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If you're heavy into the mixtape scene, you've most likely heard at least a track or two from the Jersey City duo The A-Team. Comprised of rappers Ransom and Hitchcock, the Chilltown duo seemed to be well on the path to success. They began to make a name for themselves after receiving support from Joe Budden, who went into the studio with them to put together a couple of tracks. Through Budden, they were able to hook up with DJ Clue the rest of the Desert Storm crew. The group become a fixture on Clue's mixtapes and Ransom even made an official appearance on Clue's last commercial release, The Professional Part 3.
At some point early last year, though, things began to fall apart for the A-Team. As is often the case when two solo artists join up, personal differences between the two rappers led to the group disbanding. While Hitchcock hasn't put out much since then -- a diss track aimed at his former partner is the only thing I've heard -- Ransom has continued to put in work on the mixtape circuit.
Yet despite numerous mixtape tracks, Ransom doesn't seem to be all that well known in New Jersey. Most hip hop heads around here are familiar with the A-Team, but as a solo artist Ransom has yet to really establish himself outside of Jersey City. His lyrics don't stray too far from the gangsta material that most of the other Desert Storm artists focus on, but he seems talented enough to eventually be able to shed the label of "mixtape rapper," a feat that most of his label mates have not been able to accomplish. With a voice reminiscent of Lord Tariq, Ransom drops in a few nice punchlines to go along with all of the gun talk. Check out a couple of tracks from his latest mixtape, Da Whole Story:
Duffel Bag
Shine
To hear more from Ransom, hit up his MySpace page.
Bonus videos (low budget edition): Ransom - Dope Money
A-Team Freestyle
3/4/2007 4:05:49 PM posted by Fresh