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Killer Mike brings the truth

Friday, February 1st, 2008

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These days, with an ascendant progressive hip-hop scene on the horizon, everyone’s talking about Dungeon Family and OutKast again. (Like we ever stopped.) It’s important to remember, though, that while OutKast, Goodie Mob and Organized Noize blew up, most of the crew never really had much success, at least from a sales standpoint. Some will argue that classic yet underperforming singles such as Cool Breeze’s “Watch for the Hook” are all the success you need. Yes, they may be godhead in Atlanta, but to the rest of the world they’re almost famous.

Tonight, prodigal son Killer Mike has a big show at Django, and he’ll perform with Gripplyaz, one of those hotly tipped leaders of the new school. Both will be backed by Atlanta go-go group the X.O. Band. To mark the occasion, here’s a quote from a recent Killer Mike interview with HipHopDx.com that addresses Dungeon Family’s complicated legacy.

Dungeon Family fans got the shit end of the stick for over 10 years. They’ve seen their heroes like Witchdoctor, like Cool Breeze, like Backbone, like Slimm Calhoun, slip into the abyss. They have seen factionalization, they’ve seen disenfranchisement, they’ve seen everything except a glorious comeback. And the fans deserve that.

New hip-hop in Atlanta, and it’s not snap, krunk or Outkast?!?

Monday, January 28th, 2008

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HIP TO BE WEIRD: Hollyweerd

(Photo by Hannibal M.)

It may sound reminiscent of OutKast, but Hollyweerd is definitely unique, and the group is creating a huge buzz in the Atlanta underground hip-hip world.

The group has just been added to the list of artists competing for Urb magazine’s “Next 100″ list of 2008. Urb.com says:

“The great thing about Holly Weerd is that they have the perfect balance of familiarity and expansion. There spaceship travels upon breathing synth melodies and staple drum patterns have gotten them much love on local radio and an average of three hundred myspace plays a day! Not bad for a group of atliens who don’t even belong to a label.”

You can check them out with Yelawolf, Rita J, Fiona Simone, Gripplyaz, and DJ Mafioso at the Drunken Unicorn on Saturday, Feb. 2. Doors open at 9 p.m. $5 before 11 p.m., $10 after.

Also, look for Maurice Garland’s story on Hollyweerd to run in next week’s print edition.