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Boston's Rap Class of 2011

A slice of area hip-hop's diverse scene — from hardcore boom-bap to frat rap
By ERIN BALDASSARI  |  September 29, 2011

>> MEETDean's List's video director, Elan <<

• It's been said that the most talented Berklee College of Music students don't graduate. So it was no surprise to learn that Dean's List DJ Mendoza and producer Mik Beats quit early on. "By the second year, we were both just going to class on and off," says Mendoza. "I was trying to stay in it for my mom, but then we started touring and were making money to support ourselves."

The trio, which also includes MC Sonny Shotz, have been making music together for nearly two years, and has so far released that many mixtapes and toured the fuck out of New England and beyond. They're currently conquering the Pledge to Rage tour in 40 spots across the country, after which they'll return to Boston and record a project titled Generation X.

Accolades aside, though — even with Berklee in the rearview — Dean's List stand apart from comparable college-rap acts on account of their formal roots: Mik says his classical bent allows his team to experiment with fresh sounds. "When we started making music outside our comfort zone, some of [the songs] were terrible," he says. "Now, those weird songs are what we want."


RITE HOOK + 3RDDY BABY + SEAN HINES + RETROSPEK + DUTCH REBELLE + CHILLA JONES | Church of Boston, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston | October 4 | 8 pm | 18+ | $10 | 617.236.7600 or 
churchofboston.com

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