December's Diamond in the Rough

Quiet as kept there's actually an open mic in da DMV where all da people in da audience aren't all waiting 2 perform next...LMAO!!! Dis joint is like da real life DC version of dat scene in 8 Mile!!! We ain't too big in DC, MD, & VA on da whole battle rap scene but we very big on our local GoGo scene!!! Da www.theuauopenmic.com goes down every Tuesday @ 9pm for only a measly $5 dollars!!! It's hosted by a DMV rap group called Godsilla & da house band is none other than da Mambo Sauce Band!!! When U come 2 dis joint make sure U leave all U're CD's in da crib but also make sure dat U don't forget 2 bring U're A game out da house wit U...LOL!!! If U got talent & need an outlet (besides da web), try'n 2 make sales & fans, or even if U're just looking 2 have a good time...dis is da place 2 be REAL TALK!!!

November's Diamond in the Rough

Any other day I would've peeped a DMV video on VladTv but da day they uploaded dis was da same day they deleted my twitter joint & dis blog 4 promote'n our 1st Indulj show wit my F.A.M. E One Letter & Epitome too much...SMH!!! Needless 2 say I wasn't fuck'n wit da web at dat time...LOL!!! At 1st I was gonna post "Attention Deficit" dis month but I said...nah!!! Then I thought re-post E's "Now Or Never" joint but I said...nah!!! I was searching Vlad today & stumbled upon dis joint!!! Wholetime my cousin Zo seen me watching it on PS3 & said he recognized Paypa Boy & he bought E's CD so dat sealed it...LMAO!!! Dis joint ain't been on no other blogs in da DMV dat I done seen at least so I decided to make it dis month's diamond in the rough. It don't hurt dat da song crank & dat da video vicious either...LOL!!!

October's Diamond In The Rough

Some local DMV rappers are gonna be in da Washington Post dis Sunday so instead of picking myself like I had planned...LOL!!! I chose DMV Hip-Hop dis month's Diamond in da rough!!! Our home grown GoGo music has overshadowed us rappers here in DC, MD, & VA 4 so so long dat 4 a while it was as if we almost didn't even exist outchea...LOL!!! Since I graduated in da year 2000 not only did my family form The F.A.M., De-U Records, & EduBasics dat year but also since dat time it seems like dis area has been making major strides further & further every year since da dawning of dis Century. Hense my lyrics..."If it happens like it's meant 2 be...then DC & PG run dis Century!!!"

Click Here 2 read da Washington Post article...

September's Diamond In The Rough

Zo is da head producer for De-U Records, EduBasics, & The Epitome Band. Zo's music has been featured in The Washington Post, CNBC, WorldStarHipHop.com, BET, VladTV.com, NPR, OnSmash.com, BusinessWeek, Black Enterprise, WPGC 95.5 & WKYS 93.9 just 2 name a few!!! Unlike alot of producers who mimic da latest trends & da others dat search 4 samples 24/7 Zo's a true musician at heart. He produces all styles of music from Hip-Hop, to R&B, Gospel, Reggae, Rock & Roll, GoGo, & last but not least children's educational music...LOL!!! Zo is truely da definition of a DMV diamond in da rough!!!













Click here 2 read about Zo & De-U in The Washington Post...

www.myspace.com/zogotbeats

August's Diamond In The Rough

youtube.com/kingofthegogobeat

Dis month's DMV Diamond in the rough is GoGo!!! After U watch dis movie U out of towners will understand us near da nation's capitol just a lil' bit better. Shout out 2 Chuck brown I met him 4 da 1st time last week & he said he knew about my grandma Shirley Ables!!! Shout out 2 my cousin Zo too his band Epitome was originally formed in 1989...good year!!!

July's Diamond in the Rough

It was only right...lol!!! Seriously thow dis CD fits da definition of a DC "diamond in the rough" in many more ways than just da title similarities. Not too many DC, MD, or VA rappers have managed 2 get over 10,000 downloads...shit a mere 1,000 downloads is really a big accomplishment out here!!! I think dis joint is somewhere past da 15,000 mark right about now so dat says alot since it just dropped dis summer. "Numbers don't lie people do" so stop faking wit U're self & get hip!!! It's a serious movement going on outchea in da district but it's F.R.N.O.!!!

Click here to Download...

February's Diamond in the Rough

Dis is da second installment of De-U.c.e. Double's Diamond in da Rough. Dis is an on goin' monthly blog post dat will feature somethin' special from in or around da diamond district. Dis month I choose Club Pure's open mic mondays. Dis open mic night was hailed in Billboard Magazine as 1 of da premiere locations in da area 2 find quality musicians, poets, & comedians. Club Pure is a place where many local & national artists such as Raheem DeVaughn & Tabi Bonney got their start back when it was know as Bar Nun. A lotta videos have been filmed live from dis club & all around da surrounding U street corridor. If U're not from anywhere in or around our area peep out da pics above & footage below 2 get a feel 4 da average atmosphere dat's in & around open mic mondays @ Club Pure. Videos swindled courtesy of Judah's blog FTDMVO in association wit Jben.ok...enjoy!!!


Tabi Bonney - Rich Kids (Live @ Pure DC) from jben.ok on Vimeo.


Pure DC Open Mic Cypher (1.26.09) from jben.ok on Vimeo.

January's Diamond in the Rough

Dis is a new monthly on going addition 2 my blog dat I'm starting up dis year called diamond in da rough. Dis will always contain someone or something from any time frame that originated from DC, MD, or VA dat I deem fit 2 shine da spotlight upon 4 once a month. Dis month I choose da LP "Mission IsPossible" by da emcee TrueBless. Dis CD includes alot of bonus material such as photos & printed lyrics. ScholarMan's production keeps you thinking of DJ Premier, 9th Wonder, or a J. Dilla track while TrueBless is inspired stylistically & lyrically from emcees like KRS-One, Rakim, Nas, & Common. Most rappers only talk about da streets, but TrueBless raps about his personal feelings & life struggles of losing his mother at an early age & being a father. On "I'm So Thankful" he writes a dedication 2 his mom describing her death & how her passing has affected him mentally. Bless's LP goes deeper than wut alot of new emcees are offering out here now days.



http://www.truebless.com

http://cdbaby.com/cd/truebless