Hip hop is long past the stage of being a music fad. The culture has become a world phenomenon and a way of life for many. Here in the Triangle, hip-hop recording acts are gaining momentum and notoriety. DJ Bumrush is yet another local hip-hop act who’s decided to put his musical talents to disc. With his first effort, Bumrush Presents: Up From The Underground, Volume 1, he includes local and state rap acts and some of the best underground rappers across the country along with some of the top wordsmiths in hip hop. Bumrush, aka Shaw Hargett, is known in the Triangle for his radio show on Duke University’s WXDU, Tuesdays from midnight to 3 a.m. Bumrush was able to use his considerable connections to bring together a bi-coastal talent pool that’s worthy of attention. Hargett’s cast includes such rap stars as Pharoahe Monche, Inspectah Deck, Cormega and Masta Ace from New York, Dynas from Miami, Prime from Chicago, D12 featuring Eminem from Detroit, and Jon?Doe, Xzibit and the Souls of Mischief from California. Bumrush also includes North Carolina rappers Fuzz Jackson, Joey F. and Wes Cyphers from Wilmington as well as Whutsiznaim from Durham. Bumrush blends a banging mix of hip hop from all lyrical and musical angles.
There’s “Acknowledge” by Masta Ace, which has some tight beats and loops as well as an ill flow by Ace. “Y’all Know The Name,” featuring X-Cutioners with Xzibit, Skillz and Inspectah Deck, also contains nice beats and flows. Throw in the many dope freestyles made by Dynas and Prime, among others, and Up From The Underground is one of those local CDs that’s, well, an “underground” favorite. If you happen to be near Four Four Records, the Record Exchange or Madd Waxx Records, you might want to pick up this CD. It’s more than worth the price.
