by Marcus K. Dowling
—–
In three major occurences (Wale’s Ambition selling nearly 400,000 copies, and the well regarded releases of mixtape releases by Fat Trel (Nightmare on E Street) and Topdolla Sweizy (#FuckDaRadio), the oft-maligned DMV has transformed itself from a region on the cusp of top-tier success to a well oiled machine with a mainstream and underground conquering agenda. It can honestly be said that it’s a matter of when, not if A NUMBER of DC area artists will be moving into greater levels of renown and success. In handicapping top rappers in the DMV region, it’s now important to switch from “the list” to sheer “March Madness.” Unsure of what I mean? Please keep reading…
Wale, our region’s top hip-hop performer is a noted sports fanatic. Thus, also given that we’re presently in the midst of NCAA tournament season, I’ve decided to break down the region’s top performers into categories denoted by three college teams that have all achieved legendary success, but by vastly different means. Showcasing the uniqueness of the region in this manner will hopefully open eyes to the breadth and depth of performers and the many avenues to success.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas Running Rebels
The early 1990s was dominated by this team of athletically gifted but fundamentally unsound players. Led by power forward Larry Johnson and fellow NBA pros Greg Anthony and Stacey Augmon. The 1989-90 squad won the National Championship. The precursors to Michigan’s Fab Five, these were the true groundbreaking players who defined a radical shift in how a generation perceived how basketball could be played.
The “DMV Rebels” are largely comprised of “east of the river” emcees who fall far outside of the established DMV expectation. Fat Trel is apparently thisclose to a major label deal and embraces being a wild, pill popping goon who advocates not using cocaine, but SELLING IT. A Benning Road and related environs based NE entrepreneur, his Da Company 1135 label boasts talents who mirror his expectation. Trel’s 1135 compatriots are the Slutty Boyz. The rap crew’s best regarded emcees are Dew Baby, Meatchi and P Wild, and gaining an idea of where they’re coming from is as simple as their current favorite activity to tweet about, putting their tongues in women’s anuses in a sensual manner, “all crazy all wild!” Continue Reading…
