Some New Rap Music For You to Enjoy

Hey what's up rap blog reader. Dang this site has not been updated in a week, that is hella lame. One week in internet time is like 5 years. So with that said I would like to announce that I am coming out of internet retirement to write this blog post.

What are some sweet Bay Area rap tunes I've been jamming out to? Hmmm let me think... I would be lying to you if I said the Bay Area is popping off right now. Besides the songs I've posted on this blog, the Bay hasn't really been churning out much that has caught my ear like usual. Why? I think it is just a couple-month-lull for the scene, nothing to get real worried about. On the other hand I kind of feel like Bay Area rap is starting to sound less like Bay Area rap and more like everything else.
Is the internet ruining regional rap scenes as we know it?

Relevant shirt

Perhaps my interest in Bay raps is just naturally declining as I'm finding less of it that I enjoy as I steadily listen to more and more Euro Pop Punk (I don't have to explain myself to you).

Anyways, here's some rap music songs and videos that I have been bumping:

DLK Enterprises, the San Francisco rap label, recently released a music "sampler" and it is up for free on Datpiff for you to check out.
It's weird how the term "sampler" is only used when it comes to food (esp. cheese) and music. Here is the finest gouda that it has to offer:

Young Boo "You Know What it Is"



Young Boo started up under Messy Marv, but they hate each other now because everyone hates Messy Marv. Boo is a really good rapper and his 2010 album, How I'm Rockin', still gets played regularly at the blog headquarters (this song goes so fucking hard). Unfortunately he hasn't really released much music since then. Perhaps the rap game is not the lucrative career that rappers make it out to be? Young Boo probably had to get a real job and stop fucking around. His mom is probably really happy about that. Like she pinches his cheeks whenever he visits and says "I am sooo proud of you for working hard, young man!" And he's all like "cut it out Mom," but it feels good deep down inside to have a respectable career driving a MUNI train or whatever, rather than pretending to sell drugs and uploading freestyles to youtube. So if Young Boo never releases another album again I'm ok with that, because I know his mother is very proud of him and in a way, so am I. Keep up the good work not rapping, Young Boo.

Omina Labs research associate Michelle working hard

There is some other compilation album out from "Omina Labs." Omina Labs is a recording studio in Sacramento, but it sounds more like a biotech company to me. The best part of the album is the ample amount of T-Nutty on it. He is an extremely entertaining rapper and his distinct over-the-top flow signifies everything that once was and still is great about Sacramento rap:

T-Nutty ft. Lace Leno & The Gatlin "Full Throttle"





There is also this music video from Akron's V12 (he goes by "V12 Series" now btw) that is tight. V12 is one of the best Akron rappers out who has yet to drop a solo project. V12 does a really poor job of lip synching his verse here, but he gets a pass for having a gold grill in 2013.
Not really sure what's going on with the aesthetics of the video: everything is really dark and dirty and there are random shots of stained walls and rusty pipes. It's like they filmed the video in an abandoned building or something. Perhaps they are trying to emphasize how grimy life in the streets is and the decaying cabinets are a metaphor for how cyclical poverty decays your soul and will to live. ¯\(°_o)/¯

Check out :40 for my new favorite producer drop

Kansas City's C.W. Da YoungBlood just released this music video TODAY and I like it a lot. Him and some guy named Da Young Gunna trade bars in an apartment kitchen while they pretend to cook drugs and it is pretty awesome. It seems like they are having a good time and are constantly jumping in on each other's lines throughout the song, which sounds dope as fuck. It took me a handful of plays to even realize that there isn't a chorus in this song.
I like the girl in the video, she is just like "uhh ok I'm not really sure what to do here, guys."
This song is probably my favorite of the bunch and goes stupid hard.

Ok that's all for now. Gotta get back to work. Stay positive.

Rich the Factor is Sampling Adele Again

Please note how similar their lifestyles seem to be: Adele attends fancy award ceremonies that the whole world watches, while Rich the Factor smokes a blunt and drinks cheap tequila atop a cooler in someone's backyard in Kansas City.



Last year when Rich the Factor sampled Adele for his song "Betta Without You" it was one of the most interesting/bizarre/left-field sample sources to come from my favorite rapper out of Kansas City. I declared on this blog that 2012 would forever be remembered by historians as the year Rich the Factor sampled Adele for that one song on his 86th mixtape (that number is estimated FYI).

Well they say lightning never strikes twice, but let me refer you to park ranger Roy Sullivan and this brand new song from Rich the Factor:



Rich the Factor "Could Have Had it All"

As you can probably deduce from the song and its title, this track samples Adele's "Rolling in the Deep." Do you remember a couple years back when her countless songs about being upset at her ex-bf were insanely popular and she was swimming in critical praise for being a "real artist" (via her songs being not fun to listen to and her not being attractive)? Anytime the word "real" is attached to any musician or form of music I instantly know that it's going to be boring pretentious horseshit for people who think they are too good for normal music.

Anwyays, this song is off RTF's new album, Street vs. Commercial, and it is another solid entry into Rich's vast discography. I seriously don't understand how he can continue to churn out quality music as frequently as he does without running out of things to say.

Here is the album cover:

Wow Commercial you guys are terrible, Streets got almost double your score!

Rich the Factor's album covers always look like 10 seconds of thought were put into them, but I guess when you put out a new release every month there isn't much time to plan out awesome album covers.

Here is my favorite song off the album, which I have been listening to non-stop all week:

Rich the Factor ft. Rush "Catch Me Later"



Really vibing with the lavish and positive vibes of this song. Rich's ability to make fun, poppy songs like this give me great hope for more people being attracted to his music in the future.

Ok that's all for now. Take care of yourself.

Do you think Rich the Factor has a thing for Adele's music?
What do you think about Rich the Factor's new mixtape?
How are you feeling today??????

HOT NEW TRENDING PHRASE: "100 Grand"

As a very important blogger it is my duty to keep the millions of readers of this blog updated on all the latest trends and happenings. Let me tell you something, kind reader, being an influential blogger is not an easy task: I am constantly approached by people on the street, yelling "THOMAS, I NEED TO BE UPDATED ON THE LATEST TRENDS AND HAPPENINGS. PLEASE INFORM ME!" Life sure can be tough for internet celebrities such as myself. I mean sure it's nice to be constantly approached by women at all the exclusive VIP parties I am invited to, but keeping up with all the latest music can be rather tiring.

"Hi I just wanted to say I really enjoy your blogging about underground Kansas City gangster rap and think you are really handsome and smart!"

Anyways, I would like to inform you of the hottest phrase in the world right now: "100 Grand." I know what you are thinking, "wait, that's part of the title of this here blog!" What an astute observation, kind reader! I can only assume that my hip and edgy blogging has influenced every local rapper and is responsible for the phrase taking off.

Let's review how "100 Grand" is sweeping the musical nation:

This song by Fairfield's Mac Reese is titled "Still 100 Grand." Not really sure what he is referring to when he states that he is "still 100 Grand." Like his salary is still six figures??? It sounds like "100 Grand" might mean something besides the monetary value of $100,000. Like when someone says "I keep it 100" they are keeping it real, but if they claim they "keep it 100 grand" that's like keeping it 1,000 times more real! Dang dude Mac Reese must keep it really fucking real. I bet he would not be afraid to tell someone that their outfit does not look very flattering on them!

I guess this song has been out for 6 months, but I am just hearing it now for the first time and the video is brand new. Iamsu! is one of the most popular rappers in the Bay right now even though this blog has neglected covering his music in any capacity. All of the HBK Gang music never really enticed me to check them out any further than what I hear on the radio and other blogs, but to each their own.
Iamsu!'s song is also about maintaining 100 Grand, with him rapping "I keep it 100 Grand" for the hook. Pretty sure my theory of the phrase being about keeping it really super real is correct!

Other hot "100 Grand" things:

These bars are the hottest source of diabetes on the market right now! That gooey center filled with high fructose corn syrup and rat poison will have your mouth watering like no other candy bar out there. Be sure to purchase them by the case so you are never caught without a sugary piece of shit on your person.

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There is also a DJ 100 Grand out there (and he has a blog of his own):

I will have to speak to the legal department here, but I'm pretty sure he has to give us 30% of all his profits when using that name. A word or phrase has not truly made it until a DJ is using it as his name. I'm pretty sure every DJ name will be taken in 10 years, so be sure to copyright your DJ name right now if you have any sense in your head.
If I were I sociologist I would conduct a formal study that would show a direct correlation between the decay of our society and the growing number of DJs out in the world.

I guess that's all for now. Be sure to try and sneak the phrase "100 Grand" into your next social interaction and see how impressed by you everyone will be.

Do you know of any other hot "100 Grand" things out there right now???

Shady Nate's Mobb Marley II is Really Good!

A few posts back I wrote about Shady Nate's Nation of Domination and basically stated that it was a disappointing album and Shady Nate has been failing to live up to his potential. Well guess what? I am eating those words now, because less than a month after dropping Nation of Domination, Shady Nate has released Mobb Marley II and it is one of the best albums I've heard in 2013.

Shady Nate "Hair Nappy"



Every indication pointed to this album being another throwaway project for Shady Nate: it came out less than a month after his previous release, it has horrible artwork, the feature list is comprised of mostly no-name rappers, and Shady Nate has basically just been putting out throwaway projects for a couple years. But I guess he just woke up and realized that he is actually a really good rapper or something.

Here is a grainy picture of Shady Nate that I just lifted off his Instagram: I am very jealous of dudes who can walk around with their shirt completely unbuttoned and not feel like a tremendous douche

Mobb Marley II has an impressive amount of diversity both production-wise and lyrically without sounding all over the place and really sounds like a complete album.
Shady Nate's raps sound so effortlessly great here it's hard to believe that he is capable of anything besides dope music and all

It's hard to pick individual tracks to post from this album because everything on Mobb Marley II is so consistently good. There is not one skip-worthy track on here, so the best songs on here just boil down to personal taste.
Shady Nate "Aviation"

I've only played this album maybe 4 or 5 times through, so it's hard to say

Is it really a good idea to be holding a baby and gun at the same time? Please respond. 

Sincerely,

A Concerned Parent

"International Lunch Ins"


(would this fall into the subgenre of "yacht rap")

SHADY NATE I'M SORRY I EVER DOUBTED YOU, PLEASE FORGIVE ME AND CONTINUE MAKING TIGHT RAPS.

There is a New Mob Figaz Song!!! (With a Rydah J. Klyde Album Attached to It)

Dress Code: Headwear Required

Mob Figaz "Back and Forth"


(pretty sure this is the sample source) (EDIT: And this song too. Thanks Done)

Since starting this blog in 2009 I have made it my mission to keep readers updated on all Mob Figaz music, both old and new. The Mob Figaz are my favorite rap group of all time and the emotional depth and intelligence that they brought to Bay Area gangster rap has had a profound effect on the regional rap scene.

I am stoked to share with you this new Mob Figaz track featuring all five members from Rydah J. Klyde's new album. Jamming all five Mob Figaz onto one song is always a challenge, but they handle it here by nixing the chorus and letting every rapper drop a shortened verse. It totally works and the song clocks in at under three and a half minutes. The retro-industrial vibe of the production really grows on you after a few spins and every rapper sounds dope. The individual Mob Figaz always seem to step it up and bring their A-game when they are collaborating as a group.
 I wouldn't be surprised if this song was recorded back in Summer of 2010 when all five members reunited to record a new Mob Figaz album. That album has yet to show, but a couple songs from that recording session were released in Spring of 2011 on the Mobbin Thru the West compilation ("Killin Em Slowly" and "Loyal to the Mob").
Anyways, super tight song, but let's take a moment to discuss the rest of Rydah J. Klyde's new album, Klyde Fisher:

The album title is very appropriate for Rydah because just like Bobby Fischer he has been MIA for years now (*resists the urge to use the phrase "a game of lyrical chess" to describe his raps in this post*). His last album, Rated R (2009), was a highly underrated project filled with dark sinister raps, but this project is a complete 180 in lyrical content and atmosphere.
The overwhelming majority of songs here are about the opposite sex, to the point where I'm pretty sure 30% of Rydah's lines begin with the word "she." It is basically song-after-song of him talking about women, with the overwhelming majority of tracks containing some no-name R&B singer crooning on the hook.

Needless to say, I am not really a fan of this one.

Rydah's raps have an inherently menacing quality to them nowadays and the lyrical content and production on Klyde Fisher never really match his tone.

This should have been the album cover; I like the random sillhouetted soldiers and bikini-clad women

There are a few quality songs on here though, so let's focus on them:

Rydah J. Klyde  ft. Dubb 20 "Be Qwiot"


(This is the most creative spelling of "quiet" I have ever encountered)

The concept of this song is pretty hilarious to me: Rydah is requesting that all unattractive women be "qwiot" and all the good-looking women "start a riot." Not really sure how a woman is supposed to boil down her appearance to either good-looking or not, but I suppose a lot of it comes down to self-confidence. I'm pretty sure the majority of women and people in general probably fall into the category of average-looking or "just ok," but maybe if they start rioting with the rest of the beautiful people no one will give them any trouble.
This song's booming trap beat really stands out amongst the countless slow beats on here with a hook about how 'your man can't do it like I do,' etc.

Money Gang

Money Gang ft. "The Collecta"



There is also an unreleased Money Gang track on the album. For those of you not in the know, the Money Gang were a rap duo consisting of Rydah J. Klyde and the now deceased, Johnny Ca$h. The duo put out three solid albums under Thizz Ent. during the label's prime in the mid 2000's before Johnny Ca$h was tragically murdered in 2007.
It's easy to heap praise on deceased artists, but Johnny Ca$h was an extremely talented rapper who thrived in the hyphy era by making accessible gangster rap music and it is very unfortunate that his life was cut short.
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None of the other songs on Klyde Fisher are really doing it for me. It's not bad music, it's just not the type of rap I would like to hear from him. Hopefully his next project will have more dark and brooding tracks like this one:



What do you think of the new Mob Figaz track???
Do you like the Klyde Fisher album???
Is "Qwiot" the best misspelling in rap that you have ever seen?

New Rap Music Round Up Pt. 2

I really like this artwork, especially the way DJ Fresh's face looks like he has had multiple maxillofacial reconstructive surgeries

Mitchy Slick ft. Ise B, Young Shots & Woodgrain "Tickets"



Mitchy Slick ft. Spank Booty (Editor's note: cool rap name, bro) "Look Hungry"



After years of waiting, San Diego's Mitchy Slick has finally dropped his collaborative album with DJ Fresh, Feet Match the Paint. Apparently it was worth the wait because this album is one of the best projects I've heard so far in 2013. It's a very well-rounded and complete rap album that sounds like some real time and effort was put into it, rather than just a random collection of songs.
DJ Fresh's beats are great and sound quite diverse here, but apart from a few exceptions they often take a backseat to Mitchy Slick's tight raps. Beyond just having dope verses, Mitchy Slick's hooks are excellent, especially on "Put on a Show" where he drops his voice down to a low rumble. Fresh and Slick have some real chemistry and seem to bring out the best in one another on this album

There is a noticeable shift in Slick's lyrical content compared to his last solo release, Urban Survival Syndrome (2006), with less of an emphasis on gang life and more raps about how clean his Maserati looks, etc. It's an understandable change, considering that Mitchy is now in his mid 30's, but luckily his lyrics never come across as hollow brags like present-day Yukmouth taking every opportunity he has to name Euro designer brands.



Mitchy Slick has always maintained close ties with the Bay Area (be sure to check out his duo album with Messy Marv from '07) and I imagine his collaborations with DJ Fresh is only the beginning of Southern California rappers continuing to come up to the Bay, as the scene up here continues to grow in popularity. It's interesting how many other regional rap scenes have been influenced, accepted, and to a certain degree, assimilated by the Bay Area. It's arguably been the most active and independent rap scene for decades now and is only growing larger with time.

Rondoe catching up on daily events in a classy manner

Rondoe ft. Lil Mo "Nobody Never Said"

(FYI: Lil Mo is one of my favorite rappers out right now)

Rondoe "N***az Don't Like Me"



Kansas City's Rondoe just came out with a new album succinctly titled Life. The album is one of his most consistent projects to date and can easily be enjoyed from front-to-back. The upside is that there are no cringe-worthy "for the ladies" tracks or whatever, but there are also few tracks that truly stand out on the album.
Life has very limited features, with only four guest verses over 16 tracks. The lack of features results in most songs clocking in at three minutes or less and the album is just over 43 minutes, the perfect album length in my opinion. It's nice to see rappers grasping the fact that not all songs need 3 verses or have to be padded out with no-name features.
The beats on this album can easily be divided into two categories: 1.) hard knocking lo-fi mobb beats that have become a signature sound in Kansas City gangster rap 2.) production that I think of as "Quiet Storm" beats; low-key melancholy sounds, often containing old-school Soul or R&B samples that lend themselves to introspective raps that conjure up images of a rainy day. The Jacka, Joe Blow, and the Akron rap scene helped proliferate this sound and now we are seeing it spread rapidly to regions such as Kansas City and Fort Wayne, IN. Here is a prime example of that Quiet Storm sound:

Great music, I could listen to depressing raps like this all day. Just like Mitchy Slick, Rondoe's raps have shifted away from his gangbanger origins, but instead of making raps about his riches, Rondoe's music has moved in a more reflective and somber direction. It's a good move for him and I look forward to hearing him expand on it in the future.

Both of these albums are quality releases and get a big thumbs up from everyone here at 100 Grand on My Wrist. The Mitchy Slick one is more polished and will probably have a broader appeal, but both projects are definitely worth checking out.

What do you think of these albums??????

New Rap Music Round Up Pt. 1

"Where are all the new 100 Grand on My Wrist posts?!?!"

Hey what's up everyone, how are things? You may have noticed the lack of posts these past couple weeks. My life schedule has changed a lot this month and I haven't had much free time, but damn it if I can't find a way to keep this blog running. I mean if the characters on Grey's Anatomy can find time to have sex with each other all the time while still fulfilling their doctorly duties then why shouldn't I be able to squeeze in a few hours every week to blog about Bay Area rap?

Anyways, here's a couple new Bay rap albums that you should know about:

Mac Reese "25 Wita L"



Mac Reese is a Fairfield rapper who you may be familiar with from his collaborations with the (now defunct?) Federation. Unlike The Federation's ecstasy-driven hyphy music, Reese opts for a more straightforward mobb music sound that really resonates with people like me, who only recognize Molly as a girl you used to date in High School.
Reese has a real unique delivery, with every phrase he raps tripping over the next one, causing his verses to sound like one huge strung-together word. He rarely mixes up his PausesAndBreathingIsForSuckers flow, but it is still quite nice to hear a rapper putting a lot of effort into his rhymes to sound technically proficient. Mac Reese's focused raps are a breath of fresh air in this era of rappers trying to be weird and different rather than skilled (Lil Wayne and Lil B ruined rap music, etc, etc).
The production is almost exclusively sinister mobb beats that suit Mac Reese's dead serious rhymes perfectly, although towards the end of the album's 76 minute run-time you will probably be yearning for some more musical variety.
Longtime fans of Bay Area gangster rap will absolutely love this album and songs like "Nasty Gang," with its ominous piano line over a punchy drumbeat will leave you pondering why more rappers aren't making music like this in 2013:

Mac Reese ft. Lil Raider, Lil Toro & Big Cholo "Nasty Gang"

I know what you are thinking, "This sounds pretty good so far, Thomas, but I'm not quite convinced. Is there a song on the album that samples a 10 year old hard rock song with Jacka on the hook?!??!" I'm so glad you asked that, "Time to Go" samples Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life"!

The only thing I don't really get about this album is the title, Back 2 Da 90's. Why are we going back to the 90's? There are no zany references to Clarissa Explains It All or The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on the album, so I'm not really sure what the album title is all about. Regardless, this is a good album that will leave a mean-mug on your face and a smile in your heart.

Not really sure what is going on with this album cover

Shady Nate ft. Fe the Don "Gettin Mo"



Shady Nate ft. HD, Fe the Don & A Plus "Military Tactics"



Livewire's Shady Nate came out with a new album earlier this month, although it's worth asking how closely he is still associated with the label at this point: there is no mention of Livewire Records or any indication that he is still with them apart from a couple Ronald Mack features.
Shady Nate is still my favorite rapper in the Livewire camp, but it seems like enthusiasm for his music is at an all time low at this point. Livewire leader J. Stalin continues to grow in popularity and Philthy Rich has turned himself into a lightweight local celebrity (despite his limited skills) thanks to numerous features from much-hyped rappers such as 2 Chainz and Chief Keef.
Shady Nate on the other hand, is insanely talented but his sporadic releases and uneven discography has done little to raise his profile. Nation of Domination (what a weird album title) is another inconsistent release for Shady Nate, but still manages to contain several memorable hooks and verses from him. The album has far too little Shady Nate and far too much everyone else. In fact there is not a single solo track by him on here and some guy named Fe the Don shows up on 10 of the 14 tracks. I really wish he would release an album that matches his talents and lives up to all the potential he showcased on 2007's Based on a True Story, but it seems like he is moving in the wrong direction at this point. I am still holding out hope for Shady Nate and will definitely continue to check out his new projects.

OK that's all for now, part 2 of the new music round up coming later this week. I've got to get back to generating lavish amounts of revenue thanks to the power of internet blogging:

What do you think of these albums???