Mr. Blakes optimistic about hip-hop scene

By Ramon Ramirez

When music journalists interview cerebral rappers such as Mos Def, an unavoidable, tired question is consistently posed: “What’s the current state of hip-hop?”

No matter how many poverty-stricken young hustlers live their dreams and get real paid doing it, the answer is, “not good.” Never mind that rap music outsells most genres and is embedded into this generation’s cultural identity as hip-hop continues its supreme reign on the market economy.

But ask Blackalicious’ Gift of Gab, and you get bullet points like, “Labels are so disconnected from hip-hop, they solely present and promote the gangster stuff.”

Talib Kweli’s opinion? “By building up such recognizable brand names the art form itself has sadly become irrelevant.”

Then there’s Rhymesayers Entertainment young gun P.O.S., who said: “We both know how bad things are. I don’t need to answer that question.”

All are legitimate obstacles black music is facing, but Austin rapper and figurehead Bavu Blakes, who likes to be called Mr. Blakes, isn’t so pessimistic.

“Rappers that don’t just mope around saying ‘I’m slept on’ can always get love,” Mr. Blakes said, “If you put in the work to up your fan base, the passion will be reciprocated.”

He should know. With admirers ranging from Texas underground king Bun B to late blues legend Clifford Antone, Mr. Blakes gets more props than a high school production of “The Crucible.”

“In Texas you gotta keep your doors open,” Mr. Blakes said. “I’m at a point where I can book shows in my sleep through statewide connections.”

With this forward-thinking strategy, Mr. Blakes personally summoned some of his favorite Texas colleagues for a Lone Star State convention. Luckily for music lovers, their business isn’t boardrooms, but banging beats and rocking clubs.

Joining Mr. Blakes at the State of Texas Hip-Hop showcase this Friday are talented up-and-comers. According to Mr. Blakes, the key in selecting the lineup was hand diverse acts representative of what independent Texas rap has to offer.

“P.O.S. is this young guy from Austin who has a real slick Nas style, while PPT make this insane Pharcyde-sounding music,” he said. “They’re a silly-but-crazy great group from Dallas — so unique.”

Steve Austin is also on board. He represents Irving and sounds similar to a young LL Cool J, even carrying himself like a hip-hop heartthrob. Of the five acts, his is the most mainstream and radio-ready.

His MySpace.com profile is home to smooth club-bumpers like “What It Is,” which features the 21st century’s Michael Jackson: Usher. The pounding “Wassapnin” employs a mean verse from Paul Wall, and both boast thousands of plays.

V-Zilla rounds out the stacked lineup.

“He’s one of my main Houston contacts,” Mr. Blakes said. “I called him up because he’s one of the better live performers in Texas.”

Friday’s show features a starting five that could take on the Mavericks. But some inescapable problems continue to plague the state of hip-hop locally.

“Lots of bookers still don’t get it,” Mr. Blakes said.

“They don’t acknowledge hip-hop as an evolution of blues and rock,” He added. “To exclude rap is just silly.”

Which brings us back to Clifford Antone and why his recent passing was so mourned.

“He was a man who got it,” Mr. Blakes said. “He worked us in and opened the lines of communication. It was Clifford who wanted a big independent hip-hop show to begin with.”

Then there’s the issue of play and getting respect. For Mr. Blakes, the problem isn’t the message and popularity of 50 Cent, it’s lack of common sense.

“Too many guys don’t know how to get a piece of the underground,” said Mr. Blakes. “You have to put in the effort. You need to speak the language and rhyme on beats the ‘hood will feel.”

“It’s so simple — you don’t go around Chinatown speaking Korean.”

For a unified faction of networking artists who get it, Friday’s show will be yet another stepping stone on an inevitable path toward getting theirs in the rap game.

In the meantime, it’s a celebration, gangsta.