I know I just recently covered the Netherlands, but I’ve decided to make a return visit to highlight up-and-coming rap duo La Melodia. I saw them live at a global hip-hop showcase this past week at CMJ in New York City and loved their blend of old-school hip-hop, bossa nova, and soul. It was especially nice to see such a self-assured and spunky rapper in the form of MC Melodee since there seems to be a dearth of female rappers in the mainstream American rap scene.

The DJs of Baltimore Beatdown get more play than any other show on WCWM. That’s because these guys are so committed to their show that they wake up for an 8-10am show every weekday morning, on top of their normal Thursday 10-midnight time slot. T-Velvet (aka Thomas Kennedy) and Dapper Darius (aka Chris Yamoah) have been DJs since spring of 2008 and since then have built such a huge following that you can find them on twitter, facebook and this year, their website, www.beatdown.biz.

With the addition the morning time slots this year came a new addition to the team, DJ Geordi Laforge (aka Drew Laskowski, author of Vinyl Tap’s Weekend Mixtapes), who is far more willing to get up at 8am than a certain Mr. Yamoah. And Chris is not alone, I can’t do 8am…

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much when Re-Up first walked onto the Sadler Center Terrace stage set up for AMP’s free “Fridays @ 5” event on Sept. 18. Dressed in baggy t-shirts and baseball caps, they hardly looked like the “hip-hop/experimental” group advertised on the band’s myspace.
But then the music started. And I fell in love.
Cliff “Spliff” Kuhn-Lloyd’s vocals had me immediately hooked, with a magnificent whiskey voice that sent chills down my spine. The band presented a surprisingly sophisticated blend of hard-hitting rap and soulful jazz, with an unbeatable combination of great lyrics and a laid-back attitude onstage.

Every Friday afternoon DJs, directors and trainees vote on what music makes it to A-list, what ends up on B-list, and what just sucks.
The are the albums have made the cut at WCWM 90.9FM this week, including a few samples for your listening pleasure.