Party Season

Summer is almost here and the musical vibe has changed. No more rhymes about drinking in crowded bars on cold winter nights. Now its margarita's on the beach, and watching beautiful bodies in tiny bikini's.

Welcome to party season!  This is a short three month period of festivals, concerts, and massive outdoor events. Speaking of events...tomorrow RA The Rugged Man and Shabaam Sahdeeq are giving a concert in Amsterdam. Both artists were once on Rawkus records and both get busy on the mic. This will be my first time seeing them live, and I'm looking forward to the show.

RA is certified MC who was once co-signed by the late great B.I.G.. He mixes humor with hardcore lyricism to make listeners feel what he's saying but not take it to seriously. But don't get it twisted RA can spit knowledge also but that's not his lane. 

Shabaam Sadeeq aka S-dub is on a different side of the spectrum. He's not a gangsta or conscious MC, his style is a mix of both. He is one of those MC's who can hide the medicine in the candy. What that mean's is, Shabaam can spit some spiritual verses and deliver them so tight that the message doesn't sound preachy.

To honor the coming season of festivities, I posted music from RA The Rugged Man (ft. Talib Kweli), Shabaam Sahdeeq, Donnie B, E Class, PlayBoi Weez, C.M.F (Cream Mob Family), Styles P (ft. Jadakiss), Sensato (ft. Pitbull), and 360 (ft. Freddie Gibbs, Jadakiss).

Reggaeton

People can say what they want about Reggaeton (Latin Reggae) but its a musical genre that’s here to stay. Like hip-hop and dancehall its a sub-culture of music that critiques dubbed a "fad" that would disappear within five years. I first got familiar with its unique sound in the mid 90's from listening to Tony Touch aka Tony Toca. 

He had two mixtapes “The Peacemaker volume 1 and 2 that featured an artist named Tego Calderone. This dudes style was off the chain! He reminded me a of a Latin version of Shabba Ranks. Since then numerous artists have appeared on the scene and Reggeaton has hit the mainstream.

Reggaeton originally started in Panama and migrated to Puerto Rico and around the world. It blends West-Indian music influences of reggae and dancehall with those of Latin America, such as bomba, plena, salsa, latin pop and bachata as well as hip hop, R&B, and electronica.  Reggaeton combines all these flavors with rapping or singing in Spanish. Below are artists Daddy Yankee, Ivy Queen, Tego Calderone, Nina Sky and Don Omar a few artists from the genre I think are dope. Check ‘em out.