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Dr. Ooo – MAIL MAN

Dr. Ooo has been a purveyor of wordplay in the Buffalo hip hop scene for minute. Drew Hartman’s rap project has been going strong since before Soundcloud was an era. For over a decade, he’s been combining his Rhymesayer-flavored poetic delivery with some of the tastiest boom bap beats and samples this side of the Pharcyde. Our Album of the Week is Ooo’s latest full-length, MAIL MAN, where the delivery thankfully is packed with dope beats and heady lines instead of Spectrum bills.   Mail Man’s kicks off the rapping on “Stranger Things” – a lyrical tour-de-force packed with tight flows, metaphors, and double entendres. Production-wise, we’re in a transported back to that comfortable boom bap place with delicate trumpets that allow Ooo’s wordplay to be the star of the show. “Been a hot shot since we was playing hopscotch / I was sipping Big Gulp and shawty brought me Pop[...]

Tonight: The Slums

After 2 years of anticipation, we’re finally here, all the hype, all the teases of new material from this passionately loved artist who wears their heart on their sleeve and reps their city to the death; I am of course talking about the release of, Sorry by The Slums. Unless you’ve been completely oblivious to the local music scene, it’s been kind of hard to miss the local shout-rockers in our fair city, playing barn-burner of a show after barn-burner of a show. But tonight’s show is one of proper celebration, as the band marks the release of their buffaBLOG-approved, debut album. The Slums will be playing most (if not all) the tunes off their debut with I’m sure some room for old singles as well. The band’s trademark raw, aggressive, and wildly emotive punk sound, lends itself especially to the live setting, and if you’re like me, I know[...]

Dr. Ooo Remixes Usher and Pharrell for “1050”

Buffalo rapper and EKL associate Dr. Ooo is one of the city’s most refined wordsmiths. His lyrics and flow shine on in each track he releases, and when he’s having fun on a track the feeling is contagious. This is the case on “1050,” a remix of the 2001 Usher joint “U Don’t Have to Call.” 2001 was primetime for the Neptunes, but Pharrell and Chad Hugo’s work is timeless. The beat for “UDHTC” is just groovy and drum-heavy, setting up Dr. Ooo for a fun freestyle of sorts. Ooo tests out all sorts of flows while talking acidic fruits and high numbers. And he’s also juggling for most of the video. Entertaining, lighthearted, impressive and sexy, just the way Usher would want it. Watch below.

Tonight: Black Milk

Detroit rapper/producer Black Milk has proven to be one of his city’s most formidable hip hop artists over the last decade or so. Heavily influenced by A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and Motor City beat legend J Dilla, Black Milk brings his soulful beats and rhymes to Mohawk Place tonight with live band Nat Turner. Milk is a frequent collaborator with the city’s best, including songs with Slum Village, Royce Da 5’9,” Elzhi, and the 2011 project with Danny Brown titled The Black & Brown EP. Last year he dropped his sixth album, If There’s Hell Below, with notable indie hip hop label Fat Beats. Filled with more of Milk’s smooth jazz sounds, Hell Below includes features from Cali’s Blu and Houston legend Bun B. Milk’s tracklist should include many songs from the record, and all his tracks will be complimented by the energy of the live band.[...]

Deep Thinka Records

Buffalo-based independent hip-hop label Deep Thinka Records has been a leading local institution since 1997 for discovering forward-thinking, inspiring MC’s dedicated to furthering the eclectic, socially conscious tradition of the genre. The label’s current roster boasts some of the city’s finest rap talent with artists like Mad Dukez, Billy Drease Williams, Chuckie Campbell, and Tanya Morgan each bringing a unique vision to the Deep Thinka camp. Tonight, Duke’s on Allen will host a hip-hop showcase for Herd Fest curated by the Deep Thinka crew, who have brought together the most exciting local rap talent, including members of prolific collectives EVC and Koolie High. Rapper Toneyboi of Koolie High, whose video for his latest single “Guacaroni & Cheese” was featured here at buffaBLOG earlier this week, will host tonight’s event. The MC is set to release his latest album, Leaders of the New Kool this summer featuring abstract production and the artist’s signature gritty,[...]

Dr. Ooo Drops “City Man” Clip

Each release from EKL’s Dr. Ooo is an immediate must-watch/listen. One of the city’s finest emcees, Ooo is a favorite of the blog and last appeared when he dropped the visuals for “Fuq Dr. Ooo.” Today Ooo comes back with a creative vid accompanying his track “City Man.” The D. Thomas Magee-directed affair doesn’t actually star Ooo, but rather a female substitute because “the rapper has been changed to protect his identity.” The video features some visually fantastic cultural fashion, as well as some really cool animated effects that remind me of Iamsu!’s video for “Only That Real.” The song itself features a nice sing-songy chorus, and as with any Ooo track, the bars are top-notch and prevalent. Dr. Ooo is also set to perform at the Deep Thinka Records Herd Fest Showcase on Friday, June 19th at Duke’s. Watch that vid below. Dr. Ooo ‘City Man’ from d. thomas magee[...]

Tonight: Buffalo Rap Round Robin

What began as an annual Baltimore tradition has made its way to Buffalo, where three local acts meet three touring acts for a nonstop rap action in an innovative presentation of music. The Gypsy Parlor hosts tonight’s event, which begins at 9pm. The aim of the Rap Round Robin is to eliminate the “dead air and general lameness” of rap shows by creating an environment where there is continuous music throughout the show. Three stages are set up, and each act performs a single track before passing the mic to the next group. The audience is literally surrounded by music, and with three local favorites representing, this is a can’t miss show for hip hop heads. Jack Topht & Little Cake will take a stage tonight, along with Dr. Ooo, and Short Moscato. The touring acts for the tour are Passalacqua, Height Keech, and Eze Jackson, along with special guest PT[...]

Dr. Ooo Releases Music Video For “Fuq Dr. Ooo”

Equality Knowledge and Light has been on a tear of late. The culture firm’s artists have released two great music videos in the last couple of weeks, and before that dropped an important love song to a couple of their favorite foods. The latest vid comes from EKL wordsmith Dr. Ooo, for the the ferociously flowy “Fuq Dr. Ooo.” A barrage of bars, the track  displays the Good Doctor’s smoothness on the mic, asserting that he really is “stupid for this one.” Paling around with Ooo is fellow EKL rapper Wza (who dropped a dope video himself just last week for his single “I Need That”) and Dr. Ooo’s Kinda Like Dreamin partner Sammy Doons. The video follows Ooo around snowy Buffalo as his sippin’ from his flask, dropping his heat, and pouring out 40s along the way. Treat yourself below.

Tonight: Headshots! Vol IV

Looking for something fun (and free!) to do on yet another frigid Buffalo night? Gypsy Parlor has you covered with another installment of their Headshots! series. Featuring some of Buffalo’s best hip hop acts, the showcase, soundtracked by Covert and hosted by Wza, is the fourth in a series that shows no signs of slowing down. Doors for the 21+ show are at 10, and with so many performances on deck, you don’t want to be late. Whether you are a staple of the scene a la We Stole the Show, the duo comprised of Grand Phee and Rhyson Hall, or are newer to the game like Short Moscato featuring Death Picnic,  musically there is something for every hip hop head in the city. Headshots! also has performances by Koolie High and Drew Hartman aka Dr. OoO. There will be a merch table disguised as a popup shop, brought to[...]

Tonight: Aircraft Welcomes The Future

Tonight the future will be now when blog favorites Aircraft, The Tins, Equality Knowledge & Light (Dr. Ooo, Sleep Close Death, Goodman Brown, Truey V, WZA, and Whoizzy), and Lesionread polish off 2014 and ring in 2015 at Nietzsche’s. This all star line up will be transforming that well worn and venerable Allentown venue into a psychedelic starship that’s going to take us all into the future and showcase some of the finest and forward thinking acts in Buffalo. $5 gets you in the door, champagne at midnight, plus some of the best hip hop, psych-pop and future pop in the city. Music starts at 9:30. See you there.

Guest Post: Dr. Ooo

For our Best of 2014 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the next installment in the guest series, Buffalo MC Dr. Ooo (aka Drew Hartman), submitted his year end list.  So originally I told myself that I was going to keep this list to 10 songs BUT THEN I REMEMBERED THAT ITS ALMOST 2015 AND I CAN DO WHATEVER THE F*CK I WANT…just kidding but really. Here’s my favorite 15 songs of 2014 IN NO SPECIFIC ORDER SO CALM DOWN EVERYONE. Top 15 Songs of 2014 Ab Soul – “Tree of Life” “I wish I could live like the trees, shoot the breeze, stay around some leaves, you naaaMean??” Nuff said. SZA ft Kendrick Lamar – “Babylon” SZA’s hypnotizing voice and K Dot’s fire verse over[...]

Tonight: Dr. Ooo

Buffalo garage based outfitter, Day After Day Supply, will be celebrating its one year anniversary later at Hardware, and Queen City MC elite, Dr. Ooo, will be on hand to help ring in the festivities. Formerly of Kinda Like Dreamin, the good doctor (AKA Drew Aintworriedboutnuthin Hartman) recently returned home from NYC, bringing his culturally aware references and clever rhythms back to Buffalo with him. Manning the tables tonight will Spooky Stephen, one of half of the busiest DJ party duo in Buffalo, Spooky Business. The party goes down tonight at 10pm. $5 is all it takes to get in.

Tonight: Radarada

Get on that ra ra shit tonight with the release of Radarada’s debut EP, the aptly titled First Edition. Featuring fellow Buffalo artists Jack Topht and Dr. Ooo, the album is a compilation of what happens when people stop being polite and start getting weird. The all ages show opens it’s doors at 9pm, and is being hosted at one of Buffalo’s best new(ish) music venues, Buffalo Iron Works. Tix are five duckets, but being surrounded by so many yung thugs at an all ages show is kind of priceless, so this is easily the best $5 you’ll spend all weekend. Everyone in attendance will also get a ticket to the show’s afterparty, being held at a semi-undisclosed location (a house on the west side, and the address is on the ticket) and promises to have “free drinks, music bumpin, and good times.” In the words of Robert Sylvester Kelly:[...]

Dr. Ooo Premieres New Malt Disney Directed Clip

One of the blog’s favorite Buffalo MCs, the now Brooklyn residing Dr. Ooo (or Drew Aintworriedboutnuthin Hartman to his friends), has released the new music video for his track “Comfy.” Directed by Malt Disney, frequent collaborator of the Toats Orig Crew and Jact Toft, the clip finds Hartman strolling around Chinatown channeling his inner foodie and hitting up some markets. The track appears to be a part of an upcoming project called Canary Yellow, so keep your eyes peeled for further details. You can watch “Comfy” below.