KEEPING IT CLEAN Juan Deuce and Falside. |
We have plenty more locally sourced hip-hop updates here. Some big names will be doing things in 2013, and I'm anticipating a wealth of hip-hop greatness booming from the Ocean State in 2013. Once again: buy some music, catch a show, and support your local neighborhood lyricist!
Are you ready for THR3PIECE SUIT? The most anticipated local rap album this year will arrive courtesy of revered Rhody rhyme legends Chachi Carvalho and Swann Notty, along with beatminer extraordinaire J. DePina. Carvalho announced the collaboration early last year, but lest we forget Rap Industry Rule #4081: Disregard release dates. Judging by the recent SoundCloud snippet posted, it's safe to say Brand New Vintage will be fucking bananas. We're talking veteran leadership at its finest: Chachi was born to ignite the stage while Swann drops crisp, confident bars like no other since his groundbreaking single "4 Steps (In the Game)" more than 10 years ago (the 2013 Swann Notty Lovefest officially starts now). Chachi remains busy churning out jams at his Beatbox Studio (beatboxrecording.com) with two solo albums in the can and checked in via email with an official update:
"We have plenty of good music coming in 2013, and I can't wait for the world to hear what we have to offer. Also, J.DePina and Swann Notty are working on an album called Free, and I hope to have a new album with my band ready for the summertime heat."
2012 proved to be a pivotal year for BIG RUSH (reverbnation.com/bigrush), who released his fourth full-length album, Alford Plea, to a packed house at Dusk a few weeks back. He took top honors in a rap contest and was flown to LA to record (at Will Smith's studio) for pop singer Kwanza Jones. Rush has plenty to get off his chest (e.g., the story behind the album title, which we recently documented here), and this time around he rhymes with conviction on standout cuts "Ain't No Sunshine," "Heart," and "Regrets," and opened his CD release show with personal favorite "Aye Yoo." The Albany-bred (and Bryant U grad) just relocated to Meriden, CT, but spends quality time here enlisting Chachi's Beatbox Studios to record. Big Rush has shared stages with Rakim, M.O.P, Masta Ace, and Apathy to namedrop a few, and will continue to tour the region behind the new album. Pick up a copy of Alford Plea at cdbaby.com and iTunes.
JON HOPE (iamjonhope.com) is another notable solo artist continually making productive moves. 2012 marked his second appearance at the SXSW festival, and he linked up with Nike for his single "Rhode Less Traveled." On his latest platter, Work In Progress, Hope aligned himself with producers LJC and Taktix; the duo go back a few years to some killer collaborations on previous must-hear mixtapes To Whom it May Concern and The Audacity (hosted by Statik Selectah). Work In Progress cuts "99 Cent" and "Planet Satyrn" are two of his best yet, and I must shout out "Cashews," a nod to the Wu-Tang classic "C.R.E.A.M" but with a lyrical twist (the hook is beyond clever). Hope continues to build momentum in 2013:
