Loving this new joint from the Philly veteran, linking up with the veteran Memphis duo. This is off Drumma Boy’s recent Welcome to My City 2 mixtape. All three artists do their thing over this Don Vito produced laid back banger.
'New date added due to phenomenal demand' was a very apt way of describing the packed out second Rick Ross showing in as many weeks, which was at the second biggest venue within Greenwich's leisure emporium once known as 'the Millennium Dome'.
The self proclaimed 'biggest boss that you've seen thus far' left his fans waiting for longer than they had anticipated (tho he did eventually provide a 50 minute show), and as the clock went way past 10pm with still no sign of Ross nor his DJ, the venue was filled with loud boos from the audience. However as 25 past 10 hit the clock Ross' DJ took to the stage to provide an official MMG (Ross' label Maybach Music Group) warm up for the eagerly awaiting fan base.
When Ross appeared, the audience definitely showed their appreciation, and the horizon was filled with camera phones catching images of the XXL Floridan in his black leather jacket and trademark shades. As he progressed effortlessly thru his biggest hits dating back to 2005's 'Hustlin' to his current day bangers - you could tell he had done this a few times before!
The interludes between tracks were one of his strengths on the night - a cross between a WWE wrestler's taunt ridden speeches, and a motivational lecturer's gems of wisdom. It's a little known fact Ross was in the game for 12 years before 'Hustlin'' dropped (he was Trina's hypeman!) and therefore had a thing or two to say about working your way to the top, describing how there's no such thing as having a boss status (like his) overnight.
The concert also served as a brand marketing opportunity for MMG, referencing and playing hits from his his label's artists such as Meek Mill and Walé, which was executed in good taste - basically encouraging his fans to 'try his other products' on offer.
Download his latest mixtape 'Rich Forever' for free here and look out for his forthcoming album 'God Forgives, I Don't'.
Rudekid provided the production on this instant hit, which dropped earlier this year, and Rival has gone and grabbed the very best in hardcore grime MCs, all from East and South London (mainly Lewisham, Bow and Brixton).
Amongst those of you not overly into grime, you could be forgiven for not recognizing all of them but these lot are all rated as amongst (or soon to become) the best artists in NON WATERED DOWN grime.
Dope video here with a good message, from the young Australian MC representing Adelaide. This is from his full length album out June 8th. Purchase the full digital single here.
It's not too often that this kind of conscious grime comes around but when it does, it great when it is executed as well as this, which deals with regrets and reminds us that we can only go forward when we learn from the past.
It's the first single off well respected grime producer Rowntree's E.P 'Coming from The Undergrond' and also on Imz's E.P 'Blow My Own Trumpet'.
A rapper whose name is featured on the intro of one of Eminem’s biggest hits is hard to forget – especially when he follows that up with a great debut album and a string of strong singles and features with the likes of 50 Cent, Akon and The Game.
Having spent 6 years without dropping a new record, people had assumed he had left the rap game, and despite being dropped from Shady Records in 2008 Obie Trice is back, with a full length album ‘Bottoms Up’ and his own label Black Market Entertainment.
Here he speaks on the phone from his native Detroit exclusively to Blatantly Blunt about leaving the street life for the studio, the favourite tracks he's made, the new label and more!
There is a rumour I heard that Eminem discovered you while you were at work washing his car, is there any truth to this?!
Nah I was never washing his car! I don’t wash nobody’s car except my own; it’s only a rumour!
When did you start out rapping, and at what point did you decide it was what you wanted as a full time career?
I was eleven when I started rapping and it was when I was 20 or 21 when I had my daughter that I decided I wanted to do this as a profession. I was in the streets real heavy at the time and I decided to take my hustle money into the studio – my daughter was the inspiration behind that. I wanted to do something else and take sacrifice for the moment, and this is how it turned out.
Which is the favourite tune you have made or featured on with other artists?
I would have to say it probably the ‘Dudey’ track I featured on with Eminem, which was a dedication track to (Eminem’s best friend/hype man) Proof. That as well as the ‘Hennessey’ track featured on 2pac’s (posthumous album) ‘Loyal to the game’.
Which rappers were the biggest sources of influence when you were growing up?
I grew up with the likes of Redman, Jay-Z, 2pac, Nas, Biggie, and Snoop etc. That was the music I was definitely listening to.
What are your thoughts on current Detroit scene?
I'm not mad at it, you have a lot of artists coming out at the moment such as Danny Brown, Big Sean, Elzhi, Black Milk, Royce da 5’9, Guilty Simpson and (D12 member) Denaun Porter. It is really strong but I think there could be more artists doing things on an international level, it’s all about progression.
Tell me about your new label BME (Black Market Entertainment)…
I wanted to do something to bring artists through that are from Detroit and the surrounding region in the mid-west like Chicago, Ohio and Milwaukee. There is a lot of talent over here and I wanted to see who’s next to on the menu for the label. Also the label is there to release my album ‘Bottoms Up’.
Many people have said that (Bad Boy records artist) Red Café has a strong similarity in sound to you. Have you heard that before?
Yeah I have heard it many times, though I don’t think we sound alike – though if we do I think I would see it first. Either way, as I started in 2003 I am the originator if that were the case!
What perspective are you bringing on the new album?
With the new album, I am talking about the struggles and the things that I have seen and been through. On a song called with Daniel Bedingfield, ‘I Pretend’ I am also talking about the women. It’s just about my love for women. I am also talking about the situations I have been through in my career. I am the type of person that gets into the realness of things, not the things that everyone else is doing.
The title of the album is the name of the initial record I was going to have for my third LP on Shady Records; and with the new label BME it’s like I’m coming from the bottom up right now.
After listening to the album, I noticed a difference in sound between the first and second halves of the record. Was this something you intended?
I wanted to take the listener into different places. I have been accused of having a dark sound on my albums, which I don’t mind, but I wanted to take the album in many areas.
Which are the lead singles from the album?
The lead single from the album was ‘Battle Cry’, which came out in August last year, and the second is ‘Spend The Day’ which came out in March and features the vocals of a talented singer from Detroit called Drey Skonie.
How has the game changed since you entered in 2003?
The Internet has become more popular for getting hold of music and getting the music out there. Back then, it was a negative thing; something the labels didn’t want to be associated with, but now it has been embraced. -----
Obie Trice's new album 'Bottom's Up' is set to be released on 3 April 2012 available on iTunes here.
The comicial and skilled Birmingham grime MC gets back to his best on this new diss track over a dirty dubsteppy beat. In the track he sends for fellow Brummy Trilla and South London' yardie grime don Killa P.
Trozion - Soul of a Soldier EP
