What happened to the local buzz? In 2006, everyone was curious about what Bay Area artists were going to bring. In 2007 it seemed like people stopped caring. Even KMEL and KYLD gave up on local artists (94.9 pretty much gave up on rap in general). Out of the local artist signed to major labels only a few released albums....and none of them had commercial success. Still, there were some quality albums that dropped. Lets take a look back at the 2007 releases that mattered....
2007 Albums
Mistah F.A.B. "Da Baydestrian": Mistah F.A.B. released this album to keep his fans happy while they wait for his major label debut. The album came out pretty good with a nice mix of party and serious songs.
Songs to check out: Sideshow (Remix), Goin Crazy, 100 Bars
Turf Talk "West Coast Vaccine": This is one of this years best Bay Area albums with the best album cover. Rick Rock and Droop-E provided some serious slaps.
Songs to check out: Super Star, Popo's, I'm Ghetto, Groupie
Federation "It's Whateva": After their first album drop, everyone was anticipating a follow up album. However, by the time this album dropped, the anticipation was gone. The album wasn't bad, but it didn't have the same effect as the first one. It didn't help that their most popular song since the first album couldn't get cleared.
Songs to check out: Got Me Fucked Up, My Rimz, New Baby Daddy
The Pack "Based Boys": With a song that was as big as Vans, I was expecting big things for The Pack. As with the rest of the Bay this year, big things didnt happen. There are some slaps on this one though.
Songs to check out: I Look Good, Rock N Roll, Fly
Frontline "Lock & Left": This one gets the award for most slept on album. Great lyrics and great production...what more can you ask for?
Songs to check out: IMG, The Truth, It's Going Down
Too Short "Get Off The Stage": This might be Too Shorts worst solo, party because with 10 tracks, this album is....too short.
Songs to check out: Get Off The Stage, This My One, Gangstas & Strippers
P.S.D., Messy Marv & Keak Da Sneak "Da Bidness": This was originally supposed to be a PSD & Keak album, but the very popular Messy Marv was added to generate more interest. The result...some slaps but this felt more like a compilation than an album...it just doesn't flow like an album should.
Songs to check out: Reloaded, If She Knows Me She Owes Me, Burdens Of His Youth
Messy Marv & Mitchy Slick "Messy Slick": One of the few albums I spent money on this year. The song with Yukmouth is too sick.
Songs to check out: On The One, 2nd Letter, Cherish A Thug
Husalah "Hustlin' Since Da 80's": This is the first Husalah solo I listened to. A lot of his shit sounds like a freestyle...but his style is sick.
Songs to check out: Mamaco, I Fell In Love With Crime
The Jacka & Ampichino "36 Zips": Very good album. Must listen for Jacka fans. It's not as great as his last solo, but a few of the songs are up to par with it.
Songs to check out: I Try, Starz, Droptop
Black C "City Of Gods": Mobb Shit! This album is still getting a lot of spins from me.
Songs to check out: Mashi'n Till We Rich, Gangsta Shit, Ridin High, Mob Muzik
V-White "Perfect Timin": I had never listened to The Delinquents before this album, so I didn't really know what to expect. The result is an album that was put together well with some nice beats. However, there isn't really anything memorable on it and the skits were too much.
Songs to check out: Oakland, This One Go, What The Game Been Missin
Kafani "Moneys My Motivation": Kafani got picked up by Kock off the strength of his single, Fast (Like A Nascar). He'll probably go down as a one hit wonder because his album has already been forgotten.
Songs to check out: Throw Ya Hood Up, Fast (Like A Nascar), Everybody Knows My Name
Other albums were also released by Messy Marv, B-Legit, Eddi Projex & more..
My 10 Favorite Songs of 2007
(songs released on albums in 2007 only)
Messy Marv & Mitchy Slick ft. Yukmouth- On The One
Turf Talk ft. E-40- Popo's
Frontline- IMG
Zion I ft. Too Short- Dont Lose Your Head
The Jacka & Ampichino- I Try
Husalah- Mamaco
Black C ft. Mr.Walker & Moe The Hustla- Ridin High
Federation- Got Me Fucked Up
Mistah F.A.B. ft. Fabo- Goin' Crazy
Equipto & Berner ft. Cait La De & F Dog- Out On My Grind
Artists To Look Out For In 2008
E-40: He's the biggest rapper in the Bay (I'm not talking about his weight) and he's supposed to drop "Ball Street Journal" this year.
Clyde Carson: "He has a deal with Capitol, he is also affiliated with Black Wall Street. He has a smooth flow that should appeal to most." This is what I said last year as I expected him to have a big 07 but his album never dropped. Hopefully Theatre Music comes out in 08.
The Jacka: As I said before, he puts out the best music in the Bay Area. Tear Gas coming soon.
Ya Boy: His mixtapes have gained him a lot of fans...it's time for the next step. He hasn't released an actual album since 05..so I'm ready.
Keak Da Sneak: Koch pushed his album back to February...and I don't expect it to drop on schedule, but hopefully Deify has some slaps on it.
Mistah F.A.B.: He had an interesting 07...and hopefully he has an even better 08 by dropping Yellow Bus Ridah.
San Quinn: Who has been on more albums than Quinn? Nobody. His next album should be just as good as his last.
Yukmouth: Damn...as I'm writing this, I'm realizing how badly albums have been pushed back. People have been waiting for Yuk's next solo for years.
Other names to look out for: Messy Marv, J. Stalin, Balance, Big Rich
I expect 2008 to be huge compared to 2007. The rappers I listed need to drop QUALITY albums right after the other and all eyes will be on us once again.
Showing posts with label year in review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label year in review. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Bay Area Hip Hop 2006 in review/ 2007 preview
The Bay Area hip hop hasn't had the mainstreams attention for something like 10 years. This changed in 2006 when E-40 teamed up with Lil Jon and introduced "hyphy" to the world. By the start of summer, the Bay Area had a lot of buzz. Everyone was asking, "what is hyphy?" The buzz gave Bay Area artists attention from major hip hop publications as well as major labels. The buzz has pretty much died (for now) because no bay area artist has dropped and album on a major label (meaning no bay artist has been pushed in the mainstream) since E-40's release back in March 2006 (other than Too Short, but i'm excluding him because....because I feel like it!). There has however been a lot of quality material released independantly that almost none of you have heard. So....if you're open minded and dont wanna miss out on some good music, read on. If you're wanna hate without listening to this shit, you're ignorant and i feel sorry for your momma. If you wanna hate after giving this shit a chance, feel free to do so.
2006 Bay Area Year in Review
E-40 "My Ghetto Report Card": You pretty much know what's up with this album already. This album was huge for the bay, but dont think its the best we have to offer. Songs to check out: Yay Area, Tell Me When To Go, Muscle Cars, White Gurl.
The Team "World Premier": This album was going to be released through Universal, but the deal didn't work out for whatever reason, so the wold missed out on this sick album. The beats are sick, they just talk about their lives (which include a lot of drugs and females), they dont really sound like anything else out there. This is Clyde Carson's group, you may have heard about him since he fucks with Black Wall Street. Songs to check out: Bottles Up, Top Of The World, Just Go, Hyphy Juice, It's Getting Hot.
Dem Hoodstarz "Band Aid & Scoot": This is a hyphy-ish album. Some good party tracks on here, not really any replay value for me because there isn't much more than good party songs. Songs to check out: Diamonds, How We Do, Get Ya Grown Man On, Gwap
San Quinn "The Rock: Pressure Makes Diamonds": Quinn has been around for years. He's out of San Francisco, and as most rappers from the city, his style is universal (basically, non "hyphy"). This album doesn't have many tracks that'll make you say WOW, but this is a solid album (i only skip 2 songs). Songs to check out: Hell Yeah!, Look What I've Done For Them, Kick Yo' Ass, The Hunter.
Bailey "Champ Bailey": Bailey, part of the Done Deal family with San Quinn (above) and Big Rich (below), dropped his debut album this year. I didnt feel it as much as most people out here, but still, it was a solid release. Tracks to check out: U C IT, Fuck Yo Couch, If These Walls Could Talk.
Big Rich "Block Tested, Hood Approved": Big Rich surprised me, I wasn't expecting much from this fat dude. Although he's not a lyrical beast, the beats are sick, and the image he portrays is beleivable. This is an album that people from the East should like, he even has several east coast features. Tracks to check out: Thats The Business, Where I'm From, Lay It Down, Block Tested Hood Approved
Bullys Wit Fullys (Messy Marv and Guce) "The Infrastructure": I played the shit outta this album. This isn't any sugarcoated candy shop shit, its an album for the streets. Messy Marv is real sick, Guce is average. Tracks to check out: So Hood, Real Talk, Cracker Jacks, any fucking song off this album.
Other 2006 albums to check out..Balance "Young and Restless": Song to check out:Let the Bass Go
Equipto "Behind the Rhyme": Song to check out: Dangerous
There a lot more out there, but those are the local artists getting radio play out here (except equipto). 2007 is here, and this is what mainstream hip hop fans should expect to see come outta the Bay.
The Federation: With Rick Rock on the beats, the album should be nice. Their last album didn't sell...but you can put it on in a club and play it straight, the beats were that good.
Mistah Fab: I expect him to get a lot of hate after the mainstream gets hold of his first single because he dumbs down his lyrics so much for singles. His album i supposed to be a double cd, one for the party/hyphy tracks, one of the deep/real songs. F.A.B. is one of the best when it comes to freestyling, he'll go 10 minutes+ off the top of the head, using topics that the crowd throws at him. His album should get a good push since he has a deal with Atlantic.
Clyde Carson- He has a deal with Capitol, he is also affiliated with Black Wall Street. You might have heard him on Game's mixtapes, and his single "2 Step is getting radio play. He has a smooth flow that should appeal to most.
Ya Boy- He's built a nice buzz for himself. I dont really beleive the shit he says, but he's creative and sick with his mataphors. He dropped Rookie Of The Year in 2005 and that album was crazy. He's going to make a lot of new fans this year.
The Pack- Will they be one hit wonders with their "Vans" song, or will they have another hit? I dont know...
Keak Da Sneak- Most people won't give him a chance because of the way he sounds, but he's sick as fuck, or he used to be (not really feeling much of his more recent stuff).
Yukmouth- One of the Bay's best, gotta see if he still has it with his next album.
Other Names To Look Out For:Andre Nickatina, The Jacka, Messy Marv to tired from typing to think of more.
2006 Bay Area Year in Review
E-40 "My Ghetto Report Card": You pretty much know what's up with this album already. This album was huge for the bay, but dont think its the best we have to offer. Songs to check out: Yay Area, Tell Me When To Go, Muscle Cars, White Gurl.
The Team "World Premier": This album was going to be released through Universal, but the deal didn't work out for whatever reason, so the wold missed out on this sick album. The beats are sick, they just talk about their lives (which include a lot of drugs and females), they dont really sound like anything else out there. This is Clyde Carson's group, you may have heard about him since he fucks with Black Wall Street. Songs to check out: Bottles Up, Top Of The World, Just Go, Hyphy Juice, It's Getting Hot.
Dem Hoodstarz "Band Aid & Scoot": This is a hyphy-ish album. Some good party tracks on here, not really any replay value for me because there isn't much more than good party songs. Songs to check out: Diamonds, How We Do, Get Ya Grown Man On, Gwap
San Quinn "The Rock: Pressure Makes Diamonds": Quinn has been around for years. He's out of San Francisco, and as most rappers from the city, his style is universal (basically, non "hyphy"). This album doesn't have many tracks that'll make you say WOW, but this is a solid album (i only skip 2 songs). Songs to check out: Hell Yeah!, Look What I've Done For Them, Kick Yo' Ass, The Hunter.
Bailey "Champ Bailey": Bailey, part of the Done Deal family with San Quinn (above) and Big Rich (below), dropped his debut album this year. I didnt feel it as much as most people out here, but still, it was a solid release. Tracks to check out: U C IT, Fuck Yo Couch, If These Walls Could Talk.
Big Rich "Block Tested, Hood Approved": Big Rich surprised me, I wasn't expecting much from this fat dude. Although he's not a lyrical beast, the beats are sick, and the image he portrays is beleivable. This is an album that people from the East should like, he even has several east coast features. Tracks to check out: Thats The Business, Where I'm From, Lay It Down, Block Tested Hood Approved
Bullys Wit Fullys (Messy Marv and Guce) "The Infrastructure": I played the shit outta this album. This isn't any sugarcoated candy shop shit, its an album for the streets. Messy Marv is real sick, Guce is average. Tracks to check out: So Hood, Real Talk, Cracker Jacks, any fucking song off this album.
Other 2006 albums to check out..Balance "Young and Restless": Song to check out:Let the Bass Go
Equipto "Behind the Rhyme": Song to check out: Dangerous
There a lot more out there, but those are the local artists getting radio play out here (except equipto). 2007 is here, and this is what mainstream hip hop fans should expect to see come outta the Bay.
The Federation: With Rick Rock on the beats, the album should be nice. Their last album didn't sell...but you can put it on in a club and play it straight, the beats were that good.
Mistah Fab: I expect him to get a lot of hate after the mainstream gets hold of his first single because he dumbs down his lyrics so much for singles. His album i supposed to be a double cd, one for the party/hyphy tracks, one of the deep/real songs. F.A.B. is one of the best when it comes to freestyling, he'll go 10 minutes+ off the top of the head, using topics that the crowd throws at him. His album should get a good push since he has a deal with Atlantic.
Clyde Carson- He has a deal with Capitol, he is also affiliated with Black Wall Street. You might have heard him on Game's mixtapes, and his single "2 Step is getting radio play. He has a smooth flow that should appeal to most.
Ya Boy- He's built a nice buzz for himself. I dont really beleive the shit he says, but he's creative and sick with his mataphors. He dropped Rookie Of The Year in 2005 and that album was crazy. He's going to make a lot of new fans this year.
The Pack- Will they be one hit wonders with their "Vans" song, or will they have another hit? I dont know...
Keak Da Sneak- Most people won't give him a chance because of the way he sounds, but he's sick as fuck, or he used to be (not really feeling much of his more recent stuff).
Yukmouth- One of the Bay's best, gotta see if he still has it with his next album.
Other Names To Look Out For:Andre Nickatina, The Jacka, Messy Marv to tired from typing to think of more.
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