The Frontline June 2009

NOTES ON THE STATE OF THIRD-COAST HIP-HOP- More and more people are jumping into the rap game strictly to make money, and their albums sound like it. How many more albums are we going to have to endure that brag about the sales and distribution of drugs, that promote violence against others, or disrespect of women, or that introduce some silly, mindless dance, usually sexually explicit? Time is running out for this artform that we love. We call recording musicians "artists" because we assume that what they create is "art". Increasingly, that assumption is naive on our part, because there's nothing artistic about hanging out in the "trap house." Wake up, people!!! THE WAR REPORT- Memphis, Tennessee has been front and center, thanks to MTV's Five Dollar Cover, which follows the careers of a lot of local bands and artists, including Memphis veteran AL KAPONE and his son YOUNG AJ, and the rap/rock/comedy artist MUCK STICKY. KAPONE and AJ, along with their live band, were one of the main sensations at Austin's South By Southwest Music Festival in March, where they were featured on the Memphis Music Foundation stage. Memphis rappers LORD T & ELOISE and FREE SOL were also highly visible at the festival. Memphis has also seen the release of solo albums from DJ PAUL and JUICY J from the THREE-6 MAFIA and YO GOTTI. Albums are on the way from GANGSTA BLAC and MC MACK. Memphis will also for the first time be hosting the Urban Network Summit on June 10-13 at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. Be there!Nashville native ALEX KING has completed his debut album Reincarnated and will release it nationally in June. In Mobile, Alabama, CD and DVD Warehouse has opened a second location in the suburb of Semmes, and the C & M Record Pool is sponsoring a music conference on July 7. Florida's internet radio station Reewine Radio is sponsoring a music conference on June 19-20, with panels and listening sessions on Friday, and a beach party on Saturday. In Georgia, the Southwest Georgia Radio and Music Conference was held in Albany in March, and was a huge success. People came from as far away as New Orleans and Rochester, New York, and there were notable artists there, including the New Orleans veteran KILO. Coinciding with the conference was the announcement of the formation of World South Entertainment, a new Albany label that is preparing to release an album by the artist KNO GOOD. Other albums are out or on the way from GUCCI MANNE, YUNG RALPH, T-ROCK and V-TEC. In Louisiana, Baton Rouge legend C-LOC, who helped launch the careers of BOOSIE, WEBBIE, YOUNG BLEED and MAXMINELLI, has released his latest solo album entitled Scrape The Plate. There is also a new record store in Baton Rouge called Da Sewa Underground Music and More. On August 26-30, 2009, the 13th annual Cutting Edge Music Business Conference will be held at the Westin Canal Place Hotel in New Orleans. Make your plans now to be there, as this will be one of the most important conferences of the year. Greenwood, Mississippi was the scene of a music conference in early May, which was attended by a number of artists from Mississippi and Louisiana, including KILO from New Orleans and Jackson artist RAZEN KANE. Albums are on the way from DONNIE CROSS and SMACKABATCH. In September, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina will again be the location for the Southeast Music and Entertainment Summit (SMES). Call them at (866) 554-2405 to register or get more information, and make your plans now to be there. From Texas, new albums are on the way from JUAN GOTTI, MONEY WATERS and MURDER ONE. Continue to support your local record stores. They are important!