Pages

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @HoodcraftNG

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

STREETZ IS TALKING-DO NOT SLEEP ON EM

"Too many rappers, but not enough fans", somebody said that last week, funny statement with a lil bit of truth to it with the way new rappers are emerging on the rap scene in hundreds. But before we get to these new cats lets go back a bit......back to saucekid's 1st mixtape "Money Long: the mixtape" and pick 2 rappers that had guest appearances on the project- Iceberg Slim and Ghetto P

Iceberg Slim

Most of y'all must have heard of iceberg slim because of the m.i diss, wen y'all should have heard of him before that, iceberg slim would definitely make my top 10 rappers in naija. Dude has been putting in work dropping punchline after punchline even with his hands tied (his lines not mine). I was doing a lil digging and i discovered he released a mixtape "The fix" (Download link available on our mixtape page) and it's actually available on the popular american mixtape site www.datpiff.com and seeing the fact that it had only been downloaded 80 times prompted me to do my part and try and let y'all know what ur missin. He just released a new single with banky w "too much money", word is he's working on a soon to be released project. U know wat, dont take my word for it, listen to a couple of his tracks..........and then wake up and stop sleeping on iceberg slim
Mr international (m.i diss) - Get it
I made it (feat Dagrin) - Get it

listen to the new single on www.360nobs.com
Ghetto P

You may know ghetto p as saucekid's right hand man, did u watch both of them murder jimmy's jumpoff? u better check it out on youtube or sumtin. ghetto p puts in work, killing most of the tracks he's featured on. he has guest apperances on the freshness mixtape, da ripoff mixtape, and a couple of albums. Ghetto p even took shots at mode 9 at one point in time, and i thot it was a pretty dope diss track. He released a single featuring terry g off his "I am here now" mixtape......look out for that.
Big baby (mode 9 diss) - Get it
I am here now - Get it

Do not sleep on em!!!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

MIXING THE MIXTAPE UP


Mixtapes have been a part of hip-hop since hip-hop started, although back in the early 60s they were called “party tapes”, when club DJ’s would record the hot club tracks because people just had to listen to them at home. U can say DJs like Grandmaster flash and the furious five, African bambataa and others were the ones who pioneered the mixtape act. Mixtapes were born for the same reason they still thrive today: To feed the streets. Mixtapes are normally hosted by Djs, where they feature artistes who rap on a couple of beats, including beats of already released (especially) hit singles.
Now fast forward a couple of years and lets see why an artist should release a mixtape today, I can think of 2 reasons
Just for the love of hip-hop 
In this case the artist isn’t trying to gain commercial success, just mainly street credibility. Here, the artist normally jumps on instrumentals of already released singles and not too much effort is put into the production and promotion of these mixtapes. Mainly for already established artists though
To gain exposure 
Some artists release mixtapes to gain exposure, mainly unsigned acts looking to get their music to the ears of record company executives
Now in naija, as an artist especially upcoming artists who want to release mixtapes, lets take a look at some key points, shall we
HOW EFFECTIVE IS A MIXTAPE
How effective is a mixtape in naija right now for an upcoming artist? We look at distribution, not many upcoming Nigerian artists would get a distribution deal for a hard copy mixtape (it’s quite hard to get for an album sef) so they upload their mixtapes on the internet and appeal to blogs and sites to advertise their music. How many people have internet connections or are willing to spend more than 30 minutes and use a few Megabytes off their limited data plans to download a mixtape from an artist their not even sure of, it’s much easier to pay 150 for an album even if it’s not worth listening to. A lot of people seem to forget that the most effective means of getting ur music out there is THE RADIO. How many radio stations would agree to play a mixtape track? Or how many artists would be willing to go through the hassle of trying to distribute a mixtape track through radio stations especially when you have to settle some of the presenters? When u think about it, u’ll be like “men,all dis stress for mixtape, how much I dey make from the thing sef”. I don’t know what a mixtape can do for you commercially, but I know that even already established artists don’t get more than 30, 000 downloads on a mixtape, then imagine selling just 30, 000 albums or having just 30, 000 people listen to your music (and that’s being optimistic)
HOW EFFECTIVE IS A SINGLE OR STRING OF SINGLES
A lot of acts have made millions and built careers off the success of just one single (especially here in naija), if u think about it, all the effort in making a mixtape, the bars written, the money spent on studio time and featuring other artists, if u channel all that energy and produce a smashing single, I bet it’ll do you more good than 10 mixtapes, both commercially and otherwise. A lot of artist who say they not trying to sell out, that they doing real hip-hop, but the truth of the issue is that you can combine both. How are you going to feed when you’ve chosen to be a professional artist but ur music isn’t doing shit for u.
LET THE RECORDS SHOW
Let’s take a look at some artistes who started their careers by releasing mixtapes and those that did with singles
Mode 9: while he’s one of the most respected hip-hop artists in Nigeria, I don’t think mode 9 has achieved that commercial appeal he deserves, while at a time he seemed to be getting the shine he deserved, he dimmed out again. He started his career by releasing the Malcom IX mixtape. Do you know that mode 9 has like 4 mixtapes, u wey dey claim hip-hop and mode 9 fan, how many u get?
I would love to mention more people who started their careers by releasing mixtapes, but honestly I haven’t still heard their shit and they’re out here I tell u.
M.I: we all love and respect m.i, word has it that m.i released a couple of projects before we heard crowd mentality, but that just goes to prove my point because, most of us haven’t heard tracks from any of the projects. But once m.i dropped “crowd mentality” and then “safe”……….well u can see where he is now
Naeto-C: dropped “sitting on top”, then “u know my p” then “kini big deal”……………now he’s 10/10
Do you know how many people are waiting patiently for ice prince’s album to drop…….i bet he does a million in his 1st week, u might say dis because of his monster single “oleku”
CONCLUSION
Mixtapes are important for hip-hop, I love mixtapes, but as an upcoming artist u should ask yourself whether releasing a mixtape is the best move for you, because hundreds of mixtapes go unnoticed, all that time and effort just to have only your closest friends and a few people listen to your music.
Speaking of mixtapes though, some very dope mixtapes have been released, one of my personal favorites is “clone wars” by show dem camp. Check out our mixtape page for some highly recommended naija mixtapes, I assure you they are worth the 30 mins and mega bytes.
Let’s know what you think too, Class Dismissed!!!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Streetz is Listening


Hoodcraft presents Streetz is listening Vol. 1
Just the hottest joints on the streetz right now available for download, includes the new fire from ice prince,show dem camp,yungsix, xo senavoe,proverb and a lotta hot artistes right now

Show Dem Camp - What you waiting for     Download here

Yungsix featuring Wizkid - Follow me go      Download here

Ice prince - Superstar                                  Download here

Kahli abdu - Toast                                       Download here

Proverb featuring Naeto-C - Higher             Download here

Muna - Killer queen                                     Download here

Xo senavoe - C4                                         Download here

The Faculty featuring Terry tha rapman and Pherowshuz   Download here

Laji Dwajem - 22s on a danfo                      Download here

Teeto ceemos - Footprints                            Download here

............................only the hottest!!!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Spotlight-Dipp


This is just my opinion but, THERE HASN'T BEEN AN ARTIST LIKE DIPP SINCE USHER (well maybe chris brown), and this has nothing to do with the fact that he looks like usher (maybe they have ancestral ties somewhere down in their family trees), dipp is definitely one of the most talented R'n'B/pop acts in africa, with a combination of incredible dance moves and a melodic voice all packaged with the supercool videos he dishes out (have u seen the best music video in naija "pop off selecta", i think dipp can go toe to toe with the best of them worldwide. His debut album "FUTURE IS NOW" is said to drop in may, with singles like "Dangerous", "pop off selecta", "good girls" and the recently released "good girls remix", it's definitely an album to look forward to.
Follow dipp on twitter @amazingdipp ,he's a down to earth dude, even with all that talent
In case u haven't seen it, here's the video for "pop off selecta"

Here's his latest single "Good girls remix"
Good girls remix- Download here

Friday, January 7, 2011

Naija hiphop 101-How to identify a one-hit wonder

DISCLAIMER
The fact that an artist or album is mentioned in this lecture does not indicate said artist is not talented or good in his/her genre of music or that said album was not deserving of the attention it got.
DEFINITION
A one-hit wonder is an artist that attains success for a period of time due to the commercial acceptance of a single and after a period of time, the artist is hardly ever heard from.

A one-hit wonder may have one or all of the following features
1. Artist has a hit single (shayo-bigiano, ijoya-weird mc, maga don pay-kelly handsome, gongo aso-9ice,      yahoozee-olu maintain, greenland-ty bello, ndoli ndoli-hman)
2. Artist makes one,two or three remixes of hit single (shayo remix, ndoli ndoli pt 2, yahoozy remix)
3. Artist releases album almost immediately and names album after hit single:probably to enable the layman on      d streetz identify the album with local vendor (shayo-bigiano, gongo aso-9ice,ndoli ndoli-hman, greenland-ty bello, malaria-soty)
4. Finally, artist is hardly ever heard from again
Facts stated here may not be 100% accurate and are subject to further verification. but u get the point.

by the way, where the hell is morachi???.......soul e????......does anybody know?

CLASS DISMISSED!!!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Spotlight-Beazy "Grind Ethics"

Grind ethics, the rules or principles of how the grind should be done, ever heard of beazymuscimondays? if u haven't its cos ur not truly tuned to naija hiphop n u should be ashamed of urself. truth be said, beazy was probably one of the most slept on rappers back in early 2010, even after his "the affidavit" mixtape, but eventually real has to recognize real, people have to recognize real and i have to do my part y'all. better recognize "beazymusicmondays" (yep, one word) cos every monday for the past 18 weeks, beazy has been feeding the streetz with dope tracks, whether it's freestyles over previously existing tracks or brand new tracks of his own, teaming up wit most of my favs like teeto, terry tha rapman,shank a lot of other hot emcees, and the good news is TODAY IS MONDAY!!! AND we have 33 more mondays, yeah dats right, beazymusicmondays is goin on for a whole year, now u see why dis article is captioned "grind ethics". when u see a rapper who does his thing more for the love than for the paycheck u best recognize, i'm a lot of weeks late but u can get the remaining tracks from www.360nobs.com. like they say "monday is the most BEAZY day of the week" (don't ask me who said it)

First Monday of 2011, beazy couldn't have given a better new year gift than dis, it's d remix to his first musicmonday track "bady guy", now he features teeto,xo,show dem camp,shank,djinee,kb,d-black,efya
Bad Guy(remix)-Beazy (Download)
"gave birth to a track n i ain't gotta push"-ghost
"u don't want it wit me like liberian child soldiers"-beazy 

some previous tracks from beazymusicmondays
u know my steez-beazy feat ice prince (Download)
who dat(freestyle)-beazy  (Download)

Follow beazy on twitter @yoitsbeazy

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Sounds from THE UNDERGROUND-Kahli Abdu

kahli abdu
ministry of corruption
I've been keeping my ears to the ground, well actually in the underground. All hiphop lovers know that a lot of  respected rappers today emerged/rose from the underground. Here's kahli abdu, a j-town rapper (yeah,seems like jos is becoming naija's brooklyn), he's been on his grind since, released a couple of mixtapes including his "grind theory mixtape", u can say this is the beginning of his rise to the top, cos his new mixtape "ministry of corruption" is getting more public acknowledgement than most of his previous works.
U remember nas in his prime,illmatic times when he was tackling issues with government, den u knw hiphop is at its best when a rapper tackles problems lyrically, well from the mixtape title u can tell urself, kahli takes the fela approach as most of the tracks are made with snippets from felas tracks. i'm still listening to the mixtape, so i can't really give reviews. i indulge y'all to listen to it too, even ice prince respects dis guy, i tell u, THIS IS NAIJA HIPHOP
Ministry of Corruption-Kahli Abu (Download)

streetz is listening-Naeto-C (single)

naeto c
We were expecting naeto-c's sophomore last year, dunno wat happened, but here's a new single off "SUPER C SEASON", titled "share my blessings" feat asa.
Share my blessings-Naeto-c feat asa (Download)

Saturday, January 1, 2011

streetz is watching-str8 buttah feat eva

New video from str8 buttah "make em say" feat eva, dis is off deir upcoming album "ILLA-STR8 2". I'm sure u've all heard bout str8 buttah, but if not, not to worry, i'm doin an article on dem before the week runs out.
This is hiphop right here and eva really goes hard on dis joint, told y'all she's fire

Streetz is Listening-Yungsix (single)

Yungsix "9ja carter" is really the boy, told y'all about d kid a few weeks back, seems hez been gettin real busy in the studio, here are some new joints, a new single "so far gone" and an appearance on frankie free's "gbeskelemiske"

So far gone-Yungsix feat fizzie (Download)
Gbeskelemiske-Frankie free feat Yungsix (Download)

"i got so much class i can skool u"-yungsix, so far gone

Follow yungsix on twitter @yung6ix

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Even though 2011 started on a bad note, with the explosion in abacha barracks in abuja on new years's eve, where more than 30 people lost their lives and many more injured (we pray for all those affected in one way or the another and ask God to give you the fortitude to bear ur loss).
We still have a lot of reasons to look forward to the rest of the year with optimism, this year is a very crucial one in Nigeria with the upcoming general elections, we pray for peace and political stability. We have the power to create the change we want to see in the country, it starts with us, everybody eligible to vote should go out and REGISTER and VOTE. OUR FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS
Since hiphop came to existence artists have always used their music to make positive changes in their societies, naija artists have a major role to play in the progress of the country, u have the ears of the public, use your music to spread positive messages, address issues facing our societies, seek to promote unity among all nigerians, God put u there for a purpose and i doubt if it's just to make money, use your music for the greater good
Hoodcraft is making a grand entry this year, blogging is more like art for me, i grew up listening to rap and r'n'b,so i'm well grounded in dis type of music and dats why i blog about it. Naija hiphop is developing a lot faster than we imagined, in the past years we've seen our artists on the same stages and performances with world class acts, we've heard world class songs, seen world class videos, but hiphop in naija is still growing, i want to contribute my own quota to dis growth, this blog serves to promote naija hiphop especially upcoming artists, for info on news and events u can check our listed blogs and sites. Be on the look out for artists featured on this blog.
Please FOLLOW this blog, drop comments let me know ur opinions, visit the blog often as i update almost on a daily basis, tell ur friends about it.
2011, go and be all u can be, live ur dreams, and most importantly feed your soul with good music.


"omo shine ur eyes/d only way to live ur dreams is to rise and grind"-tec (show dem camp)

Juba...