If you know me, if you’ve been in my vehicle or been in my dorm room while I was in college, you’d know that my affinity for A.B. The Pro‘s music is probably unrivaled. I have a lot of confidence in this SE representer’s sound, and he’s my favorite artist on DC’s Studio 43 imprint. I felt like his mixtape he dropped back in ’09 was criminally slept on as far as production and the artists featured. You can tell that he cares a lot about putting DC on the map, and he without a doubt brought out the best in artists that otherwise may not have been able to convince you of their talent. In my eyes, “Stussy on My Back” with Young Marley could have been a local smash if the proper push was behind it (Stussy could have easily jumped on that joint and licensed it out and more money could have been made!), but 43 made the poor decision to push “W On The Fitted” instead, which was by far the worst joint on the entire tape. No offense to any of the artists on that track, but…that joint was so weak.  But hey. I’m not hear to chastise too much. That’s the past. We’re on to the future.

A.B. let me hold an early version of the mixtape to give him some feedback and criticism, and it’s so awesome to see that not only did he take it well, but he actually listened to the majority of what I said! Swapped some songs out, changed the tracklisting, and dropped a lot of freestyles over industry beats. In order to give you A.B. as an artist as opposed to just a producer, I feel like he needs to rap over his own $#!t. The one thing that I wished he did was to start the album with “Young Jimi Hendrix” (which is the first preview I’m gonna give you), or at least make that joint #2! It goes way too hard and kinda introduces you to what the entire album is gonna be like. Besides that, I don’t have too many gripes. The beats are mixed and mastered to thump in the vehicle or through your headphones, he has some club bangers that’ll make you raise an eyebrow and wonder why he doesn’t have stuff on the radio (or with bigger artists outside of DC, to be completely honest), and while he’s not exactly a rapper, you can’t be mad at his lyrics, cuz it’s all stuff people can relate to.

DC is proud of this, but I’m tryna make sure everybody beyond DC hears this product. Featuring a lot of untapped and under appreciated talent that you can read about on the back cover, this is a really good project that I’m proud to have been a fake-me-out A&R on, lol. Nah but really. Jam the previews, and then grab it below.

DOWNLOAD: A.B. The Pro – Crown Vic Music [Mixtape]

Nobody in DC raps better than Fat Trel. Nobody in DC makes a cleaner hood video than 1st Impressions Studio.

Now that you’ve got both of those facts straight, I invite you to see Northeast DC’s most popular fool in his environment. Goodness. If this isn’t gutta gutta, I don’t know what is. I’ve been campaigning for this guy to take over the city for a while now (read my post about him here), and it looks like things are finally starting to look up! I smell a major label situation of some sort coming. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

i feel like everything i post on this blog is worthy of a read or a view. but this is one of those things you’ll feel stupid for scrolling past when i told your ass to watch it, and then your friends are all talking about it but you feel out the loop because you thought it was weak.

the hyperizers. who are these guys? well, they’re NBA superstars mo williams, kevin durant, rashard lewis, and andre iguodala, and they KILL the track. like, first the nike skateboarding commercial, and now the nike basketball advertising / marketing department is sh!tting all over every other ad out there? jeez louise, this is a must watch. each one of them can flow (andre is just on the hook), but tell me who you think is the best in the comment section.

i’ve never posted an AP the prince track on the blog, but i’ve heard a few joints, from freestyle videos to loosies on other sites and his myspace page, and his confidence and dare i say swagger is what won me over. he’s also not afraid to take risks, or rather, cross over genres. this joint is like an electro / hip-hop fusion, but don’t think he goes soft on it. the rock ‘n’ roll influence actually makes the track harder than most. off th new album entitled bella loona love. call me crazy, but i can hear chamillionaire on the remix of this with no problems. slightly reminds me of his collabo w/ weezy, “rock star”,  which you can hear below as well and tell me if you co-sign or disagree wholeheartedly. whatever. enjoy both.

DOWNLOAD: AP The Prince – Bonafide

DOWNLOAD: Chamillionaire & Lil Wayne – Rock Star

also, AP is one of the top breakout artists on this MTV contest thing, so if you liked the song, please support him by voting here.

In The Ruff is the highly anticipated debut album from new DC hip hop group The Diamond District, created by state veterans Oddisee, X.O. (yes, the same man from studio 43. he’s working overtime.) & YU. it’s the answer for any lover of hip hop who asks the question – “Where did that grimy east coast sound go?”

the group was founded by rapper/ producer oddisee (right), who has a long list of production & collaboration credits with the likes of Freeway, Talib Kweli, Siagon, Little Brother, Trek Life, Charles Hamilton, Jazzy Jeff, Buck Shot, Royce the 5′9”, Nikki jean, Muhsinah, J-live, Lil Fame of MOP, Skyzoo and many more. Oddisee’s soulful, haunting samples over bass-heavy beat breaks create the perfect instrumentals for him, X.O. (middle) & YU to match with their street savvy, politically conscious lyrics.

that raw mid-90’s Boom-Bap themed album for the DC state of mind, destined to appeal to all lovers of hip hop’s golden era, managing to travel back in time and push the boundaries of DC Hip-Hop simultaneously.

now who says i don’t post great hip hop? legendary status for this mixtape, should have got more love by the e-masses for sure.

if you want the dirty version, gotta buy it! how’s that for aggressive marketing? and nah, i’m not late. i posted some of their work in march. after the drop, get the download, AS WELL AS a the tracklisting and short documentary.

DOWNLOAD: Diamond District – In The Ruff

pro’verb sent me these a minute ago, and you probably seen it all over the internet, but it wouldn’t be right if i didn’t post. more trill lyrics, making an argument for one of the best in the area.

DOWNLOAD: Pro’Verb – Persecuted Patriot

DOWNLOAD: Pro’Verb – Pokerface Pro

also, SHOUT OUT TO pro and my man lyriciss for rocking the DMV rock the bells show yesterday out in maryland. i heard the whole thing was extra trill, and i’m glad they represented for the city.

now this right here, this is a trill mixtape. repping for the V part of the DMV (that’s virginia, guys),  k-beta links up with DC’s most renown spinmaster, DJ alizay, for a project that i just got on like a week or so ago, even though it dropped in mid-may. i feel almost foolish that i didn’t jump on this when they sent it to my inbox. to my innerloop records people, i apologize for sleeping!

k-beta. what do you need to know: he’s way too good at rapping. like, way too good. he just keeps flowing. i ran into some guys in adams morgan the other day who praised his live show as well, so you can bet when he performs, i’ll be around. this latest project has beta lyrically bodying tracks from – you guessed it – 1989 to 2009.  that’s 20 solid years of hip hop. the beat selection is crazy too, it’s like a walk down memory lane, and he leaves no stone unturned, from underground joints to mainstream and everything in between. it doesn’t hurt to have alizay choppin’ it up all over the tape, too. he even contrbutes a verse!

check out these samples, and download the mixtape by clicking the artwork, or the link below.

DOWNLOAD: K-Beta – 89 to 2009 [Mixtape, Mixed By DJ Alizay]

and just because i like to spice things up, i’m giving $20 to the 1st person who can tell me every the original beat (meaning the producer and the rapper) for all the songs featured on the mixtape. i’m not lying, either. i gave away chillin’ tees for free, why wouldn’t i do this?!

put your answers in the comment section. i may even give partial credit, who knows. let’s get it.

the highly-anticipated video from marshall mathers, which debuted on CINEMAX about an hour ago. sick, twisted, and somewhat brilliant. i wonder what other stuff he’ll be rapping about on the album. i’m going on record now and saying that em may sell a mill in the first week. yikes. call me crazy, but i’m going with it. he’s still my top 5 of all-time. and uh, call me crazy, but is it a coincidence that there was a rick ross look-a-like officer-esque character? let me know what you think.

one of the elite rappers in DC is back. and i apologize for not posting it yesterday, but as you can see by the lack of posts, school got me wtih an okeydoke.

no matter. crazy beats (from homies duncan and BKS), ridiculously potent lyrics, and that’s all i can say. it’s just real. universal music for everybody. best mixtape i’ve heard since A.B.’s joint. here’s the sample of what you should expect on X.O.’s latest effort, and the download link is below.

DOWNLOAD: X.O. – REALMatic

last time you saw X.O. , it was probably when he dropped the takeover 2 back in the beginning of june. the mixtape, with the wale-assisted "rid’n (remix)," had the streets and the blogs going crazy!

X.O.’s latest effort, "US vs. THEM," is like a mix between an EP and a full-length album. nine crazy tracks, with INCREDIBLE production from team demolition, best kept secret, judah, and jaguar skillz. he also recruits some solid local talent to help him out on the tracks, including benji, ra the MC, marky, tragic, and nightmare.  you hear lyricial progression, as X.O.’s uncanny storytelling ability is highlighted on "act like you know," and his chameleon-esque rhyme scheme switches up on tracks such as "ring, ring." there’s even some club-friendly/trunk music joints, too.

this joint gets my vote as the best thing i’ve heard in weeks, hip hop wise. if you like real rap, and you want to know the next rapper to blow from the DMV, then this is for you.

THIS IS THE BEST MIXTAPE IN ROTATION RIGHT NOW!

DL: X.O. – US vs. THEM (the EP)

and a BONUS video from our homies, MAJOR DC! get your gear there, ASAP. they hold me down. wzup undadog, wzup dukki!