Triller: SXSW 2008 Rap Picks
Bun B (Houston)
Mike Jones will probably tell his great grandkids about Bun’s first Houston show after Pimp C’s death. Bun will pay tribute again at Fuze tonight (or, to be more exact, early morning on Thursday). You’re probably already planning on going. [MySpace]
Strange Music (Kansas City)
One of the strongest regional labels in the country, Tech N9ne’s Strange Music doesn’t make the common mistake of filling its ranks with lite versions of its star. Instead, their acts mine every conceivable nook and cranny of rap, from horror to block-burn to last decade’s Bay Area scene, often simultaneously. One would think that Tech would be far and away the most dexterous, hard-to-pin down rapper on his label. One would be wrong. Hence, I guess, the name Strange Music, which ties Rap-A-Lot as the most fitting rap label name ever. Strange Music closes Volume on Friday night. [MySpace]
B.O.B. (Atlanta)
Atlanta is disappointingly under-represented at SXSW, considering that they prove on a seemingly weekly basis why they’re the epicenter of hip-hop and the woodwork there doesn’t seem to be letting up. Still, their finest new act is coming to town. B.O.B.’s ascent is already underway (if you haven’t heard “Haterz Everywhere” or “Cloud 9”, you probably don’t know this yet). He’s a singer, a producer, and a rapper, and he’s really, really inexplicably good at all three. He also smokes some super weed. After he gets famous, there will probably be some big fiasco about how he’s not a real person and this was really just the Dungeon Family wanting to collaborate with Prince and Trick Daddy without having to deal with “that label shit”. B.O.B. plays the URB showcase at Stubb’s on Saturday night. [MySpace]
Paper Route Recordz (Huntsville, AL)
The Paper Route fam is largely know outside of Alabama for “Soul Glo” and “Wood Grain” - both witty, effervescent posse cuts built on two of the most inspired beats in recent memory (the former samples Coming To America, the latter uses Mike Jones and The Poltergeist). Within Alabama, they’re probably known for those songs as well. Paper Route plays at Austin Music Hall on Saturday and The Fader/Levi's Fort on Friday. [MySpace]
Gerald G, Chalie Boy, Bavu Blakes (Austin)
Three of the best rap acts this year are local. In fact, about twelve of them are. But you already knew that. Gerald and Chalie are on the bill with Bun tonight at Fuze. Bavu performs on Saturday as World Trade (with Element 7D), then at night he releases his Extra-Plairs side-project at the Driskill. [Bavu's MySpace] [Gerald G's MySpace] [Chalie Boy's MySpace]
CunninLynguists (Lexington, KY)
One of my buddies in college was from Kentucky and loved to laud CunninLynguists. Let me tell you how easy it is to ignore someone when they’re talking about a group with that name. I assumed they were just a bunch of dudes with Freestyle Fellowship bumper stickers on their rides. Maybe they are, but their rap is complex, intensely cinematic and deeply textured. I don’t know about all the Outkast comparisons people throw around, but they're hitting similar chords as the pre-Stank' 'Kast. CunninLynguists close the showcase at Prague on Saturday night. [MySpace]
Devin The Dude (Houston)
…at Scoot Inn on Thursday. Always. [MySpace]
Newham Generals (London)
Everyone who sees Dizzee Rascal this week is going to leave geeked on the Newham Generals – not because they’re better than Dizzee, but because they’re the perfect foil to his glossy, calculated, easy-to-hear flow. They’re all sorts of rough and it should suit their live show as well as it does their studio work.Newham Generals, along with Jammer, open for Dizzee at Scoot Inn on Thursday. [N.G.'s MySpace]
Free Sol (Memphis)
I like hip-hop bands about as much as the next guy. But Free Sol is actually good – their MC is talented enough to stand on his own two (rare) and the band hits outside of the typical “organic” live hip hop nod, playing a more mainstream sound without being ironic (near impossible). Free Sol plays on Wednesday at Flamingo Cantina. [Official website]
Everyone at Fuze and Light Bar on Saturday
...Because it would take me too long to get to all these dudes individually.
Drojo (Corpus Christi, TX), Stunta (Houston), Buff 1 (Ann Arbor, MI)
Things being as they are, all sorts of young, talented rappers will get their twenty-minute shot this week. These three aren’t necessarily the best of that group, but they certainly stand out. All three are confident, bold, deft, and, most importantly, versatile; though they each come from very recognizable scenes, they all evince the ability to produce art outside of the implied boundaries of their sub-sub-genres. Drojo showcases Thursday night at Fuze with Austin’s Ryno, Slim Gutta, and Southbound and M-1 of Dead Prez. The next night at Fuze, Stunta performs with Chingo Bling and a list of strong Houston talent. Buff 1 plays Prague on Saturday night, the same showcase as CunninLynguists and Austin great Tee Double. [Drojo's MySpace] [Stunta's MySpace] [Buff 1's MySpace]
David Banner (Jackson, MS)
I’m going to get drunk this week and argue with some dude in a Mishka shirt that Banner is a top five all-time Southern rapper. And I might lose the argument, but I’ll be right. Banner headlines Austin Music Hall on Friday. [MySpace]
