NASHVILLE, TN:
LOUISVILLE, KY:
Derby Weekend was off the meat rack with parties galore. Friday, DJs Q45 and Dimepiece were on the 1’s & 2’s at The Villa. Saturday, the Grand Gala was a star-studded event with celebs like Gabrielle Union, Bob Johnson, Michael Strahan, T-Mo Goodie, Tracy Edmonds, and others. Ms. Sharlene Shanklin organized this event. Darrell Griffith’s party popped as usual; DJ Kid Capri did him, so did Plaiboi, BDMJ, Famous, and ThruDaRoof. Sunday, the Funk Flex Car Show was very colorful. KYMP Kamp hosted the 2nd Annual Awards. Our hearts go out to Static’s wife Avonti and Lil D for the Tribute to a Legend at City Block. - Divine Da Instagata (OuttaDaShopEnt@hotmail.com)
KILLEEN/BELTON/TEMPLE/WACO, TX:
Smoke networked with J Prince Jr. and D Glover to bring in heavy-hitters Trae, Jayton and Boss of A.B.N, A Dub, D Ward, and Mike Hop to Club Hypnotic. My Lyfe Records’ N’Riyah, Yung Money, and Adykted Sol have a serious buzz in Central Texas. L.A. of B106.3 discussed OZONE’s Purple Rain article live on the radio. Big Lunny had an Apple Bottom Show at Club Rio. Spark Dawg, MJ, and Mike Hee of Green City were on 713 the Beat and Gutta of Mack’s on the Rise drops his single “Wood on My Dash.” - Tre Dubb (tredubb@hotmail.com)
Shan Foster is officially headed to the NBA and TSU’s own Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was selected in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. Hang Time shut the city down again for their two-year anniversary party. Pearl Fusion Retro is now open and the 1st Tennessee Music Conference and Hip Hop Awards plans to shine even more light on the state. C-Dub, C-Lo, and Crisis are now Derrty DJs. Skateboard P’s single “Fresh out the Club” produced by Fate Eastwood is a summer anthem and the Annual Cancer/Leo Birthday Bash hosted by JC, Serious, and Lady Mirage Models sets the standard. - Janiro (Janiro@southernentawards.com)
NEW ORLEANS, LA:
Q93’s Slab 1 is the new King of Nights in the 504. He’s the perfect successor to Wild Wayne. The Hip Hop Hour with Alex McConduit is the hottest show on Loyola University’s campus. They began syndicating to WODU Radio in Norfolk, VA by featuring female rapper 3D Na’Tee. DJ Money Fresh has The Duck Off poppin’ every week. Every Hornets’ home playoff game was followed by an after party and the ladies were in the building. The hottest new releases out of the Creole cockpit are The Show’s Victory Lap, K-Gates and B.G.’s mixtape, and Curren$y’s joint “Welcome to the Winner’s Circle.”
OCALA, FL:
C. Wakeley and the Gatekeepers came to town promoting Two Dogg Records’ Certified (formerly Big Koon & Hollywood). Other emerging Ocala acts are Jit & S.G. of Kornerboy Ent. and K.S.B. The 2nd Annual Lil Boy’s Pushing Big Wheels Car Show got rained out but will be rescheduled. DJ Leezy’s next mixtape Tote Tha City 3 is coming soon. - DJ Leezy (DJLeezy352@yahoo.com)- Derrick Tha Franchise (www.Myspace. com/DerrickThaFranchise)
NEW YORK, NY
MACON, GA:
Mixtape season kicks off with Insane of 2G and 97.9’s 4J (a.k.a. Mr. 4th Of July) releasing Keeping My Sanity. Forsyth is in the game with a hot one from Bishop City. His “Polo’s and Ice Cream” is a club banger. DJs Ric Flare, Teknikz and Storm set it off at The Rock for Teknikz’ B-Day Bash. Gorilla Zoe and Bohagon came through as well. - Ali Roc (radiodj242000@yahoo.com)
Maino’s smash single “Hi Hater” has been brewing in NYC for a minute now and is about to bubble across the country. Google it, YouTube it, get it in your life ASAP. On the underground level, a few artists making serious noise are The League from Long Island (getting a heavy co-sign from Sha Money and Kay Slay); Nikal Fieldz (a caucasian MC from Rochester with the crazy single “Racist”); and a female emcee with a lyrical obsession, Nina B from Ravenel Records. - J. Hatch (www.Myspace.com/jasonhadshian)
MANATEE COUNTY, FL:
PITTSBURGH, PA:
Rumba Lounge held a Gorilla Zoe concert with opening act Geno & Skunk performing their single “Bucket.” The single was included on the latest TJs DJs Tastemaker’s Only CD. Slip-N-Slide Street artist Chill Da Million Dollar Man continues to make his presence seen all over Florida. There’s definitely been a drought in the night life for Bradenton, Sarasota, and Palmetto since Club Heat closed. The only regular survivor is the Big Bro Comedy Show held every Friday at the Bella Vista Building. Open mic is from 10-11 PM, followed by comics from B.E.T. and Last Comic Standing. It’s hosted by Gigallo Weeze and 96.5 FM is on the scene. For more info call 941-592-0343. - Hollywoodred (era9880@yahoo.com)
MEMPHIS, TN:
Gangsta Boo and La Chat have created their own remix of Three 6’s “I’d Rather.” Although they may have just been fucking off, they definitely had fun with this one. Rapper Teflon Don has been getting lots of attention ever since winning the Memphisrap.com Showcase and has been marketing himself quite well. Kia Shine has been spotted handing out some new singles around town. Not sure what to expect with his latest single titled “My New Style,” but we do know he’s been on the collaboration tip with some other Memphis artists. - Deanna Brown (Deanna.Brown@MemphisRap.com)
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA:
With headquarters like AOL and Google within walking distance, this wealthy town is not all work and no play. The Shoreline Amphitheater used to be home to KMEL’s Summer Jam concerts until a person was murdered after the show in 2005. The venue scaled back for a couple of years, yet it’s willing to host the Rock The Bells 2008 concert featuring Mos Def, Redman and Method Man, A Tribe Called Quest, Raekwon, and Ghostface along with a slew of other artists that started this rap shit (Nas and Rakim). And for the grown and sexy, the legendary Stevie Wonder performs for one night only when he makes a rare Bay Area appearance. - Kay Newell (kayozonemag@gmail.com)
20 // OZONE MAG
Warner Brothers’ own Wiz Khalifa has everybody saying “Say Yea” and Paper Boys Entertainment is pushing “Trap Walk” featuring DJ Unk. S. Money is still the man and DJs Boogie, GQ, Kode Wred, Black Steel, and Schizo are working hard. F-Block Records got the single “Wrist Game” and their new mixtape All About the Gwap. “We Run It” is all over the net. Boaz and Vonn Treeze continue to supply the hits. “Go hard or go home” is Pittsburgh’s new motto. - Lola Sims (lolasims@gmail.com)
PORTLAND, OR & IDAHO:
Monster tours are hitting The Rose City this summer. Too $hort, Andre Nickatina, Mike P, and Cool Nutz all on one stage – it’s a West Coast Classic. Don’t sleep on the 503 grindas like Lil’ Fats of Hi Rollerz Records. His Coast 2 Coast mixtape series is validated and his label just officially signed The Source’s Unsigned Hype Slo Poke, a.k.a. SP, to a deal for his second full length project The Appreciation Of. That’s three NW artists in The Source’s Unsigned Hype in less than half a year – something’s in the water, baby. - Luvva J (Myspace.com/luvvaj)
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:
Rumors are rampant this month about the return of Ireland’s only Hip Hop radio station Vibe FM which was shut down five years ago by local police. With a full schedule leaked to us, it appears that within weeks the pirate will be back on air, stronger than before. UK’s #1 Jodie Aysha was in Dublin this month, performing the hit single “Heartbroken” to a capacity crowd. The heavier Hip Hop fans were treated to sold-out Madlib and A-Trak shows, while it was a month that saw numerous Hip Hop spots known for supporting local talent struggle to stay afloat. - Kev Storrs (kevstorrs@gmail.com)
SAN DIEGO, CA:
Independent underground artists from Diego to L.A. unite on the fifth installment of the Street Pressure mixtape series. Z90.3’s Extreme Autofest invaded the Chargers Qualcomm Stadium; the event even took time to address Diego’s underground illegal Street Racing problems via Racelegal.com. Tourism is