We had the third annual hip hop four elements show at the north star cafe on 06/22 and it was great. We had break dancing, mcing, djing, and someone spray painted something somewhere.

Sandbag headlined and i told Ill by Instinct how great he is again, I feel like one day he is going to see me walk up to him and say “Its over between us, I can’t handle your uncomfortable admiration of me!” Anyway, anyone out there who attended or didnt that thinks the art of the hip hop mixtape is dead doesnt know and I can help. These are the five new artists you need to know.

In no particular order I’m starting with DONNIS. He’s from Atlanta and part of what I’m calling the southern lyrical revolution. Crunk music got too big and made it seem like the south was producing non-lyrical throw away dance. They basically turned into europeon pop music from the mid 90’s (barbie girl barbie world) but that whole while lyricism remained a strong part of southern rap. Outkast pushed hip hop along with Goodie Mobb and then TI made music that was lyrical and incredibly popular, Donnis comes from this line but still brings that incredible southern energy. Listening to Donnis is like stepping into a party on friday night not knowing anyone and kind of drunk but determined to have fun. He’s got two real mixtapes and a rehash thing you’ll know the difference. Download them they are free.

Big Krit is next and as tough as it to get respected as a southern MC Donnis is from Atlanta which has a heavy rep in hip hop. KRIT is from mississippi which has only produced David Banner recently and that is not a great track record. He’s put out a few mixtapes I guess but this new one(KRIT wuz here) is my mixtape of the year right now. I can’t stop listening to it, he’s lyrical and ferocious but maintains this delicate soulful production and triumphant tone throughout. I’ve heard he did the production himself and it would make sense because it sounds like it fits perfectly the whole way through. How good was this mixtape? He was just signed to Def Jam because of it.

Its hard to explain how much I love Fashawn, more then I love Ill by Instinct. Man I hope he’s not reading this. The best way to earn my all out affection is to do what Fashawn does 1. present top notch lyrical skill 2. Work visibly hard to ensure your work is conceptually sound 3. Do what is right not what is popular. West coast rap used to be my thing because I was simplistic and loved the directness and emotion in Gangsta rap(i will type the term but not say it I sound stupid saying it) Jay Rock, Game, Nipsey Hussle, and a lot of other new school west coast MC’s are busy proving they could be like MC Eiht in 92 and they sound like he does…now. Instead of sounding tired and dumb Fashawn does light hearted soul searching De La Soulish music sometimes and other times no one on earth sounds like him. Anyone think of a compliment better then that? I can’t.

Have you ever known someone who offends you so much that over time you begin to like him. If you don’t know what i’m talking about then listen to Royce da 5′9 Bar Exam 3 make sure to listen to 2 as well though(on that one he was less drunk). This is simply one of the best in the business, he will offend you somehow and a number of times but you will be forced to shake your head say “WOW!” The precise nature of his flow is what makes him amazing, he’s good with punch lines but he hits every single word which takes amazing talent. He’s the opposite of someone like lil wayne who stammers through verses that rarely make sense. He entertains himself by testing himself constantly, pushing each verse to top the last. Hip hop is supposed to be built on that.

Hopefully you know J Cole, if you do this will be easier. He’s from North Carolina and after he dropped his flawless mixtape THE WARM UP he was signed to ROC NATION by Jay-Z. The ceiling on this kids talents is way up there. He can make those catchy hooks that stick in your head while still crafting an assertive lyrically dense song. He has an authenticity in his work that speaks to his personality. After listening to the Come up and Warm up you feel like you know him and you should. He can confress, brag, and just flip words until your head nodding is out of control. People say Jay signed him because he say himself in Cole but honestly at J Coles age Jay-z wasn’t this good.

If you check these guys out and dont like them, find me, we will argue and i will win.