Month: September 2005

Rating:3.75
Heat League is a Massachusetts crew composed of four artists: Prolung, X-Cam, Thoro and Admiral.
Track 1 introduces the Heat League to the world. Be prepared for some fire. The crew is determined to take over with an offensive hood style.
The intro starts with a soft violin note that is soon covered by Heat League’s voices who sing their anthem. Keyboard background notes add to the tension of the battle emcees who spread their « hate music ». Be aware that the four emcees are ready to rip you off-lyrically, of course!
Bang, the third track starts like a symphony. Instrumentally rich (violins, guitars, harpsichord sounds, drums, catchy beats), ass whooping against its enemies, the crew introduces you into his fight for recognition. Their motto: « you gotta bang if you wanna do your thing. »
It symbolizes a fight that is familiar to many underground artists.
U Can Get It sounded a little bit monotonous to me. The positive side on the track are the well handled saxophone background sounds.
More offensive than ever, the crew is back on track 5, determined to knock out « dickriders ». Beef is beef and war is war. Heat League’s words are weapons.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T is a well handled and rhythmic track that fully enlightens the group’s talent.
I particularly recommend you well handled track like Bang, R.E.S.P.E.C.T and Street, a collaboration that includes Mr Nash
Several tracks like Time Of My Life and Like Oooo have disappointed me because of the artificial electronic female voice in the background. Unfortunately it sometimes seems to spoil the four emcees’ talent.
Globally, the album is enjoyable and instrumentally rich. I appreciated the crew’s determination to take over and its ass whooping mentality.
Check Heat League out here.

Rating: 3.75 stars
Massachusetts artist Sham is a man of many aliases. He is also known as Wood, Jake legno, Serkumfrinz Tha Rippa and Sham God.
Track 1, Jake Tha Rippa starts in a strange way. It is Jake’s introduction to the world.
In God Made A Strange World, Sham puts a real lyrical effort. Organ sounds start track Nr2.
Sham spits his venom and raises the question that many underground rappers do : « I got a job, but the job doesn’t pay me ». No matter if you’re an unsigned rapper or an unpublished author, many of us can relate to this: our dream job doesn’t bring us money. In the meantime, we are often forced to work on regular jobs…a very realistic track, that is lyrically well handled. Unfortunately, the vocals spoil the well written track a little bit, as far as I am concerned.
Throw Ya Onez Up is an invitation to some ovations from the crowd. A nice track with a chill out and smoke out atmosphere.
In One Time, Sham is determined to give you some pure hip hop joints to enjoy. Lyrically and instrumentally, the track is well handled. Some catchy beats will make you feel the rip- you-off atmosphere.
« Who » will make you feel a hip hop dedicated artist who flows with confidence and enjoyable lyrics. Xylophones add to a light and nearly surrealistic atmosphere.
I Found It is a touching ode to the music itself. Sham makes you feel his love and dedication for an art he is a 100% involved in. Sit back in your chair and enjoy the words that come out of the mouth of a rhyme soldier.
In his whole album, Sham will make you feel his passion and his dedication for rap music. He is offensive and has got attitude. His lyrical ability will probably amaze you all the way.
I Found It and One Time This Is Us featuring Mr Nash are definitely worth a look.
Jake The Rippah includes nice and interesting collaborations with Jimmy Gattz, Mr Nash and many more…
Sham’s rhyming ability is undeniable. A little improvement of the instrumental part would certainly make something exceptional of his art.
Globally, Sham did a good job on his album. Explore it: the lyrics are really great and Sham has the potential to make it big someday.
Listen to Sham and download his music here.

Rating: Four stars
I received Mr Nash’s album « Against The Grain » in my mailbox today and I’m very eager to share this artist’s talent with you.
Mr Nash put a lot of talent and efforts in his « Against The Grain » album. The Massachusetts artist who works on his third solo project has a nice flow delivery combined with pure talent.
Next Big Thing, a rhythmic track, introduces you to Mr Nash as a ghetto soldier in the middle of life game fighting against fake emcees.
His second track Gone, raises some deep philosophical questions about human condition. The moving track will make you feel Mr Nash’s realness and huge talent at the same time. Mr Nash puts his heart and soul on this track.
Watching the video of Gone even increased my respect for his artistry. The scene takes place in a cemetery, Mr Nash raises the difficult question of what to do when you lose a beloved person. In his desperate quest, he asks God for directions in his life. Picture every day ghetto life, constant blood spills, drug deals and people struggling to make it and to be able to improve their families conditions of living. When Mr Nash talks about his mom, you perfectly know that he doesn’t belong to this category of people who fake their way of life…he keeps real in his words and actions.
Break gives a lighter after party note to Mr Nash’s track. Funky sounds and some catchy beats add to the party atmosphere.
Against the grain is an energetic track where you will be able to feel Mr Nash’s fight for recognition. A constant affirmation of his original style and a rich musical background (guitars, keyboard sounds, drums, violins) will make you fully enjoy this track.
In Success, Mr Nash will remind you that 99% of our success is made of sweat. Success never happens by accident. This is also a point of view I do share with the talented artist.
The same struggle for recognition goes on in Rags To Riches.
Track 7 is a touching ode to Mr Nash’s mom. Her husband left the house, leaving her alone with her kids. An invitation for his mom to stay strong and to live for her kids and herself and to value life.
Instrumentally, the track is amazingly beautiful, the depth of the feelings are represented through bass sounds.
Time Changes is all about betrayal. What will you do when your girl cheats on you with your best friend? You will have no other choice left that kicking her out of the house and break your ties with your so called « friend ».
A very realistic track about things that can happen in life.
Four Shotz will transport you into a 23 year old man’s fight who has so much to accomplish.
Mr Nash makes you enter into his world and discover his fight. Check out this artist: he is not your average emcee. Mr Nash comes up with a style that you will find nowhere else. He puts a lot of energy and emotions in his works. Instrumentally, he also did an amazing job. The album is musically rich and the beats are well handled.
I particularly recommend you Gone, Against the Grain, All Night and Break That.
Mr Nash deserves to reach the top. He believes in his art and puts a lot of work and energy into it. Mr Nash has nice lyrics, a good flow delivery and manages to marry beats and instruments in a subtle way. Explore Against The Grain, it is worth a look.
Listen to Mr Nash and download his music here.

DETROIT, MI, United States (UPI) — Detroit`s legendary Hip Hop Shop, where stars like Eminem, D12 and Slum Village honed their craft, has reopened its doors after eight years.
Former Detroiter and fashion designer Maurice Malone started the store in 1993 as an outlet for his urban wear clothing line. It eventually became a performance space where local rappers went head-to-head, similar to the scenes portrayed in Eminem`s “8 Mile,” the Detroit Free Press reported Thursday.
“It was like the finals of the NBA that was going on every Saturday,” producer and DJ Julius Meyers recalled.
The shop closed in 1997 and Malone relocated to New York.
A new version of the Hip Hop Shop was opened last month in the same spot by Keven “Hustle Simmons” Brown. The store sells music and clothing — and Brown will soon reincarnate the open mike sessions and maybe even discover Detroit`s next Eminem.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International

In fact, there will be NO hip hop mag in association with Tim…i had an argument with Tim and another administrator, but i am glad it is so. I would have taken the risk to lose my integrity with such associates…I don’t wanna enter into details, but it is better like this…
I keep doing my thing anyway, i know that i will succeed, because i stay focused on my goals…
I just wanted to let you know that i have nothing to do with this site any more.

The Massachusetts artist is my most recent underground hip hop discovery…his talent is amazing…
In the meantime, I will post the video to the second track of his album, “Against The Grain”…you will need Quick time to watch the video…have a good time watching it and stay tuned, folks!

Rating: 3.75 stars
Detroit rapper Moekid starts his song with a soft soul/blues flavor that won’t leave black music lovers indifferent.
Moe Kid starts with an invitation to chill…
« Do your thing and keep a smile on your face… » says the refrain. That’s what Moekid actually does with his positively offensive style from the 313.
Moekid is decided to conquer the rap scene: he flows with confidence and is determined to rip his enemies off. He comes up with the spirit of the winner and a sense of realness that is common to Detroit rappers. The streets of the 313 will teach you life’s lessons in a harsh manner. You gotta be real in the 313.
As he goes on spitting, Moekid reminds you of that he is from the Three One Third and that he is rapping the D-town.
Globally speaking of the song, Moekid did good work. He put a lot of positive energy in it. Maybe the instrumental part could be improved a little bit, especially the beats.
Moekid’s song will be featured on Eminem’s satellite radio on Rude Jude & Lord Sear – The All Out Show.
You will also be able to check the song out on B.E.T.’s 106 & Park.
Give the song a chance and explore Moekid’s universe. It is worth it.

Moekid is another Margate Records artist. His song ” P’z & Q’s” is currently featured on Eminem’s satellite radio, Shade 45…stay tuned:)

Rating: four stars and a half
How difficult is it for a white rapper to emerge when he is gifted for his art and when he lives in Detroit? Since Eminem rose to stardom, I’d say very difficult.
Many of them white rappers have tried without reaching a high level of success.
When you’re as talented and real as Vishiss actually is, the fight is even harder. It becomes tiresome to be compared to Marshall Mathers all the time.
He raises the question « how could a white guy not sound like a white guy while rapping? »…Vishiss wants people to acknowledge that he is the product from his environment…he’s from the D and expect stories from the ghetto in his narrations.
He’s got the voice of a white man, but to me, Vishiss’ style and sound are completely different. I would barely confuse him with Eminem.
Vishiss surprises his public by introducing some R’n’B vocals and sounds into his track and by mixing it up with rawer sounds and rapid rhythms and beats.
Keyboard and violin sounds will make you feel his love for the music. A music that is his whole life.
Product Of My Environment is lead from the hand of a master. It is a masterpiece of instrumental and vocal creations. Vishiss makes you feel the passion he puts into his music.
In his track, Vishiss recalls the human condition. We all gonna die, but what matters is to live your life to the fullest. Be passionate like him, let the music enchant your universe and live out your passions.
Vishiss, you did an amazing job on that track, I’m feeling you, man.
Enjoy Product Of My Environment on Vishiss’ album Subliminal Criminal Hyminal and let Vishiss teach you his enthusiasm about music that means everything to him.

Copyright2005 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved
He did it last year when he was 9 years old…