David Ortez

I have been following Rapid Ric aka The Mixtape Mechanic ever since I arrived in Austin for college over 7 years ago. Seem like ages ago but I was introduced to The Fistful of Dollars Mixtape by my roommate and the rest is history.

A lot has happened in the mean time, from serving as Houston rapper Chamillionaire’s personal international disc jokey (DJ) to filming his first video (Pullin’ Up) … Rapid Ric has been on his grind. He moved to Houston as he became more intertwined with our local music scene.

Rapid Ric released his new album, Whut it Dew, this week for free. This should not be confused with his original Whut It Dew Mixtape that was released in 2004 and features a prominent image of Chamillionaire on the cover.

I do not support nor endorse this songs views. I merely share them with my audience for their satirical and humorous nature. Remember this is NSFW ergo Not Safe For Work due to adult language used.

Remember as we celebrate this Independence Day with family and friends the wise words of a humorous yet witty man: "America is a country founded by slaveowners who wanted to be free." – George Carlin.

Yet, it is George Santayana, a Spanish philosopher who really puts things into perspective with his famous quote: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Happy 4th of July! 

Did you forget to go to the Free Press Summerfest this year? Have you even heard of this Houston two-day music festival?

It takes place on an early June weekend at Buffalo Bayou’s Eleanor Tinsley Park located in the Fourth Ward. This festival is still young but continues to grow dramatically each year. Next year’s festival will be the fourth one and will take place on June 2-3, 2012. For more information, check out the Free Press Summerfest website for details.

This entertaining hip hop music video comes to us from across the pond. Thank you Ireland for staying classy!

I love politics … and I love it when it is inserted as social commentary in works of art. Case in point … the latest single from the popular band, Los Tigres Del Norte, who hail from northern Mexico.

Los Tigres Del Norte are not new to the scene … they have been around since the late 60s and have been awarded multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy awards along the way. They specialize in corridos (ballads) and offer political/social commentary in many of their songs.

The H-Town All-Stars who consist of Bun B, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Cory Mo and Trae have released a complimentary song that whole heartily endorses Barack Obama and urges the listener to vote for change on November 4th.

The song is well produced and intersperses spoken clips from presidential candidate Barack Obama between each lyricist verse. This is a rallying call for those undecided voters that need that extra push or incentive to vote … and vote for the right man for the job.

Bun B claims, “We don’t need a sequel of 4 more years … we need real ideas about the future, not war mongers.” He adds, “Republicans, you had your chance but you blew it. It’s time to turn Texas blue.” Bun B is critical of the Bush Administration and John McCain and details the policies which they have failed to address these past 8 years.

I do not recommend anything that I have not tried out first. So, when Michael Koppy first contacted me about his song “One Great Mornin” I was hesitant to promote it without listening to it. Half a month later I can proudly and confidently approve the song.

This song is what every Southern Progressive needs to hear in order to energize the base. It is perhaps that I am reading Bob Moser’s Blue Dixie that I have become more conscious about the South. As a Southerner I have felt ashamed of being a progressive . . . it felt taboo to claim that you supported Democrats. I have learned that we closet Democrats actually outnumber conservatives.