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]

while i don’t have any funds to buy any new kicks, i think i may have to check out this joint. it’s the most renown sneaker event in the country, to my knowledge, and it brings out great crowds. art whino will be in the building, providing that trill live art entertainment that i really dig. and the show is headlined by the clipse, so even if you aren’t into shoes like that, the music will keep you entertained.

interested on who else / what else to find there? X.O., kingpin slim, wale, j. cole, phil ade, dj alizay, dj iran, dj heat, and more. the flyer says it all.

yerp. all-star emcees, DJs, and brands are a part of this occasion so if you somehow missed it on the flyer, it’s TOMORROW, july 18, and doors open at 8. 18+. for more info, and to buy tickets, click here. i heard they’re going fast, and it’s $15 beforehand, and more if you show up! grab them now.

you know i’ve been keeping you guys tuned to all X.O.‘s latest and greatest moves. since i posted about him last time, he’s signed with kenny burns brainchild, studio 43. there’s always doubters out there, and i heard them chit chattin’ about if the move was a good one. i think it was a great one. 10,000+ downloads already in like a week? come on man, that’s solid. not only that, but the city knows his name, as do those across the country. great work, 43.

now to the music. more of the same, hot $#!t he’s been making, except over some more futuristic beats on this tape. that’s because A.B. the producer executively produced the entire joint. say no more. download link below after the sample, which is a more uptempo joint compared to what you’ve heard in the past.

DOWNLOAD: X.O. – Monumental

tracklisting and bonus footage after the drop.

BONUS: Benji – Where Benji At?

MORE BONUS! whoisrickyparker.com presents, BET awards wknd footage.

yeah, this joint came out a few months ago, but after that progress report by judah, i felt like people needed to hear stuff that may have been overlooked by the masses from this area. off marky‘s latest mixtape, nothing is 43ver. first joint is a slow track, smooth, and so real that you may even bring it back and be like “damn, did he really just say that? i been feeling like that for a minute.” i like that kinda music, the inspirational, thought-provoking kind. second joint is a feel-good song, simple but real nice also.

DOWNLOAD: Marky – Turn Around

DOWNLOAD: Marky – That’s Why They Love Me

the whole mixtape is here, courtesy of ill vibes DMV.

BONUS: Jeremih – Birthday Sex [Remix] [feat. Marky]

X.O. BAYBAY!

some uptown rhymes for you all. studio 43′s most recent signee (and 1/3 of the diamond district trio) talks about that crabs in a barrel mentality on a trill beat brought to you by A.B. the Producer. let’s go. check out interviews by X.O. and the homie benji after the drop, too. shout out to the guys behind the connect DVD.

DOWNLOAD: X.O. – Crabs in a Barrel [feat. A.B. The Producer]

oh my lord. studio 43‘s A.B. the Producer has delivered with this one.

this among is the most enjoyable mixtapes i’ve jammed in a while. i didn’t say the most technical, or the most ingenious. A.B. is a producer first, but as a rapper/singer/whatever you wanna call it, he’s definitely entertaining and can make some catchy songs. agree or disagree, i don’t really care. i’m all about those craaaaaazy beats. that’s what i live for. and apparently, so does A.B. i remember after i heard his “charisma” last year, i was beyond impressed with his production skills, but to see such tremendous growth in such a short period makes me pretty excited to see what the future holds. from samples to original compositions, he rocks every single beat. i even think some of these joints should be held for some A-list talent (meaning world famous, not like the artists on the mixtape aren’t good. you know what i mean!) if you ask me.

i really dig how the DMV artists all support each other. virtually anybody who is anybody on the scene blesses the mixtape with a verse. literally. you name them, they’re probably on it. yes, that means wale is on the joint. but so are raheem devaughn, lyriciss, marky, pro’verb, mouse, X.O., ra the MC, and a slew of other emcees and singers. you gotta check the tracklisting after the jump to see who else blesses the mixtape.

A.B., this joint cranks. great work. everybody needs this in rotation right about now. i’m throwing up a couple samples, just in case all these words didn’t persuade you to download it yet.

*note: you need some nice speakers to jam these. trust me. at least have some bass at your disposal.*

DOWNLOAD: A.B. the Producer – Producer’s Credit [Mixtape]

tracklisting after this.

my new favorite producer is this guy. A.B. i found him scouring myspace pages like a year or so ago, and then pretty soon i heard the good word that he had signed with kenny burns’ studio 43. if you’ve been following this site for a while, his name may sound familiar to you, as i featured a track by him some time ago (even named an entire DC to BC mixtape after the track! get it here. oh boy.) not only does he produce, but he’s an artist of sorts too. i don’t really have much more to say besides watch the video.

keri hilson is the sexiest woman in show business as of december 5th, 2008. good lord. and did i just see the woman from real housewives of atlanta? damn! how much money do you have to hang to be in that circle? that’s a real billionaire’s boys & girls club. i saw a report on the gilt groupe on TV once, apparently it’s like the most exclusive fashion circle of all time. invite only! i’ll give $1,000 to anybody who can prove to me that they are a member (besides you, kenny). try your luck by attempting to log in to the site here. i failed. miserably. 17 times.

UPDATE: i’m now a member, who is out of $1,000. ha. what up!

finally. an episode from his hometown. enjoy.

at 2:51, the funniest thing of all time happens. listen to what that guy says! by the way, i ran into marky, AB the producer, and KB himself at the N*E*R*D show in atlanta. cool ass dudes, for real. marky was down there hustling, recording and mixing records. kenny resides in the A now. they have nothing but love for DC to BC, as well as all the other blogs and sites that support them. shout out to studio 43, as they recently launched their new webpage. haha, the theme music on there is VICIOUS! check them out when you get a chance.