Oklahoma & Underground News
Around the area, there were some very solid releases. In OKC, Grand National dropped his project Grand Prix, which features a lot of production from Sir Flywalker (who’s done a ton of work with Pell, Curren$y, and Nesby Phips) and some guest appearances from Oklahoma’s Dial Tone, Ja’ Porter, and Young DV. Grand has developed a solid fan base around the area and does a good job of branching out to the surrounding areas, evident from his collaboration with Houston’s George Young and the various producers on the project.
That’s a crucial element to progressing and getting your sound out if you want to establish yourself in the game, and something that has taken time here. But sure enough, it’s manifesting. Jabee announced that he has about 10 shows in the next month, and Josh Sallee is hitting the road with Johnny Polygon for a couple weeks in April. Sallee also has a “Secret EP” for his fans that he donated to the tour fund that he’s sending them directly that has all unreleased material. A really dope project out of Houston that is getting a lot of love right now is Maxo Kream’s Maxo 187. Houston is about to have its Atlanta and Chicago moment.
The dopest group in OKC, Militant Mindz, just released their new album, Parallels. I mentioned their track “Knew Dat” last month and encouraged everyone to get familiar with them. The project is finally here, and if you’re a fan of legitimately good rapping over carefully crafted production in the vein of Mick Jenkins, Flatbush Zombies, or even shades of Kendrick Lamar’s sound, then you’ll absolutely dig this project. I’m a fan. Also, there are few artists here who take the time to reinvest in their sound and craft, and these guys are on the shortlist of people who take their career seriously and think outside of the local-hero mindset. If OKC’s hip-hop scene is to thrive — and it is fully capable of doing so — then we must support and spread music like this. Their story is very much worth paying attention to.
For a lot of Oklahomans in and around the music scene, the second half of March was dominated by a J. Cole show, Kendrick Lamar’s album, and SXSW down in Austin. I touched on Kendrick’s album a bit, but have a few quick thoughts before getting to the highlights of this month, musically. A lot of people (venues and those who run them included) are hesitant to go to hip-hop shows or be involved with them. A lot of those people have reservations for their own safety that’s typically rooted in an inherent fear that I myself cannot associate with. Let me just tell you that there were 1500-plus people on a Tuesday night at the J. Cole show at the Farmer’s Market, and it could not have gone smoother. What I saw was a packed room full of people who appreciated good music and were in dire need of a star that they love to come to a city that doesn’t embrace the genre or the performers attached to it as much as it should. I was incredibly proud of the scene that night, like I am 98 percent of the time, and want it to serve as an example of how this city is more than ready for shows of this kind and caliber. If you don’t like hip-hop, that’s cool. If you think it’s dangerous and serves no purpose in OKC, then you’re sorely mistaken and need to open your eyes.
Lastly, on SXSW, there are a couple things to be outrageously proud of from people around Oklahoma City. LND RNRS had their second annual Vibes Showcase and we (Pairadime) had our fourth annual SXNK (South by Nice Kicks) Showcase. Between the two showcases put on entirely by entities from Oklahoma, it featured artists such as Ty Dolla $ign, Dej Loaf, Kevin Gates, Charles Hamilton, OG Maco, K. Camp, Casey Veggies, Rockie Fresh, Goldlink, Snootie Wild, Father, King Chip, Pell, Metroboomin, Zelooperz, Two-9, Tunji Ige, Retch, A$AP Ant, Maxo Kream, Michael Christmas, Alex Wiley, Boldy James, Bobby Raps, Overdoz, Doughbeezy, Troy Noka, Roosh Williams, Denzel Curry, Boogie, Dex Kwasi, Chill Moody, Josh Sallee, Kari Faux, and some amazing others over three days and four stages. That’s incredible to have two iconic showcases in hip-hop at SXSW represented by companies from Oklahoma. To say the scene has come a long way in the past few years is an understatement.
Read on to see what Gray’s favorite songs, videos and artists of the month were:
