Introducing Lola Maxwell

MC. Refreshing. Talented. Woman. Bold. Witty. I could go on and on describing up and coming artist Lola Maxwell. Born and raised in Washington, DC, Lola Maxwell is finally making a name for herself. I listened to her music a little apprehensively, but I was surprised at how good she is. With two mixtapes under her belt (From the Planet of the Greats and Check the Rhyme), I'm excited to see what Lola does next.
Give her a chance. Take a listen. I promise you won't be disappointed.



Download Lola Maxwell's Check the Rhyme Mixtape Here!
Check Her Myspace Page!

P.S It's nice to finally hear a female MC out there representing! (who can can actually rap too) *cough* NIcki Minaj doesn't count *cough*

Artist Spotlight: Mama's Mustache

I am currently digging Mama's Mustache, an Atlanta-based duo consisting of producer, Mr. DJ, also the cousin of super-producer Rico Wade, and Jeff B.



Mama's Mustache, meaning every lady's man, officially formed in 2008. Mr. DJ who has produced a significant amount of hits for Outkast, met Jeff B in 2003 at a friend's get-together. The two grew up in the same area of College Park district of Atlanta. The two, continued to stay involved in the music industry, separately working with artists such as T.I. and Destiny's Child. Later, the two became artistic partners after working on Common's Universal Mind Control in 2008.

Their song Job Hunting speaks truth to the current economic and social situation that Americans are dealing with. Check them out at WWW.MAMASMUSTACHE.COM

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: MiSS Banks

I think it’s unfair to say that female rappers aren’t going anywhere. Just because they haven’t been successful, it shouldn’t define the destiny of other “female rappers,” every person is an individual. It’s a new time period, new artists are emerging crazily, look at what the world looks like. Not that they haven’t been successful they haven’t been as consistent. I stand apart by my femininity. I feel like a lot of female rappers try to emulate men in a sense. They try to emulate the same force and aggression in their tone, delivery and lyrics.

Harlem's own 18-year old Azealia Banks is on her way to dominating the hip-hop game with her edgy, promiscuous lyrics and eclectic flow. Girl got a lot of sass, and brings you back to 15-year old Foxy Brown when she was featured on Jay-Z's "Ain't No Ni**a."

Seventeen - Azealia Banks

Don't get it twisted. Miss Banks refuses to apologize for her "offensive" lyrics and at the same time doesn't lean on mere sexuality to boost her career. She's just a chick that spits true fire.



Shout out to BOYS + CLOTHES ONLINE for the interview.

Mullage- Trick'n

This song just makes me happy :) It has that summer, bbq, chillin' feel to it... ya know? Enjoy it!

Mullage is an Atlanta-based group, who though grew up less than 3 miles apart, met during their tenure in the Navy. Check the MySpace page for more for info and other songs.

King Geedorah...

So, some of you might already know about him but for those of you that don't, Daniel Dumile aka King Geedorah, MF Doom,Viktor Vaughn, Metal Fingers, Zev Love X and Supervillain is a hip hop mastermind. Hearing his music was refreshing, it legit made my day, and even though he's been out for awhile he's not mainstream... (as most really good rappers). His album "Take Me to your Leader" under his stage name (one of many) King Geedorah, put out in '03 is the issh. He says of his own album, "You should listen to the album for what it is and not expect it to be like the average "rap" stuff you’re probably used to. Geedorah is a space monster. He's not from the Earth. I made it different on purpose. A blend of ill lyrics and instrumentals. To me its way iller than any of the wack shit out now... This whole album is Geedorah's alien perspective on humans. This is done intentionally to show the listener a mirror image of his/herself and the way we see each other". Check his stuff out, I promise you won't be disappointed. 

P.S If you like what you hear check out his other stuff as MF Doom and Supervillain. Also, I have both these songs lol so if you want them contact me and I can send them to you.

Artist Spotlight: Far Out

What comes to mind when you think of FAR OUT? Maybe some hippy-type isht, Cee-lo, Andre and them, or just crazy weird in general. Anyway I thought I'd put on for my city and rep for the East Side of the A. Glenn S. & Bias make up Far Out, a crazy upcoming act y'all def need to keep a look out for. Their mixtape just dropped last week and they got alot more to come. Bias on the ATL BLUES and Glenn S. on LONG DAYS, LONG NIGHTS.



In the mean time, hit up the group's MYSPACE and stay posted. More mixtapes 'bout to drop, performances to show out, and haters to be talkin'. Watch out, Far Out's coming down yo block.

Artist Spotlight: Erika Jay aka Sneaker Vixen

So in the honor of women's history month, there's this chick, Erika Jay aka Sneaker Vixen who is about to make it. Not only is she a fly female, but she's bout to bring the industry to their knees. She got a different attittude and style that's different from the other chicks in the game now...that is if there is anymore.I can't compare her to anyone else right now, but I can tell you she holding doewn her own. Just like the Queen, MC Lyte, and Salt-N-Pepa back in the day. It's about time for some variety! Anyway she resides in Southside Chi-Town, so if you chillin over there check her out. Check out her stuff:

MYSPACE.COM/SNEAKERVIXENMUSIC

Artist Spotlight: 3XL Crew (Three Times a Lady Crew)

So at the Yale's Black Solidarity Conference, Chichi and I got the chance to meet a very intelligent and passionate young woman named Menda Franchise Francois. Impressed by her comments on the media, its portrayal of Black people, and her opinion about creating a dichotomy between "Niggers" and Black Folks, Chichi and I knew we needed to switch contact info with her.

With her group, 3XL, Menda takes on a wide variety of topics, basing it all from a feminist viewpoint.



From L to R: Shayna Israel, Nikki Lopez, Menda Franchise Francois

Can They Spit? Hell Yeah they can, check the lyrics on Real Hip-Hop which pays homage to their influences:




Here's an article about the trio. Peep the group's myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/3xaladycrew. Menda and her trio mates Shayna Israel and Nikki Lopez have a tremendous amount of talent and potential, and you may see them here for a conference in the future.