I haven't been focusing on my home state's rap scene as much as I would like, so I spent this weekend checking out videos from some of the Garden State's up-and-comers. Here's the best of the bunch:
Phitted - ALLright
There's no doubt that Phitted is blatantly pandering to the 70's and 80's babies by opening the video up with a T.R.O.Y. sample and an analog iPod (aka cassette walkman). Too many young rappers throw in references to the "golden age" of hip hop, as if doing so automatically lends some authenticity to their own music. In Phitted's case, however, it's forgiveable as the Willingboro native delivers a pretty solid effort here.
Neako - Three Fingers To The Sun
A lot of the initial reaction to Newark rapper Neako seems to be that he's some sort of Drake clone. I don't really hear it, but I'll have to confess that I'm not really checking for Drake so it's hard for me to compare the two. Regardless, this song is kind of dope if you don't mind the 80's synths. Three Fingers to the Sun is off of Neako's new mixtape, Junk Food, which you can download here.
Solo for Dolo - You Can't Say This on Demo Tapes
I meant to put this video up when it first came out about a year ago, when Solo released the single to promote his album The Truth for the Youth. From what I remember, he was trying to start up a beef with Asher Roth (who also dropped an album the same month) at the time. White on white crime in hip hop is a little played out, though, so I held off on posting it. That aside, this kid from Jersey Shore is one of the most lyrical emcees in the state.
Drift, Big Nuttee & Heatah - Live from Park Ave, East Orange
I've never heard of any of these guys, but they live just a few minutes away from me in East Orange aka Illtown. I don't know if the mainstream is still checking for thugged out rap like this, but I'm not mad at this one at all.
2/07/2010 8:30:51 PM posted by Fresh
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