INDIANAPOLIS, IN:
Fat Bastard and Big Tuck came to Don Victors and shut the club down on a weekday night. DJ Geno power-promoted The Thanksgiving Jam Comedy Show. B.G. performed at Club Industry on Black Friday. Dragged Up Music LLC is gearing up for the 10 year anniversary and is looking forward to keeping Naptown up to date with Project Pat, Dragged Up, Swishahouse, Zoe, Boosie, Free Gucci, OJ Da Juice in every CD player throughout the city. Will at MidwestStreetRyders.com just released the Midwest Street Ryders Vol. 4 DVD. The release party hosted by DJ Black was off the hook. - DJ Black (djblackhcp@tmail.com)
JACKSON, MS:
Young Jeezy, Lil Boosie, Murphy Lee, and Pleasure P all hit the city this month with Tambra Cherie and DJ Finesse hosting the concert. Stax had another sell-out afterparty. A new artist by the name of Goobie has the streets buzzing. For all your entertainment news, gossip, and anything else worth knowing about, check out www.tambracherie.blogspot.com. 1Life1Love CTE artist Boo is getting better by the day after his car accident. - Tambra Cherie (TambraCherie@aol.com) & Stax (blockwear@tmo.blackberry.net)
JACKSONVILLE, FL: The Duval Diamond Awards went down in red carpet fashion. Bigga Rankin held it down all night along with T-Roy from 93.3 the Beat and Ms. Dynasty (pictured at left), giving out over dozens of awards to Jacksonville’s hardest grinders, and hustlers from all over who support Jacksonville. On a political note, McCain won the Jacksonville vote, but we all know the whole nation wanted to vote for Obama right? Congratulations to Barack, and tell the police to stop harassing those guys stealing McCain/Palin signs, they were just “picking up the trash.” - Lil Rudy (LilRudyRu@yahoo.com)
LAS VEGAS, NV:
Usher, Jazmine Sullivan, and Bobby Valentino brought some R&B soul right in time for cupcake season. E-40 held his Ball Street Journal record release party at Poetry Nightclub. Neffie had a celebrity-filled birthday party at Planet Asia. John Legend, Wu Tang, and Anthony Hamilton will be at House of Blues. Mike Epps will also host a comedy show at The Orleans. Magic was emptier than usual thanks to the recession. - Portia Jackson (PortiaJ@sprint.blackberry.net)
LOUISVILLE, KY:
Heavy Hitter DJ EFeezy had his 2nd annual birthday bash at The Gillispie where DJ Q rocked the 1s and 2s. Speaking of Feezy, he and a local rapper have been beefing for months. After da Show hosted a successful town hall meeting on the state of Hip Hop in KY. Thanks T-Made. Tony Neal of the CORE DJs stopped by B96.5 to talk dos and don’ts to artists, and how you should/shouldn’t approach DJs. D Mawl, KD, and Nova have been added to radio rotation. I can’t forget to mention Trey Songz who came through. - Divine Da Liaison (OuttaDaShopEnt@hotmail.com)
MEMPHIS, TN:
Slowly but surely Playa Fly is releasing new singles and is gaining much respect with fans and radio stations here in the mid-south. Be on the lookout for the newest single “Great Night” produced by Zaytoven and a new mixtape in January ‘09. Lord Infamous and Koopsta Nicca both speak out separately on Memphisrap.com about new management, new labels, Three 6 Mafia rumors, and upcoming projects. Young Memphis is creating a buzz in the streets with his new album ‘Bout That Time. With this title I’m sure he’s referring to fame; he’s on his way folks. - Deanna Brown (Deanna.Brown@MemphisRap.com)
MONTGOMERY, AL:
The streets are still buzzing about the Maxximum Exposure Conference and Award show held at Boomerangs. Everybody that won is happy but the ones that didn’t are having fits. Napalm Da Bomb won two awards. Grade A, DJ Frank, Michael London, DJ Swift, D.B.F., Zeus Entertainment, and everyone else gets props for their grind and hustle. It was supposed to be hosted by DJ Aaries and Jacki-O, but Jacki pulled a disappearing act after receiving the remainder of the balance. Damn, is she really that broke? Gorilla Zoe held it down at Boomerangs for Pimp’s birthday. - Hot Girl Maxximum (Maxximummp3@gmail.com)
NASHVILLE, TN:
First and foremost we must give a moment of silence for Manny. SoCashville.com and Total Package Show have hooked up to bring something new to the scene, just wait and see. Count Bass-D released L7 and the Underground Kings DVD is set to release Underground Queens DVD featuring women in the South who make it happen. DJ C-Lo teams up with Phat Kaps to give out turkeys and toys during the holidays (way to make it happen) and Lovenoise brought Anthony Hamilton to town for a sold out show. - Janiro (Janiro@southernentawards.com)
PHOENIX, AZ:
Phoenix welcomed Yung Berg, David Banner and Phoenix’s own Willy Northpole to the Celebrity Theatre. David Banner stole the show and Willy Northpole’s performance with an army of steppers and crumpers was official. The city is rallying behind our hometown favorites HMF’s Bombay and Tajji Sharp, who both have scheduled releases in the next few months. Sharp is a protégé and close friend of Kanye West. His album is sure to be a different sound for the city. NBA All Star weekend came to the Valley of the Sun. - Jasmine Crowe (jasmine@mystjazz.com)
PITTSBURGH, PA:
Even though Steeler football took over the city, Pittsburgh’s nightlife and artists continue to expand. DJ Drama came through twice to kick it and southern style DJ Jelly brought the south to the north for one night. Biz Markie made his way through to rock the mic and Steeler Willie Parker threw a party to remember. Poparazzi is still taking all of the pictures and Moola Gang, Sledgren, and F Block Records are making a lot of noise. - Lola Sims (lolasims@gmail.com)
ST. LOUIS, MO:
Ray Goss and DerrtyBoi Montana did interviews for www.mvremix.com. T Babe is selling her OOHWEE bottled water out of 9 clubs in the area. Raw Reese is dropping his new album Street Credit 1.5. Craig Black had Ludacris come through on his Renegade Riverfront Radio show. Jus Bleezy has been touring and giving out turkeys to the needy. Hakeem Da Dream was blessed with an article in OZONE’s Patiently Waiting issue. Unladylike celebrated their new Def Jam deal by partying at Club Casino. They were recently on BET’s Wild Out Wednesdays and their new Scummy Dummy will be wang’n out a radio near you soon. - Jesse James (JesseJames314@aol.com)
TAMPA, FL:
Once again WILD 98.7 Fm took over Tropicana Field for the Last Damn Show 10, with performances by Tom G, Gym Class Heroes, The Game, T-Pain, Tay-Dizm, E-40, and others. Derrick “Holly Grove” Hargrove (cast member from 50 Cent’s The Money and The Power reality show), hosted a VIP birthday bash at Club 301. Brooklyn Zu/ Wu-Tang affiliate, Silkski, debuted his single “Sista Love” featuring Cappadonna on “The Hip-Hawk Hour”. Jojo Pellegrino, DJ Spank (France) and Lounga Lo (Wu-Tang affiliate), also stopped by “The Hip-Hawk Hour” to promote their “Staten to Stardom” Tour appearance at Ritz Ybor. - Slick Worthington (SlickWorthi813@gmail.com)
WASHINGTON, DC:
Dre “All Day in the Paint” hosts an open mic every Tuesday at The Legend nightclub. He recently brought Houston rap legend Scarface to perform. Tae Barz won “Wild-Out Wednesday” on BET’s 106th & Park. Local artist and producer, Jamil “Face” Johnson, created a tribute song for fallen Redskin Sean Taylor on the one year anniversary of his death. The song “Every Given Sunday” features Wale, Kingpin Slim, and Miss Kim from Rare Essence. Raheem DeVaughn and Lil Mama were at the Go-Go awards presented by WPGC and the Peaceaholics. The event went off without any drama and Chuck Brown was inducted into the Go-Go Hall of Fame. - Sid “DCSuperSid” Thomas (dcsupersid@aol.com)
OZONE MAG // 15