Lil' O - Blood Money

Lil' O - Blood Money

Oreoluna Magnus Lawson, better known as Lil' O, is a rapper who hails from the southwest side of Houston, TX. His alias is a direct reference to his actual height, which is listed at five feet. He is also an original member of the legendary Screwed Up Click. Lil' O first appeared on the scene with the breakout single "Can't Stop," which featured Destiny's Child in 1997. The single was a instant hit on the streets of Houston and in return made him into an overnight celebrity. Blood Money is his highly anticipated debut album and it was released in 1999 on Game Face Entertainment. A gang of different producers were used to reach the end result. The likes of Crazy C, Chicken Hawk, Grizz, Double D, Swift and Willy Malone handle the bulk of the duties while Pimp C of UGK also chips in on one of the tracks. The beats can simply be described as that classic H-Town Sound. The rhythms are all funk laden and are very groovy to say the least. They are a true and classic representation of the older swang and bang sound which was very prominent with artists of the Screwed Up Click. The producers really do a solid job with the rhythms and the set up is perfect for the artist. Lil' O is an adept lyricist. He relies heavily on clever rhyme schemes and witty cliches. His pattern is not unique but it can still catch the listener by surprise. What really sets him apart is his southern tone, which upon hearing is very distinct and sharp. His pace is quite variable thus allowing him to adapt to any kind of song. Guest appearance are made by DJ Screw, UGK, Fat Pat, E.S.G., Big Pokey, C-Note, Will Lean, Yungstar, Hawk, Lil' Flip, 3-2, Al-D, Big Moe, Enjoli, Ronnie Spencer, Billy Cook, Bad Actaz, Slikk Breeze and Dana Jackson. A lengthy star studded guest list is customary for any Screwed Up Click release and while it may seem a bit heavy, it certainly does not over shadow the main artist. Overall this is a very stable piece with fifteen solid tracks to boast. The album was well worth the wait from the initial Maxi Single. It sold 20,000 copies upon release without any kind of promotion. The record could of done a lot better if it had proper promotion but that was not possible due to Lil' O serving time in the Harris County Jail. The album also beautifully withstands the test of time which is why it was re-released in 2006 with a bonus Chopped & Screwed disc. Lil' O is still active today, while his style of flow has altered a bit over time, his passion for music and loyalty to his crew remains unchanged.

Deadly Verses
Who's Snitching ft. UGK


Album Notes
* Lil' O is also a member of The Bar None Click.

Big Snap - Leanin' Hard Down South

Big Snap - Leanin' Hard Down South

Charldrick Robinson, better known as Big Snap, is a rapper from the small but deadly city of Wharton, TX. Leanin' Hard Down South is his debut album and it was released in 1999 on Sum'n 2 Do Productions. The bulk of the production is handled by the masterful Jhiame, while Courtney Bryant and Irvin Cherry overlook the whole project. As always, Jhiame brings his veteran production pattern and does not disappoint musically. His approach is strictly southern and he laces each track with his distinct style of H-Town Funk. This results in a groovy, yet laid back environment and the listener has no choice but to oblige. Lyrically the album is also well rounded. Big Snap's flow is very unorthodox and his tone is quite rough. His delivery is full of pace and his southern drawl is ever present. The only minor drawback is that Big Snap is only good for about sixteen bars, anymore and he seems to become dull and repetitive. Out of the eighteen tracks recorded, there are only four which are presented by Big Snap himself, while the rest are all assisted by other guests. Featuring on the albums is C-Note of the Botany Boys, Lil' Keke, Slim Thug, Lil' Flip, Jhiame, Archie Lee, Jesso, Raw, Neil, Ms. Poo, Mickey and Patricia. The record is a little guest heavy but that is mainly due to the reason mentioned above. Overall its a decent release by the artist and it managed to get him some notoriety. Not only did he single handedly put the city of Wharton on notice but he also mangaged to represent for Houston as a whole. Sadly, Big Snap passed away on Febuary 23, 2008, at the Gulf Coast Medical Center. He was only 33 years old. Rest in peace to the best that ever did it for War Town Texas.

Deadly Verses
Rememberance Of Me ft. Raw & Patricia


Album Notes
* He also goes by the alias, Big Snapper.
* His cause of death is unknown.
* War Town is the nickname for the city of Wharton.

Staydown - N-Da-Game

Staydown - N-Da-Game

Staydown is a collective that represents from the harsh streets of Waco, TX. The group consists of Slugger, Bugga, Bigg Knocc and Country. The group was formed in the late nineties by Slugger and Bigg Knocc. N-Da-Game is their debut album and it was released in 2000 on Staydown Entertainment. The album was recorded mainly in Houston due to plethora of studios that the city has to offer compared to Waco. The record is masterly produced by the platinum producer, Slugger. The beats are a perfect example of that Texas funk. They contain solid bass lines which are blended with some hard hitting drums. The rhythms are also genuinely crafted and they certainly cater to the Swang & Bang crowd. Slugger gives a lot of attention to detail which in return makes the overall result very crisp and enjoyable. The album also shines in the lyrical department. The members take turns discharging their various styles upon the microphone. Bigg Knocc seems to standout the most but the rest are not too far behind. Their deliveries are full of pace and the variations to their tone and pitch are all done with perfection. Their southern drawl is also quite eminent, while their demeanor and personalities embodies the streets. Guest appearances are made by Ice Lord, 3-2, C-Note, Big Pokey, Lil' O, Billy Cook and Lil' Flip. It may seem as if the album is a little guest heavy due to the star studded guest list but that is not the case at all. The guests are used sporadically and the group relies more on their own intuition. The album closes out with an impressive total of fifteen tracks, with each cut outdoing the other. All in all, this was a remarkable effort by the group but one that seem to have went unnoticed. It is truly a task for artists to represent from the smaller cities in Texas, mainly because of the lack of exposure they will receive. Staydown knew of this dilemma and changed their approach accordingly. They could have just easily recorded at a local studio in Waco, instead they drove back and forth to Houston and recorded at one of the more famous spots. Not only did this move help to establish connections in the city but it also augmented their reputation. They group went on to release a follow up album in 2005 and then disbanded. At the end of the day, this release will always sit as a polished gem, waiting to be discovered from The Heart of Texas.

Deadly Verses

Hard Life

Album Notes
* The group is also known as the Staydown Clique.

* Slugger would retire from the Rap industry in 2006.

* He would change his alias to Minister Slugger and would then become a Christian Rap artist.

* He is also a Minister at a local church in Waco, Texas.  

* "The Heart of Texas" is the nickname for the city of Waco.

Papa Reu - Xcuse Me!

Papa Reu - Xcuse Me!
Reuben Nero, better known as Papa Reu is a rapper and singer from the southside of Houston, TX. He is originally from the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago but later relocated to Houston at the age of sixteen. He started to build a name for himself by showcasing his reggae influenced style but what separated him from the rest was that he also incorporated Hip Hop into his explicit sound. It was 1994 and Reu got his first stint, he was enlisted by 8Ball & MJG as a back up vocalist for the song "Lick 'Em Up Shot" from their album "On The Outside Looking In." And it wasn't long before he started racking up all kinds of gigs for southern artists. Whether it was contributing his signature sound for the choruses or doing intros & outros and mini skits, Papa Reu provided it all. Xcuse Me! is his second album and it was released in 2000 on Upstairs Records and Reuster House Music, Inc. Production in its entirety is done by Rakesh "Roc" Jacob, Wendell Springer and Papa Reu himself. The beats carry the classic H-Town sound and are oozing with melody. There are a few tracks that are a bit mundane but most of them seem to be pretty well rounded. Lyrically the album is fairly versatile because Papa Reu can go from singing very gracefully to rapping very profoundly. His pace varies from track to track while his street savvy demeanor stays the same. Features are made by the Hot Boy$, Big Tymers, Z-Ro, Lil' Keke, C-Note, Lil' O, Boo, Lone Starzz, Ras Intelligence, Tripple M, Phoenix, Joe Traxx, Ali and Rashaad. All in all the album is a little guest heavy but still quite entertaining. He showed that he can be more than just a back up singer and instead of providing ad-libs, he provided a full length album. Over the years Papa Reu has collaborated with hundreds of artists from all over the nation. He continues to release new music to this day under his own record label known as Reu Muzik, Inc.

Deadly Verses

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DJ DMD - Eleven

DJ DMD - Eleven

DJ DMD is an excellent rapper and producer from Port Arthur, TX. Eleven is the debut album by DMD and the Inner Soul Clique. It was released in 1997 on Inner Soul Records. Production was done by DJ DMD and Skip Holman. Thundering bass lines and solid samples are the foundation for all the beats. Lyrics are also very impressive. DMD and the numerous members of the Inner Soul Clique can wreck the microphone with ease. Featuring artists on the album are UGK, DJ Screw & the Screwed Up Click, Ronnie Spencer and the Inner Soul Clique which consists of Blue Lite, Lee Masta, Bull, Momo, Lil' Wink and Boonie Locc. This album also contains two versions of the infamous track "So Real." One has DJ Screw and Al-D on it while the other one is a remix which has Fat Pat, Lil' Keke, Mike D, C-Note of the Botany Boys with Screw attending to the turntables. A very commendable album overall especially for being a debut. DJ DMD went on and released the album "Twenty-Two: P.A. World Wide" in 1998 and concluded with "Thirty-Three: Live From Hiroshima" in 2001. DJ DMD was a member in the group called The Original Point Blank and is also well known respected affiliate of the infamous Underground Kingz.

Deadly Verses

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Botany Boys - Thought Of Many Ways

Botany Boys - Thought Of Many Ways
Botany Boys is a group from Cloverland, a neighborhood located on the southside of Houston, TX. The group first started in 1996 when they released their debut LP, Smokin 'N Leanin. The members are C-Note, D-Red, Will Lean, Head, D-E-Z, Pap Pap and the Botany B.G.'s which consists of Lil' 3rd and B.G. Gator. Their sophomore record, Thought Of Many Ways is a 2-Disc album which was released in 1997 on Big Shot Records. D-Red is the man behind all the production and he did an excellent job on this one. The Beats are hard hitting and are filled with woozy and whiny synths. Each member has a distinct flow and their lyrics vary on both discs. Disc 1 is more laid back with smooth flows while Disc 2 is more gangsta and contains that southern harsh reality. Features are courtesy of Bun B of UGK, D of Trinity Garden Cartel, Big Moe, Lil' Keke, Ronnie Spencer, Quanell X, Angie, Vic, and the legendary DJ Screw. The group released their final ablum "Botany Forever" in 2000 and eventually broke up. Members D-E-Z and Head got incarcerated and another member lost his life. Rest in peace B.G. Gator. Members C-Note, Will Lean and D-Red pursued a solo route. This group was also part of the Screwed Up Click (S.U.C.). Thought Of Many Ways will always remain a H-Town classic. The Botany Boys held their ground and put the neighborhood of Cloverland on the map.

Deadly Verses

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Mddl Fngz - Trouble

Mddl Fngz - Trouble

Mddl Fngz is a group from the southside of Houston, TX. It was formed by Bun B of UGK as a side project. The members are Young Kilo, Bandit, Bad Azz Bam, Sean Wee, Danjah Ray and Big Munsta. This is their debut album and was released in 2000 on Perfecto Records. Production on this album was done by Pimp C, Happy Perez, John Bido and Danjah Ray. The beats are tight and are mixed nicely. All the members can spit well. They each have a distinct flow and tone. Featuring on the album is UGK, Yung Buk of Psycho Drama and C-Note of the Botany Boys. Overall it's a great album and has good content which does not disappoint.

Deadly Verses
My B*tch