Hip Hop is still alive with Carolina Dirty Still At It.

Carolina Dirty

      My first exposure to Carolina Dirty was nearly 18 years ago, when the artist was going by the moniker Flower (Fly, Legit, Outspoken Woman Entirely Respected). It was the late '90s and Hip Hop was experiencing a renaissance of uber-lyrical MCs who relied simply on their ability to craft concrete rhymes around strong beats.

     Fast forward to today, and Hip Hop has changed - lyrics have taken a back seat to pulsating beats; R&B like choruses; and videos that show off assets more than lyrical prowess. It's an appropriate
time for Carolina Dirty to return to the forefront in an effort to defy the current mainstream and return to the era of the lyricist, with her latest effort aptly titled Still At It.

In 17 tracks, including skits, the South Carolina native creates a cohesive experience for the listener that puts the emphasis back on lyrics and the spotlight on the ability of an artist to carry their own project. In other words don't look for features - as Dirty implicitly states that this time out she wants to firmly re-establish herself. Features will come on the next album, she promises.

Hip Hop heads will appreciate Dirty's first single, Seers of the Truth, a track, that laments the current state of Hip Hop and wishes for the return of stronger lyrics to the mainstream.

"Like a bullet when you pull it/ my flows just drift/can't duck or dodge it/it's just too swift - she proclaims on the T-Blenda produced track.

But the true show stealer is the DJ Shakim produced track - About U. Carolina Dirty comes off as a lyrical tyrant letting challengers just what they're in store for if they ever think about thinking about .

I sell Hip Hop and they sell crack/Now I'm killing B***s softly Ms. Roberta Flack/if your mouth gets saucy I'll show you what I do/ 'cause the next rhyme I write might be about you/

Carolina Dirty has even more strong cuts on the album- whether its the mellow yet somber Eulogy, or the club induced Saturday Night Live, where she lets her hair down a bit to create a bouncy club sound, the album, which also features production from Amiri and more, does not disappoint.

So if you're looking for tight lyrics, dope beats, and an excursion from what passes as mainstream "Hip Hop" give this a try. And for those clamoring for a bit more, Carolina Dirty has told the O.A.W. Report that she's already well into the writing for the second album. Check out the Still At It below and judge for yourself.



Also check out the classic video Good Neighbor from Carolina Dirty featuring her brother, Spectac.






You can hit up Carolina Dirty on twitter at @carolina_dirty.