Gritty Gang - Block Work featuring Gritty Gang (DJ Jabril)

Allbmorehiphop.com and DJ Jabril released the first mixtape in the Block Work series, with Barnes, a few months ago, and now the second volume is the third release from the supergroup Gritty Gang, who previously released mixtapes in 2006 and 2009. Ogun, as usual, is kind of the ringleader, and his DJ Excel-produced single "Ever Since I Saw You" is on here, but in general the focus is on expanding the Gritty Gang family, with some artists that were involved from the very beginning (Skarr Akbar, Rockwell, XO), some that first appeared on last year's mixtape (Sonny Reddz, Kuan, Talal, Barz), and some more that are new to the fold with this release (Blue, Maintain, Rico Hopes and others). I can't say I love every track on here, and some of the newer artists I don't really have a feel for yet or have much of an opinion on, but I like where they're going with this, kinda building two franchises at once with this tape. You can download it at allbmorehiphop.com/grittygang.

Q Gutta & Si-Notes - "Never" (mp3)
Big thanks to DJ Jabril for shouting out my name and plugging Gov't Names at the beginning of this track, which conveniently also happens to be one of my favorite songs on the mixtape.

Labels: ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, Block Work, DJ Excel, DJ Jabril, Gritty Gang, mixtape/album review, mp3, Ogun, Si-Notes, Skarr Akbar, XO

Haz - The Game Need Change (DJ Radio)

Haz a.k.a. Hazardous was one of the champions of Style Warz a few years ago and has been on the scene performing and battling for it seems like a while, but I've never really heard a lot of his music before this tape hosted by DJ Radio. This is definitely one of the better 'street rap' kinda mixtapes I've heard in a minute, mainly because has a good low key, focused lyrical style, doesn't get all obnoxious with it, just raps and raps and raps, and it's not too long (50 minutes) and generally has a good beat selection. You can download this at allbmorehiphop.com/haz.

Haz f/ XO - "My Name Is" (mp3)
This track has a nice vibe, good beat, good punchlines, really grabbed my attention in the middle of the mixtape. I've said this before, but XO really has one of the illest voices in Baltimore rap and I wish I heard him do more stuff. There's a guy from D.C. who also goes by the name XO that's been doing a lot lately, kinda bums me out when I check that guy's stuff out by accident and get disappointed that it's not the XO from Bmore.

Labels: ALLBMOREHIPHOP.COM, DJ Radio, mixtape/album review, mp3, XO

As per yesterday's announcement, I'll be doing this every day or thereabouts until I get to the top 10. I'm still listening to tracks and finalizing parts of the list, though, so if anyone has any artists/songs they wanna rep for and make sure I consider (if they're not in there already), feel free to say so in the comments. Or really, let me know if there are any songs I'm re-posting that you missed the first time and are really enjoying now:

81. King Tutt - "Let's Go" (mp3) - March 10, 2009
82. Dappa!!! Dan Midas f/ RapMan Ron G. - "Push Start" (mp3) - December 2, 2008
83. K.W. Griff - "Pork & Swift" (mp3) - January 13th, 2009
84. Tonio: From Da Top - "U Mad?!?" (mp3) - April 5, 2009
85. Blaq Starr - "Hands Up, Thumbs Down" (mp3) - June 29, 2006
86. Verb - "Get Em Verb" (mp3) - January 17, 2006
87. Nature's Problem - "Shake It Shorty" (mp3) - August 3, 2006
88. Dave Da Barber f/ Caddy Da Don, Tim Trees, XO, and Block Hugga - "Eastside Of Baltimore (Remix)" (mp3) - August 6, 2007
89. Wordsmith f/ The Profitt, Reggie Webb, Greenspan, Skarr Akbar, Soulstice, Pro & Reg, Sly Solomon, Steadfast, Tislam the Great & E-Major - "B-More Baritones" (mp3) - February 22, 2009
90. UnReal - "Luv Me" (mp3) - January 17, 2006

Labels: Baltimore club, Blaq Starr, King Tutt, KW Griff, lists, Midas, mp3, Ron G., Tha Profitt, Tim Trees, Tonio, UnReal, Verb, Wordsmith, XO

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

OK, here's another random links post of stuff I've been meaning to put up on here:

- Metromix Baltimore has an interview with Labtekwon about his new album Di Na Ko Degg, which I haven't heard yet but is supposed to be really good. Thanks to Rob for the link.

- I didn't catch this until recently, but the April issue of The Urbanite had a really good Baltimore club article by Stephen Janis, which included interviews with Rod Lee, Shawn Caesar and Scottie B. As many club music features as there have been over the years, this is by far one of the best and most insightful and accurate I've seen.

- DCtoBC.com is now doing a monthly online DMV mixtape series showcasing hip hop from the whole D.C./Maryland/Virginia area. They asked me for some contributions to represent Baltimore a while back but I didn't wanna submit other peoples' music without their knowledge so I'm just throwing it out there for folks to take the initiative themselves. The August edition had a Blaq Starr track and the September edition had XO and Articulate, but in general there's not nearly enough Baltimore stuff on them so hopefully there'll be more to balance out the Washington stuff on future editions.

- Jamal Roberts of Darkroom Productions now has a blog, and he's been writing some good stuff about music and posting Darkroom tracks here and there.

- Brandon Soderberg posted a Ron Rico track on his blog a little while back.

- DJ Adam Gonzo recently sent me this zshare link for a dance music mix he did a couple years ago, which features a few Baltimore club tracks by DJ Technics, Debonair Samir and DJ Frie, among others.

- Here's a Bossman interview on YouTube where he speaks on K-Swift and some other topics.

- A couple I know has an adorable daughter named Lily, and here's a YouTube video of Lily dancing to Rod Lee's "Can I Rock" that cracks me up.

Labels: announcements, Baltimore club, Blaq Starr, Bossman, Darkroom Productions, K-Swift, Labtekwon, magazines/newspapers, Rod Lee, Ron Rico, Scottie B., XO

Kode Street - Kode To The Streets (DJ Shakim/Love Me Or Hate Me Entertainment)

I've heard this Kode Street guy on a couple of Architects Record Studio's mixtapes over the past few years, but I never really heard more until recently when his management got in touch to send me some music, including this mixtape. They were telling me about how they're really working him in other markets and not really worrying about Baltimore, so I was kinda surprised when I got the mixtape and saw all these familiar names from Bmore on it, including guest spots by Comp, ShellBe R.A.W., Ckrisis and XO, and production by Rod Lee and Debonair Samir. The song with Rod Lee is called "Do You" and the guy who e-mailed me tried to say that Rocko jacked the song from them for "Umma Do Me," but that shit don't really sound the same and the chorus is a phrase lots of people say, I think they're kinda delusional about that. It's just a short little 45-minute mix and between all the guests I don't necessarily feel like I have a great sense of who he is an artist still, but he's got a nice flow. "If you think it's like The Wire, ni**as lyin'/ 'cause that shit don't end after no half an hour" would be a hot line if he wasn't wrong about how long an episode of the show is.

Kode Street - "Heaven" (mp3)
This is my favorite track on here, dope beat from Samir and dope to see a beat credited just to Samir with no other co-producer putting their name on it.

Labels: Comp, Debonair Samir, mixtape/album review, mp3, Rod Lee, ShellBe RAW, XO

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

Blaq Starr, Ogun and Hots - "Repitition" (mp3)
I see Ogun out at shows all the time, but this week I just ended up hearing a lot of new music from him. The Fader blog posted "Money Talk," one of the singles from the Darkroom Productions album dropping in May that posted about recently, and it's a fucking banger. Ogun himself e-mailed me this new track with Blaq Starr and Hots, which is a pretty interesting lineup, I've never heard any of these 3 guys on a song together and I don't think I would've expected it until I heard it. I like it, though, not Baltimore club at all but more in the same vibe as the slower hip hop beats on Blaq Starr's last couple mixtapes like "Swagga Back," and it's nice to hear some different kinds of rappers over his beats instead of the usual Next Level kids. And there's also several new tracks on Ogun's MySpace, including a couple I've seen him perform live lately ("It's Alright" and the "Flashing Lights" freestyle with Rockwell) and a couple that are new to me ("Best Alive" and "Ride" with XO and Rockwell). I believe Ogun has said he's doing to drop another mixtape and a new album this year, and I hope that's true, because his new material is sounding pretty damn good.

Labels: Blaq Starr, Darkroom Productions, Hots, mp3, Ogun, XO

At the beginning of the past two years, I've posted lists of my most anticipated Baltimore hip hop releases for the coming year. Inevitably, those lists were full of the best known local MCs, some of them signed to major labels, and inevitably most of those albums (in the case of last year's list, 9 out of 10) never dropped. So while I'm looking forward to independent national releases by Darkroom Productions and 410 Pharoahs in the next few months, and I'd be hyped as hell about a D.O.G. album on Universal or a Los album on Bad Boy or a Heavy Gold album on Epic being released this year, I ain't holding my breath. Instead, this list is my 20 most anticipated Baltimore MCs who I've never heard a solo project by. I might've heard them as a member of a group, or doing guest appearances, or seen them live or heard a single, or songs on their MySpace page. Some of them might already be pretty well known within the scene, or even have a solo album that I just didn't know about. But these are the people I want to hear more from in 2008, whether or not they have anything scheduled to drop:

1. Verb
2. Symantyx
3. Sonny Brown
4. Diablo
5. Sean-Toure'
6. EJ
7. Greenspan
8. Shakean Da Analyst
9. Tonio
10. XO
11. Ammo
12. Gata Shiest
13. E-Nahledge
14. Young R.O.D.
15. ONLY
16. Tony Manson
17. Street Heat
18. Dave "Da Barber"
19. Reina Williams
20. Maniak Dre

Labels: Diablo, Dirty Hartz, E-Nahledge, Kartel, lists, M.O.L., Sonny Brown, XO

Labels: 5 Seasons, DJ Booman, flyer, Ray Lugar, Team Fifty, Tim Trees, XO

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

TeamFifty.com
In Association With Riley Hawkins Avengers
Strength In Numbers Showcase
Friday Sept. 28th

Jade Fox
E Watts (All Stars)
Young TX (TeamFifty.com)
Ray Lugar (TeamFifty.com)
B.O.M.B.
Young Sac (Heights Inc)
Eaxy Money Ent
Ferl feat Raw Dog
Kryme Lab
Beefeaters
Paco & Chino
XO feat Tim Trees, Dave Da Barber
Spitters Club feat Spitts McMan of 92Q
1st Fam (Block Hugga, Sonny Gramz, Dave Da Barber)
Navy Seal (Hell City)
B-More Real
Welding Ent

Hosted By Stevie Stay Hi
9PM Til 2AM
ID Is A Must
On The 1's & 2's
DJ Booman
Crooked Streetz/Bum Squad
5 Seasons
830 Guilford Ave.
Sponsored By: Sam Cassell, Keith Booth, Kurk Lee, Carmelo Anthony Youth Center

Labels: 5 Seasons, B.O.M.B., DJ Booman, flyer, Jade Fox, Ray Lugar, Team Fifty, Tim Trees, XO

Dave "Da Barber," Caddy Da Don, Tim Trees, XO, and Block Hugga - "Eastside Of Baltimore" (mp3)
Like Tim Trees said a few years ago, I got love for the West, but I'm reppin' the East. So this song is really my shit, and you know I always love when artists get together on a posse cut. I heard this on Dave "Da Barber" from 1st Family's Myspace page, I think this is his song and he's on the hook, but Caddy and Wayne Jones come in with their verses before him. Also, Trees is performing at Hip Hop 101 tonight at 5 Seasons.

Labels: mp3, Tim Trees, XO

Labels: flyer, For The People Entertainment, Ogun, Sonar, XO

WWW.TEAMFIFTY.COM & STRENGTH IN NUMBERS PRESENT

SUMMER HEAT MIXTAPE EXPO & RELEASE PARTY
FRIDAY JULY 13TH, 2007
8PM-2AM
5 SEASONS
830 N. GUILFORD AVE.
BALTIMORE, MD

HOSTED BY STEVIE STAY HI
WITH MUSIC BY BUMSQUAD'S OWN DJ BOOMAN

FEATURING:
RAY VICTORY
COMP
EAZY MONEY ENT.
CNP
HOOD STRUCK ENT.
REALSIDE
SOUTHPAW
THA PROFITT
WELDING
GHOSEL
UNTAMED
RAY LUGAR (FEAT. SPEILSBERG)
SPITTERS CLUB (FEAT. ONLEY)
DAVE DA BARBER W/ TIM TREES, XO, 1ST FAM & AMMO
CADDY DA DON (FIXED FIGHT)
TRIGGA YOUNG TEX
100 BOYZ (TRU BILL)
KARTEL (MORE MONEY MORE HATE)
MANIAK DRE (SO HOOD PROD.)

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: SAM CASSELL, KEITH BOOTH, KURK LEE, CARMELLO ANTHONY YOUTH CENTER
MUSIC MONTHLY
DOWNTOWN LOCKER ROOM
18+ TO CHILL/21+ TO SPILL
I.D. IS A MUST!
$10 HOOPAS & HUSTLAS
$5 QUEENS

Labels: 5 Seasons, Comp, DJ Booman, flyer, Kartel, Ray Lugar, South Paw, Team Fifty, Tha Profitt, Tim Trees, XO

Hip Hop 101/Old School Mondays
"Best Weekly Event" - Baltimore City Paper
May 28th, 2007 - Five Seasons
830 Guilford Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201 - ladies $5, guys $10

TY GUDDA
TYREIKA
TUFFLON DONNA
DAVE THE BARBER
XO RECORDS
SONNY REDDZ
GOODFELLAS
COMMISSION
NAVY SEAL
MONSTA MUSIC

TOMORROW NIGHT

830 NORTH GUILFORD

$10 FOR THE FELLAS
$5 FOR THE LADYS

2 FOR $15

DRINK SPECIALS, FOOD,

HOSTED BY SONNY BROWN AND SHAKA PITTS

CO-HOSTED BY SQUIRRAL WYDE OF 92Q

DJ JABRIL ON THE WHEELS

IT'S GOING DOWN MONDAY NIGHT!

9PM-2AM

-Sonny Brown

Labels: 5 Seasons, flyer, Hip Hop 101, Sonny Brown, XO

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

Darkroom Productions presents... Hamsterdam Vol. 2 - Stash To Da Strip (Darkroom Inc.)

Darkroom Productions has been talking this up practically since the first Hamsterdam dropped and it always seemed right around the corner, all the way from before the 4th season of The Wire with their music in it ran its course til afterwards, but a couple weeks ago it finally dropped. And honestly, as press savvy as they are (with features in XLR8R and the Baltimore Sun just recently), I was always a little skeptical that they'd top the first one and live up to all the hype. And when they said it was a double CD, at first I thought they meant including the Harm City Exposed DVD that was going to be packaged with the mixtape, but the DVD got pushed back (it's now available on their MySpace page and hits the streets next week), and it turns out that there are two whole CD's of music, with over 30 original beats. And I gotta say, they really stepped up the beats and expanded their production pallette with some new sounds, good shit. A lot of the artists from the original Hamsterdam (Mullyman, Diablo, Tyree Colion, Bigg Patch, M.O.L., Ogun)came back for this one, along with a number of Bmore artists that weren't on the last one (NOE, Shakean Da Analyst, D.O.G., Barnes, Golden Seal, XO) and a few out of town cats (Maino, Sqad Up). Several tracks from the mixtape are streaming on the Darkroom and Diablo MySpace pages, and it's being sold on the Darkroom page.

NOE - "The Baltimore Way" (mp3)
Nice use of a sample of Christopher Walken from The King Of New York to set this track off. You might remember that NOE is the Baltimore cat that Jim Jones signed to the Diplomats that I posted about a year ago. The song I posted, "City Boyz," even ended up on an official Diplomats release (although, unfortunately, it was A Dipset Xmas). This is probably my favorite track that I've heard him on so far, but then, I still haven't heard his mixtape that dropped last year. Still sounds a little like Jay-Z but has his own flow and his own style to set him apart.

Labels: Barnes, Bigg Patch, D.O.G., Darkroom Productions, Diablo, Golden Seal, M.O.L., mixtape/album review, mp3, Mullyman, NOE, Ogun, The Wire, Tyree Colion, XO

Torchlight Entertainment Presents...

Mic Life Thursdays

Each and every Thursday at Upper Deck (34 South Eutaw St.)

Show Begins @ 11pm

Free admission and Drink specials all night long! (That’s right, FREE!!!)

HOSTED BY Slick Vic Low
DJ POOH ON THE WHEELS

at it once again getting it cracking like scorched earth!!!

XO
http://www.myspace.com/xocockednloaded

&

I.Q.

WILL BOTH BE IN THE BUILDING 2 ROCK THIS WEEK PLUS THE LONG AWAITED BATTLE BETWEEN AMBITION AND REBEL EXISTENCE
PLUS A FEW SURPRISES

HOSTED BY BLACK WIND
http://www.myspace.com/rebelsonzai

DJ POOH IN THE MIX

FREE 99

Mic Life, because Hip-Hop Is Life, so Don't Waste It!!!

http://www.myspace.com/slickleviathan

http://www.myspace.com/torchlight_family

http://www.myspace.com/miclifemagazine

Labels: flyer, Mic Life Magazine, XO

Logik of Loaded Clipz Entertainment is an MC/producer who's been sending me some of his tracks to check out. In the next few weeks he'll be dropping a mixtape with DJ RPM called BODYMORE MURDALAND-Itz A Movement featuring DK, UnReal, Comp, Backland, Ogun and more. But in the meantime, he's got a lot of beats streaming on his Soundclick page, and he's performing this Thursday, August 31st at the Latin Palace at the Johnel mixtape release party. here's some of my favorite songs that he's produced:

XO - "The Basics" (mp3)
This is the first track I heard produced by Logik, when it was on Street Radio Volume 2.5 and it's still probably my favorite. Like I said when I posted his song with ShellBe RAW, XO has a real ill unique voice, all grimey and gruff, I'm always checking for his songs on mixtapes.

Hazardous - "Home of Heroin" (mp3)
Hazardous, the Style Warz champ, on a real mellow Logik beat talking introspectively, some really sad mournful sounding shit.

Logik - "Put Ur Ls Up" (mp3)
And here's Logik rapping over one of his own beats.

Labels: Backland, Comp, DK, mp3, Ogun, UnReal, XO