NY Times Call Lloyd Banks “Most Important Rapper From NY”
The New York Times broke down Hot 97 FM’s Summer Jam in their music review section and came to the conclusion that there has been a shift in relevance when it comes to the headlining artists. The concert held in New Jersey was once a haven for Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes but now artists from the Big Apple are not the kings of the big stage.
Although Prodigy got some Summer Jam vindication, Busta showed up to do his usual rambunctious appearance and Fabolous and Dipset spit some heat, The Times stamped Lloyd Banks as the bright spot for NY hip-hop.
“Lloyd Banks, who may have stealthily become the most important rapper in New York — last year his “Beamer, Benz or Bentley” was a local anthem; this year he’s got “Start It Up.”
The newspaper also cited that his recent rise came after leaving Interscope Records and now he’s one of the few rappers from the city of dreams that is on New York radio and is still respected on the mixtape circuit.
The highlight of the evening was Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne performing “I’m On One” according to The Times.
“This year’s Summer Jam marked a generational shift in hip-hop power, away from Jay-Z, 50 Cent and even, to a degree, from Kanye West, to a younger and more Southern cavalcade of stars, for whom Summer Jam, far from home, is just one more stage to conquer.”
How do you feel about the changing of the guards?
