Month: August 2021

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813 Essentials Reviews: Drogotdoe- Demons On My Back.

There comes a time when an artist steps on the scene that pushes the genre or several genres forward. On “Demons On My Back” Drogotdoe is able to push forward the sub genres of Cloud Rap, Trill, and Florida Underground all simultaneously, creating the necessary evolution of the scene.

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The opening track “D.O.M.B. Intro” sets the tone of the project. Atmospheric beats with even harder hitting bars. No one rides a beat like Dro, at this point I feel like his flow is untouchable. In the beginning of the verse he has a more up tempo pace but towards the end you get more of a slowed down flow so you are able to fully grasp what Dro is dropping.

“Dropout” has a very cloudy chill vibe to it. One of my favorite things about Dro are all the sports references he makes. Since D.Rose is a favorite of mine I couldn’t help but peep that line.

Well at this point this song is so classic to me. Just the overall structure of “Die For My Respect” is reminiscent of old school cloud rap tracks I fell in love with back in the day that I would randomly find online. But this one just hits different. From the spaced out island vibe beat, to the way Dro switches up his flow throughout the track really sets it apart from the rest.

I really dig the atmospheric beat on “Trappin Hard” it’s a dope juxtaposition to the content and sound of Dro’s voice. It for sure reminds me of some shit that would drop in like 2011, which is a huge compliment.

Tracks like “Only One” featuring Leahskyedoan are what set Dro apart from the rest. From the song concept, to the sung hook from Leahskyedoan reminds me of that song “I Follow Rivers” by Lykke Li. The slugged out vocals from Dro show off his versatility as an artist. I really dug the introspectiveness of this track. I kind of wish their was a video for this track but I guess I can just make up my own in my head.

“Apartment” is on some big Florida shit man. It just reminds me of those sunny days in Tampa Bay riding around in the whip. Dro has a great energy on this track which just adds to the beat. This for sure is one of my favorite hooks from Dro, from the “I got this shit” part to the “Trappin out the pink apartments” line, Dro is able to paint that visual picture, brining the listener into that Tampa Bay Trill culture.

“Got Em Shook” is like that one two punch after “Apartment”. The airy beat is hard hitting but still allows Dro space to just rip the beat. This track has a bit of a west coast vibe to it.

The project closes out with “Rockstar!” which is just a quick cut. On some tracks it feels like Dro hits you with the bars and then he’s gone. I felt this was a dope way to end out the album. At first your like damn did the track mess up or skip when the beat sort of glitches but it just adds to the esthetic and vibe of the album.

“Demons On My Back” has definitely set the standard as one of the best projects to ever come out of FLA, especially out of the 813 and Tampa Bay Area. This is only the beginning for Dro!

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813 Essentials Review: Gat$ & Jxpvtty- 2 Live 2 Robb EP

To go as a companion piece to my 727 Classic Album Reviews, I wanted to shed light on some of the essential projects to come out on the other side of the bridge the 813. I thought what better than to start with a collab project from one of the best lyricist in the entire Tampa Bay Hip Hop scene Gat$ and the most gifted producer to ever come out of the Tampa Bay Area with Jxpvtty behind the boards. On “2 Live 2 Robb EP” Gat$ and Jxpvtty set the standard for 813 Hip Hop.

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I am a huge fan of one MC one Producer projects. This allows the producer to craft the world in which the artists paints their picture in. Before this project not to many collab projects of this style existed in the scene.

The production from Jxpvtty on the project reminds me of Owl Pharaoh era Travis Scott but coming from a much more focused placed than those beats. The explosion sounds on the opening track “2K Express” are definitely a vibe and add so much to the beat. Gat$ is one of the best in the game when it comes to bars. His line referencing the film “New Jack City” was a favorite.

I love the tribal drums provided by Jxpvtty on “Immigrant Bread”. The way Gat$ flows on the beat makes it feel like a march through the jungle. I really dug all the money references Gat$ made in his verses, especially all the different ways he said money.

That bass line doe! “Nelly” is on those old school Southern Hip Hop vibes. I love the small hints of the piano towards the middle section of the track. This is probably my favorite beat on the project. The references to band aids and pimp juice bring the song full circle, with all the Nelly references Gat$ sprinkles throughout the track.

“Posse” is on some FLA Trill shit. The slugged out production allows Gat$ to get his message across. This is my favorite hook on the project from Gat$. I feel the more and more I replay this one it is slowly becoming one of my favorite Gat$ tracks.

Despite the project only being four tracks, Gat$ and Jxpvtty raised the bar when it comes to one MC one Producer albums in the Tampa Bay Hip Hop scene. Be on the look out for more 813 Essential Album reviews coming soon.

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4Trill

After dropping the 813 Hip Hop Classic “Hot Boy Summer” as well as killing every one of his features and launching his own skate brand “PERM$”, Richie Guapo has once again resurrected Trill in the great state of FLA with his follow up “Hot Boy Summer 2”.

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After Spaceghostpurrp and the entire Rvdier Klvn kind of broke up the Trill sound sort of left Florida. I feel artists like Richie Guapo, Drogotdoe, and Sunny Fritz are really at the forefront of bringing back that Trill vibe in FLA.

The project starts out with a very nostalgic intro that just reminds me of being at like a cook out, the fire hydrant is broke and everyone is just having a great time.

“Candy Red” was the first single released of the project and its accompanying video is already one of my favorites of the year. I know Guapo did a majority of the production on this project and it really helped define the Trill style and sound he was going for. “Candy Red” is short and sweet.

“Shake Junt” I think is my favorite track off the album. It pays homage to the Trill classics of the past while adding in that 813 flavor that brings a refreshing breath of air to the sound.

“Hot Boy// Icey Boy Freestyle” has Guapo and Outside World Ents Fetti Suo going bar for bar. Suo’s flow is nuts on this one, that “Woo Walk” line was cold af. Guapo’s flow during the middle of the track was one of his best on the album, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him spit that fast but it shows his versatility. The track also references Fetti Suo’s project that Guapo hosted earlier this year.

“Make Actavis Great Again” is one of them ride out tracks. You just want to bump it in your whip with the volume all the way up.

One of my other standout tracks is “Fukkem”! Big shout out to Geechie and the entire Fukk Em Worldwide family. This is definitely the new anthem for the brand.

“Waffle House” is on some big Florida Trill shit mane. The entire Tampa Bay Area is gonna need a video for this one. Guapo did his thing on the hook, having it stuck in my head constantly. Not sure if Guapo made the beat but it’s for sure one of them ones. Topiiic was a nice addition to the track and I really loved his energy. This that late night creeper shit.

I love “Buckhead Freestyle” because I have always felt Trill and Cloud Rap go hand and hand. The beat is definitely on some Cloud shit which is a big vibe for me. The chilled out feel adds to the versatility of the project.

“Drop City” just screams Ybor City video. From the Latin production to having the best Puerto Rican rapper Frankie X on the track it seems like a no brainer to me. The melodic and bilingual verse from Frankie was a dope touch, really brining the song full circle.

“Neighborhood Superstar” was one of the singles released for the album, allowing it to be one of those Summer Anthems for most of us in the Tampa Bay Area. I know for sure we are gonna be jammin this at all the functions. I like how the track has that Tampa Jook vibe to it a little bit.

“Cha Cha ( Stomp Em Out)” featuring Indie Indigo is on some big Tab Rap vibes. The addition of Indigo added to the trippy vibe of the track. Those flutes are hittin doe.

“Wipe Me Down” featuring Big Deusa calls back to the classic Trill Fam joint we all know and love. The beat sort of has a Pierre Bourne vibe to it. No matter what style or sound Guapo can’t miss.

“Drive The Boat” is basically a 3 Headed Goat track. Featuring two of my favorite artists from the 813, Drogotdoe & YZM both bring their flavor to Guapo’s world. Dro kills every verse with one of the best flows in the game, it wouldn’t be a Dro verse without a sports reference. I loved how YZM starts off the track on “demon time”.

“Cam In London” featuring DJ Qeys just reminds me of some late nineties phonk. I love the creep of the beat. This song just makes me wanna throw stacks out front of my crib like I’m Wavy Crockett.

“RIP Bankroll Fresh” was the perfect way to end out the project. This is the ultimate Hot Boy song. This track is an ode to “Life Of A Hot Boy” a classic project from the late Bankroll Fresh.

This project solidifies Richie Guapo’s place at the top of the Tampa Bay Hip Hop landscape. Thank you Guapo for being instrumental in bringing back Trill in FLA.

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727 Classics Review: GM- Introducing

Probably my favorite part about the St.Pete Hip Hop scene is the versatility of the artists and the sounds they bring to the city. On “Introducing”, GM brings Boom Bap to the Burg crafting a project that sounds like it’s straight out the 95’.

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The East Coast “Boom Bap” sound has always been a favorite of mine and pretty much when I think of traditional Hip Hop that’s the song d that comes to mind. GM the duo comprised of Johnny Adama & Tjaru are two of the only artists this era to craft a project that sounds like it’s straight out of that “Boom Bap” era. Probably the closest thing is “1999” by Joey Bada$$ and the work Griselda is doing as of late.

GM goes over classic beats we all know and love like “It Ain’t Hard To Tell” and “Everything Remains Raw” but makes them feel like their own track bringing a new aspect to the beat. For some of these joints I personally like the GM versions more because I can relate to the 727 vibes.

727 Pioneers

The project starts off with the title track “intro(ducing)” which is a great taste of what’s to come from the project. Johnny and Tjaru fit like a glove over the soul sample beat. Adama & Tjaru are so relatable with their bars.

“Say It” has the duo on their Dirty South shit over the old school Luda beat. Tjaru already had the stoner rap classic “How High” with Crown Marquiss and this is just another example of what the hook master can do.

“Blue Dreams” is on some triumphant shit. The duo goes bar for bar on the track putting on for the set. I really dug the melodic vibes on Tjaru’s verse. GM in the building!

“4 Seasons” reminds me of some shit you just put on in the afternoon while you thinking about your life and day. Johnny’s hook is really dope, and I like how they amp up the beat more for the hook. I like the different approach each MC took with their verses. Johnny’s was more about how he’s gonna reach his goals and make it out the struggle and Tjaru’s verse is sort of dealing with the same concept but from the aspect of dealing with women.

Gang Shit

“Sheesh” really is that, Johnny and Tjaru go brazy over the classic Nas beat, pretty much making the song their own.

“-__- Dead” has the duo over one of my favorite Outkast beats of all time. What I like most about this track is they still are bringing the bars but it’s still on the phonk shit that we have grown accustomed to from the pair. I always love when Adama gets on that pimp shit.

By far my favorite track on the project is “Whatever”. Whenever I hear this track it literally transports me back to the 95’. The video they made back in the day captures that vibe perfectly. If you showed someone this track and they had never heard the Busta version I’m pretty sure they would think it was made back in the day.

“Who You With 2011” is on some shiny suite shit. This one has big “Easy Money” vibes for me.

Adama and Tjaru just know why beats fit them and there are many times while listening to this project where I was just like damn man, this really one of them ones. “Waiting(…..waiting)” is a perfect example of that. I got patients!!

“February 13th” is on some big Tab Rap vibes. The story telling by Adama is some next level shit. I would love to see what he would do with a concept album.

Not sure if they where inspired by the Charles Hamilton track that uses the same beat but that’s instantly what I thought of when I heard it. The melodic hook on “Temptations” was really well done by Tjaru.

You know the homies always gotta throw some West Coast shit on a project since we on the West Side of FLA. “Friday” is some major gang shit. Tjaru’s flow and delivery is untouchable on this one.

“On Your Mark” just blew my mind. Adama and Tjaru over a classic DJ Premier beat is can’t miss. As far as just straight bars I am not sure there is anyone in the entire state fucking with these guys.

Although the duo is at different phases of their artistry now, the boom bap roots are still present in their music today, “Easy Money” is an example of that. This without a doubt is a special project for the city and I would highly recommend everyone going back and checking it out, especially if your a true Hip Hop head. They really are the last 2.