Instead, aspiring rappers not named Asheru, Head-Roc, or Black Indian spit their rhymes alongside prominent go-go bands in hopes of making it big. This topic, and a whole lot more, was recently discussed on what radio host Jamie Benson hopes will be a semi-regular podcast that interviews notable figures central to the D.C. hip-hop scene.

On the show's first installment, Benson, Kokayi and yU interviewed The Unspoken Heard (Asheru & Blue Black) about its rise to prominence in the Chocolate City scene. Go here to download the podcast or listen below.

Just when that statement was recorded is a mystery. For whatever reason, the D.C. trio of D.P., Black Picasso, and DJ Stylus recorded this full-length project and never released it. Instead, the group dropped The Solitaire Mixtape: Everything You've Never Wanted last September and kept this album on the shelf. Until now.

"A lot has changed between when we first started working on it and today, so there's really no reason to sit on it anymore," Stylus wrote in an email announcing the album's release. "Go free, formerly imprisoned album!"

The recently released album—although the group's Bandcamp displays an Oct. 23 release date—is full of original music, with appearances from an impressive roster of local names: The record has chorus work from Raheem DeVaughn and Tamara Wellons, scratchy break beats from Kokayi and Oddisee, and inspired verses from Asheru and Priest Da Nomad, among others.

Don't expect any glossy production or overly simplistic rhymes on this project. Poem-cees, once a staple of the State of the Union bar before it closed, are a throwback to the '90s "rappity-rap" era of hip-hop, opting for complicated rhyme patterns over a lively soundtrack. It may not go over so well with the younger, skinny-jeans crowd, but the album will surely please rap fans who are a bit more nostalgic.

Everything You've Always Wanted is available for free. Or you can listen to the album below.

Bambaataa has been working repeatedly with Fort Knox Five over the past five years , releasing brand new material within that same period. Their latest collaboration is a joint called “Shift” that features the vocal stylings of Mustafa Akbar and is receiving good reviews from the electro-funk dance music community. (Check out the video).

Asheru and Mustafa Akbar have been burning it up on tour with Fort Knox Five for some time now and, if I’m not mistaken, this is the first full production show in D.C. proper where they will rock in this configuration—where each front man, working together, fronts a band other than their own. Everything is gonna be different from what we years-long fans of the acts will expect.

I did mention the very small fact (I'm being funny) that Afrika Bambaataa is a living god and chief deity of hip-hop culture, right? Honestly, if you know your history and what The Dream is all about, then you may want to get your tickets early so you can be apart of celebrating “Funk 4 the Dream!”

“Funk 4 the Dream” takes place this Sunday at U Street Music Hall. 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. $10.

*A portion of proceeds from this event, in commemoration of Dr. King’s dream, will benefit the arts incubation and nurturing organization Bloombars, which provides critically needed creative outlet space for Chocolate City artists—with a special commitment to the residents of Columbia Heights.

OK, so I'm looking at the front cover of this past week’s Washington City Paper “2010 Music in Review” edition. Wait, or is it “2010 in Music Review?” I honestly don’t know. It’s a little confusing to me. Still, I get that this is in some way the “tastemaker” issue on D.C. area music as compiled by the Washington City Paper staff.

What’s also confusing to me is how in the world it’s printed, right there on the front cover for the entire world to see, in what is to be taken as an authoritative assessment and conclusion on the state of the DC hip-hop scene this year:

Hip-Hop: We’ve got plenty of good MCs. But D.C. still lacks a great one

Pardon me, but of course I have to chuckle at that statement. Chuckle.

Reading the piece written by my colleague Andrew Noz, there are actually a few great D.C. MCs mentioned: Kokayi, Oddisee, yU—and I don’t know why the piece doesn’t focus on them more. It would be exponentially more helpful than this blanket declaration that D.C. lacks  a great M.C., because it’s the furthest thing from the truth.

What’s more accurate is that D.C. lacks a great commercial rap/pop star. I’ll give brother Noz that. I’m not into commercial pop rap, but maybe I can agree that D.C.’s representatives of American pop culture don't compare with their counterparts in other cities who are interested in pop-music success. I say maybe because I really don’t know. I’m not into pop rap music, personally.

In the article, Noz mentions how one of D.C.’s national offerings as an urban commercial artist, Wale, is on a track with the national pop-rap artist Waka Flocka Flame. Family, I've heard Waka Flocka before, and through word of mouth I know he is considered to be the reigning village idiot of pop-inspired commercial rap. Let me tell you, this association and collaboration is not complimentary to Wale, and I have a hard time even believing that Wale really thinks Wocka Flocka is a great MC—but he is a commercial pop rap success. I don’t know if Wale is out to be a commercial success, or a great MC. Only a few artists are able to merge both distinctions effectively. Kanye West comes to mind as the prime example in today’s times—a great MC who enjoys mega commercial success—and an argument can be made that he has paid a considerable price for it. “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” one year, and the next his mamma is suddenly dead at the hands of a plastic surgeon on an operating table. Hey, I'm into conspiracy theories.

No, D.C. does not have a Kanye West yet, but we do have great MCs, and with a more supportive gatekeeper and tastemaker community our great MCs would enjoy greater success on the national stage. Take the mighty Asheru for instance—my favorite example when talking about a great D.C. MC who I think should be enjoying mega success as a professional artist.

Asheru, not mentioned in Noz’s DMV piece, is a hip-hop legend here in D.C., throughout the region, country, and—yes—the world. Famous for penning the theme song for Aaron McGruder’s Boondocks cartoon show, Asheru has been an active musician producing hip-hop classics since the '90s. He’s spawned heavyweight digital/live music ensembles like the Black Lincolns and The Els that everyone in the scene knows are monster show-rocking outfits. Asheru is a leader on national progressive and community circles in arts-based education techniques with his H.E.L.P programming. He’s received numerous awards from prestigious institutions and orgs for his work in our D.C. communities as a foundation. All that, and more, plus some: Asheru is a great M.C.—and everyone knows it. In fact, as is the case with dozens of other great MCs in this town, that Asheru is a great M.C. is indisputable.

The question is: Why don’t more people in the region better know about our great MC’s? Well, it isn’t for the lack of effort on the part of the artists who have persevered through the years to establish careers for ourselves. We do our jobs. We create, publish, and perform music here and all over world. It’s nowhere near accurate to say D.C. hip-hop artists aren’t known beyond the city or region. D.C. hip-hop has been putting in work and has been on the move for 20 years now; it is well-seasoned and world-traveled. Dozens of D.C.'s great MCs and DJs have magnificent stories to tell of their journeys. Ideally, in the scheme of things, it’s the job of the gatekeepers and the tastemakers to gather these accounts for reporting and endorsement to the local entertainment community.

Who are the gatekeepers and tastemakers in ours and every music scene? They are the DJs, promoters, event planners, venue booking agents, and the press. These are the elements within our community who are responsible for popularizing to the entertainment public who’s who and what’s what locally to look out for and patronize. I agree with Noz that oversaturation—everyone and their mamma wanting to be rapper—is a huge problem. But it would be much less of a problem if our “qualified” gatekeepers and tastemakers did their jobs of weeding out the garbage from the gems in our area.

I put the qualifier “qualified” in there because too many of the current stock of gatekeepers and tastemakers, commercial and independent, know little to nothing about D.C. hip-hop and go-go music. Many of the people who actually sit in positions where they could make a difference in the scene are not actually from or “of” the scene. Oftentimes, from what is written and printed and espoused to be an authoritative word, a D.C. music-community participant can tell that the author actually has very little knowledge and understanding of the D.C. music scene and development. And yet, there seems to be no shortage of articles being published these days about both forms of D.C. funk music—giving the reading community an improper analysis of what’s really going in our DMV music scene.

The words “Hip-Hop: We've got plenty of good MCs. But D.C. still lacks a great one” requires at least a little response. I hope other vets chime in.

On Facebook, I’ve been in a somewhat intense discussion with D.C. luminary DJ RBI, of WPFW’s Monday night “Ill Street Grooves” show, about the support D.C. hip-hop music veterans and superstars receive from the DMV's club and on-air-DJ community.

I plaster my personal Head-Roc FB wall with my opinions from time to time, and what I have been saying about how there are too many outsider and opportunists in control of our music scene has gotten a fair bit of attention. In particular, what caught my brother RBI’s eye was the following post:

Way too many bamas in control of our music scene. Cats aint promoting dc hip-hop right.

Selling us out by giving preference and deference to wack shit.

RBI responded with a position and suggestion that I use my influence to promote a mixtape, in which I would feature D.C. hip-hop that I think should be better promoted to local consumers. I think his is a good suggestion. That said…

My counter-argument is that it's the  local DJs in positions of power and influence who should do just what he is suggesting that I do: put out a mixtape of D.C. hip-hop’s best and brightest. To put it mildly, we are still involved in the discussion.

But something has come out of our discussions that I want to share with the D.C. music community. Also with his response, DJ RBI put together a suggested list of D.C. hip-hop powerhouses to be featured on the mixtape he suggested I produce. It’s a list that I cannot argue with one bit—except to say that I wish he, being a monster of a DJ and 20-year fixture on the scene, would go ahead and put together the project. I certainly would back the effort 100 percent.

So, the following represent Chocolate City’s finest in the art of rhythm and rhyme. I highly recommend, if you love or are interested in experiencing the real flavor of D.C., Maryland, and Virgina hip-hop, that you spend some time looking each of these artists up online. Most have Facebook, MySpace, Reverb Nation, or their own websites. If they have product for sale, purchase it so they can eat from the fruit of their labor. If they have a mailing list, sign up to keep abreast of their activities. If they have shows, go see them rock the house live and direct.

The list, as compiled by DJ RBI and fully endorsed by Yours Truly is as follows:

• Gods'Illa
• Asheru
• PoemCees
• The Package
• GODISHEUS
• Pro'Verb
• K-Beta
• Diamond District
• Kokayi
• Dirty Water
• Lyriciss
• Enoch 7th Prophet
• Ra The MC
• Hueman Prophets
• Laelo Hood

Take note how, in this first draft, no artist or groups that are commercially considered the ones hip-hop lovers need to check for, are listed.

Now, who in our D.C. hip-hop community do you think is worthy of energy and economic patronage to help them continue to create their art? Who would you add to this list?

Mustock is the love child of the one and only Mustafa Akbar. The first time I went to his ancestral farmland in Lignum, Va., I was blown away by the festival the brother had envisioned and brought to fruition.

Mu, as many endearingly call him, is a D.C. funk veteran. He’s traveled the world hustling funk to the masses. Whether through his solo music projects or with more commercially known bands like Thievery Corporation, Thunderball, and Fort Knox Five, Mustafa has always been in the mix—and most likely, as some point in time, your mix. He’s rocked many cultures and embraced many customs When I ask him (sometimes jealously, I admit) about his favorite place to rock and entertain, he tells me, “Mustock!”  It’s his home and with his great appreciation for history, Mustafa understands that many people may not be connected to where they come from like he is.  So, since 2003 Mustafa has been sharing his roots; offering an overnight “spiritual grounding” experience to all who attend.

Mustock is a concert event for those brave enough to travel from the hood to the woods.  The artists and their fans come mostly from the D.C. area, but Baltimore, Richmond, and Philly funk, rock, and soul seekers always represent lovely and lively. Folks from as far away as North Carolina and New York City show up. All that is to say that people from all over come to Mustock, and there is mucho good reason!

The artists and performances are always top notch. Something about being on a beautiful big stage with oh-so-perfect sound in a uniquely intimate, natural setting has produced very remarkable performances at past Mustock festivals. I must give a shout out to Marty, who has been providing and working Mustock sound since Day 1, I believe. One of the best, Marty is a well-trusted name when it comes to making sure everyone is satisfied, from the bands to the fans. My guess is that’s the reason he’s the go-to guy for D.C.’s best inner-city indie concert series, the legendary Fort Reno summer concerts (going on now!).

With the talent, sound, and stage tight , Mustock’s hospitality is just as attractive a reason to attend. There are ample outside bathrooms for festivalgoers, and even showers. In past years, a fish-and-chips fry run by Mustafa’s blood relatives was the key featured grub, and I hear this year will see additional vendors on the grounds. There is ample open space where people and pets can dance, play, and meditate while enjoying the live. For me, the highlight of Mustock is playing with my daughter and watching her play with other kids—usually Asheru’s kids (his band rocks Mustock this year). Mustock is very kid-friendly and very family-friendly. It’s a cultural event where folks look out for one another. To borrow a phrase from my man Kush from Violet Says 5 (rocking with GODISHEUS at the Black Cat on Aug. 16), at Mustock we “stay Kings and Queens with it.”

And just who’s rocking Mustock this year? Twenty-five of the Mid-Atlantic’s best  “James Brown overtime grind” funk, rock, and soul artists. Every one is a rock star and the accumulated accomplishments would fill encyclopedias. I already mentioned the mighty Asheru–who wrote theme song to the animated “Boondocks” show–who will be rocking along with The Els. Other notables are Lady Alma, Punk Rodgers, and Nappy Riddem (Friday night), and Pure Light Seed, Tony Ozier, W. Ellington Felton, Tamika Love Jones, Fort Knox Five, Thunderball, GODISHEUS (Saturday day and night). For a full listing of bands and times visit www.mustockllc.com. There will be a tree-planting ceremony on Sunday as folks who camped out the night pack up and prepare for their journeys back home.

See ya’ll at Mustock!

Mustock 2010 Outdoor Music Festival takes place July 30 to Aug. 1. For more information visit www.mustockllc.com.

An occasional feature in which esteemed D.C. rapper Head-Roc shares what’s on his mind.

On Saturday, August 22, Mustafa Akbar (Riddems Crew ,Thievery Corporation, Fort Knox Five, Nappy), hosts the 7th annual MuStock, a D.C. indie music festival held on his ancestral farmland down in Lignum, Va.

MuStock is a 10-hour concert/ weekend retreat in a beautiful setting with a great stage, fantastic sound, and overnight camping (folks can come down the night before and can actually stay until Sunday afternoon). And yes, there are portable bathrooms with sanitation stations (for washing your hands), and there's also a gigantic tent, so rain is no problem.

The 7th Annual MuStock is a free event, but because it is run with no corporate or institutional sponsorships, we're asking for a suggested donation of $20 to help cover the production costs and the artists' expenses. Supporting the careers of some of our area's undervalued, overworked, and underpaid working musicians is STRONGLY SUGGESTED! …AND GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

What really makes MuStock especially noteworthy is the fact that it’s one man's labor of love to provide a great show and platform for some of D.C.'s hardest working professional indie music artists.

The first time I went to MuStock I was blown away by the visual presentation and spiritual vibration.  The hospitality Mustafa provided was a welcome change from dealing with some of the folks at the usual venues we indie pros rock: He offered what he had to all musicians who responded to the invitation to participate.

And the way Mustafa hosted the event was done in such a way that the concert day moved along fluidly–much like a mixtape. Artists, in addition to performing their own material, were encouraged to (and did) mix it up with other artists across each others sets.

Maybe the most striking memory of attending is witnessing the farm at dusk, and seeing the full glory of the sky. It made me think of the survival of our ancestors on this soil in the days when the the descendants of enslaved Africans were forbidden to express our spiritual selves freely and out in the open. Taking my daughter to MuStock was huge in this regard, as I watched her observe, emulate, and participate in the musical offerings from my art peers on the scene.

Please make plans to come join us this year!

Performing live at MuStock 09’:

Mustafa Akbar
Tamika Jones
Pure Light Seed
Noon:30
Asheru
GODISHEUS
The Fif
DJ Oji
Punk Rodgers
Bredren Sound System

Special MuStock “Honors” performance by the one and only:

ENGLISHMAN!

Head-Roc is a founding member of legendary D.C. hip-hop crew 3LG, WAMMIE award-winning solo MC, and frontman of the hip-hop/funk/rock group Godisheus.