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By Sensei
At last, Tri-cities Hip-Hop has a voice! I must start by apologizing for taking my time in getting this article together. It is long overdue by hopefully worth the wait. From now on this will be a regular section in The Review and we’ll be bringing you interviews, articles,
album reviews, and upcoming show dates.
In order for me to bring these things to you, I need local artists to send me albums, press packs, date listings, and anything else that will assist me in bringing your voice to the masses.
There are a few rules to sending me things and they are as follow: 1) I will try to use material I receive but I am not obligated to do so; 2) Do not call The Review upset about something that was said about your album. I do not work at The Review and therefore your complaints
will be ignored. Send all materials to Review Magazine, 318 S. Hamilton, Saginaw, MI 48602 c/o my attention.
First Degree - In the Name of Game
Poetic Playas Productions - Self-Made Recordings - Production - J. Stone
This CD looks like it’s from a local artist, but the music inside has nationwide promise. Mixing their Midwest sound (see Dayton Family) with a down south flavor, First Degree keeps your head bobbing throughout the album. Notable tracks like Y’all Ain’t Ready, Ghetto Made, and Mic In My Fist make the CD a must for local rap fans.
Laid Diamond o Trials of Life
Bad Luck Records o Production - Siagon
After seeing the many Laid Diamond stickers stuck everywhere I go, curiosity got the better of me so I picked up the album. For fans of the old local hip-hop classics (see Mack the Jacka, Bone Skanless, Hank) this CD is for you. Trials of Life
bring raw emotion over a wide variety of beats. Laid tries to make you feel his pain in the same ways the late Tupac Shakur and Hip-Hop’s latest prince DMX have by taking you into his soul. The CD lacks the layers of the
above-mentioned artist and is empty in many places. Tracks like Ball to Win and Fast Lane are without overdubbing, adlibs, and the sound effects that fill tracks in the bare regions. Overall, I am satisfied with the CD but a little disappointed because of the potential I see in Laid Diamond.
Paradime - Paragraphs
Silent Records o Production - Paradime
I picked this up by accident while searching for local hip-hop. Paradime is an artist from Detroit and was named ‘Best Hip-Hop Artist’ by The Metro Times. His first album, Paragraphs, is a jewel in any CD collection. Production is done largely by Dime himself and shows his wide range of talents. On tracks like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Paragraphs, Paradime unleashes his verbal assault on any emcee that wants to battle. Paradime flips the script on tracks like Fire & Ice, showcasing his storytelling abilities with Motion Picture style
realness. This CD will play in my rotation for months to come!
G-wreck Cartel o Ghetto Records
Ghetto Records o Production - Mr. Nitty
This CD was mathematically a good buy. It’s not often a CD will feature 19 groups for $15.00, and although some of the groups would have made my cut list, it still showcases some of Saginaw’s talent. Day One’s track entitled Slash brings
lyrically murderous verses over a rugged beat and shows the three emcees different approach while still sounding like a group. Mr. Nitty saves some of his better production for himself with the only real standout track, 4 My Nuggs. This
smooth track blends Rap & R&B, making it a summertime single. Other notable tracks include Dead Presidents by Mob Style Hustlas and 1-2-3 by Omega. Overall this CD doesn’t progress from beginning to end. One song blends with the next so it’s hard to differentiate
groups.
Note from Sensei - Just before this went to press I was notified that Ghetto Records has signed a distribution deal with RND Distribution.
Congratulations to the whole
G-Wreck Family!
First Degree Interview
Representing Cali Ave is one of Saginaw’s most talented groups, First Degree. After selling 500 copies of the album Playa to Playa, they have re-emerged with In the Name of Game and are
planning a full assault on the Midwest Hip-Hop scene. The group has just agreed to a joint venture and distribution deal with Self-Made Recordings and are currently putting the finishing touches on the new album due this summer.
Sensei: So why did you start rapping?
Dream : We were just rappin’ in the hood. Battle rappin’ with the old guys and we just started to work on this group.
Sensei: The album ‘Playa to Playa’ was done mostly on a Karaoke machine.
How did you manage to sell 500 copies?
Dream: We treated it like a hustle. We sold them in school, on the street, at shows. Basically we tried to make ourselves known wherever we were.
Sensei: Didn’t you have a video for the single ‘Ghetto Made’?
Dream: Yeah, we went out and did the video so we could show our neighborhood to the world. We directed that video, too.
Sensei: What kind of future projects do you have for us to look forward to?
Dream: We’re working on our new album and we have some other artists on Poetic Playas Productions that we are going to be releasing.
Sensei: Who will do production on the new album?
Dream: We always do most of our own production. Nic from Self-Made has a producer named OPM he introduced us to, and we did some stuff with him that will end up on the album as well.
Sensei: Are you feeling anybody locally right now?
Dream: Yeah! I feelin’ Laid Diamond, Omega, and Day-One. We were down at a show by the Platinum Plus crew and they were tight. Madame Dame and the Pharmacy are always doing their
thing. Astray from Self-Made and he will be one of the tightest to come out yet.
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