The music industry is such a diverse place for talent, creativity and intrigue within every genre. Hip Hop is no different especially since collaborations, cyphers and mixtapes allow a platform for multiple lyricists and artists to shine. "Drop that beat" is a phrase that always gets MCs ready to grab a mic and deliver their hottest sixteen bars or more while it triggers their adrenaline. Quite frequently in music, artists that gravitate to other like minded or similar artists tend to express a more synergistic effect in their music thus creating a better sound. Some artists remain a duo like Outkast, Mobb Deep or The Clipse while others are still solo artists that more often than not work together for a more incredible sound like Rakim & Eric B, Method Man & Redman or Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg. Mixtapes and cyphers are also great networking scenarios where sometimes MCs that are featured may not know each other but when the music stops they would have all been a part of the same unique experience and share an unparalleled camaraderie.
Meeting of the Mics
Such is the same with Columbus, OH's own (The Big Homie) Romey Dent and Pittsburgh, PA native (Yours Truly) Bobby Blaze. Even though born and raised in different cities, these two artists were destined to cross paths one evening at a mutual friend's house. That friend was another MC from the area by the name of Chipps who, along with a broad scope of other local rappers & artists, was all ready building a name for himself through mixtapes. Romey and Bobby both came to Chipps' residence along with other MCs to record music for their mixtapes, one of which called "The Squad" that was included on Bobby's album "Through These Eyes" and was also performed live during the show above. After many live performances and industry set backs Romey & Bobby began to work on a new mixtape venture and a debut solo album for Romey Dent but with the collapse of the record label Blaze was signed to and other legal troubles that Dent was facing resulted in both projects being significantly delayed as well as Romey's incarceration. Since neither of these projects should have been abandoned they were then merged into a new project aptly named "Free Romey Dent: The Mixtape" which showcased the work of both Romey and Bobby as well as some help from Bomb Baby Unlimited and Urban Records Entertainment.
Free Romey Dent (The Mixtape)
Also streaming on Soundcloud & YouTube
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In Retrospect
"It was brotherhood right after the hand shake" Romey recalled on his first impression of Bobby while Bobby thought, "This guy got bars for sure" and sure enough he did then as he does now. While Romey was serving his time, the mixtape was put into circulation nation wide, over seas and especially through his home town of Columbus, OH. While everyone from "Tha CO" could relate to and enjoy Romey's work while he was still incarcerated, it was the track titled "Cold-Um-B-Us" that increased his notoriety and kept his name (and voice) in the streets of Columbus. Even now, well after his stay at Noble Correctional Institution, he has returned to the stage with an arsenal of all new material, lyrics and hundreds of songs written and ready for the masses. Bobby Blaze is still developing new music, constantly writing, working on new video productions like the Slick Style Productions YouTube Channel as well as staying in the booth. Make sure to subscribe and definitely check out one of the hottest tracks from the "Free Romey Dent" mixtape below...
Other Blogs
Bobby's Bio
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An Encounter with Anonymous
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