Texas Rapps Producer Showcase: Mike Dean

Houston's Mike Dean started as an in-house studio engineer for Rap-A-Lot Records, lending a hand to the production of albums by the Odd Squad, Big Mike, and Scarface. Collaborating with other producers including Rob Quest, N.O. Joe, and Tone Capone, Mike Dean asserted his funky guitar licks and ominous synths to the point of branding his own distinctive sound. Whether heard on albums by the Bay Area's Seagram and 3X Krazy, or by Houston's Devin the Dude and Z-Ro, a Mike Dean production restores the quality of old school recording sensibilities, enough that he would later be recruited to become Kanye West's right hand man...   

Texas Rapps Producer Showcase: Pimp C

Little did we realize that all those shouts of "Free Pimp C" would be taken so literally. Lost to the ether, the production genius of UGK fame left prison and went right ahead and escaped this entire worldy reality while he was at it. Along the way, Pimp C dropped gemstones amongst coal deposits, making even the most negative situations sparkle with regal authority. Outside of Texas, it's hard to explain just how profound an impact one man could make upon a regional culture. And if folks are still having a hard time recognizing the brilliance of DJ Screw, then Pimp C poses an even greater gulf to traverse. Best place to start though when it comes to understanding the enigma of Pimp C is with his illustrious production output.... 

Texas Rapps Producer Showcase: Carnival Beats

Emerging out of Austin/Luling, Salih Williams of Carnival Beats got his start in rap production by hooking up with Houston's Big Moe for work on his City of Syrup and Purple World albums. After collaborations with the Wreckshop Family and Freestyle Kingz, Salih broke through even further with the outright explosion of "Still Tippin'" by Mike Jones circa 2004. While his borther Tomar scored a minor hit of his own by way of Trae's "Losing Composure", Salih maintained a consistent string of nationwide bangers, including "Back Then" by Mike Jones, "Sittin' Sidewayz" by Paul Wall, and "Draped Up" by Bun B...

Texas Rapps Producer Showcase: Mr. Lee

Originally from Pinesville, Louisiana, Mr. Lee moved to Houston in 1995 and has been producing classic rap tracks ever since. Mr. Lee's big break-through came in 1998 by way of Scarface's "Sex Faces", leading to future placements as lofty and wide-ranging as on albums by 2Pac and Mary J. Blige. But Mr. Lee's bread and butter has primarily been alongside Houston artists. Within the realm of Third Coast rap, it really doesn't get any larger than Bun B's "Get Throwed", a song that will forever put Texas clubs in fits. As Houston rap spiked in popularity during the mid-2000's, it was Mr. Lee most often behind the board on hits by the likes Slim Thug, Trae, Paul Wall, and Z-Ro...   

DJ Rapid Ric - Whut It Dew

DJ Rapid Ric's Whut It Dew album has been about 6 years in the making. And finally, as of this week, the Mixtape Mechanic has supplied us with an offical album release. The following song, "All About My Change", is something of a dream match-up for me, with Z-Ro and Gerald G providing verses and Chamillionaire singing the hook. Well worth the wait, I must say...

Texas Rapps Flashback: O.G. Style

Houston's O.G. Style came through in 1991 with an impressive album titled I Know How to Play 'Em on Rap-A-Lot. Since then, both members of the group, Eric "O.G. Style" Woods and DJ Big Boss have passed on in tragic fashion, a trend that has been all too common within the history of Texas rap... 

K-Rino - Who Is This? video

K-Rino pretty much presides as the father of Houston rap. Forming the South Park Coalition back in 1986, K-Rino has spent 25 years showing us exactly how to never ever sell out for anything. Uncompromising with his disdain for racist industries and repressive societal structures, K-Rino remains an important voice of reason within a sea of irresponsible whimsy. K-Rino's current album Alien Baby of course sports the same straight-faced resolve that we've come to expect from such a fatherly legend...