almost never give props to white rappers, in Baltimore or otherwise, maybe I come across as one of those self-loathing white hip hop fans, but I'm just going by what I like to hear, and these guys have totally different tastes, all that talk about "the elements" and those kind of blocky, halting old school flows, it just doesn't resonate with me. There's a couple real strong tracks on here, a few moments where I kinda connect, but overall I wasn't really rocking with this album.

Pro & Reg - "Loly Gag" (mp3)
I like this one probably the most, nice low key beat and relatable concept, good flows in the 2nd verse.

Labels: mixtape/album review, mp3, Pro and Reg

Labels: DJ P-Funk, Pro and Reg, Sonar, Sonny Brown

The 2008 Baltimore Music Conference is coming up, and runs from Wednesday to Saturday next week, and I've always missed it in previous years, so I'm looking forward to checking it out this time, it looks like there's gonna be some good shows and seminars happening throughout the vent. I'm just gonna go as a spectator and see and review some parts of it, but my friends at Mobtown Studios are among the sponsors and Mat from the studio will be appearing on a couple panels. The lineup is full of different genres of music and people from all over the place, but there's a good number of Baltimore hip hop, club music and R&B artists performing (A-Class, B-Amazing, DLake, James Nasty, Natural Remedy, Pro & Reg, Reina Williams, Wordsmith, etc.) and some folks from the local rap scene hosting events (Pork Chop, Steez, Florida from Strictly HipHop), should be fun.

Labels: A-Class, Bedrock, Black Hole Rock Club, flyer, Ottobar, Pork Chop, Pro and Reg, Steez Promo, Wordsmith

Labels: flyer, Minlus McCracken, Ottobar, Pro and Reg, Steez Promo