With his latest mixtape, Feature PREZentation II, Inglewood native El Prez is treating his fans to one more project before his full-length, Leadersh!t drops next year (which isn’t really as far away as it sounds). As has everything in 2011, the tape’s cover is fully 3D ready, so strap on your red-and-blues for optimal viewing. Read the rest of this entry »

Even though he’s not the father, Vandalyzm’s looking to put a ring on it with The Proposal. Still running with the storyline centered around “HER,” the EP follows the St. Louis emcee’s highs and lows with the industry and debating his current relationship with the music. Read the rest of this entry »

Birds in the sky and fish in the sea have nothing on Sean Falyon, the rap pugilist who manages to Be Everywhere you can possibly think of at the same time. After his first act of ubiquity gained some traction, the East Coast-born, Dirty South resident decided it was necessary to remind you of his globetrotting abilities. Read the rest of this entry »

St. Louis has been clean out of control in Twenty Eleven, earning more highlights for WSHH fiascoes than on the real rap scene. That simply won’t do and Tech Supreme — the multifaceted producer slash rapper slasher artist extraordinaire — has rounded up some of the finest talent in Missouri’s should be capital to reign a true Supremacy on the game. Read the rest of this entry »

Jay Electronica. Dr Dre. Rockwell Knuckles.

Some artists do things on their own schedule, happy to let anticipation build up before releasing new material when it’s just right, and not a moment before. It’s been over a year since Choose Your Own Adventure, but You’re F*ckin Out, I’m F*ckin In is worth the wait. Read the rest of this entry »

Hear ‘ye, hear ‘ye, ‘ol rotten azz tomatoes. King Vandalyzm is serving up a royal ketchup session in his own honor with BITCH Im’mis Talented. It’s like a “mirror mirror on the wall” kinda ordeal. You want comedy? Look at the song names. You want bare-bones MCing? Let his Killstreak collabo or pairings with Skyzoo and Naledge be your guide. Read the rest of this entry »

Occasionally rappers will hit the booth with a few screws loose in the head, causing the brain’s contents to shift, resulting in some zany lyrics. Only a 7:30 whoadie like Jean Claude Vandalyzm would feature a group project inside of his solo release, thus, Hell Cassell is born with their mother being Bitch Im Mis Talented. Read the rest of this entry »

Tis the season of giving and Tef Poe comes bearing gifts in the form of a new mixtape. Of course, War Machine may not be something you play while walking over the hills and through the woods to grammas house, unless your family’s matriarch is into loud beats and boisterous, twisted lyrics from STL’s rising star. Read the rest of this entry »

Over the past few years, the collective talent and consistent production of the St. Louis underground has become an unstoppable force in the Midwest. Leading the march on Atlanta are Black Spade, Vandalyzm and Gotta Be Karim, three MCs who share the scene’s dedication to musical purity. All three capitalize on The Lou’s status as a transit city, mixing the best of sounds from the Chi, to the Dirty South to coasts East and West. And all three focus on winning hearts and minds with their lyrical chops—no gimmicks here.

Despite these shared principles of artistry, each artist maintains a definitive style that sets them apart. Spade acts the part of the older wiser sage, equally adept snapping off a casual verse or crooning a soulful chorus. Vandalyzm’s cockiness and confidence on the mic obscure that he’s one of the hardest working artists around. And Karim’s sunny but street personality shines through on every track he makes.

The tracks selected here show both these MC’s collective talents and unique skills. Revolutionary Bullshit” features Karim and Spade swapping stories over a head boppin’ beat. “Get Dough,” finds Vandalyzm behind the mic and the boards, and the result is pure hustle music. Enjoy, and come see them at more at A3C.

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Download — Black Spade Feat. Gotta Be Karim – “Revolutionary Bullshit”

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Download — Vandalyzm – “Get Dough” (Prod. by Flying Lotus)

Download — Union LA, Trackstar The DJ & TSS Present Black Spade – Build & Destroy Mixtape

Download — Cobblestone Rock Music & The Smoking Section Present Gotta Be Karim – Bullets & Books

Download — Vandalyzm – Megatron Majorz Redux

It may be Naledge Born’s born-day, yet he’s the one doling out the gifts. The Windy City native linked up with Aphilliate DJ Moondawg for his Twentysomething mixtape to celebrate the occasion. Much like The Land Of Make Believe, Twentysomething is a celebration of that transitional place between 25 & 30. Read the rest of this entry »

The visuals to “The AllsPark” give viewers a taste of what St. Louis really looks like beyond the Gateway Arch. The short glimpses of Vandalyzm’s neighborhood are quite vivid as an abandoned factory, boarded up houses, and kids walking the streets—among other scenes—populate the video. It reminds me of a few places I’ve visited that fell on hard times well before the recession. Read the rest of this entry »

Our man Van takes his braggadocio and gives Big Sean a run for his money over the latter’s “High Rise.” And being the swell guy that he is, Van shouts out everyone’s mother @ the end of the track. That’s a true ladies man that’s out to capture fans. Read the rest of this entry »

Another week brings more dopeness from the shores of the Mississippi, as TSS proudly presents to you Gotta Be Karim’s full-length album Bullets & Books. The aptly-titled record features the expected combination of brawn and brain. Featured tracks such as “Hello St. Louis” and “Early” epitomize Kareem’s mentality, a man capable of intimidating bravado and thoughtful subtlety behind the microphone. Read the rest of this entry »

When I first saw the title to this track I worried that Vandazlym was about to jump on the Kid Cudi/Drake bandwagon of sensitive thug emo-rappers. Thankfully the track shows he’s lost none of the cocky, confident style the TSS Crew has come to love. Read the rest of this entry »

“See our success is like Tracy Morgan to ‘em — never funny/and hellafied obnoxious…”

What do you do when killing them with kindness begins to wear thin?  You go for the jugular.  Read the rest of this entry »