The NFL season gets its formal kick-off today (with a teaser this past Thursday). As a number of games hold your attention, three deserving emcees, all make a bid. A Michigan Hip Hop pioneer gears up for his latest concept album this week, and revisits a 2008 diamond in the rough, featuring another deft “mitten” spitter. Also included is the Queens rapper who ascended from J-Love mixtapes to appearances alongside Wu-Tang Clan emcees in the same year, and the biggest emcee outta Kansas, ever?
One Be Lo featuring RoSpit, T Calmese and Elzhi – “Clap”
This summer saw veteran Michigan emcee – and one half of duo Binary Star – One Be Lo dropping not just one but two mixtapes of previously released material. Usually nothing more than tools for hype that make the diehards yawn without winning over new ones, these mixes – titled Laborhood Parts 1 & 2 respectively – manage to stand on their own as cohesive collections. The Laborhoods get long time fans ready for the next proper album and show the uninitiated why One Be Lo is worth the hype and their time. The mixes feature gems like “Clap” (originally released in ’08 on Octane & Illite’s The Forgotten… Chosen) With a set of 16s over a beat that is mostly chunky drums – save for a sinister organ sustain – it’s undeniable that the chemistry between One Be Lo and fellow home state legend – and former Slum Villager – Elzhi overshadows just about everything else on the track. Just as they did on Binary Star’s “The KGB,” the two emcees snatch metaphors most other rappers wouldn’t touch while proving that rhymes can glide no matter how grimy the track is. With everything copacetic again between “Bad” and “Evil,” the next thing for the wish-list should be an entire album featuring the two stars of “Clap.” With Elmatic 
being a smash hit and One Be Lo’s L.A.B.O.R. finally out this week, who knows what will follow? – Michael Sheehan
Listen to “Clap” by One Be Lo featuring RoSpit, T Calmese and Elzhi
Action Bronson – “Tapas”
This little gem was on Peter Rosenberg‘s What’s Poppin Vol. 1 mixtape. The mixtape has a whole bunch of good songs, but this one stuck out the most to me. Action Bronson is a funny character. When I close my eyes, I see Ghostface Killah, but when I open my eyes I see a white Rick Ross who raps about food because he’s a real chef (no diss, Raekwon). He’s entertaining in the most complimentary way, and this track exemplifies Bronson’s lyrical dexterity and unapologetic sense of humor. The first thing that caught my attention was the M.O.P. “Ante Up” sample that production team Party Supplies used. It was subtle but a total contrast to the “Hawaii Five-0” sounding sample that rocks most of the track (if anyone can confirm what that sample is, let me know). Then you got Bronson rhyming about poutine (we Jersey folk call them “disco fries”) followed by comparing uterine walls to leather. It’s hilarious and slick and everything that Action Bronson is slowly building his rep up to being. – Kathy Iandoli
Listen to “Tapas” by Action Bronson
XV – “BITSTU”
I remember speaking to XV for interviews with AllHipHop.com and Skope magazine back in 2006. When he released his debut album, Complex, the Wichita, Kansas emcee seemed like a guy who was going against the grain with a peculiar sound. I never imagined XV could do so much with such limited resources; five years later, and XV went from outcast to trend-setter.
The Warner Brothers Records emcee and frequent J. Cole collaborator takes a concept as simple as being, well, back in the studio, and uses a vintage Slum Village-like flow, and a lot of personality to make it work. With exceptional beat choices that frequently pull in Indie and Electronic fans, XV shows that you can make an interesting song about the mundane. Fresh off of a tour with Casey Veggies, ‘in da stu’ is where Hip Hop wants XV, with an album hopefully wrapping up with a nice budget for samples. – Jake Paine
Listen to “BITSU” by XV
Soooo glad that OneBeLo finally decided to release L.A.B.O.R. (Language Arts Based On Reality), supporting him since he released S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M., which is like the midwest version of Illmatic, all his projects have been dope as fuck, he’s such an amazing lyricist, one of the best ever and chooses beats that perfectly fit the mood. L.A.B.O.R. deserves a proper a review on this site for what kind of amazing and incredible record it is, the concept alone is better than most rapper’s albums, but the execution is out of this world and surpassed my expectations by far. Come on, DX, give it a review, it’s one of the best albums released this year by far, I can only imagine what B.A.B.Y. (Being A Black Youth) will be like, the artwork is one of the best I’ve ever seen, it’s fucking sick. An album from OneBeLo and Elzhi, two of my favorite rappers of all time, would be a dream come true, that’s a very nice idea to think about. Will be playing Lo’s music for the next time, so fucking dope. Hip Hop at it’s best.
Soooo glad that OneBeLo finally decided to release L.A.B.O.R. (Language Arts Based On Reality), supporting him since he released S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M., which is like the midwest version of Illmatic, all his projects have been dope as fuck, he’s such an amazing lyricist, one of the best ever and chooses beats that perfectly fit the mood. L.A.B.O.R. deserves a proper a review on this site for what kind of amazing and incredible record it is, the concept alone is better than most rapper’s albums, but the execution is out of this world and surpassed my expectations by far. Come on, DX, give it a review, it’s one of the best albums released this year by far, I can only imagine what B.A.B.Y. (Being A Black Youth) will be like, the artwork is one of the best I’ve ever seen, it’s fucking sick. An album from OneBeLo and Elzhi, two of my favorite rappers of all time, would be a dream come true, both released the mixtapes of the year. That’s a very nice idea to think about. Will be playing Lo’s music for the next time, so fucking dope. Hip Hop how it’s supposed to sound like, mastered by an incredibly talented rapper from Michigan. Midwest ruling this year, first Elmatic, then Success Is Certain, Armor Of God and now this. Amazing.
So glad that OneBeLo finally decided to release ”L.A.B.O.R. (Language Arts Based On Reality)”, supporting him since he released ”S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.”, which is like the midwest version of Illmatic, all his projects have been dope as fuck, he’s such an amazing lyricist, one of the best ever and chooses beats that perfectly fit the mood. ”L.A.B.O.R.” deserves a proper review on this site for what kind of amazing and incredible record it is, the concept alone is better than most rapper’s albums, but the execution is out of this world and surpassed my expectations by far. Come on, give it a review, it’s one of the best albums released this year by far, I can only imagine what ”B.A.B.Y. (Being A Black Youth)” will be like, the artwork is one of the best I’ve ever seen, it’s fucking sick and there’s thought put behind it. An album from OneBeLo and Elzhi, two of my favorite rappers of all time, would be a dream come true, both released the mixtapes of the year. That’s a very nice idea to think about. Will be playing Lo’s music for the next time, so fucking dope. Hip Hop how it’s supposed to sound like, mastered by an incredibly talented rapper from Michigan. Midwest ruling this year, first Elmatic, then Success Is Certain, Armor Of God and now this. Amazing.
Soooo glad that OneBeLo finally decided to release ”L.A.B.O.R. (Language Arts Based On Reality)”, supporting him since he released ”S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.”, which is like the midwest version of Illmatic, all his projects have been dope as fuck, he’s such an amazing lyricist, one of the best ever and chooses beats that perfectly fit the mood. ”L.A.B.O.R.” deserves a proper review on this site for what kind of amazing and incredible record it is, the concept alone is better than most rapper’s albums, but the execution is out of this world and surpassed my expectations by far. Come on, give it a review, it’s one of the best albums released this year by far, I can only imagine what ”B.A.B.Y. (Being A Black Youth)” will be like, the artwork is one of the best I’ve ever seen, it’s fucking sick and there’s thought put behind it. An album from OneBeLo and Elzhi, two of my favorite rappers of all time, would be a dream come true, both released the mixtapes of the year. That’s a very nice idea to think about. Will be playing Lo’s music for the next time, so fucking dope. Hip Hop how it’s supposed to sound like, mastered by an incredibly talented rapper from Michigan. Midwest ruling this year, first Elmatic, then Success Is Certain, Armor Of God and now this. Amazing.
Soooo glad that OneBeLo finally decided to released it, supporting him since he released ”S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.”, which is like the midwest version of Illmatic, all his projects have been dope as fuck, he’s such an amazing lyricist, one of the best ever and chooses beats that perfectly fit the mood. ”L.A.B.O.R.” deserves a proper review on this site for what kind of amazing and incredible record it is, the concept alone is better than most rapper’s albums, but the execution is out of this world and surpassed my expectations by far. Come on, give it a review, it’s one of the best albums released this year by far, I can only imagine what ”B.A.B.Y. (Being A Black Youth)” will be like, the artwork is one of the best I’ve ever seen, it’s fucking sick and there’s thought put behind it. An album from OneBeLo and Elzhi, two of my favorite rappers of all time, would be a dream come true, both released the mixtapes of the year. That’s a very nice idea to think about. Will be playing Lo’s music for the next time, so fucking dope. Hip Hop how it’s supposed to sound like, mastered by an incredibly talented rapper from Michigan. Midwest ruling this year, first Elmatic, then Success Is Certain, Armor Of God and now this. Amazing!!!
Soooo glad that OneBeLo finally decided to released it, supporting him since he released ”S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.”, which is like the midwest version of Illmatic, all his projects have been dope as fuck, he’s such an amazing lyricist, one of the best ever and chooses beats that perfectly fit the mood. ”L.A.B.O.R.” deserves a proper review on this site for what kind of amazing and incredible record it is, the concept alone is better than most rapper’s albums, but the execution is out of this world and surpassed my expectations by far. Come on, give it a review, it’s one of the best albums released this year by far, I can only imagine what ”B.A.B.Y. (Being A Black Youth)” will be like, the artwork is one of the best I’ve ever seen, it’s fucking sick and there’s thought put behind it. An album from OneBeLo and Elzhi, two of my favorite rappers of all time, would be a dream come true, both released the mixtapes of the year. That’s a very nice idea to think about. Will be playing Lo’s music for the next time, so fucking dope. Hip Hop how it’s supposed to sound like, mastered by an incredibly talented rapper from Michigan. Midwest ruling this year, first Elmatic, then Success Is Certain, Armor Of God and now this. Just Amazing!!!
Tech N9ne is the best outta Kansas, fucking morons. Is this comment even necessary? I feel XV, but you’re smoking crack thinking these two can even compete. Strange Music!!!
Tech N9ne is from Missouri u retard
Kansas City. Yea Thats In Missouri genius.
Thats embarrassing…
He might have went and killed himself after that comment.
AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA *DEAD*
I don’t care about Tech 9 one way or the other but there ** IS ** Kansas City, KANSAS you fucking retards.
An EXTREMELY famous jazz musician is from there but you didn’t know that did you?
Coontastic!
so your opinion is a fact
i fuck with xv but for some reason when I looked at the pic…i thought the guy on the left was jay electronica lol
ACTION BRONSONELLI!!!!!
Completely agree we need an ELZHI/ONE BE LO collab album…2 of the dopest emcees alive PERIOD. KGB track with those 2 and Juice back in late 90s was CLASSIC. Hell add Juice, Percee-P, Diabolic, Louis Logic, and Tonedeff, and Copywrite and make it a new 8 man Wu-Tang? No?
Co-Sign that comment. OneBeLo is one of the best ever, DX needs to give that new project L.A.B.A.R. (Language Arts Based On Reality) way more attention than it currently gets. He’s one of the best lyricists this genre ever had and his concepts are out of this world. It needs a proper review on this site, to make up for the shit you guys did with Armor Of God, another AOTY contender. It’s sickening if you see how many garbage projects get way more attention than they deserve. Elzhi and OneBeLo would be one of the best albums this decade, two genius lyricsits coming together for a true Hip Hop album that would fuck all the shit out there. Elmatic and L.A.B.O.R. are the best mixtapes released this year by far, without true competition. The Midwest is winning this year. Lupe Fiasco, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Elzhi, Royce Da 5’9”, Eminem and Vakill are some of the best artists this genre ever head and they all released albums this year, Vakill, OneBeLo and Elzhi for the crown.
One Be Lo is the man.
Hottest white boy in the game http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIdeTqsMPJY&feature=player_profilepage
Nice variety.
One Be Lo looks like that nigga Majestic from that Get rich or die tryin movie
Noticed it to, haha. Didn’t think of that before.
But One Be Lo is that dude, dope ass Hip Hop, the verse he had on ”Reality Check” from that Binary Star is one of the realest tracks I’ve ever heard.
”I wanna fortune, I wanna make music and hit the lottery
Fortunately my music is never watery
That’s how its gotta be, as far as I can see
Maybe you should grab a telescope to see my veiw its
like astronomy
It aint all about economy
so the fact that these wack emcees is making G’s don’t
bother me
Honestly, my number one policy is quality
never sell my soul is my philosophy”
Fuck outta here with this shit– Bronson is near brain-dead from being dumbass weed smoker (keep playing youself asshole)–
no wonder he has lousy breath control and Rick Ross man tits.
Who the fuck let this sack of shit in hip-hop anyway?