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Here's a question with no right answer: Why hasn't a Baltimore rapper broken through the city confines?<br>
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There have been glimmers of hope. Caddy Da Don caught a quick flame last year with "Grindin' On Me," but his momentum slowed. Mullyman once had a video in MTV Jams' rotation, but couldn't repeat it. Los, signed to Diddy's Bad Boy Records, is probably our current best hope for a star, and there's no sign when his major-label debut will hit shelves.<br>
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But the truth is, there's something more interesting going on here. A scene is emerging, and it's not chasing a quick payday or a fleeting fad. Artists are developing distinctive voices and perspectives in real time, through visually arresting videos, passionate live performances and, of course, the music itself. Many hip-hop artists in the city are carving out their own lanes, and in the process, cultivating a community with a unique take on one of the world's most influential art forms.<br>
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We couldn't include them all here, so consider this a small but notable sampling of the city's most promising rappers. Those waiting impatiently for Baltimore's own version of Wale should call off the search, and instead check out these five rising artists. Ultimately, it won't matter if they make it to top of the Billboard charts or not. They have made -- and will likely continue to make -- great music, and that's what matters most.

Baltimore rappers

( Al Great, Dunson, Kane Mayfield and Jay Verze photographed by Amy Davis, Baltimore Sun Scarlett photographed by Gene Sweeney Jr., Baltimore Sun )

Here's a question with no right answer: Why hasn't a Baltimore rapper broken through the city confines?

There have been glimmers of hope. Caddy Da Don caught a quick flame last year with "Grindin' On Me," but his momentum slowed. Mullyman once had a video in MTV Jams' rotation, but couldn't repeat it. Los, signed to Diddy's Bad Boy Records, is probably our current best hope for a star, and there's no sign when his major-label debut will hit shelves.

But the truth is, there's something more interesting going on here. A scene is emerging, and it's not chasing a quick payday or a fleeting fad. Artists are developing distinctive voices and perspectives in real time, through visually arresting videos, passionate live performances and, of course, the music itself. Many hip-hop artists in the city are carving out their own lanes, and in the process, cultivating a community with a unique take on one of the world's most influential art forms.

We couldn't include them all here, so consider this a small but notable sampling of the city's most promising rappers. Those waiting impatiently for Baltimore's own version of Wale should call off the search, and instead check out these five rising artists. Ultimately, it won't matter if they make it to top of the Billboard charts or not. They have made -- and will likely continue to make -- great music, and that's what matters most.

Comments (2)

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Matthew Brandley at 4:15 PM November 28, 2012

who cares ?? its junk . noise . garbage . trash . you never do anything about rock . blues . smooth jazz . nothing about anything like that . its always the ghetto crap . why?? talk about racism!! your paper is the perfect example of it right here . hardly any white music reviews . always black .

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