Crib Notes

WE THE BEST? YEAH, RIGHT.

Atlanta is top dog when it comes to hip hop cities, right? Having definitively vanquished New York, LA, and, um, Houston in recent years, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of debate on this issue. But believe it or not, folks in Miami somehow think they’re the best. DJ Khaled constantly yells out as much at the top of his lungs.

And sure, they’ve got something of a case, what with top-selling MCs like Rick Ross, Plies, T-Pain, Trick Daddy and Flo Rida residing in the general vicinity. Hell, even Lil Wayne lives in Miami Beach these days. A new disc from E-Class and Khaled — the ringleader of the bunch, even if he doesn’t really do much more than invite people to his recording studio and press record — is designed to drive this point home.

Live From the 305 features South Florida folks such as Ace Hood, Trina, Brisco, Trick, Flo and ten tons of other rappers I’ve never heard of. As a regional showcase, it closely resembles Killer Mike’s recent compilation CD, Underground Atlanta, which I liked a lot.

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MOVIN' THE CROWD: Rakim

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM RAKIM’S SHOW

You know the feeling you get when the DJ makes the last call for alcohol?

You know you probably don’t need another Blue Moon, but what the hell? You’re there; you may as well. Same goes for the A3C Festival. With more than enough acts to chose from, attendees staggered from one venue to the next looking for one last shot to keep them properly buzzed until next year.

Though the entire final day was full of joyful hip-hop activity, the most potent shots of the night belonged to Rakim, Mike Bigga (Killer Mike), J. Cole and … Grip Plyaz? (We’ll get to that later).

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HE AIN'T A KILLER, BUT DON'T PUSH HIM

Michael Render, the Atlanta hip-hop artist formerly known as Killer Mike, would now like to be known as Mike Bigga.

The reason for this is, as he explained to AllHipHop.com, “I really feel like I’m bigger than what I have been in the past and I’ve managed to get legendary status from being a raw rap guy in terms of being able to come out of the shadows of the hardships I’ve had.”

That’s not a sentence any English teacher could support, but the decision to remove the “Killer” from his name probably is.

What other rappers should change their name, you ask?

50 Cent
Suggested Change: 55 Cents
Reason: Inflation!

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The title of Killer Mike’s new compilation album featuring local MCs is a little misleading. After all, many of the artists who appear on Underground Atlanta — like recent XXL cover boys OJ da Juiceman, Gucci Mane, Shawty Lo and Soulja Boy — are household rap names who have received plenty of national exposure. Still, the two-disc set is charming and solid all the way through, and features highlights from such lesser-known talents as Rich Kidz (”Bowling”) and Prynce Cyhi (”Don’t Go Outside”), as well as winners from veterans including Pastor Troy and Trillville, whose “I Be Off Dat” recalls the group’s crunk-era glory. Killer Mike pops up periodically, usually to great effect, on such tracks as “N*ggaz Down South (Remix),” which also features T.I. and honorary Atlantan Bun B. A project like this is long overdue, and Mike’s ability to unite this diverse group of folks demonstrates his wide-ranging influence around these parts. (SMC Recordings) 4 stars out of 5

Killer Mike CD signing, Friday Sept. 4, 2009. 6 p.m. DBS Sounds, 6610 Highway 85, Riverdale. 770-997-5776. www.dbssounds.com

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Part of Killer Mike’s Grindtime crew, Pill has created a national buzz for his 4180 mixtape with DJ Burnone over the past few months. Fans can expect more from the west side MC on Killer Mike’s forthcoming Underground Atlanta project. Mixtape artwork and download link after the jump

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Killer Mike has been vocal about distinguishing authentic Atlanta rap from the emerging hipster-hop scene that’s taken root here in recent years. Now, he’s taking it to the recording booth with the scheduled release of a compilation album titled Underground Atlanta.

Due in June ’09, the album will highlight a range of hood-happy and street-certified ATL artists from Gucci Mane to T.I. — who recently signed Mike to Grand Hustle Records.

Underground Atlanta will be released through Killer Mike’s own Grindtime Official imprint via his distribution deal with SRC/Fontana.

He’s quoted in the press release below the jump:

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Since aligning with T.I.’s Grand Hustle label for major distribution via Atlantic, Atlanta rapper Killer Mike has been on his studio grind. Hip-hop writer Maurice Garland recently posted exclusive footage of Mike in the studio with producer No I.D. (Kanye West’s mentor) after the two completed material for Mike’s upcoming release. But don’t expect to hear any music; they’re being real protective.

The video above, from UNN, shows Mike interviewing versatile producer Jim Jonsin (Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop,” T.I.’s “Whatever You Like”), who’ll also contribute production to the album. In the interview, Jonsin says his mother was into R&B and disco and his father was a rock and roll head — which accounts for the hybrid sound he’s been lending to hip-hop via production for such artists as Decatur’s B.O.B.

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Here’s a seasonal list for you.

From Kurtis Blow’s “Christmas Rap” (1980) to Killer Mike & Grind Time’s “A Christmas Grind” (2003), CL contributor Maurice Garland includes all the Christmas gift rap imaginable — and some not so, like Eazy-E’s “Merry Muthaphukkin Christmas” — on Ozone magazine’s list.

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Killer Mike in Kirkwood

KILLER MIKE is a rapper with an agenda, and usually those make for the most focused MCs. In Mike’s case, it makes him one of the best – both in Atlanta and beyond. Representing for the working class, his latest release, I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II, is a precise continuation of the street knowledge he branded on the first installment. Songs such as “Good Bye (City of Dope),” “Pressure” (featuring Ice Cube) and “God in the Building” elevate his standing in hip-hop’s lyrical hierarchy. Killer Kill from Adamsville (as he’s affectionately known) has the storytelling, nonirritating braggadocio and metaphors to make even the most noted lyricist brush up his pen game. www.myspace.com/grindtimeonline. — Jacinta Howard

To view the complete 2008 Best of Atlanta/After Dark critics’ and readers picks, click here.

Photo by Maurice Garland

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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.

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Remember Ghetto Extraordinary, that Killer Mike album that was supposed to come out on Columbia Records in 2005? (This was before Purple Ribbon, beef with Big Boi, etc.) Well, hip-hop site HipHopDX.com is offering the album as a free download. It features beats from Andre 3000 and Three 6 Mafia, and guest shots from 8Ball & MJG, Big Boi and Jagged Edge, among others.

Ghetto Extraordinary serves as an appetizer for the new Killer Mike album, I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind Part. 2, which is due in March. The Southern version of Ice Cube (the Amerikkka’s Most Wanted Cube, not the suburban klutz from Are We There Yet?) signed a deal with SMC last fall, a West Coast label best-known for launching California rappers such as Keak da Sneak and Mistah F.A.B. But for now, thanks to the ever-increasing lawlessness of the Internet, what once would have either sat on EMI’s archive shelves for eternity or sold for $80 at record-collectors conventions is available for everyone to enjoy.

You can download Ghetto Extraordinary here.

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