HoodStarz Radio

iTunes Review

A Bay Area duo that jumped into the game at the height of the hyphy movement, Hoodstarz (previously Dem Hoodstarz) are known and loved for their strictly street verses and ultra-catchy production (usually provided by local beat maestros Traxamillion and Droop-E). Originally from East Palo Alto, the two Hoodstarz—Scoot Dogg and Band Aide—have scored several huge hits in the local radio listening area ("Can't Leave Rap Alone," "Grown Man On," and "That's What's Up," among others). They dropped their debut album, Hood Reality, in 2006. Although the hyphy scene never quite went national, the two continue to do their thing, bolstered by quality beats and a loyal fanbase. Hoodstarz Radio is a mixtape that plays like a real album, with some legitimately great tracks and quality collaborations with the likes of The Jacka and Young Lox (the soulful, string-laced "Heavy"), femme fatale Silk E (the throwback joint "Back in the Day"), and Stevie Joe (the bass banger "Thuggy Fresh"). While Hoodstarz aren't breaking new ground lyrically, there's something special about their sound that begs for the rewind. The spaced-out "Elevator" is especially tight.