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Hip Hop - Ray Gutta


So I meet Ray Gutta the same way I've met the last few rappers in my blog . . .via twitter or craigslist . .. They just contact me and give me a shout out. . Then I check them out and realize I either have a hit or miss. In Ray Gutta's case we had a definite hit. . I mean he had the swagger, the New York persona. . .the care free attitude about being a hustler in today's world. Ray Gutta fit the mold for the contemporary "good guy" turned rapper . . or vice versa.

In my mind . .I was thinking Ray was really street. He seemed to know the neighborhoods and in his video, Loophole, he looked as though he had been working harder than most hustlers. . . Finally, I got a message from Ray telling me where his email was and how to contact him via phone. He's from New York. . .but he lives in Virginia. What kind of money was a guy like Ray making? He's commuting back and forth to Virginia from New York. He must own real estate. . .LOL

After recording all the contact info needed . .I was given his soundcloud at www.soundcloud.com/bloc-fam-ent. Later, in our conversation we had together, he asked me to give a shout out to “Bloc Fam” . . his production crew and brothers he's been making music with. Regardless, I checked out his soundcloud and realized it was hot. . . .It starts off with a song called Gotti Gee. Gotti Gee was a childhood friend. He was killed . .but still remembered by the crew and the people of Harlem. . .The song, itself, has a good beat and seems to be a signature beat from Ray – similar to a few other beats I'll describe further on down the album list.

My most favorite song is “Ray Gutta 6 Gods Freestyle” - which has a totally different groove . . .and seems to rock out the whole album. The theme to the song is the anthem, “You don't play with niggaz kids . . and you don't play with niggaz money. . .you don't believe what I'm saying till you're laying on the ground with a hole in your stomach . . .”

“Where You Was At”. . .was my second favorite. It had a pulsating beat featuring guitar riff and a cool piano theme. The song was almost a sound track anthem that you might hear in a theater or on a DVD. . . the lyrics, basically, talk about losing a loved one or girlfriend and wondering where she was at when he most needed her. I'm assuming she was gone during a time when he became prosperous and realized she could have had something if she were there when he needed her . . .Again, the build up or climax of piano and guitar really make this a great tune.

After these songs we hear what sounds like productions for a beat web site. You can hear the tags throughout the song and a sensual female voice in the beginning. From this point on . . .we're in beat territory . . where we hear tunes that are meant for sale or production on other albums. The songs have a distinguishable rhythm I had mentioned was heard before on Gotti Gee. A trade mark sound.

So . .After interviewing Ray . .we agreed to meet each other at the Red Lounge on 14th street and Ust. When I got there, Ray was dressed like my cousins who are very distinguished gentlemen . . .He was dressed like a college student who is about to enter law or medicine. He could have been a med student . . .I wasn't sure . .but the swagger and persona of a drug dealer was non-existent. Him and his girlfriend had ordered Long Island Ice Teas and relaxed near the bar while other rappers made the scene. When Ray got his chance to rap and do his thing . . .I was impressed. The beats he had chosen were fresh and his rapping seemed professional rather than amateurish – the way some rappers appear when they first enter the stage. He had chosen the right beats and finished the set with a few songs from his album . . .All in all. . .it was a good night for Ray Gutta. He, then, grabbed his $500 digital camera and iphone and left with his middle class, suburban girlfriend. They made a nice couple and looked as though they were ready to "Tee" off on the golf course the next morning.

(click url to listen to a hip hop album . . .or to watch a video . . . )

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