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Atlanta Georgia
Atlanta Georgia

T-Rock was the first and only Atlanta rapper to be signed to Memphis-based Hypnotized Minds Records, and while he left that camp, he has remained practically a rap institution in his hometown. Now T-Rock comes with possibly his most ambitious project to date, a massive double-album of 30 songs called “I Grind, I Hustle”. The two discs are remarkably dissimilar. Disc 1, entitled “I Grind”, is a heavily-produced, lush studio album with first-rate production. Standout songs are the single “Ewing”, the title track, the pleasant sample-driven “I Blaze” and the crunk, careless anthem “I Just Might” which features The Dayton Family. Other tracks on the disc feature Dirty from Montgomery, Alabama and Memphian Mr. Sche. Disc 2, “I Hustle” has the grittier, grimier atmosphere of an underground mixtape, with rough songs like “100 Goons”, “AK 47” and “Now They Love Me.” The seeming incongruity of the two discs simply shows the extreme versatility of T Rock, and the total album has something for everybody. While some will prefer the second disc, and others will love the first, I Grind I Hustle is a bold statement of arrival for one of the ATL’s most consistent independent rappers.

T-Rock was the first and only Atlanta rapper to be signed to Memphis-based Hypnotized Minds Records, and while he left that camp, he has remained practically a rap institution in his hometown. Now T-Rock comes with possibly his most ambitious project to date, a massive double-album of 30 songs called “I Grind, I Hustle”. The two discs are remarkably dissimilar. Disc 1, entitled “I Grind”, is a heavily-produced, lush studio album with first-rate production. Standout songs are the single “Ewing”, the title track, the pleasant sample-driven “I Blaze” and the crunk, careless anthem “I Just Might” which features The Dayton Family. Other tracks on the disc feature Dirty from Montgomery, Alabama and Memphian Mr. Sche. Disc 2, “I Hustle” has the grittier, grimier atmosphere of an underground mixtape, with rough songs like “100 Goons”, “AK 47” and “Now They Love Me.” The seeming incongruity of the two discs simply shows the extreme versatility of T Rock, and the total album has something for everybody. While some will prefer the second disc, and others will love the first, I Grind I Hustle is a bold statement of arrival for one of the ATL’s most consistent independent rappers.

T-Rock was the first and only Atlanta rapper to be signed to Memphis-based Hypnotized Minds Records, and while he left that camp, he has remained practically a rap institution in his hometown. Now T-Rock comes with possibly his most ambitious project to date, a massive double-album of 30 songs called “I Grind, I Hustle”. The two discs are remarkably dissimilar. Disc 1, entitled “I Grind”, is a heavily-produced, lush studio album with first-rate production. Standout songs are the single “Ewing”, the title track, the pleasant sample-driven “I Blaze” and the crunk, careless anthem “I Just Might” which features The Dayton Family. Other tracks on the disc feature Dirty from Montgomery, Alabama and Memphian Mr. Sche. Disc 2, “I Hustle” has the grittier, grimier atmosphere of an underground mixtape, with rough songs like “100 Goons”, “AK 47” and “Now They Love Me.” The seeming incongruity of the two discs simply shows the extreme versatility of T Rock, and the total album has something for everybody. While some will prefer the second disc, and others will love the first, I Grind I Hustle is a bold statement of arrival for one of the ATL’s most consistent independent rappers.

Mid-Atlantic Music Conference weekend, October 8-9, 2011

Mid-Atlantic Music Conference weekend, October 8-9, 2011

Mid-Atlantic Music Conference weekend, October 8-9, 2011

Pastor Troy was one of the founders of the crunk style of rap for which Atlanta is famous, and he continues the tradition with his most recent album King of All Kings. Featuring an all-star cast of producers including Memphis legend DJ Squeeky, the album exhibits Troy’s characteristic style in 18 tracks, ranging from the melodic “Backroads” that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Colt Ford album, to crunk anthems like “King of All Kings”, “Gangsta Revival” or “Niggaz Is Hungry”. There are songs for (or about) the ladies too, like “She Say She Never Knew” and “Georgia Peach”, and the seemingly-autobiographical “Lyin’ Bout Her Crib”, which follows a similar course to Notorious B.I.G.’s “I’ve Got A Story To Tell.” With King of All Kings, Pastor Troy has released an album of consistent quality that should please his fans, as well as fans of Southern rap everywhere.

Babs is a jewel of a brunch cafe, tucked away on Jupiter Street in Midtown Atlanta and easy to miss. But you shouldn’t miss it, because the breakfast is outstanding, and the coffee, a brand called Torrie from Italy, is truly amazing. 

Southeast Urban Music Conference showcases on the patio, Park Tavern, Piedmont Park, Atlanta, June 22, 2011

After a day of promoting, I decided to have dinner at Max’s Coal Oven Pizza in the new little hip district on Marietta Street Northwest near the Aquarium and Georgia Dome. It’s a nice little area, and the food at Max’s was quite good.