Hodgie Street is a rapper from Lima, who has spent plenty of his rap years inside I-270 after moving here in 2001.
  The Ohio rapper’s bio states he was discovered by Ginuwine in 2005.

  For me personally, Hodgie was always been that dude who had songs with people like Gucci Mane on his projects.

  His new album American Dreamin'  doesn’t have many features nor does it need them. You have Rashad ánd Lantana on “Middle of the Map,” PA Flex on “N*gga Sh*t” and Ella Star on the title song.

  “American Dreamin” features production from Rashad, Chase N Cash, Wax, AU and more.

  The production is similar to Rashad’s work on Stalley’s work on “Lincoln Way Nights.”

  There is an ambient underpinning with synths, bouncy 808’s while maintaining and overall musical sound.

  Rapwise, Hodgie delivers with perfect diction and a slight twang. Dude isn’t super technical but he can hit the double times when the Bone Thugs feel emerges necessary within the song structure.

  “American Dreamin'” subject matter details broken homes, neighborhoods that have problems, smokin with friends, putting in work, having fun, rollin’ in the car and just living.

  This is shown with a fact of the matter presentation.

  It does get turned up on songs like “Homicide” but on the most part there is a consistent aura of just taking everything in pace.

  I know that sounds like a generic description but when you throw in interludes with vocal samples from deceased local pan handler  “Help is On the Way” and Tupac is personalized.

  “American Dreamin’” is a solid, polished rap album that could appeal to both gangtas and just regular hip hop heads.

  Hodgie comes through on his album’s “American Dreamin’” title by presenting Ohio Americana in 2015 hip hop form.

  Nes Wordz is another guy like Hodgie that you can tell has been around the block but doesn’t hit you with just one side of how things go.

  Nes is from Toledo but has been involved with Columbus hip hop for a good amount of recent memory.

  His new album, “The Stupid Genius,” has Nes working with the Exec Gang camp featuring production from Supanatra and AU.

  I could almost write the same review for “The Stupid Genius” as I did for “American Dreamin’” except Nes and Hodgie don’t sound the same.  

  Nes gets more technical while Hodgie usually stays in the pocket.

  Where Hodgie has a Pac speech about the his mom, Nes drops a spoken work poem about failed friendships.

  This isn’t to say Nes isn’t a street dude; “Get It Gone” could be played next to any trap banger.

  To deviate from the compare and contrast:

  “Faded Glory” has sexual stomp, as Nes discusses the perils of post relation voids, and break-up sex.

  “How it Feels” and the Dominique LaRue featuring “Living Life”  have a retro 80s JellyBean Benitiz quality. These are just some aspects of his skill set, as Nes often switches many lanes and often reverts to Southern Rap patterns,references and melodies.  

  “The Stupid Genius” is a diverse offering of sounds and styles that might take a couple listens to fully grasp, but the album is quality.

  Nes Wordz will be performing at the Art of Storytelling, June 21st

Wild Goose Creative 6pm-830 pm