How come Baltimore and DC never produced any rappers?

[2Quik4UHoes]

Lack of radio support really hurt DMV rappers. We had DC Home Jams on WPGC, Steph Luva used to let people call & battle her when she was on WKYS in the 90's, local rappers got airplay sometimes on Flavor 1580, and in the early 2000's Flexx & Rayne hosted the Friday night battles on WPGC for local talent. Not too many rappers blew up nationally from those things, but they helped keep the DMV sound pure.
Now, most of the kids who try to rap from here sound like their from somewhere else.

DMV tryna make a mark in the rap game after regionalism was almost completely destroyed is a sad irony. One of the more culturally unique places in Black America can’t fully take advantage of that since the sound in rap has become more homogeneous. I think it’d take a special artist(s) and producer(s) to craft the DC sound and refine it for outside audiences.

Radio never got me excited for the local acts. It took my cousin getting into rap for me to even take notice of the scene in DC. Frfr how it feels around here, you gotta do the kinda shyt Bob and the Wailers did back in Jamaica and straight up bully and beat up DJs to spin your shyt.

Shy Glizzy a south side nikka so sometimes I wondered if on top of having the streets at the time musically, the DJs were more inclined to play his shyt cuz they ain’t want a visit from some nikkaz from 37th....

 

[Rollie Forbes]

Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s yes, but today? Everybody and their mama wanna be a rapper lol

Everybody.

 

[Rollie Forbes]

Shy Glizzy a south side nikka so sometimes I wondered if on top of having the streets at the time musically, the DJs were more inclined to play his shyt cuz they ain’t want a visit from some nikkaz from 37th....

 

[KravenMorehead™]

Bet.
That shoulda been the D.C. sound, imo.

Maybe it’s just because the DMV in general is just too diverse culturally to have one particular sound.

But when I think of DMV and rapping, my thoughts are:

“Time For Freakin’”
E.U. - “Da Butt”
Nonchalant - “5 O’Clock”
B. Rich - “Whoa Now”
the dudes who tried to sue Jay-Z for jackin’ “12 AM on the way to the cluuuuuuub...”
“Laurel had dem BOPPAS BOPPAS BOPPAS BOPPAS”

Rare Essence - Overnight Scenario

 

[Sankofa Alwayz]

Cacs are trying their hardest to kill it, though. It's so nice to hear bands at the protests & marches.

Facts. Post-2010, I’m surprised GoGo has even lasted this long with how much these damn devils have been trynna purge it out. The Spirit World definitely told that young breh from Mo County to create the Moechella movement GoGo been slowly getting a strong resurgence ever since.

 

[BigMan]

Gogo and club music

dc and Maryland is full of some of the biggest haters you will find

 

[Sankofa Alwayz]

Rare Essence - Overnight Scenario

My most favorite old school GoGo joint, shyt was the first GoGo song that I became fully conscious of I remember when I was in 1st grade attending William Beanes out in Suitland and on the bus ride to and from school, the kids would always sing Overnight Scenario banging on the bus seats and windows We were so serious doing it too lmao, this was literally a year or two after the song dropped. Even though I was jhi young, living through the peak of GoGo’s first golden age was a sight to behold

 

[KravenMorehead™]

My most favorite old school GoGo joint, shyt was the first GoGo song that I became fully conscious of I remember when I was in 1st grade attending William Beanes out in Suitland and on the bus ride to and from school, the kids would always sing Overnight Scenario banging on the bus seats and windows We were so serious doing it too lmao, this was literally a year or two after the song dropped. Even though I was jhi young, living through the peak of GoGo’s first golden age was a sight to behold

that joint stayed on the radio every 9 pm

UCB - Sexy Lady is my GOAT. I miss those days...

 

[Rollie Forbes]

My most favorite old school GoGo joint, shyt was the first GoGo song that I became fully conscious of I remember when I was in 1st grade attending William Beanes out in Suitland and on the bus ride to and from school, the kids would always sing Overnight Scenario banging on the bus seats and windows We were so serious doing it too lmao, this was literally a year or two after the song dropped. Even though I was jhi young, living through the peak of GoGo’s first golden age was a sight to behold

Huh man! There was something special about having a band, or copping that new Backyard tape at P.A. Palace, or booking a pretty honey at Crystal Skate. I miss the culture.

 

[Wild self]

Cause DMV always had the reputation of a lot of middle class blacks and HBCUs. Especially educated black folk making $$$ in government.

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

Cause DMV always had the reputation of a lot of middle class blacks and HBCUs. Especially educated black folk making $$$ in government.

Uhhh, DC is one of the most violent cities in America breh. The gentrification just made it look nicer. Even in their neighborhoods you could still get caught slippin at night. PG is also a half half situation. It’s either middle class/well off or it’s hood as shyt. It’s also slightly country cuz of the farmlands to the East but that’s neither here nor there.

But yeah, DC definitely at that sweet. BMore is even more gutta.

 

[Cadillac]

Ain’t King Los from Baltimore. And ain’t Wale from DC?

this

plus from dc you have oddisee, Goldlink, and a few others

didn't Tupac spend his teenage years in Baltimore?

yeah, but pac is a Oakland rapper and claimed Oakland in his last days. He is no baltimore rapper

 

[Cadillac]

Damn...Phil Ade getting no love up in here. Didn't get the right push but his output of mixtapes/albums were tight.

shyt i had him on the tip of my tongue on my intitial post but i forgot it. but yeah hes in this to and is dope

dc got a nice array of raps from Wale, Oddisee, grizzly, etc.

you could throw in Brent Faiyaz in terms of music in general but hes from Columbia so idk if he counts or if thats part of the DC metro or whatever.

 

[BigMan]

DC and Baltimore are HISTORICALLY the Upper South. IDK why people keep tryna change this reality

You're correct but i recently had this convo with some friends who are all born and raised in DC or PG and they fought me tooth and nail saying they weren't Southern.

 

[Wild self]

Uhhh, DC is one of the most violent cities in America breh. The gentrification just made it look nicer. Even in their neighborhoods you could still get caught slippin at night. PG is also a half half situation. It’s either middle class/well off or it’s hood as shyt. It’s also slightly country cuz of the farmlands to the East but that’s neither here nor there.

But yeah, DC definitely at that sweet. BMore is even more gutta.

Unless you came from the DMV, heads think that the area is soft because of a lot of blacks with good paying jobs. I live in,NY and I been telling people that DC got gutter areas, but people think that I was joking until they see it for themselves.