In the old days (the '80s), most New Orleans rap was released by labels from outside the state. Dallas's Yo! had handled Gregory D & Mannie Fresh and Tim Smooth. Ft. Lauderdale's famous bass label, 4 Sight, released Ninja Crew's "We Destroy." Juvenile was initially on New York's Warlock. When majors got involved, they invariably mis-handled the artists. Gregory D & Mannie Fresh moved to RCA; Warren Mayes and pioneering west bank rapper MC Thick signed to Atlantic.

All that changed following the bounce explosion of 1991. New Orleans's long established Soulin' Records finally got into the rap game, releasing DJ Jimi's debut single, the bounce classic "(The Original) Where Dey At?" Seemingly overnight, a number of cottage industry labels sprang up, including Big Boy, Cash Money, Parkway Pumpin, Slaughterhouse, Take Fo' and Untouchable. None of them except Cash Money lasted into the new millenium. But for a time, they collectively produced and recorded some of the most overlooked and greatest rap of the decade and routinely outsold nationally-promoted rappers of the day, helping turn the tide toward the south.

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He hung himself with a curtain cord in a Bangkok hotel. Go here for more info.

Death - …For The Whole World To See (Drag City)

Chances are if you are dating a single mother, you’re going to have some influence on her kids. That is what happened to Bobby, David & Dannis Hackney. The Hackney brothers’ mom was dating a Detroit area bouncer who worked the rock clubs. He got the young brothers into the clubs and exposed them to the crème de la crème of the Detroit scene of the late 60’s, early 70’s. They saw groups such as The MC5, The Stooges, Funkadelic and Alice Cooper. Soon they started their own band and recorded the best album you've never heard. Recorded in 1974, Death’s …For The Whole World To See finally sees the light of day. Death was one of those bands that no one knew what to do with. They were black teenagers that played Stooges influenced rock and roll. The African American community was into Motown and the Philly sound and Punk rock didn’t even have a name yet. Not having a vehicle to release their album, Death released an independent single from this session, their 1976 single, "Politician In My Eyes," which made it seem like these guys were followers rather than one of the originators of Punk. Nothing against The Ramones, New York Dolls or many of those bands people mention as being a part of the genesis of Punk Rock, but Death should have been mentioned along with those groups as pioneers of Punk. Hopefully now they will get their due.

Amadou & Mariam - Welcome To Mali (Nonesuch)

Sir, there is a stage with your name on it in San Francisco, humble as it may be. Thank you sir. You redeemed television ... for a moment. I even like the damn Aerosmith at the end, and that song only makes me think of strippers and a death in Alameda. God bless you, sir.

-Brickly