Soulja Boy

It was a big year for ATL. Without a doubt, ATL is the hottest city in America in terms of Hip Hop and R & B. Countless hits have come out of this town this past year. One of the biggest of course was Soulja Boy’s "Crank That" which was number one ringtone in the country. Of course it had its own dance to go along with the song, something that kids all over the country jumped on, the "Crank That" or "Superman" dance. All the spin-offs too, there’s the "Spiderman", there’s the "Roosevelt" dance, the "Waffle House" dance. A lot of young kids are jumpin into the music that aren’t experienced in music, but they know how to make fun records that their peers can feel. They know what the people want. It’s a real young sound. Last year I talked about the Snap music movement. It seemed like Snap music came and went in less than a year, but there’s still that same energy. It’s kids makin music with their home computers and they’re makin hits. Shop Boyz was another one. They started independent, got picked up, "Party Like A Rockstar" became a number 1 single. They stayed up on the charts for a good part of the summer.

Something different we’re seeing with this new generation in Rap: in the past a song had to blow up in the clubs before it hit the charts. Like with Soulja Boy it happened on the internet first, on youtube. It took over a year for it to percolate. He video taped himself doing the dance and put it up on youtube. People started liking it and it started spreading like crazy. The same kids that were into Snap music are the same people who are enjoying Soulja Boy and Shop Boyz, DJ Unk, Hurricane Chris. These are young artists who are capturing a sound that’s not a hardcore Gangsta sound. It’s more a light, fun, danceable, party kinda music. It kind of follows in the footsteps of what Ying Yang Twins did. Ying Yang had that fun sound, even though it was more Crunk. This new music that’s evolving is spinnin off of Crunk, spinning off of Snap. It’s a different vibe, a funny crazy vibe.

Mr. Collipark

My man Smurf made big moves in 2007. He had the Hurricane Chris record and the Soulja Boy record. I gotta salute College Park Music, DJ Smurf (AKA Mr. Collipark). He’s definitely been a guy who made his money and done his thing. I’ve seen him grow up over the years and he’s done phenomenal work. After the success of the Ying Yang Twins, to see Soulja Boy comin up—to be the first to jump on that record and take it nationwide—and then Hurricane Chris. Incredible!

DJ Unk

The big surprise was my man DJ Unk who had two number 1 singles: "Walk It Out" and "2 Step". To have two number 1 singles in the same year is phenomenal. Unk got the Big Oomp Camp in the light. This is the biggest smash the Oomp Camp has done since they’ve been in the game. They’ve always made great records, but now they’ve topped the charts. Who would have thought that Unk would be the one to bring this success. He was one of the youngest, newest members of the camp. He joined Oomp Camp a couple of years ago and came with the biggest hit they’ve ever had. He’s travelling all over the country, he was on MTV "Cribs", he’s doin guest appearances. He had a huge year. Oomp’s finally getting recognized for that same sound that they’ve been pioneering for a long time. Also, Baby D is due to drop in the first quarter. That’s going to be a big record from the Oomp Camp.

Konvict Music: Akon & T-Pain

Akon had a ton of number 1 records in 2007. His solo stuff, songs he guest appeared on, he was everywhere. And of course T-Pain, who is signed to his label, those two combined have been the biggest hit makers in the record business. T-Pain has the Florida connection, but he’s spending a lotta time in Atlanta now that he’s signed to Akon’s label. Konvict Music has been on fire with hit after hit after hit. They’ve got a couple of other artists on the label, but T-Pain is the hookmaster. To me he’s the guy that defined the sound of 2007. He was on a million songs.

Grand Hustle/T.I.

We can’t forget T.I. He had a big year with his album, "T.I. vs T.I.P.", and then getting arrested on the day of the BET awards. There’s a lot of word on the street about how it happened. Apparently the so-called bodyguard set him up for the whole deal. He ran a wire. That was scandalous. To me, if a bodyguard is wearing a wire that’s worse than a snitch. That’s a set up. Hopefully T.I. has some good lawyers who can help him get the charges reduced because a gun charge in Georgia is no joke. It’s a mandatory 5-year sentence. For T.I. to get hit at this time is a real blow. It’s a setback for the whole label. They‘ve been doin a lotta good work and bringing a lotta money to the city.

Sunny Spoon

In a similar situation, my man Sunny Spoon was sentenced to 12 years on a gun charge. He served 4 and will be out in 12 months on good behavior. Sunny Spoon was the rapper that was on the verge of blowing up back when he got arrested. He was like a mentor for Jeezy. Young Jeezy’s first album was recorded at Sunny Spoon’s studio when he was still called Little J. Little J was recording at Sunny Spoon’s studio in Macon, Georgia. Sunny Spoon was the OG. He had his own label with his partner Dewayne Banks, Dollyhood Records. They also owned a nightclub in Macon. When Sunny Spoon wen to jail he was about to sign a major deal. He had already released two albums before he went down on a gun charge. In Georgia the two main reasons kids are getting locked up are guns and drugs.

DJ Drama/Aphilliates

DJ Drama’s album came out on Grand Hustle as well. That’s a big record. And in the beginning of 2007 Drama’s office was busted by the Fed and the RIAA, tryin to get DJ Drama on some copyright infringement and some other stuff. It’s been a tough year for ATL with the law. Besides that minor setback, Drama and his camp are doing great work. Everything Drama touches is exploding. Drama as a DJ has broken so many records. He’s a guy who has helped the ATL go to the next level. He’s been at the cutting edge helping to break a lot of artists. He’s got a phenomenal ear. As a DJ, Drama has an ear that is impeccable. He can hear a hit record way before it comes out. Of course his "Gangsta Grillz" series has been groundbreaking. Nobody can deny Drama his props because he’s put so many artists on his "Gangsta Grillz" and introduced so many concepts as a DJ. His work is flawless. DJ Drama has also got the Aphilliates, his DJ crew. All the Aphilliates are cutting edge DJ’s in their own right. DJ Sense, Don Canon, they’re all doing great work. For them to all come together has given them another level of power. They’re breakin records. That’s the DJ’s job, to break records. Not to be a gatekeeper, but to keep his ear to the streets and to be the first to play that record that nobody else will play. That’s what Drama has been so successful, because he’s broken so many records. He helped to break Gucci Mane, he helped to break Jeezy, he helped to break a whole slew of records outa Big Boi’s camp.

Gucci Mane

The other day I wake up in the morning and turn on the TV, Gucci Mane’s on the "Morning Show" on channel 5! He’s got a new album just came out called "Back to the Traphouse". Gucci Mane is an ATL street rapper who’s been steadily rising, making big noise. That kid is on the verge of a major breakthrough. He’s the style, he’s got talent, he’s got a huge respect in the streets, he’s got what it takes. You hear Gucci’s records bangin in people’s cars—not just in ATL, but all over the country. He’s surprisingly popular on the West Coast. He went through some hard times, but his music keeps getting better. Who knows what’s next for him, but I feel that kid has the key to success. To me Gucci Mane is that next generation of street rapper. His sound is what the people are feeling now.

King Edward J

King Edward J was THE most influential kid in the formation of Atlanta Rap. He had a record store, he was a DJ who made mixtapes back in the late eighties and nineties. He is the first mixtape DJ in Atlanta to really make those ghetto mixtapes and push them hard. He was originally from Florida, had a record store called The J Shop in Decatur. Back in ’87 – ’88 that was the place to hang out. His store was the hangout for DJ’s like DJ Kizzy Rock, DJ Wen, DJ Smurf, Lady DJ. I remember meeting Smurf at Edward J’s store when he was in 7^th or 8^th grade! That was where you went to listen to music and meet people and buy mixtapes. DJ Man who was Shy D’s DJ used to hang out with Edward J. They all had a crew called The J Team. That was an elite group of DJ’s. King Edward J was the one who really invented the fast/slow mixes, takin a slow song and puttin the fast beat behind it. When DJ Jelly and the Oomp Camp came on the scene they started battling with the J Team to see who was gonna be number one. You had to knock out number one to be number one.

DJ Wen

DJ Wen also died, of a heart attack, in 2007 DJ Wen was another pioneer in ATL. He was the guy that was into Funk, the wa-wa peddles. I went to the funeral and ran into Steve Rhim who used to publish The Rap Guide, a local magazine. He said about Wen, "Throughout the history of Southeastern Hip Hop, DJ Wen was one of the up and coming producers that took risks. Other people learned how to do it from him. He was an explorer of Southern Hip Hop who made innovative sounds. The sounds he came up with, people are using today." He was also a guy who coached little league football for 15 years. He coached Quincy Carter who became the first Black quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. At the funeral Ceelo came out and a lotta people who knew him. It was a big turnout. We’re sorry to see him go.

ATL Hustler of the Year

The hustler of the year award goes out to a non-rapper. It goes to a young lady named Ayanna. She’s an R & B singer with a great street team. Her label has four wrapped vans, all the vans have credit card/debit card machines in the vans. They sold over 40,000 units in the last 6 months all throughout Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina. Ayanna is out hustling all the rappers, showin that it still can be done in the streets. You still can get out there and grind, meetin the people, shakin. I first met her at a gas station when I was buyin gas. I look at the van and she’s behind the wheel. She’s doin it and she’s a local star. She hit the billboard charts and is about to sign a major deal. She’s proving something I’ve always known: independent is the way to start out. Learn your business and if you do get a chance to work with the majors you know how things run. We’ve still got more independent artists coming up in the ATL, more studios and labels. Look out for Ayanna in 2008.

USDA

That was a big record, no doubt, but I felt it could’ve been a stronger record. My expectations were high because I knew that CTE is doin be things over there. I know they’ve got the talent over there. My concern is that cats stay focused and keep pushing the quality to higher levels.

Yung Joc

Yung Joc had a good album out in 2007, but it wasn’t as good as his first one. Maybe he suffered from some of that sophomore jinx. I love Yung Joc, love his style. He’s always got that fun vibe, he’s always hot. Blocc Entertainment is an excellent label, but it’s just more and more competitive out there. You’ve got so many established Atlanta labels now: Blocc, CTE, Grand Hustle, you got the Oomp Camp. Everybody now has got to bring their A game. The world is waiting for the best of the best.

Killer Mike

Killer Mike just signed a distribution deal for his label, Grind Time. He’s no longer with Outkast and Purple Ribbon. He’s working with a San Francisco label, I hear, SMC Recordings. He’s gonna do something with his own label, get his thing off the ground. Killer Mike had to solve some business issues, but I definitely expect him to do big things in 2008.

Also…

The C.A.S.T.L.E. Boyz are another new group I expect to see a lot of. They’re from the Riverdale area, that side of Atlanta. They’ve been doin some good work and I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz on C.A.S.T.L.E. Boyz. They had a couple of mix CD’s and they look real promising.

I can’t forgot to mention Shawty Lo who has a hot song that's bangin in the streets and clubs of the ATL. He was a member of the group D4L and now has a solo release out on Assylum/WEA.

There’s a new DVD comin out called "The Real Westside Story". It’s a documentary covering all the real hood cats on the Westside of Atlanta, Bankhead: CMT, DC Six, Buck Power, Bankhead Boyz, all of them grimy cats are on there representing. That’s the neighborhood TI comes from, but there were cats on that side of town before TI even came on the scene. That documentary is gonna be huge. The guy that worked on it worked for PBS, so it will be nice.

Lil C, formerly of Oomp Camp, he started his own venture now. Freddy B has a new artist that he produced called Flame. Flame has a hot sound. I like his vibe. He could be a real solid artist coming up next year. Also, it looks like Sunny Valentine’s album is going to finally come out. He’s got a deal with Jive Records, and his record was pushed back a couple of times. Sunny Valentine is a great MC who had cut an album before the deal, and Soul Messiah had done a lot of production for him. Soul Messiah had a song on Chamillionaire’s album that won the Grammy Award. He’s a big producer and has done a lot of major work more major artists. He’s on the verge of making a big smash this year. DJ Toomp had a good year. The rest of the world is finally seeing what we knew Toomp was all along. Toomp was always a top-notch producer. He has never done nothing that was bad. Now that he’s producing with Kanye West, producing for TI, he’s getting a lot of recognition. I’m happy for that kid, he paid his dues and worked his way up. Shawty Redd is another phenomenal producer in the ATL. ATL is the producer’s capitol. That’s what makes it move here. I’ve got to mention Drumma Boy, he does great work. He’s workin on an album with Gangsta Boo right now. And Pastor Troy had a good album out in 2007. I see Troy is making a comeback. He was one of the pioneers in this town and he gets a lot of respect in the A. He’s working with SMC Recordings in San Francisco, so he’s reaching other audiences and making it happen. Ghetto Mafia put out a record last year. It didn’t make the noise it should have, but it’s good to see them boys still recording.

What’s unique about the Atlanta music scene is the diversity. We need the pop hits, the one-hit-wonders, we need the street stuff, and we need the R & B stuff. We need all of it. That’s what makes the whole ATL sound, it’s not just one sound like some other cities. You’ve got all those different elements at the same time. You’ve got a Bobby Valentino on the one hand, Ludacris on another hand, you got Akon over here, you got the Oomp Camp over there, then Grand Hustle over there, Gucci Mane here, Pastor Troy’s over here, Lil Jon’s over there, you got Mr. Collipark, CTE. It’s so many different camps. That’s what makes it so exciting because all these camps are carving their own little niche. Everybody’s doin something different from each other. Staying original and creative.