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No Love
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TAKING CHARGE! t o
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CONTENTS
5
E D I TO R S T H O U G H T S
Got Next!
6
Taking Charge!
9
It is what it is Album Reviews
Ain’t it man!
10
DOWN MUSIC SOUTHREVIEW E D I TO R
L. Norman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS A N D P H OTO G R A P H E R S
Mark Wiley, Scott Reed, Quincy Jones, Kathryn Peterson and Kareem Moody
First let me start by thanking God on High. Without his saving grace this Publication would not be possible. Down South Music Review magazine is a combination of years of trial and error projects. Hip-hop and the culture that it inspires is one of the fastest growing segments of the entertainment machine that churns out billions of dollars every year. CD's, DVD's, TV and magazines help in drive the brands that we know and love. Today every thing southern is what the world craves, and though Eightball & MJG, David Banner and ThreeSix Mafia are household names in the record business Rickey D of Take Charge Records is not. We aim to help change that, by every month bringing you, the reader, and all the updates on the entertainment news that New York and California can't bring to you. Look for profiles of the next artist to blow, Album and mixtape reviews, and promos from everyone that record labels have not signed yet. We look forward to your feedback and tips for making this publication a success. LONG LIVE THE SOUTH! Because the Independent voice must be heard.
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Down South Music Review
GO
NEXT!
next to shine and coming on strong
BILLY BURN ONE LOCATION: CONWAY, AR BIO: Billy Burn One prides himself on being an Arkansan. Representing Gold Lake, Burn One is no stranger to the Hip-hop scene in central Arkansas. Know for the popular radio intro for many of Power 92.3's D.J'S his voice is recognized by thousands of people everyday who have never seen his face. With several projects in the works and weekly performances at Greenwood Studios, move over he got next. see for yourself at www.myspace.com/billyburn1.
BIG DREW LOCATION: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR BIO: Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas, and on the Nawfside OF THE Rock, Big drew is the Mayor. Ceo of his newly formed record label HOODSTAR ENT. Drew has been putting it down in Arkansas so cold that theirs a waiting list to get a feature from him. His "heavyweight tippin the scale" album wowed the streets and he is already in the studio working on his second solo release, LAST MAN STANDING. Holla at him www.myspace.com/bigdrew06
CHAMP DA HILLBILLY LOCATION: OMAHA, NE BIO: Champ DA Hillbilly, hails from Dumas, AR but now makes Omaha Nebraska his home. Rapping since his younger days on the streets of Dumas, now champ can be heard on mixtapes from Arkansas, Florida, New York and several all over the Midwest. A raspy draw voice and high energy are his trademarks. Look for him along with his partners Pocket Pete and Stengy to make a lot of noise in the upcoming year. Hit him up at www.myspace.com/champdahillbilly Down South Music Review
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breaking thru, by any means!
Take Charge has the look, swagger and personnel to finally break thru 6 |
Down South Music Review
The day is at hand when there will be a nationally recognized rap recording artist from Arkansas. Many have generated a buzz some have even signed record deals with small record labels, but none have had the recipe that worked well enough to become household names in the music business. After a brief stint behind bars and coming home to reorganize his record label Ricky D and Take Charge Records
have created what they believe is the right mix of ingredients to take Arkansas Hip-hop to the forfront of the rap game. Hip-hop junkies will remember Ricky D from his early start as a member of the Official One Record Label. Know for the soundtrack to HBO's Bangin in Little Rock documentery and the hit song Krushin, he helped take rapping in central Arkansas from the school hallways and street corners to studios and small showcase show all over the Natural State. CEO of his own Label was just a natural progression, as he put it,"the Official One days where the growing pains that everyone has to go through". With a new found outlook on life and a rededication to his music, the sky is the limit. the next album justly titled A Minor Setback for a Major Comeback, says it all.”ain’t no games being played at this point” says Ricky D. we doing music that the streets can relate to, of coarse people listen to music to dance to, but also they listen for inspiration, they listen to work to, ride to and some to smoke to! it's the reality of the business. Armed with an all-star team of Player Tim a*k*a P.T. and the klicka boyz the beats are fierce and the rhythms are lethal. When visiting his studio I had the pleasure of listening to some of the new music from the upcoming album and it gave me goose bumps. Since starting Take Charge records a few of years ago the label has been busy dropping 6 albums with two in the wings. His constant grinding had him hit interstate 40 and enlist the co-op of a memphis legend in Tom Skeemask; and together they formed the I-40 Boyz, which is bangin also. Take Charge has the look, swagger and personnel to finally break thru the glass ceiling that has had A-STATE artist held back. Like a army general leading his troops into battle...TAKE CHARGE!!!!!!!!!!!
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PHOTO of the MONTH When DESHA COUNTY invades the ROCK We Take Cutting Hair Serious
TE ON SI SO EB NG W MI CO REAL UNDERGROUND HIP HOP SHOW AD TO COME
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Down South Music Review
IT IS WHAT IT IS
ALBUM REVIEWS
when the shit hit da fann,tho'd studios, the latest release from D-DIRT and tho'd studios. representing arkansas to the fullest, this album has 19 swangin and bangin beats.this album is worth every penny, D-Dirt, Goon Squad and Cat daddy hold it down like always and with features from Young Taz, Big Drew, Ball Jones, Playa Mone, Charlie Boy and mr. southwest Arkansas Rod-D if you don't have it yet your missing out on one of the hottest albums of 2008. History in the Making, Calico Jonez from Memphis to Atlanta, back to Little Rock, then to the west coast Calico Jonez racks up as many frequent flyer miles as a fortune 500 CEO. with 11 mixtapes in the streets, if you don't know him now you will. songs with Jody Breeze, Dem Franchise Boyz and Souf-n-Gutta under his belt this album,when released, will go underground gold before the ink dries on the promotional posters. A definate must have for any true hip-hop Junkie Darkside, No Love A real rap veteran from Dumas, this is NO LOVES' second solo album. Darkside is a ray of sunshine for the rap game.touching on social issues and everyday concerns of the streets, this album gives a view of the streets as they are.no sugar coating! No Love gets help from ms.Wanda, natraun, Big Doon and Kousane. Give this grinder his props because he's destined to shine! Just business, Stengy representing nebraska to the fullist the group Stengy is made up of group members, Devious, Burn, Kali Boy and 2jon. Just like the album name just business these guys are just that, you can hear the hustle in every track.With production from VTECK,Koolaid and young Rich and guest features from Pocket Pete, Hillbilly and Big Country the Midwest best tak notice. Errol Westbrook, E-DUBB If you know anything about the rap scene in Little Rock, You know who E-DUBB is. An original member of the group A-State Hustler has ventured out to release his much anticipated solo album. Produced by Big Keys this album is rising up the charts and the first single, She's Bad, is in constant rotation on the radio. Look for the tour dates starting in August, with a all-star lineup headlined by mr.Errol Westbrook himself. Down South Music Review
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THINGS Ain’t
that make you say… 1 2 3 4 5
IS SHREVEPORT THE NEW HOUSTON.
6 7
DON'T STUNT IN NOVEMBER...VOTE!!!!!
MEMPHIS’ DERRICK ROSE IS THE TRUTH. DARREN MCFADDEN...OAKLAND RAIDERS..PERFECT! CAN END OF THE WORLD GREEK SHOW(Conway, AR) get any bigger. DOWN SOUTH MUSIC REVIEW MAGAZINE, JUST WHAT THE MID SOUTH NEEDED.
ALLTEL ARENA, LITTLE ROCK, AR BRING MORE NBA GAMES TO THE CITY.
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HOODNIC (Dumas, AR) and CRAWFISH FESTIVAL (Dermott, AR) certified springtime jump-offs.
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SOMEONE SEND US A COPY OF THE DIRTY, JACK, LEX, BALL ALBUM!!!!
10 10 |
it Man!
REST IN PEACE TO LIL DOC (FI Records) and YOUNG SQUADY (Tho'd Studios)
Down South Music Review