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Written by Toriano L. Porter Tuesday, 25 April 2006 04:59

Followed by labelmate and fellow hard-ass Rockwell Knuckles’ precious gem “Running Laps,” the project’s credo—St. Louis hip-hop artists can spit street rhymes just as hard as East and West Coast artists—is laid out.

Step aside, party music–making rap artists, and make room for another genre of hip-hop emerging from the depths of St. Louis: street-inspired rap tales amid quality-laced instrumentals.

Area spin-master DJ Trackstar’s Boogie Bang Music, Volume 1 takes the city’s stranglehold of elementary-challenged rhyme merchants and turns it lopsided as the Halo Bar’s resident DJ introduces the masses to his perfectly concocted blend of national rhyme heavyweights and up-and-coming artists from the Gateway.

“Boogie Bang,” a cut by Mansion Studios’ Tef Poe, sets the stage, as the artist formerly known as Teflon Poetix christens the album’s approach with the aggressive, gun-toting opener. Followed by labelmate and fellow hard-ass Rockwell Knuckles’ precious gem “Running Laps,” the project’s credo—St. Louis hip-hop artists can spit street rhymes just as hard as East and West Coast artists—is laid out.

Trackstar adds his musically inclined touch and feel to the mix, splicing together “Laps” with T.I.’s latest hit from the ATL soundtrack “What You Know ‘Bout That,” proof The Lou is capable of more than the “down, down baby” syndrome associated with some of the area’s more accomplished artists. Busta Rhymes’ remix to the Purple Ribbon All-Stars’ mega hit “Kryptonite” is raunchy, peppered with weed, drug, and gun references, but sounds good to the ears due to Bussa Bus’ passionate, tenacious flow.

While tracks from New York–based rappers Nas, AZ, and Wu Tang Clan’s Rakwon make the list, the album’s purest cut, may be the ingenious “Spit Ya’ Game” featuring Notorious B.I.G. with Big Will of Da Slu Cru. The babyfaced, rhyme-slaying Big Will, fresh from a seven-week run as a freestyle battle rap champion on BET’s 106th and Park, sounds like, if not better than, a young Twista, as featured on the original single from B.I.G’s posthumous release The Biggie Duets. Trackstar cleverly dupes Twista’s lyrics in favor of Big Will’s and the result is a frantic, tongue-twisting rap over a stinging, fever-pitch beat.

Adding to the impressive mix are local rap luminaries such as Toyy, Vandalyzm, and Spaide R.I.P.P.E.R., who’s Billboard-charting single “Always” is transformed by Trackstar into a head-banging, pulse-racing free-for-all remix. Boogie Bang’s artistic direction of splicing, mixing, and blending established rap artists with some of St. Louis’ finest independent microphone controllers is commendable. Backed by solid production from Tech Productions, ample lyrical wordplay from the locals, and national name recognition, the album should do well to quell the notion St. Louis is the home of party and bullshit rap music.

Purchase downloads for this artist at our BurnLounge.