What “Crew” means for D.C. hip-hop and the DMV

Historically speaking, our nation’s capital hasn’t been much of a game-changer in hip-hop, but it is seeing something huge bubbling up that could possibly push the city to the level of the big name spots like New York City, Los Angeles, and Atlanta as a place where there’s great potential for hip-hop as a culture.

As a little music background on D.C. and the DMV (the tristate area of D.C, Maryland and Virginia), for decades, the primary music scene for the district was go-go music which is a funk subgenre of lo-fi production, dance hall influences and A LOT of percussion. If you lived in the DMV from the 60s on and wanted to be in music, you wanted to be in a go-go band.

Fast forward to about 2006, D.C. got its first hip-hop hometown hero in Wale. I personally remember living in Hawaii at the time and watching MTV air “Nike Boots” in a segment on artists you should know. Some of his music featured samples and recordings from D.C.’s prominent go-go bands. Wale not only became the poster-child for D.C. in hip-hop but he’s inspired a movement in the district for kids trying to make it in hip-hop.

Now on to right now. If you haven’t listened to it yet, or seen the music video, check out “Crew” by DC natives Goldlink and Jefe – formerly known as Shy Glizzy – and Maryland native Brent Faiyaz. It has got to be the next anthem for the city featuring some of the most prolific-in-their-own-lane artists coming out of D.C.

Worlds Collide

Each artist in “Crew” represent a different side of the DMV that won’t be seen just sightseeing the museums, galleries and monuments of D.C.’s tourist district.

First, you’ve got Jefe; he and his Glizzy Gang have been grinding their way into the spotlight, eventually earning himself a chart-topping banger in 2014’s “Awwsome.” Jefe’s music is the outside world’s glimpse into D.C.’s street music scene away from the loud and percussive beats of go-go.

With him comes a slew of fans from a side of D.C. that few get to see, beyond the stretch of the National Mall and the well-kempt roadways of the tourist district.

Next there’s Goldlink. The best way to describe Goldlink is atop a very, VERY big bubble that’s ready to burst and propel this artist into stardom. While he may be on the cusp of being a star, his fanbase is huge following in the DMV.

The best way to describe Goldlink and his music is something of a chill, yet up-tempo, fusion between hip-hop and electronic. But not just any electronic, something more eclectic like a deep house or trip hop. Think of something that would be played on Soulection’s Beats One station (ironic because his last album, And After That We Didn’t Talk). Goldlink’s fanbase I would describe as hip, Afrocentric young kids who just like to chill and vibe out.

Lastly there’s Brent Faiyaz. Hailing from Maryland, Faiyaz is the soulful upcoming singer fresh off his collaborative project with producers Atu and Dpat as SONDER. Faiyaz is really fresh in the game, dropping his first song on Soundcloud just two years ago.

Brent Faiyaz’s music is a spacey ethereal vibe, with some impressive vocals to boot.

All these artists represent a side of the DMV that rarely see each other. A track like “Crew” brings these worlds together, uniting all of these fans within one area and allowing a music scene to actually develop. This leads into my next point.

Worlds Uncovered

Hip-hop fans inside and outside D.C. get to see that there is a rap scene slowly developing and that it’s not just Wale and go-go here.

To many people’s surprise, there are a lot of really dope rappers grinding from Virginia, up to D.C. and even Maryland. There’s street artists like Jefe, Lightshow and Fat Trel moving the street scene forward. There’s progressive artists like new Motown signee Chaz French, Phil Ade, Masego, Innanet James and Jay IDK are making splashes and getting recognition outside of the area.

D.R.A.M. was nominated for a Grammy; he hails from Hampton, Virginia. The Divine Council of Richmond are starting to also gain traction, as well as RoeShamBeaux, who recently debuted their first music video.

With all these artists turning the gears, growing the DMV scene and averting gazes to the nation’s capital, it really is only a matter of time before it becomes one of our hip-hop capitals as well.