I felt it was time to showcase the next up and coming artists in the DMV that I felt were the next artists to break. We all know the new DMV includes artist like Fat Trel, the Slutty Boyz, Logic, Shy Glizzy and Black Cobain (to name a few). So….below is JUKEBOX:DC’s first three artists on the freshman list:
Ras Nebyu (Twitter: @RASNEBYU)
Ras Nebyu is an Ethiopian MC/Producer from Uptown Washington, DC, and his new mixtape, titled Babylon’s Most Wanted, just dropped a few days ago. Ras Nebyu dropped his debut EP last year (called Kennedy Street Teachings) which is pretty dope. One of the stand out records from that project is a track that caught my eye called ‘Washington Slizzard’. In his music, it sounds like he cares about society and what’s going on in our city (check out records like ‘Chocolate Cities’ & ‘Capital of Hate’). Looking forward to seeing what dude does in the future.
Da Big Fella (Twitter: @DABIGFELLA)
Da Big Fella is an MC from Northeast DC that is currently signed to Wale’s imprint The Board Adminstration. This past summer, he gave us his debut mixtape, Heart Of A King, which featured production from Tone P, Beat Billinaire, No Credit and features from Wale, Black Cobain and more. Heart of a King was a very solid yet slept-on project, with records like ‘Spill’ (with Wale), ‘Hotel 202’ and ‘Rock A Bye’. Recently, Da Big Fella was featured on a record, entitled ‘Let a Nigga Know’, from Wale’s latest mixtape Folorin (the track also features Chinx Drugz from French Montana’s Coke Boys imprint). Da Big Fella is currently working on his next mixtape and already has a song recored with Wale & French Montana. 2013 should be a big year for Da Big Fella.
$urreal (Twitter: @WEARESURREAL)
$urreal began their talents at Howard University in Washington, DC, and these four emcees from California, Atlanta and DC give you a little bit of everything. If you are currently attending HU or have visited their campus, chances are you’ve heard of the group: this past Fall, the group hit the stage for their Homecoming alongside acts like Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, T.I. and more. $urreal’s last project, Hawaiian Punch (which came out Fall 2011), gave the group a name on the DMV music scene. Let’s hope the group is working on something new for the New Year; $urreal deserves a spot on the list.
Stay tuned to JUKEBOX:DC for more from our 2012 DMV Freshman List.
