The Hope. Also known as Gang51E June. If you’re really a day one fan then you really know it is pronounced GangTie June. But day one fan or not, what isn’t to be confused is his position as the hottest artist in the state. It’s undeniable that he has the crown. His popularity has only grown during the Pandemic as seen on his YouTube page that shows the millions of views that grow each day, which he was able to create with the help of fellow Tulsa native vidographer King Spencer. Believe me these numbers don’t lie. In an age of artists buying streams Gang51E June has true support and a following that truly shows up to shows as well as supports his albums on social. As soon as the mention of an album drop the social media exploded with reposts of the artist from 51.Now that Gang51E June has truly solidified himself as the hottest artist in the state he’s out to prove that it ain’t over yet. Gang51E June is back with his latest project “This 2 Shall Pass”. This is the follow up project to his album “Preaching from the Projects” that was released in 2020. What’s interesting is that the new album has 19 tracks. A heavy dose in an age of streaming and EPs but then again it’s been two years since Gang51E June has dropped a project. He’s been busy linking with other artists and a nationwide tour with Kevin Gates. He’s reached that next level of fame that reaches far beyond Tulsa. This may leave many thinking has Gang51E June forgot about Tulsa. An answer that comes apparent very quickly. “We on Gangsta Time”
The album starts out with “The Call”, a skit that replays the memory of Gang51E June losing his brother, the sounds of the thunder, foreshadow to a dark moment in his life and sets the stage for the rest of the album. This leads into the first song off the album “Souljaz Cry”, which is a reflective track about his life and the curse that comes from the lifestyle combined with this low tempo down beat feel he still reminds everyone that “We on Gangsta Time”. The next track up is “Static Rain” which has it’s first featured artist Birdy, accompanying also is a video that just like the song, takes the listeners on a journey. The track is an outlet to get off his feelings from all the things that have been going on in his life. Like he’s expressing the price fame especially in the line, “I would go and buy me a new 51 chain but I just bought my granny a new tombstone.”.
“Homicide Man” is the 4th track on the album and from the very beginning Gang51E June speaks to his relationship with his father. He seems to be asking if his father’s absence is the reason why he chose this life, or was he just destined for it. One of the best standout lines comes from this track. “These niggas act like they some coaches, they keep throwin’ subs”. The video shows a father son playing ball in the front driveway and eventually transitions to Gang51E June as the kid who witnesses his father in a shootout, Checkout the video below. Next we have “Cold Shoulder” which is a song about blocking out the bullshit and all the rumors, and above all to not forget the mission. Before the track ends there is a skit about his family that he's giving the cold shoulder to, and is a lead into track 6 “Family Feud”. From Jay-Z we know that no one wins when the family feuds. In this track Gang51E June raps about the family differences that has divided him from his loved ones and the love that hasn’t been the same since his granny died. A standout line comes from the monologue where he says ”The most beautifulest flowers have the sharpest thorns”. Is Gang51E June really in Tulsa? The next skit answers this question as a pair of McClain students can’t wait to tell him just how much gossip and tabloid headlines surround an artist who is at the top. “If Cutty miss when he slidin, I’m sweepin’ behind him like he was forgettin his ….. Chores.”
“Ain’t nobody comin to see no Otis”. Which happens to be the 7th track and possibly one of the best on the album. The production is this old-time blues inspired feel combined with a hard hitting 808 bass. Gang51E June talks that talk. It’s him reminding niggas that I’m the one on the throne and it’s my time now. “If Cutty miss when he slidin, I’m sweepin’ behind him like he was forgettin his ….. Chores.” There is even a line about David Ruffin. This is his rap track. The bars hit hard, the metaphors keep you on your toes, and the bravado and tone in his voice would make hip-hop heads bob their heads in the barbershops and say. “Now that’s how you supposed to rap.”
But that ain’t all. Gang51E June ain’t gonna leave the ladies out, which is what track 8, "Anita" come in. He takes a moment to serenade the ladies and if you know Gang51E June’s audience then you know the ladies love him. And they love the gangsta love he talks about in tracks like this. The midpoint of the album features Gang51E June’s biggest artist feature to-date. The one and only Kevin Gates. The two cooked up a track on Kevin Gate’s Khaza Tour on a track called “4Reign Gangsta”. This is one of those standout tracks on the album and Gang51E June shines along with one of the biggest artists in the industry. The even two released the video to the single where The Hope again shined. The 10th track is really the definition of his music. "Reality Advocate". That’s what Gang51E June is and what his music communicates. Reality. After all the news cameras left after the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre passed Gang51E June is still in the city shining light on the reality of the aftermath and current state of the north side, and It’s with a soulful sample that he describes as Ghetto Gospel. A familiar Producer tag “Pipe that shit up TNT” the famous South Carolina producer TNTXD that helped shape Rod Wave’s sound contributed to track 11 “Cursed Generation”. The track is about showing empathy for his father because he realizes there are generations of absent love that had a dominoe effect and eventually lead him to the streets. Next up is the track “What N****z Do”. This is one of the go to tracks off the album. The jazz inspired production by producer BandPlay puts an up tempo saxophone front stage capturing the history of Tulsa music. Jazz music has deep roots in Tulsa and is still a part of the Tulsa music scene. Also on this track are clever bars like, “I feel like a hanger how I hold the T”. It’s a line that’s nestled so deep in the rhythmic pattern of the verse that you might miss it if you're not listening closely. "Past Callin". Is pretty self-explanatory, but don’t dismiss the track. This is more of an easy listen and one of the shorter songs off the album. "No Auto Tune" is one of those tracks where Gang51E June takes the gloves off to let you know that without the auto tune he’s just as deadly on the track. The beat has this creepin bounce to it. And Gang51 June walks down on the track. You know you making it big when you make an interlude. But more importantly you’re putting together a cohesive and intentional project that goes through different highs and lows. "Lilana’s Interlude" is the glue that holds the end of the album together and keeps the listener’s ear. Another easy listen and vibe for the ladies. When it comes to being an artist it’s your job to inspire. Gang51E June does this for the city but also pays homage to the legends. “The Hate I Gave You” which is inspired by Tupac’s motto and T.H.U.G.L.I.F.E. is an example of just that. You can hear the familiar Tupac chorus “Shawty wanna be a thug” that is used to complement Gang51E June’s deep lyrics. It shows that the T.H.U.G.L.I.F.E. isn’t limited to a city or state. It’s something that occurs everyday and it’s real
Next is the title track “This 2 Shall Pass” which is a skit that Gang51E June speaks to a friend about his trials and tribulations that comes with the fame. And at this time when he thinks he can finally excel bullets ring out and the next track starts.
“DLow got 18 on the yard like he was Peyton Manning.”
"Wockin’ On A Wire”, a slower paced track where Gang51E June expresses the feeling of being on cough syrup and the escape it provides from the pain. “Dlow got 18 on the yard like he was Peyton Manning.” The track also features popular Alabama rapper NoCap. The last track on the album is “A Father’s Ballad”. Not gonna lie the hip-hop fan in me wanted one more rap track, but this is a concept album so I understand the direction he decided to go with this one. It’s a ghetto love ballad to his daughter and protecting that love with his life. This track is proper ending to an album that lived up to the hype and was worth the wait.
There you have it, our review on Gang51E June’s new album “This 2 Shall Pass”. There are some important things to point out. First Gang51E June is still the hottest in the state. Just look at social media, as well as the respect he gets from his peers, and most importantly the fanbase that he has created and cultivated. Secondly, the album is that next level of progression that you would expect from an artist that’s got the juice. The album has big name features as well as super producers that help shape the album and show that this isn’t an up-and-coming artist that is rapping in the closet. This album has a quality sound. The skits also reflect the next evolution of being an artist that is able to put together a cohesive project. Last but not least. Gang51E June delivers. He shines no matter what artist is featured and he shows off that he has bars while at the same time still being able to cater to the ladies. This is an album that is well rounded and something you gotta listen to. So Go listen to the album and let us know what you think! Listen to the album here! Thanks for reading! Make sure you follow Gang51E June on all his social media below: Instagram: gang51ejune Twitter: @Gang51eJune YouTube: Gang51E June Spotify: Gang51E June
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Hibachi!!!! Not the grill but the greeting used by Tulsa artist Shyheim Nwadiei. The self-proclaimed “Shy Guy From The Northside” burst onto the scene with the release of his first project “Shy Guy: The Midwest Masquerade”. But if you listened to any of his music than you know that when he raps, he’s anything but shy. He’s got bars. He’s got a crazy delivery. And a flow that is sure to have you tongue-tied when trying to recite his lyrics. There’s no doubting his gift. And it’s these same characteristics that helped him land a spot on of the The Fire In Little Africa project, the most influential albums to ever come out of Tulsa. A project that featured over 60 artists was a space where Shyheim was able to shine and show why he was picked for this once in a lifetime project. The Fire In Little Africa project isn’t the only thing that Shyheim accomplished this year because the whole time he was working on his own project. Something that would further push him to his calling. An album, “Calls of the North Wind”. An album we will deep dive into. But first let’s understand just what the word Hibachi means. 
It’s not always the main dish that makes a meal slap. Especially if you got your favorite sides hot off the stove. Some side dishes are so good that even when they’ve been sitting for a while they still slap. That’s exactly what happened when listening to “Mac’N With Mess & Mike”. A tape that to no one’s surprise is good even when you let it marinate. Album Review: Steph Simon Leaves A Reasonable Doubt With His Album "Diamonds From The Tisdale"7/2/2021 
"It may be unfair to dismiss Nas’ success as merely a piggyback ride on the back of L Boogie and her Refugee Camp, but I can come to no other conclusion for this year’s most surprising success story, as almost overnight, Nas-the-Martyr has become Nas-the-Superstar. Meanwhile, Jay-Z is somewhere lounging on a leather couch sipping an ice-cold bottle of Moet. Since he still runs his own operation and puts put his own shit, Jay-Z, when all is said, done, and divvied up, will probably make more money."
This quote is from the legendary Elliott Wilson who recently re-released an article called “Elliott's 1996 'Reasonable Doubt'. In the article Elliott Wilson compared and contrasted two hip-hop legends who both dropped critically acclaimed albums within a week of each other. Nas’s 'It Was Written' and Jay-Z’s ‘Reasonable Doubt’.
When it comes to dedication the word can be defined as; the quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose." This is a word that is thrown around as loosely as the word “love”. But when I came across an album titled “Deadicated”, this brought a new perspective on how committed to being successful that a person could be and reminded me of the title to 50 Cent’s first album, "Get Rich Or Die Tryin’. So for an artist to name their album Deadicated meant that there could be no story untold, and no story too personal. For this album to live up to it’s name Winny Flows would have to be in his truest form. And he would have to leave everything on wax as if this would be his ONLY album. Without further ado, here is the story of an artist who looking to show the world that he is DEADICATED!
When it comes to respect. Your name means everything. So for an artist to drop a self-titled album means that not only is this their introduction, but it's also a statement that they want the respect that comes with being the best, to stand out from the crowd of OKs, and to have your name mentioned with the greats. Yung Qwan is an artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma who has recently released his self-titled album "IAMYUNGQWAN". And just like the artist that have come before him, he's looking to introduce himself to the world, and get the respect he deserves. 
In this day and age the next album is only one post away. That's because music is released by the push of a button. Almost simultaneously all your music can be available to the masses. Gone are the early childhood memories of waiting until Tuesday for an album to drop and wanting to be the first one of your friends to bump it in your speakers. An album drop was an event. Numerous times I cleared my whole day and shut door, hidden in my room I would engulf myself in the world that the album created through it's musical production and it's vivid lyrics. These times are long gone. Except for when you talk about the album VSXO. 1st Verse who released the project late last year went against the norm and only released physical copies of the album (granted he would send you the files), but this was a bold statement, a $30 physical CD in this new world of free music. Post Napster. An artist would never be successful using this model. That's when you realize that 1st Verse isn't your everyday artist.
"I'm the kind of man who likes to know who's loopin, these beats, Bambi." This is exactly what listeners want to know. Just who is making these crazy beats? The culprit would be DJ Noname.. Who in only a short time has become one of my favorite producers and has been on a crazy run dropping EPs with the top tier artists in the town. He's become what some would call an album crate archeologists how he is able to dig through samples uncovering masterpieces that are so soulful and so filling .He made 'Snackin With Flavor' that proved his culinary skills to whip up one of the best projects of the year. I say one of the best because his EPs appear multiple times for this category of musical bliss. This time is no different, as he drops an EP with Bambi titled "Your Money's No Good Here".  Le Cordon Bleu (translated as "The Blue Ribbon) is one of the best culinary schools in Paris. Chefs from all around the world travel for the chance to be apart of the tutelage and prestige from a school that has been known to produce some of the best chefs in the nation. But do you have to go to such a prestigious institution to be considered a world-renowned chef? Not for Keeng Cut! His recent project "Snackin' with Flavor" showcases his ability to put together some amazing dishes that can only be described a divine experience that few are worthy of. Let's take a seat and order from "Snackin' with Flavor".
 How do you define a time? Music. It’s the power of music that transports you to a time of memories experienced. And if not experienced you still don't have to go to far to see just how unique these experiences are. DJ Noname is an artist who is taking his unique experiences and blending them with fellow producer DJ $ir Mike to transport listeners to what can only be called “Sir Noname.”. |
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