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It’s called Detroit. Listen to it here.

Nearly everybody has heard of the 24 year old British singer. Whether her music gets displayed on each radio, at each cafe, whether you read about her in the media about her bi polar disorder, eating disorders, her legal troubles or drug addiction or her huge musical successes, you could barely escape the phenomenon.
Yes, the young lady is making headlines. But the main reason why the singer should make headlines is her musical endowment.
I admit being really picky regarding the pop scene, particularly the British pop scene, because a lot of untalented, trashy artists are often hailed as geniuses while they are just a bunch of annoying pricks who benefit from a good publicist and manager’s major exposures.
However, Amy Winehouse stands out in my opinion.
First of all, here is a young woman with a rebellious spirit. Her voice has the depth and power of a black woman’s vocal chords, which is very rare among white female artists.
Her remarkable musical and instrumental knowledge, inspired by jazz and soul legends spices up her music. Amy Winehouse has that power to captivate her auditorium, because the listener also gets that impression from her that she doesn’t have to cheat with emotions.
Both of her hits, I’m No Good and Rehab totally convinced me.
She has the greatness of Ella Fitzgerald transposed to our modern times. The darkness of her vocals combined with a massive use of trumpets and saxophones has that incredible power to seduce seduce a crowd of music lovers from very different musical culture and backgrounds.
She might be weak, suicidal, addicted in real life. But when it comes to making music, Amy Winehouse is truly a giant.
Discover more about the incredible artist on her personal website.
Copyright © by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

1. What motivated you to become a rapper?
I started writing poetry at an early age so I had rhyme schemes and the formula on lock from jump. I hooked up with some local cats from the Neighborhood and like clockwork it was on.
2. What is the biggest challenge you had to face since you started rapping?
Being understood and excepted for what I have to say.
3. How did you come up with that powerful “The Catalyst Of Elohim” nickname?
Eloheim is Hebrew for God and if you break the words down further its actual meaning is Water God. I’m an aquarius. Not that I follow the stars are anything like that. It just makes since. The Catalyst is the start or beginning, Eloheim is a group consisting of myself and BME. I started the group!
Hence Warpath the catalyst of Eloheim.
4. Your music is deeply linked with faith and spiritual battles…is it a way to express the closeness between hip hop and faith or simply your vision of the world- or maybe both?
Most definitely Both. I believe many compromise self to be heard yet only the deaf seem to give ear to the most popular rappers in the industry. Meaning its mostly meaningless foolishness on the radio. Then you have the underground full of the most diverse meaningful conscience emcees around. We don’t compromise ourselves to get recognized. Its like Jesus said they will hate you because of me. So it makes perfect since to keep the balance of Faith and Hip Hop within all of my tracks. By no means do I consider myself a christian rapper tho.
5. To what extent did the environment you grew up in shape your artistic creativity?
What I’ve been through has shaped my every thought. I’ve been in situations that I’m not proud of. I moved around a lot, I had very good environments to live in and very poor ones as well. I’ve been homeless with nothing at all but Jehovah and Jesus Christ. My creativity is reality.
6. You are currently working on three different projects…can you tell us about them within a few words?
Personal, positive and ill!
7. Which artists have you collaborated with already?
Detroit City Prospects, Optimist, Sunset the GOD emcee, Graffiti, other locals most wouldn’t know.
8. Which artist(s) -mainstream or underground- have earned your respect on the hip hop scene and why?
I can respect anyone who stays true to self.
9. What are your thoughts about the current state of hip hop?
There’s only few in my opinion that are really keeping it alive. The radio is doing nothing to help push real talent and neither is the industry.
10. Old school or new school…where goes your preference?
Mixed, I’d have to say between like 92- 96 was the best Hip hop coming out consistently. Now its like you have to search far and wide to find the REAL HIP HOP!
11. Which artist(s) (mainstream or underground) you haven’t collaborated with would you envision a collaboration with in a close future?
USM, TASHERRE, SUB CREW, MCM.
12. Besides hip hop, what kind of music do you listen to?
R&B, some Rock, I’m pretty eclectic. The state of music as a whole has got to step it back up or rather, the powers that be have to put the artist first.
P.ositive E.nergy A.llows C.onstant E.levation!
Warpath’ my space account
Copyright © by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Watch the brand new video here.

Warpath is far from being your average Detroit underground emcee. Nicknamed the Catalyst of Elohim, the incredible artist will guide his listener into a mystical world made of angels and demons, in which the spiritual dimension of the rap battle really matters. You will be guest to the final battle , your eyes will open on a strange theater. Faith is the fundament of Warpath’ music. To fully get his music in its whole, spiritual dimension, you need to be able to share his colorful vision in which, instrumentals, world, invicible faith walk together to the path of victory.
Today I’d like to invite you for the discovery of two new Warpath songs.
Reality’s Nightmare is introduced by flute, violins and piano sounds. As any spiritual man (or woman) would probably know, the world of faith is made of harsh internal combats during which you will probably walk on a few skeletons, meet some scary demons, battle your own anguish and feeling of desperation before you will be able to step to the final victory.
The talented artist will conduct you through his own living nightmare, a scary vision of desolation…welcome to the hood in which money destroys more that it can achieve…face hell’s creatures, view them with Warpath’s eyes, drop scepticism, be ready to fight with the rage of a man who has nothing to lose. Overwhelmed by the dark, Warpath describes a demonic world. The only way out is your own degree of faith.
While travelling through the world of evil, facing the Valley of Pain, Death Avenue, Warpath’ faith and beliefs will keep you alive. Well done.
Rain Drops keeps our senses awake. The song, that is taken out of Warpath’ upcoming Blood Pen project, will amaze you with the astute use of chord instrumental that will intelligently simulate the rain falling down on the face of the earth…special effects will make you feel the wind on your face.
There is a proximity in Hebrew between “Ha Shem” (the Name i.e God’s Name) and geshem (the rain)…this proximity will allow us to make a parallel between Warpath pouring out his pain and rage while the spirit of the Almighty listens to him. The song, that is beautifully written, has the deep resonance of a psalm. Contrary to a common opinion, a prayer doesn’t have to be positive…you have the right to express your feelings to God, no matter how you feel.
No matter from how deep you send your profound cry, God will answer your de profundis clamavi prayer.
Enter into Warpath’ spiritual world here.
Copyright © by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

With his typical British accent, Mr Dudley will take you people by surprise with his astute combination of electronic sounds and typhoon alike word flow. Mr Dudley totally masters compound syllable combination and celerity. With his unique style of his own, this North London artist will truly amaze you.
It is quite difficult to classify his music, although some of his tracks seem to fit into UK garage music.
You are probably going to love his reprisal of Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams songs featuring BDK. With a great dose of arrogance, grittiness and word fluidity, Mr Dudley adds his personal note (and genius) into the well known song. I loved it!
You Don’t Know Me is based on rhythmic keyboard sounds. Again, Mr Dudley manages to transport the listener into his very cadenced universe in which quick and astute wordplays do matter.
You Give Me Fever will make you enter into a world of mental contradiction that is followed by hot feelings. Open you ears and listn to Mr Dudley’s dialogue in which he pours his heart out…one can only prize the musical creativity the artist puts into the song.
Dark tuba sounds introduce Marina Gasolina. The track combines swinging drum beats, Latino and African flavored sounds, Mr Dudley’s specific know how. Feel the intensity of the song that mentions hip hop pioneer Afrikaa Bambaataa.
If you are keen on discovering something intense, passionate, new and refreshing, go visit Mr Dudley’s my space account.
Copyright © by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

It is entitled We Deep. Listen to it here.

Christian Mathis aka Trick Trick is truly one of my fave rappers on the Detroit underground scene…read the original article here.
With Eminem’s presence sorely missed in the hip-hop scene, the least bit of news about him makes fans and media alike go crazy. The latest rumor surrounding the Detroit MC was that he had ballooned to more than 200 pounds. Word on the street is that Slim Fast even came out and publicly offered him an endless supply of its dietary drink — and a spokesman position!
One of Em’s friends and frequent collaborators, Trick Trick, says all the joking about Slim Shady not being slim anymore is just ridiculous.
“Em just picked up some weight, that’s it,” Trick, a fellow Detroit native, downplayed Thursday afternoon. He’s nowhere [near] 250 pounds or anything like that. He picked up a little weight. He ain’t walkin’ around obese or some sh– though. He can still run two miles if you want him to and still out-box the majority of them. My man still gets down.”
Trick says Em getting down isn’t just a physical thing — Slim Shady is still lyrically sound and ready to knock off heads. In fact, he is just one of the guests on Trick’s upcoming independent LP, The Villain.
“He’s still the coldest that ever did it,” Trick said. “The game needs his album. He’s rapping on [my album track] ‘Who Want It.’ He’s like, ‘Who want it?’ [In the song] he’s hanging out and these f—ing idiots are always at it. If you want it, come get it. He ain’t trying to do nothing but be Em. I’m being me. If you want it, I got ya. He’s Em on there. He’s going for it. Whoever wants some can come get it. Em produced and rapped on it.”
Marshall Mathers isn’t the only one onboard Trick’s LP, though. Em’s pal Dr. Dre produced a record called “Hold On.”
“The [rhymes] I did over Dre’s track, I had to come hard,” Trick added. “You can’t just rap on a Dr. Dre track, you have to come with it. It has a message, but it’s a street message. … Street cats have to deal with a lot. A lot of people in the music business overlook the streets. You gonna encounter adversity. You can’t fall off. You gotta hold on.”
According to Trick, however, the most special cut on The Villain — the first single to which, “Let’s Work,” was just released — is a song called “Together Forever.” He says it features the last-ever verse recorded by his friend Proof from D12.
“He did the verse in the studio [here in Detroit],” Trick began. “We went to a [strip] bar, then went to the casino. The next night, we met at a club called [the] Good Life [Lounge,] and he was trying to get me to drink this Patrón. I was like, ‘N—a no!’ Then we went back to the casino. Then the next night was the night he passed away.”
Trick continued, saying that the song, “Together Forever,” also features Kid Rock and Esham: “[It’s] like the old Run-DMC song [of the same name]. Proof [sounds] old-school [on the song]. Everybody went old-school on it. Kid Rock is rapping too. Proof and E-Sham didn’t used to get along, but they made peace. We’re all going eight [bars], eight [bars] eight [bars].”
As for the title of his new album, The Villain, Trick said it’s pretty self-explanatory.
“I ain’t knocking nobody on how they do their music,” he said. “But the artists, sometime we tend to sway with the time. It’s ok to test the water a little bit, but you gotta give them you. I’m back on that gangster sh—, cuz. I’m not gonna front. I’m talking about that’s straight hardcore, raw Detroit gangsta sh–. My album ain’t negative, but I got a point of how I do things. People think I’m just wigging out doing this and that, getting in trouble. That ain’t the case. I’m breaking down situations; ‘if you do this to somebody, this is gonna happen to you.’ ”

Emcee Terror is one of my cyber friends I met thanks to a common passion for Eminem’s music and for hip hop in general. Experienced underground rapper, he accepted to share his thoughts with me…enjoy your read.
1. What motivated you to get started in the rap game?
I grew up listening to hip hop before I even knew what it was. I’m a 80’z baby born in the late 70’S so to me good music was just good music in the 80’s ya dig. If I liked it I liked it. But coming up in the hood as I did in the environment I did..We pretty much only listened to hip hop when we could pick up what we wanted. And it was just part of me to be part of this hip hop thing ya dig. So whether or not I actually ever get on a worldwide known level as Marshall (Mathers) and Lil Wayne are…I’m still hip hop all day.
2. What’s the story behind your nickname?
Been told when I was a child I was a LIL “TERROR” by a lot of people that were older than me. I had a few other names before “TERROR” actually came in the picture. It just seemed to stick cuz either I’m good at it or terrible at it..So that makes me a Terror ya dig. Plus that’s what I do when I’m doing my shit..I terrorize shit so so that fits.
3. What is the biggest challenge you had to face since you started rapping?
Biggest challenge is getting people to accept and stand behind what you’re doing. A lot of people wanna outshine you or don’t want you to shine at all…Be it family, friends or fellow “peers” trying to do what you’re doing ya dig. Another thing I find hard is finding a decent studio to record where you know at the end of the day your product is gonna be of good quality ya dig.
4. You represent Hartford, Connecticut. Can you tell us a little bit about your hometown. To what extent did it influence your music?
Hartford is a historical city founded by a guy named Thomas Hooker. It was actually called “Hertford” at first…then the spelling changed. My city is divided of 3 sections…North End, South End and West end. In the North End you will predominantly find all the people they call “black” people. A lot of crime shit you hear or read about takes places in this side of the city. A lot of drug activity and violence. Niggaz here don’t really rep gangs no more out in the world but I hear they do in jail. You get big numbers if you go in and they put you in the CPU as a get racketeerer…they don’t wanna let you out.
On the South End..It’s predominantly people of Latino decent…mainly Puerto Ricans. Some sections of the South End got White people in it too and a few Blacks but again more Latino descent than anything. On that side of the town shit happens to as far as drug selling and violence. But the South End is a bit much cleaner than the North as far as appearance. Is it cuz the mayor is from that side of the town? Some say it is.
The West End is pretty much the melting pot of the city. You got Whites, Blacks, Latinos and even Asians in this side of the City! It’s close to a suburban town called West Hartford. Drug activity and violence happens in this area…but it’s a bit more quiet.Though you do find a lot of niggaz registered on the sex offender registry list to be in this side of the town.
As far as my city influencing my music…I’d say a great portion does…Cuz I report a lot of shit that goes on in the city. Some rappers like to name names in shit that goes down…I don’t.I say what happen in the the streets stays here. And if told…no names at all or if there is…fake names should be given. Gotta protect the “innocent” ya dig…haha. But I try to not always talk about than shit every hood nigga talks about. Eventually it all sounds the same ya dig.
5. Who is your biggest musical influence?
I don’t have one at this moment. I’ve been rapping for a long time. Way before I heard any of some of the people that made it and I listen to rap…But with that being said…I’d say the South is my biggest influence right now…cuz most of their songs got dance with it and that’s whack juice to me. So they influence me not to make bullshit music like that!
Shout out to Tha Dirty South…I ain’t hating, ya all doing ya thing…just a lot of ya all South rappers are whack…straight up!
6. According to you, what makes you appear as unique in the world of rap music?
I got my own style of rap. I don’t try to sound like I’m from New York like a lot of CT rappers do.I give you me, I don’t front in my music. Niggaz talk they’re moving heavy weight in their songs or their pushing big boy cars and trucks…But when you see them…you see none of that…Also I got a voice that stands out…I don’t sound like anybody else you ever heard…though I have been compared to a lot of great rappers that are in the game now as far as how I put it down…word up.
7. What are your thoughts about the current state of hip hop?
Aside from all the songs that gotta dance to it…hip hop is doing ok with me!But all that ” Snap Ya Fingers” shit and “My Red Monkey Jeans” bullshit gotta stop. Yea we need party bangers and the party goers and shit…but hip hop is from the streets…Don’t forget the origin and stop trying to change it to this watered down bullshit you are always hearing on the radio!
8. Old school or new school- where goes your preference?
Old school..Cuz without the old..they’d be no new. And how did KRS-1 put it: “50 years down tgha line you can’t start this…cuz we’d be old school artits! Hip hop is still sorta new in the world of music though it’s made a lot of noise and a big impact on the world…But I stick to the script of the question…I’ma say I’m old school cuz real talk…when has Kanye made a beat that ain’t gotta “old school ” in it?
9. Which artists have you collaborated with already?
I just did coillabos with some local artist. I was part of an independent record label called Liv Ya Life Recods (There…a Promo Plug for you fake…) But from my point of view they didn’t have my best interest at heart so I had to depart. Though I recently did try to patch that up and get it with them niggaz…but it ain’t fall through so fuck’em…I’ma do me regardless ya dig. But I’do a song with anybody whether you are whack or not…
10. Which artist(s) (mainstream or underground) would you envision a collaboration with?
Right now I’d fuck with forever Wu-Tang…Wu-Tang 4 ever! I’d fuck with Eminem…Lil Wayne…Dipset…Snoop, D-O Dub Gizzle…Maybe some others from the mainstream. On the underground, I’d fuck with my nigga Inna City…Vill Will…Anybody from my hood (Chapelle Gardens aka Hollywood- Stand Up my niggas). I’d fuck with Wit’T-Elite (Big shout to the homie).I mean as stated above…I’d do a song with anybody and I have been on that before it exploded everywhere haha…
11. Do you have any musical projects for 2008?
Still trying to get my first project out…But once that’s done…prepare for a swarm of shit from me…word up.
12.Please define your music within a few words…
Hood stamped and certified…and loved in tha burbs. I give you that real shit.Hate it or love it.
13. Besides hip hop, what kind of music do you listen to?
Pretty much that’s it. I tune my ears to some rock & roll shit (watching VH1 videos)…some reggaet in…lil bit of R’n’B…I getta jolt sometime listening to them genres cuz it ain’t what I do…so it opens up more creative avenues for me to do what I do.
Terror’s my space.
Copyright © by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

With her good dose of raw energy, her raspy voice, her rhythmic instrumentals, her presence and personality, Brooklyn female rapper MC Lyte has fully proven that she has enough skills to captivate hip hop lovers’ full attention.
Mc Lyte’s hip hop knowledge and rapping history goes back to the early 80’s. With her astute use of lyrics, her genuine spirit that carries a true hip hop rage, Mc Lyte will transport you into her universe.
No doubt your hip hop loving ears will enjoy the subtle funky soul combination of old school flavored The Wonder Years. Mc Lyte is spitting her lyrics with determination, punching her targets with no mercy, introducing the public into the harsh world of true emceeing.
Hardcore sounding electric guitars, catchy drum beats, here comes Mc Lyte like a thunderstorm, smashing vowels with an amazing ease. Her male partner in crime adds to the very rhythmic atmopshere in which weak emcees get slapped lyrically. Ready for a mic check?
With the Beautiful song, Mc Lyte conceals lyrical ease and instrumental inventivity. Moreover, she carries a dynamic spirit that will enlighten your day!
Mc Lyte has totally proven that female emcees have a little bit more to show than a nice and well built body (she’s very beautiful, though!).
Discover her music here.
Copyright © by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved