A Meeting of Great Minds: Friends of The Blog Reflect on 2011

100GoMW,YLS Mansion

One of the perks of having a super successful rap blog is that you get to mingle with other super successful people that have blogs about rap as well. Sort of like how the top 1% here in the U.S. hang out with each other exclusively so that they don't have to be insulted by the 99% for getting a $130,000 crystal toilet instead of feeding a village in Africa for a year.
Anyways, this year I decided to assemble the greatest minds of rap blogging here at the 100 Grand on My Wrist corporate mansion to help make sense of this crazy year in Bay Area rap music. So we had our finest luxury helicopters fly in the rap blog elite from around the world to duke it out. Sort of like Enter the Dragon, but instead of fighting, we all just wrote about rap music and there was no Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

100 Grand on My Wrist's International Relations Director greeting some foreign rap bloggers

Of course no cameras were allowed at the mansion, but I have provided artist depictions of each writer. Without any further ado, let's see what stood out to these brilliant minds about this year in Bay Area raps:

David Drake- Writer for The Fader, So Many Shrimp & Just About Every Important Music Magazine: He gets paid the big bucks to write smart things about rap

E-40 ft. R.O.D. "I'm That"

I'm not in the bay, although I've been repping pretty hard for its music the past few years; what drew me to it again in the wake of hyphy was how it hadn't given up on that widescreen pop-rap sound that dominated the pop charts in the late 90s and early 2000s. While the rest of rap either veered towards trance-rap or went further underground, the bay continued playing to a specific audience. The result of the closed circuit, I think, is that artists probably found themselves bowing to both masculine and feminine pressures at once. This diversity was a lot more refreshing to me than the rap I was hearing elsewhere.

For evidence of how local pressure resulted in better music for the bay, look at how E-40 essentially gave up on trying to make music that might cross over nationally once he started the Revenue Retrievin' series, and subsequently released some of the best music of his career. Perhaps the most slept-on track was an itunes-only bonus joint "I'm That", which had some incredible production. This should have gotten a video and been on the proper record. I do believe that the music the bay makes right now could appeal across the country; I just hope that they keep making music for the bay while it succeeds elsewhere.

Juice Mannen Hugo of Bayonnaise-the finest Swedish Bay Area rap blog out there

LoveRance ft. IAMSU! & Skipper "Up!"

I don't think I ever listened to so much Bay Raps ever as I did 2011. I mean I had my ears turned to the bay for years, but 2011 is the first full year with my Bay Area-rap only website Bayonnaise up and going. I previously wrote at my own old site, Good Ole Love and at a site called Wake Your Daughter Up (now merged with two other blogs to become Bloggerhouse). Most of you probably never visit Bayonnaise though, as it's written in Swedish, and even though Google Translate is an amazing feature the translation reads kinda awkward. I'm glad Thomas visits at times though, and I'm even happier he asked me to write a bit about the best bay raps of 2011.

So, the biggest hit from the Bay for me this year probably is "Up!" by this dude LoveRance. Apparently it got played a bit in Cali? Now LoveRance is new to the rap scene, far as I know. I think he is from Berkley or some place like that. With "like that" I mean a part of the Bay from where rappers seemingly rap less about gangster stuff and more about regular not grimey everyday life stuff like battering vaginas upwards (Editor's Note: LOL!), wearing hip clothes and having sex orally. I'm not from the Bay so I might have that all mixed up though. "Up!" is one of those songs that cover the upward vagina topic. Besides LoveRance, Iamsu and Skipper raps, and they all do what they need to do on this kinda song.

What really stands out though, besides it just being a great song, is how "Up!" is the first hit of LoveRance's career and contains lyrics about going down on women. I know we heard that before, but I'm not sure I've ever seen a rapper seemingly build his career around being the guy that DEMANDS to eat it.

"now she's telling me, she's gonna tell all here friends

I'm like okay, bring them all along,

as long as I can stick my tounge inbetween their thongs"

"pussy on my lips juice box tastes good to me"

Those lines kinda stuck out to me first time I heard them. But oh well it's a song about sex why wouldn't he mention if he likes to eat it. Then the second biggest song on which LoveRance participates came out. It's a song with Smoovie Baby and Aka Frank and it's called "First". The entire theme of the song is that they're all okay with sex but they HAVE TO eat it first. Since then, he dropped a song with Rayven Justice called "Tsunami", in which LoveRance finds time to fit in a few lines about wanting to use his tounge on women.
I just realized I was going to write a short paragraph about how much LoveRance loves to stick his tounge into vaginas and it ended up with an essay. I didn't even make space to write about how I never listened to the Mistah FAB remix of "Up!" as it frightens me to think about Mistah FAB beating pussies up. Anyways, to round things up, LoveRance is yet to drop a solo tape, so we got that to look forward to in 2012 probably. Do you think the cover will be him sticking his head up from inbetween a pair of legs? What will he rap about?

Joe of Perfection is Perfected, another great Bay Area rap blog. Follow him on Twitter

Best New (Bay) Artist of the year: Shady Blaze*

Shady Blaze "Ridin' Wit G.O"

Whether you’re comparing him to a veteran or a newcomer, Chapter 5 of Green Ova has had a remarkable year. Shady Blaze started off 2011 with one of my favorite albums of the year—The Shady Bambino Project—which was entirely produced by Squadda B. Just two months later, he released Shady Business, fifteen tracks illustrating his talent as a producer, as well.

And for his third release of the year, Shady released what Spin hailed the 18^th best rap album of the year: Rappers Ain’t $#!% Without a Producer. On the one hand, the project displays Shady’s growth as a lyricist. While he runs the risk of being typecast as a double/triple-time rapper, Shady continues to develop and master varying flows. On the other hand, the album is aptly titled, as it reveals his ear thoughtful and eclectic beat selection.

As Main Attrakionz continue to cultivate and popularize their #cloudrap repertoire, it’s great to see Shady by their side, doing his own thing.

*Yes, Shady was rapping and producing for several years before. But you’d never heard of him before late 2010/early 2011.

Mike- Regular Commenter and reader of the blog, he knows what's up with Bay Area rap

Joe Blow "Who Do U Believe In"


Here we have the last track off Joe Blow's excellent debut album. For the most part the beat is pretty simple, the most unique part is how heavy on vocal samples it is. Sounds like something right off the first Devilz Rejectz album, sped up old school sample where the singer's voice has just the right amount of chipmunk to it. The lyrics however invoke the classic Mob Figaz style of a introspective look into one's life of crime, filled with remorse. While I feel this is the standout track , this whole project (You Should Be Paying Me) is great and I highly recommend it.

The Martorialist of The Martorialist; You've Probably Heard of Him Before

DB Tha General "Upgrade Um 2"

Regular readers of 100 Grand On My Wrist will probably recall Thomas' evaluation of DB Tha General as the Oakland Rap community's foremost exponent of "sounding like he does scary drugs", and so, with that thought in mind, here's the General's finest paradigm of PCP-Rap to date, which also happens to be the favourite 2011 Bay jam of yours truly.

 For the first half of 2011 Husalah's Da Mob and 43 by E-40 & B-Legit battled it out for my affections only for DB to blindside the both of them with chair shots to the noggin when Upgrade 'Em 2 first appeared in his King Of Oakland mini-movie back in June, and the song and I have been inseperable ever since. Why? Well, there's the video with DB's ludicrously fitting hoody, Nicole Richie circa 2005 oversized shades and baffling method of sneaking up on an enemy to murk him for a start; then there's the sample sounding like it's taken from the score for Jean Luc-Godard's 1965 masterpiece Alphaville, thus potentially combining two of my greatest passions : toxic Gangsta-Rap and high falutin classic cinema; and, finally, there's DB himself taking a match to his self-styled Gas and unleashing the best nasal-voiced torrent of fire & brimstone in Rap since Lil' Boosie's verse on Livin' What I'm Spittin', before concluding with a minute's barrage of hypersonic murderous threats which will have you pulling vinegar stroke faces like you're orgasming in a wind tunnel (Editor's Note: so intense! Must be the scary drugs).If all that isn't enough to convince you of Upgrade 'Em 2's greatness, then, hey, at least there's 5 dudes on Youtube who agree with me. 

MTP- regular reader and commenter of the blog, he emails me good music sometimes and is a chill bro

Here is my 2011 list of mostly Bay area artists who should be getting more play than they are either nationally and/or in the bay, I’m surprised most of the artists on this list aren’t bigger than they are, and although some people are bumpin’ the shit out of them, all of them could be major in my irrelevant opinion. Here they are:

#5 Duna



Go to freemusic.com (which isn’t exactly free but anyways) and download his “Can’t Get enough of this shit” double cd from earlier this year, it’s off the hingecradles. Duna’s always put out good shit, but he’s gotten a lot better recently with the double cd and his best release to date, Crack Baby 2. Duna should be getting waaaay more love for sure. I always thought of him as “Mac Dre without the charisma,” but he’s another cat that makes great music, with a lot of good choruses and beats that are very ear-friendly. Listen to “Valley to the Bay,” Stayin’ on my toes 2011,” “Everyday I go hard,” “She got it,” “Blow.”

#4, 1st Place-Formerly Stressmatic of The Federation



1ST Place has put out some really original material in the past couple years. If ur like some of my people who listen to strictly some kill ur mother/eat ur sister bay area gangster shit, this isn’t for you. If u wanna hear sumthin different, some poor homeless emo dude that only wears house shoes and dickie shorts and raps about hittin’ tatted up white girls and being drunk 24/7, and barely having enough funds to buy his daily mad dog 20/20 and sampling Sublime, this is for you…Go to Datpiff.com for basically all of his best mixxtapes for free. Listen to “super drunk,” “Janky,” “On the couch,” Best line—“I live on the couch, I eat out the toaster, dude from ur poster, lives on the sofa.”

#3, DB tha General



I know DB is probably a bit too “listened to” to be on a list where artists should get more play, but I think he has the potential to be HUGE nationally, although that’d probably make me listen to him less ala 40, so I’m glad he hasn’t blown up just yet. He might be the only bay rapper that can get away with constantly rapping over old ass 80’s pop tracks (including Michelle’s ‘Nasty’ WTF), but he makes them sound DOPE as hell. He reminds me of Lee Majors in the way he can effortlessly flow over beats just perfectly no matter what the speed of the track like few others in the game can. U can get free downloads of “The Hardest Out,” and “The Young OG” at datpiff.com. Listen to “the finest,” “The Piper,” “Intro 2,” “nobody gas,” “Bad mouth,”

#2, Young Lott



I don’t know anyone other than myself that bumps Young Lott, but I bet everyone will be soon enough. Go get “Travellin’ n’ Traffickin,” SICC album all the way through. His beats sound a little too “down south” for my taste, but he sings his choruses and makes “real music,” whatever the hell that means, I don’t know, but it sounds dope. Listen to “Shoutout to my hataz,” “I’m outta here,” “Zonin’ out,” I’ll never.”

#1, Blanco



Yeah I know, Blanco is getting some love in the bay, and although 100Grand Thomas did have him on the “rappers ruining songs” feature awhile back, don’t sleep on him. He’s another guy that flows over the beat real well, but to 100Grand’s defense, he did ruin a couple of songs on the Jacka/Messy Marv/Blanco album that wasn’t as good as it should’ve been. Go to Datpiff.com and download (for free) DJ Rick Lee’s “Who is Blanco” mixxtape, It’s FIRE. Listen to “Hit the club,” “Yeah,” “Pimpy Doo,” Rock wit me.” (Editor's Note: I still hate Blanco, but the song above is pretty alright)
My favorite rap line of the year comes from someone not on the radar of most bay cats I know, Childish Gambino (yes dude from “Community,” give it a shot) ----“I’m hard in the paint, like I fuck her on her period.” (Editor Note: gross)

Ryen- Thomas' Friend IRL & Tennis Partner

Rap music is for felons and poor people. Anybody can rhyme words with other words over a drum beat, it takes no talent. I don't know why anyone likes this smut. Go cop that new Coldplay. (Editor's Note: I hate you forever Ryen)

Mister Jay Makin' some cool beats

Mister Jay- He makes dope laid back slaps that you should check out here and here

best joe blow verse of 2011:
A1 ft. Joe Blow & Lil Rue "Suicide"



joe blow has been having a great year. he released his album "you should be payin me" in the beginning of the year on the jacka's artist records, then released his very excellent mixtape "international blow" at the end of november, and has had many great guest verses throughout the year. this song by A1 featuring joe blow and lil rue is a typical modern bay area gangsta rap song and video, but joe blow's verse really stands out to me. the rhythm of his flow brings out the bounce in the beat. joe blow's delivery is usually chill, but he sounds intense here, and his lean-induced slur is almost as heavy as lil rue's. he almost sounds angry about how fly he is. i hope joe blow continues making great music for a long time and does not die from his lean abuse.

Nyquil AKA Mike Menopause AKA Nyquil The Most AKA Young Goudaboi of Cobra Swag, the finest blog about the internet, rap and skating. Follow him on Twitter.

Roach Gigz ft. DB Tha General "Drugs"

I used to hate Roach Gigz because I generally have a strong dislike for white rappers with whiny voices, but something about this dude works. I listen to this song almost everyday, and it makes doing drugs sound really fun! I catch myself headbanging to this song in my room at top volume. DB tha General is also super sick and always sounds really menacing when he raps, even though he has a high pitched voice. These dudes topped with C-Loz's bizarre/tweaked style of production make for my favorite song of 2011.

Real life picture of me and Eric

Eric- Thomas' Friend IRL/Mad Scientist. Follow him on Twitter.

Davinci "D.R.E.A.M."

Best Rap song to come out of the Bay Area in 2011? Without a doubt in my mind or ears that song is from Main Attrakionz, whether it be Zoned Out Mackin, Cloud Skatin, That’s Life, Nothin’ Gonna Change, Ice Nites, or Feel Dis Doe. The more observant readers among you will notice that those 6 songs span 4 albums and are vastly different in terms of production, style, and overall sound. But that’s why I’m not here to talk about the best rap song to come out of the Bay Area this past year, because Main Attrakionz is the obvious choice and it’s too hard to pick only one song of their to laud above the others. So what the hell am I going to talk about, then?

D.R.E.A.M. by DaVinci off of his most recent mixtape Feast or Famine. It’s not Main Attrakionz, Lo-Fi, or even typically “Bay Area”, but that is to the credit of the song (and the mixtape). The song uses the song structure of Wu Tang Clan’s C.R.E.A.M., changing Wu Tang’s hook to “Dope rules everything around me, dream get the money, dolla dolla bill y’all”. This hook flows over gritty synth and 808’s, quickly invoking both the 90’s era Hip Hop that it borrows from and the unique darkness and grittiness that DaVinci slings throughout the song. Instead of spitting slurred verses about sippin’ syrup or what his whip looks like, DaVinci pulls no punches whatsoever as he tells anyone willing to listen what life is really like for him in the Fillmore District. This “Keepin’ It Real” approach isn’t a one-time thing on his mixtape either, but is a common thread through the 8 tracks as he prefers not to talk about “Bitches, Paper and Clothes” in favor of talking about how shitty life can be and how he gets by in spite of it all. Why is D.R.E.A.M. worth listening to when you have hard-working and limitless geniuses like Main Attrakionz pumping out four albums a year? Because music like what DaVinci has made is refreshing in a time where the Top 40 is dominated by songs that either try to teach you how to dance, tell you how good the rapper’s life is or drown you with auto-tune and lazy rhymes. Every line flows effortlessly from DaVinci’s mouth to tell a cohesive story without relying on trite references or expressions, all while giving you something to think about AND nod your head to, and that’s what makes D.R.E.A.M. the best non-obvious Bay Area Rap for 2011.

HL of the wonderful Droptops and Stacy Lattissaw Tapes. Follow him on Twitter.

Lil Wayne ft. Lil B "Grove St. Party"

While it's impossible to establish any sort of definitive measure, it's clear enthusiasm for Lil B waned across the blogosphere in 2011. Partly due to over-saturation, but mostly because bloggers are suckers for convenient narratives. It's become all the rage to romanticize about the good ol' BASED era, when he was projecting twice the merriment and dropping half the knowledge. I myself would argue his projects have never been consistent in the traditional sense, and typically host a couple of brilliant efforts accompanied by a bunch of recordings I'll never bother revisiting, and such is still the case. But as a stark advocate of hi-jinks, shenanigans, and general tomfoolery, my favorite moment of the year was Lil B reverting to his trademark foolishness on Lil Wayne's 'Grove Street Party' remix. With all due respect to The Game, his assertion that Brandon's feature ruined Sorry 4 The Wait was quite disappointing, considering his long-standing reputation for having impeccable taste in rap music. Not since MF Doom's performance on 'Batty Boyz' have I been so appalled, intrigued, and conflicted by a rap verse. His lyrics are off-beat, scatter-brained, maniacal, and memorable beyond belief. As a fan, I can't ask for much more than that. Thank you BASED God.

Done of Both Kinds and Damn Here's a Tissue/Rap blog commenter extraordinaire

San Quinn & Tuf Luv ft. B-Legit "Drunk In San Francisco"

After listening to a whole album of the most middle of the road, dry toast & ovaltine Quincy jawns I've ever heard, I wasn't expecting anything worth linking to in a comment section next time Messy Marv gets lost in the woods or whatever (Editor's Note: LOL!). Drunk In San Francisco, while likely not going to end up even a footnote in Quinn's career, solidified it's spot in my hall of fame for a couple of very important reasons other than how ground-breaking a slap it may or may not be.

It features two of the more underappreciated rap tag-team members with the most impressive voices this side of dude who does the DAMN SON WHERED YOU FIND THIS drops/action flick trailers/wedding announcements and it succeeds where both members of Blackstar had previously failed - by being a song that successfully captures the feeling of trying to get your leg over while drunk, and by having a dude so in-debt to the stylings of Talib Kweli he actually admitted he wished he could rap like him in the preceding song(except unlike Jay-Z he probably meant it), sound like someone you wouldn't want to murder if the opportunity presented itself.

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Honestly this is probably one of my favorite things I've done on the blog. Thank you to everyone for coming out to the mansion to reflect on 2011 Bay Area raps with me, it was a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy your gift bags stuffed full of 100 dollar bills and bricks of white. I leave you with a picture of our cheering fans outside of the 100 Grand on My Wrist Mansion:

"OMG blog about Husalah 4 me"

The annual end of the year post is coming next week. Happy holidays!