Thursday, December 22, 2005
Oh Snap! The New Hip Hop Sound for 2006
Dem Franchize Boyz: they've got the power...
Just as the mainstream hip hop and general music media (and me!) finally got their heads around the fact that Crunk music took over the world, the South has moved on and come up with a whole new sound.
Ying Yang's "Wait (The Whisper Song)" -- possibly my favorite hip hop single of 2005 (year end lists coming soon-ish) -- and Dave Banner's "Play" were just the opening salvos in the Snap music movement. Mark my words, this sound is gonna run the clubs and sound systems in old school Chevy's down South all next Summer.
I'm sure Lil Jon is just waiting to see how long it'll take before Scott Storch bites this style too. And Smurf, you better watch your back as well cos there's probably a cute girl somewhere who could sing some sexy nothings over a "Snap&B" beat and ride it to the top of the pop charts.
The irony of course is that the roots of the Snap music phenomenon and Intimate Club music sound can be traced back to The Neptunes' production on Snoop's "Drop it Like Itz Hot." Will Virgina Beach ever get it's real props? I mean even Houston is getting media love and attention now.
Click, download, lean and listen - the three snap music anthems crossing over right now:
- Dem Franchize Boyz "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It" - I've said a couple times before I was feeling these cats. But after "White Tees" and"I Think Dey Like Me" what's it's gonna take for people to take this group more seriously? I'm saying, they're not lyrical monsters or anything but damn, three hits in you gotta give them some respect or at least stop calling them One Hit Wonders, no? Speaking of which...
- D4L "Betcha Can't Do It Like Me" - betcha never thought you see a second hit from this group, right? Well the jokes on all y'all who thought these dudes were gonna disappear forever after "Laffy Taffy" runs its course. One more hit and D4L will officially be a movement.
- Lil Jon feat. 4ize, E-40, & Sean Paul "Snap Your Fingers" - the missing link between Crunk and Snap Music?
More:
- Interview with DJ Smurf aka Mr. Collipark.
- MTV on The ATL Sound.
- Grip magazine - the new ATL hip hop magazine. Really well-designed (check their beautifully photographed Purple Ribbon Allstars cover for the current issue) and heavily slept on so far. How long until they incur Benzino's wrath like the rapidly blowing up Dirty South hip hop magazine Ozone?
Shout to my man Spearhead X and the rest of the DARP/Rowdy crew down in ATL.
