While Midwest Hip Hop has usually been associated with the likes of Chicago and Detroit a number of Ohio rappers are beginning to put the state of Ohio on the map when it comes to music. Among them is Ohio rapper Stalley who spoke on Ohio finally getting the shine it deserves in a recent interview.
“We are Midwest rap…Ohio has a lot of talent. We’ve had a lot of talent, but now we’re starting to get the recognition with guys like myself and Cudi, Chip Tha Ripper, Machine Gun Kelly, and artists like that coming out,” Stalley explained in an interview with 90.5 KSJS. “We finally getting enough voices out there to bring attention to the state. But we’ve always been there. We’ve always been talented and had talented artists there.”
As a newly signed artist, he signed to Maybach Music Group in April, Stalley also spoke on artists who choose to sign to a label and those who choose to remain independent.
“I mean I’m not sure if it’s better either way,” said Stalley when asked if it’s better being signed to a label. “I just think that it depends on the artists and the situation. Some people don’t need a major label or don’t even want a major label. Some people don’t need it and they still use it as a tool to gain more recognition or help with exposure…It just depends on where you wanna go with your career. What you trying to make out of it. And if you fit better.”
When asked if there’s any producers he’d like to work with in the near future Stalley explained that there aren’t many producers who are bringing something new to the table but did state that he’s a fan of Boi Wonda, Swizz Beatz, T-Minus, and more.
“It’s not really a lot of producers that I think are being innovative at this time. Everything kinda sounds copied, cut and copied, or whatever you wanna say. But I mean there’s a few,” Stalley explained. “I’m a fan of Kanye. I like 40, T-Minus, Boi Wonda. I think they got some dope sounds. I mean you got Swizz Beatz. There’s a lot of dope producers, but there’s also a lot of bad ones so I guess it depends on who I would vibe with.”
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ohio has been holding it down for hip hop forever. Scribble Jam anyone?
Thank you! Ray Cash, Hi-Tek, Mood, Blueprint, Copywrite, Bone Thugs, J. Rawls. I guess they mean recognized my the mainstream or by labels.
Kompozur, OTR Clique, Jebri, MC Brains, Robb Nell, Storm Children, Hollywood Nicky, etc…
and how is he going to not mention Hi-Tek in his list of producers if he is really supporting ohio
you don’t have to settle for just any Ohio bred artist/producer/DJ to support Ohio. Read what you just posted.
who else from Ohio beside M.O.O.D. has Hi Tek supported or produced?
Fuck Ohio! It’s all about Glendale AZ bitches!
Glendale??? LMAO!!!
Leaving out Blueprint in the list of talent from Ohio is blasphemous. Fuck this dude. Kissing major label ass to get some recognition.
ok, I’m in ohio. been here for over a decade, and heavily involved in the Ohio hip hop scene (Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Massillon, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton)…but never heard of Blueprint…maybe he just gotta make more noise.
Have you heard of Soul Position? I recommend looking up Blueprints new album Adventures in Counter Culture. Radio-Inactive may be one of the best songs of the year in my opinion.
from ohio?
anyone heard of bone thugs n harmonony???
Who is this Bone Thugs and Harmony you speak of?
it makes me sick these cats dont never bring bone up.
Was looking for Ski Beatz shout out based on their work together. Though, I know he’s from NC. His reality through his eyes though. Can’t complain about that.
BONE
GET USED TO IT.. OHIO NIGGAZ COMING TO LOCK SHIT 4 A WHILE… LISTEN TO THIS TRACK. http://snd.sc/onSyqG 330 BOY [YOUNGSTOWN,OH. AKA MOBTOWN,USA]
wtf fuck these idiots they need to recognize BONE THUGS N HARMONY bottom line BONE came out in 93 and sold millions upon millions these dudes like mgk and kid cuddi got no respect while they are fighting over the dumbest shit like who started using raging first. gtfohwtbullshit BONE is cleveland and they rep cleveland to the fullest E.99 st.clair wtf is wrong with these kids. all of them sorry motha fuckas put together will never sell as much as BONE. BONE put cleveland on the map a long time ago when hip hop was hip hop and not this watered down bullshit.
fuck that im from maryland and bone is and always will be cleveland where is the respect from these young cats
east 99
(shaking my head)… Is this nigga an asshole or is he just playing one in the rap game?
Bone. Bone Thugz N Harmony. Cleveland. Actually put Ohio on the map way back when.
And if you say in one breath everyone sounds the same and then name Boi-1da as a nigga you like…
This dude can’t be an asshole of this magnitude.
Wow.
Fuckin joke, no one will ever be on the level of Bone, anyone who grew up in or near Cleveland knows damn well they blew up huge on the national scene, ive heard mofos from Boise to St. Thomas in the carribean(no lie) bumpin bone thugs, ive never even heard of this joker…i do like that stoner track by cudi tho
You dumb asses he was biggin bone up. He said Bone created that midwest sound.
DID HE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT RASHAD or AU!
Ohio is one redneck ass state. They are more famous for country music.
I rep that O-H-I-O .
So, many people are eager to diss the midwest.
It’s sad.
I pity you people.
Your narrow-minded-ness will cause you to miss out on much.
How can you say there’s not a lot of innovative producers in the game right now, then say you like that talentless, malnourished, broke ass nigga Swizz Beatz… Stalley’s still dope though.