Arts Desk » Pro’Verb

Six Recent DMV Hip-Hop Videos Ranked in Order of Sincerity

Joe Warminsky — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:15:16 +0000

1. SmCity featuring Pro'verb, "My Own Boss"
Of all the rap videos that prominently feature Malcolm X imagery, at least 99 percent are sincere.

2. Young Sir, "Don't Stop"
Back-alley cinematography. Humble body language. A midsong work-ethic monologue. A Ben's shot.

3. Phil Adé feat. Casey Veggies "P.O.P. Music (Paper Over Pussy)"
FACT: You might say that you put money ahead of sex, but sooner or later sex is gonna work its way back to the top of the priority list.

4. Laelo featuring Paradise, "Fly With Me"
Frank Sinatra was on the "Come Fly With Me" tip like 50 years ago. Oh wait, this song is about weed.

5. Luegar, "The New DC"
His shirt says "Captain Kirk." The ladies' shirts say "Goony Girls." He calls himself a warlock. It's all good, though.

6. Garvey The Chosen One, "Beat It Like A Dog"
The outtakes from this shoot are probably hilarious.

For Pro’Verb, The Wait is Over

Marcus J. Moore — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:29:49 +0000

After months of delays, DMV emcee Pro'Verb today released his While You're Waiting... mixtape, his first full-length project since 2008. The tape, a 14-track collection of mostly original work, also finds the young MC flexing his lyrical dexterity on "Exhibit P," a remake of Jay Electronica's monstrous "Exhibit C" from two years ago.

Elsewhere, he and RAtheMC address their haters on "Can't Forget About You." On "County," Pro and Don Juan show love to Prince George's County over a methodical, Kokayi-produced beat.

We've foreshadowed Pro'Verb's new project a couple times on Arts Desk: once when he dropped the reflective "Too Hip-Hop," featuring Diamond District member yU, and when he released the energetic "Write Brothers," featuring Lyriciss, an MC with whom he frequently collaborates.

DJ Booth has the full mixtape.

DMV Filter: Pro’Verb, Javier Starks, Bilal Salaam

Marcus J. Moore — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:15:30 +0000

The last time we heard from Pro'Verb, he released the autobiographical "Too Hip-Hop," which found the young DMV MC assessing his career path over soothing drums and light strings. On Friday, Pro'Verb dropped off "Write Brothers," the hyperactive new single from his forthcoming While You're Waiting mixtape, scheduled for a Sept. 2 release. The song features two rapid-fire verses—one from Pro, the other from Lyriciss, his long-time partner-in-rhyme. ("I earn stripes/My life is Adidas design," Lyriciss raps.) DJ Booth has the single.

We last mentioned Javier Starks in the spring when we stamped the Up and Up Open Mic as the best in the city. On Monday, Starks released the video for "Alright Now," a jazzy, reflective single from his forthcoming Faces of Change mixtape. The song, with prominent flute and saxophone solos, is about staying the course and keeping positive. Here, Javier raps, "I'm livin' life on the edge, you said it was troublesome/Only a glutton for punishment would understand where I'm coming from."

While this isn't a hip-hop song, its calm quirkiness definitely warrants attention. DMV/Brooklyn hybrid Bilal Salaam recently released his video for "Heart Alarm," an airy single from his Pedagogia do Oprimido EP. The video, shot at various subway stations in New York City, is pieced together by still shots and random computer keyboards. While the song is definitely an acquired taste, it's still easy enough to be appreciated by soul music fans.

J-Scrilla Releases Capitol Punishment

Marcus J. Moore — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:46:03 +0000

DJ J-Scrilla is no stranger to the mixtape concept, whether he's releasing his own compilations or promoting those from his peers. From the late '90s to the early aughts, Scrilla's tapes paired veteran MCs with lesser-known talent. "I want my tapes to be more like 'digs' for the listener, rather than a rack of joints they know," Scrilla writes in an email. "This particular series will do that, just with a DMV twist to it."

Now, the leader of the D.C.-based InnerLoop record label has released Capitol Punishment, an ambitious 31-song, 80-minute collection of Scrilla's favorite DMV hip-hop songs from the past year, complete with scratches and shout-outs from the rappers he includes on the project. There are also some exclusives on here, including X.O. and AB The Pro's "How Could You," and 431's "Mona Lisa."

Released today, Punishment mostly dusts off some familiar bangers, like "Blasphemy," an exceptional posse cut featuring Pro'Verb, K-BETA, yU, Lyriciss and RAtheMC, and "Wreck," featuring Kane Mayfield. And the project is properly sequenced: Street-heavy lyrics from Fat Trel and Whitefolkz are paired up, while brainier songs—Oddisee's "I'm From P.G." and Gods'Illa's "Sal's Pizzeria"—are coupled.

Download Capitol Punishment for free on DatPiff.

Harmony Muzik’s Concert-as-Networking-Event

Marcus J. Moore — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:54:53 +0000

Musicians don't see many major-label talent scouts in the DMV. Local stations don't seem to have too much interest in area artists. But there is plenty of great musical talent in D.C., and Harmony Muzik wants the world to know it. "I think we are a model for the independent movement," says the Virginia-based singer. "People need to come here and see how we do it."

That's why Harmony started the Law of the Few Record Pool in December—an occasional networking event-cum-concert at which local hip-hop and R&B artists can pass on their music to local DJs. The second record pool takes place tonight at Twelve Restaurant and Lounge. "I feel like a lot of independent artists lack knowledge," Harmony says. "If you're not presenting it in the right way, it's never going to get heard."

Scheduled to perform (one song each): SmCity, Alison Carney, Levi Stephens, and others. One new feature of tonight's record pool is a "cipher" round, in which six notable DMV lyricists—including Pro'Verb, Flex Mathews, and Kane Mayfield—will each spit a 16-bar freestyle over the same instrumental. Harmony has also dropped a 20-track mixtape in conjunction with the record pool, which includes music from X.O., Whitefolkz, and others.

The record pool begins at 6 p.m. tonight at Twelve Restaurant and Lounge, 1123 H St. NE. Admission is $10 before 8 p.m.; $15 afterward.

Pro’Verb Is Too Hip-Hop for Y’all, Maybe

Marcus J. Moore — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:11:25 +0000

As I type this post, I'm on my sixth straight playback of "Too Hip-Hop," Pro'Verb's autobiographical new single featuring yU of the Diamond District.

Maybe it's the beat—a meditative head-nodder of chopped piano samples and dynamic drums, held together by the persistent hum of gentle strings. You can thank Soulful! for that.

Or maybe it's the confident yet unassuming way the MCs rhyme over the instrumental. ("Sicker than Earvin, Magic with the rock/They smell what I'm cookin' cause it's magic in the pot," Pro'Verb raps.) yU also gets in on the act: "Lot of new schoolers foolish, focused on the units moreso than just the movement."

Actually, it's probably all of the above. "Too Hip-Hop" is as addictive as it is reflective, an impressive prelude to Pro'Verb's While You're Waiting mixtape, dropping next Tuesday.

Local Valentine’s Tunes: Pro’Verb, Travelers of Tyme

Jonathan L. Fischer — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:46:30 +0000

Some Valentine's-themed songs from local artists

Travelers of Tyme – "Music for Lovers"

Two of the original members of the sorta-defunct D.C. spazzcore outfit Frodus have an exotica side-project called Travelers of Tyme, which seems to be particularly active as of late: In recent months they've released a handful of topical singles, like the New Year-pegged "Themes From 2011" and the, um, Metro-themed "D.C. Metro." Now comes "Music for Lovers," which contains steamy, reverb-soaked covers of two romantic standards, "The Wonderfulness of You" and "Smoke Rings." This is some space-warped Lee Hazlewood shit: guitars so twangy they sound like brass, touches of harp, unidentifiable atmosphere. But unless you've alternating sips of Lone Star and sizzurp, the tracks are probably a bit too languid and soupy. Seduction-Efficacy Rating: 5.

Pro'Verb featuring Tiffany Harley – "Dreamin"

A day-dream slow jam in a low-key cast. In the first verse Pro'Verb toasts a love ("She's the bullet to my gun"), but by the chorus, it's plain her thoughts may be drifting off. In verse No. 2, Pro'Verb ponders "Why's she playing games like it's Nintendo?"

So things may not work out in the end—points for staying close to earth on this most misty-eyed of holidays. Plus an instrumental of the track would be unstoppable in the bedroom. Seduction-Efficacy Rating: 6.

Far Out vs. Hot Dang, Vol. 21

Joe Warminsky — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:15:32 +0000

The state of the assemblage is strong: Cultural stuff happens in Washington, people do things to elucidate that stuff, we put some of it in Far Out vs. Hot Dang, and thus your life is infinitely improved. It's OK if the relationship is a bit "host/parasite." We think it tickles.


RED SUSPENDERS	DRUGS
"I have three hairs on my head, so I have to make the most of it."	"I told a friend if I had to do any more martial arts moves to Willow Smith's 'Whip My Hair,' I was gonna drop an elbow on my instructor's forehead."
"Rare as the Yeti"	"Mary Zimmerman’s captivating romp contains the tale of a fart so richly, satisfyingly epic both in the farting and in the telling that it not only mortifies the guy who let it rip, but makes those bean-eating cowboys in Blazing Saddles seem downright decorous."
"Hogg and Hughes have the makings of an art-crime support group."	"The findings indicate the health of the arts sector is at a 12-year low"
"I couldn't believe how strongly the story drew me back to events in my own life that I hadn't thought of for decades, tragedies that smoldered in gossip without the oxygen of any real information"	"There’s an omnipresent sense of paranoia and moral ambiguity."
At merely $100, "Michelle Rhee" is a cheap date	$11,000 worth of "Fuck You"
"a very simple and in fact rather old-fashioned television series"	Pro'Verb: "I'ma get a parental block on BET so my lil sister won't be corrupted by the Niggotry. I'd rather her watch Showtime...lol."
“It gives the opportunity for journalists to socialize and loosen up."	"As far as the whole buffoonery coonery thing goes, this definitely wasn’t that."

Thank You for Not Using Autotune, Pro’Verb

Joe Warminsky — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:56:17 +0000

The DMV's Pro'Verb takes the "Money to Blow" beat and does his own thing with it. If anything, he gets points for not being Drake. This is nice: "If you don't want no drama, then go take off the Mary Kay."

Digging For Tweets

Andrew Noz — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:48:35 +0000

Mp3 blogs are teetering on the edge of irrelevance. Thanks to Twitter an artist can cut out that middleman completely and deliver new songs directly to fans and followers. From the studio to the tweets in just minutes. The DC hip hop community in particular has been taking great advantage of this approach. Here are some recent zshare jams, as tweeted by a few of the area's most promising emcees. (You can't keep this middleman out the game, dammit!)

XO – "F.R.N.O."

RAtheMC – "We Ridin"" (Prod. Judah)

Mo Betta – "I Swear" (Prod. Whitefolkz)

Pro'Verb – "Persecuted Patriot" (Prod. Surock)

Kingpin Slim – King Of Da Inkpen 5 Song Sampler