hip hop local st Pete 727 Zhudaru1963 – Page 2

March 5, 2021

St.Pete Stand Up Vol 2.

With so many dope singles coming out of the St.Pete Hip Hop scene I felt it was only right to release the second installment of the “St.Pete Stand Up” series.

On “Pauline” Mackey Emannuel wants his grandma to see all the success he has seen over the recent years. Emannuel is the king of hooks in the burg, whether it’s on “Too Much” off the Zhu tape or on “Poppin” Emmanuel has that ear worm potential every time he graces a mic. I feel anyone who ever wanted to make a lost family member proud will relate to this track. Can’t wait for the album and whatever comes next from Mackey Emannuel, “Fish Head Soup” on the way.

Definitely one of the most personal tracks I’ve heard from Dephree.

Dephree wrote this track after his wife and son left him due to his drug use. The story telling on this track is an approach Dephree has taken on other tracks but this one has more of a melancholy vibe. Most of us have messed up in relationships before. I really dug the vulnerability Dephree showed on this one. Can’t wait to here new music from the St.Pete new comer.

One of the hardest songs ever to come out of St.Pete.

Despite not having a full project yet Playrunna Av is definitely king of the trap scene in St.Pete. Wynner Circles head honcho has the sharpest flow and most quotable lines, that’s the reason he won the gold medal in the Trap Olympics. “Gangsta Shit” is just on some cold gangsta vibes that you can just ride out to. His newest single “Different Level” is just a barrage of quotable lines. This track is the definition of flex music. RodXTheXGod should continue to make all of Playrunna Av’s beats they make deadly combination.

On “Walt Disney” Palm Pact and Face Melt representatives Euphemistic and B-Zeik bring 90s underground hip hop vibes to the burg. This track reminds me of some Rhymesayers shit but that is definitely an untapped lane in the scene right now. Not sure what is next for Euphemistic but he had some standout verses on Palm Pact’s “Armada” from last year.

After dropping the Tampa Bay classic “Www.Flexedupshawty.com” Big Baby Scumbag has been dominating the Tampa Bay Hip Hop scene crossing over to both sides of the Bay Area. His “Tom Brady” track was the Buccaneers anthem all season. Big Baby is showing no signs of slowing down, dropping two of the years dopest freestyles. On “Grove Streer Party Freestyle” Big Baby is able to capture those west coast mid 90s gangsta rap vibes on some San Andreas shit. The beat goes hard and Big Baby does his thing, “I’m with mad dog and I’m drinking on some mad dog.” On “Crank Dat Yu Gi Oh” Big Baby shows why he’s the rap game Exoida. Whoever made that beat is a legend. Combining “Crank That Soulja Boy” and the “Yu Gi Oh” theme hit me in all the right places.

On “Yaya” featuring Joe Devlin, Vinny Vigro takes us on a trip to heaven. The god level hook on this track has a James Blake feel similar to Travis Scott’s “Stop Trying To Be God”. I would highly recommend checking out Vinny Vigrø’s 2018 album “Love is Life. Life is Love.” if you dug this track it’s on some Alt Hip Hop vibe. “R.I.P. DOOM” is a solid tribute to the Super Villain. Vinny definitely let the world know DOOM has fans down in Tampa Bay.

Coming off his “Sacrifices” project Josiah Odin is back with some more introspective bars on “Patek Heart”. Josiah is in his pocket on this slow airy beat. The beat made by Raz sounds like some “Me Against The World” era Pac shit. “I’m just an old soul not in touch with a whole lot” is one of my fav lines from Josiah Odin.

Josiah Odin also recently created a living playlist featuring new music from him as well as other Tampa Bay Area artists. Be sure to stay up to date with the “ROOTS” playlist exclusively on SoundCloud.

So much dope music coming out lately from both sides of the Bay. For all things St.Pete and Tampa Bay Area Hip Hop keep it locked.

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021

Love=Hate.

On “Conflicted” Johnny Adama carves out his own lane in the St.Pete Hip Hop scene, combining elements of RnB with a chill Hip-Hop vibe.

The first time I heard Adama was on a track with Zhudaru1963 called “Blessings”. That track had more of a conscious vibe. This project puts Adama more in a RnB pocket fitting the Valentine’s Day theme. The album is a perfect blend of tracks for the ladies and tracks for the dudes.

The intro “A Vibe” is one of my favorite tracks on the project. The way Adama changes how he says “baby” at the end of each bar was a nice touch. This one has big Casey Veggies vibe to me. The production is real airy and spacey, my type of intro.

“Spell” and “Keep It Real” have more of a sing songy vibe to them. The later will have you looking for a real one, with one of the most ear wormy hooks I’ve heard in a minute. There is no short of dope bars and flows on this project. Adama is able to flow and spit with some of the best MCs the scene has to offer.

“Countdown” has early Franck Ocean vibes, I could see it played next to some “Channel Orange” tracks. “On 2 U” reminds me of one of those late 2000s RnB club bangers. Adama should shoot a video for this at a beach party. His flow and confidence makes it a smash hit in my eyes.

“Say U Luv Me” brings it back to those Casey Veggies vibes with a chill west coast ride out song.

“These Girls” produced by Dj Complex, has a Boom Bap vibe with a beat and hook that sounds like it could have been on Pac’s “Me Against The World” or another mid 90s album. “It’s Complicated” produced by Sean Taylor, places Adama back in that Boom Bap lane which I am a big fan of. The story telling on this track is top notch.

The last couple tracks “11:11” and “Distance” have a chill lush vibe to them with the outro “Distance” being one of my standouts.

“Conflicted” is one of my favorite projects to come out of the St.Pete Hip Hop scene, I really loved Adama’s versatility. There really isn’t anyone else in the St.Pete Hip Hop scene bring this type of sound. Can’t wait for whatever Johnny Adama drops next. Hopefully we can get some visuals for a couple of the tracks very soon.

January 3, 2021January 3, 2021

Mofongo+ For The New Year.

The Zhudaru1963 collective starts the year off strong with a project from one of the best artists in the city Alec Burnright.

I’m a huge fan of a solid 9-12 track project I don’t need a 22 track double disc album of all your shit. Burnright takes advantage of that by making sure all 9 tracks on “Mofongo+” make sense and fit in the context of the album, keeping the filler tracks off. The production is mainly handled by CLP Nation producing tracks 2-8 the meat of the project. Tysonious Monk & Nick Nash bookend the project with tracks 1 and 9 respectively.

The tone of the album is made up of all bangers with Burnright drifting into a more island persona at times. The intro is a perfect example of that island flavor, that fits the mofongo theme of the project.

CLP Nation is in his bag on the banger tracks like the Egyptian sampled “Comeback” and my standout “Tony Danza”, the latter is guaranteed to be the street anthem of 2021.

Burnright and CLP Nation add in the perfect mix of chill tracks like “Moon Shine” and “Captain Planet”. “Slice” featuring Ol’ Manolo & Jimbo Shrimp is a good change of pace to end out the album. The “WOW Freestyle” sample on the outro track “Old School” should be the set closer for all upcoming shows.

On “Mofongo+” Alec Burnright cemented himself as one of the premier artists out of Zhudaru as well as in the entire Burg. Imma need a video for that “Tony Danza” joint as well as a full project from Burnright and CLO Nation. Stay locked onto the city for all the latest projects out of the Zhudaru1963 collective.

December 31, 2020January 2, 2021

Top 6 St.Pete Hip Hop Albums of 2020.

Despite COVID putting a lot of things on hold, it didn’t slow down the St. Hip Hop scene. With artists and collectives from around the burg delivering some of their best work I had no choice but to make a list.

Definitely the hardest project out of Tampa in years.

Honorable Mention: Big Baby Scumbag- www.flexedupshawty.com

Big baby would have been like number two on the list but this being a St.Pete list I didn’t feel it was right. With that being said it’s definitely the hardest project the 813 has produced in years. Scumbag delivers some of the best bangers of the year, especially on “Bobby Hill”. Big Baby is going to take over the entire Bay Area in 2021.

Palm Pact brought out the entire burg on “Armada”.

6. Palm Pact- “Armada”

2020 was definitely the year of the compilation albums, and “Armada” was no expectation. With tracks ranging across all genres of Hip-Hip, there’s practically a song and style for everyone. It was really dope to see the UAC homies on the album as well.

Big things coming out of the Clergy collective in 2021.

5. Andy Christ- “Juice EP”

The Juice EP from Andy Christ gave me faith in the underground scene, with his ability to make catchy songs but also make bangers. Andy Christ has been running the show scene for the past few years. Once the debut project is finally released Andy Christ and Clergy will be the underground kings.

“St.Creaturesburg” brought that Underground Florida Sound to the burg.

4. Young Mop- “St.Creaturesburg”

Young Mop had a big 2020, with three projects in total and numerous singles under his belt I had to put one of the projects on the list. I really dug how dark this project was, capturing a different side of St.Pete that not many other artists touch on. From the production to Mop’s bars, despite his dark days being over, “St.Creaturesburg” will have an impact in the scene for years to come.

Don Rock created the “Slug Rap” blueprint on “Welcome To The Players Club.”

3. Dj Don Rock- “Welcome To The Players Club”

It is important for a scene to take a distinct sound turning the genre of Hip-Hop into something a region can fully embrace as their own. On “Welcome To The Players Club”, Don Rock gives birth to the new “Slugged Out” St.Pete Hip Hop. From start to finish, just press play, light a blunt, and crawl down Central Ave phonking this tape. “This ain’t no chopped & screwed.”

The Zhudaru collective has vibes for everyone, across all genres.

2. Zhudaru1963- “Skyzhone”

For me this project is so special due to the different sound and style each member of the Zhudaru1963 collective brings. From Kayo Da Beast, Mackey Emmanuel, and Alec Burnright, Heyeyella giving you smash hits with “I Go Off”. Or Acoupstix providing your Sunday afternoon Bucs game chill vibes with “Arrogance”. The crew definitely achieved Skyzhone level. Kailxo Ratchet comes through with the trails and tribulations of street life in St.Pete. With all the members of Zhu slated to drop full length projects in 2021, the movement is only going to get bigger.

1. Onlyonetwo- 222

I haven’t felt this way about a St.Pete Hip Hop project since J Goodie’s “Reminisce & Muse” probably the best project ever to come out of the area. Onlyonetwo is able to capture the street life and just life in general, without coming off as forced. To me he’s like a mix between Roddy Ricch and Lil Baby but a way better lyricist than both while still crafting is own sound. From top to bottom this project is flawless with “Square One”, “Sacrifice”, and “Chosen Few” featuring Kevin Cossom. I feel like everyone can get behind Onlyonetwo sound and it’s only a matter of time before he blows up nationally.

Everyone on this list really went in this year, establishing their sound, as well as finally giving St.Pete Hip Hop heads a feeling that, St.Pete has its own vibe when it comes to this rap shit.

November 15, 2020November 15, 2020

Sky Zhone Achieved.

Putting their stamp on the St.Pete Hip-Hop movement with “Sky Zhone”, the entire Zhudaru1963 Collective is ready to dominate the rest of the year with a flood of new singles.

First out the gate is fellow Tampa Bay Sports fanatic Acoupstix with his single “Easy Dubs” featuring the man himself Zhudaru1963. This track has one of those cool Sunday driving down Central Ave with the windows low type of vibes. The chill Boom Bap beat allows Acoupstix to add his St.Pete swagger to the track, that’ll have you saying “Easy Dubs” all day.

The kid got flow man. To hold fans over until “Strange Noise” drops, Heyeyella comes with a crazy flow on his single “Peace”. Off rips Heyeyella hits you with a barrage of witty bars, but as the track goes on it becomes something more like an anthem type track, when I found myself chanting “I need some peace”. I am definitely looking forward to what “Strange Noise” will bring if Heyeyella is already going this hard on the single.

Steer anthem of the summer “Poppin” by Mackey Emannuel and Zhudaru1963

This one right here man is the street hit of the winter. Mackey Emannuel and Zhudaru1963 bring the best of both worlds on “poppin”. Mackey brings that sing songy element with bars like “Even though we in the jungle you won’t tame zhu”. Zhudaru1963 brings one of the hardest verses I’ve heard all year with one of my favorite lines being “The mirror ain’t your friend you did it to yourself.” All this is surrounded by the synth hi hat heavy beat has no choice but to be one of my top tracks of the year. I been doing the Zhudaru “poppin” dance all week when it comes on my playlist.

I believe Kayo Da Beast is dropping a single real soon “Bout It” with Mackey Emanuel that sounds like a club banger. If you are in need of studio time, a recording session is $40 hr, also pick up the dope merch Zhudaru just dropped.The store is located at 3500 5th Ave N Unit A.