The Diamond Dame (Self-released)

www.myspace.com/ hopiespitshard

San Francisco femcee, Hopie Spitshard, has what it takes to be the next big superstar-swagger, style, finesse and looks-but she's not about to compromise her integrity to do it. "You wanna do a hook? The song is 'Hoes and Crooks.'/I'm good, I've been mistook, my clothes and morals staying put," she raps on "Supernova" (featuring EyeASage) over a bass-heavy Roaring '20s romp. With as much battle bravado as femininity, Miss Spitshard lives up to her namesake, rocking raw rhymes and holding her own alongside heavyweights such as Del the Funky Homosapien and Bambu. But Hopie doesn't shine alone on The Diamond Dame. Producer 6Fingers takes totalitarian reign over beats, shaping diverse soundscapes ranging from the funky boom bap of "Whatta Ya See?" (featuring Del and Kid Static) to the futuristic bounce of "The Hopie Spitter" and "Yummy." Void of gimmicks and sex talk, The Diamond Dame is a defiant response to the hollow question "Where the ladies at?" -Zoneil Maharaj