Dating back to Hip-Hop’s first gold-selling solo MC, Kurtis Blow, Harlem has been integral. In the 1980s, that meant folks like Kurtis, Doug E. Fresh, and Spoonie Gee. For the 1990s, that flare was upheld through artists like Puff Daddy, Big L, Ma$e, Cam’ron, and more. In the 2000s, Cam’ron’s then-right hand man Jim Jones (as well as Juelz Santana) became one of the stars of the new movement, as the Capo of Dipset. Lately, one of the most exciting new voices out of Uptown is Dave East. Signed to Mass Appeal/Def Jam (in part, thanks to Nas), Dave never tires of releasing go-hard tracks that cover various corners of the Rap industry and sound.

“Eastside” makes its place clear. Referring to the unique part of the section Jones and East are from, the video features gruff rhyme deliveries, and toys parked right on the block. Heads can trace the Harlem style back to the early 1980s, as these are guys who pride themselves on being real, accessible, and wildly talented. While Dipset’s unity is often in question, this is a symbolic knighting that honors the Hip-Hop tradition back quite a ways.

Cam’ron Looks Back At Rare Photos With A Signature Dipset Beat (Video)

This is from Jim Jones’ The Kitchen, released in early summer. Besides Dave, that Empire LP features A$AP Ferg and Cory Gunz. Yesterday (October 31), East appeared on, “Limitless,” the first single released from Pete Rock & Smoke DZA’s Don’t Smoke Rock album.