After having a great 2010 repping the DMV, Tabi Bonney starts the New Year with Court Dunn in our exclusive “16 Bars” series.
12 thoughts on “Tabi Bonney – “16 Bars””
I wont comment on this video clip. However, I will say Tabi Bonney is one step away from finding his “niche” in hip hop. He just has to “put it in my poket” no homo. This year he should just focus on focusing his sound. I see him struggling with identity and what image he wants to push..I say keep to what has worked in the past and now that more people know who you are bring back the oldies for all to hear.. “Pocket” is a club banger year round..Re market it and let that thing do what it does…1
i am a writer for complex, and since we own this site, i am chosing to stay a-nonny-mouse lol.
Tabi Bonney is aiiiiite. Hes part of that 2011 up and coming class. But he’s kinda on the weak side of it. Here are the others:
XV (Louisville)
Really Doe (Chitown)
Joey A.X. (CT)
Emilio Rojas (Nyc)
Colin Monroe (toronto)
Oncue (bk-ny)
all of the above have a much iller flow and better writers. hiphop is returning to the writing and lyrics, thank god, and tabi gunna have to step it up on that front. all the cosigns from wale (who everyone thinks is a dickhead) isnt gunna make him a better or sharper artist. and he gta pick a lane.
Every rapper doesn’t wana be and isn’t gonna be Lupe Fiasco or Ghostface Killah lyrically. Tabi may not be a lyrical genius but he definitely isn’t “weak”. Tabi knows himself as a rapper and thats why people f*** with him…. I don’t think you can compare any other artist in it right now to Tab. He defines INDIVIDUAL, especially being an INDIE artist. His swag is dope, his beats are dope, his work ethic is dope, he has a variety of sounds that can please a variety of listeners from Pocket to Duhh to Nuthin But A Hero. He has mainstream features, radio hits, gets mad video love and he’s a HELL of a director. I think if more artist took a lesson from Tabi they would be a lot more successful. He defines the grind of an indie HipHop artist.
I’m lovin this comment. Tabi Bonney has nothing special at all. None of these 16s he’s been putting out show off any skills. No interesting wordplay, no impressive delivery, no profound message. He’s not the worst rapper ever by any means, but he’s super bland. He doesn’t bring anything to the game that a shitload of up and coming rappers don’t
bonney has more substance that lyrical dexterity but he’s a dope mc by my standards because he doesn’t fall in line with trends. he switches styles, sounds, etc. and always drops fresh shit.
I’m not a huge Tabi fan, but I gotta salute dude for his lyrical content. His flow might need a lil tweeking but I’m feeling it. He’s like a regular guy with crazy word-play and it obviously works. I like the video it’s simple, different & refreshing. Thank God there aint a 100 Bentleys riding around on 60 inch rims, or him rocking a thosand gold/platinum chains looking stupid and played out, or super thugged out niggaz on the corner with mean muggs. Nope it’s simply dude showcasing his 16 bars in the park = DIFFERENT. I agree every mc aint gonna be Lupe or Nas, but Tabi is no weak link. I’m not all for gimmicky-rappers (which he isn’t), but I like the fact that he’s just focused on his music. He’ll eventually find his style/niche, trust it aint that easy for rappers coming out of the DMV to find an identity and stick to it when go-go music is at the core of their musical background. So regardless of my sentiments I salute Tabi, and man I’m listening – Keep banging dem joints out.
I wont comment on this video clip. However, I will say Tabi Bonney is one step away from finding his “niche” in hip hop. He just has to “put it in my poket” no homo. This year he should just focus on focusing his sound. I see him struggling with identity and what image he wants to push..I say keep to what has worked in the past and now that more people know who you are bring back the oldies for all to hear.. “Pocket” is a club banger year round..Re market it and let that thing do what it does…1
i am a writer for complex, and since we own this site, i am chosing to stay a-nonny-mouse lol.
Tabi Bonney is aiiiiite. Hes part of that 2011 up and coming class. But he’s kinda on the weak side of it. Here are the others:
XV (Louisville)
Really Doe (Chitown)
Joey A.X. (CT)
Emilio Rojas (Nyc)
Colin Monroe (toronto)
Oncue (bk-ny)
all of the above have a much iller flow and better writers. hiphop is returning to the writing and lyrics, thank god, and tabi gunna have to step it up on that front. all the cosigns from wale (who everyone thinks is a dickhead) isnt gunna make him a better or sharper artist. and he gta pick a lane.
Every rapper doesn’t wana be and isn’t gonna be Lupe Fiasco or Ghostface Killah lyrically. Tabi may not be a lyrical genius but he definitely isn’t “weak”. Tabi knows himself as a rapper and thats why people f*** with him…. I don’t think you can compare any other artist in it right now to Tab. He defines INDIVIDUAL, especially being an INDIE artist. His swag is dope, his beats are dope, his work ethic is dope, he has a variety of sounds that can please a variety of listeners from Pocket to Duhh to Nuthin But A Hero. He has mainstream features, radio hits, gets mad video love and he’s a HELL of a director. I think if more artist took a lesson from Tabi they would be a lot more successful. He defines the grind of an indie HipHop artist.
—-Peece, DMV
I’m lovin this comment. Tabi Bonney has nothing special at all. None of these 16s he’s been putting out show off any skills. No interesting wordplay, no impressive delivery, no profound message. He’s not the worst rapper ever by any means, but he’s super bland. He doesn’t bring anything to the game that a shitload of up and coming rappers don’t
Tabi is on a Whole Different Level & More Unique than these MC’s Nowadays…
bonney has more substance that lyrical dexterity but he’s a dope mc by my standards because he doesn’t fall in line with trends. he switches styles, sounds, etc. and always drops fresh shit.
*more substance than*
if i was at 4th Street courts and walked by and saw dude doing that, i’d point and laugh. cool verse, but video aint good.
I’m not a huge Tabi fan, but I gotta salute dude for his lyrical content. His flow might need a lil tweeking but I’m feeling it. He’s like a regular guy with crazy word-play and it obviously works. I like the video it’s simple, different & refreshing. Thank God there aint a 100 Bentleys riding around on 60 inch rims, or him rocking a thosand gold/platinum chains looking stupid and played out, or super thugged out niggaz on the corner with mean muggs. Nope it’s simply dude showcasing his 16 bars in the park = DIFFERENT. I agree every mc aint gonna be Lupe or Nas, but Tabi is no weak link. I’m not all for gimmicky-rappers (which he isn’t), but I like the fact that he’s just focused on his music. He’ll eventually find his style/niche, trust it aint that easy for rappers coming out of the DMV to find an identity and stick to it when go-go music is at the core of their musical background. So regardless of my sentiments I salute Tabi, and man I’m listening – Keep banging dem joints out.
Starting off your cornball 16 with “A slice of cheese” is a bad move faggot.
2 thumbs up, def can’t knock the hustle, and dug the flow on this one, vid was tight too…
-J-Mill (SCR)
Not really, a Tabi fan, but it was ok, not impressive but not bad…