New Houston

It has been a while since a local Houston rapper have made it big on a national level.  Growing up in Houston and hearing songs that only Houston people know, and seeing all of these artists making and passing out mixtapes, I am just sitting here anxiously waiting for our next "big thing." I feel like the time is almost here.  June 27th, another Houston made "rap holiday."  If you're not from Houston you probably wouldn't understand the significance of this date.  This is a 35 minute long freestyle by several local Houston artist such as Big Mo, Dmo, and Big Pokey just to name a few.  It's chopped and screwed and much credit is giving to DJ Screw.  On June 27th, 2011, a tribute was released for this freestyle giving thanks for the old Houston legends who made a way for the up and coming rappers from Houston.  From the new group who got together to do this song I personally know 3 of these Houston rappers:  Propain, Kirko Bangz, and Marcus Manchild.  There are about 6 people freestyling on this new video.  A rapper from this group will be the next big thing from Houston.  I hoping that it's one of the people I know and I do have a bias only because I know these 3, but I do think they're music is better than the others on the song.  97.9 the box agrees with me because each one of the 3 people I know have had at least 1 single played and hit the #1 spot within the last 9 months for Houston's local radio station.  Kirko Bangz has had 2 songs reach number 1, and his video has also been on BET's 106 and park which is a huge step.  Whomever it may be, I hope it's soon that some Houston rapper makes it big and put Houston back on the map.  All of them have skills, and rap about relevant issues, and they know how to make a song that's much more than just a catchy snap beat with a cool dance.

I refuse

Finally all settled into my new place.  I absolutely love it and the new scenery.  After 3 years West Campus had just become too much.  The noise, parties, extremely drunk people and crazy music.  I would look out over my balcony only to see one of the frat houses throwing a party and looking at several wasted frat boys "Moving like Bernie."  This is one dance song that I refused to get into.  I don't remember when the whole dance movement took over, but for me in 2007 at my graduation party I vividly remember cranking that soulja boy.  Everyone was so excited about doing this dance.  From there the whole "crank dat" movement took over.  I came to college and I saw people crankin that Batman, and Robin Hood.  Most of these songs were never played on the radio.  People just uploaded videos on youtube of a song with a very basic hook, and verses that were absolutely ridiculous and came up with real catchy organized dance moves to do to the song.  Then viewers got in front of their computers and watched and rehearsed these dances.  Although I thought the songs were crazy, I still practiced these dances.  After the crank that music faded away, there was a dance called the "Ricky Bobby." Somehow the song is referring to Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights, but I never quite understood how the dance had anything to do with movie.  From there I remember seeing alot of my Dallas friends doing this weird looking dance that I had never seen before.  Here comes the dougie phase.  The dougie was not as organized as these other dances.  It allowed you to be creative and add your own flavor to it.  Like those other dances, there was not one particular song to dougie to.  This dance spread like a wild fire, and you would seeing people doing it to just about every song. The dougie lasted a good while, people are still doing especially since that "Teach me How to Dougie." song came out.  Now the new thing is the South Dallas Swag. As much as I hate to say it because I know some of these songs and dances are pretty stupid, I secretly found myself practicing all of them in a mirror, but this Bernie song I just refused.  There's no way I would ever, it's really that bad.  I really don't know what genre any of these "dance songs" fall into.  I will never consider any of them hip hop, because if this is hip hop, it really is dead.  I give Dallas all of the credit.