Local flavor

Published Dec. 30, 2009 at 7:23 p.m.
Andrew Martin serves up fresh Ocean State Sampler...
...Local journalist and acclaimed hip-hop scribe Andrew Martin has corralled a flavorful roster of Rhody-based rap talent on the Ocean State Sampler , 10 exclusive tracks available for free download...

Local journalist and acclaimed hip-hop scribe Andrew Martin has corralled a flavorful roster of Rhody-based rap talent on the Ocean State Sampler, 10 exclusive tracks available for free download through PotholesInMyBlog.com, where Martin is a regular contributor. The Ocean State Sampler is an outstanding representation of our sorely-overlooked hip-hop community, teeming with exclusive/unreleased bangers courtesy of veteran wordsmiths like Chachi, Jon Hope, and Reason, along with a pair of instrumental jams from acclaimed beatmakers Falside and Joe Beats.

A Warwick native and URI grad, Martin caught the music journalism bug early on while cranking out reviews on various message boards and online forums, including PopMatters, Last.FM, and renowned rap site OkayPlayer, when fellow board members from New Jersey contacted Martin about helping them start a new site. Potholes In My Blog was created and quickly developed a following as a go-to source for all things hip-hop. Martin now resides in Hope Valley and is working as a beat reporter for The Chariho Times; he recently landed a roster spot with music news site Prefix magazine.

"I fell in love with hip-hop when I heard Digital Underground's 'The Humpty Dance,' " Martin recalled. "I was around five years old and had no idea what the song was actually about, but I was hooked." Ten-year age difference aside, we agreed on two of our top-5 all-time rappers in Ghostface and Kool G Rap (the Roots' Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, and Mos Def rounded out his list), and we concurred about Li'l Rhody's rap presence on the come-up. "Rhode Island obviously doesn't have the so-called 'legitimacy' of New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Chicago, but I think we're slowly but surely getting more attention," Martin said, "especially with guys like Theo Martins and Jon Hope getting tons of love on the blogosphere.

Read more


Back | Read more at Providence Phoenix