These days, southern rap/hip hop is widely criticized all across the nation. Most just throw any southern artist in the “dance and pop” category and are done with it. If any of the critics were to ever hear “Lowkey Famous” by Atlanta based artist Ro.A, I think they would change their minds completely. Ro.A has a distinct flow that works to perfection on any tracks he rhymes over. “Lowkey Famous” is a 22-track mixtape that could easily sound like an album. Ro.A has many songs that could be made into singles for a debut album. His style varies for each track, giving him his own distinct category. This mixtape is comprised of songs with loads of subject matter. It starts off explaining the meaning of the title and gives a track to support it. Immediately after comes two tracks of laid back production. “Let Em Know“, Ro.A showcases his talent to full capacity. Every line is filled with punchlines, not lacking any substance at all. The rest of the mixtape is no different; Ro.A keeps the heat coming with song after song. I really like the production on this mixtape. The beats sound nothing like anything you can find out there. The only thing I dislike about the mixtape is the choice of beats that are already known (ex. Bedrock) simply because; that gives listeners a reason to compare the artist from its original. Other than that, I love this mixtape. Definitely something that can be played over and over again for quite a while. I hope to hear many more projects from Ro.A in the near future.

My personal favorite: Let Em Know.
4 out of 5 stars.
Download: Ro.A – LowKey Famous.

Not too often in the music industry is an artist or group able to combine different sounds for one genre and become successful. Hollywood Holt is a perfect example of how it should be done. The newest mixtape “These Are The Songs That Didn’t Make The Album But Are Still Cold As Hell So Shut The Fuck Up Vol. 1” is simply genius. I don’t know the story behind the title but it sounds pretty self-explanatory. Hollywood Holt gives listeners a taste of modern day lyrics over classic production. He uses many beats of other genres, such as rock, pop, dance, and rap. This mixtape displays Hollywood Holt in a very versatile and creative way, a way that can easily set them apart from others. I myself am a big fan of rap music, but I’m an even bigger fan of alternative rap and Hollywood Holt definitely fits the description in many ways. They are more than able to switch up his style on any track and come out victorious. “These Are The Songs That Didn’t Make The Album But Are Still Cold As Hell So Shut The Fuck Up Vol. 1” is full of tracks with different sounds that all blend very well together, complementing the creative lyrics of Hollywood Holt. I definitely see Hollywood Holt achieving more recognition, off this tape alone. Be on the look out for more projects by him.

My personal favorite: Almost There.
3.9 out of 5 stars.
Download: Hollywood Holt – These Are The Songs That Didn’t Make The Album But Are Still Cold As Hell So Shut The Fuck Up Vol. 1.

Not too often is a mixtape considered classic. Classic is defined as something to be a perfect example of a particular style, of lasting worth and timeless quality. There is no better word to explain “The Lamest COOL” by duo known as FatKidsBrotha (Johnny and DavE).
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Positive rap is said to be lacking in today’s society, but that’s definitely not the case in the album “Sneakerboxxx” by independent artist Jeff Spec. I don’t know if I should even start off by calling him a rapper. Jeff tells stories and rhymes in a poetic matter that easily puts him in an elite category among others. Although “Sneakerboxxx” doesn’t tell a continuing story through each song, Spec comes with amazing lyrics and creative punchlines throughout the whole album. There isn’t one track that makes you doubt his ability as a true hip hop artist. To compliment his innovative wordplay are crafty hip hop beats laced with organs, drums, and special effects that all go well in tune with each other. With every song, Spec gives listeners a little insight of his background as well as the finer things in life that he adores. In the track “My Story“, he tells of his struggle and passion for achievement through his music.
In my opinion, this album is nothing but AMAZING. Jeff Spec is a true hip hop artist. He reminds me of Common through his eccentric poetic style of rhyming. You can automatically tell his love for music as the album progresses from the first track to its last. I also give compliments to the production of the album. Each beat displayed is great, filled with beautiful instruments and crafty special effects. I see great opportunity for Jeff Spec as he continues to make marvelous music and keep hip hop alive.

My personal favorite: Whenever You Fall feat. NaRai and Omar Khan.
4.5 out of 5 stars.

Download: Jeff Spec – Sneakerboxxx.

Today we review “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game” on Xbox Live Arcade, which is based off the movie that is based off the books.
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If this EP from Reggie Bishop says nothing else it definitely says the SOUTH, 100%. With no hesitation Reggie makes it known where he’s from. Glenwood Shuffle starts off by telling Reggie’s lifestyle here in the south. The explanation of muscle cars, his attire, and lust for women, you can automatically tell the love he has for his hometown through each track. Over heavy beats he exemplifies his ability to speak on things that go on in his life with talks of his desires and needs. While he mainly tells of fast living and luxury, he also takes time out to dedicate a few tracks to the ladies.
The track “GA Girl” talks of a southern girl that he yearns for and promises to fulfill her every need. In my own opinion, this mixtape is great! There wasn’t one song that didn’t speak of any or meaning or truth. He has the ability to recite good lyrics to compliment his southern style beats. Reggie Bishop has his own form of rapping that isn’t like too many out there. He has great potential to do big things and Glenwood Shuffle was a great way to showcase his ability. Be on the look out for many more projects from Reggie.

My personal favorite: “Ball Till I Fall“.
3.8 out of 5 stars
Download: Reggie Bishop – Glenwood Shuffle.

Ok so check it, I am hella late on this post but I am right on time for the next show on the 17th of July at Midtown Tavern.

For those that have seen me at shows, you’ll notice one thing, I don’t talk to people.  I am there for the show and that’s it. I’ll shoot the shit with you after or before but during the show…The music has my attention.  It was good to see my friends on stage doing what they do best, performing!

Niko opened up and knocked people on their backs so that they could see the sun shine(first time seeing him since he cut his hair he was rather dapper).  I watched the ripple effect while he performed “Atlanta Bitch,” and you could tell that as he named off the “spots” in Atlanta, that so many people were thinking of their fond memories at El Bar and the Q.

Richelle Brown was up next and I cant deny it, I was sleeping on her.  I have seen her several times on Peter St., and just thought she was dope as hell for her style.  Boy, was I missing out.    There is definitely one question I will NOT be asking her, “What are you doing?“  Her energy was amazing!!!! AMAZING! Anybody that jumps into the crowd to feed off of the crowds energy is the shit in my book.  In all honesty, I think she infected the crowd with her vibe. (side note: Absolutely loved her Jimi hendrix Frome2u earrings.)
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GlamourLyke – Hwy Love

GlamourLike, Clark, Myke, and Tony, describes themselves as an experimental hip-hop/rap type group. I don’t know if I quite agree with them. Artists like Gnarls Barkley & Sage Francis would fall under that genre as experimental artists. MF Doom is a experimental rapper but GlamourLyke, no. Experimental rappers/hip-hop spit as if their free-styling in no rhythm and GlamourLyke is laying out lyrics in rhythm. So, I would say they are more of a minus the experimental music group. They’re just hip-hop / rap artists. Nothing experimental here. Unless they’re experimenting with sounds but not genre wise.

Artist Tip: Before you try and categorize yourself in a specific genre, make sure you are capturing all the elements of that musical sound. Otherwise, in this case, your just another hip-hop/rap artist. You can’t call yourself or your music “experimental hip-hop/rap”, if you or the music doesn’t sound like it.

Now that we got that cleared up and out the way. Lets get into THE REVIEW:

Besides mis-categorizing themselves, GlamourLyke are cool artists. The have an original sound. Some of the joints on here had my head bopping. One of their R&B joints, had that old school, mixed with new school sound. Like for instance in, “Think About U”. That one, to me, brought it back to the old days. I dug it. Shouts out to Wally Spark for the production!

The best track to me that characterizes them as artists is Track 1, after the dope a** intro, “Ridin” and Track 5, “Who I R”.

sings “they wonder why walk this way, they wonder why talk this way… tellem to gon’ take a picture, cause we from another planet…” – Track 3, “Take A Picture”

I don’t know everyone claims to be from another planet. Cool track though.

Track 6, “Projects” gives a good explain about them and where they come from over a upbeat track. They almost had that sound of a Texas joint!

“… just because we from the projects, doesn’t mean we got to act like we from the projects…” TRUE STATEMENT!

This album had nice samples.

The collaboration featuring Yelawolf was dope. Yelawolf is definitely not new to the [84]area scene. Track 4 “Cutlass” This could be a nice a club joint. Sounds like a Atlanta joint. I can just see everyone in the club doing the stanky leg or swag surfin’ [Laughing Out Loud] Very entertaining.

Track 7, “Thrift Store” This one made me want to jump on my skates and get on rink somewhere. Groovy track. Its about a girl that shops from the thrift store but knows out to dress and doesn’t care.

Overall, GlamourLyke are some cool dudes. The album was well put together. Definitely some nice joints on here. I love their tag. My only advice would be for them to figure out what type of sound they’re trying to capture.

4.0 out of 5 stars.

Download: GlamourLyke – Hwy. Love

AND WE’RE BACK!

Introducing Jay West “Drugs + Candy”
Mr. West! Ok… So, I couldn’t really find much information on this particular Jay West. I did, however, find his myspace which only had a short description on himself and a gang of pictures in his photos. What may come off as a bitter person, he says “nall” he’s not. [humph] and he doesn’t seem so judging from his pictures.  However, his personality is not what’s being critiqued here. His music is.

The name Jay West.
He says, “I don’t know when it began but I became less of Justin and more of Jay West. Maybe in conversation with a woman trying to follow the “policy” of honesty and I broke all the rules. I tell half the truth cuz i know i’m still the same kid that had a crush on kiyomi in middle school but except with 25% more salt.” I just think its because dude is from the West Coast and his first name starts with J but I don’t know. Just guessing. [Laughing Out Loud].

The Cover Art.
Okay the cover art is dope! Its a drawn picture of a little girl with a skull for a face. Hence, the mix-tape being called “Drugs + Candy“. Makes sense. Shouts out to the graphic artist!

The Review.
I noticed that all the tracks on the album were like 2 or 3 minutes. Very short but straight to business. Jay West is pretty nice with the words. He has his own sound. Thats a plus. Normally I’m always hearing rappers trying to sound like this rapper or that rapper. Then, claiming that their the next HOT rapper and stunting the game.

Track 7, “The Late Night / Early Mornings Interlude” had some girls speaking in another language. I wonder what they were saying? [Laughing Out Loud]

Really nice production on here too. They all have that mellow, groovey feel. The samples used what mad dope. I was really digging the different production on here.

I was really digging Track 8, “White Lies, Black Dress” Jay West – “don’t compare me to the next man, my name is not Logue, I’m not ya ex-man” The word play on here so was dope and smooth!

Lots of different mix of tunes for the ear. Nothing too out the way with the rapping or lyrics. Dude spits it down and had my head boppin’. Had nice production and featuring artists were dope as well. “Galaxy Girl” featuring London, Dreamer was a nice R&B joint. London, Dreamer has a really nice voice! Nice collabo here.

He even did a Cali Track called “Cali.Co.Cool” this was a nice track. Every beat he hops on just flows and blends naturally. I really like rappers like that. Rappers that just let the words flow and it doesn’t seem like its forced or had too much thought it. He’s just feeling the vibe off the beat and letting it go.

Jay West. Talented? Yes.

“The Ex-Pill” is another dope joint! I like this one.

chorus sings, “50 ways to leave your lover”

OVERALL, dude is a cool hip hop artist. Definitely, like some of the tracks up on here. Shouts to everyone who helped him out on his project. Not sure where he wants to go with this but much success to you.

4.1 stars out 5 stars.

Download: Jay West – Drugs + Candy Mixtape.

Ha! Sean Falyon “BE” Everywhere…  equals For Your Entertainment FYE!

First off, shouts out to Fabian Williams for the artwork for the cover on the mixtape. CRAZY DOPE my dude!!!

The Review:
Now, I’m following this dude on twitter and this dude is pure entertainment and after listening to this mixtape he’s freak’n MAD DOPE as an artist! The skits we’re hilarious especially the intro for “Ex-Manager – Hello” produced by Shiz Raw. And if Shiz Raw name is pronounced She’s Raw, that meaning she’s a female producer. Then, SHE IS RAW! That was a FYE ass track! So, big ups to her and all the female producers out there! Yall men better watch out cause us women are taking over the music scene soon! And from this mixtape yall better watch out for SEAN FALYON because he be everywhere!

I love his voice and the way he flows. Its 100% Authentic. You can really tell the rookies from the ones who been in the rap game holding their own. AND Sean Falyon ain’t NO ROOKIE! That’s for sure.

Sean Falyon always delivers since my first time introduced to his music back in summer ‘09. Atlanta loves him from what I’ve seen and dude do be everywhere. I’m always seeing his name attached to something whether it’s a feature with another artist or at a event. Its no secret when he’s out in the scene. I was reading about a Art Battle, I think back in March and guess who was in almost every picture, Mr. Falyon. Dude gets mad love from his city and is known in his city. I’m in Texas and I’ve heard of Falyon before now.

Definitely the 1st track, “Ex-Manager – Hello“, “UnderDog“, “Down + Girl Interlude” feat. GLC, “Single Life” feat. Don Will & Scar, “Symphony” feat. Diz Gibran and “Life In My Pocket” feat. El Prez & C.T. were my favs. Shouts out to Shiz Raw, The Weathermen, Slade, GRADE A MUZIK,and Ginsue J, the producers definitely did their thing on the beats and Sean Falyon plus the featuring artists were FYE!

“UnderDog” selfs explanatory. Its a must listen.

“Single Life” was the truth. That was a great storyline of the single life. Geez, the crazy gossip. Ladies we can’t be catching feelings if its just one night stand or fling or just a cut friend. Laughing Out Loud.

“Life In My Pocket” had that b-boy sound and really catchy. sings “Walking down the block with life in my pocket… hustle is in my veins… cannot stop it”

“Symphony” – I love truth and the realism about life because like Falyon says sometime things happen in life we have no control over. Things just happen. Nice vibe here on this joint.

I can only imagine how the sessions were when creating this project because the tracks provided were crazy dope and Sean Falyon just went in on the tracks real smooth and almost seemed effortless. Each tone of the tracks reels you in and vibe with them. The self-quoted “King of persistence”… yeah, he might be. Lauging Out Loud. Sean Falyon is the business though and Sean Falyon “BE” Everywhere is a must cop.

“Say hello to some good times and new beginnings” – Sean Falyon, “What Ya Like”

5 stars out of 5.
Download: Sean Falyon “BE” Everywhere.