By shelz.

Last week we ran you through a quick retrospective of pre-millennial Philadelphia Hip-Hop, paying a little respect the homies Schoolly D, Cool C and a few more who set the rap ball rolling.  This week, we are going to look at those who are running with the torch right now.  Of course we hopped over quite a few notables, including Eve, Beanie Sigel, Freeway and Black Thought, but that’s only because you already know they are 3 Times Dope (Well, I guess that’s technically 4 Times Dope.)  We are here to talk about the new school and away we go.  First up is Tone Trump.

Trump is a strong representative from a city whose brotherly love ebbs more than it flows yet he manages to insert a bit of meaning into all of his posturing.  He speaks for his city with a message balanced by his love for the culture, his comprehension of the street life and his Muslim faith.  There has been everything from a stable of underlings to a clothing company incorporated into his presence, which is primarily internet based. However, lots of people see him busting out of the box in the near future.

Tone Trump feat.Freeway and Dilemma – “Time To Go”

Tone Trump Ft. Freeway & Dilemma – Time To Go (Prod. By Dilemma)

Next up is Meek Mill, the young man plenty of folks see as the brightest hope for Philly in the coming years.  Of all the youngsters the scene has produced in the last few years, Mill seems to be the front runner.  His mixtape rounds have produced some heat that hopefully will translate well in the mainstream culture. Considering he’s been covered by every outlet in the business and seems to have connections to every big wig in the business, we should get a chance to see if he’s more than an underground phenomenon very soon.

Meek Mill feat.T.I., Vado and Rick Rozay – “Rose Red Remix”

Meek Millz – Rose Red (Official Remix) feat T.I., Vado Rick Ross [2010]

A lot of betting people would put their chips on Reed Dollaz in a freestyle battle.  However, those same people would admit the best of freestylers make the worst of songs.  Dollaz hasn’t really stretched past Pennsylvania’s borders except the big internet deal everyone made about his beef with Joey Jihad, but Philly Hip-Hop heads swear by the lyrical head hunter, unless of course they are in his rival’s camp. Then again that was a few years ago, but since I’m not in Philly I don’t even know if that pair made up.

Reed Dollaz Feat. Freeway – “We Run This”

Reed Dollaz Ft Freeway-We Run This

Last but not least is newbie, Gilbere Forte. He’s young, he’s new and he’s kinda dope.  I saw him at A3C and he really does wear black Chukkas.  There is no measurable amount of street grime in his music as we have come to expect from Philly rappers. I don’t know if that has anything to do with him originally hailing from Flint, Michigan with a brief detour through Chicago before he called Philadelphia home (We all know there is no street grime in Chicago or Flint *ends sarcasm). However, he’s a little something different than the old guard and definitely worth checking out.

Gilbere Forte – “I Know My Love”

Gilbere_Forte-I_Know_My_Love-2dope

If none of these dudes are your speed of course there is a plethora of style coming out of this city including Jedi Mind Tricks, Cassidy, Young Chris, Gillie Da Kid and Dice Raw. Unfortunately the folks who reside in Philly’s underground blame everything from New York envy to the use of Southern beats to the crabs-in-a-barrel mentality for the cold streak the city is going through on the rap tip, but hopefully the rise of talent can grant the cradle of liberty a little sonic liberation.

Old School Illadelph

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