L O N G
L I V E
T H E
S O U T H
DOWN MUSIC SOUTHREVIEW WHO READY!!!! NUMBER 6
D-DirtE
Rod D
Big Drew
JG HOODNIC B.MADDEN
EDITOR’S THOUGHTS 2010 promises to be a jumpoff year for many independent artists in the mid south. Not only Arkansas, but Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana also. In the previous issues we’ve attempted to put spotlight on up and coming artist as well as given some tips on what other components of the music business artist/entertainers need to have in order to get the ball rolling in their career. Yes i said career! We’ve seen some take heed and step their game up and others who continue to ignore the advise. I’ve found that artist like those merely want to have a little local fame to get into party’s free, have someone give them a shout out on their projects and get a few and i do mean A few smiles from the ladies. That’s fine..like I’ve said before even though they got talent the game wasn’t meant for everyone. But for those artist who realize they can’t do it by themselves and now know how to record, mix and master their music. copyright it, and get registered with a performing artist organization(ascap,bmi,etc) get some Internet presence and a bar code. the game is open to your hustle. If you’ve got these components in place whether it makes you $10.00 or $1 million your success is in the hands of those who love/hate what your doing. I didn’t say that to be a sales pitch but to say now my friends promote, perform, promote and perform some more! In this the 6th installment of the DSMR we’ll spotlight some familiar faces D-Dirt and Big Drew and some new faces JG. shouts out to S.Urban y’all are truly in a league of your own. Kinda Like the Lakers playing in the Big East Conference...just no real competition. Also check out the photos thru out this issue we’ve been busy and you”ll see that. I know some look forward to the album reviews and just let me say this, we liked all the albums featured in this issue and recommend purchasing all of them we put our personal stamp of approval on them, we did receive more than the ones listed but why put the out there just to say they was garbage. YOU ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE. as always thank you for checking us out and LONG LIVE SOUTHERN MUSIC. 4 |
Down South Music Review
CONTENTS
5
KING OF THE NAWF!
Hoodnic Love, Peace and Unity.
8
6
lil roc love WHO THO’D
12
10
SMARTMOVES
13 DOWN MUSIC SOUTHREVIEW Album Reviews
Number 6
PUBLISHED BY
LNORM Entertainment Holding inc. EDITOR
LNORM GRAPHIC DESIGN
Hickory Graphics downsouthmusicreview@gmail.com www.myspace.com/downsouthmusicreview PO Box 45272, LR, AR 72214 The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the opinions of the staff or publisher of The Down South Music Review. The Down South Music Review makes no implied or expressed guarantee of accuracy in the information included in this publication. Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.
KING OF THE NAWF! many Central Arkansas rappers can credit Power 92.3 fm’s rollcall as their sounding board to notoriety. listeners would anxiously tune in to see who would hold the crown night in and night out, yours truly included. One artist who without question crushed many opponent was Roll Call Grand Champion, King of North Little Rock's Big Drew! with A southern Baritone voice and the ability to speed it up or slow it down, Big Drew has consistently pleased fans with what they want...believability. never shy about "putting it in these boys face" Drew has always anytime he showed up drawn a crowd and showed out. a Founding member of B&G records, Drew is now also the head of Hoodstar Ent. His latest album, "I am the North is one of the featured CD's out on the streets and can be found anywhere cds are sold in Central Arkansas. Looking forward Drew Deezie looks to make a major impact on the game as evidence he is the most sought after artist for features in the A. I guess you could say having Drew on the album sells records. At press time he was working on four different projects so work is work. We always like to say don't just take our word for it check out for yourself. myspace.com/bigdrew06 facebook.com/drew kingofthenorth deezie twitter/kingofthenawf Down South Music Review
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HOODNIC LOVE, PEACE AND UNITY. Every year on the first day of spring all roads in southeast Arkansas lead down highway 65 to Dumas, Arkansas. Esau Pickett Park has been the host location for Roadda Styles annual event to celebrate the lives lost in Dumas. Love, Peace and Unity is the theme for a event that boast crowds of over 5000 people coming together to enjoy the first day of spring and giving back to the Kids in the area. Event founders Big Doon and Torrence Lane credit putting aside differences on the streets and coming together to do something positive to show the younger generation that theres more to life than thuggin and thats its possible to come together and be apart of something bigger than themselves, and has worked six years in a row and not one incident where the local law enforcement has had to get involved. what started out as a few activities and food for the kids has grown into a music concert, car and bike show and food vendors that everyone line up for. Any artist looking for events to get the word out on themselves best put this event on their calender. Artist like Muddy Ent, Checkmate, Champ the Hillbilly, The Racy Brothers and Tho’d Studios have all hit the stage and give credit for it helping in their popularity.
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Down South Music Review
lil roc love Josh Greenbaum is not your typical rap artist. He doesn’t spit rhymes of stunting and braggadocius spending habits. He doesn’t use the fact that he’s caucasian to play on the image of a wanna be thug. He does however spit lyrics that talk about living life to the fullest and enjoying every minute of it as if it was his last, and it’s this that sets him apart from other rappers in the A-State. In a sit down meeting with JG, I could sense in his eyes that he’s has had the chance to live some and draw from those experiences to truly love what he does when on stage. Going back to 2009 we had a goes by, first hand. What seemed to our staff as stage jitters, turned out to be a very focused and intense game face. We laughed a little when we got back to the office as one staffer said, “ lil buddy was so serious!” As the title of one of his fan favorite songs Lil Roc love JG, continues to perform, putting on show every month, and networking with everyone in the game. Jg has surrounded himself with a strong team including Terk the Great and can be heard on local radio stations in good rotation. Little Rock is a growing hotbed for independent artist and though new ones come out every day very few can command the audience when on stage. JG’s Recording with all the top producers in the A, Big Keys and K.E.V. and with guest features from the likes of Big Drew and Catt Daddy Look for the highly anticipate album To be a fan favorite as all he wanna do is do a lil rock wit ya. 8 |
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PHOTOS OF THE MONTH SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 11
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WHO THO’D If you stop anyone in Central Arkansas on the street and ask them to name 3 independent hip hop groups in the A-state 9 times out of ten Tho’d Studios will be one of the ones mentioned. Pushing mix tapes and doing shows since the start of the new millennium no one works harder than label CEO D-DirtE. Acting as artist, producer, graphic designer, booking agent and promoter no one gives as much effort to the success of Arkansas hip-hop like the general. As seen on face book, lilroc Obama is always doing something that’s going to propel one of the many artists from tho’d to the next level of the game. Sponsor of Tho’d Thursday D is constantly giving a platform for not only his artist but any artist a venue to home their craft and get the exposure that was not available when the first started out. The former co-host of the real underground hip-hop show he has all the wisdom and contacts to take music from the A and get it out to the world. But once again you don’t have to take my word for it. Myspace.com/throwedstudioent Facebook.com/ddirt∑ lilrock Obama Twitter.com/lilrockobama WHO THO’D…..LOOK AND SEE.
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PHOTOS OF THE MONTH
SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 9
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SMART MOVES Rod D‘s name can be heard all over SW Arkansas, North Louisiana and Texas. A veteran in the game since the late 90’s. D has done everything in the game from artist, to promoter, to radio show host and now even manager. It takes grinding to be a King is a popular lyric and this best describes Rod D. D can be seen in Little Rock, El Dorado, Jonesboro, Memphis, Monroe, Shreveport, Houston and Jackson, MS...well you get the point. his latest Album the DCRG is featured in this issue as one of the album to pickup and features up-incoming artist GrimmaBillion who can also be heard on the STREETS IS TALKING VOL 3 from TAKE CHARGE RECORDS. Not looking for any title such as king of or boss of Rod D just simply puts in work and the results have been collabos with Texas Legends, ESG, LIL KEKE and anybody you can name in the Rock. With no signs of slowing down Smart Moves Ent looks to pump out more hits and gain a larger share of the pie that is the Rap business. One thing for sure El Dog got his back and the A got its Eye on D. myspace.com/roddofeldogghoggs facebook.com/rod d smartmoves twitter.com/arkansasrodd
ALBUM REVIEWS This month we’ve decided no need to put poor albums on display. Lets maximize with a list of albums worthy of our readers time to find them and PURCHASE THEM!!!! All these albums are worthy of the price tag!
1
Cat Daddy Born Winner
one of the A-States rising superstars.
4
Take Charge Records Tha Streetz Talkin Again Vol.3 the features alone make it one of the best ever.
2
DCRG Kush
the Prince of SW ARK keeps the streetz on fire.
5
Big Drew I Am the North KING OF THE NAWFSIDE!!! enough said.
3
4 x 4 URBAL the album Very few works harder than the Crew.
6
B.Madden Da ComeUp the Mac man is in the building!!!!!!
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THINGS Ain’t
that make you say… 1
it Man! Black Trump is Back.
2
S.Urban bringing Futuristic Playaz show to LR.
3
May 22 its the Bug Fresh Birthday bash in Dumas.
4
Deja Blue, Dj Dagan Boone, DJ Greyhound, DJ Bigg V! my club Djs
5
A Fistful of Showstoppers was of the chain...get it P!
coming soon… next issue featuring
Next Page Ent’s Young Taz and coming soon Da PLUG music video show on Comcast Cable... Little Rock GET READY!!! 14 |
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NEW TO COME