SXSW 2012

New album: Goddess Galactic is the 18th idie release by Texas native and Austin Hip Hop Ambassador Tee-Double.

The Brick Squad Monopoly is headed west through Interstate Traffic. One of the most exciting, talked-about crews in Hip Hop, led by star rappers Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame is showing its California branches through a collaborative album, courtesy of Compton's YG Hootie and Pittsburg's A-Wax. Southern and Northern California connect on Interstate Traffic, which features BSM's Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka, coming through BSM / Illburn Records this Spring. After appearances on six-figure-selling releases like Flockaveli and Ferrari Boyz, YG Hootie paired his buzz with Bay Area independent titan A-Wax, who boasts 200,000 CDs sold through his own regional distribution network. Although the two rappers have built careers nearly 400 miles apart, a similar resonant message unifies the streets of through music. "Me and Wax, we've both been grinding hard, there's not a lot of perks to what we do," admitted YG. "It takes a lot of heart and perseverance to keep going in giving the streets what they want. I feel like this album is going to be a triumph for us." Wax added, "It's been refreshing. I've worked with nine or 10 different artists on collaborative projects, and this one is the easiest." Although they hail from different neighborhoods in worlds where affiliations draw broad lines, A-Wax and YG Hootie were able to hone a common style and sound. "The chemistry was immediate, we didn't let other peoples' opinions sway us," notes A-Wax, who previously gained recognition as a hopeful on Akon's Konvict Muzik roster. With Wax's cemented groundwork in the Rap game, Hootie recognized game, "We've got a lot of street ties, and know a lot of the same people, but I've always had respect for A-Wax." With this powerful union, back in Atlanta, Brick Squad's franchise players took notice.
"When Waka was recording Flockaveli, we was really out in Cali, riding through Compton, making sure people was respecting what Brick Squad was doing," recalls Hootie of his career turning point in 2010. "The fans that I've gained through those albums has been priceless. They feel the music, but they also feel the lifestyle." Partnering with one of the most fan-accessible organizations in Rap, A-Wax asserts, "I think Waka's one of those rare cases where a major artist is really in-tune with the streets." With a powerful radio and video presence, that seems to be the case. Flocka will bring the energy on Interstate Trafficking's "Work," as Gucci Mane contributes his trademark stylings on video single "Make Room For The Goons." Although there is a goon-friendly rawness in the music, Interstate Trafficking cares about their audience in telling their deeply authentic stories. "My whole thing with this music is a Scared Straight approach: I'm a convict, I have gang tattoos, and it may look cool, but you might not know the cost of it all - what happens in prison and what happens on these streets," says a thoughtful A-Wax, who spent half of his teenage years behind bars in an adult prison. "I want people to know that you shouldn't lose your life as you know it simply to learn that you miss it." However, at a time when so many artists fabricate a speckled past, this duo asserts they are the real article. "In the early '90s, you had to be authentic. If you were a fraud in the Rap game, you were outed - overnight. If they caught you doing some fake stuff on Monday, nobody worked with you on Tuesday. It didn't matter if you'd won Grammy's or not. Now we're in an era where it doesn't matter," continues A-Wax, "While there are a lot of people running around with some real street stories, things not meant for interviews." With song premises perhaps not intended for interview, Interstate Trafficking carries that reality-rap message from yesteryear with a big sound demanded by contemporary crowds. "We not go platinum or diamond, but Interstate Traffic is going platinum in the streets; people respect it on a whole other level," Hootie claims. As A-Wax puts Pittsburg, California on the hip-hop map, YG intends to uphold the rich history of his own city. "Kendrick Lamar is actually a friend of mine, a lot of people don't know that," begins YG, talking about the Hub City's musical revival in recent years. This has been the birthplace of Dr. Dre, The Game, DJ Quik and the aforementioned teenager, Kendrick Lamar. "He represents the opposite spectrum of Compton than I represent. He's the good kid from the mad city. That's his life, and it's all real. My perspective is the underworld. I don't think we've had a public reputation for that since Suge Knight and Death Row. I want to give Compton the proper representation." This spring Interstate Trafficking will bring legitimacy back to the Rap landscape. Two local legends join forces with mainstream’s most colorful for a new road-trip to the streets of California.

The west coast MC called Medaphoar is known lately by the first three letters of his name: M to the E to the D. Three short letters for a long-awaited, full-length album which arrived at long last in 2005.

J. Pinder has accomplished an extraordinary amount for such a
young artist. He has worked with the cream of Seattle hip hop (Jake
One, Vitamin D, Kuddie Fresh) and he has worked with characters
such as Guilty Simpson. Pinder has made guest appearances on
releases by Rhymesayers, and has been written up by both local
press and heavy hitters such as URB and Okay Player. That’s so far...
and he’s twenty two years old.

A Generational shift has taken place in Hip Hop over the last few years ushering in a strong
youth movement. Fresh faces, new voices, and a renewed energy is what the audience is
gravitating towards. It is easy for an artist to get lost in the shuffle

"SOUTH BY SARAH WEST...in tribute to Hip-Hop"
Austin, TX March 1, 2012- Sarah West (ISW Cypher) is proud to partner this year with presenter's The Source Magazine and All About Us Records to bring you this Official SXSW Showcase for 2012. "South By Sarah West..in tribute to Hip-Hop" will be held Thursday, March 15th at Malaia World Lounge from 10PM-2AM. Powered by NuFace Entertainment, the 4 segment show will feature an 8 artist cypher spun by Statik Selektah with a lineup that includes festival and blog favorites; Jon Connor, Cory Mo, Rittz, Lady Te, Jarren Benton and Grady The Great and Donny Goines. An "Evolution of Hip-Hop" mix set performed by DJ Jelly, a showcase including Pac-Div, Termanology, Ghost Da King and R.E.K.S. and a closing headliner performance by EPMD and DJ Scratch.

DJ on Eminem's Shade 45, JAMN 94.5 (Boston), In Video Games - Grand Theft Auto IV & Midnight Club, Tour DJ for Q-Tip, Nas & many more...Producer for Eminem, Jadakiss, Bun B, Nas, Styles P, Saigon, Freeway, Freddie Gibbs, Sheek Louch, Action Bronson, Wale, M.O.P., REKS, Termanology

Before the Grey Hairs, REKS was just a teenager who fell in love with the Hip-Hop movement. Little did he know, one day he would experience working with and alongside some of those legendary hip-hop icons. Born Corey Isiah Christie in Lawrence, Massachusetts, August 24th, 1977, REKS practically grew up with Hip-Hop. He first embraced the culture by becoming a break-dancer with Funk Town Connection (FTC), competing all over the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts. The legendary Rap styles of KRS-One, Slick Rick, and Ice Cube inspired him to pick up the mic and he started writing rhymes at a very young age. Soon thereafter, REKS began gaining notoriety in his hometown through cipher battles and memorable stage performances. After high school, REKS enrolled at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. With a “Kanye West” drive and mentality, REKS decided to drop out of college after one year to pursue his dream and music career full-time.

Lawrence, Massachusetts rapper Termanology is best known for his singles with the legendary DJ Premier of Gang Starr (Watch How It Go Down, So Amazing & How We Rock f. Bun B). He has also collaborated with many of the best in the business including mobb deep, m.o.p., ghostface killah, mac miller, styles p, pete rock, sheek louch, the alchemist, large professor, cassidy & saigon to name a few.

EPMD is an American hip hop group from Brentwood, New York. The group's name is a concatenation of the members' name "E" and "PMD" or an acronym for "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars", referencing its members, emcees Erick Sermon ("E" aka E Double) and Parrish Smith ("PMD" aka Parrish Mic Doc). The group has been active for more than 25 years (minus two breakups in 1993 and 1999), and is one of the most prominent acts in east coast hip hop. Diamond J, DJ K La Boss, and DJ Scratch were DJs for the group.

Jon B.

AZ-based Fresh85′ has quickly become one of the West Coast most in-demand DJ talents. Whether in the Club/Radio or on Tour, Fresh has expanded his DJ brand to include appearances on Satellite Radio (Shade45), Concerts and A-list events in major cities such as Las Vegas, LA, Vancouver, New York City, San Francisco and of course Scottsdale, Arizona. When home, on any given night he can be found behind the decks at hot spots like "The Roxy" (Residency), American Junkie, Suede and Myst just to name a few.

DJ Amen is not only one of the Bay Area's hottest DJs, he is also one of its premiere club and concert promoters, with a knack for discovering hot new talent. He was one of the first DJs on his local hip-hop station, and is now one of the all-star DJs on San Francisco radio.

DJ Spintelect is the self-appointed African DJ, ripping shows and backing flows from here to Accra and back. Yet life these days for this proudly Ghanaian-rooted, Californian-raised and LA-adopted first class record selector and party bringer, is strictly international as he takes his reputation as one of the very best spinners from the West Coast to the furthest reaches of the globe.

Rapid Ric “The Mechanic”, mans the pipeline of the Lone Star State's top talent, furthering the self-made legacy of Houston’s DJ Screw, Swishahouseʼs Michael Watts, Chamillitary (mentioned in the in 2007 as the 10th largest rap music earner in Forbes Magazine) and Slim Thugʼs Boss Hogg Outlaws.

RECENTLY, APPEARING IN 2 MILLION+ HOUSEHOLDS WEEKLY COMPETING FOR $250k, FINISHING IN THE TOP TIER OF THE DJ COMPETITION / REALITY SHOW "MASTER OF THE MIX". THIS TEXAS BORN PRODUCER / DJ / MC, IS A SHOW STOPPER. IF THE NAME "ENERGIZER" WASN'T ENOUGH, ADD "ELECTRIFYING" AND YOU HAVE THE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THIS RISING STAR & MUSIC CONNOISSEUR.

From Kate X Messer, The Austin Chronicle:

Austin loves to bounce, so it's tough to imagine the phenom hitting Central Texas as firm and round as it has without the mad work of Austin ex-pat DJ Rusty Lazer – mish-masher of traditional NOLA sounds into bounce's hip-hop base and one of the fiercest ambassadors of New Orleans' original booty style – hitting the tables along with (Nola Fam's) DJ Q. Named for what it makes asses do, bounce has gained devotees through the aggressive touring of its gender-bent subgenre sissy bounce, typified by the lady notorious for shifting bounce's focus up front on her paean "Tiddy Bop," Katey Red (as well as fellow purveyors Big Freedia and the late, great Magnolia Shorty). Shorty, the bounce rapper whose life was tragically cut short in late 2010, lives on in beloved protégée Magnolia Rhome. And you know when Diplo said "Express Yourself"? Well, that expression would not be as unique without the urging of Big Freedia/Katey Red star pupil Nicky da B, also heading up this bill. The night will be firmed up with a generous taste of hot, fresh bounce, hip-hop, and dance crew up-and-comers right out of the oven, Nola Fam, Jean Eric, Rhodes!!, Nesby Phips, and LuckyLou.

Chilldren are a lot more than just one clever and catchy-as-hell hook, though — their self-aware “dickcore” hip-hop is some of the freshest and most original right now. The multi-gender, multi-racial trio has tapped into an outstanding songwriting sensibility, employing super local New Orleans references (Tchoupitoulas Wal-Mart ass shaking, making fun of bitches for hanging out at The Boot), topical and comically untopical culture (Waka Flocka Flame to Frasier), and a remarkable dynamic that blurs the line between emcee, comedian, and badass.

Rhodes Murphy is a boy with a dream.

“Growing up, I had nobody to mentor me. I had to learn things the hard way,” Lucky says to me as we drive in the rain to pick up his four-year-old son. Jermy Tassin, better known as Lucky Lou, is an aspiring rapper and lead choreographer of FNS (Fresh N Stainless), a neighborhood youth dance group. But as Lucky explains, it’s much more than just a group of kids dancing together – it’s about mentoring. From his own experiences growing up in the Magnolia Projects, Lucky knows the importance of having something positive to be passionate about and dedicated to. Surrounded by negative influences as a teenager, Lucky became entangled in drugs and crime. “There came a point when I had to question myself…’What are you living for? What do you want out of life?’ The only thing that came to my head was: I want to dance. I want to make music. I want to be a star.”

Nola Fam {formally known as Nola Boyz} all born and raised in New Orleans, L.A (Downtown) Q and Mani the first two original members who started the group in 2007 first met in high school (Fredrick A. Douglass). Both members make all of the beats and production behind Nola Fam, also Q is a Bounce DJ locally in New Orleans. All members of the Hip-Hop/Rap group (DJ Q, Mani, and J-Smoke) started off young in the inner city, all grew up with each other and experienced Katrina without evacuating, and later found each other in the city of New Orleans while facing Gentrification.

Heart beat of the south, right out of your butt into your fists. Wild youth embodied, savage abandon, convivial glamour. Lounge crunk nuclear pop put the bump in your rump!
Get that ass down there if it wants to shake.

From Kate X Messer, The Austin Chronicle:

Austin loves to bounce, so it's tough to imagine the phenom hitting Central Texas as firm and round as it has without the mad work of Austin ex-pat DJ Rusty Lazer – mish-masher of traditional NOLA sounds into bounce's hip-hop base and one of the fiercest ambassadors of New Orleans' original booty style – hitting the tables along with (Nola Fam's) DJ Q. Named for what it makes asses do, bounce has gained devotees through the aggressive touring of its gender-bent subgenre sissy bounce, typified by the lady notorious for shifting bounce's focus up front on her paean "Tiddy Bop," Katey Red (as well as fellow purveyors Big Freedia and the late, great Magnolia Shorty). Shorty, the bounce rapper whose life was tragically cut short in late 2010, lives on in beloved protégée Magnolia Rhome. And you know when Diplo said "Express Yourself"? Well, that expression would not be as unique without the urging of Big Freedia/Katey Red star pupil Nicky da B, also heading up this bill. The night will be firmed up with a generous taste of hot, fresh bounce, hip-hop, and dance crew up-and-comers right out of the oven, Nola Fam, Jean Eric, Rhodes!!, Nesby Phips, and LuckyLou.

From Kate X Messer, The Austin Chronicle:

Austin loves to bounce, so it's tough to imagine the phenom hitting Central Texas as firm and round as it has without the mad work of Austin ex-pat DJ Rusty Lazer – mish-masher of traditional NOLA sounds into bounce's hip-hop base and one of the fiercest ambassadors of New Orleans' original booty style – hitting the tables along with (Nola Fam's) DJ Q. Named for what it makes asses do, bounce has gained devotees through the aggressive touring of its gender-bent subgenre sissy bounce, typified by the lady notorious for shifting bounce's focus up front on her paean "Tiddy Bop," Katey Red (as well as fellow purveyors Big Freedia and the late, great Magnolia Shorty). Shorty, the bounce rapper whose life was tragically cut short in late 2010, lives on in beloved protégée Magnolia Rhome. And you know when Diplo said "Express Yourself"? Well, that expression would not be as unique without the urging of Big Freedia/Katey Red star pupil Nicky da B, also heading up this bill. The night will be firmed up with a generous taste of hot, fresh bounce, hip-hop, and dance crew up-and-comers right out of the oven, Nola Fam, Jean Eric, Rhodes!!, Nesby Phips, and LuckyLou.

From Kate X Messer, The Austin Chronicle:

Austin loves to bounce, so it's tough to imagine the phenom hitting Central Texas as firm and round as it has without the mad work of Austin ex-pat DJ Rusty Lazer – mish-masher of traditional NOLA sounds into bounce's hip-hop base and one of the fiercest ambassadors of New Orleans' original booty style – hitting the tables along with (Nola Fam's) DJ Q. Named for what it makes asses do, bounce has gained devotees through the aggressive touring of its gender-bent subgenre sissy bounce, typified by the lady notorious for shifting bounce's focus up front on her paean "Tiddy Bop," Katey Red (as well as fellow purveyors Big Freedia and the late, great Magnolia Shorty). Shorty, the bounce rapper whose life was tragically cut short in late 2010, lives on in beloved protégée Magnolia Rhome. And you know when Diplo said "Express Yourself"? Well, that expression would not be as unique without the urging of Big Freedia/Katey Red star pupil Nicky da B, also heading up this bill. The night will be firmed up with a generous taste of hot, fresh bounce, hip-hop, and dance crew up-and-comers right out of the oven, Nola Fam, Jean Eric, Rhodes!!, Nesby Phips, and LuckyLou.