KMEL 106.1 FM, one of the nation’s premier Urban Contemporary stations serving over 1 million listeners in California’s Bay Area, released their first annual list of the Bay’s fastest rising hip-hop stars. The list, patterned after XXL Magazine’s widely celebrated annual list of the nations best new rappers, is the brainchild of DJ Amen, one of the station’s on-air talents.
The full KMEL Freshmen 10 list in no particular order is:
1 NIO THA GIFT – Richmond
http://www.myspace.com/niothagift0
MOE GREEN – Vallejo
http://myspace.com/moethedreamer
DaVinci – San Francisco
http://www.myspace.com/jdavinci
DB THE GENERAL – Oakland
http://www.myspace.com/dbthageneral
JAY ANT – Hercules
http://www.myspace.com/jayantofdiligentz
P CHILD – Richmond
http://www.myspace.com/pchild510
TRUTHLIVE – Santa Rosa
http://myspace.com/truthlive
ROACH GIGZ – San Francisco
http://www.myspace.com/roachgigz
SU! – Richmond
http://www.myspace.com/iamsu1
COUSIN FIK – Vallejo
http://www.myspace.com/cousinfik
When asked about the criteria for choosing artists, DJ Amen commented, “We searched for artists who, despite having little to no radio play, have a strong presence and the potential to be the next big thing locally, and hopefully beyond.” With growing national recognition for artists like DaVinci and international buzz for artists like Nio Tha Gift, KMEL’s choices echo a growing consensus from the global hip-hop community on who will be the next generation of stars from Northern California.
KMEL has been instrumental in launching the careers of other Bay Area greats like Tupac, MC Hammer, E-40, and Too $hort. The station’s Freshmen list is likely to follow in this tradition, by tipping off record executives and media outlets nationwide to Bay Area acts they should be aware of. DJ Amen will host a media mixer on June 17th at SOM in San Francisco to celebrate the list and allow the press to become more familiar with these rising stars
Bay Area based record labels Interdependent Media and SWTBRDS, who both have artists on the coveted list are pleased with KMEL’s commitment to supporting local talent. Says Interdependent Media’s Ian Davis, “The Bay Area has always had a strong rap scene and it is always growing. Every so often we have a wave of new artists who come out and leave their mark. This latest batch selected by KMEL, including our artists Moe Green and TRUTHLiVE, are some of the most exciting, creative, and talented artists to hit the scene in some time.” SWTBRDS artist DaVinci adds, “To have a major radio station like KMEL support me is immensely humbling and motivating because we are as indie as it gets, we don¹t have deep pockets; we just have ears for making good music and market ourselves well.”
While the labels that represent The Freshmen see the marketing and commercial potential of inclusion on the elite list, some artists are simply proud to receive the honor. “Its a blessing. You remember listening to 106 when you were just a kid, and then to hear yourself on that same station… its unexplainable. I just appreciate people like DJ Amen, the people at KMEL, and everybody else involved for taking notice to what I got going,” exclaimed San Francisco based rapper Roach Gigz.
The Freshmen list is another benchmark for KMEL which celebrated 20 years of urban programming in 2007. The Clear Channel Communications company was instrumental in popularizing the Bay Area’s “hyphy” movement in the early 2000’s, and is the longest tenured urban station in California. Fans can request their favorite Freshman by logging on to http://106kmel.com/pages/equest.html
DJ Amen notes a sampler containing music from all the Freshmen will soon be available on the following sites:
KMEL – http://106kmel.com
DJ AMEN – http://DJamen.com
DJ BIG VON – http://Bigvon.com
Nice to see a couple real lyricist up there -
so whats the criteria for being a “freshman” Not having an official album? cause if thats the case, epic fail on omitting KEV CHOICE from this list.
I haven’t heard of all of these cats, but I’m pretty sure thats why they did the list in the first place, so i’mma check out the couple I don’t know yet. I think it’s a good look NO MATTER WHO MADE THE LIST because at least somebody is trying to get the new cats in the Bay together in a positive way. I already know the TYPICAL “Bay reaction” is too HATE on who made it (or eachother) and find something to wrong with PROGRESS rather than be supportive lol. Respect to Amen & them.
What know HAZMATBOYZ on the list man what were they smoking when they came up with this list.
If you don’t know who the HAZMATBOYZ are they are a group outta OAKLAND CA, and they should have been on this list for real. I am a TRUE HIP HOP head and I have been listening to these guys for a while now and they really have a sound unlike anything in the BAY AREA right now. Don’t take my word just check out their music at http://www.myspace.com/hazmatboyz and then ask yourself why didn’t they make the cut PEACE and real HIP HOP is alive in the BAY thanx to these guys.
FUCK AMEN! DUDES A HATER! WHO THE FUCK IS MOE GREEN? JAY ANT? P CHILD?
TRUTH LIVE? SU? I WENT & CHECKED STATS & I AINT SEE SHIT ABOUT THESE DUDES
GO YOUTUBE OR GOOGLE STIK GILATINE OR AFTAH SUM! THESE 408 SAN JO ARTISTS
IS GRINDIN PUSHIN A HARDER LINE THAN THESE DUDES! THEY DESERVED IT MORE
THAN THEM DUDES! BUT ITS ALL GOOD, IF I CATCH AMENS SOFT DJ A$$ IN SAN JO
HE GON GET POCKET CHECKED & TOOK FOR HIS CHAIN OL LAME ASS WHITEBOY!
SHARKS UP!
These responses are typical. Instead of being worried about who made the list, or who didn’t make the list. Take it for what it’s worth. An attempt to draw attention to some other artist, who likely haven’t had light shed upon them.
If you’re angry about not making this list, your career likely isn’t worth much anyone, because if you were focused on your career, you would understand how trivial or subjective the whole idea behind building ANY list is.
I’ve heard of a few artist on this list, I haven’t heard of a few artist on this list, but all in all…it’s an attempt by a 3rd party to shed light on people who may need some recgonition. If you were grinding so hard…things like LIST, would be the LEAST of your concern.
Build something of your own, before you try to tear something down someone else is trying to build.
This list isn’t going to make or break anybody’s career, your art, music, hustle, quality, and consistency will.
much love to everyone on the list, i c yall. if you not on there dont get mad just keep pushing youll get there. peace. – malki means king
All I have to say is I’m glad that KMEL is finally making an attempt to showcase more BAY AREA artist. I’m not tripping about us not making the cut because we have a following and we did it with out any radio play and a MAJOR budget. We have three 8mm videos done and completed and all of our MUSIC was mixed and mastered by MIKE DENTON and we all know who that is. what i would like to see is more BAY AREA artist push the LIMITS so that the BAY AREA can return to GLORY and be a FORCE to reckon with because there is a lot of talent in the BAY AREA. With that said if you want to see what Dem HAZMATBOYZ bring to the table you can check out our MUSIC and our videos at http://www.myspace.com/hazmatboyz and GOOD LUCK to all the artist in the BAY AREA and NEVER give up because this is not a GAME PEACE and GOD bless.
yeah The D.O.E Gettaz shoulda been on this list, off top. These top 10 niggas ain’t even on our level. Check us out at http://www.myspace.com/thedoegettaz
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