"State of the State" with L-No!

Our first installment of our new writer L-No's series called "State of the State"!!!!!!

State of the State with L-NO! 1st edition

What’s up West Virginia? It’s your boy L-NO! here with the first edition of “State of the State”. I’m pleased to report that right now things are going crazy in WV! The video game has really been stepped up lately. Videos for “Fresh like Dougie” from MONSTALUNG and “Gucci Yet” from Bluefield’s own Tiger the Ace have been getting heavy traffic on YouTube and are both getting great reviews from the locals so far. Dayone Media’s B. Rude’s clip for the classic “Backpack Fulla Papers” showcases some classic Bruder madness and has been getting a good amount of views as well…

We’ve had some crazy album releases over the last month as well. SoundVizion and South Charleston resident Kayoh’s debut “Fruity Loops and Pro Tools” has been getting great reviews. I bought it myself (that’s right, bought it…support local artists!!!), and I’m really impressed with it. Kayoh’s production is sick, and lyrically he does a great job for his first effort. The guest appearances are on point and its well worth the $7 purchase price…it’s available at kayoh.bandcamp.com.

SoundVizion as a whole is doing it real big right now…just released today is the “Legends in the Making” mixtape, mixed by your favorite WV DJ Charlie Blac, featuring 6’6 240 and CookieHead Jenkins. I just gave it a first listen and I’m digging it a lot. It’s one of Charlie’s best mixes I’ve heard in recent memory, his scratches are tight and the blends are razor sharp as always. 6’6 does his thing as you might expect, but for me CHJ was really impressive on this release. His style has gotten really tight, and I would expect big things from him in the near future. Also just posted is the video of Ray-P’s trip to the Core DJ’s Retreat in Orlando…check it out!

SoundVizion’s “Feed the Streets, Vol.1” featuring the entire SV roster…a bangin free download, was released last week. After you check it, make sure you look for SV artists 6’6 240, MONSTALUNG and A. Breezy on Itunes and cop a single at the least! Breezy’s “The Spaceship Project” as well as the MONSTALUNG album are available now. Also be on the lookout for the long-awaited debut album by Johnny Harmonic (keep your eyes peeled to livefromthedub.com for an interview with JH coming soon!)

Lastly for this edition, I’d like to take a minute to shout out the late, great, legendary (and one of my best friends) Meuwloooooo! In addition to the recent release of The Haggard Twinz “Better Late Than Never”, Meuwl’s spirit is alive and well with several video tributes as well as his now-infamous stencil T-shirt. Last month, B. Rude, with the assistance of many friends, set up the first of an annual series of three memorial shows for the style king. The first one was in Morgantown at 123 Pleasant St, complete with a two hour art show to kick things off. The lineup was crazy, with Profit Money doing his thing and setting off the show with great energy. Next was Charleston’s Extra Everything, (Mic Rude and Santana Blue)…well if you don’t know about these guys you better fuckin ask somebody! They killed their set and I for one am HEAVILY anticipating their debut album, coming soon. Paycheck Game, who flew in from Reno just to be in the building, did a great set and was followed up by 6’6 240 and the rest of the SV crew. For me, Big Ass Manatee stole the show. I don’t think anyone who hadn’t seen them before will hear songs like “Return of the Mack” or “This is How We Do It” the same again. The highlight for me was their mix of “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun”, followed by their closer, “Pinecone”, with B. Rude and yours truly. Be on the lookout for some video clips of the show coming soon….While I wasn’t able to attend the Huntington or Charleston shows, I’ve heard they both were well attended and went great. The Man From Somewhere Else came down from NJ to show his love, and I heard Extra Everything killed their set in Charleston as well. The Yetti, who always put on a great show where there as well as Teddy Faley, who came down from Baltimore. You can see pics at wvrapscene.com.

That’s it for now…stay tuned to livefromthedub.com and our friends at wvrapscene.com for all the latest and greatest in WV hip-hop news. While you’re there, visit the wvrapscene store and purchase music from your favorite local artists!!!!

One Love,

L-NO!
D1 FOREVER!!!

If you would like to reach L-No email him at JustinLeonardWVU@aol.com