By Matik!

They say history tends to repeat itself, and in todays current hip hop climate, one can’t help but notice the resurgence of talent coming out of one of the most celebrated boro’s in NYC, Queens. Just take scroll down the list of Queens finest that include the likes of Nas, Kool G. Rap, LL Cool J, ATCQ, MC Shan, Run-DMC, Mobb Deep…the list goes on…Its almost inevitable for you to be born in the boro that keeps it thoro and not want to take a shot at the mic. Fast forward to 2011 and a new breed of MC’s have stepped up to carry on tradition and bring back the essence. There’s a lot to live up to when repping the place who’s fingerprints are all over the hip hop history books, but theres no telling what this crop of talent will be able to rewrite. From braggadocio raps to droppin science, conscience flows to black metal rap, Queens got it covered. Lets take a stroll down the list of some of the main players taking part in this comeback.

 

Meyhem Lauren

One listen to Meyhem Laurens catalogue and you can’t help but agree that his music evokes a classic and nostalgic feel much like his namesake. The Queens emcee and member of the famed Brooklyn Lo-Life crew is as “true to the culture” artist as you will find in this game. In other words, if you expect bubble gum radio rap, go that wayyyyy. If you were copping mixtapes heavy early (shouts to Dee from Canal!) you couldn’t leave without coppin’ the latest J-Love mixtape and help but notice Meyhem became a frequent guest within the mix of exclusives. Gaining a loyal fanbase as time went by and collabing with greats such as Ghostface, Kool G Rap, Sean Price and M.O.P. to name a few, Meyhem is set to bring back that raw element back into the music. After dropping his highly praised ode to graffiti “Got The Fever“, and a 41 track mixtape with J-Love titled Self Induced Illness, Meyhem isnt slowing down anytime soon with more projects to follow within the year that are sure to solidify his place in this Queens renaissance.

Meyhem Lauren – Queens (prod by J-Love)

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Timeless Truth

Consisting of blood brothers O-Prime and Solace, the two brothers from Flushing are a throwback to that good ol’ Queens boom bap. Just by listening to of one of their earliest tracks alongside Kool G. Rap “World Renown“, you can tell their roots are well bred into the culture reminiscent of the NY golden era where pure skills would shine and be put in the forefront. Timeless Truth are readying their release of their debut album Rock-It Science to drop later this year. With some sureshot collabs and producers in the bag that range from Roc Marciano to Queens beat legend Large Professor, and mixing duties being handled by engineer legend Eddie Sancho, the bar is set high for peers to top a potential NY classic in the making.

Timeless Truth – Can’t Handle It

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Action Bronson

I think Eskay from Nahright describes Bronson perfectly for those who haven’t been put on yet:

“How to describe Action Bronson? Dude sounds like Ghostface and Raekwon had a love child, dipped him on ‘Lo and sent him to Le Cordon Bleu.”

Basically.

Repping the Flushing side of Queens, Bronson’s play with words is as lethal as a Paul Kersey hit. One of the more entertaining rappers on the rise, Bronson makes sure to integrate his expertise in the culinary field with his music, sort of a throwback to the Wu-Gambino raps heard on early Ghostface and Raekwon tracks. But Bronson is no shark rapper, he has clout in the kitchen, recently getting recognition from the Zagat restaurant blog on his seared ahi tuna recipe displayed on his “Action in the Kitchen” Youtube series. What other rapper you know gets down in the kitchen like that?!?! Recently Bronsolino dropped his debut LP Dr. Lecter on iTunes, and its guaranteed to leave your appetite wanting more. But no worries, cause Statik Selektah and Action Bronson are soon to drop their collaborative LP very soon as a 2nd course.

Action Bronson – Barry Horowitz

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Cody B Ware

There hasn’t been many upcoming artists who force to push the boundaries of what we identify as “hip hop” as much as Jamaica, Queens resident emcee Cody B. Ware. Sure Run DMC set the benchmark when they paired up with Aerosmith in the historic collaboration “Walk This Way” back in 86′, but Cody looks to take it a step further with his self proclaimed “Black Metal Rap”. With the recent release of his debut LP “Welcome Home” we get a successful blend of genres orchestrated by his in-house production team White Indian, ranging from hip hop, funk, hardcore, to metal, along with a rapidfire flow of thoughts that’ll leave you in a trance. Next level some may say, just check out a live performance and you’ll definitely get the full effect of what his music is set out to do, and the scary thing is…this is just the beginning. Along with his World’s Fair crew (COTN, Jeff Donna, Prince Samo) on the prowl, Cody B. Ware is set out to make the game fear his name.

Cody B. Ware – #33 Forever (prod by White Indian)

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