Atlanta based rapper Rome Fortune, real name Jerome, has been rapping since he was in high school. “I thought I’d take the JE off as Jerome reminds me too much of the fake pimp on Martin,” he explains. Seven years later the 23-year-old originally from New York is just days away from unveiling his collaborative project with producer Childish Major entitled VOYEUR set for release next week.
There’s that “aha” moment after some time of listening to tracks, watching videos, going to shows, reading interviews, following an artist on Twitter, Facebook and whatever social network that suits your fancy where you start to “get” them. I caught glimpses of this feeling while watching the Los Angeles based emcee Def Sound breeze through his charismatic verse on the standout track “Quicksand” from J*DaVeY’s recent mixtape “Evil Christian Cop: The Great Mistapes.” Rapping lines like “paintbrush lust…yeah we paint pictures,” paired with allusions to Salvador Dali and Picasso turn the dance floor at The Masquerade in Atlanta to Art History 101. And I can’t be mad a bit.
After up and coming artist Micah Freeman served fans with a tasty appetizer which consisted of a three track preview of his upcoming debut album The Timepiece. The main dish is almost done and ready to be served soon enough. There is a saying that goes “Good things come to those who wait” and after the wait Micah does not disappoint with the album.
The year’s coming to an end and I’m preparing to lie to myself once again about resolutions that I’m going to make for 2012. Cue Iggy Azalea’s “My World” video and it actually reminds me of everything that I’ve learned in 2011, and I’ll let you in on the secret best secret I’ve learned since “The Secret”: the world is yours and you can do and be whatever the fuck you want to be.
In this entry of our Poptimism series, strange emcee Alex Ludovico tells a story about his current situation to himself five-years-ago.
aNed Kelly is a notorious Australian gangster considered a cold-blooded killer and is symbolic in Australia for political resistance. Think Scarface, but with a purpose. Grace Kelly is an iconic American actress that is known as much for her poise as her monologues. “I use to be obsessed with Grace Kelly. When I get married, I want to dress like her. She’s so gracefully chic. […] if i was a diva, I want to be that diva without the diamonds.” Iggy Azalea spiels about Ned Kelly over lushing about how much she misses meat-pies from her hometown of, Australia, and easily changes subjects to her love of Grace Kelly.
“White Jesus” is a Slumerican presented film that is directed by rapper YelaWolf. Although the video has been out for a few weeks it caught my eye when a friend of mine kept repeating the phrase “White Jesus.” Instead of dismissing it as his typical blasphemous rants, I decided to check it out. The Swinsky film features a cameo from Yelawolf and some crazy acid trippy scenes. Watch it here.
Rapper Lupe Fiasco takes some artistic liberty in naming his third CD Lasers which is an acronym for “love always shines every time, remember to smile.” It is the follow-up to 2007′s 4 Grammy nominated Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool and follows a protracted period of wrangling with his label resulting in a darker angrier record.
A. Ware gives Tyler The Creator’s ‘Yonkers’ a new take and brings Young Lyxx along for the ride. The two emcees trade lyrical barbs ripe with witty wordplay that’d make Yeezy blush. XXL needs to take note for next year’s list. The Chicago born, Atlanta based emcee is set to release his upcoming album Lady Heroin. Listen and download the track below.
Atlanta natives, Raye Rich and First of FKi, are the latest rap artists bridging the gap between the mainstream and the indie internet culture that's going on in music right now.
Read MoreDonnis' debut single "Gone" is part Kanye on the autotuned out hook and part T.I. on the verses. Listen and download "Gone" now.
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14. Nicki Minaj–The Masquerade de Maîtresse
Nicki Minaj is the pre-eminent female MC of Generation Now. She’s a massive attack on the senses; scorching eardrums with fire-breathing vocals, and blinding corneas with neon-shine vestments – and it’s all at once. She’s so pink you can taste it – a Blow Pop, scattered, chopped, and cooked up by a local street vendor on the Brooklyn block: pank; young culture’s saccharin-infused quarter water: Pank pop. Hype, hair, and hyperimmediacy with hood-pass in hand – she is the pop face of urban misses.
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