B.C.

10 Cool Songs From Pittsburgh by Alex Young

Music videos and tracks featuring Hardo, Josephine, Nizzy and more.

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Josephine | Photo by Alex Young

1. Jordan Montgomery - Black Folk 4 Life (Bad Boy For Life Remix)

It was Jay tracks only. Slim Tha DJ proved up to the task combing through Jay Z’s music catalog to entertain a crowd at the Boom Concepts gallery venue in Pittsburgh. Rapper Jordan Montgomery was there as Hov’s super fan spitting every lyric bar for bar with acute cadence. Montgomery’s music could play at intermission during a Jay Z concert. He rhymes around the beat like Hov. His wisdom speaks to other young, black Americans and that deserves more attention. The classic flavor on Montgomery’s “Black Folk 4 Life” tastes fresh from the cut’s cool music video directed by Jordan Armstrong. Artists’ cameos by Jaybee Jackson and Livefromthecity are hype.

2. Slicky Williams - Remain Humble

A sensitive trap tale from Homewood, Pittsburgh rapper and singer-songwriter Slicky Williams. Buy his new EP on iTunes.

3. Josephine - I Need Teeth

Super chill song from an Irish-Jamaican songstress from the ‘Burgh. Any DJ worth any finesse could play Josephine’s track at the function. She has more music on the way so, don’t sleep.

4. The Keymakers - Tell Me Something

When we observed The Keymakers at the Always Money studio in Toronto, it was clear, Rome and Rederic had a plan to roll out their music. The assist from the Always Money collective, engineer B.C., writer Jesse Christophr and Cash Money Records representative Anshuman Sharma, boosts The Keymakers’ quality. From prep school life in the ‘Burgh to radio ready, introduce yourself to The Keymakers. If not, you may come across the group in a Spotify playlist.

5. Rome Fortune & Toro Y Moi - Hoodrich Disco (Music Video Directed by Glasshead)

Media production company and music group, Glasshead adds to their clientele with this music video direction for well-known musicians Rome Fortune and Toro Y Moi. Glasshead rises out of The Steel City to meet opportunities across the country because they entertain with whacky, flattering content kind of like a meme. Whether its hip-hop mimicking Doja Cat’s “Mooo!” song with The N word or general comedy about the culture, Glasshead shoots straight. Feature article on that squad soon.

6. Camp Yola x D Clak - Home Invasion Part 1

50 Cent got people wanting to turn their lives into TV like “Power.” It goes to show the inner-city underbelly really tries people. What’s perceived as entertainment is survival mode.

7. Hardo - Fame or Feds

Hardo follows up his 2011 “Fame or Feds” mixtape with OG Pittsburgh rapper Deezlee. This time, “The Fame or Feds Story” album illustrates Hardo’s trap origins, while paying respect to the relationships that affected him most. Hardo’s latest project culminates his development as a rapper to those who’ve watched his rise.

8. BIG BEE - WON By WON

“But I got this little dream team called B.C. What the fuck we gonna do?” The B.C. rap group is prowling. BIG BEE pouncin’.

9. FlatLine Nizzy - Watch

Next out of the trap. Watch his video for “Dey Don’t” too.

10. Stoneith - The Thought of Mine

“You keep switching up your ways moving lane from lane.”

New Rap Stars B.C. by Alex Young

Cover photo for "I'm So High" by B.C.

Cover photo for "I'm So High" by B.C.

Brendon Hawkins and Caleb Hickerson of music group B.C. pair for a cool song. Their effort couldn't come at a better time since the street murder of rapper Jimmy Wopo and police murder of Antwon Rose took the spirit out of Pittsburgh. Wiz Khalifa's new "Rolling Papers 2" album, especially the "Blue Hunnids" track featuring rappers Wopo and Hardo, and Mac Miller's forthcoming "Swimming" album have gotten us excited again. Not to mention the music festivals happening today in DeutschtownFreek Show and The City providing activities for the community to do. But this song "I'm So High" by B.C. puts us in our bag.

If you know B.C., the song's demeanor is not surprising. The visual artist Hawkins currently creates images for a The Tenth Magazine and hit HBO TV show Insecure campaign sponsoring a lux beach week. Hickerson, who is a filmmaker and photographer, shot the spotlight cover photo along with Hawkins for their new song. The partners' work thrives, and they wear themselves well. This fly transitions into their music.

Originally recorded in October of 2017, the flare in "I'm So High" comes from B.C.'s style. "It's Big B Big Bucks I got a lot of cash, and I spend it all on new denim for my sexy ass," B raps. Hawkins notes "I'm So High" takes influence from Project Pat of Three 6 Mafia, who Hawkins notes is an Aquarius once somebody on Instagram said B.C.'s song sounds like Memphis rap.

Follow the rapper's movements from the music to the artwork. Listen to "I'm So High."