Calvin Valentine – Red Eye Flights

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Working is what Oregon’s Calvin Valentine does and when he’s not playing his alter rap ego you can find him on the boards producing hits under G_Force. In 2011 alone this man had his name associated with five well put together projects and his second solo release “Red Eye Flights” already marks his second release of 2012. Flavin to a new level musically Calvin’s ego puts you into a cosmos where you feel like you’re a playboy sipping the finest, smoking the best, and living life like everyday’s elegant. Valentine in title its assuming as Calvin centers content on women and relationships but often in a playboyish gratuity. Produced entirely by himself (G_Force) this album is just super smooth and soulful which really shows how he stands apart as a genuine producer verses a ordinary beat maker. Guest spots come from TxE group members Epp and Tope as well as Sam Trump, N.VS, plus the vocals of Caitlin Cardier.
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CeeGoods – Im Not A Rapper 2.0

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These days its damn near an embarrassment to call yourself a rapper so you can easily see why CeeGoods has titled his mixtape series “Im Not A Rapper” with the most recent 2.0 volume being released. On the other hand the Portland based artist could simply be saying that because he is a producer first but the music is what is important. Hearted with a multi-coast flow, you can tell older hip hop draws influence as Cee takes his writtens more serious with thought out lyrics. His delivery seems to be what he emphasizes the most with good adlibs, strong wordplay, and a flow that demands attention. As a producer you like to understand where Cee is coming from as he has soul at the heart of things but at other times just wants to make a banger.  Not in a mimicking way of copying the hot trend but just a head bobbin beat you can appreciate or something soulful you can cruise too. The guest appearances have some city notables like Kenny Mack and Tope but also features appearances from Lance Edward, Derikk Piff, Jay Child, Late Davis, plus Jiminee.
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Dubl J – Full Contact

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The west coast kept it simple in the nineties you were either mobbin with that straight lace smash danked out dark vibe or you kept it funking with the feel good chill laid smooth playa summertime vibe. It was a good time with good music but for every known artist there were probably just as many unknown’s trying to make good music. Oregon was no different at the time drawing influence more so from either the west or the east due to the Mecca’s they were building. While independent artists really bubbled in the nineties it wasn’t really until the turn of the century that a lot of artists really felt like they had what it took as well. Dubl J was an artist coming out of Portland with his Platinum Penny Productions label when he released his “Full Contact” album. Lyricism is one of those things they use these days to really set artists apart but back in the days it was not as important. Dubl J like a lot of west coast artists relied on just being able to go hard on a beat. Let the mobbed out sounds do their job and he would compliment the rest by just telling his story with a catchy hook for the songs given occasion. As simple as the beats were back in the day we loved them and Dubl J along with Patrick Brewer did all the beats with features coming from Cach, D-v-iss, Ru, No dozz, plus Lee Lee.
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Bobby Lotto – The Off Brand Volume 2

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Preference and taste when it comes to music is only natural but as a listener you like various types of music. Its often a trait a lot artists hate to possess and being one-sided with your music lessens just about everything from potential fan base to opportunities. While there is nothing wrong with being different or happy with the music you make Portland’s Bobby Lotto wants to be the total package. While most jump at the opportunity of becoming an artist it played second choice for Bobby until recently when he decided as a producer/song writer that his skills could probably fare better than the current competition. Under his Breaking New Productions trademark Bobby has started his own mixtape series called “The Off Brand” which currently has two volumes for download. While music continues to congest itself with new artists it’s a fitting title because your simply an off brand until you make yourself into a name brand. Pinpointing the music itself for Bobby Lotto is something that you can’t quite gauge yet because he has the street steez along with the standard west coast principles but hybrids himself with potential diversity. Potential is what any great artist starts with but molding it into something more is where Bobby goes moving forward. He seems to have the right idea of keeping fundamentals but also willing to try anything in his comfort zone to make good music.
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Captain – One Verse 2

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As a rapper you have to go into the ring every time with the mentality you are the champ and everyone wants a piece of what you have. Rap is a tall talk type of business and the competitiveness is just like anything else with a prize in sight. While most people are yelling they a Boss you got Captain coming out of Oregon with his 1UP label. A name influenced by his Grandfather who was a Captain in the services has been the startup for a buildup of small releases for the young new artist. While the northwest region for rap music can seem barren in comparison to other markets capturing even that base can sometimes be difficult. While Captain started with the often cliché mixtape like most artists when he released “Fresh Coast” last year he has taken a different approach with his last two releases in something he is calling “One Verse”. Instead of trying to whoo you with a mixtape full of songs Captain takes the thought of current hit beats and just does one hard verse very well. Captain is talented with a rap bluster that is pretty versed like a lot of new rappers and he makes rapping seem easy but serious fans will probably question what sets him apart? Too early to tell and while ideally capable the development period for Captain will see what he’s made of.
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Voice – Ice In My Cup

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R&B is kind of getting a new kick these days with the emergence of artists who halter the vocals but also don’t rely on carrying a sound so traditional. Artists like Frank Ocean have really gasped attention of fans lately with R&B that takes more of a rappers approach which has caught on well. Whilst many people can sing those that actually take it serious are numbered and as talented as the pool of new artists is coming from Portland only recently has it had a onset of singers. Voice from NBG (New Beginin Global) will be amongst the few who try to take his talents from the Northwest on. After appearing on Talentine 2 compilation Voice is releasing the first pre-heater “Ice In My Cup” from his upcoming project “Fallen Angel” which is expected sometime later this year.
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Mikey Vegaz – Oregoon

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Them ducks got it in and won the Rose Bowl for the first time in….wait…..wait for it…a record ninety five years! Now talk that Oregon could be a potential home city to a future NFL franchise as well? Hmmmm they say good news strikes in threes and maybe that’s the case for the future of Portland’s music scene which has its artists ready to make moves. Mikey Vegaz needs no introduction and while young his work has been tough over the years putting him in the respected status in the city. Some artists never give back or reach out to others in their own city whether its hate or just plain lament of possibly being outdone by others the unity lacks heavily. Mikey displays a confident artist who can appreciate good talent to align himself with not feeling opposed but instead striving for the same dream which is seen on his latest mixtape “Oregoonz”. The daunting task of putting the whole city on would be impossible but Mikey gets veterans and young goons united for a twenty one track mixtape massacre. Whole heartily the whole mixtape push really is dead due to overuse where everyone is trying to murk the latest hot beat but admittedly Mikey is one of the few who can still make a mixtape feel like a album. Jacked beat or not Mikey don’t care he’s going to abuse it just like the last one and if you weren’t familiar with the original track chances are you might think it’s his. All this new music its about that time we need the new solo “Premature Millionaire”!
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Bosko – Bombay & Passin Time

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In the nineties everyone wanted to be from the west coast the sunshine and palm trees portrayed in music videos made it look like a different kind of paradise. The upper west now more often recognized as the northwest drew instrumental influence from these artists. During this time a label was trying to take the thought of good music plus good business to put their own city Portland on the map when Cool Nutz and Bosko founded Jus Family Records. While the label had its share of releases in the early nineties things did not really pick up until the mid to late nineties when the label signed some of the better local talent and released several albums plus compilations. Bosko at the time was kind of the in house producer for the label but also was starting to get a buzz with his production outside the label. Round 1995 Bosko released a single for a new sound he was creating called “Bombay” and even garnered a deal with Big Beat Records who had been responsible for the success of quite a few artists over they years. While always recognized for  his production Bosko has always been that multi-threat from rapper, writer, producer, and go to for some of the best talk-box work. Though the full album never materialized his success has never halted. Bosko has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and still continues to do so giving the Northwest a figure to look up to.
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v1creative & Terminill Present – PDX Pass The Mic

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Who said Portland doesn’t have emcees? Produced by Terminill for Flatline Studios, Pass The Mic is the city’s ultimate rap cipher and the opening track for Flatline Studios Complilation Volume 1. Inspired by the Pepsi Smash campaign of late, the crisp audio-video collaboration puts 8 of the city’s hottest, most explosive rappers on display. Serge Severe (of Animal Farm) leads off repping Portland on an incendiary digital beat loop, and makes way for Th3oryHazit (Humble Beast) and Jon Belz (Chill Crew) to work magic on the track. Aquick skip in the beat and it’s time for Luck One (of Seventh Science) to add his bit before Quiz Zilla flirts with double-time flows. Next, Mila Gordana adds a woman’s touch with her distinctively sultry sound before Cassow gets init, leaving the final verse for Braille (Humble Beast) to drop knowledge. With this project, Portland becomes the latest in a long line of cities to create a Pass The Mic track. Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas and Chicago have all represented their respective metropolitan areas in this manner with success. Now it’s Portland’ sturn to show and prove. The associated music video – shot and directed byV1Creative – is sure to turn heads, and will hopefully attract more attention to the Northwest’s growing rap scene. In the words of Terminill, “I just want for the world to get a taste of what Portland has to offer hip-hop.” You can rest assured, this collection will not disappoint.
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Milc – Got Milc

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Touting as the highly disputed king of North East Portland, Milc goes HAM all day, everyday when it comes to his music. On stage, in your corner cypher, or as half of the group Load-B (Last Of A Dying Breed), Milc delivers personal penance and punch-lines in between grape-swishers and forty’s. His debut solo endeavor “Got Milc” features tracks that are more like conversations than songs, packed with clean delivery and clever wordplay. Milc says “the bottom line is whether he’s deconstructing another party jam or painting a vivid portrait of urban decay, the rhymes are always as braggadocio as they are politically pointed.” The release comes in under just ten tracks with the only feature coming from Load-B group member Brill on “Go”.
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