Credentials Hip Hop

CHH: What part of KC do you come from? What was it like growing up there?

Neko: Hailing from 27th & Cleveland, Eastside. Growing up ova there wasn't too hard, just because everybody on that street treated everybody like family: big homies and little ni**as alike. It's when I moved out the city when life got difficult. First we moved out south to Grandview for a min but I still went to school in the city. Just had to be used to overwhelming solitude out there cause back then I was so young that I didn't know anybody but who I went to school with. Then, we moved to a little into Kansas; and out there I had to get used to cops harassing me and the locals wanting to get me under the influence...lol...but it was coo out there for a year. Then we moved furthur out south to get away from a lot which is where I now reside, and it made me into the righteous bastard I am today!

CHH: Who or what influences your music?

Neko: Besides my family and my basic likes and dislikes, I would say the raw inspiration of life. Almost anything can happen where I would have to open my notebook and start writing a new verse or get a topic for a song or ideas for future project titles.

CHH: What local rappers do you like? What else are you listening to?

Neko: When I hear this question iIgotta think about do I know these individuals, cuz you can put out good music but that don't mean I like you. But off top, few of 3 gotta be Gee Watts, Dom Chronicles, and Stik Figa. And pretty much whatever I stuff on my 160GB iPod but currently I just been bumpin locals foreel, but I throw some Curren$y, K.R.I.T, Kendrick Lamar in there, but then The White Stripes or The Beatles will come on and I'll spend a whole day playing them on repeat.

CHH: What producers have you worked with? What rappers and producers do you want to work with in the future?

Neko: On With Love From KC, I worked with a lot of artists and producers alike. Producers like JayK, Industry Rejects, Nsane Eems, Booda, & Louis G out ATL. And I would like to work with some bigger names locally in the future. I feel like I can match anybody's level, even the vets.

CHH: What projects do you have out now? What are you working on now?

Neko: Right now I have a mixtape titled: With Love From KC. That's hosted by DJ E-V of Cleveland, and I'm currently working on a EP that I will be releasing in Nov. entitled O(verdue) G(rams) .....OGEP

CHH: How did you come up with the rap name Neko?

Neko: All my life that's what I've been called, so for the sake of not being cliche and taggin young or lil in front of my stage name, you can say I dug into the geek part of my brain, and that's how I came up with iRneKo.

CHH: What separates you from other KC rappers?

Neko: Well, I was the geek in school; defendin myself because my different taste in music, cartoons, and just simple things like that, but I still was in hood affairs n almost living that life, so it's like I look gangster-ish and talk hood, but if you really listen and pay attention, you can hear an intelligent individual ready to push positive energy through this art form.

Dutch Newman - Mr. Blue Sky

2011-08-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

KO Streetz - Hood Boi (Video)

2011-08-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

From the album DJ Michael Watts presents - Klosed Custody - Industry Lockdown, coming soon.

Yung Mic - Swang On Em (Video)

2011-08-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

Watch Me Eat out now. Appearances from Joe Blow and Lee Majors.

Ces Cru, JL, Kutty Slitz, Milkdrop, Les Izmore, & Vertigone - Cypher at the Record Bar

2011-07-31T20:24:00.000-07:00

Demencha.com Interview Gee Watts

2011-07-14T17:32:00.000-07:00

Shoutout to Demencha.com

CES Cru - Changes (Video)

2011-07-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

The Playground out now. Cameos from Tech N9ne & Travis O'Guin.

JL of B.Hood - Time (Video)

2011-07-13T23:18:00.000-07:00

YV Da BG & K-Stylis - Touch Yo Toes

2011-07-13T23:11:00.000-07:00

Lee Majors & Messy Marv - Paper Bag Money (Video)

2011-07-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Boy Boy Young Mess Presents Lee Majors - Paper Bag Money out now.

Gee Watts - Ignorance (Ain't Bliss) Pt. 1 + Video

2011-07-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hermon Mehari - Exclusive Interview & MP3s

2011-07-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

Every Now And Then MP3
Lost In Darkness MP3

CHH: What do you think of Jazz's current state, when did you start playing trumpet?

HM: I think jazz in a musical sense is in a great place. There are many
great creative artists everywhere pushing the music forward. The main
thing I would say is hurting jazz right now is that the music is so
widespread, its harder to categorize it. Unless they're a jazzhead,
you can't expect a person who enjoys listening to West African jazz
guitarist Lionel Loueke to also enjoy listening to pianist Brad
Mehldau or Roy Hargrove's RH Factor. They all sound so different, and
the average listener tends to rely on general preconceptions and
labels when dealing with new music. And I started playing trumpet in the band program at my middle school when I was about 13 years old.

CHH: How did you meet Bobby Watson and choose to go to UMKC?

HM: I listened to Bobby Watson on Art Blakey recordings before I ever met him. After I auditioned at UMKC's jazz program, I received a call from him telling me that he really wanted me to go to school there. I was star struck... it was an obvious choice to go to UMKC after that
point. It was definitely the right choice for me and my career.

CHH: Did you listen to Jazz at an early age? Were you a Hip Hop fan?

HM: I didn't listen to jazz seriously until early high school. At that point, I stopped listening to all other kinds of music. Before that I listened to a lot of popular music: Top 40, etc. My favorite artist as a kid, and still is now, was Michael Jackson. I remember asking my parents to buy me MJ cassettes. The only hip hop I listened to at that point were the guys making hits: Jay-Z, Busta, Eminem, Coolio, Dr. Dre, OutKast, etc.

CHH: How did you meet French pianist, Tony Tixier? What's the Jazz culture like in Paris as compared to the United States?

HM: I met Tony Tixier while on tour in Paris back in November of 2010. We ended up playing a performance together through a mutual friend during my stay. The jazz culture in Paris is very European. It has its own style. I liken it to this: There are many American musicians who play salsa music, reggae music, sambas, etc. The samba is a Brazilian style. An American will play it one way, a native Brazilian will play it in another way. Jazz is an American style of music.

CHH: Why did you start doing music tributes especially with Hip Hop?

HM: The group I play with called Diverse started doing tributes for a few reasons. It is our goal to play music that a lot of people can relate, especially younger audiences. We are called a jazz band, so when we play jazz we like to use other modern genres as influences for our original music and choices of covers. There's no better way to be influenced by another style of music than by learning it and playing it. Another reason we started doing tributes is to collaborate and
build relationships with other musicians, singers and emcees. Also, playing these tributes helps us build an audience and makes people aware of us.

CHH: Were you aware of Kansas City rappers such as Reach before you started collaborating with them?

HM: I was only aware of a few rappers in Kansas City when I started venturing into the local hip hop scene. Diallo French, who used to work at Streetside Records, hipped me to Reach. I went out and started watching him perform as much as I could. Since then we've performed together on a regular basis, are good friends and are starting projects together.

CHH: How did Diverse form?

HM: Diverse started as a quartet at UMKC, as an independent group that ventured out and took initiatives on its own. We started with a vision and had goals with the type of music we wanted to do, and still continue to pursue our mission to this day. Diverse still has a jazz project of original music that we are moving along, but we have also started a big project of original music with some great artists from around Kansas City.

CHH: How did you meet Les Izmore?

HM: I met Les Izmore at Mark Lowrey's first "Mark Lowrey Vs. Hip Hop" show in early 2010. I was blown away by his musicality as an emcee, and immediately had the idea of collaborating with him. I remember asking him that night if he liked Common; I had been listening to Like Water for Chocolat e for weeks nonstop. he replied that Common was one of his favorite emcees. In March of 2010 we ended up doing our first tribute show to Like Water For Chocolate.

Riv Locc - Interview with Middle of the Map

2011-07-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

Appetite for Destruction out now.

Steddy P - Not Hearing You

2011-07-12T10:48:00.001-07:00

The second No Days Off 2 leak, full album coming next week.

Mac Lethal - Happy To Be Living

2011-07-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

KM, Mazkefuma, Yung Scar, & NGU - Asiendo Dinero Remix

2011-07-09T14:47:00.000-07:00

Ready Para El Mundo coming soon.

Les Izmore & D/Will - Plankingonthesehoes

2011-07-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

Via Demencha.

Steddy P - Live Your Life

2011-07-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

Steddy P - Live Your Life - No Days Off 2 by indyground

Riv Locc - Time & Place (Video)

2011-07-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Appetite For Destruction out now.

CES Cru - Changes (Video Trailer)

2011-07-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

Video coming July 14.

Shoboat - Live By The Gun (Video)

2011-07-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

Newest video from Cleveland's finest.

Top 10 Kansas City Hip Hop Albums of 2011 So Far

2011-07-01T08:55:00.000-07:00

1. Skiem Hiem - Iron Vacation
2. Ron Ron - Ron DMC
3. Mac Lethal - North Korean BBQ
4. JKR70 Presents Clay Hughes - The Whether Machine
5. KO Streetz - Armageddon
6. The Popper - For Tha Mo
7. Steddy P - What Happened Tomorrow
8. Rondoe - Mobbin
9. Middle of Map - Kush Groove Compilation
10. Rich the Factor & Boy Big - Boss Music

Honorable Mentions:
Dinero Fazil - Mi Vida Escrita En Papeles
Yung Scar - The Heartland Hustler
Nesto the Owner - Manimal

Bird of Block Life Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

2011-07-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

KANSAS CITY (KCTV) -

Late Thursday night, a jury found Dandrae "Birds" Jones, a KC rap artist, guilty of conspiring to distribute massive quantities of cocaine.

Jones represented local hip hop artists and owns the company Block Life Entertainment.

He allegedly worked with a Mexican drug cartel to distribute hundreds of kilos and millions of dollars worth of cocaine in Kansas City.

After all evidence was presented, the jury deliberated for close to eight hours before returning the guilty verdict and ending a trial that began Monday.

If convicted, Jones faces 10 years to life in federal prison without parole.

Sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later date.

Baygreen & Sleepy D - Take It As A Warning (Video)

2011-06-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Jay Rock & Kendrick Lamar - Hood Gone Love It (Video)

2011-06-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

Follow Me Home coming July 26.

Jay Rock's interview with KC's own Brooklyn Martino.

Gee Watts & Lesane Hooks Jr. - Tupac Back Freestyle

2011-06-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

The Kansas City rapper's tribute to Pac.

Fatboy Chubb, J-Young, & Magastee - Get Money, Get Money (Video)

2011-06-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

Brand new video from Mob Connected. From the Shooting Range Part 3.

Cash Image, G Money & The Popper - Round Here (Video)

2011-06-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

From Cash Image's upcoming album, Money Bags 2. Directed by Underground Appeal.

Mac Lethal - Vodka Tonic with a Lime

2011-06-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

Produced by Seven, available for stream on Sound Cloud, along with other songs from the upcoming Peanut Butter Banana Mixtape.

Stik Figa, D/Will, Reggie B & the Solution, & Barbaric Merits live at the Riot Room June 24

2011-06-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

Del the Funky Homospapien, Bukue One, Vertigone, Sephiroth, Trystyl, & DJ Zach Hendrix - Live at the Riot Room June 25th

2011-06-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

Via Demencha

E-Da-P, Tra-Z, & Ron Ron - Stop Fakin

2011-06-14T15:59:00.000-07:00

From the 11th & 3rd Letter.

JL of B.Hood & EJ - Slow Jam

2011-06-14T15:53:00.000-07:00

The Midwest chopper's latest song.
JL of B.Hood - Slow Jam Ft. EJ by FullEffectMusicGroup

Buzilla - One Blocc (Video)

2011-06-13T15:58:00.001-07:00

Blue Chippa - Ruck Fadio Commercial

2011-06-13T15:56:00.000-07:00

Get the EP here.

Buzilla - All Gas No Breaks (Video)

2011-06-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

The latest video from one of Topeka's many talented up and coming rappers.

DSK/Masonary Click & Yung Scar - You Can't See Me (Video)

2011-06-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

Directed by DJ Loon. From the Still Breathin mixtape.

Irv da Phenom & Mac Lethal - Moment 4 Life (Video)

2011-06-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

Dream Big. Hustle Hard. available now. Directed by Underground Appeal.

Rich the Factor's many travels

2011-06-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Putting KC on the map.

James Christos & Melissa Ramsey - Revolt (Off The Wall)

2011-06-08T17:30:00.000-07:00

James Christos' latest single, available on iTunes.
<a href="http://jameschristos.bandcamp.com/track/revolt-off-the-wall">Revolt (Off The Wall) by James Christos</a>

Les Izmore & D/Will - Swagger Killer II

2011-06-08T16:42:00.000-07:00

Heartfelt Anarchy coming soon.

Gee Watts - #HiiiPower Freestyle

2011-06-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

Follow Gee Watts on Twitter.

Steddy P & DJ Mahf Open for Raekwon in St. Louis

2011-06-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

Live at the Firebird.

The Popper, Tech N9ne, Ron Ron, Donta Slusha, & Bobb'e J Thomspon - For Tha MO (Live at the Midland)

2011-06-07T16:25:00.000-07:00

For Tha Mo out now.

Nesto the Owner - When You See Me (Radio Edit)

2011-06-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

WHEN YOU SEE ME (Radio Edit) by Nestotheowner

Irv da Phenom & Mac Lethal - Moment 4 Life

2011-06-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

Yung Scar - Grittin Hustlin (Video)

2011-06-07T15:59:00.000-07:00

The Heartland Hustler in stores now. Directed by DJ Loon.

Beama, JL (of BHood), & Big Ben - Street Session (Video)

2011-06-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

Growing Pains coming soon. Directed by DJ Loon.

C.D.F. & Rare Breed - I'm The One You Need To Ask (Video)

2011-06-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

Filmed by DJ Loon.

CES Cru & Mac Lethal - Guntitled (Video)

2011-06-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

From, The Playground, out now.

Ko Streetz - Go Girl (Video)

2011-06-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

Industry Lockdown coming soon. Armageddon in stores now.

The Jacka, Freeway, & Fed-X - So Many Animals

2011-03-26T12:30:00.001-07:00

Beeda Weeda & Ronald Mack - Slide

2011-03-26T12:23:00.001-07:00

Wiz Kidz - Caked Up (Video)

2011-03-26T12:17:00.000-07:00

Cameos by Skiem, Rondoe, Irv Da Phenom, Bre the 1st Lady, Infinity, Nesto the Owner, Sav, Majestee, R.O.B., Greg Enemy, KD, G Money Da Boss.

Fatboy Chubb - Definition of Hustle (Free Mixtape)

2011-02-27T14:14:00.000-08:00

Available for download on Mob Connected Online Store.

Humpasaur Jones - Exclusive Interview & MP3

2011-02-27T12:42:00.000-08:00

CHH: Where do you come from?

HJ: I am a hick/hippie hybrid from the backwoods of Vermont. It’s called the Northeast Kingdom and it’s basically Vermontistan - most folks think we’re part of the United States, but that’s only a complicated scam to keep those Federal Reserve checks coming in. I grew up surrounded by
insanely talented musicians and artists and thought that was totally normal. I started out rapping in fifth grade when I wrote a truly evil diss track to a handicapped kid in our class. You could say it was my Grind Time phase, I was always ahead of the curve like that. Since then, I’ve hopefully grown up a bit. I owe a lot to my friend Dave Pransky, who took me on tour and introduced me to inspirational people around the country and showed me how much work and preparation being a professional musician really is. As cool as Vermont is, I learned a hell of a lot more after I left.

CHH: What are you currently working on? What's available now?

HJ: Back in 2007, I did an album called Keep it Moist and it’s been nothing but a steady stream of remixes and singles since then. I’ve been working on about a dozen projects at once for three years and they’ll pretty much all be done at once this summer. My main project is a proper full length real deal debut album, Pure Fu**ing Love, but that will probably drop in the Fall, we have tons of side projects, collaborations, and EPs lined up to keep making noise all year. Currently, the biggest focus has been getting a team together to execute and promote all this, and getting prepped for music videos because that’s the most important step I haven’t taken yet. I’m also recording for a project with Louis Mackey, called No Humans Allowed, that’s basically an album-length diss track to the human species. I can’t wait to release it because I have no idea how it will go over...but I think it will find the right people.

CHH: Why did you choose the name Humpasaur Jones?
HJ: It was from an ancient joke track I did for Bananamal, a super-weird, drugged-out collective from Gary, Indiana. Somehow, that joke has grown into a career. I still don’t even know if their guru, DJ Squid, is kidding or not but he could be David Koresh material. Obviously, when Shock G dropped “Humpty Dance” that had a profound effect on my 9 year old brain. I think that was the same summer that I got my 2 Live Crew and NWA tapes, and I was listening to Guns N' Roses then, too, and suspected that Axl Rose wanted to be a rapper. Cadence is the weapon. I’ve always made music under a lot of different names, but I’m sticking with Hump Jones for awhile because it’s fun. It translates way better to live shows because sex music is party music.

CHH: Who or what is your music inspired by?

HJ: Women. Women are the best thing in the Universe, anywhere, ever. When I hear rappers talk about rapping for reasons other than women, it baffles me. My generation really needs to get their priorities straight.

CHH: Why is your upcoming EP called Breakup Music? What inspired that title?

HJ: I know every rapper says this nowadays, but it was inspired by a Joni Mitchell song, Both Sides Now. I already had a track called Breakup Music done, but I thought it was too sneering, too cruel. People still need that, of course, but I wanted to balance it out. So I kept getting
more and more material flowing, hitting this universal theme of Love, Ending, and it evolved into a dope EP. Then, I suddenly and predictably found myself single at the beginning of this year. At the same time, a couple rappers I really respect heard the EPmaterial and wanted to get on board, so it’s evolved into an album and we’ll be recording it all in March. Breakup Music is really a love letter, though, it’s not some morbid emo navelgazing sh*t. I’m trying to emphasize the growth, the change, the positive aspects of these horrible phases we all have to go through. It’s definitely the most complex album I’ve done so far.

CHH: How did you get into music?

HJ: My Dad, definitely. He doesn’t play any instruments, but he’s into music like few people I’ve ever known. We used to try and call song titles off the first bar when something came on the radio, so doing that since I could talk, I think I hear music differently than most folks. The second I realized that regular people were making all this beautiful noise with their hands, there’s nothing else I’ve cared about much aside from music. Like, to the point of sociopathy. Today, I’ve toured as a bassist and I love to play guitar, but rapping is my dream job. Looking back, I was doomed from a young age.

CHH: What producers are you currently working with?

HJ: I’m lucky to be in the middle of a whole collective of producers who aren’t on a national level yet and we’ve got the spacetime to create some really hungry material. Through World Around, I work with Dr. Quandary, Louis Mackey, Daimyo! and DJ Multiple Sex Partners. I’m also working on some left-field conceptual stuff with Naturetone, a Swiss producer who
found us by completely destroying a 4 song remix contest we did two years back. We figured it would be an opportunity to spotlight 4 different people but this guy just had no mercy. I’m a fan. Outside of that, I’m working on beats from Ronnie Raygun, who produced the Alaskan Fishermen album, E-Train from the legendary San Fran demolition crew The Loyalists, and a very fresh cat from back home in Vermont by the name of Face One, who’s your typical rapper-poet-producer Sufi type.
CHH: What have you been listening to lately?
HJ: Doesn’t it drive you insane when cats complain about hip hop? There is so much talent out right now, it’s extremely humbling. Aside from obvious names like Elzhi or Crooked I, I’m digging Malcolm & Martin, Signif, The ILLZ, Silent Knight, Witness, Dom Kennedy, Savant, Invincible, Che Grand, and I’ve been tripping out over how fast YC the Cynic and Jon Hope have evolved. My all time favorite rappers nobody respects enough are Motion Man, Godforbid and Sir Menelik Scaramanga Shallah. It’s not hip hop, but check out Toubab Krewe. Their second album is just completely insane, it’s like nothing else on the planet right now.
That’s my number one recommendation for all Earth humans.

Grieves & Budo - Pack It Up (Video)

2011-02-20T12:04:00.000-08:00

Download the song here.

CB: We Run KC Interview

2011-02-19T12:27:00.001-08:00

Ron Ron: We Run KC Interview

2011-02-19T12:23:00.000-08:00

The Popper: We Run KC Interview

2011-02-19T12:22:00.000-08:00

Via Demencha.

Stevie Joe & Philthy Rich - Mobbin (Video)

2011-02-19T12:20:00.000-08:00

Ko Streetz - Betty Crocker (Video)

2011-02-19T12:14:00.000-08:00

Directed by DJ Loon.

Philthy Rich, Lil Blood & HD - Oakland California (Video)

2011-02-19T12:08:00.001-08:00

Dinero Fazil Interview with KC Gente Magazine

2011-02-19T12:03:00.001-08:00

The Saurus Vs. Mac Lethal

2011-02-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

Philthy Rich- Speak'n On The Kid (Video)

2011-02-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

T4L in stores now.

Riv Locc & Ron Ron - Eighteen Seven

2011-01-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

Exigent Circumstances in stores now.

Les Izmore - What It IZ!?! Episode 4

2011-01-11T15:57:00.000-08:00

JL - 6 Foot 7 Foot & Time

2011-01-11T11:19:00.000-08:00

Irv Da Phenom - Toyotamode (Video)

2011-01-11T11:09:00.000-08:00

Dream Big. Hustle Hard. coming soon.

Dinero Fazil - Mi Vida Escrita En Papeles (Video)

2011-01-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

The Jacka - Snow Covered Hands

2011-01-02T16:25:00.000-08:00

Also, an exclusive untitled track with Freeway was released.

Mon EG & Masspike Miles - How We Ride (Video)

2011-01-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

MilkDrop - You Still Say

2011-01-01T21:44:00.000-08:00

Free

Top 20 Kansas City Hip Hop Albums of 2010

2010-12-31T16:58:00.000-08:00

1. Johnny Quest & Dutch Newman - The Lonely Hearts Club
2. Human Cropcircles - Project Lucid
3. Beama - Papuh Uh Plastik
4. James Christos - Enigmatic
5. LA France - Ooh La La
6. Lil Joe - High School Dropout
7. Rush Borda - It's Bananas to a G'Rilla
8. Mac Lethal - The Love Potion Collection 6
9. J-Young - Back 4 The Haters
10. Fatboy Chubb - F**k The World I'm Larger Than Life
11. Stik Figa & D/Will - Alive & Well
12. Rondoe - Authentic
13. Nesto The Owner - Career Killer 2
14. Mad Marlon - SPACESHIPS
15. Sneakk Pusha - Hood Approved
16. Boy Big - The Birth of Dank Sinatra
17. Sliccs Gotcha - Bringin The 90's Back
18. JP (Tha Mex) - In My City
19. J-Diggs & Rich the Factor - Street Ballin Vol. 2
20. Bo Dozier - The Lost Files

Skiem Hiem Boy Big, Ron Ron, & Big Ham - Game I Got

2010-12-28T17:39:00.000-08:00

Steddy P - Sharks in the Water (Video)

2010-12-22T09:22:00.001-08:00

No Days Off EP out now.

Stik Figa - Barrio Kart (Video)

2010-12-20T17:59:00.000-08:00

The Popper, Mon EG & 100 Spokes - Killa City (Video)

2010-11-14T08:08:00.000-08:00

Via Demencha, Popper's newest video with his trimmer self.

Mad Marlon - Exclusive Interview

2010-11-13T19:46:00.000-08:00

CHH: What was it like growing up in Wyandotte County? What rappers did you grow up listening to? Were there any KCK rappers to emulate?

MM: Growing up in Wyandotte was like any other small city town; your basic African-American things: gangs, school, and rap music. I spent lots of time in and out of youth centers and boys homes. With no father present, I turned to the local neighborhood gang for support and guidance. Growing up in the Midwest in the 90's, me and my friends was listening to mostly westcoast music with some eastcoast and downsouth sprinkled in there. You had NWA, Too $hort, E40, Ice T, Geto Boys, EPMD, Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, The D.O.C. As far as local hip hop, Richard Baker AKA Ric-Hard, my older cousin is who I looked up to. But there were other local rappers like The Heavyweights.

CHH: What caused your group, the Weirdos, demise?

MM: The Weirdoes never came to a demise ever. It was a mature parting of the ways, change of location for us. My best friend and rap partner moved to Dallas, TX and I remained in Kansas City. From there on it was just obvious that our solo careers were next. No demise my dude, no break outs. we just mutated into solo artists.

CHH: Who do you think has the KCK hip hop crown? What up and coming local rappers are you excited about?

MM: KCK, just look at the history, consistence, track record, look at who made it cool to say I'm from Kansas. When I put out my first album there was no one in KCK reppin KCK, screaming KCK, sayin KCK on record. I feel me and my group, The Weirdoes are solely responsible for making it cool to say I'm from KCK, Crimedotte, Rhymedotte, 913. These are all terms we popularized. You can check the history books of KCK music. What local artists I'm excited about is Dem Dotte Boyz.

CHH: What projects do you have out now? Where can you get them?

MM: Right now I'm promoting my new experiment or album S.P.A.C.E.S.H.I.P.S and my mixtape trilology: Mixtape Gods Vol. 1, 2, and 3 all available on my website. Spaceships will be on record shelves this New Year along with a DVD.

CHH: Why did you choose the rap name Mad Marlon?

MM: I didn't choose the name Mad Marlon. It chose me. My moms was so mean and angry when I was in her womb, that that angry passed down to me leaving me with my world famous frownface. Growing up teachers always asked me why I looked so mad. It only made sense for m3 to become Mad Marlon.

Ron Ron, Mon EG, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, & Yo Gotti - Bang Yo City (Remix)

2010-11-13T19:37:00.000-08:00

Andre Nickatina & The Jacka - My Middle Name Is Crime (Video)

2010-11-13T19:33:00.000-08:00

Album in stores December 14.

Irv Da Phenom, Cash Image, & B Double E - Red & Yellow (Video)

2010-11-10T19:29:00.000-08:00

Signif - What Matters

2010-11-10T18:55:00.000-08:00

Free

Berner, Yukmouth, Cozmo, & The Outlawz - Rubberband Stacks

2010-11-03T15:23:00.000-07:00

Another White Album leak. Via Thizzler.