I looked up flights, trains and busses to make this freestyle battle only to find out that it was CIAA, my cousin’s birthday weekend and then a sudden death in my family all at the same time. I have been waiting for the footage since and finally I am posting this anticipated battle.
Phara Funeral is decent but 40 B.A.R.R.S. is still a lyrical beast, that girl is not a human!!!
Who do you think Won? Phara Funeral? 40 B.A.R.R.S.? Let me know how you feel.
I have been playing this song in my stereo since the weekend.
Dizzy Wright and FunkVolume’s video picture for their new campaign “Still Movin”.
You can purchase these t-shirts & sweatshirts at myfunkvolume.com
XXL Magazine“s anticipated freshman class of 2013 has finally been revealed. Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, Kirko Bangz, Travi$ Scott, Angel Haze, Dizzy Wright, Logic, School Boy Q, and Trinidad James all appear in this group shot while, “the hate being sober artist“, Chief Keef appears on the side individually. Every year XXL puts together this list and every year I usually disagree. But this year they have a couple of heavy hitters but is this their “best ever”. Of course Hip Hop heads are going to debate but what’s Hip hop without controversy?
Congrats to all of you artists that made the cut! There are still some artists on this list I have yet to listen to like some of you readers so I decided to do a run down on the artists that are not mainstream.
The yearbook of XXL’s Freshman Class of 2013….
Joey Bada$$
I’ve already explained in my last post about how I felt about Joey Badda$$. This is one of my favorites from the his mixtape 1999:
Ab-Soul
Ab-Soul is a rapper from Carson California known as The Future of West Coast Rap. He is currently signed to Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records. He has done tracks with Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q to name a few. I love the message in this song, him and Kendrick Lamar were speaking to me:
Action Bronson
Action Bronson is an artist I was not aware about till this list was released. Born as Ariyan Arslani, Bronson grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, the son of an Albanian immigrant father and a Jewish mother. The New York Times named Bronson as “one of the most promising prospects in New York hip-hop. I like the throwback instrumental on this track and his flow is nice. I will be adding him to my playlists, I found a couple of tracks that I liked.
Dizzy Wright
Dizzy Wright is putting Las Vegas,NV on. I love the messages in his music, I feel like his music is filled with soul. The fact that he is my age but so wise and self-conscious is sexy. I love the Anita Baker sample in this track, I love to walk on campus with this tune in my ear:
Angel Haze
I have been on Angel Haze for almost four years ago. I actually first saw her funny Youtube videos before I listened to music. This girl is not only hilarious but she is a lyrical beast. I am so happy for her success because she deserves all the recognition. I am just confused with her look right now.
First she was a stud looking rapper now she is a girly looking rapper. Don’t mind me though I just was curious if she was straight now or is she still werkin Girls:
Logic
Rapper Logic, is fairly new to my ears but he is a Maryland native on the rap scene since he was 17. Logic started his fan base at University of Maryland and now his followers are multiplying. I like the vibe on this track, he is really artistic with his sounds and samples.
Travi$ Scott
Travi$ Scott is signed to GOOD Music and is working on his first album. THis guy’s music can range from classic hip hop to techno. I respect his flow and the fact that he is changing the typical sound of Hip Hop. This generation is experimenting with everything musically and breaking the barrier. This “animal” track gives me a Kanye West vibe but it’s definitely dope.
Schoolboy Q
Schoolboy Q is a rapper representing South Central, LA. He also is signed to TopDawg ENT and has does numerous songs with Kendrick Lamar and Ab-$oul. The west coast has been adding players to the game lately. I think he is talented but i don’t know if he is my type of rap artist I would listen to everyday.
I like this track produced by Boi 1da though.
Who is your favorite on this List? Do you agree with XXL that this is their “Best Ever”
Leave your opinions below.
Guess Who‘s BIZZAACCKKKKKK!!!!!
I decided to do a post on some Underground artists that I have been listening to for the past couple months. Some of these artists you may know and some you might just be getting hip to them. Underground music has took over my life lately mainly because I am getting bored with mainstream music.
Check out these artists!
This group is the real deal! They are an english girl group based in London. I love how they put a 90′s soul vibe on this Kendrick Lamar track.
SHUN WARD
I got exposed to Shun Ward while I was on The N-Crowd radio show. I like his smooth voice and anyone who can do a great remake of Sade is always a plus. The “Dying for love” single was the first track I heard, he is a really talented guy.
JOEY BADA$$
Joey Badda$$ is a rapper out of Brooklyn. His buzz been ringing but to me he is still underground and I love it. My cousin sent me his music one morning and I have been hooked ever since. His flow is insane and those instrumentals are classic.
GABBIE GIFTSZ
Gabbie Giftsz is so innovative. I love how she does not bite her tongue and is not following the trend of female rap. Check out the interview I did on her, she’s dope!
http://nuflavainyaear.com/2012/12/31/dope-women-in-hip-hop-gabbie-giftsz-interview/
CHILDISH GAMBINO
This track makes me think of my summer vacations in Philly! Childish Gambino is that nerd with a flow haha
TIMIYA
ladies this is my ultimate booty shaker right here. I can’t keep still when this comes on. I always got to show love to my African culture.
Of Course I have more, so stay tuned next week for so more dope artists!
Let’s get back to the music.
“It’s so hard to stay sucka free in a world full of lollipops”
-DMX
DMX might be known for being crazy but he will always be one of the greatest MC’s in Hip Hop. This quote is one of my favorites because it discusses the problems with our generation. People need to stop following these lollipops and live their lives for themselves. I refuse to be mediocre and I will always be true to myself. Why? Because I respect the real in me and I refuse to get sucked by these vultures. How do people just let other people control their lives and use them? Is that the price we have to pay for the good life? If that’s so well I guess I’ll never live be able to live that life.
Stand up for something or sit down and be licked.
Peace.. Soul.. And Flava
Do people still watch American Idol? It doesn’t matter because Ms. Zoanette Johnson (American Idol top 20 contestant) tackles the stage with her vibrant personality and dramatic voice. She is a Okalahoma native-born in Liberia and I am so excited for her because she is representing my home country. People have been complaining that she is not American so she does not deserve to be on “American Idol”. I think that statement is so ignorant because I am Liberian and I am also an American citizen. American people need to stop with all the assumptions about Africa and do some research. It seems like anyone or anything that has to do with Africa gets hit with gigantic negativity.I don’t understand how people choose to stay dumb, I mean knowledge is free in this country so take advantage of it.
When I first saw her performance of ” Circle of Life” from the Disney Motion Picture Lion King, I was disappointed. I was thinking “Great, now she is going to have people thinking that all of us Africans know this song, like its our national anthem or something. But actually seeing it for the second time , I have to say I enjoyed it. That is one of my favorite Disney movie songs. She may not have hit all the right notes but it was something about that performance that was very captivating. I thought Nicki Minaj’s emotional comment was hilarious. Onika cut it out!!
Hate It or love it Zoanette is going to shine. Check out the video of her performance..
