FiyaStarter.com - Fiya on the Brownstone with Malik Sinsear

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“Nas killed Hip-Hop.”
-Soulja Boy
15-minute rapper, currently on
his 14th minute and counting.

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Brooklynite spitting flames on the current state of his first love, Hip-Hop from his stoop in Bedstuy. He may be from NY, but his love for the culture is first and foremost, so don't expect your typical east-coast bias, on this block. Malik is simply here to kick knowledge and wisdom for your understanding.

Who's Got Next, in Rap? Part I
by: Malik Sinsear, for Entertainment

Do y’all understand how powerful Hip-Hop is? It dictates fashion, jargon, behavior and touches the worlds economy in such a profound way that every big wig executive on Madison Avenue (every smart one, anyway) is spending more time listening to Jamal the intern than Joshua, the senior manager as it relates to what the urban community is in to. The marketing campaign for the next Jay-Z or 50 Cent and the millions of dollars they’ll help generate for Corporation-X is being drawn up as we speak with only the figurehead not in place.

A big wrestling Jew by the name of Bill Goldberg once asked “Who’s next?” I’m here to answer that question. In no particular order, this is my list of MC’s who have the best chance at being “next.”

Ali Vegas

Alright, I understand that he will probably never be given a fair shot because of past beef with DJ Clue, but I can honestly say since 1999, the young MC (npi) out of Queens has had one of the best discographies in Hip-Hop. Unfortunately due to the Clue thing and a few messy label situations he hasn’t had the opportunity. Currently, working on material to be distributed through his older cousin, basketball star, Lamar Odom’s Rich Soil label, Ali is supposedly working with the likes of KanYe West and Christina Aguilera. Since hitting the scene at only 16 with the imaginative underground hit Narcotics, which the Prince of New York rapped from the perspective of drug paraphernalia through one of his latest gems, If I, where he rhymes from under the rubble of the World Trade Center, Ali has not only been classified as a master lyricist, but a superior story teller with the innate ability to give detail, making the listener feel like they’re right there. Just to illustrate how much potential he had, when he was 16, the super producing Trackmasters fresh off their success with first time platinum artist Nas, are given their own label on Columbia Records. The label is disbanded before the only two rap artists they’ve signed are able to release their albums. The artists are Ali Vegas and 50 Cent. My only other concern with Ali at this point is that he’s not given all of his potential away for free and has to present the public with only fumes of what was once the next great MC in waiting.

check out Ali here: http://rich-soil.com/

Corey Gunz

If the parallel of 50 Cent:Ali Vegas is consistent with Ali Vegas:Corey Gunz, then I’m pretty confident the latter will be satisfied with the forthcoming results. Just as the respected Trackmasters only had the confidence to sign 50 and Ali, when industry heavyweight, Tommy Mottola started his new label, Casablanca, the first two rappers signed were Vegas and second-generation star in waiting Corey Gunz (his father, Peter Gunz). Flow wise, he’s the strongest out of anyone that will be named in this feature. After hearing him chop it up over Cam’ron’s Get ‘em Girls, I had no doubt that he could rap damn near line for line with Twista, Krazy Bone or whoever. Word is his project was being held up by Tommy while he began his Apprenticeship with Jay-Z. The guy who’s currently most famous for being Shaq’s godson has the potential to be the next big check casher in rap.

Spot

Shout out to Spot and his team. I wasn’t much up on him until they forwarded some material to me. A fourth of the way through The Good Son, his defining mixtape and I could only hope others would be able to hear what I was hearing. Spot is what I consider to be what New York has been void, the past number of years: the rock. His flow is decent, but what he does with his stories, he doesn’t need 15 superific flows to illustrate his picture. It’s simply effective and he brings back memories of old Boot Camp classics, but not as dark. Really, I can Spot talent when I see it and he’s got plenty. Hopefully he doesn’t get lost on the current island of New York mixtape rappers.

Saigon

I dunno if I want Saigiddy to blow more to hear his music or just to hear him speak his mind and air out all of the bullshit that’s currently clouding the Hip-Hop industry. I consider Saigon a crossbreed between Nas and 50 in that he has 50’s charisma as well as his ability to create melodies and Nas’ consciousness. Speaking of 50, if you think he doesn’t hold his tongue on any subject, just wait till you hear Saigon weigh in on any and everything. I really hate to compare rappers to ‘Pac, but on a revolutionary scale, I’ll just say they better not let this boy sell no records. A product of New York’s correctional facilities since his early teenage years, when he places violence in his lyrics, it doesn’t feel forced like he’s trying to prove himself to you, but more so because he wants you to understand how dumb it is and why he’s been chosen to explain. Signed to Just Blaze’s, Fort Knox label, you can damn near pencil in the production for his upcoming album as a bucket. That coupled with his reoccurring role on HBO’s Entourage and all that’s left is for Sai to deliver his bomb to western civilization.

Nucci Reyo

Let’s see, how exactly can I describe Jersey’s young gun, Nucc; he’s kind of like a mixtape rapper, but if you skipped through a handful of mixtapes, and you stumbled upon his, you would immediately be drawn to it because he does the same things the other guys do better than them. His distinct voice and cockiness make everything that much more believable. Whereas the other 15 guys sound like the ones on the corner foolishly working right in front of the Feds, Nucc’s informant told him where the cops would be and he’s three blocks away delivering. For him to separate himself from the pack of mixtape rappers, he’ll have to show the ability to make songs and really convince the public that he can provide them with the substance side of an album.

Rick Ross

So, let’s get this straight, the south has crunk music, snap music and booty shake music on lock, right? With the recent successes of Lil Wayne and T.I. there seems to be another form of rap the south is leaning towards with “Swagger Rap.” Birthed by Kane and made into a religion by Jay-Z, Rick Ross looks poised to be the next one to capitalize off it. Now, with Jay, Def Jam and all of Miami behind him, this seems like the safest artist of everyone mentioned in this feature. As far as skills, Rick doesn’t necessarily do anything to wow you, but he has presence and sometimes that along with the machine is more important to ones success than actually talent…sadly. Production will make or break this guy. I’m pretty sure the folks at Def Jam understand this, so look to hear more Hustlin’ type records from Ross as he attempts to cement his name in game.

Joe Budden

Might as well sneak Joe in here. Seriously, I know we give Joey quite a bit of attention over here (*see The Joe Budden Theory), but the truth is he’s still relatively young in the game and only one album deep into his career. Okay, enough with the bullshit, we really didn’t want to include him in this feature, but based off Mood Muzik II, we just had to put him on the list. It’s the best mixtape in ages and it plays damn near like the best album in that same span of time. Yeah, Joe has the punch lines, the similes and the greatest wealth of sports references ever (“Can’t be Pat Ewing, lookin’ back on that lay-up,” although simple, my fav. B-ball line in years), but his honesty and willingness to really put everything out there, even at the risk of looking like a simp, is what makes Joe Budden 2006 that much better than Joey 2002. If Def Jam has any sense they will get behind Joe and give him the chance to do what their current president had his chance to do.

*Look for Part II of “Who’s Next in Rap?” where we will talk about the west and yes, Lupe.
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