2011 XXL Freshman 10 Prediction

Last week, I gave my predications for this year’s Bay Area Freshman 10. This week, we move up to my predictions on the national scene. As with last week, these are definitely not my 10 favorite up and coming rappers, but they are who I think best fit the criteria to make the XXL cover. Also, the videos included at the end are my guess at their most popular/well known tracks, not necessarily their most impressive, representative, or my personal favorites. As always, I strongly urge you the reader to prove me wrong, and let me know who you’re predictions are in the C section.

Kendrick Lamar: As my writing over the past year has shown, without question Kendrick Lamar is my favorite artist out of my predictions. Kendrick’s ability to constantly switch up his flow, and have some the best cadences in hip-hop, matched with his dedication and prowess in delivering meaningful and relatable lyrics, puts him in an elite category. While many thought (O)verly (D)edicated was one of the best projects released all year (it even got chopped and screwed by the Swisha House guys) probably the biggest acknowledgment of his talents came from Dr. Dre. Without any reaching out from Kendrick’s camp, The Good Dr. on his own found The Good Kid from Compton, and has invited him to be a part of the fabled Detox. Who knows if the Aftermath connection will actually lead to something, because they’ve been known to let everyone from legends to immensely talented up and comers wait in vain,  but it’s one of many signs that there is practically no denying the quality of music made by Kendrick.

Most Known Song: Ignorance Is Bliss produced by Willie B

Big K.R.I.T.: If there was an underground project that got more praise in 2010 than Kendrick’s release, it has to be Big K.R.I.T.’s K.R.I.T. Wuz Here. Coming out of nowhere, both figuratively and literally, this Mississippi native not only lyrically found the perfect mix of the pimped out braggadocios southern style with searing insight about the downfall of the African American communities in the U.S.’s lower region, but he did an incredible job self producing the entire album as well. So much so that his ability to flip samples gave 9th Wonder the chills.The successes of K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, got K.R.I.T. immediately signed to Def Jam and becoming a major part of Curren$y’s Smokers Club national tour. Not to mention a chopped and screwed version of the album by DJ Michael “5000” Watts,  a spot hosting Johnny Shipes‘ Good Talk Volume 9. mixtape, and  videos on MTV jams as well. With all that in mind, and a new and powerful movement towards supporting human music, it’s hard to imagine anything but success for K.R.I.T.

Most Known Song: Children Of The World produced by Big K.R.I.T.

Yelawolf: If anyone on this list is pretty much guaranteed wide spread success, it has to be Yelawolf. The cynics will say it’s because he’s white, but real listeners will know it’s because he’s lyrically crazy. His flow is out of this world, and his ability to balance harrowing descriptions of rural lives of poverty, with club bangers is practically unmatched. The fan support and critical acclaim of his free mixtape Trunk Muzik, gave birth to one of the best 2010’s for any rapper established or not. He got signed to Interscope early in the year, and they revamped Trunk Muzik , added some new songs to it, and released Trunk Muzik 0-60 in stores nationwide. He was a part of 3 videos on youtube that all hit over a million views: one for Trunk Muzik’s lead single “Pop The Trunk”, one for his collaboration with Gucci Mane on the lead single to Trunk Muzik 0-60 “I Just Want To Party” , and one for “You Ain’t No DJ”, which was his guest feature on Big Boi’s solo debut. Then add a spot on 2010’s Rock The Bells Tour, a freestyle spot on the BET Awards,  and the coup de grace of signing to Eminem and Shady Records, and it’s clear Yelawolf is going is going to be a huge factor in the years to come.

Most Known Song: Pop The Trunk produced by Will Power

Danny Brown: Detroit is so ridiculously deep in talent, yet beyond Eminem there hasn’t really been anyone able to maintain and sustain a commercially relevant career. Last year XXL put their money on Big Sean as someone who could do damage.This year I think Danny Brown should be that guy. In 2010, for free, he dropped The Hybrid which got ridiculous critical acclaim, the instrumentals to The Hybrid, the leftover tracks from The Hybrid, Detroit State of Mind 4, and on Itunes he released a collaboration album with Tony Yayo entitled Hawaiian Snow. That Yayo album also allowed Brown the opportunity to soak up game from 50 Cent, and rumors have flown around that he is considering signing to be a part of G-Unit. This may come as a surprise to a lot of people, because his music seems to be far from commercially acceptable. Yet at the same time, I haven’t heard a rapper that could make me laugh like Brown since discovering Ghostface’s solo albums, Devin, Mac Dre, or even a young Em. That ability to put smiles on people’s faces goes a long way, and if he can continue to stay witty, regardless of whether he signs a major deal or not, he’s poised to build himself a serious cult following.

Most Known Song: “Greatest Rapper Ever” produced by Quelle

ZIF Video Of The Week: Dom Kennedy – 1997

Listening to From The Westside, With Love was one of the first instances that I realized that summer was quickly approaching. It inspired day dreams of BBQ’s, cold beer, and girls in revealing clothing. So now that we are in the middle of what most would call “summer” (it’s still cold as hell in The Bay!), it’s about time the Leimert Park Legend gave us a visual from his most recent project.  “1997” was definitely in my top 3 songs on From The Westside, With Love, therefore I’m happy to see that it was chosen as the mixtape’s first video. While I wish there could be more to the visual component, the desert location is cool, the image quality is CUTCO sharp, and the editor did a good job of making a guy lip-synching in one place not as boring as it should be. If you have yet to cop Dom’s latest mixtape, be sure to add it into your summer rotation by clicking here.

Kendrick Dom

Kendrick Lamar ft. Dom Kennedy  - She Needs Me [remix]

While “She Needs Me” is far from one of my favorite songs on the stellar Kendrick Lamar EP (), when two of my favorite upcoming artists, regardless of geographical location, come together on the same track, ima pay attention. The contrast between Dom’s effortless sounding flow, and Kendrick’s ultra focused metaphor and alliteration laden spit is interesting. I’d like to hear the two of them work on a lot more together, because although they are very different rappers, they both have completely unique styles, no problems staying on topic, and a quality ears for instrumentals. They’d be a dangerous tandem.

The West Coast Dilla

No, I’m not talking about Madlib. But by the way, what the fuck happened to him? I haven’t heard any music from The Bad Kid that really excited me since his shit with Talib, or his Indian Beat Konducta. Which is sad because he used to hold down the spot of my favorite producer. No question. Seems like all he does now is loop and chop samples without adding drums or bass or anything. I would say dude’s gotten even lazier than he used to be, if that’s possible. But I digress before I even start, so let’s end the Madlib bashing, and move to the real topic at hand.

Never have I heard someone channel the soul of J Dilla, during his life or after his death, as well as Dibiase. It’s eerily shocking. From the sample selection, to the filtering of the bass lines, to the drum sounds, to the swing of the drum patterns, and those ultra unorthodox but extremely dope times when the beat cuts out, a lot of Dibiase’s music could easily be passed off as a treasure trove of undiscovered tracks from Jay Dee. Now some may say that it’s biting, but I’m just gonna say thank you. Since Dilla’s death I’ve been looking for those bass heavy sampled instrumentals that just make you feel good, and Dibiase’s got them in masses.

This Watts based producer first grabbed my attention by producing a few tracks for U-N-I on their Fried Chicken and Watermelon mixtape. Out of those songs, the one that really stood out was “Beautiful Day” which remain’s one of only a handful of tracks that I can say I’m really feeling from U-N-I.

I then saw him demolish a producer named Jeh Free in a Phillip Drummond beat battle in Oakland.

Now finally, he recently won the LA regionals of the Red Bull Big Tunes Beat Battle.

You Best Believe I Never Forget The Swishers

I’ve been playing Pac Div’s Don’t Mention It (do yourself a favor and download it now at: http://itspacdiv.com/) pretty consistently since it was released for free download in April. It slaps from beginning to end, while managing to hit a variety of subject matter and moods. It most definitely deserves your listen, and probably a full review from us. And while it’s a little too late for a review, it’s never too late to give something a listen. And if one – two months is too old for you, you probably have a very serious downloading problem, and aren’t giving very much of anything a full listen. I know I’ve been that way on a few too many occasions.

Anyways, while pretty much the entire album is impressive, I have been finding my self listening to one song more than the others. “Don’t Forget The Swishers” is a song I think most hip-hop fans can relate to. The lyrics are funny but honest and while the topic is pretty much getting fucked up and hitting on chicks, it’s done in an down to earth and relatable way, rather than saying that every night they put on their $500,000 necklace, roll up to the club on four quarters, buy out the bar, and then run trains on supermodels in the handicapped bathroom stall. In addition, while hip-hop choruses more often than not fail to please me, Pac DIv always seems to do a solid job with theirs. I find this hook enjoyable as hell, and catchier than the clap. I think we’ve all gave the same message or felt the same way as the chorus at at least one point in our lives, but hopefully, much more than that.

Pac Div – Don’t Forget the Swishers (ft. Dom Kennedy, cARTer, Chip Tha Ripper)

Mixtape Review: Dom Kennedy: From The Westside, With Love

I’ve heard the weather has been pretty horrible out East, but for all of us that have been on the left side of the map over the past 2-3 weeks, it’s almost as if summer came early. 70 degrees and cloudless in March? All you haters can’t say nothing about that! Anyways, days like we’ve had recently make me start thinking about the actual summer, and looking for music that embodies that feeling of relaxed joy you get from doing nothing more than just laying in the sun. All bias aside, I think the West has that type of sound on lock. I remember being 16 years old thinking about why people no longer listened to West Coast music. I kept on wondering “What do they bump when it’s nice out and they wanna burn some trees? Wu-Tang is tight, Killer Mike is raw, but I wouldn’t ever play that shit at a BBQ.” I’ve since found some music from east of The Rockies that’s cool for a sunny day, but nothing that matches that feeling of some 90’s E-40, DJ Quick, Operation Stackola, or anything produced by Battlecat. So leave it up to another MC from Cali to hit us with the first album of the year tailored made to put a smile on your face when you’re kicking it outside, or rolling around town with the windows down.

I first started listening to Dom Kennedy about a year and half ago. A friend of mine told me to look him up for a concert I was putting together, and although that didn’t work out, it got me to download his first, and still my favorite project, 25th Hour, and I’ve been a fan ever since (Catch up on Dom’s full discography, including From The Westside, With Love, for FREE here. Dom’s got a smooth and light hearted approach to the way that he raps that makes him easily distinguishable even after just a few listens. His flow is slow and drawn out, but far from lazy. It conforms to the beat, yet has a cadence unlike practically any other rapper I’ve heard. He mos def is not a thug, and I wouldn’t call him an LA hipster either. His music gives you the sense that he’s just a cool guy that likes to drink, smoke, go out to party, and hang out with the ladies. He exhibits great balance because his projects aren’t so lovey dovey that it will make all the fellas want to turn it off (although some will disagree with me), but at the same time Dom doesn’t really spit anything offensive or ultra aggressive that will make the ladies feel uncomfortable. Out of rappers that are out today, I think he makes some of the best hip-hop for situations when you’re with a diverse group of people with lots of different musical interests, and you just want to vibe out to some cool shit.

A Leimert Park Song

With his newest album, From The Westside, With Love, Dom gives the fans his fourth free project in two years. It’s 16 songs deep, an hour long, and a feel good record from start to finish.  Lyrically Dom continues to solidify the style he’s been working on since 25th Hour, and earns my respect by not really letting up on any tracks, regardless of their subject matter. On “1997” Dom raps for 3 minutes straight without a chorus about topics ranging from growing up in Leimert Park, picking up ladies, the music he listens to, his career, and in general how dope he is. “The Hotels” is one of many songs dedicated to the females, and features Dom rapping about the women that spend the night in his hotel rooms, over a smooth keyboard and synthesizer combo reminiscent of some 90’s West Coast gangsta luv tracks, paired with modern drums capable of setting off car alarms. Yet for everyone that gets bored with songs about being a laid back player, “A Leimert Park Song” is a track for all of the hip-hop heads out there. Dom raps about his determination to make it in the game with an organ and vocal heavy soul sample and some simple drums that get your lips curving upwards and your head nodding like a sports souvenir.

1997

Steadily in the Mix

Over the past 24 hours I have been bombarded with good mixtapes, mixes and other amalgamated shit. I figured it only fair that I share some of these mixes with the Zebra fans; there’s a variety of mixtures for a variety of moods so pair wisely:

A-One is a San Francisco Rapper and hometown bias aside, I really think this guy has some ill heat. Scope his mixtape A-OneMan Army.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles MC Dom Kennedy just dropped From the Westside with Love, which is being called a “mixtape” but considering it’s original beats, it’s essentially an album and freeeeee!

Finally, DJ Original Bozak has created the soundtrack to a forthcoming digital novel(more on that later), dubbed P.U.R.E. Hitz Vol. 1. It’s a dope mix of sultry pop hits.

Free Byrd

One of Los Angeles’ emerging beatsmiths, Drewbyrd–who has rocked parties thrown by The Fader and produced beats for dudes like Dom Kennedy–has just dropped his mixtape Show and Tell, which is really quite ill. Drew–like myself– is Bay Area born but finds the L.A. sunshine more conducive to creative work so I take hella pride in recommending you nab Show and Tell.