Aleon Craft
Birthplace: Decatur, GA
Aleon Craft has been involved with music for much of his life and like a lot of other emcees in the game he has paid his dues and fought the industry to try and get where he is today. Craft started DJing as a child at local Decatur spots which was good for him because it taught him to appreciate all genres of music. He first started rapping in 1998 under the name Big Marc, at this time he teamed up with his cousin ShoNuff and they formed the duo named Da BuckWudz. With the unique sound Da BuckWudz was putting out they finally caught a break signing with Dallas Austin's Rowdy Records in 2005. At this point the duo thought they were going to blow the doors off the game and they were starting to generate some chatter with their first album Wood Work, where they worked with Nas, Bun B, Killer Mike, Sleepy Brown and Slim Thug. Sadly it didn't work out for them and that was the end of Da BuckWudz and no one really knew why. This is when Big Marc went solo became Aleon Craft along with creating his own genre Solar-Hop. As Aleon Craft he’s been killing it, unfortunately he's still not getting the recognition he deserves. Craft has since joined forces with SMKA and has put out a few dope mixtapes along with working on his newest project Mothership Decatur which drops this month. Now a day’s Aleon Craft claims “I just want to make a living making songs. Whatever doors open up from me doing music, I’ll most definitely walk through them proudly”, and why not right. Check out his website/blog Here, Twitter Here or his FaceBook Here. Below you download all his mixtapes and you can check out the three singles from his upcoming Mothership Decatur tape.
Download all Aleon Craft mixtapes Here (via Band Camp)
"Ghetto Dope"
Download all Aleon Craft mixtapes Here (via Band Camp)
"Ghetto Dope"
"Look Twice"
"Make It Out"
Chiddy Bang
BirthPlace: Philadelphia, PA
Chiddy Bang is not your typical hip hop duo. This team that hails from Philly has been classified as alt-hip hop pioneers. Chiddy Bang leaped into the lime light in 2010 when their MGMT sampling track "The Opposite of Adults" swept underground and mainstream music enthusiasts off their feet. The catchy sample mixed with the witty lyrics of Chiddy member and rapper Chidera Proto Anamege made Chiddy Bang an overnight household name. The group was originally formed in 2009 with 4 members as an electronic meets hip hop foursome. By the end of the year the group had been reduced to two members, rapper Chidera Proto Anamege and DJ Xaphoon Jones (aka Noah). The group is the epitome of a self made hip hop success story via internet technology. Chiddy Bang has spread like wildfire through underground hip hop websites as they continually leak their music. They fuse proto's witty rymes with samples from indy heros such as Radiohead and Belle & Sebastian. Chiddy Bang has also recently been featured on the Gorillaz single, Stylo with Mos Def and Bobby Womack. Some have questioned Chiddy Bang's staying power as far as their time as a legitimate hip hop duo. Critics have been skeptical because many of their biggest hits have used samples from songs that already have experienced prior success. We think they have a bright future though. You can't deny proto's ability on the mic. Combine his ability with Noah's ability to infuse his flow with some samples as well as some home made beats and you are left with a hip hop duo destined to create a serious following, especially as we see the genre of electronic hip hop grow. If you haven't already, be sure to give Chiddy Bang a serious listen.
Chiddy Bang - "Opposite of Adults" (KIDS)
Latest tracks by Chiddy Bang
Week of March 21st
Pac Div
Birthplace: Palmdale, CA
This week marks our first time ever we decided to go with a group for our Artist of the Week, and a dope group at that. These emcees first started rhyming together in high school and got their inspiration through old school hip hop. The infamous trio known as Pac Div consists of brothers Like and Mibbs along with a long time homie BeYoung. In a long list of hip hop trio's that include the likes of the Beastie's, ATCQ, Fugees, De La Soul, Run-D.M.C., Brand Nubian, just to name a few, Pac Div is slowly working their way into that conversation. They really had it going on from the start, their first mixtape Sealed For Freshness: The Blend Tape, instantly garnered attention from many magazines and helped build a large internet following. Even huge acts in the game started to take notice, Pharrell Williams said "Pac Div in making innovative and fun music", while ?uestlove, Snoop Dogg, Talib Kweli and Ludacris have all praised them. Since their first tape these cats have dropped an album and some other dope mixtapes including Mania!, which came out a few weeks back. Pac Div is currently signed with Universal Motown and if you’re a fan you've come to expect only good things form these emcees in the future. Like, Mibbs and BeYoung are the definition of the transformation of hip hop with their style of rapping, how they go about becoming a big time act along with the way they look and dress. Lyrically all three can kill it and when they want to and they also all flow with the best of them on top of their dope instrumentals. Pac Div is currently getting ready to tour with The Roots starting next month, so try and catch these cats if you come near you. Check out their Twitter Here, FaceBook Here or their MySpace Here. Below you can download and check out their recent Mania! mixtape.
Download Mania! Here or Here
This week marks our first time ever we decided to go with a group for our Artist of the Week, and a dope group at that. These emcees first started rhyming together in high school and got their inspiration through old school hip hop. The infamous trio known as Pac Div consists of brothers Like and Mibbs along with a long time homie BeYoung. In a long list of hip hop trio's that include the likes of the Beastie's, ATCQ, Fugees, De La Soul, Run-D.M.C., Brand Nubian, just to name a few, Pac Div is slowly working their way into that conversation. They really had it going on from the start, their first mixtape Sealed For Freshness: The Blend Tape, instantly garnered attention from many magazines and helped build a large internet following. Even huge acts in the game started to take notice, Pharrell Williams said "Pac Div in making innovative and fun music", while ?uestlove, Snoop Dogg, Talib Kweli and Ludacris have all praised them. Since their first tape these cats have dropped an album and some other dope mixtapes including Mania!, which came out a few weeks back. Pac Div is currently signed with Universal Motown and if you’re a fan you've come to expect only good things form these emcees in the future. Like, Mibbs and BeYoung are the definition of the transformation of hip hop with their style of rapping, how they go about becoming a big time act along with the way they look and dress. Lyrically all three can kill it and when they want to and they also all flow with the best of them on top of their dope instrumentals. Pac Div is currently getting ready to tour with The Roots starting next month, so try and catch these cats if you come near you. Check out their Twitter Here, FaceBook Here or their MySpace Here. Below you can download and check out their recent Mania! mixtape.
Download Mania! Here or Here
Cory Gunz
Birthplace: Bronx, NY
Cory Gunz, son of the 90's emcee Peter Gunz, is a new school rapper who is a part of Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Militia. He is another Weezy protégé primed to have a bright future, and as we all know Weezy knows how to pick them, Drake, Nicki, Curren$y, Tyga and Lil Twist to name a few. If you've heard this cat rap, and I'm sure you have on "6 Foot 7 Foot", you know he's one of the many new school emcees on a different level. Not only is Gunz smart with his lyrics and metaphors but he can also go rapid fire before you know what hit you. You can tell this 80's baby was groomed right by his father because he's got all the tools to become one of the best emcees in the new generation of hip hop. Dude flat out kills anything he's on and the game thanks him for it. He's got that style that after you hear one of his verses you instantly think how hard it must have been to not only write it but then get in the booth and nail it. Can you imagine what life was like as a 10 year old when you dad and Lord Tariq dropped "Déjà Vu (Uptown Baby)", Cory must have been fighting off chicks in elementary school cause of it. You defiantly can't say Gunz got a deal because of his pops and if you've heard him spit you'll understand why, but it still took him a few years to get the YMCM deal. He first starting putting out his Apprentice mixtape series in 2005 and has dropped a few more dope tapes since. Because of the success Gunz got through his tapes he was named as one of the 2009 XXL Freshmen Top 10 list and hasn’t looked back since. What a lot of people don't know is that Gunz was originally featured on Weezy's "A Milli" from Tha Carter III but his verse was later removed before making the final cut, however the Gunz version was included on Weezy & bebo's There Will Be Blood mixtape. You can follow him on his Twitter Here or on his FaceBook Here. Below you can grab all his mixtapes and listen to our favorite tape, The Apprentice 3 - Season Finale.
Download all Cory Gunz mixtapes Here (via DatPiff)
Laws
Birthplace: Brazil
Laws was born in Brazil, adopted by a Puerto Rican family, moved to New York and now resides in Florida, so he’s got a little bit of everything that contributes to his style. He started writing his first raps at the age of 14, when he moved from Long Island, NY to Spring Hill, FL. He is not your typical emcee but we dig him because of that and because of the way he went about getting recognition in the game. He grew up listening to rock, blues, soul and salsa music and it shows in the production on his mixtapes. He cites British Invasion Bands such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and American singer/song writer Iggy Pop along with east coast lyricists as his musical influences. In high school Laws put his skills to the test when he used to go to Tampa on the weekends for parking lot cyphers and to sneak into clubs for freestyle battles and talent shows. This paid off for him because it led to his first big break and got his track "Get Off My Kool-Aid" on the radio. After this Laws got pretty big in the Florida area, he was asked to be a part of the Rawkus 50 (Here), this was huge for him because it caught the eye of the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, who really took him under their wing. There he really refined his style, lyrics and metaphors. While working with the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League along with 9th Wonder, DJ Khalil and Don Cannon, Laws put out a few mixtapes that include Your Future Favorite Rapper and 4:57, these really helped him become an emcee to look out for. In an article XXL wrote on him last year, they compared him to a new age Eminem, and he also mentions that he takes pride in the instrumental he chooses to rap over, saying that it plays a huge role in making a dope track. You can follow Laws through his MySpace Here and FaceBook Here. Below you can check out Laws's mixtape 4:57.
XV
Birthplace: Witchita, KS
XV or 15 refers to the age when he started making music. XV has to be one of the hardest working emcees in the game today, we say this because it took til his 12th mixtape (Everybody's Nobody) before he gained major attention, along with three more since then. With a talent like this it blows our mind it took this long for Vizzy to get big, hats off to him though for not giving up and in the end it paid off because he recently signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records. This cats got a legit style and does it gracefully and quite different than many of the new generation emcees, you know what I'm talking about if your a fan. XV is also one of the many emcees who got big through hip hop blogs and Twitter, so your welcome. Vizzy is our second Artist of the Week from the Kansas area, the first being Tech N9ne from K.C., which is cool because when you think of the hip hop game Kansas doesn't exactly come to mind. XV has also been pretty creative to get his name out there which includes promotions like his 40 Days/40 Nights tape where he released a new track every morning and night for 40 days on his blog along with collaboration with rock bands such as the Smashing Pumpkins and The Killers and with rap/rockers The Flobots and 88 Keys. He has also worked with some of the better emcees around like Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Cory Gunz and Mickey Factz just to name a few. Vizzy does have an album out, Complex, and he is set to drop his first "real" album, The Kid With The Green Backpack, this spring. You can follow XV at his Twitter Here or FaceBook Here. Below you can check out V For Vizzy which is basically a best of mixtape from the dudes over at Evil Empire.
Kendrick Lamar
Birthplace: Compton, CA
Kendrick Lamar needs no introduction, not only did he blow up in 2010 he was recently named to XXL's 11 Freshmen to watch for in 2011. Honestly K. Dot's getting so big so fast the XXL honor probably means nothing to him, I guess that's what happens when you got Dr. Dre in your corner. Lamar has been making waves again lately with the news that he is in the studio helping out with Dre's Detox album along with a joint mixtape on its way with another huge new school emcee J. Cole. K. Dot has an EP out, The Kendrick Lamar EP, along with a few mixtapes, none as his highly successful as his O.verly D.edicated mixtape which really made his a house hold name. He is also apart of one of our favorite hip hop super groups Black Hippy, which includes Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q. Kendrick Lamar is currently working out his solo debut album Good Kid In A Mad City which drops later this year. You can follow K. Dot on Twitter Here or on FaceBook Here. Below you can listen and download Lamar's O.verly D.edicated mixtape.
Download O.verly D.edicated Here or Here
Chris Webby
Birthplace: Norwalk, CT
Webby has been rapping since a very young age when he was putting out tracks and mixtapes under the names Liddle Webby and Vindictive. Early in his career his music only reached fans from his home state of Ct. Since then he's changed his name and style and has matured as an emcee and its showed. In 2009 Webby dropped the first of his five free mixtapes (grab them all Here), along with these tape hes been constant presence on YouTube and is know well known all over the US. The reason why we like Webby so much is because he stays true to who he is and does not try and be someone he is not. Evidence of this is Webby has no problem letting everyone know he's from the suburbs and telling us how broke he is. He also likes to let us know how much pot, alcohol and pills he consumes in his lyrics along with how he still lives in his parents attic. Like us here at The Booth Webby is also a huge fan of nice kicks and fitted hats, so he's basically a typical college student. Webby's metaphors are not only legit but also smart and witty with punch lines that won't let you down. Follow Chris Webby on Twitter (Here) or Face Book (Here). We'll leave you with a great Webby quote "My Name is Christian Webster, I'm from the suburbs of Connecuit and I rap, real fucking good if you ask me, better than you at least." Below you can check out his newest mixtape Best of the Burbs.
Fashawn
Birthplace: Fresno, CA
You can split Fashawn's time in the game into two parts. A few years ago Fashawn was (and still is) a well known name in the underground game. In 2010 Fashawn was featured in XXL's Freshmen 10 Lineup, and since then hes been everywhere. He's got one album out, Boy Meets World, and around 10 mixtapes which include his Grizzly City series and a Nas Illmatic themed tape. He's worked with other emcees such as Lil Wayne, Talib Kweli, Ghostface Killah, Common and Emilio Rojas. While also working with some serious Producers and DJ's like Exile, The Alchemist, Mick Boogie, Terry Urban and DJ Green Lantern. So like I said he's been everywhere lately. Fashawn's style is innovative with his own touch of originality, not only is he legit he makes it all seem easy. Fashawn has made it on TBR a few times already and he's prepping to put out his new mixtape Higher Learning 2 early this year. We'll keep you all posted, below you can check out two tracks from his most recent mixtape Grizzly City 3.
Fashawn Ft. Lil Wayne - "The F"
Download Here
Fashawn - "Santiago's Revenge"
Download Here
Cam Meekins
Birthplace: Wellesley, Mass
Even if you consider yourself an avid hip hop fan you probably haven't heard of Cam Meekins. He is far from your typical big time emcee. He was born and raised in the suburbs and has learned to make his music through his high school Music Technology class. That's right he's an 18 year old high school senior at Wellesley High. Meekins has said he has written raps since he was in 4th grade and has been making beats on his computer since the 6th grade. Meekins certainly doesn't claim to be street or hood or a G or any of the above cliches that have grown synonymos with the rise of your typical hip hop emcee. He never sold drugs to make money to produce his music and he has never served any time in prison. You can certainly question his road to hip hop if you'd like, he certainly hasn't turned a terrible situation in to a hip hop empire like many of hip hops moguls. But Meekins has certainly made his hip hop future much brighter than many would have imagined. Cam Meekins likens himself to Jack Johnson as far as his attitude in his music. "Surf Songster" is the term often used to described the laid back style and smooth flowing verses. Perhaps Meekins music is a distant relative of Kid Cudi, the hip hop hippie. That's a compliment any up and comer would love to recieve. The thing young cant quite deny is the quality of music Cam Meekins puts out. If nothing else, his style is catchy as hell and always seems to have you searching for more. His hooks are catchy and relevant to match his beats that always seem to have you bobbing your head by the end. The content isn't always random rhymes like some early Asher. Some of his songs carry a deeper meaning like "Comes To An End", an absolute potential blockbuster hit about suicide. At the very least you have to check out The Booth Artist OTW, Cam Meekins. Below you can check out Cam Meekins on "Comes To An End" a tune of his mixtape 1993.
Also available to listen to below is Meekins song "Just Like You" off of his latest mixtape Cam Meekins Day Off.
Cam Meekins: "Comes To An End"
Cam Meekins: "Just Like You"
MeLo-X
Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY
We first heard of MeLo-X last year through one of the better mix tape blogs out there, getrightmusic.com. MeLo-X is another Brooklyn emcee in the game killing it right now. His most recent mix tape More Merch can not really be compared to most of the music being put out. His style is basically anything he wants it to be and on his tape he goes hip hop to reggae which is sick as is but he also mixes things up often with some soul, electronics along with some classical tunes. Ya like I said he really cant be compared but don't let his style and production scare you away hes without a doubt work a listen. The mix tape features some serious up and comers in Kendrick Lamar and Mickey Factz. Best part is you can download MeLo-X's More Merch for free below, so give him a shot, you can check out the two of his tracks before you download.
Download More Merch Here
MeLo-X Ft. Kendrick Lamar & Mickey Factz - "Rappity Rap Remix"
MeLo-X - "BK All Nighter"
Royce Da 5'9"
Birthplace: Detroit, MI
Where do we start, If Royce is not on your list of top lyricists in the game you might be crazy. Royce has been around since the late 90's and although his popularity has been up and down since then he is once again rising the ranks with his group Slaughterhouse. When Nickel Nine first met Eminem in '97 they formed the duo Bad Meets Evil where they put out a mix tape and a ton of tracks together. Royce got hated on when he did his solo stuff, which he still killed in the early 2000's, although once he started putting out "The Bar Exam" mix tape series everyone knew he was back for good. Royce is now with Slaughterhouse who put out their self titled first album last year. As of a few weeks ago Slaughterhouse is now signed Eminem's Shady Records label. Eminem has also said their will be a part two of Bad Meets Evil. Just writing that fired me up a little bit. These tracks below need to be listened to, enjoy.
Bad Meets Evil - "Scary Movie"
Royce & Busta - "Dinner Time"
Slaughterhouse & The Lox - "Put Some Money On It Remix"
CyHi Da Prynce
Birthplace: Atlanta, GA.
CyHi is another protege of Kanye and apart of his label G.O.O.D. Music as of last year. Ever since hes be apart of this label hes been everywhere including Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album on the track "So Appalled" and also on Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music leaks on the tracks "Take One For the Team" and "Looking For Trouble, B.o.B's No Genre mix tape on the track "Higher", along with his own mix tape Royal Flush. Everything he's in he kills it and to prove to you go get "Royal Flush" right here. Cyhi's style is crazy, hes got that compound syllable and sound combined way of spitting like some of my favorite MC's. I first gave this guy a shot a while back when I read an article that said Kanye wouldn't want to battle Cyhi, ya that'll make you think. Below you can check out some tracks from his tape.
"Ring Bellz"
"Sideways"
Week of January 3rd
Birthplace: Queens, NY & San Francisco, CA
Das Racist consists of two emcees, Himanshu Suri and Victor Vazquez and their hype man Ashok Kondabolu. If you have not heard of these guys don't just look at the picture and write em off cause they consistently kill it. Das Racist had their come out party in 2008 with the track "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell" that was all over the internet. Since then they have put out two mix tapes, Shut Up, Dude and Sit Down, Man and some pretty dope singles. Both mix tapes received good reviews and you can grab both these tapes for free at their website dasracist.net. To some of you Das Racist will be a love or hate type of thing but if you appreciate good hip hop you will love these guys. They look crazy and their style might be even crazier but they flow like a faucet and while some of their rhymes and metaphors are strange other times they sound genius. Das Racist are just another great hip hop act unsigned in the game today, but I cant imagine to much longer. Below you can check out two of The Booth's favorite tracks off their most recent tape Sit Down, Man, "You Can Sell Anything" and "All Tan Everything".
"You Can Sell Anything"
"All Tan Everything"
Tech N9ne
Birthplace:
Kansas City, MO
Tech N9ne isn't the most popular emcee on the planet. At first glance, Tech N9ne doesn't seem to be a huge part of mainstream hip hop. But after a quick read through of his resume, you might think differently. In the early years of his career, Tech N9ne belonged to a variety of record labels and hip hop duos and trios. In 1999 he was featured on the legendary hip hop song "The Anthem" with the likes of Eminem, RZA, and Xzibit. In 2002, Techs album Absolute Power debuted at number 79 on the Billboard 200. Recently he released Bad Season, a mixtape receiving some high praise from fellow emcees and critics alike. But there are other places you may have heard some Tech N9ine. Madden NFL, Fight Night Round 4, and Ea Sports: MMA are just a few of the video games to feature songs by Tech N9ne. He also has tracks featured in multiple movies and television shows. Check out "Ego trippin" & "Losin my mind" off of Tech's latest mixtape Bad Season.
Jon Connor
Birthplace: Flint, MI
Label: All Varsity Entertainment
(Mateen Cleaves)
Introducing Jon Connor out of Flint, Michigan. Connor was destined for success in the music industry. The youngest of a musically inclined family, the M.C. labeled as "The Peoples Rapper" began selling mixtapes out of his back pack in Jr. High. When he was 14, Connor founded Avie Records/ All Varsity Entertainment, with the support of his mother. By 18, the young M. C. had an in-house studio and was a significant force on the Detroit area underground rap scene. At this time Connor had already shared the stage with featured artists such as KRS-One, 2 LiVe Crew, and Bone Crusher. Now Jon Connor is recognized as a legitimate producer and hip hop artist.
In 2005 the Michigan based rapper teamed up with E. Rude and "K-Willis, a southern based duo and released "The Calling Pt. 1 "The Prequel". The mixtape was well reviewed and nationally recognized as a legit underground classic. Check out Jon Connor below in "The Message".
Week of December 13th
Emilio Rojas
Birthplace: Rochester, NY
Resides In: Brooklyn, NY
Label: Currently Not Signed (formerly signed w/ Wax Reform)
Introducing Emilio Rojas out of Brooklyn, NY. Rojas has set out to take New York hip hop by storm, and he has all but reached his goal. The young M.C. who was born in Rochester, NY is potentially the hottest up and coming rapper that currently calls NYC home. Rojas combines some serious flow, with witty and clever lyrics. He has garnered much respect from hip hop peers with his notorious reputation for having success in any competitive hip hop fest. The son of a Venezuelan father and American mother, Rojas attended Rochester University in his hometown of Rochester, NY. In 2004, Emilio decided to drop out of college to pursue his career even further by releasing an album and going on a tour with his first group Phocus'. Emilio released his first Mixtape in 2006 titled "A Breath of Fresh Air". The mixtape was an instant hit and cemented Rojas a spot as serious M.C. on the rise in New York City. We've recently become pretty big fans of Emilio Rojas here at The Booth. Give Rojas a serious listen, we think you'll like what you hear. Below is a single from one of Emilio Rojas's mixtapes "Recession Proof".
Check out this single from Rojas off his latest mixtape " Life Without Shame" titled "About No One"
