Mix #27: Best of HD

HD is going to be the next big thing in the Bay.

HD represents everything that is right with the Bay Area rap scene right now. As the major label music industry has collapsed this past decade all the money that was in the rap game has disappeared. What that means is that the number of rappers major labels are going to support is very very small now and anyone hoping to get into the industry now has to do it independently. That puts the Bay Area in a very unique position because the whole scene has been somewhat insular since the 90's and has already developed a strong network for independent artists. Therefore in this rap recession the Bay Area has flourished while other regions have faltered. HD epitomizes the independent hustle in the rap game right now; his constant flow of mixtapes these past two years have lifted him from relative obscurity to one of the Bay's brightest stars.


All of HD's albums are cheap projects; lots of recycled and budget beats and features exclusively from his Bearfaced Gang camp, but they all are surprisingly solid. Pick up any of his albums and there is not a single embarrassing 'track for the ladies' and the songs have real lyrical and musical diversity, so the albums can actually be played all the way through. The quality of his music has lead to the hype around him growing exponentially this year and a good number of people in the Bay are getting genuinely excited for each of his releases.
The grimey, low-budget feel of his music is apparent in the aesthetics of HD's music videos, which usually consist of him and a gang of his goons just posted up in his neighborhood.

No budget, but tight. Also major lol at the guy in white on PCP or something.

HD represents that you don't need need a lot of money to make great rap music in the Bay. There is a lot of charisma that comes across in his rhymes and as much lyrical depth and diversity a fan of ganster rap could ask for. Also HD's Bearfaced Gang has introduced us to many young rappers with a lot of potential such as Hen Sippa (who is the best worst rapper out), Lil Rod (who is tight despite having a highly questionable name), 600BJ, and Blast Holiday among others.

The only thing that could potentially hold HD back is all the shit he has been getting into, he is frequently bouncing in and out of jail or getting shot or some other activity that is not copacetic with having a successful career of any kind. I've seen a video of him up in a hospital bed after getting shot, with as cast on his entire arm, walking with a cane, and walking around with an ankle moniter all in the span of a year and a half. HD is definitely with the shit, but that's not necessarily a good thing.
As long as he stops catching cases and getting caught up in street violence I see him becoming the next big Bay Area rapper. Not sure about his appeal outside of the Bay because of the fuckshit rap that people enjoy elsewhere, but I can see him blowing up in the Bay Area and becoming the next Jacka in that he is real big around here and gets a decent amount of national exposure as well.

His music is not going to shatter your ideas of what rap music can be, but quite simply he is putting out the best Bay Area gangster rap right now.
His new album Fresh, produced by DJ Fresh dropped yesterday, which should be amazing and will hopefully further expand his audience base.
Here is a collection of his best song so far. Download and enjoy:

Tracklisting:

1.) HD "Bitch Azz N***a"

2.) HD ft. Hen Sippa and Lil Rod "Chickens"
3.) HD ft. KY "4 Oz."
4.) HD ft. Lil B (Not Based God) "Cold Crush"
5.) HD "U Know Dats Tite"
6.) HD ft. Hen Sippa and J. Stalin "My Life"
7.) HD "Bonus Track"
8.) HD "Syrup N Sprite"
9.) HD and Hen Sippa "Rick Flair"
10.) HD ft. Lil Rue "We Gone Make It"
11.) HD "Grippin' Da Ice"
12.) HD "Facts of Life"
13.) HD "Underworld Talk"
14.) HD "Syrup N The Weed Smoke"
15.) HD ft. Lil Rod "Audiocrack"
16.) HD ft. Hen Sippa, Joe and Lil Ero "Chillin'"
17.) HD ft. Ampichino and Lil Rod "Real Family First"
18.) HD ft. Lil E "Poppin' My Thumpa"
19.) HD ft. G-Dirty and Big Fase Mel "In the Trap"
20.) HD ft. Lil Rod and 600BJ "Fuck Frenz"
21.) HD "Winter Turn To Spring"
22.) HD ft. 600BJ "Can't Let Go"

DL: Mixtape #27-Best of HD

What do you think of HD?