Band : Yonaa Title : Rookie Of The Year Release Date : December 3, 2024
Yonaa is claiming the top newcomer spot with the ROTY title. The Milwaukee emcee has big energy and a similar flow to locals Lonnie Monae and Kennedi. A lot of lyrical aggression towards the competition. She wants the money and does not care who stands in her way.
The “Dammit granddad” banger goes hard with the feature from Chicken P. So does the other feature. I think the “Cbfw” attitude encapsulates the album’s energy but “Off White” is very mean too.
“Niggas got a flimsy ass chain, where they make these Beat her off the mic, stomp a bitch in these big B’s Why the fuck you rocking moissanite like they VV’s”
Band : Big K Title : Young & Turnt Release Date : November 21, 2024
I saw Kennedi perform at a recent event and she’s really lively. Always dancing and hyping up her music. I’ll have to remember her for the next edition of top female emcees. This is a pure dance project that fits right into the Bow movement. She even has a sort of “Bow” remix of the original. Her flow comes from the chest and she speaks her truth loud and proud. I appreciate that. This is a fun dance video for “Wala Wala”. It might get stuck in your head.
Chicken P is going by another name on this project. Call him Chick James. He taps into many of our emotions, rapping a lot about his grind and what he goes through trying to achieve trap wealth and thug love. The first part is bars and then he gets into some love songs.
I’m rocking with “Big Portion”, “Heavyweight”, and “Look Like”, but my favorite is probably the title track. Chicken P comes out firing and you can always count on him to provide lyricism throughout. I think he sounds too much like Lil Baby off the autotune, so I think he could leave some of that behind, but otherwise a very solid project.
“I sat back and watched you ball, you had it first nigga When niggas supposed to be your dog, that be the worst feeling I pray they never play it off, cause I’ma go kill em Forever lit, I can’t stand down for no nigga”
The pretty girl rapper is loud and in your face on this project. Flows are a bit old school and ’80s hippity hip hop at times, but that definitely makes them different from most modern female artists trying to sound like Dej Loaf or Nicki Minaj.
Top of the project is a bit predictable, but I like “Plot Twist” and “NWA”. The “Oh Boy” and “Power” samples are heavily overused but we see those on the second half of this project. Not a fan of that but I like how Kash Doll wrapped it up with those last two bangers.
She is talented as an artist. The energy is good. Kash Doll sort of took over the doll thing from Nicki after the New York artist slowed down with her music. That’s kinda cool. I liked the Detroit rapper’s acting on BMF. She has some lines on here, but also some confusing lines of thought.
On “Pressin'”, the ex-stripper who has had cosmetic plastic surgery, raps:
“Bitch, I’m petty about my dough, I don’t play about that Gave the pussy for some paper, shit don’t work like that Got a temper, God, help me, need a bitch to smack Little bitch done bought a body, but her pussy wack”
Skodi went off on this album. I like her performances too. She really turned up at the Cactus Club this past month. I got to see her do some of these tracks. She splits time between Milwaukee and Florida. I can hear a mix of styles from both areas but this artist stands out from the pack. I like the whole project but especially her flow on “Heavy”.
“Came from a family of shooters Hakuna matata, I never knew peace Used to be scared of them bullies Until I got older and wiser, and bought me a piece Bitch”
Band : Certified Trapper Title : Trappernese Release Date : March 29, 2024
This Milwaukee rapper is in these streets. Most of his beats sound similar, with the continuous clap, but that is partially the style of the city. Certified Trapper just goes and doesn’t really do hooks, so if you’re into that style, listen up for many bars of ferociousness. The “1 Ninja 2 Ninja” and “Ghost Town” records are insane.
“I remember when them niggas tried to rock that 50 with the switch, bet they never ever slide back Body on that bitch, I will never get my Glock back Popped him up on 6th, you will never get your guy back Turnt to ghost town, you will never get your block back Put me in a county, with a lock, I’ma sock that Bullet proof car, send a missle, I will block that Pretty little bitch on your story, I might knock that”
DC The Don put together a nice comprehensive project with Rebirth. It’s not all snippet-adlib type songs either. He has many full records on here. The production is extensive. It’s very Kanye and Travis Scott-esque. The type of album to grab attention of the masses.
His lyrics are filled with materialistic style references, and lines about getting money and bitches. What makes this guy a bit different is that he has a more punk oriented singing voice and flow. He’s also from Milwaukee.
If you follow him on Instagram, you’ll see DC The Don likes to post a lot of artsy photos. I think that turns a lot of people on in the Hollywood and classist scenes. They put pretty pretty and maybe maybe above science, skill, and intelligence. Fashion can be fun, though.
I’m about the music and its message when it comes to musicians. I take positivity and hardfought love from this young man’s album. It’s whiny and has less meaning in the typical hyperprivileged little meaning artist way, but at the same time, it’s cocky and polished.
This multitalented artist raps and sings on the 18-track pop-punk-rap album. I think it’s a comfortable play. It will be easy to run back. Midwest Culture for certain. I enjoyed this journey through the album throughly. My favorite might be “Best Friend Only”.
Band : J.P. Title : Coming Out Party Release Date : June 7, 2024
Absolutely cold premiere project from Milwaukee born, UW-Stevens Point student, multitalented artist J.P. Straight R&B and dance madness with strong influence of the local Bow sound.
Band : AyooLii, Polo Perks Title : Haunted heads Release Date : October 31, 2024
AyooLii has that smoke. He always has a high energy flow. I’m a fan of anyone with their own dance too. The first half of the dance project is straight dance heat. He gets us started with a hyped up “Swag Sufin” remix on this short Halloween themed project.
The Eastside Milwaukee rapper continues with his signature overlapping flows filled with wild lines. He starts yelling at the end of “Anyone Can Get It” and I’m here for it. I like the slurred out “Drank” collab with Polo Perks.
The second half of this project is slowed down. I think AyooLii can expand on this rap singing style on “Misunderstood”. I would like to hear more of this over the full out autotuned singing sound on the next tracks “I Can’t Lie” and “Mamacita”.
Band : J.P. Title : School Dance Release Date : October 18, 2024
J.P. is carving out a unique space in R&B for himself. The hooper-singer has a memorable guttural but smooth voice. He is skilled at coming up with catchy melodies with this vocal instrument of his. On top of that, the artist does a lot of bow bow type dance records. I’m here for this new style of dance music. Like a Milwaukee Jacquees or something in that space. J.P.’s new project has a lot of fun songs. I like “School Dance” and “All I Got” most.
I expect this artist to be dropping more videos for tracks off this album. The multi-talent is a dancer as well and has been picking up on the videos, especially since he blew up fro m “Bad Bitty”. He posts a lot of dances to his music to social media if you’re into that. After you run through this one, check out his “Coming Out Party” project from earlier this year. J.P. will turn you up!
Band : Rocky Badd Title : Too Badd For You Release Date : December 16, 2022
I just came across Rocky Badd playing through some music on Soundcloud and I had to share out this “Where I Stand” slapper. Fucking with her nasty ass on “BADD” too. She’s from Detroit, and I can hear some flows similar to Big Sean on this project. Not taking anything away from her style and grace, though. Rocky BADD.
UPDATE (12-2-22): I apologize for the previous review posted on this album. I’m happy for Charlie Berens and his success. This is a fun project from a talented Milwaukee multihyphenate artist. He has put on for Wisconsin touring the country and has high honors as a journalist, comedian, and musician. Look his work up on youtube too. He has over 1.5 million subscribers.
Tracklist:
1. Ope Nope
2. Supper Club Shuffle
3. Naming Your Town
4. Wintertime in Wisconsin
5. Sandbar
6. Uff Da
7. Goin’ Up Nort’
8. LaFluer
9. Old Wisconsin Jubilee
I recorded Chapter 3 after another change in mindset that took place around the fall of 2018. Most of this project is stream of consciousness freestyling. Often times I’m speaking in multiple languages at once, and others, I’m just vocalizing. In the prime of mumble retard fraud music, I thought I’d test to see if Americans were interested in intelligent skill (they’re not). In total, the album has over 500 songs on it. I actually found out that Soundcloud caps the album size at 500, but that was around the point when I learned about all I could from the experience, and had said enough of what I needed to. This was a journey of self-discovery but I also want to show my vocal ability. I don’t believe there is anyone in entertainment that has the vocal range (octave and inflection), rhythm or vocabulary that I do, with the amount of unique urban and rural, multicultural real life stories that I have. If they are anywhere close, they are not working manual labor, service labor, internship, part time and temp jobs – alongside their craft – to make less than 40k a year. I’m talking ancient history to present topics on this one. If you have the stomach for something different, try me out. There is no particular order, I’m just goin.
St. Paul’s Bobby Raps delivers an important MARK project, telling of his story. The North has changed music forever. They hate that. They don’t wanna hear that, or art inspired by reality. Bobby has Hip Hop, Rock and R&B flows in here. Cold energy.
Watch the “Purgatory” video. My favorite song off the album. Also see his Wicked City collaborative tape from 2015.
I need to do more of these remixes where I destroy the artist on their own record, and everyone else who made an attempt at making authentic, skilled, creative art over the top of the instrumental. Enjoy The Remixes. Talk that shit. It’s Chapter II.
As everyone with any intelligence, work ethic and spine should know, The Move Out West was a silly one. I also wrote this book called Why Wisconsin Voted For Donald Trump: The Coastie Privilege. This is some of the music I recorded in the process.
I’ve been humming, whistling, singing and beatboxing for a long time. I started making beats in Fruity Loops around age 15 or so. Then I got into Garageband, and eventually, Logic Pro. My influences come from all types of music. Whatever hits me, and I connect to on a personal level, I might sample – or use as inspiration to make a record in the same key or with a similar feel. I’m a self-taught musician and do everything by ear. Sing for me baby and I’ll make music for you. You know how I produce those sounds. Chapter II.
On the other side of The Fall In, comes The Fall Out. Getting involved with someone knew is easy. It’s exciting and fun. Recognizing when a relationship has run it’s course, though, is one of the hardest parts of perpetually giving your love to others – without expectation. Even if you might think you can remain friends after what you had, thinking, maybe, you were strong and knew too much of where you were going to give your all to another person, there might’ve be people, parties and money that stood in the way of you two. For me, it’s been lifelong. Almost everyone I’ve ever met before 2017 wanted my love to die and lie as deep in the ocean as possible – drowned, lost and forgotten forever. Double Major.
Drake drops the More Life album. The Toronto, Ontario Northern artist has been a part of the journey since I started recording music. My favorite project so far from Drake.
Renz Young dropped the It Was Nice Knowing You project on October 12, 2016. Unfortunately, this was another one of those I missed, when I was moving and outlining for my book. These bangers are forever, though. Production and engineering is on point, mixed well, and hard hitting.
Renz sticks to the classic ’90s style rap – the work hard-get money-hate on everyone else-I’m the greatest type records – on this project. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin rapper says It Was Nice Knowing You to everyone else. The verses are full of energy, in his marked flow. He sounds like Cyhi da Prynce at times, and can piece together complete projects like the GOOD Music artist. Our favorite is “Negus”. Also see the “Pastures” video, and his 2975 EP from 2015.
“Used to clock that 9-5 day and night But now you catching me swerving through the red light I used to wonder how to get my head right Then all I found out, all it take is to get your head right”
Helios H. or Helios Hussein dropped Religion & Hennessy shortly after I dropped The Coastie Privilege. He and other Northern artists have inspired and reminded me of who I am and where I’m from. This is a telling project of Detroit culture and I connected with it out the gate. Helios is a skilled writer, emcee and producer.
Amerikas Addiction is one of America’s best Hip Hop duos, if not the best? For a “Prelude”, this is nuts. Just play it through. This upcoming project will be worth the hype. The DWYD team out of Cream City, Wisconsin, goes from slime to butter – track to track – field to the bedroom. Life shit. Lessons.
The first joint “Anything” with Rob Hicks is top position for a reason. This unit is saying a lot. Listen.
Amerikas Addiction:
“Bitch I’m in the city My niggas with me And we got the blicky If you feeling itchy Don’t care about status Just gimme the cabbage My niggas is savage Y’all niggas so average”
Rob Hicks:
“It’s real in the field, better lace up your cleats They not saying anything, talk is so cheap They not saying anything, talk is so cheap I said that shit twice, so you get what I mean I just got a pole with a scope and a beam You fuck with my kids, and I click at yo bean The money don’t make you The good it don’t make you I promise that I won’t do anything they do The low for my plug, if I owe you I pay you Them boys in the hood just might load up and spray”
The “Goin” record also has much juice. The slowed down R&B “YOU” joint is smooth too.
“Been shitting on niggas since Middle School My niggas don’t do no subliminals”
Amerikas Addiction has a gang of producers on here. Beat selection is critical now a days. They’re selective.
Band : DJ Patt, LAMB$, Tuger Title : Thanks4Nothing Release Date : February 27, 2017
Insomniac Lamb$ is putting on for his block in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has some of that Future-Mumble Rap sound, only he’s a lil Jazzier. Some say he sounds like Young Dolph. A Trap mix of North and South flavors, the young artist is all about the guns, drugs and bitches. Lamb$ also delivers some motivational messages – alongside – throughout the tape.
On “They Told Me”, the rapper says:
“Counting this shit, I mean, a lot load Talked to my PO today, she tryna get me locked for? Hit LA for a lil week, I might just pop up Got alota brothers who gon shoot for me Don’t know about you, that’s a different story”
…
“I just wanna do the shit they said I wouldn’t I just wanna do the shit they said I couldn’t… They told me I a never be shit They told me I a never hit that lick They told me I a never have some money They told me I a never be nothing”
Devon Alexander is blowing up outta Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin. He’s building his own sound. There are no Empty Promises there. The artist sings and raps, and the beats are a mix of club, trap and rock on the album. Looking forward to hearing more of these type of love songs. His message is uplifting.
Band : Big Sean Title : I Decided Release Date : February 3, 2017
Big Sean reminds us why he’s the King of the West Side on his fourth studio album I Decided (February 3, 2017). It’s back-to-back stacked albums with this guy. Sean is dope. Listen to the Detroit Player preach the gospel of the Midwest.
And the trippy video for “Bounce Back”. Classic Sean.
This man has bars. Spark up n play this shit. I just did. Or not… either way this is some upper echelon Hip Hop music. There are no limitations as to where this emcee takes it. Rue The Poet raps straight through these tracks on his debut album, rhyming like crazy over the new wave Milwaukee Boom Bap sound.
This is Cream City music – Smooth, Jazzy, Smart, Tough, Soulful Music. Rue The Poet goes hand n hand with Mike Regal and Abby Jeane on the project. The artist impresses with Creative & Other Stuff. He’s got the skits and acapella in there too, and I, at least, always appreciate those. Rue is also going after Coasties (“Seinfelds”). This is quality rap.
On “Mista Nice To Meet Ya” :
“Maybe you can feel how I feel, you Seinfelds Juggling a life of brief excitement and rhyme skill Now that time’s still… I’m serving burgers, let these fries chill I’m ill”
Mike Regal and Sofa King on the beats. Mammyth with the mix.
Chaos Newmoney is back with the Classics. He’s got 26 track from 2006-2016 on there. All bangers, straight from Madtown. Gotta go get it from his site, though…
You can check out his other projects in the Albums section.
Band : Mouse Sucks Title : Justatethebootyandifeelgreat Release Date : March 18, 2016
Mouse Sucks is a nasty muhfucka. Grimy raps on the Grime beats. The rapper-producer outta Toronto, Ontario dropped his debut Lacey’s Forehead back in 2013. He does his own production and videography too. The Northern Artist has a chill approach to the Industrial sound. Chill.
“Party in the basement, lemme me crash Aw this ain’t a dub, she giving dubs, she tryna dance…”
Big Sean, like Drake, put out an album this year – speaking even more directly about my story and struggles, and tying his life to ours. One of his best. Probably my favorite, for obvious reasons.
The hardhitting Brew City emcee returns with another strong project. El-Shareef is a beast with the pen and on the mic. Derelle Rideout is a fiend on the beats. Bar for bar, this is one of the coldest emcees in the North. Milwaukee stand up! This is Matching Verts.
I’m vibing to this “Matching Verts” joint.
“I’m just tryna get the matching verts Get my momma a new crib, out the dirt We’ve been down so long, it be cursed Ooooo we making matching verts, that’s a first”
Hakeem Paragon is one of the most talented artists outta Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He’s a storyteller, and you can feel his passion every step of the way – the fire. Big fan of this project (January 7, 2017). Also, this mixing style is becoming a staple of Milwaukee Hip Hop. Bunch of haunting bangers coming outta The Mil now a days. Hakeem killed this shit, though. This is all him. Enjoy Paragon’s Ladder.
Swiss State Native Anthony Lamarr goes in more of a Hip Hop direction on the T.R.Y. project, giving us more strong messages from the Artist and Leader. The experienced stage performer and studio sensation will be making the move to Seattle, Washington soon. This will be his last project out of Madison for a while now. Bless up.
He says in a note:
“This album is dedicated to the people that know me most intimately…my family. I want to thank them for their love, patience, understanding, prayers and spiritual support.“
Meraki has a beautiful debut EP here with Baeraki. The Milwaukee raised artist is much more than music, though. She’s a woman among boys. You’ll hear it in the music and hear it from her mouth. She preaches a lot of outspoken truth on this thing we call the Internet, in contrast to many of her peers who tend to get caught up in social traps.
Meraki is brilliant in da stu. She definitely has her own thing going, but also mixes some of that Soulection sound with some of the trap sounds of The Mil. This Baeraki joint is butter. Keep a close eye on this artist. She’s one that we should all be listening to.
After the Black Beverly Hills EP and a trip to California, a performance and studio session with Atlantic Records, Trapo and his manager Steven Louis started Esselgy Records. Since then they’ve dropped the SHE EP, and now we have the debut album Shade Trees. Trapo continues to grow with each new record.
Ra’Shaun has been hitting the studio heavy. He covered Odie’s remix of the “Too Late” instrumental record – by Minnesota producer BLANDA – last year. This singer called his rendition “What’s Up”. Ra’Shaun has also done a ton of features since then, including one with Trebino and Trapo called “95”. The hustle is strong with Shaun.
He goes over The Kount’s “Hey” instrumental record on “Colombiana”, giving it a new flavor. The “Dial” record is exceptional, but of course, what would Kolors be without “Deja Vu”. The whole project has a finely tuned direction toward Wisconsin R&B masterpiece, reminding us that Ra’Shaun Bro is here to stay. He put a couple other projects to the side as well. Shaun stays dropping these bright singalong records. There’ll be more soon.
The artist says in a note:
“Everything I’m doing is to give Madison, Wisconsin something to be proud of. Shout out to the other artists from the city that are making moves. I’m going to represent our hometown the best way possible no matter how far my career takes me.”
Band : Lean Beatz, Pizzle Title : #FreeCheapskate Release Date : September 4, 2016
Lean Beatz delivers a set of grimy records on the #FreeCheapskate dedication tape. The rapper-producer keeps creating. The scene in Milwaukee is taking off and this artist offers a chill alternative sound to the mix.
“I got two bitches with me and they both fine Tryna head back to me crib, said it’s go time”
Milwaukee’s Lean expert Tito Been Scummy partners with B.C. Tha Hybrid for 5 tracks of faded glory on Alchemy (July 20, 2016). Slow and spooky, loosly mixed, Southern-inspired music. This is great off the drugs.
Deonte “Weekend” Neely drops THE SYN EP 2 to follow up a couple quality projects from last year – THE SYN EP and The Downside of Falling Up. He does most of his own production and creates a new wave stoner music with the ambiance. Something between styles that will have you bobbing your head and vibing out.
The young talent dropped the video for “Double Triple”, and has another one on the way. He raps, does the beats and visuals. That’s the total package for the modern day independent artist. Coming from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it’s Deonte Neely.
TheMIND adds an otherworldly sound to the Chicago scene. His complex production style lifts his poetic singing style to another dimension. His lyrics are on point, and his singing voice even reminds me of Frank Ocean at times, but his beats are what bring his sound together. He did study at Colombia.
I love the artist’s creativity and experimentation on Summer Camp. From his complex lyrics to the carefully placed vocal samples, unorthodox drum patterns, addicting clicks and beeps, impossibly jazzy synths and environmentally friendly sound effects, theMIND is a genius for this project. Those are some critical features too. Get you some education from the young king.
Vincent VanGREAT is one of my favorite artists outta The 4. He’s been consistently dope for years now and this project really speaks to his incredible artistry as a Hip Hop musician. Take a listen for yourself. Breakdown coming soon… Bless up.
Three eyes – eyes open. The standout producer delivers his heavily anticipated Premoniitions album. We’ve been hearing a lot about this project… At first listen, I can hear the emcee’s experimentation in his flow. He has several smooth collaborations as well.
Mike Regal is influenced by the East Coast Boom Bap production style, but often goes outside the box, and certainly doesn’t lack in lyrical content on the project. The prevailing message: stay focused on your business, hard for your affiliates and help no one else. We placed the artist on DX and kicked off his “Eyes Open Series” last year.
On the title track:
“When it come to the flows, I’ma specialist I don’t need a pirate to treasure this You can tell I’m the future when present My gift is a gift to the present Been a while since I rolled up the regular I switch up my style on the regular You boys be moving too regular She loving my wave, it ain’t regular”
Band : Arcani, JacoBake Title : Reflections Release Date : June 17, 2016 Label : ATM
Arcani keeps it cool as usual on the Reflections tape. Every track is masterfully crafted with the lyricism of a poet. The traveling Madison, Wisconsin raised, Texas-living emcee mixes up the Jazz and Soul of the North with the Rock and Trap of the South on this project, and you’ll need to play it back a few times to catch the full effect.
I think that’s a Blink 182 sample on “I Ain’t Really Living”. The “Drowning In Texas” joint is fire. Sounds like raw emotion. This is just a “side project” before Noah’s Ark, though. ATM.
“I don’t wanna see the sunshine Darker days, then we fade away I only think about it sometimes Ain’t too much that I can take”
First Class is thinking outside the box in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Although there are a lot of positive things happening with Hip Hop in the city now, The Mil is still afflicted with many serious issues. In the midst of the chaos, Skyy Phreshh has gathered a tight-knit team around his blood relatives to go full “Anarchy” on those keeping his team and the scene back. First Class uses poverty and inner city challenges to fuel their Wisco cold wordplay, catchy hooks, sinister beats and melodies. They’re working deep into “Late AM” to further their family’s future. First Class gets our blessing for their debut Peace To The Gods tape.
We chopped it up with Skyy Phreshh recently – founder of the collective and lead performer. “It’s not what people think,” he says. “It’s really a mixture of hype, trap type of sounds, with lyrical.” First Class wants to lace bangers, but they don’t want to do it like the trend-hopping rappers do. They’re looking to tell their serious story and make it exciting to listen to. “People are so into two categories – ‘I’ma be either lyrical or I’ma be a gangster rapper,'” says the leader.
Family is motivation for this band of brothers. Skyy and the other lead performer Scottie Phresh, along with their manager Juice – are all blood bros. Dionte Gray and PTTG executive producer New Kid Beats are cousins. “It was just growing up, you’d just watch your mom go through so much for these kids, and you just see so much happening around you, that you can’t do nothing about it, at that age, without selling drugs, without being a basketball player,” says Skyy. “I tried the school route. I can’t get back into school now because I owe money. I keep trying to get back into school, I keep trying these little jobs, and… I can’t feel accomplished.”
First Class dropped a couple clean visuals and a promo video this past winter. Many have taken notice, including The Illixer and Shepherd Express. They’re all working for it, and Skyy is leading by example. “I went to school for 2 years for business and marketing at Central State in Ohio,” says Skyy. The founding father is working on a clothing line called Forever Fresh and a movie script called 50 Nights. “We’ve got about 5 projects in the works,” he says. “It’s like a 3-headed dragon, we just know.”
I dedicate Chapter II: The Bars to the weekend – to the many wild nights getting weird in Mad City. As youth, we aspired to go downtown to party with the big kids and see college girl titties. Can we do it drunk? That’s really the only question we ask ourselves when deciding recreational activities.
Since Wisconsin gets drunker and has more liquor stores than anywhere else in the United States, and has the 3rd most bars per capita (behind North Dakota and Montana) – I think it’s fair to say the Cheeseheads party the hardest.
There’s always sumn going on at The Bars and I’m a king of the night scene. I get it lit whether I’m out, on stage or behind the bar. I’m in a strange position now that I’m 15 months sober, but nothing can take away my time in Madison, Milwaukee, and wherever else in Wisco we decided to get bopped. In times of need, the bars have been there for work and recreation. I don’t have a problem with alcohol, it has a problem with me. Drink Wisconsinbly. This is my 4th EP of 2016.
“Ay, who dat der? Wait, I know her, she look like Kardash But why is she creeping behind my back now? To get with dude from my old frat?”
Band : FromUpThaStreet Title : FromUpThaStreet Release Date : June 6, 2016 Label : ATM
Rising Madison, Wisconsin producer FromUpThaStreet drops a trio of brief tracks with the FromUpThaStreet EP. He names them after times in the 9:00 hour, and the first and third joints definitely have that Jazzy morning sound. Two of the tracks are only a minute long but the artist has been pushing out projects. That’s that Midwest work ethic. See “Ain’t Safe” and “Old Thompson & Marb Reds”. ATM.
Some think he’s from Chicago, others think he’s a New York emcee with the new digital sound, but this cunning Cleo Fox is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has a cool vibe and brings out his message over smooth samples and 90s vibes on Tomorrow Is Today. Government name Cleo Fox III began writing and deejaying at a young age. He knows how to put a project together. Cleo is also a well-known area engineer and manages Nefelibeta. That’s good business. “I’m not a turnt rapper,” Cleo Fox told Basement Made last week. He’s got a different approach. “I’m lyrical and I’m smooth, I’m a fox,” he says.
Cleo crafted Tomorrow Is Today for himself. “I made a project that was the music I like,” he says. He wants to relate too, though. He has an marketable uptempo style and talks plenty about his life in Milwaukee, utilizes this climbing flow that many emcees out there are doing now, and drops some colorful sketches in between the music. Cleo Fox has an easy-going style and keeps it moving. He hits to a few trap beats at the start, then it’s “Like I’m Jigga”, onto a few jazzier tracks and ending on “GOLDEN”. Cleo Fox gives us a taste of what he’s capable of on his debut EP. He’s dropped before but not as a complete project as this. Straight steez on this shid.
The artist has been working on finding his place in music for a while. “When I was young, when I came up and got into the music, I wanted to be a DJ,” says the multi. “I always used to go to poetry camps and just write, just chill, and that taught me a lot but I wanted to be a DJ so bad because I thought turn tables were so cool.” At the end of the day, the DJ decided to go the lyrical route. “I got into battle rapping too a little bit,” he says. “That’s what got me more punchlines.” Cleo goes at the music in a whole new way.
Jay-Z and Fabolous are two of Cleo’s biggest influences. He has the Jay-Z business mindset and 90s-influenced fashion of Fab. Cleo manages Nefelibeta (Ty$o Supreme x Drúdini), so he has plenty more work with them on the way, as well as some with Bankx and Danny Lanes. “You’re only as good as your engineer,” says Fox, who later shows love to his inner-city competition too, saying “Mammyth made me confident to go public.”
Cleo did “Big Talk”, “Ever Since”, “Home Team” and “Page Three” off Wave Chapelle’s W project, and just did one with Nimbus Cool. Really, the engineer has been making his rounds about the city. “If I haven’t got to record them yet, they’re coming in the next couple weeks,” he says. “That’s just how it’s been.” The young mogul is slinging music and Fox Hats too. That’s strap backs, no snapbacks.
The local Hip Hop scene is taking off in Milwaukee. “We need to make our have our own SXSW, and then have people fly down to us,” the manager says. I brought up Summerfest. “They don’t really fuck with Hip Hop like that,” Cleo says. He recognizes “The World’s Largest Music Festival” for bringing Kendrick Lamarr, Nelly, Ludacris, T-Pain and other big names in the past but wants to see more local culture on stage. I agree. There are far too few Wisconsin natives on stage at Summerfest. Let’s get the Fox up there. He can do it all.
“People always say tomorrow isn’t promised… I say Tomorrow Is Today”
L-R steps off the cold Milwaukee streets for a minute to lace up The Giver for his fans. The creative emcee innovates through this gift album, cutting it up with flows and heartfelt stories that go perfectly with the funky, upbeat, Houston-influenced beats from Mike Regal. L-R is a conscious emcee but he’s a composer as well. He has a vivid imagination on his debut project The Giver.
Wisco artists are known for having out-of-the-box approaches to Hip Hop. “I really just want you to say what you think,” L-R recently told Basement Made. I think independent artists like LyricsnRhythm are giving their listeners more time to absorb their music after each drop, before putting out another single or the full project. This is in contrast to the Southern mass production strategy, kicked off by Lil Wayne and the mixtape rappers in the 00’s era. Taking that time gives The Giver more hype than if L-R had dropped the tape without any marketing beforehand.
The Midwest has always created a lot, but we’re also deep thinkers. Artists are getting educated on key industry strategies and employing them outside the labels. If you haven’t heard of LyricsnRhythm through his collabs with Mike Regal, Ar Wesley and Cool Tay, now’s your chance to hear a boom bap wordsmith with a smooth nuance. “This is my gift from me to my supporters and to introduce myself to the game,” says L-R. Mammyth mixed it. Bless.
On “Better Days” :
“Growing up in the city, we knew only God could keep us Imaginations took us away, so violence wouldn’t reach us OGs were still players, nobody on them bleachers And we actually sat and listened and valued lessons they’d teach us”
Band : Nate The Tek Title : Nate The Tek Release Date : May 21, 2016
A collection of Jazzy beats from from the young Madison, Wisconsin producer (May 21, 2016). Nate The Tek drops the throwback tape in the midst of a few other instrumental albums, and continues to prove that he’s a contender in a city currently saturated with talent. He also did the “Bxtches” collab with YD at the end of last year. Easy listening.
Zarin Michael is a savage on these grimed out tribal beats. FUCK YOU (May 21, 2016). His complex sound is the future. He reminds me of Wave Chapelle or Big Sean at times. The Kansas City, Missouri native has a similar Midwest bounce and energy in his flow, but he’s also a vicious conscious lyricist, and there are few who could do this. The emcee spoke with Basement Made earlier today.
“I called it the Fuck You EP because I feel like I don’t get the respect I deserve as an artist. So that could be directed towards anyone, if you don’t listen to this and consider me the best at what I’m doing, then fuck you legitimately.”
In-house producer Alexander Preston and Toronto’s Bijan Amir handle the beats. “Off The Boat” x “God” x “Blackface” are nuts. The intense mix of old and new, samples and original production on FUCK YOU will get you hyped.
“Honestly, these are songs that didn’t just make the album. And it’s crazy because I don’t consider them throwaways, I still think of them as classic songs. They are so good but everyday I improve and just want better and more out of myself.”
As EDM becomes more incorporated into the cold and serious Midwest scene, we’ll get more of this grime on the opposite end of the spectrum as the uplifting Chance The Rappers and Kanye Wests – who use the poppier synths and brighter Jazz sounds. Zarin Michael is innovating and he has plenty to say. Sinner Of Attention – the album – coming soon.
“The young prince, got my hand on this game, like it’s apple and thumbprints Penitentiary changing the niggas you run with, they making you say their names, if you doing some dumb shit I only love one bitch, but that change so fast, niggas need they ass whipped, like I’m Django dad Flip scripts, big bricks, Cocaine don’t last, I probably break a nigga arm and re-arrange your dab”
Chaos NewMoney returns with a more jazzy style. I dig it. He’s relentless on the mic, and that’s why we get 41 tracks too. Get your copy today (May 19, 2016). See his last project The Come Up too. Chaos is always working, and this is only a snapshot into his new direction.
Reggie Bonds prepares to drop a 3 part From The Norf$ide w/ Love album. There’s an “Introduction” x “Body” x “Conclusion”. Looks like he’s been cooking with Mike Regal. Chicago artist Supa Bwe is set to appear on a Bruus-made collab.
EMAAD is known for going over intense, string-heavy trap beats with an upbeat, sing-songy Cream City Motion flow.
“We the last hope When I was on my last, they weren’t there for Last time, I remember I was broke as hell Last time, I remember I ain’t have it Now they always asking”
Chance The Rapper is currently the most talented Hip Hop artist outta Chicago, Illinois (May 12, 2016). His flow and ideas are progressive, but not without his own personality. Old heads will hate this album. The artist doesn’t conform to archaic rap stereotypes. Chance keeps it street with a book smart perspective. That’s Midwest style.
For the last couple weeks, we’ve been waiting on edge to hear more about his Chance 3 project… I love it! This is just a sample of what’s to come for the poet, emcee, dancer, educator and leader too. The Coloring Book album is the creation of a young god with genius level brainpower. Plenty of soul and collaboration on this to follow his SURF,Acid Rap and 10 Day albums.
GOOD to see Chance and Kanye working together, regardless of how ya feel about the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star. Both have been critical in bringing the EDM to the jazzy and funky Chicago Hip Hop, which has since spread out to Wisconsin, Missouri and many other parts of the re-surging Midwest music scene.
Chance The Rapper pushes the boundaries of race, class, gender, religion and music. Hip Hop and humanitarianism can be one and the same. This is much bigger than Southside Chi.
From “All We Got” :
“I get my word from the sermon I do not talk to the serpent That’s the holistic discernment Daddy said I’m so determined”
Wave Chapelle goes for the W on his latest tape. This is that hype for the city (April 29, 2016). The high octane artist speaks to his grind, his brief stint on Yo Gotti‘s label and his return to Milwaukee on the project. He brings the energy and captures the Drizzy flow for The 4 – through the lens of basketball – which is known for being highly competitive in Wisconsin.
Wave keeps the production in his circle and brings in his boy IshDARR on the “Let’s Win” record. His Good People clique is growing strong. Power in numbers. Wave was one of the first to break out of the city and state. Check out his major placement in the “Wisconsin Soul” feature on HipHopDX. Also, see his “Varsity” and “Boss Up” features.
On “Home Team”, he says :
“If you want it, gotta chase it We done made it out the basement Now I’m going to the bases I send my momma on vacation I want it bad and I want it fast But I’ve been working on my patience Don’t come around with no bad vibes Cause I ain’t really with the fake shit”
The fourth studio album from Toronto, Canada OVO founding artist Drake (April 28, 2016). He’s been a big part of the scene up there for many years now. This is his testament for “The 6”.
This is a smooth collection. Drake’s voice cuts through the mix, and he has the lungs to keep the track going. He’s known for biting flows and sounds, which Meek Mill and others called him out for not that long ago. We know he doesn’t write at least some of his music, and as a Hip Hop artist and supporter, I feel that harms those that always speak for themselves.
Drake’s music is always on point, though, and he did this one nearly alone. His production is the finest in his synthy Trap with R&B tendencies. Drake has finessed his style of Hip Hop into pop radio, so now, producers line up to make the next “Drake type beat”. Just look on Youtube, they’re all over.
This tape also has a lot of Jamaican Dancehall on it, and I think it can be good to incorporate music, old or new, to make new good music. Kanye West has played a big role in incorporating different cultures into his heavily sampled style. Drake has been working with a lot of folks and repping the fuck outta OVO and his city in the process. He’ll be known for bringing it in.
Drake had a lot of music, so he dropped it. Now, he’ll move forward onto the next project. That’s how it should be. I think it’s time we all look at the music for what it is and then the artist as another entity. Views is a full album of quality rap from Drizzy, inspired at least partially by the changing of seasons in Toronto.
Creep C lights up a full mixtape for April 20, 2016. A solid project from the AB4L lyricist.
On “Direct Deposit” :
“You see, some say I’m metaphorically gifted But I could make you smile using a simile, like you was flawless as a butterfly But where do these names come from in life because butter doesn’t fly from state to state Where right now, I’m just in my state of mind”
40oz Dai releases his 40OuncesOfLean project (April 19, 2016). The auto-tune rapper-singer recruits Water.lo, Keyz, Lean Beatz and Goliath to assist him on the Promethazine-friendly beats. His hooks kinda go and the mixing is clean. 40oz will hit harder after he works on his songwriting and uses less Fetty Wap and Young Thug adlibs. The artist has a song on here called “Basement” though, so that’s coo.
His CCM team was also recently placed on DX in the “Wisconsin Soul” feature.
“We was moving, we was booming out the basement She butt naked, shaking all up in the basement Got the work, I bagged it up, up in the basement We was working, we was trapping out the basement”
I was diagnosed with both bipolar disorder and alcoholism at a young age (April 16, 2016). Many know this, many don’t. Even though I have not one but two apparently extremely debilitating disorders, it’s easy for the average person to look at me and see a tall, fit and strikingly handsome exterior, listen to my deeply erotic voice and hear how eloquently I can finesse the English (and Spanish) language, and feel the irresistible charisma that I’ve captured the whole nation with. I have to laugh at it, because that’s been the only way to survive.
Most white people assume that I grew up like them. Society also rewards me for covering up the truth. I’ve opened up about my past to reporters, yet they never mention my life outside college, and when they do it’s usually with something that they made up. Look at my bio, listen to my music, then go look up the press on me. Mainstream America does not want someone like me to be a reality, and they will do anything to keep it that way. I’ve been slandered by virtually every publication in the country for no reason. But forget name calling, I’ve been thrown into so many fights in my life, I don’t glance when I’m punched in the face or cry when I snap a bone. I’m the toughest one out here.
“Old Thompson & Marb Reds”
Obviously, these things have made life incredibly difficult. On top of being mental, I grew up with little money and opportunity. Ya don’t hear me complain about this a lot – as rappers tend to do – because I know my parents work incredibly hard and I can’t discredit them for their effort, or for the progress that they’ve made. We’ve conquered huge obstacles as a family and I could never take away from the overwhelmingly positive impression that they’ve left on me over the course. The Grefe’s have had their problems, but keeping the fam close is what got us here today.
These issues have lead to a few run ins with the law, which is (I assume) the reason why the white collar Hip Hop people are also scared of me. They’re afraid, the same as the press and government. I was put through countless therapy, counseling and rehab programs by the court system. They would tell me that there was something wrong with me, I would convince them that there wasn’t, and then they would graduate me. Do we see the irony here?
The real problem with me is that I’m too intelligent, creative and motivated to be compartmentalized into one of modern society’s simple-minded classifications. This is hard for folks to understand and that’s ok. I do feel like the world is against me sometimes… but no matter how painful my past may be, and regardless of the jacked up shit flying through my head as I’m writing this sentence, I’m still alive and levels beyond anyone in my generation. One day I hope to escape this hole. For now, this is Clifton Beef. This is The Depression.
Emmitt James dropped his FREE Refills 3P on April 9, 2016. Read full story in Stories section. It’s a lot about coffee and the ladies – during his transition from Wisconsin to Los Angeles.
DeJ Loaf, now a staple in Detroit Hip Hop, just announced the All Joke Aside tape via her Instagram. Today (April 6, 2016), she delivers. This is that Midwest work ethic. She just gave us a full #AndSeeThatsTheThing last summer. This one is pretty much all her too. The emcee is back on her rap shit, but she doesn’t shy away from her poppy sound either.
A good listen for fans of the young queen… and DAMN she looks good on that cover. Silkk The Shocker (Master P’s brother) is the only featured guest on the 11-track project. She did recruit a gang of producers though, including Izze The Producer, DDS, KLVN, iRocksays, Sonny Digital and Kharri.
They just announced it a few days ago, now it’s here. Big Sean and young Jhene Aiko are amazing for this Twenty88 album. In a world where monogamous relationships and hard work are pushed to the bottom of a record label’s agenda, Sean and Jhene push for a different way. Bless up, this is Detroit, Michigan to Los Angeles, California. Sean’s got another album coming later this year too boi.
Band : Faded K Title : Finding M7self Release Date : March 30, 2016
Faded K comes through with a cool instrumental Finding M7self tape to calm your nerves (March 30, 2016). Also known as Keenan Pulz, this producer is one of the cleanest outta Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He’s worked with Rahn Harper and WebsterX. Soul-pleasing melodies and relaxed drums make for an easy listen.
Ar Wesley dropped an impressive project today titled The Self Portrait: Part 1 (March 30, 2016). He’s meticulous over the jazzy boom bap production from Mike Regal and Ekstoluke (who also did cover art). This is the first installment in a 3-part series, according to the premiere. Ar is calling this one “Reality”, which will be followed by “Love” and “Hope”.
I’m really a fan of the piano and bass guitar this “Midwest Coast Love” record, as well as the equally as smooth Time Is Millmatic EP.
“It’s murder in the street, that’s how it go, yea I hear niggas creeping on the low, yea I can feel your pain, I know you ain’t got it I was sleeping in a shelter, don’t you damn think I forgot it, hold up”
Royce Da 5’9″ is still kicking it with the best of em on the Tabernacle: Trust The Shooter EP (March 29, 2016). The Slaughterhouse emcee has a more East Coast flow, compared to other Detroit emcees, but I can still hear some similarities to Eminem. Madison, Wisconsin native DJ Pain 1 did the title track and “Universe [Interlude]”. Look out for Royce’s studio album Layers on April 15, 2016. Also, shout out a fellow alchy for fighting through his drug addiction, I know the struggle.
“The needle leaning past the finish line like Lance Armstrong I’m inside her, smelling like ya baby mama vagina, bonfire island and… I’m not a killer I’m just spitting with a sickness called homicidilities Flatscreen surrounds me and my dub c dub, in my whip, so she can read her Twitter mentions in 3 dimensions”
Tracklist:
1. Black History
2. Savages
3. Dead Presidents Heads
4. Might Right Interlude
5. Which Is Cool
6. The Banjo
7. Wait
8. Rap On Steroids
9. Universe Interlude
10. Tabernackle
11. Trust The Shooter
12. (Bonus) Digest
Chella H is killing it on these new tracks. Her flow is next level on No Filter (March 22, 2016). She doesn’t hold back, and has a slew of features and producers on there too. Chella H last dropped The Realest Bitch In It, and there were a couple more tapes before that if you’d like to hear more from the young Chicago artist.
Band : Ravinder, ZenZan Title : Zendiana Jones: An Instrumental Ode Release Date : March 23, 2016
ZenZan made this adventurous project while watching Indiana Jones with the sound off (March 23, 2016). These is an epic set, made on an iPad. Also see the 24EP he did with Hurt Everybody and the monster “Through The Woods” collab.
Band : J.Helm, RED, Ted Park Title : Best Intentions Release Date : March 11, 2016
Jack Helmuth dropped his debut EP The Silent Project last year. Today, he brings the follow up – Best Intentions (March 11, 2016). J.Helm looks to show his independence with this project. I respect his grind, as I too released my second project at age 16.
Hip Hop is a great outlet for folks of all ages, shapes, colors and sizes. J.Helm offers a unique perspective on the 608 too. “Lived on the Eastside (multiple spots) until I was 7, then I moved to the Northside, until moving to Middleton at age 11,” J.Helm said in an interview with Basement Made.
His lyrics are decent and he puts out a positive message. Best Intentions – that’s wussup. Jack’s flow is robotic and forced, though. That auto-tune sounds straight outta Garageband. He’s clipping alot too. Some of the production is coo. “Everything you’ll hear is organic,” he says. The emcee recruited RED for the feature and Ted Park on the mix. “Everyday” and “It Ain’t Nothin'” are my favorites off this one.
Pizzle has unleashed the heavily anticipated Grand De$ign album, according to plan (April 11, 2016). At first listen, this is his best work to date. Presented by Cultured Sect Music.
Band : Damir Balo Title : The Kill Vol. 1 Release Date : February 26, 2016 Label : We R The Lost
Damir Balo is working. After dropping a fluid Stream of Consciousness on Basement Made, the Milwaukee artist has come forth with another project. Balo the producer creates a wavy sound on “CRAZY”. The auto-tune is a no go, though. If his vocals were cleaner, the song would be even better. He motivates on “Traffic,” offering some insight into his grind between a Tupac interview sample. First he talks about his Valley girls, then he goes at Jay-Z imitators and people that call him Drake. The emcee lets loose on “Youthful (Dreams)” as well.
“I coulda been shot in the dome When niggas tried to run in my home And everybody checking my tones Feel like Attack of the Clones Could everybody leave me alone, I’m anti But I’m all about the green cause I’m Jedi On the way to Houston, Texas on a red eye I’m energized, I put my all in my enterprise”
Band : LEWIS IS DEAD Title : VIOLENCE Release Date : February 29, 2016
Industrial, barren, spooky, cold – Lewis Is Dead. The tribal drums and overly auto-tuned singing on VIOLENCE reminds me of Kanye, but this artist takes it one step further with his delivery and introspective lyricism (February 29, 2016). “Balaclava” is by far the best song on here. I like the whole jam, though. Lewis produced most of it and I like where he’s going with the experimental style. This grimy production and dark lyricism is a thing of The North. Lewis comes from Willingboro, New Jersey. Watch out for this cat, he’ll be in your favorite artsy fartsy magazine soon.
“I had to change my muthafucking name to how I feel Maybe there’s a future in a nigga getting killed”
Smino dropped this incredible project on December 11, 2015. Monte Booker laced the beats of course. Appreciate what has been shown to you – blkjuptr. Go play dat S!CK S!CK S!CK EP too.
Band : Lelan Foley, Why Khaliq Title : Under The Perspective Tree Release Date : January 20, 2016
Why Khaliq hits with another gorgeous project (January 20, 2016). The emcee pushes important conversations on Under The Perspective Tree, something Twin Cities artists are known for doing. Lelan Foley crafted the gorgeous set of beats.
Insomniac Lamb$ is moving work around the Midwest. He has no time for Karma, as he explains on this hard hitting set of Drill records. Cincinnati, Ohio – that’s the headquarters. His partner StakzDaProducer did most of the beats on Fukk Karma II.
“It’s a good day in the neighborhood, ay Got the 30 and the 40, wish a nigga would”
It won’t take long for me to learn how say this one. For now, I can just type Nefelibata (Februrary 26, 2016). Drúdini – a self-described magician, recording artist and college athlete – pairs up with emcee Tyson Spears to form the cloud-walking duo. We premiered “Lo$t/Alone” on Basement Made, which was super lit. The final product is even better. Dru and T$ are providing a new wavy kind of R&B from Cream City. The flows are quick but the vibe is slow. Young Cleo Fox III mixed it.
On “XTC” :
“Can ya tell me what ya like See the angel in your skin Got the devil in your eyes All these drugs you recommend”
Each record on this EP is about a specific woman, and each woman represents a certain type of love. I showed ya The Hustle, now I’m goin deep. I call it The Fall In. Everyone knows that uncontrollable feeling of falling into another person’s life. Love gets a bad wrap and I too am guilty of pushing it to the side, to get out the more unpleasant parts of my life. Also, women didn’t look at me until I got accepted into college, which kinda had me jaded for a while. This is my first project for the lovely ladies – the real ones.
I recorded “Sushi & Eggs” and “Nightswim” with J|D, who I met in Hollywood. We got on the same wave at our house, talking about Fiji, God, the local tail and such. Quickly, we laid out the rest out the two records, using the concurrent distractions as motivation. Leona Harper and I met a couple times back in Madison but this is our first record together. We love talking weed, sex and profound shit. Michael Cooper and Scattered Brains handled the mixing on The Fall In.
Check out the videos for “Good Brain” and “Nightswim” below. For da full story, read the play by play. Released on February 22, 2016.
$killz also goes by DOLLASIGNkillz, which speaks to the eclectic artist more than anything. He’s all about punchlines, smacking the fans with a line they won’t forget. Da Game Needs Me is track after track of Trap wordplay. The elements are all there. These are bangers. The Amerikas Addiction affiliate has a big team too. $killz aka Trap-Jezuz linked with P BEEZY to drop the artist’s debut project on The Mil (February 9, 2016). TRiLL GATE$ assisted on a couple songs too. He pushed and got his lead single “#FLEEK” onto local radio.
The lyricist has been doing plenty videos, which has payed off in blessed ways. The emcee also recently had a cameo on Empire, which is filmed nearby in Chicago. Philly Fly Boy did the cover for DGNM and is plotting the “Blue Hunnidz” video at an Atlanta location. With work like this, it won’t be long til he gets noticed on a larger scale for his music. This #DWYD Milwaukee team is on the come up quick and $killz is about to be put on front n center.
YL64 debuted his first full length. The emcee is a fan of Star Wars and sweet desserts – not your typical rapper shit. YL64 needs to practice his flow more but I like his alternative direction. The roster on [the dark side has cookies] is pretty dope too, and includes Dee Phr3sh, Mike Regal and Tito The Scumbag. The Mil can’t be stopped.
Forget love, 3rd Dimension believes in Just Lust. Check out Mad City’s coldest group, as they deliver line after line on their latest lady-centric EP. This is “Stain” music – vivid story lines over cocoa-smooth instrumentals. This is romance for Hip Hop fans. And while they dropped the EP on Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2016), 3rd is really looking for this kinda love year round.
A few of these guys live at their stu in downtown Madison. I visited in December and distinctly remember seeing a couple females there. These weren’t the typical bustdowns that Madison rappers usually stay with, either. These were upper echelon females. In other words, I can vouch for this player shit. While 3rd’s music won’t get you laid directly, it does provide the ambiance that a young king needs to make that move. Things Have Changed.
Reeks on “Keys”:
“You was right every night, need Gladys And you can be my black Kate Upton Always when it come to leaving, I can’t leave her alone I’ma dreamer, you’re like Nina Simone Evidently, all I see are the signs Love is blind and I can’t see where I’m going”
Chicago Emcee, DJ and Engineer Sunny Woodz drops the Sunny Side Up joint with a stacked tracklist, showing what true Hip Hop collaboration really looks like (February 15, 2016). This is fire for your sessions. Bless. See the “Roots” visual too.
Taylor J debuted Before The Wake Up according to plan (February 10, 2016). The St. Paul, Minnesota emcee tells an interesting story on the latest EP. The 1991 tape was poppier, this is all serious. Taylor J has an ear for composing full records of a wide range. More than anything though, the artist’s visual game is A1. Play through the “Proud” and “Side Effects” videos. Ain’t many in the country putting out quality productions as consistently.
On “Yea Yea,” he says:
“A quarter million on the table a change a nigga views 10K on machine guns a change a nigga shoes The bag still in traffic, a nigga ain’t got shit to do I might well bet some money on sumn, see if I can lose”
Band : Damir Balo Title : Stream of Consciousness Release Date : February 8, 2016 Label : We R The Lost
Damir Balo can’t stop his Stream of Consciousness (February 8, 2016). We could all learn from artists like him. Many talk about how natural their flow is… Where is the music? This talented rapper-producer keeps it moving but also has the mind for concept records. See his last two projects – Chasing Forever 5 and Bread N Water 2. He doesn’t have the studio sound but he does he need it?
This is Hip Hop – off top and self-produced. Damir Balo can lace the quick freestyles, and he had a deep catalogue before he deleted his archive. Stream of Consciousness is more calculated. He recently spoke in detail about the project and his direction with Basement Made. The artist’s favorite record on the tape is “Goodnight,” a Kanye-influenced record. He says the whole tape acts as a “Kanye troll,” or a parody of the Chicago-raised mogul.
This is why we connected. Whether it’s on the street, underground or conscious level, Damir Balo is Basement Made. I see the artistry but I also need to see work. This emcee is pushing. “Just to show how much I love music,” he says. “I don’t really think about politics”. He’ll release music if he wants to, without thinking too much about the current trends. Oh, and he recorded this entire project in one night.
The Atlanta-born rapper-producer has been in The Mil for a minute but he’s still looking to get more involved with the local scene – particularly with shows. The eclectic artists of Cream City are finally coming together and Balo will be amongst the popular kids soon. Stay woke. His team WeRTheLost (Damir Balo, Bili Ro$e, Jon Briggz) will make sure of that.
Production credits: “Me me me me me,” the artist says.
The Madison-raised artist does this one for the ladies (March 26, 2016). Trapo tells stories of his women, alcohol and trap ways on the 9-track EP.
Derrick Thomas handles production. Smooth vibes and organic drums. Like his debut, Trapo keeps it tight on features. The soulful young man recruits Meraki,theMind and Max Wonders for the project.
Trapo blends his rapping and singing tastefully throughout the expertly-arranged project. He did it on “Never Run”, “She Moved On” and “Prototype.” Never too much of either style, and always matching the mood of the music.
After “Act II,” the project takes a turn to a few different sounds. “Cruise Control” record is Interstate music, “Chicago” is for the club. Want sumn jiggy, try “Special Therapy”. My favorite record on here is “Marry”. Straight butter.
1. Never Run
2. She Moved On 2
3. Prototype ft. Max Wonders
4. Act II
5. Cruise Control
6. Special Therapy ft. theMIND
7. Marry ft. Meraki
8. The Function
9. Chicago
Band : Eryn Allen Kane Title : Aviary: Act II Release Date : February 1, 2016
The gorgeous Eryn with the silky butter voice returns with the sequel to Aviary. She, like myself, went with the number 1 on Act 1, like my Chapter 1, and the roman numeral II for Act II with the second, like my Chapter II. They love number games. We love talent and authenticity. I enjoy this EP. She got me thinking about my past. I enjoy looking at her photos too. Detroit player.
Big Daddy Earl is a central leader for AFGM. I spoke to the emcee regarding the beginnings of AFGM. We also spoke about his recent album. The Madison, Wisconsin spits a few punchlines, explains what motivates him, but doesn’t shy away from his problems. “Whether it’s working, taking care of your parents, your kids, going to college, getting yourself right,” Earl delivers knowledge for everyone.
Earl has the best in local production on The Purpose of Man – Scattered Brains, THP, Victory and Quaibozz all blessed the album. The Mad City artist also heads Montsta Click, with artists Jay Jupiter, Castro, Derek John and THP. He has a passion for turning up as well. Big Daddy Earl was headed to open mic at Marty’s Comedy Club after leaving my spot in Hollywood.
Band : Damir Balo Title : Bread N Water 2 Release Date : January 18, 2016 Label : We R The Lost
Damir Balo is one of the hardest working emcees in the state. He’s a skilled emcee and producer too, which is what makes his projects so special. He can knock out a project like this in no time but he still puts some effort into developing the concept on each record. The mixing is rough but he’ll figure that out. He kinda sounds like Kdot a little bit.
From “Questions”:
“I can feel the hate, I can feel your energy Mixing with my synergy I can feel the devil in me and the rumbling Screaming “fuck the peeps, fuck the police I get brand new haters every week I got fans that’s really geeked Off of every song, every leak Every post, every Tweet”
Tito The Scumbag dropped sumn scummy tonight (January 28, 2016). The grimy Brew City rapper keeps an experimental nature on Laced With The Scum and it works for him. I like where Tito’s music is heading. His beats are all over the place on Vol. 1 but he finds a way to match up his flow on each of Weekend’s beats. Dee Phr3sh pops in for a feature too. This is just the first EP of seven he’s dropping this year. Here’s Sleep Walker: The EP from last year. Keep up, Tito is set up for a big year. Hippy Trap.
Cinco pressed his Dancing With My Demons EP yesterday (January 25, 2016). The Jon Bellion-enthusiast has a poppier sound than the rest of the Milwaukee scene, although the “Gotham” joint kinda goes. Check back soon for my thoughts on the self-proclaimed “recording artist, producer, and all-around entertainer.”
This Mad City artist reps ATM but also takes pride in his Italian ancestry (January 25, 2016). Ian Christopher Evans – also known as producer XYZ or rapper ICE Borealis – split his time between the homeland and Madison growing up. The nomadic artist developed an alternative perspective on bumpy road to the present but he’s always had music in his life. ICE Borealis is Wisco cold on his debut EP. This is music of Melancholy.
“If it wasn’t for Hip-Hop I wouldve been just another lost soul.”
ICE wasn’t born into Hip Hop, he was born into music. “Music has always been a part of my life, even before Hip Hop came in the picture,” he told me in an exclusive interview. “My father is a musician and was a part of many bands when he was younger. My uncle taught me the basics of playing the piano when I was 6.”
However, after the multi-instrumentalist in XYZ moved to The States, he caught the rap flow for good. “When I moved to Madison, I learned English listening to Nas, Eminem, Big Pun, Big L, AZ, Jay Z, Canibus, etc.” he explained. “I have been making beats, writing songs and recording myself since I was 12.” Originally, he thought that 90’s Boom Bap was the only way to go. Then he flipped the switch and caught some flavor from Reggae, Soul, Funk and Electronic too. You’ll hear it all on his latest.
“Looking back at all my work there is one element that hasn’t faded away through out these years – Melancholy.”
The ATM team is critical. ATM (Addicted To Music) is composed of intricate lyricist and cinematographer Arcani, innovative producer and director FromUpThaStreet, and producer-emcee ICE Borealis. I’ve linked with all three and they all speak about music in a special way. Even though they’re going through the stuggle, they always put out an inspiring message.
ATM is gloomy but intelligent, and definitely intriguing. “I would say my main goal is to bring people together, make them think about what’s really important in life and what’s not,” he told me. “I’d like to provoke people to reflect and question things or ideas that are thrown at us everyday by society, religions, corporations and governments.” Powerful words from a young mogul. His raps are calculated and intelligent but also dark.
“Most of the community isn’t familiar with Hip Hop or even recognize it.”
Mad City is like no other city in America. The Badger culture is strong but the people are struggling. Folks are honest, tough and committed to work, but also creative and progressive. Madison cats will enlighten you, then turn you the fuck up. Madison is too big to be a college town though, and too small to be Milwaukee, Minneapolis or Chicago. This attracts transplants from out of state suburbs – who bring in daddy’s money.
Madison has a flagship college but Wisconsin is a working class state. We need financial support from elsewhere to keep up with the neighbors, which unfortunately, often leaves our culture split and misunderstood. Incoming students and young professionals would rather see Pop or EDM artists instead of Hip Hop. Local rappers need that out-of-state financial support to survive. Hip Hop is thus compartmentalized and seen as a racial or class battle to many, instead of being a widely accepted form of music.
“I think there are more artists and there is more love from people now because they are starting to believe in us”
The Wisconsin music scene is currently divided but has always been brilliant. The older generations of Wisconsin were masters of Classical and Polka. Then we moved into Jazz and Blues. Waukesha’s Les Paul essentially invented Rock & Roll. Since, we’ve fostered huge Hard Rock, Folk and Country scenes. Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins used to record in Madison. Eau Claire’s Bon Iver created the modern Folk sound. We are festival country.
Madison, Wisconsin has already claimed its place. The Hip Hop scene has been picking up speed for several years and it’s about to pop soon. Artists like ICE will eventually be recognized for projects similar to this Meloncholy EP. His reflective nature and hunger for knowledge speak to the cold but deranged scene in Mad City.
Baby Shel hails from Red Lake, Minnesota. The talented Native emcee snaps on Baby Shel’s World. The title track is a BANGER. Shel reminds me of Tech N9ne at times. Also see the Soulo project.
“Headband on me like I’m Rondo I got like 10 bands on me, get it pronto I put in work, work every single time Pay me what I’m worth, worth man this Earth is mine”
Ike is bold. According to his latest mixtape title, he knows everything. I don’t know if he knows everything but I can say the artist has two things for sure – the grind and the plugs in the local scene. The Madison, Wisconsin emcee has the full court press locked in and his Cash Cartel team is ready. Ike grabbed Smoke, Brizzle, Cash Moody and Malik on this one. He just remixed “White Iverson”.
Band : Scattered Brains Title : The Instrumentals Vol 2 Release Date : January 21, 2016 Label : AFGM
AFGM in-house producer Scattered Brains unleashed The Instrumentals Vol 2 today and it’s gorgeous (January 21, 2016). The Wisconsin artist mainly produces for the clique, although he’s selling off this entire collection. One of the most original and dynamic producers in The Midwest, Scattered Brains aka Vaughn Freitag goes from the utmost Grime to the lightest of Jazz on the latest. He’s the best in the city and has had a big hand in shaping the local sound with Chaos NewMoney. The composer is low key but never lacking in new merch. With a few more placements, this producer-engineer will be everywhere.
Look out for some Clifton Beef x Scattered Brains madness in the near future… Go cop some for you too.
I was trained to grind. My parents put me in basketball and football at a young age, so I’ve always been about The Hustle. Then I took to the streets, working in whatever way I could to one up the next kid. After I turned 16, I landed my first job as a stock boy in the backroom of Target. From there, I finessed my way into white collar jobs by way of the grind and calculated power moves.
For those that don’t know, there is no entertainment industry or money in Wisconsin. Since moving to California, I’ve realized how hard we need to grind in The Midwest to reach any level of success. Allow me to share my journey with you. This 4-track project is the first of many themed EP’s to come off of the full Chapter II: Double Major album. Go play the videos for “Oh Lord” and “Off Papers”.
Band : Lil Bibby Title : FC3: The Epilogue Release Date : February 5, 2016
Bibby is set to unleash his debut album FC3: The Epilogue on February 5, 2016. Lil Bibby took off with the rest of the Chicago Drill scene in 2012 and many have been patiently waiting for is debut. Yesterday (January 13), the rapper dropped his newest video for a tough “Can’t Trust A Soul” anthem. Here’s the Free Crack 3mixtape too.
Ra’Shaun has a new melody for Madison, Wisconsin. The artist with the catchy runs announced that he’ll be releasing a shorter Orange Wall EP before the ParkST project – which the emcee tells me will now be a full mixtape. Ra’Shaun typically raps and sings about the many women in his life, although he is known to hit the streets as well. He’s known to freestyle, so I expect a lot of new material this year from the Midwest lyricist.
Ra’$haun runs through this recent “See You Callin” like he did to the previous “Almost Here”.
Maybach Music Group artist Rockie Fresh has been cooling and modeling for the last couple years but he has returned with another hopeful project (January 21, 2016). Rockie grabbed assists from Ed Sheeran, Rick Ross and Chris Brown on The Night I Went To… Drippy flow.
Band : Hakeem Paragon Title : SLEEP GOOD? Release Date : January 9, 2016
Hakeem Paragon of Milwaukee, Wisconsin debuted a chill instrumental album today (January 9, 2015). “Sleep Good” and “If The Fire Fades” have me in the zone right now. Night night.
Kanye West is loco for The Life of Pablo. He started with So Help Me God, then he moved onto the correct title SWISH, but was later sidetracked into WAVES. This sparked a historically petty Twitter arguement with Wiz Khalifa. Wiz said that “the wave” belonged to Max B, and it turns out Kanye agreed to a certain extent. Taylor Gang and Amber Rose stepped in on the drama. See the images below for the old cover art, tracklist and Khalifa bashing.
The music is good, although Ye is suspiciously vulturistic again on this album. He recruited Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Frank Ocean, Kirk Franklin, Chris Brown, Young Thug, Kid Cudi, Chance The Rapper, Sia, Post Malone, Ty Dolla $ign, Vic Mensa and Future-imitator Desiigner for features.
1. “Ultralight Beam” ft. Chance the Rapper & Kirk Franklin
2. “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” ft. Kid Cudi
3. “Pt. 2” ft. Desiigner
4. “Famous” ft. Rihanna
5. “Feedback”
6. “Low Lights”
7. “Highlights” ft. Young Thug
8. “Freestyle 4” ft. Desiigner
9. “I Love Kanye”
10. “Waves” ft. Chris Brown
11. “FML” ft. The Weeknd
12. “Real Friends” ft. Ty Dolla $ign
13. “Wolves” ft. Frank Ocean & Caroline Shaw
14. “Silver Surfer Intermission”
15. “30 Hours”
16. “No More Parties in LA” ft. Kendrick Lamar
17. “Facts” (Charlie Heat Version)
18. “Fade” ft. Post Malone & Ty Dolla $ign
Jr Weise is straightforward with the flow at times, at others he’s more commercial. Either way he goes, the Wisconsin-raised rapper and singer has elevated to a new level. The Wisconsin rapper cleaned up the flow from One and swept through the set of instrumentals on Mixed Boy Chronicles Volume Two.
Government name Jacob Weisenburger finds a hard time fitting in, being a mixed gay man with bleach blonde hair. For that, he speaks to the harsh reality of the world from a different perspective. Jr is also from Wisco, which is a bitter-sweet blessing in that there is less opportunity but more love. The rapper stands for the people, equality and progress and takes time to get bopped like back home too.
The skinny tattooed artist has conquered a lot to find a spot in Hollywood and I see him going much further with some direction. We went to the same school but we never connected until I moved out to LA in April of last year. After getting into the studio a couple times, we connected on “Old Thompson & Marb Reds”. I saw how quick Jr Weise is with the pen and how he can hop on virtually any beat with ease.
The versatile emcee can switch up the flow – he’s talented – he just needs a producer to bring together a completed sound for the next tape. Whether it’s Chronicles Three or off in a new direction, Jr Weise just needs the right collaboration.
From “My Niggas” :
“This for my niggas paying bills instead of popping tags The ones that live that struggle gotta hustle every day You early for your check, but late to the bank Your legs are getting cut cause that bill ain’t getting paid”
Allan Kingdom created his own sound for Northern Lights. He brought Hip Hop and Folk together with a nerdy flow and a folksy way of singing, fitting the two seemingly contrasting styles together more beautifully than one would ever expect. Yesterday (January 6, 2016), the emcee went Minnesota weird with his latest album.
The artist was born and raised in a cold, serious environment Up Nort – many miles from the rest of the cities in The Midwest. The St. Paul, Minnesota artist had no choice but to find a new angle, even coming from the more unknown side of the Twin Cities. Minneapolis has had Rhymesayers since the mid-90s but the other half wasn’t popping until Thestand4rd dropped in 2014.
In 2014, Kingdom became part of one of the most talented teams in the country. With Spooky Black, Bobby Raps and Psymun on the team, the group together goes in a more R&B direction than Northern Lights, but they work together on everything. The lows will be the most ominous on one joint and then switch up to the utmost funkiness on faster tracks. The Stand4rd is creative with the drums, beeps and boops. They always grab a bright sample to bring the Soul in the mix out too. The group is on a new wave Hip Hop / Folk fusion.
Allan Kingdom is more into rap. He has a hard Midwest flow with somber undertones – like he’ll be out committing sins to repent them in church the following Sunday. Get turnt to “The Ride” and “Monkey See”. Fade into “Fables” and “Hypocrite” with an open mind. Then play “Northern Lights”, “Disconnect” and “I Feel Ya” a few times back.
The Minnesota artist has his own thing popping and this album shows that. He has a huge range on the project. His flow is smart and his singing is on a new wave. The production is always on sumn weird. Coming from a cold city in The North, Kingdom will bring people together with his brilliant music, regardless of where they’re from.
Today (January 6, 2016), Sincere Life unpacked his novel ofKing Poetic Vol. I. The rapper spent some time with this one. The meticulous artist runs through The Volume with precision, leaving little room for the competition.
The emcee is gifted lyrically. He paints a memorable picture with many words on every verse of King Poetic Vol I. He was cold on the Write Of Passage EP too. This is nothing new. His beat selection and mixing is all over, which makes the project dynamic but also hard to follow at times. Overall, Sincere Life kills on this. The artist hits a lot of flows and proves that he just needs a consistent producer to put together polished albums.
The rapper is one of the first serious Chicago rappers that I heard in concert in Madison, Wisconsin. For a long time, Chicago emcees wouldn’t come up for shows. Twista performed many times, but other than him there weren’t many. Sincere Life has been in the area for a while now. He along with F. Stokes were a couple of the first to offer a more smooth vibe from the Chicago perspective. It’s been 2 years since his last but the emcee is back with a new energy.
Sincere Life on “Lo Lyfe Illuminati”:
“Some imitating their grin, that shit ain’t worth mentioning I’m Sincere Life and anything else is a synonym My flow so tight, still not as tight as their denim is And I’m dope no vice, somehow my efforts are sedative”
MoBo The Great is one of my favorite rising rappers out of Chicago. The young artist is grown for her young age, putting together a full project with only one feature. MoBo puts out a loud message to society on Fuck The Public (June 16, 2015). Premiered via Complex, the artist is ready to pop.
MoBo starts the 11-track project with a pair of cool records produced by The Gift. At the end of the first, she drops an audio clip from Jay-Z. See, the rapper originally came up off of an opening performance for Jigga. “You just told your whole entire life story, huh?” says the legendary businessman in the sample. “I love you.” As the tracks fades out, I’m hopeful going into the second.
MoBo needs to practice her double time flow. The second track throws me off because MoBo’s off beat on her verses. This is a theme throughout. Her bars are on point but she needs to find her space, or maybe stay on the slower joints like “Heaven”.
I wasn’t sold until I talked to her. See, I respect MoBo as an artist. She has grown ass bars but her flow had me off. After chopping it up about the project, I saw that the “Pimparachi” was dope in a different way (August 5, 2015).
“Passive hating keep me plowing through this massive city Half the niggas that was with me never seen a giant”
MoBo The Great got Martin $ky, Katie Got Bandz, OGWebbie and BJ The Chicago Kid on here – all whom I’ve covered before. Keep your eyes open for CSick and Von Vuai. The production on “The Keez” and “Great” is beautiful. The artist knows how to put together a Hip Hop record.
The rapper told me she wants to be seen for her artistry, rather than her looks. MoBo or Monique Burrell is a female rapper, and if ya look at most of the other successful female Hip Hop acts, they are usually naked or damn near when performing. Instead of exposing her body for attention, this rapper relies less on Instagram and more on talent in her craft.
And I can see men clicking away from this page as they read this. Even in 2016, this concept is still ahead of its time – working women. Covering up makes it harder for the female artist in a Hip Hop industry run by men, but someone has to be the first. MoBo’s rapping ain’t at the top yet but she is a part of a recent crowd of talented female Midwest emcees – Def Loaf, Tink, Katie Got Bandz and Sasha Go Hard. She fits more into that group of emcees than the Pop oriented market in other parts of the country.
I fuck with smart women – expecially smart black women – and I know if MoBo cleans up her flow a little more, her raps will take her as far as she wants to go. She’s a cut above the rest in an alternative way and has the mind and the drive to be one of the best.
On “The Keez”, the emcee flows:
“That mean I gotta go shine I’m about my money like the Sean’s And my mom just bought a new salon One day I’ma have my own garage”
J.J. Jabber is a threat. The Milwaukeeland producer-emcee mixes Hip Hop with Rock to create an unmatched twisted Metal sound on his debut EP. While the Grime style has been in The Midwest for a minute, Jabber comes at the records in an even more widely appealing sense on [Insert Title Here]. Tech 9 nem birthed the Midwest Grime but there have been few standouts to follow up until now.
We kicked off the #JabberSeason promo with a deadly “[Girl Next Door]” record that sounded like a walk to the electric chair. The follow up hit just as hard. Jabber smacked the “[White Collar]” beat with a K Dot flow. “Come up round n get lit”, he repeated in that high and tight intonation that we’ve all come to appreciate. Then of course we premiered “[Patterns]” right here on da Basement Made site. The emcee is good at mixing other styles with his own. “I learned all I know from my headphones”, he raps.
No features necessary. This is one of the best produced albums I’ve ever heard outta The 4. Mammyth mixed it. I want to hear the artist rap more about himself, though. There are a lot of general ideas going on here, not enough on his personal experiences.
“This EP is for anyone who has been stuck on the seesaw their entire life. Teetering on the edge of sanity, blinded by perfectionism and self-doubt. While those aspects of my life have been overwhelmingly prominent, I combat my downfall through a confident approach, shown specifically through my art”.
Premiered by Earmilk, who came out with “There is not a lot that I can say about J.J. at the moment, honestly”. And these people call themselves journalists…
Ar Wesley took the gloves off. He’s been going with a “Midwest Coastin” style for a while. These stories are for the kids, though. The Rebel Nxtion artist, who was a part of the “Youth Rule Benefit Concert” in November, speaks a truth that we can all learn from on the Time Is Millmatic EP.
The rapper-singer hits a few different flows on “Here iGO”. He works seamlessly with Mike Regal too, coming with a spit-in-ya-face energy at first, and then switching it up to a Bone Thugs type bridge over the mechanical instrumental. Von bodied his verse too.
Ar Wesley slows it down on the haunting Hakeem Paragon-production, saying “What you thought, that I wouldn’t have nothing to say, cause I don’t PMS on Twitter like a bitch every day?” Damnnnnn
The emcee features Reggie Bonds on the final record – a “Knock The Hustle” remix they’re calling “No Happy Endings”. Both emcees have been cooking up quality music but this record really ties together their purpose – to improve the lives of those in their community. A middle finger to anyone that doesn’t support that.
Reggie:
“Drowning in shame, watching tears get lost in the rain Seeing dad beating my mother, filled my heart with this rage It’s deep, with this pen, I draw back and shoot the world with this anger Niggas keep saying, ‘bro you gotta just take it’ What would you do? When momma is piss poor but still laughing Or your niece is sex educated but failed Spanish”
Ar:
“I gave you dope for the pain, now I present the cure Plus 30 keys more, if ya down with that A role model wouldn’t even come around with that And I got the nerve to try to serve it out to the youth Right now it’s only a point, I’ll take you down to the root Every boss take a loss, I’ll show ya how to recoup The only difference is I’m cooking all my crack in the booth”
Someone king the man!! Mike Regal is focused and now branching out to different sides of Hip Hop – INTUITIONS. The producer-emcee has had that Jazz and Jack Flow coursing through his veins for a minute – and that’s definitely his bread n butter – but after hearing the Fort Minor-esque “Traveler”, Jon Bellion-influenced “Gotham”, and now this uptempo I N T U I T I O N S tape he dropped yesterday (December 25), I’m convinced the multi can finesse his way into the industry.
1. “Rumor Has It”
Wobbly and ominous, like one just hit the lick and is now crossing the lake to the safe house. At 1:36, you pull up at the dock, walk inside and unload the bag on the counter. When the beat comes back in at 1:56, you celebrate with bottles and voluptuous women.
2. “Sail Boat”
Regal comes in with the “Ironside” sample at :08 – the one that Southside so much loves and enjoys. As the intro talks about the art of sampling, it should be clear that the artist looks to mix the old and the new. “Alota times you can just hear like a ‘hey’, or sum like that, and want to use it, you know?” Simple, yet that idea is one element of Hip Hop that builds a timeless community.
3. “HighWay”
Interstate music. I’m on cruise control in my own lane, so stay in yours type shit.
4. “F E E L”
The sample at the top says: “If I’m not diggin it, it ain’t shit”. Then the beat drops into some real jiggy shit. This uptempo record surprised me but I could definitely see people Summertime cooling or Salsa dancing to it.
5. “s o u l”
If I had to pick a favorite, this is it. This joint reminds me of a DJ Pain 1 cut, only more soulful and less grimy. Just beautiful. I picture the artist on signing day, with his ride-or-die right beside him. She stayed with him, through the thick and the thin, and now they both know it was all worth it.
Thank you for the Christmas present Mike Regal. And by the way, when I say multi, I’m just shortening multi-talented to invent a name for artists working on more than one craft. That deserves attention. I fucking hate it when writers try n box me into one thing – to low key slight me or for whatever the reason – so I made up a word to show love to other skilled artisans in the same boat.
Tall Paul of the Southside of Minneapolis, Minnesota goes full Midwest King on the No Good Good Guy album. This is lyrical gold. The Native emcee has some creative flows too. Chopper.
“But I ain’t buying my recluse I study the books and then pick em apart Now why… by coppas with choppers and stick em apart They knock us and lock us and dig us apart, and grave us and blame us victims at start But it’s up to me to study for me, to rebuttal these… to give we a spark The rhythm and heart is the beat of the drum, when it’s unified, then… Unified once… make them twiddle their thumbs without picking up guns”
Defcee impresses on his second full-length solo project (December 14, 2015). At first listen, Damn Near Grown is one of the most complete albums I’ve heard this year. For more on the Chicago-based First Wave alumnus, read my last post on his “Pleasantville II” cut.
F. Stokes was one of the first emcees from Madison, Wisconsin that I really respected on an artistic level. His style is different and he goes at each track like a poet, not thinking about the hook and bridge as much as the overall feel of the record. Stokes puts on a real communal type of show too, which is something that’s becoming more and more rare among rap acts. The “My Simple” artist keeps it friendly but doesn’t shy away from his rough upbringing. He wants what’s best for everyone, especially the kids. Man Mantis on the beats.
Band : Lean Beatz, Pizzle Title : Apparently 2 Release Date : December 14, 2015
How Lean Beatz cleaned up his flow in just a couple months is beyond me. The beats have been cold but the other side of the artist really came out swinging on the newest (December 14, 2015). Them first three records are my favorite. The “Outro” is beast too. Lean is good as incorporating haunting sounds into the Trap mix. This is late December music. Pizzle mixed it.
Each part of the Chapter II concept album fits into the story like a novel. Each line, each verse composes a narrative from my life. There are many different pieces to this puzzle. Rappers would call these projects EP’s. The first EP – called The Hustle – dropped on January 15, 2016. The next came a month later, called The Fall In. Following the tape for the ladies, Beef released The Depression in April and The Bars in June. After finishing up some crazy shit in California, I released my debut book Why Wisconsin Voted For Donald Trump: The Coastie Privilege, dipped from Mexico, and arrived back in Wisco to drop the full Double Major album, while homeless, and writing my second book – The Life of Cliff G: Dog. Then, I dropped the rest of the EP’s in the first week of July 2017 – The Fall Out, The Producer, The Move Out West, The Home State and The Remixes – completing Double Major on July 5.
I’m not gonna tell ya what Double Major means exactly, because it’s in the music. This is my life… The central message is that I recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a double major, while handling a labyrinthine set of personal circumstances at the same time.
I started out in the arts writing poetry, so finessing a little flow is no problem. I can outrap most major label artists no problem. Understand that this is not about rap, though. I create music first n foremost so that I don’t go completely fucking mental. Secondly, I do it for the squad. Even in the Midwest, Wisconsinites are outcast as drug abusing hicks. So this is for home too, this is for everyone that gets cast aside. On God, I will bring the industry to Wisconsin. This is my autobiography though and I can’t really speak for anyone but myself at the end up the day. I can only keep it Basement Made.
Tre Creamer is about the big picture. The rapper-singer came up in Mad City, rapped and hooped for a minute, but now he’s committed to the club sound. We heard it on the “Off My Mind” premiere and again this “Nothin On You” record.
I asked Tre Creamer – formerly Tre Money – about the title. He said, “2AM is when I was up stressing or making a run or just in the studio or working”. Tre will be going in “from love to the streets to family issues” on the upcoming release. He has the hometown support of Jerome Romey (Get Rich Records) now too, which is a good plug for the indie talent.
Tre Creamer originally planned to drop 2AM on January 15, 2016.
Band : Martin $ky Title : 3milli (Instrumental) Release Date : November 27, 2015
Martin $ky uncovered the 3milli EP today (November 27, 2015) as a gift to his fans for helping him reach the 3,000,000 play benchmark on SoundCloud. The new wave Chicago rapper-producer keeps it noticeably more happy-sounding on this project than his previous grimy Everywhere But Here EP. This beat tape is different but I fuck with it, especially “Palm Tree Emoji” and “A GOOD TRIP”.
UPDATE: Dad contacted me on da book because this piece “doesn’t represent [him] correctly” (June 20, 2016). The emcee deleted his old profile, so there’s no trace of his previous comments, but now assures the following:
“The part about me proclaiming to be a role model to urban youth… I don’t think I ever worded it like that at all and it’s pretty cringey… I think I said something along the lines but definitely was worded differently… Definitely never called myself a role model dude… And you said self proclaimed as if I said that… I said something about giving advice to my younger friends not about being a role model to inner city kids or whatever, so it’s just about how you worded it I guess… I don’t want kids to follow in my footsteps I want them to learn from my mistakes like a true dad ya feel me, no role model here.”
—
This Milwaukee, Wisconsin based emcee loves that H Town sound. He hits with a leaned out flow and Mammyth mixes his records in the Chopped n Screwed fashion. Dad has the right voice for it too. His laid-back vibes are a saucy change of pace for Cream City.
When we spoke at the end November, Dad said “I was just meant to be dad man it chose me I didn’t choose it”. The emcee proclaims himself a role model for the urban youth of Milwaukee, although judging off all the people calling him Dad, it’s hard to tell who chose who.
The Brew City living, Houston-influenced emcee dropped Father Figure EP according to plan on December 6. The rapper has a couple more projects on the way…
Alex Wiley has a new sound. The Chicago-born and bred em emcee cooks up a scintillating mix of Hip Hop, Jazz, EDM and Rock into the pot on Village Party 2: Heaven’s Gate. His production is sumn like Kid Cudi, only more tribal.
Alex cuts through the drugged out beats with ease. The rapper has this pitchy chopper flow that simply can’t be stopped. “Yung San Diego” has been on it for a minute but I do think he’s going a little more downtempo with it. Alex was more city before, whereas now he’s really embracing the hippy vibes in California.
I look forward to seeing where The Village 777 artist goes with the cross-genre experimentation next. For now, I’m lighting an L to this.
Keep your eyes on Damir Balo, The talented Milwaukee, Wisconsin Jack Rap emcee hits to his own beats and moves in his own way on Chasing Forever 5 (August 24, 2015).
It’s no secret that Midwest emcees flow better than anywhere else. From Twista to Bone Thugs, Tech N9ne to Eminem, we hold the crown. Jack Rap is just one of many flows that started in the area. Genesis Renji says it started in The Mil, while Balo is unsure. Actually, Balo and Earlly Mac sound alike at times, especially how Balo goes in on “IsWhat It Is”. With Detroit and Milwaukee sharing influence, I’d like to see the 414 chop with the 313.
The “talkative flow,” as he explained, is everywhere in the land. You can hear his straightforward style in his lyrics too, as the rapper-singer flips from thoughtful love songs to hyped up dance records throughout CF5. Instead of fabricating a persona, this artist vies to keep it genuine, and relies on his artistry instead of the material.
Damir Balo mixes the style from his hometown with the OVO brand. Ya might confuse one of his beats for 40’s. “I produced everything on the project,” he says. The artist goes with the Northern, ethereal Trap-R&B sound. Those creeping beats can be hard as hell to rap on too but Damir Balo can be smooth with the words. The emcee gives it his all, showing heart and range on “318 A.M Interlude” and “A Real Love Song(HER)”.
“I’m really just tryna to get more out in the scene,” he says. The Brew City talent dropped this Chasing Forever 5 project to showcase his in-house production but he ain’t stopping anytime soon. He revamped the mixtape series with the 5th installment and plans to unleash Chasing Forever 4 on his birthday – December 18, 2015. Damir Balo also claims he has an upcoming collaboration with Dana Coppafeel called “Rap Lords”.
The “I Need Yu” cut would get radio play if it sounded cleaner. His flow are too cold to have the mix clipping like that. I hate to say that but as we live in an indie rapper’s market in 2015, and we’re expected to do more than possible. That being said, Damir Balo hails from a place of struggle and he’s doing everything he can to stand outta the fray.
“We need more Hennessy, excuse my old tendencies I don’t know what got into me I don’t know why you was into me, I was lost”
Chaos dropped The Come Up outta nowhere of course. The Mad City artist just released E2 back in September and he’s already back with another project (November 19, 2015). There will be no full mixtape stream because this is exclusive. The “Fatality” video is coming soon also. #GONE
Chaos NewMoney embodies the wild side of Mad City. He’s loud, unpredictable and won’t hold back for none. The Madison, Wisconsin native dropped the second part of his Ebola series on September 16, 2015, showcasing his insane freestyle ability and auto tuned hooks.
Here, the emcee speaks out on the Tony Robinson murder with “Motivation”:
While the auto tune can overshadow the lyrics at times, Chaos is in the pocket – always. Whatever he ends up recording will sound good when it’s done. We talked about how he got to that level last year. “Honestly man, I think it’s the comfortability in my flow,” he said. “You can hear the growth in a lot of new artists, you can tell they was reading off paper”.
Also, the artist vibes with his engineer Scattered Brains on a different level. For the past few years, the two have been comfortable enough to drop a mixtape damn near every season.
Ebola Part 2 is a mix of hype and romance. The high energy emcee levels it up on this project too, adding more melody and structure to his unscripted style. This is only a collection of bangers, though. I can only imagine what he has planned for the debut album. AFGM or eat glass.
YE Ali can sound like Kanye West, Bryson Tiller and Drake, but most importantly – himself. The rapper-singer split time between Chicago, Illinois and Hammond, Indiana growing up, giving him perspective. He also went to IU down in Bloomington for college. Listen to the talent tell his transplant stories on “PRIVATE SUITE 1,” as he just now moved to LA and he’s still feeling it out (November 10, 2015).
The well-rounded artist has seen the land of opportunity on the West Coast, though, and won’t be going to back to public housing if he can help it. Traphouse Jodeci coming soon. Watch the video for “Tingz” after the tape too.
“Everytime we fall out, I hope you still know it’s all love And everytime we fall off, I just hope we remain friends”
Genesis Renji is only 23 but already speaks like a veteran of Hip Hop. When I asked him about A Shot Of Gen 3, the Maryland-born, Milwaukee-based emcee said, “It’s just my 10,000 bars” (November 17, 2015). This is a dope EP by any standard, but that mindset – knowing ya gotta work for it – speaks to the quality coming outta the 414.
I had the chance to chop it up with Gen yesterday about the EP. The fluid emcee looks to “always be as versatile as possible,” and that shows through on this collection of bangers. Gen cites Lil Wayne, Eminem and Lupe Fiasco as major influences, and not for none, I think he can flip records with the best of em in 2015. The Young Casanova goes from a super lit “The Roof” all the way down to a smooth “Cassette Love” with Oshi. “Time Burton’s Wedding” stands out because of that dirty “Cry Me A River” sample, but then the rapper kills two bangers in a row until closing with an ambient “Rubbish” joint.
Gen’s execution is on point, which makes him seem more relatable than the average. I asked him what people like about Milwaukee rap and he said – “The authenticity”. Before it was “Jack Rap,” he explains. “That’s middle of Burleigh.” But now Detroit has claimed that flow for themselves, The Mil is on a new wave. According to Gen, all the scene needed was “the right light”. And although the rapper pays homage to The Chi – calling it “Mecca” – he assures Milwaukee has next year.
A Shot Of Gen 3 is the final installment in the series. Genesis Renji is already looking forward to a complete concept album next year. Also, look out for the “Tatted Up” video, coming soon to a video platform near you.
Band : Eryn Allen Kane Title : Aviary: Act 1 Release Date : November 16, 2015
Eryn Allen Kane, of the Eastside of Detroit, helped me out a lot with this beautiful project of sad songs. Though she might feel trapped in a birdcage, I’ve literally been trapped in firewalls, shocked and tortured inside walls that no one else could possibly understand. I love this EP, though. The North is in a renaissance. Who knows what they’re thinking… Let the birds sing. Eryn might be one of, if not my favorite, female singer right now.
Jean Deaux is incredible on the OUTER BODY EP (November 12, 2015). Her voice is tantric, her mind woke as ever on the light 3-track project. But despite the Chicago-native seeing huge successes to this point, she still looks at her moves as splashes in the ocean. Jean Deaux on you heaux.
“I’m going in a spiral like… So I feel like I’m like here. And like… as time goes on I’ma get to this point but… You know? That’s how I see that shit in my head. So I’m like… I’m making these little waves right now but I gotta make every single wave count.”
Trebino has a nonstop flow. The Mad City Drill artist just dropped #BinoBusiness on September 17 but he’s keeping it mobile. Bino recently laced a tough visual treatment for the “Trappin n Rappin” standout (October 4, 2015) and has plenty more in the chamber. Today, I caught up with the emcee that can’t stop.
Bino linked up with Niko Money through his older brother. “That’s big bro,” he says. The artist wasn’t satisfied with the first video he did for this record so he re-shot it with the Camera God. The two are already looking forward to their next visual – “Familar”. According to Bino, “Trappin n Rappin” was more of a freestyle type video, whereas “Familar” will have more of a storyline.
Trebino reps 608 Music with Ra’Shaun, producer Xyz and engineer-rapper A.G. He’s also a hardworking student at Madison College. The book and street smart artist is axing beats to pieces, and he won’t be stopping anytime soon.
“I’ve been jugging off trapping and rapping I don’t know what the fuck happened I was off xani and she was off addy She gave me brain and couldn’t stop like an addict These niggas talking like they want the action You come in our way, we can make this happen I can’t be lacking, my bro got the ratchets So I’m gonna relax with these hoes on my mattress”
This might just be the soundtrack to your next kickback (November 10, 2015). The Cream City Uni-Fi Records collective winds back time on #RapLords, hitting their new school Milwaukee flows on the old school boom bap beats. The exception is “Ugly” – a muhfucking smacker. Dana Coppafeel and Speak Easy are a mean tag team.
“Uni-Fi Records My team chasing paper, call us gang green Standing ova, they should thank me HNIC’s how they rank me”
Band : Cardo Title : Ocean's Theory Release Date : November 10, 2015
Cardo dropped the smoothest of tapes yesterday (November 10, 2015). His Ocean Theory beat tape is so clean it’s got me wanting to go in right now on the Taylor Gang heat.
The Madison R&B singer is a talented performer and offers a refreshingly spiritual voice to Hip Hop. Anthony Lamarr dropped Act Two: The Way of the World on October 11, 2012. Later, he would release the visuals for “Elevation” and “Fear”.
Von Alexander dropped V O N today (November 19), and it’s every bit as grimy as we wanted. Von used to go by Vonny Del Fresco but this artist has always had a way of bringing the sun down into the basement. Coming from the North Side of Milwaukee, life has been a real struggle for this young black male. This brilliant lyricist is finally getting some shine for his well polished records, though.
An emcee, a writer, a voice and a leader, Von wants people to look past physical appearances to see the more authentic parts of people. The artist has a bigger idea in mind than just rap. He lives in madness but knows that there is a better way.
The Cream City rapper is influenced by A Tribe Called Quest, N.E.R.D, Nas, Future, Toro y Moi and Bon Iver. Don’t expect the average, expect Von Alexander. He knows his sound too. “Dylan Graham was someone that hit me up. And I hit up DMND on my own,” he says. For “the most unplanned project [he’s] ever done,” this sounds pretty damn good. Especially since he just dropped another massive “Memoirs” album just a few months back.
Here’s a visual from last year:
His and my favorite record on V O N is “N O R T H”:
“I can’t even wear Jordans, these shoes are the reason that niggas are killing It’s fucked up when your hero ain’t really your hero, you look at him different Cause niggas die just wear your name, niggas die just to play your game Niggas die just to get that fame, jumpman, jumpman, jumpman My whole life, I’ve been on to something My whole life, man they made assumptions”
Ra’Shaun rescheduled the release of the ParkST EP for “later on this year” (2016). After announcing the Orange Wall EP, he decided that this one will be a full mixtape. So far, the South Side Madison, Wisconsin artist is set to feature Trebino, Trapo and OG Esco on the project.
The auto-tuned rapper-singer debuted the visual for his buzzing “Deja Vu” single on October 30, 2015. Also see his “Drug of Choice” Basement Made PREMIERE with RED and Trapo.
The Madison, Wisconsin raised emcee is living for a higher meaning. At least he is when he ain’t getting T’d up. Medall can jump from emotional ode to club music on Soul Purpose, like many other Midwest artists have learned to do in the past. What makes him different is the overall message of peace and unity.
The rapper has toured around the Midwest, dropped several projects and created a couple clothing lines. Now, he lives in sunny Los Angeles. What will he do next?
Boathouse has become a household name in Chicagoland for his ability to adapt to many different sounds. Yesterday (October 29, 2015), the producer dropped a dedication EP to females called GIRL.
By default, the Closed Sessions artist goes with an electronic sound over organic Hip Hop drums. At times he’ll pull in samples or trap drums, but for the most part Boathouse sticks to his bright and poppy new age waves. Play GIRL and watch her clothes fall off, enthusiastically.
3rd Dimension is one of the most dynamic Hip Hop groups in America. They hail from Madison, Wisconsin, a place not typically associated with Hip Hop, so they have to be cold. Today, the tight-knit collective dropped their heavily hyped Things Have Changed on the world, along with a music video for “Chosen”. (November 12, 2015). You’re about to get your mind rocked if you’ve never heard of 3rd.
3rd Dimension officially formed in 2010. However, Reeks, Spaz and Probz had known each other for a minute before that. The three founding members came up in elementary school together in Mad City, rapping with several others around the neighborhood. The three emcees recruited Half Breed in 2010, which rounded out their team of vocalists. Then in 2012, 3rd picked up in house producer Burn$ampsoN to complete their sound. Burn had been producing in college, and when he came back for the summer, he heard the music and needed to be a part of 3rd Dimension’s sound. Since the acquisition of Burn, the group has been putting in full time work on the mic, while grinding to make ends meet at other gigs.
This group is a breath of fresh air amongst today’s other Hip Hop acts. The Midwest emcees give listeners a collection of multiple perspectives and they’re committed to the group dynamic – all moves have to be voted upon before carried out. Each member has a different style and skill set. They don’t make an effort to stand out, when 3rd comes together on an idea, it’s all natural. 3rd looks to create authentic, relatable Hip Hop of all types. The versatile squad is out to make music that can match any mood.
Look down for the Things Have Changed release date, cover art, tracklist, mixtape download and stream.
Band : Lean Beatz, Pizzle Title : Apparently Release Date : October 5, 2015
Milwaukee’s Lean Beatz went in on the beats. The rapper has a low key flow but it could still use some work. With that, he’s set the foundation with the trap sounds on Apparently (October 5, 2015) and it’s only up from there.
Prof has his own way, that’s for sure. The Minneapolis, Minnesota multi is a force of nature, a Liability (October 16, 2015). I remember seeing him perform for the first time in the Spring of 2013. Prof put on a wild ass show for a Sunday, man. He was telling us how he went down to Great Dane, got bopped, and felt some titties or sumn.
Every record on the album is something different. Prof goes above and beyond rap, from Blues to Club in 2.2 on the newest drop. The Rhymesayers emcee is smart and uses plenty Jazz on “Liability” but he doesn’t quite fit the conscious mold with his other, more cooled out labelmates. He sings like a bird but then snaps with the savageness of a Midwest emcee.
“I’m definitely the fuck-up of Rhymesayers,” Prof said in an interview with HipHopDX, “the wild card.”
The polarized character has had a hard time catching national waves but with features from Tech N9ne, Petey Pablo and Waka Flocka Flame on here, many sleepers shall be woke soon.
Monte Booker and crew are here! The three Southside Chicago artists are all young, megatalented, and dropping. The zero fatigue collective finished up Ravyn Lenae’s Moon Shoes in August, Smino’s S!CK S!CK S!CK in early October, and now we get White Label from the producer.
The 20-year-old producer is making some of the coldest beats in America. He combines elements of Hip Hop, Jazz and Electronic music to craft bright and memorable instrumentals.
“While creating this White Label I was definitely influenced by lots of jazz – primarily because of how innovative it is, electronic sounds and Flying Lotus,” Booker said in a recent interview. “In fact, Flying Lotus should just be a genre at this point lol.”
Band : Lucki Eck$ Title : FREEWAVE Release Date : October 18, 2015
Announced and unsheathed on October 18, 2015 at midnight CT… Lucki Eck$ talks guns, thots and xans on the disgusting FREEWAVE EP. This is drugged out thug music at its ugliest, with bars of a different kind.
The grimy Chicago emcee takes it takes it a knotch up with his alternative style. Lucki is a Drill artist with an affinity for the Chopped and Screwed sound, which pours out on the leaned out FREEWAVE in a different way. The FREEWAVE EP presents a union of the two regional sounds – a collection of dirty, bass and sample-heavy freestyles.
Lucki Eck$ has a heavy slur and talks a lot of street shit – like rappers from Houston, New Orleans or Memphis – but he moves different. The Drill rapper maintains a low key presence in comparison. Watch this video of him going in on the Three 6 Mafia-sampled “Freewave 1.”
He seems faded and cool overall. Lucki Eck$ doesn’t shoot a lot in public either, and that’s how most people are in Chicago. In general, Midwest folk don’t dance or flash in public much. Lucki will say some shit on the Three 6 Mafia-sample:
“Bitches be on dirt, like some headstones, won’t give her one Bitch I’m wired up like that cable guy, ‘Get er done’ Styrofoam stacking got the coffee sippers sick of us Wresting prices blood, in my mouth I look like Viscera”
And he’ll just be rocking around a room or sumn. Or at most, he’ll be holding a pistol and a double cup. The songs are nasty and wild but Eck$ won’t be going fufu for none.
Listen to the lyrics, though. Rappers like Chief Keef, Lil Durk and Lil Bibby speak on the streets but they don’t have bars like that. Lucki Eck$ has a way of finessing gangland speak in with other parts of his life through his monotonous, care-free voice. The lyricist even takes time to look at himself on a couple tracks. On the cold and introspective, pulsating “backhome” beat, Lucki goes:
“I can’t go back home Bitches over with, I gotta block her from my momma phone Told all of my business, she know of my father to the board Rolling off a hit, all that xanax made that last summer cold Forgot who made me me, forgot my mom, my whole summer gone Back to school, she ready, get from far from me as possible Bitch I’ll go on tour, I’ll be your city – that’s impossible Math star, black thoughts and feelings, mental obstacles Been through this like five times, I still don’t know what I’ma do And now I’m still stuck on my last high Don’t think I got the courage to do that again Fuck the rules, look who raised me, I now how to sin”
The rapper has a more serious tone on the following track too. Both tracks have titles, which makes it seem more personal. His flow is laid all the way back on “newer me,” talking lost love over the beautiful cloud beat:
“Now I’m a newer me Finesse the nigga, he on joe line talm bout sueing me New phone, who this? Another newer me This bitch talm bout call my phone, ‘What you gon do for me?’ And you know I had to send her like a newer me Geeking bitch, I’m in her face, she still pursuing me Three phones – one, no I don’t give out that number I can’t talk now, I’m too busy, this my trap number I think I missed my flight, being the newer me Another mood mood swing just when she think she used to me Then I switch up with that newer me Then I hit her with a newer me”
Eck$ can go that way if he wants, he just chooses not to dive all the way in. His Drill flow can get repetitive for that reason, but these are also freestyles. He’s wavy as long as these bars and beats are hitting, I just hope the next mixtape is filled with more concept records. If Lucki Eck$ can create songs with more direction, whether they sound like “backhome” or “Freewave 7,” I think he’ll be around for a while.
As lyrical and serious as J. Cole but from a colder climate, Blaccout Garrison is the present and future of Minnesota conscious Hip Hop. It took 4 years but Hungry Soulful is one for the ages (September 29, 2015). The lyricist is newer than his counterpart in Atmosphere but also different.
A young but highly intelligent and driven emcee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Sean Smart is looking to reintroduce himself to the world after his days with Higher Education (November 25, 2015). He put a lot of work into the indie label but out on his own he has complete control over his sound.
Sean Smart “fell in love with the culture” at a young age, he tells me. The rapper grew up on Queen and Bob Marley but his friends were into Hip Hop. His Milwaukee public schooling wound up teaching him much more than the three Rs. Sean picked up on Hip Hop from his classmates and remembers grabbing Jay-Z’s Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life on cassette in 3rd grade.
Now, the more Logic side of the rapper is coming out as he works on a more widely appealing sound for his self-titled mixtape. Sean’s days of rapping over experimental Boom Bap have come to a close. It’s time for the dictionary to get read.
Sean looks to make a good impression with his debut solo project. “No real message or underlying story, just raw tracks that make people bob their heads and get a feel for my abilities”, he says. “This is just the warm up for what is about to come”.
