"If you're a rapper (with or without a fan base) who's been in the game for at least a year and have never put out a mixtape, you're in the minority. Regardless of how long your career lasts, it is a right of rapper passage that you must put out at least one mixtape. However, it's now at a point in hip hop where established artists are releasing intentionally free music....regularly.

In this week's edition of Where Is Hip Hop?, Randy and I discuss the current mixtape scene. Are there too many? Do certain artists really need to release a mixtape (ie, Trap or Die II)? If the music is that good, why even bother to give it out for free? Is the flood of mixtape releases hurting the game? And last, why aren't more artists (especially the established ones), selling music?

After wrapping up with Randy I remembered that Craig Lindsey, Pop Culture Editor/Critic for The Raleigh News & Observer interviewed Eric Tullis, Hip Hop Journalist for The Independent Weekly newspaper and yours truly last year foran article on the over abundance of mixtapes in hip hop and their relevance.

Sidebar: Craig used to think (and I believe still does) I'm a super major annoyance. Regardless if you agree, he's gotta admit, I know my hip hop sh*t. Otherwise why even ask to interview me for the article?" Nanci O

http://www.nancioradioshow.com/2010/05/where-is-hip-hop-episode-44_11.html

I need one of these.

Kooley High, Kingmez, Faithful Melody & Carlitta Durand will be live, Friday, May 28th, 2010 in Raleigh, NC!!!

Doors open @ 9pm.  Admission is $6 in Advance & $9 at the Door. A $5 Surcharge for any attendees under 21. Come out and support Hip-Hop in North Carolina.

NC definitely representing.

Shout out to The Away Team, Ed E. Ruger, Rapsody, Remo, 9th, Tab-One, and all the others repping NC.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/6rvg71

WHERE IS HIP HOP?

A segment that will give you information on the current state of Hip Hop in the world today as seen by Randy Roper aka Randy Exclusive, Music Editor of Ozone Magazine and Nanci O of The Nanci O Radio Show. They talk about who is hot and who is not, interviews, how they feel about certain albums and the direction of Hip Hop culture in the world today.

"I along with the majority of hip hop heads in the know have been anticipating B.O.B.'sThe Adventure Of Bobby Ray's release for a while now. After numerous mixtape releases (with Who The F*ck Is B.O.B. being my favorite), features on all the main blogs, a well-documented US-tour, the number one single in the country, B.O.B.'s debut album is finally released.

In this week's edition of Where Is Hip Hop? Randy and I discuss the phenom and movement that is Bobby Ray.

With all of the hype combined with album sales being what they are these days, can B.O.B.'s new album make an impact in the industry and bring a much needed revival and prove to major label heads the hip hop CAN sell?" Nanci O

Shout out to Nanci O and everybody at Ozone Magazine.

http://www.nancioradioshow.com/2010/05/where-is-hip-hop-episode-43.html