Hottest of the 2009–2010
Original Magazine Pages
The Jacka – Tear Gas
★★★★★ Album Review
Tear Gas was one of the most anticipated, and most sought after releases this year. With all the radio success's of hit songs "All Over Me" feat. Matt Blaque, and "Glamourous Lifestyle" feat Andre Nickitina, Tear Gas is a must have album for any rap fan, no matter where you are from, this album has everything you would want. Rap artists can often plague themselves for putting out regional records, and I am glad to see an artist like the Jacka go Beyond the Bay, doing feature tracks with Artists like Cormega, Freeway, Devin The Dude, and Paul Wall, all the while still keeping Bay heavyweights on board like E40, The Mob Figaz, Zion I, and more. This album is by far the hottest album of 2009.
Go Bots – D Boy Era
★★★★ Album Review
"The Go Bots" have taken the forefront in changing the face of the Bay Area Rap music genre. The group "The Go Bots" is duo hip hop group that combines two Bay Area Rap Titans, The Jacka of the Mob Figaz, and Lee Majors of Yukmouth's Regime Dragon Gang. The Go Bots are the commercial equal to what fans are tuning into, but still bringing that street edge that fans of The Jacka and Lee Majors are accustomed to. Go Bots II is a must have buy for all Rap Fans. The first Go Bots album had all the glimmers of success, with being the #1 selling rap record of 2009 on City Hall Distribution. Go Bots 2nd Release features all star talent like Paul Wall, Dru Down, Rahmean, Husalah, Billy Blue, and more. Don't miss this highly anticipated release, available in May.
J Stalin – Prenuptial Agreement
★★★★ Album Review
J Stalins Best release since his Debut Release On Behalf of the Streets. This is a must have for any Bay Area Rap fan, awesome beats, and a total behind the scenes in depth look into Livewire the label. The Livewire Records roster rapper unleashes heat, and shows how much his movement has excelled, which exlains why this album is one of the best albums this year. This album is definite must have for your J Stalin collection! Overall the production was more then average earning it a 4/5 rating. J Stalin consistently delivers the old school 2pac swag in his lyrics making him a huge voice of the west, and the Bay Area. Listen to his two singles "Rock Day", and "Every Day my Birthday", all heat!
Barritz – The Cadillac Man
★★★½ Album Review
Record is a feel good album. The beats are awesome, which totally adds on to the idea that Barritz is the Cadillac Man, spreading his motto Caddy Love to the masses, a total Too Short vibe, which you can hear in his music. Barritz named himself Barritz cause of the luxury of the automobile. No doubt is the selection of beats and topics totally feel good music, and great to listen to in a luxury car. I gave this rating a 3.5, I also feel like theres a lack of depth to it, we need less party music cause it's not everybodys reality. If there were more depth, and he worked harder at relating to Hip Hops less fortunate, he could slide up the rankings in popularity, and could be one of the next top artists out of the Bay Area. He also has many albums to come.
Eddi Projex – I Got The Streets on Fire
★★★★ Album Review
Eddi Projex to me is Oaklands Street Mayor. Hes got that gritty edge to his style that makes him stand out among other artists he gets onto tracks with. You can feel his music thru his expression in his music, especially with the single off the album titled "Im from Oakland", which totally gives you an inside feel to Oakland, and he gives shout outs to many of Oakland's legends, as well as many of Oaklands up-and-coming music factors. Another heavywiehgt track is I'm a Hustla featuring LA Based Rapper Glasses Malone. To any Rick Ross Fans, or Young Jeezy fans, you cant miss Eddi Projex, he has influential music, and his music makes you wanna get money after you hear him.
Lee Majors – Muzik 4 The Mobb
★★★★ Album Review
Oakland based rapper Lee Majors has done close to everything a West coast certified rapper could dream of. Having being born into the music industry with blood cousin Dru Down, Lee Majors has been a reflection of how Mobb Music has matured in a decade. Along with using the blueprints of Oaklands Old Bay Area rituals, he also has been inducted into Yukmouths Regime, shooted videos with artists like Keak Da Sneak, Daz Dillinger, and more, now Lee Majors brings back Mob Music with Muzic 4 Tha Mobb. This record brings you the new relevant cast of mob characters like Dru Down, Keak Da Sneak, The Jacka, Ike Dola, Rahmean, Fed X, Messy Marv, Yukmouth and more. Listen to tracks like "scrape push" featuring Farm Boyz member Ike Dola, which gives you that grimey gritty east oakland mob sound, feel, and vibe. Also check out "On The Floor", featuring radio sensation Matt Blaque. This is a must have for all mob music fans.
Rahmean – Dreadlock Rock Music
★★★★ Album Review
Rahmean is well known among the rap elite from his region, having rubbed elbows with all of Bay Area's Hip Hop Elite, Rahmean was a much anticipated release, working with big name artists like Dru Down, Keak Da Sneak, Lee Majors, Mob Figaz, The Jacka, Husulah, Ike Dola, Cellski, and more. Dreadlock Base Rock Music stars an All Bay Area All Star Cast, which features on his album by Dru Down, The Jacka, Keak Da Sneak, and more. Listen to tracks like "Bag Back", and "Woo Woo", which also has a video with an all star cast, dont miss out!!
Richie Rich – Town Bidness Vol. 1
★★★★★ Mixtape Review
Richie Rich, the veteran Oakland Rapper who rose to fame with rappers 2pac Shakur, Dru Down, The Luniz, as well as being signed to Def Jam by Industry Mogul Russel Simmons, which you can hear in his song "twitted", which he talks many issues surrounding him. I gave him a 5 star cause of his relevance for many reasons. He is behind the Bay Area sound that still holds today. I also gave him a 5 star cause there's depth to his mixtape, and thats that the Bay Area needs a leader. Music is hot, the whole mixtape rocks, start to finish! Also expect to see two following mixtapes to follow after volume one, all collaborating with a new upcoming album.
Billy Blue – 36 Reasons
★★★★★ Mixtape Review
Billy Blue The Hatian Born, Miami Bred Rapper has hit the very top of the 305 Miami Rap Scene. Making Tracks "I'm Just Me" and "Cash Money", got Billy Blue signed to Poe Boy Music, the Miami Household Street Label, which has been behind the careers of Rick Ross, Flo-Rida, Brisco, DJ Khaled, and more. Billy Blues 36 Reasons Gets 5 stars because its a all around mixtape, was put out with album quality, it features hit songs "Story of my Life" feat. Akon, "Get Like Me" feat. Brisco, and his single "Fresh from head to Toe". If your not up on Billy Blue, your just not up on the Florida Rap Scene as a whole. Billy Blue is a force to reckoned with not just in Miami, not just the South, but in the rap game as a whole.
Figga Slim Williams – Pimp Hop Vol. 4
★★★★ Mixtape Review
Coming out of Oakland CA, Figga Slim raps of a lifestyle of grand proportions. Listening to this mixtape gives you the vibe of a new Too Short Record, but with a group of Pimps from All over the nation. Listening to the tracks you can feel the realness in the message, and gives you that vibe that Pimp Hop has not ended, but just begun. Keep an eye out for Figga Slim Williams, he will be in a city near you.
TheRapManager Mixtape – Volume One
★★★★ Mixtape Review
TheRapManager is a mixtape series hosted by the TheRapManager, and features all the leading talent TheRapManager is working on, all the new singles TheRapManager is pushing, all the news singles that labels are pushing who seeked assistance. Mixtape features E40, Brisco, Billy Blue, Lee Majors, Clappa Squad, Suryil, Matt Blaque, AG Cubano, Mackin Ass Cheese, Figga Slim Williams, A Money, J Remy, Keak Da Sneak, Ike Dola, and more. Go to AllBayMusic.com or TheRapManager.com to download for free.
DJ Racks & DB The General – The Young OG
★★★★ Mixtape Review
DB The General, a Rapper from Oakland, is the latest Oakland artist to hop on board SMC's Roster on Town Thizzness. He has upper management written all over him working with big name DJs, like DJ Racks, as well as Bay Area Hip Hop Manager Stretch. DB The General is making young kids jump around with the new song "The Introduction", don't sleep on DB, a household name in the making.
Star ratings shown as printed in the issue; where the printed stars are partially legible in the archive scan, the count stated in the review text is used (J Stalin 4/5, Barritz 3.5, Richie Rich 5, Billy Blue 5).
All Bay Music Magazine, Issue One (Volume One, Collectors Edition). Web edition transcribed from the print issue for allbaymusic.com. Text appears as printed, including original spelling and punctuation.