Grade A Featured Artist: Stylish Phree

**Hopefully, once a month I can showcase a new artist that I believe has talent and who's music I support. So if you are really on your grind, shoot me an email or hit me up on AIM.**




"It's a recession...everybody broke. So I just came back to give everybody hope." These were some of the first words Young Jeezy uttered on his new releaese, The Recession, which was released earlier this month. It seems like since Nas declared hip-hop deceased a little over two years ago, every hip hop fan received their doctoral degree in determining state of the genre. Fads have come and gone and hip hop has seen more "fly-by-night" acts than a cheap circus.

To further add to things, the mecca of hip-hop, New York, has been seen its fair share of upsets. Since the fall of G-Unit and Dipset, New York has been put on the backburner while the South has seen its reign of power shift from Atlanta, to Houston, to New Orleans and to Miami and come full circle roughly seven times over. Bottom line, even with Maino's, "Hi Hater", the only acts out of New York that create some sort of a buzz are Jay-Z, Nas and 50 Cent (and maybe Fab depending on who you ask). It's hard to tell when the balance of power will shift back to N.Y. (remember it briefly went to the West when Game dropped his first album), but when it does, it won't be from Jay's newest album or 50's latest diss record...it will come from a new name to emerge from the side blocks of the "rotten apple".

Normally, most northern artists are classified as "mixtape rappers" (see Papoose, Jae Millz, Serius Jones, etc.). Honestly, the sterotype that is placed on them can't really be argued because most never graduate from that level and a lot never aspire to receive more than the "hood love" they already acquired (it is good to see the big homie Maino getting love though). However, not every act from "the home of 9-11...the place of the lost towers" can be placed in that category. Exit "mixtape rappers"...enter Stylish Phree.

Born Phinnigan Edwards in the same section of Brooklyn that cultivated Biggie Smalls ("BROOKLYN WE DID IT!!!...sorry, felt the need to add that), Phree has been a celebrity on Hart Street since he was old enough to wear a pamper. He plans on bringing that same "hope" Jeezy talked about, and with his lyrical prowess, seems to be on the right track toward proving that. Bed-Stuy has been the inspirations for his boastful rhymes, yet his painful and introspective lyrics. The accomplished songwriter with an uncanny sense of emotion has songs that will reach out to every listener, regardless of age, creed, color or sex. Unlike many of his counterparts, he possesses the ability to make a single, one that will create a buzz if given the proper funding and direction.

Although many of his bars paint of a picture of a rough Bed-Stuy upbringing, Phree is not the typical one dimensional lyrical rhyme slayer who shines on one aspect, while the rest of his game suffers. Phree's still untitled debut album will be a showcase of a roller coaster of emotions, from joy, to pain, to shock, to amazement and to everything in between. It's not many stones the big homie will leave unturned and many topics left untouched.

Only time will tell if Phree will evolve into the success he seems so destined too, but one thing is for certain, he is unlike any young rapper spitting into a microphone at this current moment.

For those interested in learn more about Stylish Phree, click here to see his debut video.

--J. Tinsley