SEA-TAC, WA:
Always giving honor to the OGs…Happy Birthday to Malcolm X (May 19). Look for OG Wojack’s (Criminal Nation fam) new, as-yet untitled, project in Fall 2008. There are also rumors of a new Criminal Nation project. The 206 Zulu Nation is throwing its annual Zulu Jam at the end of May in Seattle. Omari Salisbury’s Definition Wireless is blowin’ up on the business front. Check for Olympia’s Royal Lounge on Fridays rockin’ everything from Al Green to Guns & Roses and Run DMC. - Luvva J (Myspace.com/luvvaj)
PORTLAND, OR:
Portland’s Hi Rollerz Records continue to make a name for themselves via the mixtape game. It’s rumored that they’ve signed Olympia representative and Source Unsigned Hype alumni (Jan. ’08) Slo Poke, a.k.a. SP, and are working with his team The Real Life Click from Lacey, Washington. Lapwai, Idaho’s DJ Tee, known as Native America’s #1 DJ, dropped another gem for the streets just in time for summer with his Native American Idol series. Where are The U-Krew and Nu Shooz? They’re some of Portland’s finest for real. - Luvva J (Myspace.com/luvvaj)
SAN DIEGO, CA:
Fresh off their MTV America’s Best Dance Crew win, The Jabbawockeez are geared up to wreck stages across the country. Z90 preps for a crazy month of shows and is even taking it across the border with Pitbull. Watch ya’self in Tijuana though, don’t want any of that party crowd becoming one of the infamous TJ kidnapping victims. - Ant Wright of Swag, Inc. (Myspace.com/antsandg)
SACRAMENTO, CA: (916)
The Sac Hip Hop scene has been pretty quiet. Everyone seems to be on edge with the big election coming up. Former Phoenix Suns player and Oak Park native KJ is running for mayor - go Kevin Johnson. Good Luck to Doey Rock on his recent release 916 Unified. Pinky’s is the new local Hip Hop venue and Center Court has Grown & Sexy Hip Hop every Friday. If you haven’t been to the Distillery with DJ Epic on Thursday, you’re missing out. - Zay (zaemai@gmail.com)
LOS ANGELES, CA:
We’re seeing a trend for L.A. rappers – if you want to play in the big leagues and your name isn’t Snoop, Cube, Game, or Dre then you better link up with a heavy hitter from the South. Hailing from Watts’ Nickerson Gardens Projects comes Jay Rock with a street banger called “All My Life” featuring Lil Wayne. Also from Watts, Glasses Malone signed to Cash Money and dropped a heater featuring Akon entitled “Certified.” It’s currently killing the Power 106 airwaves. Speaking of KPWR, their #1 DJ Felli Fel signed a production deal with So So Def and released a mega-single that boasts cameos by Kanye, Fabolous, Ne-Yo and JD. - Ant Wright of Swag, Inc. (www.Myspace.com/antsandg)
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:
St Patrick’s Day may be internationally celebrated, but where better to be in the month of March/April than Dublin, Ireland? We took a trip back to the nineties this month with Boyz II Men and Naughty by Nature braving a visit to the land of boozers and brawlers, to be met by stage invasions and heavy hangovers. Rihanna waved her umbrella through the streets of Dublin with a Chris Brown lookalike hiding underneath. Local boy Darren Sutherland boxed his way to the Olympics and Rhapsody was the latest of the recent spate of club closures. - Kev Storrs (kevstorrs@gmail.com)
18 // OZONE MAG
LAS VEGAS, NV:
Las Vegas is known for 24 hour partying and gambling. This month we’re known for music videos. Lil Wayne capitalized on the Vegas lifestyle in his new video “Lollipop.” Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, and Mistah F.A.B. also shot the “Life of the Party” video here. Speaking of Too $hort, his birthday party went down in Vegas. Digital Underground paid a visit to Poetry Nightclub and took it back with the famous “Humpty Dance.” With $hort’s birthday party, Jay-Z and Mary J.’s concert, and Kanye’s Glow in the Dark tour, it’s busy in Sin City. - Portia Jackson (PortiaJ@sprint.blackberry.net)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA:
Producer Cozmo is slowly coming out of the woodworks with bangers for San Quinn, Bun B, and Jody Breeze’s upcoming projects. One thing about Frisco artists is that they stay grinding like Pablo Fetti (The Game Iz Up 4 Grabz), Ya Boy (I’m About to Murder Shit mixtape) and Baily (“Work the Magic”). - Kay Newell (kayozonemag@gmail.com)
COLUMBUS, OH:
Over the last month celebrities such as Fabolous, The Dream, Young Jeezy, Jim Jones, Too $hort, Shawty Lo, Webbie, Lupe Fiasco, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama have made it through the CO. We were fresh to def at Power 107.5’s 10 year anniversary party and it was packed. Our homies Fly Union linked up with mixtape master Mick Boogie for a couple exclusive tracks on his new CDs. ZB and the rest of Hardlife Ent. opened up for Jeezy and Jim Jones. Seen America’s Next Top Model lately? The beautiful girl with the attitude is none other than CO’s own Dominique. - Big Yogi (ImageInq@gmail.com
OAKLAND, CA:
Keak the Sneak’s highly anticipated album Defied (Koch) finally shows signs of life with a new video for “That Go.” Erykah Badu and The Roots performed live at the Paramount Theater. J. Stalin dropped a YouTube video for the street single “Paint the Town” to go along with his latest project Slap Shop Ent’s mixtape Welcome to Da Slap House. Go to mypsace.com/meowmixtapes and check out Mia Meow’s music. She’s feeding listeners a taste of the fast life in the town. Georgia’s first lady of rap Rasheeda flees in from the shawty capitol for a special appearance at Oakland’s Studio 420/Midtown Ballroom. - Kay Newell (kayozonemag@gmail.com)
SAN JOSE, CA:
Alicia Keys performed live for one night only at the HP Pavilion and Kanye was back for a second round with his Glow in the Dark tour. For those that wanna feel like they’re ballin’, shop at Westfield Valley Fair Shopping Center (Louis Vuitton, Macy’s, The Cheesecake Factory, and way more). Wild 94.9 and party DJ Jose Melendez dominate the South Bay, particularly at Taste Ultra Lounge on Tuesdays, Friday, and Saturday nights. If you they won’t let you in, go to Vivid Ultra Lounge for an ultra-sexy crowd and musical mix of Top 40/Hip Hop/Reggaeton. - Kay Newell (kayozonemag@gmail.com)