The beginning of the Fly Guy series has started! Last weekend we meet Tommy Fly Guy for a photo shoot. The DMV rapper and leader of the Fly Brigade showed why they call him the Fly Guy. Enjoy these shots from the shoot and stay tuned for more from the Fly Guy series.
Popularity: 16% [?]
B. Summers
I went up to Maryland this weekend and checked out the National Harbor and ended up walking into a gold mine. The harbor is still in development, but they have three art galleries in business so far. The one attracting the better crowd goes by the name of Art Whino. The gallery was set up like an exclusive boutique –which it should since they have exclusive art. One side was reserved for the owner’s exclusive collection of well known artists like Banksy, a guerrilla graffiti artist, and the other side was reserved for exhibitions.
Kenji Summers was also there and intriuged by the works on display. The show had plush figures from various artists. The theme of the show that goes on until Aug. 7th is Mortal Plush. The works will remind you of collectable vinyl toys. If you’re in the DMV area, its a must see.
Popularity: 29% [?]
B. Summers
For the D.C., Maryland, Virginia, metropolitan area (DMV), good rappers are hardly a dime-a-dozen. This is not the result of a lack of talent in the metro area; instead, it is in my opinion, due to the DMV’s beloved Go-Go. Go-Go is a subculture of the Hip-hop culture. In fact, today’s Go-Go music consists of recycled raps and song lyrics over a live band’s beat tempo, which moderately resembles the original song.
The problem with the metro area’s unique musical genre is that the standards for membership in these bands aren’t very high. All you actually need to make a band, as far as vocalists and rappers go, is knowledge of popular song lyrics and maybe a trendy scratchy voice. For singers, you just have to attempt to hold a note.
Now the way the band sounds collectively doesn’t have a lot to do with the reason why the DMV doesn’t have a lot of rap stars, although, the individual sound of the aspiring rappers does. The standards are so low, that anybody and everybody who wants to rap does just that.
Recently, a few rising stars have shinned their way out of the category sub-par. Artists like R&B singer, Raheem DeVaughn, and rapper, Wale are now creating a new precedent for aspiring metro area artists. And don’t assume that these guys are getting their fame by “selling out” and loosing their DMV swag. They are actually using their love for Go-Go to gain exposure for themselves, as well as the metro area. With songs that either collaborate or point out the metro area trends like the Wale song Nike Boots , these artist bring a positive light to “The Area.”
They are proving that Go-Go is a gift and a curse. In my opinion, for every eight to 10 Go-Go bands, there is one good rapper and singer, and for maybe every 20 bands there is one great rapper and singer. But once in a lifetime there is a Wale, at least in my lifetime.
Popularity: 7% [?]
