When it comes to Tulsa music few artists have evolved and made their own lane as much as Dialtone. The Tulsa native has proven he’s a master of many talents, with the first talent being rap. The real shift in his career came when he also decided to take up a second skill, art. His No Parking Studios empire is one of the biggest brands in the town, and it’s taken him all over the country. But when Dialtone gets that itch to start making music again, that’s when no beat is safe. And that's exactly what's happening as seen with the release of his EP Texture Test 001. Dialtone is back in album mode and like we tweeted, “Yo Tone dropped this like to say "Don't think I still don't do this rap shit!". So, sit back and let’s dive into his latest single “Tulsa Bounce”.
“Bouncin’ thru uptown,
Anybody that knows Dialtone’s music knows that he’s more than a rapper, he’s more like Tulsa historian at times, just in the way he drops names and tells stories that are like insider trading secrets that only Tulsa people who grew up on the northside would know. These are the same stories he paints into his art. Tulsa Bounce is one of those tracks where the stories are woven into each bar. This track also highlights his mastery of rap as he shows that he can rap in whatever flow ya’ll think ya’ll favorite rapper can. And do it better. It’s almost like watching a runner set the pace of the race. When he switches flows it’s like pockets or speed bursts where he proves he’s still so ahead of the competition. One line that stands out is, “I gave up tryna convince, either you with, or get”. This line symbolizes a major shift in Dialtone’s music. He has nothing to prove, he’s put on for Tulsa since the beginning, he has a song with Charlie Wilson. What more can he do? What more does he have to prove? “The Fuck! From Round.”. Another thing to point out about this song is just the way he strings these moments together. It’s cohesive and at the same time these moments play out like different timelines in the multiverse. “Jukin, manuverin, the game what I’m fluent in, landin like superman, Goku super saiyan, what me do my dance, on you dog hoes.” We can't forget the instrumentation on the beat. Which is crazy. It’s like mixing the nostalgic sound of the pianola and the unpredictable beat making of Timberland, and last but not least, that bounce. It’s so Tulsa. So much of a feeling that if you ain’t feeling it then you just hating. Get that hate out your heart. Because Tulsa Bounce is one of them ones.
Dialtone has built a life where he doesn’t have to do rap anymore, but the sport and the competition is what he still loves. Tulsa Bounce is that love that will never go away. It’s an example of him lettin these rappers know I can still push a button and fuck up the game. “Bouncin’ thru uptown, but I can go uptown, in 4 minutes, niggas out of breath, tired of Tone winnin’. Niggas is winded, niggas is finished, niggas was timid, I made a template.". Checkout Tulsa Bounce by Dialtone below and let us know what you think!
Make sure to follow Dialtone on all social media:
Instagram: @tonesbeach Twitter: @tonesbeach Spotify: Dialtone YouTube: Dialtone BandCamp: No Parking Studios
0 Comments
 Remember when we wrote, rap battle ain’t dead, these rappers just scared. Well, someone was listening. And to our credit, I think the sports analogy of the most well known basketball players don’t participate in the NBA dunk contest, still applies. But what we didn’t add is that battle rappers have broken through, be it Serious Jones, Cassidy, and of course there’s the Eminem’s and the Chocolate Drops. And who could leave out the biggest of them all Supa Hot Fire. OK. Not the last two, but you get the just of it. Battle rappers can make quality music that the masses will support. One person looking to make their mark in both the battle rap industry as well as the music industry is the up-and-coming artist Elo. So we had to ask Elo a few questions to see just who, is the new kid on the block. How did you get your name? So I actually got my name from playing chess. I wasn’t the greatest player but I always compete, in anything I do. So I like to gauge myself vs others. The ranking system in chess is Elo. That is also true for most match making games/ competition. So really off the back off me being a competitive individual and always wanting to be better than the next guy up, so Elo was fitting. I am the standard. I set the bar. If someone else sets it. I wanna clear it. What inspired you to get into music? My whole life has been Music. My father was a big rap head and living with a single dad most of my life that’s what we had in common. Music. So through him I was exposed to a lot of different genres. I’ve been in metal bands / pop punk bands/ but my roots are hip hop, my dad was a rap head more than anything so that’s what I latched to. My dad was a street dude so we were always outside with him and his homies and watching them do dumb shit lol. I’ve just been around the block and hip hop my whole life. But as a musician I do enjoy almost every genre of music. I can find positive qualities in all of it. My debut single will be released as of April 23rd [TBD] with a full video and all. Mixtape coming early summertime. Self-titled as of now. What was the first album you bought? D12’s “Devil Night” and Chingy’s “Jackpot” were the first 2 albums I ever purchased lol. I’m actually bout to run them both hang on. (a big smile comes over Elo’s face). Been to long.  What got you into battle rap? So before December I had only ever watched battle rap with a homie of mine because he battled and was into the shit. I didn’t care much for it at the time but it was Ight to watch. But when he told me I should give it a shot and I just started writing and being more bar focused. I could feel my skill set developing and boom. Addicted. So I’m still very new to the culture. I don’t see myself as a battle rapper as much as others do though. Yes I do battle but my main love is music. I know the battle rap tag will get thrown on me but the truth is my music is my number one focus. Just I was able to skyrocket into some crazy situations in my 4 months in battle rap. Now I’m battling s-drop in my debut with KsharkTV, which is a wild opportunity. This is my debut on beat so to get a name like that is definitely un heard of. I also will be debuting on Verbal Warzone which is the URL of on beat battling inlay 27th in Baltimore. So that’s huge! Where do you see the future of battle rap? Being so new to the culture I’m not qualified to guess tbh. I do see on beat battling being on the rise. It’s more digestible and anyone and everyone can enjoy it. Same level of bars, just added measurements. Anyone can pop on a verbal warzone battle and enjoy it. Can’t say the same for accepella. How do prepare for a battle? Write my ass off. That’s really it lol. Write and spar. Peep game. Take criticism. Learn from mistakes. Battle rap can be toxic, only a few are really built to handle it. I don’t get lost in that though. I focus on me and what I can handle. If I do that I’m a problem for anyone. Tell us about the event happening on April 29th. I’m the co-main event in my debut vs S-Drop on KsharkTV. Ksharktv is well known for there, cyphers and all the artist that have blessed the platform from NYC. Respect to NYC and KsharkTV for allowing me to come do my thing. Ima put on for my city state and give NYC a show.  What are you going to be doing in Harlem Outside of battling? Networking. Tap in with anyone and everyone I can. Hopefully get a chance to go to the iBattleTV event and see the homie Jay-R do his thing. The kid is nice nice. Even being so young compared to me he’s got a lot to offer when it comes to the battle side of shit. He’s ranked in the top 10 in iBattle with 2 battles for a reason. He’s a problem for sure so hopefully I get to tap in with iBattleTV and them. I think it's important to restate that Elo is not just a battle rapper, he's a real artist. Elo is proving this with the release of his debut track called "Track 1" that will feature none other than Benny The Butcher. This track will be apart of a mixtape called "North Gate Vol. That's a hell of a feature for a debut track. It's also a dope move seeing that the Griselda artist also has ties to battle rap legend Eminem, as the group was signed to his label Shady Records. So who knows, maybe this will also mean an Elo and Eminem collab. Who knows how the universe will align. But make sure to look out for "Track 1", it's a promise that you won't be disappointed. I expect bars so cold that the purest of hip-hop aficionados will shed a tear. THIS WILL BE HIP-HOP!!!  Checkout Elo's Oochie Wally Cypher Verse video below. 
Coming off the high of being a part of the historic album that was F.I.L.A. (Fire in Little Africa). What else would an artist have to prove? For Creo Cash it would be nothing. But at the same time that high can only last for so long before fans start to wonder what’s next. The gap between new music seems to get larger and larger especially when an artist is uninspired and also second-guessing his moves. Sometimes an artist has to just get out of their own heads. This is exactly what Creo Cash is doing with the release of his new EP called “More Than an Artist”. We supposed to be rich. It’s more than just a dope line or lyric from track 1 “Born Rich”. It’s actually something Creo Cash spoke about at his EP release party, and the fact that this line was was more that just a hot line, it was true. That's because he is actually a descendant of business owners who had their businesses burned down by the 1921 Black Wall Street Massacre. He wasn’t just rapping on F.I.L.A. He was actually going for what was stolen from his family. But back to the track “Born Rich”. The first thing you hear is that flute. It sets the stage for Creo Cash to talk his shit. It’s a high energy track where Creo Cash showcases his talent with melodic flows and some dope bars like this one, “Bye, bye, bye, I’m N’Sync with the cheeses.” It’s one of the best tracks on the project.
Track 2 is called Havanna and features the one-two punch that was Blaxcdanna Mafia whose members were Creo Cash alongside Foolie Foolie. The two are still tight as ever and still frequently collab including on Havanna. The track starts out with a skit from Next Friday where Uncle Elroy brags about being able to roll blunts tighter than Havanna women. Anyone familiar with the duo’s music knows that stoner rap is an easy lane for the two rap in. It’s a fun track that feels like you chillin with the homie and ya’ll reminiscing about all the hoes and weed and drank, just shootin the shit. Foolie Foolie is a great talent that has some dope lines on here and has lots of versatility as shown when he switches flows multiple times. Here’s one example; “Medicinal smoke overlookin' the mountains, she drivin’ the boat, she gonna fuck around and drown it”. You can tell the two have collabed before and each are comfortable being on the track together they seem to almost balance each other out.
Track 3 is Sticky. Cause you know how sticky it get. Or in Creo Cash’s version “Sticky situation, yea bitch we gotta problem.”. Creo Cash is in his bag on this track. He jumps from sticky situation to sticky situation. whether that’s how to deal with your woman or a side piece, to how to deal with haters. You can get lost in the melodic flow without even realizing that the track is filled with so many quotables, “keep a 10 and 42 like Jackie Robinson”. In the words of the late Virgil Abloh “Like, we weren't supposed to come up with something this clean. Like something happened”. Sticky is so clean of a track that it seems too easy for Creo Cash to crank this one out. But then again looking closer there’s so many technical bars and the way that they are perfectly structured to set up the next bar is something you gotta appreciate. Cause again he’s good. And being good makes everything you do seem easy.
Wishy Washy is the next track on the album. The beat seems to pay homage to Lil Wayne’s the Block is Hot with some of the same notable sounds in the beat and that up-tempo New Orleans bounce. Creo Cash is adamant about people picking a side and standing on it. The track drills the point home that there is no room for people playing both sides. I gotta shout out this line that pays homage to 2Pac and at the same time Creo Cash puts his own spin on the line. "No killa but don’t push me cause ur dead homies gonna have company." It sounds like rapping in the trenches.
The 2nd to last track on the project is “No Jewelry”. The track features Fr3sh who uses auto-tune heavily throughout his verse. Fr3sh has some highlights on the track and shows his versatility as he switches up his flow numerous times. His influence on the track is so heavy that it almost feels like his. I feel like there are parts of the song that are a little too laid back. On Creo Cash’s verse it feels like he turns it on and turns it off. It’s like seeing an artist jogging down the court and not getting back on defense. There are times where his flow seems lackadaisical. Then there’s these dope bars that seem like a slam dunk. Like this bar. “Got it out the mud without a mugshot. Wat!!” I just wanted to see him turn it on and keep it on.
The last track on the EP is Time Goes By. The track is more of a slower reflective track where Creo Cash pulls from all his talents, singing, rapping, and songwriting. He effortlessly is able go into singing and then switch to rapping, multiple times throughout the track you hear him doing this balancing act without ever stumbling. Again, this track has so many quotable bars like this one, “To add to my pockets, I'm subtractin’ from yo digits.”. Time Goes By is a high point to end the project on.
So there you have it. The EP “More Than an Artist” by Creo Cash. It’s important to go thru some of the facts about the album. The album is 6 songs with a total playtime of 15 mins and 33 seconds, which is just long enough to listen to on any ride through Tulsa. All the tracks on the EP were produced by 2Peece who was able to blend different sounds that contributed to the cohesiveness of the project. There are 3 featured artists on the project Foolie Foolie, CoWhan, and Fr3sh. My favorite track on the album is “Born Rich”, it’s a high energy track with all the ingredients of a hit. My least favorite track is “No Jewelry”, not to say this can’t catch on and be a hit, it just wasn’t for me. But overall, I think “More Than an Artist” is a dope project with great songwriting and quotable bars. It’s great to hear Creo Cash back in the studio making music, and I look forward to hearing more.
Make sure you go stream Creo Cash's new project More Than an Artist now streaming everywhere! Also make sure you follow Creo Cash on all social media: Instagram: @callmecreo Twitter: @CashCreo Apple Music: Creo Cash Spotify:Creo Cash YouTube: Creo Cash 
Gangsta Grillz, you bastards. If you’re a fan of DJ Drama’s Gangsta Grillz albums, then you’ve heard this line many of times. DJ Drama has created a classic mixtape series called Gangsta Grillz that some of the biggest artists in the industry have used to either launch their careers (such as Young Jeezy) or helped reinvent themselves (such as the mixtape Weezy aka Lil Wayne). But what about an artist from Oklahoma? Wait. That can’t happen. But one thing the Pandemic has taught me is that Hennything is possible (you read that right). And it did. With one of the most talented artists in Oklahoma Ayilla. And it was on December 16th that the world was introduced to Ayilla and her Gangsta Grillz “Kill Us Both”. Before we get into the album's juicy details, let’s get into some facts. Because like Bernard M. Baruch once said, “Every man has a right to his opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts,” Fact 1 is that this is a legit Gangsta Grillz album with Ayilla and DJ Drama. Fact 2, the album has 10 tracks that come out to 22 mins and 4 seconds of playback time, with most tracks averaging a little over 2 mins. The song “Breathe For Me” is the longest track, coming in at 2 mins and 53 seconds, and the shortest track is “Whiskey”, coming in at 1 min and 37 seconds. There are no features on the album, and rightly so, this is Ayilla’s introduction to the world so it’s only right that she’s center stage. So, let’s get into the album “Kill Us Both”. The album starts out with "Drama Spell". As soon as the track starts that’s when you realize that it’s really real, Ayilla has a Gangsta Grillz with the legendary DJ Drama, and he doesn’t waste any time going into his Drama talk. This excitement for hearing DJ Drama is immediately paused as soon as Ayilla’s powerful voice comes rushing in thru the speakers and at the same time it rocks the listener into a trance. This is Ayilla’s spell. “I put a spell on you… cause you put a spell o n me too”
Track 2 is the album's title track “Kill Us Both”. And from the start of the track Ayilla's voice shines, you can hear her vocal range as she is able to float from note to note combined with the tracks infectious uptempo beat, it gives it this uplifting and inspirational feel. Even the way she sings the first bar gives you chills. “Head up… can’t keep me down,” But at the same time there as soon as the beat breaks down, comes this dark side to the track, because not too much later she also spits a bar “Save us all before I kill us both,”, that’s a hell of a statement. It definitely seems like the boiling point of a toxic relationship. This feels like the track Chrisean wanted to make but didn’t have the talent to. This could literally be the intro song to the Blueface and Chrisean Rock’s show “Crazy in Love”. But this is "Kill Us Both" and DJ Drama and Ayilla must've both been in some crazy relationships because they both talk about it being selfish for wanting to kill us both. “Maybe I’m selfish”, Ayilla sings. The song then fades into more instrumentation of electric guitar riffs and piano key melodies.
Track 3 “You Lie II”, at first glance seems like it would be a follow-up to “You Lie” which was track 2 on her project “The Witch Tape”. But it's when you take a listen to both you say "Hey!! What's going on here? Because both tracks are essentially one and the same. “I’m tryna be a better me, I met Adam tryna be a better me” Ayilla spits. These are only the first 2 bars and they're exactly the same in both songs. Really the only difference between these two songs is DJ Drama speaking and probably the mixing and mastering, the production for "You Lie II" feels fuller and more explosive. But that's why this is on a Gangsta Grillz. When diving into the lyrics of the song you see how it further perpetuates the toxicity theme of the album. It mentions lust over love, also it mentions going tic-for-tat, and the final ingredient, lying. That’s one hell of a mixture for a drug or some might say, love.
Track 4 "Come Inside" is like this sexy innuendo about the pain Ayilla feels and the only cure lust. You can hear in lines like; "My heart been broken, I’m hurting, can you come inside." This song is filled with lines like this. But also, the song is very short at only 2 minutes and 8 seconds, it feels like more like an interlude than a finished song. This is further supported by the fact that throughout the track there are these fragmented bars that seem like unfinished thoughts. These unfinished thoughts leave so many questions, but maybe that’s the reason for her repeatedly saying Come Inside. She literally wants to finish the conversation instead of running away from it. Either way it’s still a dope song.
When we get to the middle of the album track, we get a different feel with “Ain’t Easy”. This track feels like an old-school west coast vibe with remnants of this 90s R&B sound, hell they even throw in the old-school “dramatics” sound that people come to recognize in a DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz record. Ayilla gets back to having fun with this record. You can hear it in her vocal runs as well as in her ad-libs that make her words scat across the beat like a Jazz singer. I would say this track sounds heavily Jazz influenced even up to the strumming guitar and the way her words elongate and carry from bar to bar like a graceful aerial silk performer transitioning from one silk fabric to the next. You also get a glimpse of her ability to rap, though just 4 bars, you feel again this improv scat and Jazz influence. It ain't easy to not rewind this track back.
The next track is "Disbelief", and you’ll be in disbelief of some of the bars she sings on this track like, ”Pray got in the way. Pray came in first place.” Damn, if that ain’t a disbelief bar. I think the song is about all the crazy shit couples can say to each other and still look at one another like it wasn’t supposed to hurt the other person’s feelings. This is some real toxic shit. The song is like seeing the fine woman in a scary film. You just want to yell at her. Get Out The Fuck Out of there!
“He don’t believe in love but what the fuck is this.”
Track 7 is "Whiskey", it's a nice vibe and the shortest songs on the album. It’s like getting a pint of liquor when you wanted the liter. You can’t afford it, but at the same time you also can’t afford not to. Ayilla's voice is intoxicating, just like being drunk, you get lost in Ayilla’s voice. The chorus is like a repeating thought that you can’t get rid of. You know youd trippin’. But the liquor makes it numbs it all. Even the beat is so hypnotic and goes in and out. But black out on this track. It's something to really appreciate.
When we get to Track 8 "Breathe for me" you realize, damn, it’s almost over. But with that comes a really great track. It’s probably one of the most upbeat tracks of the album. Who taught Ayilla how to get on this track like this? If it was Yeezy, Yeezy taught you well. I like the fact that she raps a little on here. Maybe not a full fledge rap, but just enough to let you know she can do it at any time. This is one of the stand-out tracks on the album in my opinion
Track 9 "Worship the Sky" is one the tracks that also appeared on Ayilla’s project The Witch Tape, but there are some slight nuances in the track's production such as more sounds added, the beat is slightly different, but the lyrics are pretty much spot on with the original except for of course DJ Drama. I agree with this move though. I think it was a standout track from The Witch Tape and was a good marketing move, especially when performing the album. The listers will know the words. I also like the way she takes her time with this track. It seems to represent her realizing she don’t need to take this shit no more. It also has one of my favorite vocal performances when at the end she repeats “Magnify do you mind is, lift me on high, do or die, can we worship the sky tonight?” Even though this is not a new song, it still jams.
The last track on the album is "Stand Still". But I think when you listen to this song, you’re gonna want to do everything but stand still. The track has this Afro-Caribbean sound which is a great move for Ayilla and her career. It shows artistry in her ability to try new sounds and also, it’s one the most popular genres with artist like Wiz Kid and Burna breaking thru to a more mainstream audience. This song is more about getting lost in a person as the listener also gets lost in the track. And again, DJ Drama brings us back to reality, as he shouts a few people out. By the time the track is finished you realize time did stand still.
There you have it Kill Us Both the album by Ayilla and DJ Drama. Now back to the facts. Or as said Sherlock Holmes said, “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” And the fact is that this is a concept album about a toxic relationship and the head space you get into when you’re in one. The from the alum cover to the tracks, there's no doubt this is Ayilla's most revealing albums. If I had to pick the standout tracks on this album my vote would be for “Breathe for me” and “Ain’t Easy”. But the album did leave you wondering. Will Ayilla stay in this toxic relationship? Who knows. Maybe there will be a “Kill Us Both 2”. But until then listen to this dope piece of art from the artist Ayilla and the legendary DJ Drama called "Kill Us Both".
Gangsta Grillz you bastards! Let us know what you think of the album. To find out more about Ayilla and her latest music follow her social media below: Instagram: @eye.am.ayilla Twitter: @Ayilla11 TIDAL: Ayilla Spotify: Ayilla Apple Music: Ayilla YouTube: AyillaOfficial  I follow a few influencers on Instagram in hopes to be inspired, entertained, or also for useful information. This time it was for useful information. That’s when Gary Vee’s video about ChatGPT came across my timeline. ChatGPT is an AI (Artificial intelligence) bot that you can use natural conversational language to ask it specific questions and do specific tasks. Gary V in his post mentions how AI can do a lot for blogs and writers. So I thought it would be interesting to see what ChatGPT knew about Oklahoma Hip Hop. The first question I asked ChatGPT was. What do you know about Tulsa hip hop? Tulsa, Oklahoma is not typically known as a hotbed for hip hop and rap music. However, the city has produced a number of talented rappers who have made their mark on the genre. First off, if you know Jabee, then you know he’s from Oklahoma City. He even has his own Wikipedia page. So, there’s no real way that ChatGPT should’ve gotten this wrong. Also how did the bot not mention that he’s won an Emmy!!! How could you not mention that? The other mention is G.L.O.S.S. from Warr Acres. If you Oklahoma Geography, then you know that Warr Acres is not in or near Tulsa. It’s close to Oklahoma City which seems to be the place the chat pot pulled its information from. No mention of Playya 1000 or Nitro. No mentions of Gang51E June or even the whole list of artists that were on the F.I.L.A. project (Fire In Little Africa). But I then began to think. What if my question was too vague? What if I narrowed it down to artists it just mentioned and see how deep it would go? Jabee. Who is Oklahoma rapper jabee? Jabee Williams, known simply as Jabee, is a rapper from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He began his career in the local underground hip hop scene, and in 2015 he released his breakthrough album "Black Future" on the label Fresh Chopped Beats. Still, the information seemed very surface-level and seemed kind of outdated information. Something that a publication from New York would find in a Google search and stick inside of an article just to say they did their research. So next I decided to have a little fun and ask ChatGPT what did they know about who??? Mike Jones. Who is Mike Jones? Mike Jones is a rapper from Houston, Texas. He first gained popularity in the mid-2000s with his hit single "Still Tippin'" from his debut album "Who Is Mike Jones?" The album was a success, reaching the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart and earning Jones a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. Not too bad. But still outdated information. But it was still fun to see that it had an answer. Though AI and Chatbots have a long way to go. (Just ask some of the customer service chatbots and see what I mean.) There are some useful things they do provide. Like helping to get over writer’s block or helping to get started with an article. Maybe it could help artists come up with different ways to market their music. Maybe it can help write a rap. Not like ghostwrite, but a few bars. You might wanna prove read those lyrics. You don't want to end up like FN Meeka. But, one useful thing I found was to ask was: What are some ideas for Oklahoma Hip Hop Blog articles? Here are a few ideas for Oklahoma hip hop blog articles: So is AI ready for Tulsa Hip hop? Like Kanye West said, “you don’t have the answers sway.” Well at least not yet. But best believe in the next few years you may not even be able to tell who’s been writing these articles. But we are not there yet. The technology is not there yet. There are some useful things you can use this tool for in the meantime.
Let us know if you intend on using AI in the future or some of the things you've used ChatGPT to do.  Men lie. Women lie. But numbers don’t. Everyone remembers this bar from Jay-Z’s song “Reminder”. And that’s because it’s true. But to lie to someone’s face that’s a whole nuther thing. Again, both men and women lie. But the numbers don’t. And two artists that have the numbers on their side are the SAIKKO Twins, made up of SAIKKOMIKE and SAIKKO 10. Who have dropped their new single “Lie 2 My Face”. The first notable thing about the track is the acoustic guitar. It kind of catches you off guard and makes you wonder, How can this be a rap song?”. This is giving John Mayer vibes. But as the beat drops you immediately go “Ohhh!!!,” that’s how. The 808 beat brings the track back to more of a rap infused vibe. Then we get into the bars. First up is SAIKKOMIKE. Who comes in with the chorus. It’s a real vibe that sets the tone for the whole track. It talks about staying down for someone, but they still lie to your face. One bar from SAIKOMIKE really sticks out is when he says,” And I was just writing my story, but how me and you ain’t on the same page.” Part of being a brother is knowing how to share. In this case, it means that SAIKOMIKE and SAIKKO 10 both share the spotlight, in which both are able to shine on the track. SAIKKO 10 comes in on the track like a relay racer who takes the baton and runs around the beat. He pours so much sauce into the track that his voice creates its own beat at times while still being able to ride the track’s beat. It’s dope to see his brother and friends join in on his verse and use the same mannerisms that he uses when he's spittin' his verse. From the very first bar, he catches your attention with a clever metaphor. “All that shit was science fiction. I can even tell a better story. And now that you have my back like Jesse and Woody, a real-life Toy Story.”. Lie 2 My Face shows how two brothers have each other’s back even when your girl is tripping. The song showcases both artists’ songwriting abilities as they seem to effortlessly weave through the track while making complex structured bars seem easy, so easy that the listener might miss it if they aren’t listening close enough. What’s most important about this track is that it makes you feel. Whether that’s a feeling of happiness a feeling of sadness, or just vibes. But that’s art. It makes you feel either way. So go listen to Lie 2 My Face by SAIKKOMIKE & SAIKKO 10 and let us know what you think about the two twins looking to take over the industry. Make sure you follow SAIKKOMIKE and SAIKKO 10 on all their social media: SAIKKOMIKE Instagram: @saikkomike Twitter: @saikkomike SAIKKO 10 Instagram: @iamsaikko10 Twitter: @iamsaikko10  This past weekend was so dope. The rebranded World Culture Music Festival (now called Dream Land Festival) was filled with everything from a jog, to panel discussions, to live music, to vendors, to a film screening. It was really an amazing sight to see. And all this going on right here in Tulsa. With all that being said I think it’s interesting to see who were the WINNERS and who were the LOSERS of this past weekend's 1st Annual Dream Land Festival. WINNERS: Tulsa. Tulsa won in the fact that so many amazing people came to Tulsa to spread their knowledge and to be involved in the culture. But what was really win was the people that are movers and shakers in Tulsa getting their recognition and being in the spotlight. That goes for both people in tech as well as the artists in the music industry. There was so much networking going on at the event, it was a beautiful thing to see. Losers: The Artists. I think this past weekend was an opportunity for artists to truly get out and network and take advantage of the weekend. There were literally A&Rs, artist managers, social media managers, etc, etc. There was literally a breakout session to teach artists how to get money called “How To Make Real Money As An Independent Artist” hosted by the co-owners from Build Your Own Dreams. The sad part was that the room was not even half-way full. How don’t you show up to a free.99 event about how to get to the bag? Also when it comes to knowing what time an artist went on not even half the artists had a flier. Not even a post about what time they were performing. How are your fans going to show support if they don’t know what time you’re going on? Also where was the merch??? With this many people here in Tulsa and I only saw a few artists with merch.  WINNERS: Jah The Jedii. There is no bigger winner than her. The artist from Atlanta who has busted onto the scene and made waves with the Ground Waves showcase with rapper Murs where she impressed and got a co-sign from the town GOAT Steph Simon. But wait.. It gets better. She was then given a chance to perform on the main stage on Saturday night. But wait. It gets even betterer! She was then brought on stage by Grammy nominated artist Rapsody who also co-signed her and gave her the mic on her set. The only thing that didn’t go right for Jah The Jedii is that she didn’t have any music out to direct all the fans that approached her after the weekend. But this will change Friday! She’s releasing her first project that will be on all digital streaming platforms! Best believe I’m looking out to see what’s next for Jah The Jedii. LOSERS: Father. I think he was a wildcard pick. He went on a Friday which in Oklahoma if it’s a workday it’s hard to get us out the house. Also, staying for a concert where the main act doesn’t go on to well after 1am. That’s just not Oklahoma. We in the bed. Which showed during his performance. The crowd had thinned out. But being a true artist Father still rocked that bitch like it was 1,000 people in the crowd. He got to see and meet his true fans and turn up with them. so I can’t say this was. that major a loss. Plus he still got the bag.  WINNERS: K.O. She has to be one of the hardest working artists in Oklahoma. Just look around downtown and you were sure to spot her poster up that had a QR code that let you know everything about K.O. She supported and networked at all the shows. Her performance was crazy. Or should I say performances. The Saturday performance at the main Holberton stage was bananas. She owned that stage. She owned the crowd. She showed why she was so great of an artist. She had fliers telling what time she was going on. She had merch so that you could support. There was literally nothing I can say bad about anything she did this weekend. She won! LOSERS: Tulsa. The festival brought so much value that it was surprising to see that it wasn’t packed at all the events. This was the time to be apart of the culture and see all it had to offer. I only wish that the highshoolers would’ve came out and seen the black tech crowd. Just to know that it existed in Tulsa. Also to see the artists and producers and the behind the scenes people. There are so many aspiring artists. Instead of moving to Atlanta or California or New York. First find out what resources you have here that you can take advantage of. You’ll be surprised. Especially now with all the money that is coming into Tulsa. This is the time to get educated, to know your land.
WINNERS: The Headliners. LaRussell and Rapsody. Both are amazing artists that got to display their talents to Tulsa. Not only did they show up to Tulsa but they supported Tulsa. They broke bread in Tulsa by supporting local businesses. Rapsody spoke about how she went to Silhouette Sneakers & Art and copped some gear. LaRussell poured into Tulsa on his discussion panel where he talked about navigating the game as an independent artist and how he stays true to himself and doesn’t get caught up in the trends. Both artists gained new fans and probably were exposed to a market that they never thought about. Who knows if Tulsa might become a reoccurring tour stop for them. The biggest winner was the festival. It keeps growing. It keeps getting bigger. And 1 day Steph Simon will have that Ferris Wheel he's been wanting. It all started with a VISION! Thanks for reading! Let us know if you have any losers or winners that didn’t make the list!! 
Facts! Can be defined as; A thing that is known or proved to be true. So that means there’s no confusion when it comes to what is, and what isn’t. No matter if it comes from the source or it comes from a third-party. The facts are the facts. T3REZZY is out to show the world that everything he says, he stands on. And it’s with the release of his new single “All Facfs Freestyle Pt. 2” that T3REZZY is setting the record straight. T3REZZY (also known as T3) is an artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He’s also invested in his craft and has went all in by dropping music and music videos, though he’s yet to put out a full length project. He’s using this to his advantage by putting out hit singles in order to create a buzz in the streets and gain new followers to his already rapidly growing fanbase. T3REZZY is an artist look out for. For there to be an All Facts Pt 2. There obviously had to be a part 1 which you can find the video here (Click here to see All Facts)!. The difference between these tracks starts with the production. Part. 1 has more of a West Coast vibe. Also the verse is a little more aggressive and in your face. But on Part 2 has a totally different feel. The track is produced by 2Peece, a highly respected producer from Tulsa who has placements with some of the biggest artists in the game as well as placements with major brands. 2Peece delivers a beat that is similar to the Detroit Drill music that has helped create a new sound. This sound is what T3REZZY excels on. T3REZZY has flow on the track that is laid back, showing his confidence in himself as an artist but not arrogant. There is still a hunger in each bar that culminates into some really dope quotable lines. “In these Off-White sneaks but the checks Nike” & “I remember missing meals, now we gettin seconds” are just two examples of the numerous quotable lines that are sprinkled throughout the track. There’s no question that T3REZZY is spittin’ All Facts. The song takes you deep into the mind of a hustler. Just steady on the grind. No breaks. That’s why this track not a freestyle in the sense that it’s unwritten flow, it’s more of a continuous stream of thought, that hustlers mentality, and also that’s why T3REZZY says at the beginning of the track, “2Peece I don’t need no hook for this one.” Because this one is for the hustlers. Also on the track is featured artist Kari2Dope. He goes in immediately after T3REZZY finishes his verse like a relay race. Both artists racing on the same team to get to the money. His delivery is upbeat and catchy, making him the anchor to the track just like in a relay. It’s a nice switchup from T3REZZY’s verse. It also showcases his skill and musical ability as you hear his voice ride the melody of the beat. “Two chains on me now, man this is some light shit, you can turn the lights off, and see this lit hit.” What’s undeniable about this track is that it’s a go. It’s a dope beat. It’s dope bars. It has that right bounce. But most importantly it’s ALL FACTS! This track shows T3REZZY progression as an artist and is just a small taste of what we can expect from him and the new music coming soon. So until that full project drops we’ll be banging All Facts Pt.2. Listen to the track and let us know what you think!
Make sure to follow T3REZZY on all his social media:
Facebook: T3REEZY Instagram: @T3REZZY Twitter: @BIGT3REZZY Spotify: T3REEZY YouTube:T3REEZY Tha Don  Shyheim. But many may know him as “ShyGuy” or “ShyGuy From The Northside”. He appeared out of nowhere! But when he hits the stage he raps as if he’s been there the whole time. His ability to create cohesive projects with depth and originality have become a breath of fresh air. And the air is no clearer than on the northside. A place that we so happened to be at on Saturday August 20th led by the North Winds. The destination was Hawthorne Park where Shyheim brought everyone into his world or as he calls it “The Northwind Masquerade”. Here's Shyheim explaining the origins of ShyGuy: ”ShyGuy was created from my trama I grew up not really feeling loved. So I created characters in order to cope. I also hid behind anime characters and cartoon characters. And ShyGuy came out of that. Now I’m bringing him to the public, so that I can rid of this trama. Gotta work with everything in order to make something whole.” The nostalgia of Hawthorne park set the stage for an event that was the epitome of “do it yourself”. Shyheim didn’t wait for a huge stage to get constructed. He didn’t wait for a massive pyrotechnics setup. What he did do was call on his friends and family to help him construct an intimate setting where the spotlight shined bright on Shyheim. He had his stage. He had his people. And most importantly he had the North Wind. When it came to his people. What was supposed to also feature Lawrence Leon and his music. Didn’t. Unfortunately Lawrence Leon had caught Covid a few days before the performance. Our prayers and wishes go out to him for a speedy recovery. Another artist Zzaj who is featured on Shyheim’s track “Kaiser” was also unable to make the performance. But was fortunate was the artists Zorro, and another being 7urreal, who is apart of the collective Tribe Luminescent, of which Shyheim is apart of. It was dope watching Shyheim put some of the spotlight on 7urreal. Cause I learned that day that he got bars. Shyheim. Most know him as ShyGuy and if you've been to any of his performances than you know that they have been mostly done under the ShyGuy moniker. But this performance was different. Throughout ShyGuy’s performance his mask fit firmly to his face while at times rapping in a still reserved matter. That was until we heard the chant. “Tryna leave this box I’m in, break loose (I’m tryna loose)”. With each repetition the chant got louder and louder, until finally Shyheim removed his mask and threw it to the ground. THIS WAS THE DEATH OF SHYGUY. And with that also came the birth of Shyheim Nwadiei. The thing that stood out most about Shyheim Nwadiei as compared to ShyGuy was that from the first bar, there was no question that he had the juice. The way he rapped “Talk to Me” was as if he was stepping into his greatness and finally realizing his gift was for the world and should no longer be dimmed. You are the Light! From then on Shyheim Nwadiei took over and ran through an impressive list of tracks that ranged from familiar to unheard. Some of the noticeable ones being tracks from his latest album Calls of the North Wind. (Read our Album Review: Shyheim Nwadiei - Calls of the North Wind (tulsalines.com). But the question still remains. Is ShyGuy really dead? Here’s what Shyheim Nwadiei had to say: “From this day forward. No more being called ShyGuy. It’s Shyheim Nwadiei! Only time you gonna see ShyGuy is at the North Wind Masquerade. SHYHEIM NWADIEI HAS TAKEN OVER!" Thanks to Shyheim Nwadiei for inviting us out to a dope event. I look forward to the next North Wind Masquade.
Make sure to follow him on all social media: Make Instagram: Instagram: @northsidenwadiei Twitter: @northsideshyguy SoundCloud: I Am Shyheim Spotify: Shyheim Nwadiei 
Guerrilla Warfare. If your familiar with the term, then you know that it is all about non-military civilians who take up arms to fight against larger traditional military. OTS J Huncho named his first album Guerrilla Warfare, and it was all too fitting. The way he seemed to come out of nowhere and drop a tape that spread like wildfire. It was very much like a militia that he was creating, as his fanbase and supporters grew, so did his legend. The one who is determined to put The Hills on the map. And he’s looking to again use his Guerrilla Warfare tactics with the second installment called “Guerrilla Warfare 2”.
The lead single "Lions Den (Intro)" is the epitome of OTS J Huncho. When you hear an OTS J Huncho song what your gonna notice immediately is him. That’s because as soon as the beat drops OTS J Huncho starts rapping. He doesn’t play around with the beat. It’s go time as soon as that bass hits but often times even before the beat drops, he’s going in. Also, an OTS J Huncho song is gonna have bars, metaphors, and similes, all coming at you fast and direct. At times I found myself going back and relistening to a track and catching a metaphor that I might have missed. “I done called more plays than Tom Brady and Tyler Perry combined.” This track is OTS J Huncho. He gonna talk his shit and say it with his chest out. He even put out a video that you can checkout below. I'm a Gorilla I'm a Dog,
One thing to note about the second track “Elihah Landrum” is that the title is the name of an actual person who is a basketball standout from Central high school that has committed to playing at SMU. The track starts out with a snippet from Floyd Mayweather’s HBO All Access for his fight against Pacquiao. And it’s easy to draw the comparison between the two. Both have a crazy work ethic. OTS J Huncho himself has put out track after track along side with an EP and now Guerilla Warefare 2. Both are also talking shit and backing it up. “One of these lame niggas wifein my head hunter, can’t lie I was mad as the fuck, she cut me off and shit for probably like a month, but she doubled bad cause ain’t shit like the Hunch”. That’s a hell of a statement to make. There’s also has a video that was filmed at the Skyline Mansion which used to be a leader of the KKK’s residence. If Tate Brady wasn’t rolling over in his grave before. He sure is now. Cause OTS J Huncho is posted with his crew all on the front porch. Take a look for yourself.
The next track is “85 South Show”. Which is also the name of a popular show that features comedians from Atlanta. OTS J Huncho even mentions the cast in the song. “Ima a young fly nigga like DC, playing with bitches like Los, and these niggas round here wanna be me, and my brother roll off a chico, that’s a bean if your ass didn’t know.” Not only is the flow crazy. The familiar sample of Drake’s Controlla can he heard playing in the background. This is a song you can cruise to, but at the same time you still get bars. OTS J Huncho is still rapping his ass off on the track. It’s like he never takes a track off. If you're from Tulsa or just watch a lot of TV then you know that unfortunately Tulsa has a high murder rate. This is one of the reasons the TV show The First 48 chose Tulsa as a filming destination. And looking at the title of track 4 “Home of First 48” OTS J Huncho knows all too well the problems going on in the town. “If from the home of the first 48 where they play with extensions way more than beauticians.” It’s lines like these that tell of just how much gun violence is a part of Tulsa. Even with all the violence surrounding OTS J Huncho his talent is helping him grow into an artist that can help change the Tulsa narrative. “The only time a bitch played me was on the Aux”. The track ends with 4 bars from Big Tike’s culturally impactful single “Drank Up in My Cup”. “They had them jokes and shit about The Hills,
You probably didn’t know OTS J Huncho was into classical music. Just listening to the beat the familiar samples Beethoven’s “Für Elise” hits your ear. OTS J Huncho must be a classical music historian. OK we’re joking. We’re not sure if OTS J Huncho is a classical music lover, but what isn’t a joke is how OTS J Huncho has repps for The Hills especially on the track "Shhh (G Hills Legend)". “They had them jokes and shit about The Hills but ain’t said shit since the Huncho done popped out. Niggas is bitches”. And it’s true. There hasn’t been a rapper that has represented from The Hills like him. Of course, there have been artists that have mentioned it and dappled with being from both The Hills and north Tulsa. But there hasn’t been an artist who took The Hills and put it on their back like OTS J Huncho is. The track shows his unapologetic bars and a flow that shows that he can back up every line. It’s like going up against a top athlete and they’re up. And to add insult to injury they talk shit too. Checkout out the video and see what I’m talking about.
The second half of the album starts with the track “Return of The Apes (Interlude)”, it feels like that intro part to a TV show where they recap the whole season in under a minute, but in this case it’s OTS J Huncho’s life that he is recapping from a first-person perspective. The song is noticeably shorter at only 1 minute and 37 seconds. But within this short one verse track, OTS J Huncho says a lot, and the track shares some similarities with the previous track which is that OTS J Huncho reps The Hills hard. “Make sure them niggas respect The Hills like they respect the north.” The song is truly a snapshot that dives into different situations he’s went through to get to this point, from talking about someone snitching on his father, to low times when he slept on artist/producer SolRay’s couch, to now being the man in the town. This track you get your bang for your buck he spits all these bars before the beat even drops. While the sample is looping your kept anticipating the drop which makes you listen to what he had to say that much more. This was genius. "Calvins Story Pt. 2" is one of my favorite tracks on the album. It showcases OTS J Huncho’s pen and storytelling ability. The track is a sequel and continues where Calvins Story Pt. 1 left off. Like forreal the track picks up perfectly, I found myself going back and listen to both tracks back-to-back and seeing how the storyline is so well written, almost like an episodic TV show. He paints such a vivid picture that makes you actually feel like you’re apart of the story. Like you can see the robbery. You can see the cop getting shot. You’re fully invested in the story. I’m personally hoping and looking forward to hearing part 3 to the Calvins Story saga. Track 8 is "Scoring Moore The Maya". From its title it seems to be a basketball reference to famous WNBA player Maya Moore. This may also be why he puts so many bars referencing sports athletes in the track, he midest well be scoring more than Maya Moore. ”I heard that you got up in front of that court, and turned into Paul Pierce and was telling the truth.” BARRRSSS!!! He could’ve stopped the track after that. Also, something to note about this track is that it’s the first track where another featured artist appears. Sabree Carter, is a rapper who also appears on Guerrilla Warfare 1 on track “Boosie in 09”. She is in pocket and her rhythmic voice chop up the beat nicely. "Really stepped on some niggas in Vans, couple niggas that treat me like Stan, put on that shit call me Miss Dapper Dan." “Everytime I kick this coke shit,
The first thing you notice about “Ricky Tan” is one, the title being from the villain in Rush Hour 2. The second thing you notice is the Ne-Yo “So Sick” sample. Which seems out of place for a hip-hop track. But that’s until the beat drops and you go. “Good one. I see what you did there”. Here’s just one of the lines that caught my attention “Brodie Bro got 2k’s he ain’t even got no console.” The third thing you notice on here is that Phil Sosa is featured on the track. The West and The Hills they go hand and hand so this collab makes sense. Phil Sosa spits some dope bars, but if you know his music then you know that already. “Ima blow this bitch until I hurt my shoulder blade, Glock on me, catch a nigga slippin like a rollerblade”. This track was great move for both artists. Both artists get introduced to each other’s fanbase and in the end everyone wins. Who knows. There may even be a video for this one too.
What a ride. We are finally down to the last track on the album, which is called “Crenshaw and Slausen Freestyle (Outro).” From the title alone, you can’t half step on Nipsey Hussle’s turf. Also, it’s the last track! Usually, the last track wraps up the theme to an album and can be seen as the end of the story. I feel like this track goes a different direction. In that it makes sure there are doubts left. OTS J Huncho can rap. Simple and plain. But the track is far from simple. The track starts with another familiar sample being Childish Gambino’s song "Redbone". But it’s OTS J Huncho’s complex bars makes so that he even tells you what he means so that it doesn’t go over your head. “Smoke exotic, That shit boxed, they ain’t boxin, They gonna box him, That mean drop him”. The song tells the world who OTS J Huncho is so that they can’t tell the story. It Was Written… Guerrilla Warfare 2! It’s one of the best albums to come out of Tulsa this year. It’s the sequel that is just as strong as the 1st installment. I did want him to put "SharkLotto Freestyle" on here, but I can’t complain because there are so many great songs on this album. The album uses familiar samples to draw in the audience. But at the same time, I think the thing about an OTS J Huncho song is that you look forward to hearing him rapping more than you look forward to hearing the beat. Which is a trait that breakout artists and mainstream artists have. Guerrilla Warfare 2 gives the fans what they want. Bars, delivery, bravado, and of course one reppin for The Hills. So give Guerrilla Warfare 2 a listen and let us know what you think. Make sure to follow OTS J Huncho on his social media: Twitter: @OtsJHuncho Instagram: @ots_jhuncho YouTube: OTS J Huncho Spotify: OTS J Huncho |
About Author
|
RSS Feed