Class of 2014: DRC Drug Rat City

We have been doing the DRC thing since 2009. We are a record label/artist collective with people repping mostly Brockton but we have PA and NJ people down with is too. We have performed with Esham, Potluck, Sunspot Jones, RA the Rugged Man, Slaine, Afroman, Lil Wyte, the ROC, Prozak, and many other national acts.

DRC is Shemrok Christ, Acidrop, Diastro, Lozzi, Illtemper, Gordon Briggs, KWEST, Dead Zone, Ottomic Blue, Danny Days Scalia, Johanna Craig, and other assorted artists and writers. ~ AlexOne Acidrop Paananen

Brockton Rap Hall of Fame Where The History of Brockton Rap Lives

Class of 2013: DQP Dope Qualified Poet

Brockton's Dope Qualified Poet a/k/a DQP real name Kevin Brown was a key figure in the late 90's - 2000 era underground rap scene. As a producer Brown has worked with most if not all of the who's who in Brockton rap history. Live and on the mic DQP was as entertaining as any local rapper in his day. Brown was instrumental in the recording and producing of 1999's classic compilation Brocktons Illest. DQP was the de facto musical leader of a faction of Brockton's best black rapper's of that time, more than a few went on to become current and future hall of fame members. The Brockton Rap Hall of Fame is proud to include with the class of 2013: DQP Dope Qualified Poet.

Brockton Rap Hall of Fame Where The History of Brockton Rap Lives

Class of 2013: World Dinero

Nilton de Pina, better known as rapper World Dinero was Brockton's most MySpace Famous rapper ever, receiving over 700,000 profile hits. In 2008 de Pina released his mixtape World Dinero - What Means The World To You (Hosted by Jim Jones) featuring local classic 'Boston to Brockton'. By the end of the decade, the stark reality of glorifying gun violence and gangs in rap music had taken a mighty toll on Brockton's Cape Verdean community as well as de Pina's rap career. In November 2009, 4 people were shot after attending a World Dinero concert and video shoot in Brockton, leaving Antonio Centeio, 23, dead of gunshot wounds. The murder of his friend 'Tonito' prompted de Pina to contemplate retirement from the rap game at age 21.

Brockton's Deadly Rap History

 The 2005 kidnapping and stabbing death of Brockton's top rapper, Jeffery Andrade a/k/a THE SIRE DUTCH, by three local scumbags marked only the beginning of a deadly chapter in the history of Brockon hip hop. Brockton rap is as grimey as it gets, in stark contrast to the false bravado gangstas of the Boston hip hop scene. Starting in 1986 with the 12" release of 'Thats What I Hate' by Brockton rap pioneers MASTERPIECE led by rapper/producer Ronnie Furr a/k/a RONNIE RUFF. 1986 Brockton Rap Group Da 3010 BASS BRUDDAS (Kelly Johnson, Dennis Neal and DJ Pee Wee), were known for their live rendition of 'Loose Booty'. In 1986 R-SQUARED GROOVE (Rich Cogliano and Ronnie McMurtry) recorded 'Pie in The Sky'. The summer of 1987 Steve 'SANDMAN' Dunn founded SFD PRODUCTIONS to promote his group TRECH EMCEES. The UNITED FURNITURE BUILDING on Montello Street housed some of Brockton's first Rap Studios. TOP NOTCH ENTERTAINMENT founded by PRIDE FAVORS was featured in the first issue of THE SOURCE. Soon.. other rap acts began playing the city. C.B.S (Allen McCottrel and Errol 'Sukie' Henry) and THE MASTERMIND were brief flashes in the late eighties pan. SMIT-RAT (Mark Smith) began his Hall of Fame career in the late eighties. One of the first local venues to begin hosting rap shows was McGLAUGHLINS on Warren Avenue. Robert "Bob" Dwelley's STUDIO GUAM was instrumental in promoting Brockton acts outside of the city. Other early performers were DJ DOOM (Richard Swanson), WUFO, SEAN T.M.D. (Sean Royster), DJ MORGZ (Mike Morgan), CHUCK KNOWLEDGE (Chuck Garner), CHILLY ROCK, KIDD (Ron Johnson), and S.D.C. PRODUCTIONS / SUPER DEF CREW (Shawn Monteiro, Deron Coleman, Corey Evans, and Pride Favors) who dropped a 12" in 1988, "JUICE IT UP". We also can't forget TREB-ONE (R.I.P.) the graffiti artist who also rhymed. 1990 had SFD PRODUCTIONS promoting sell-out shows at The WALKOVER CLUB on Perkins ave. In 1995 STREET POETS released their self titled instant classic featuring PUNCH Spiked with Poison. Early 1990's also had TRECH EMCEES, now with DJ SLAY playing for thousands at Tauntons ROSELAND BALLROOM. During the early-nineties Brocktons westside became a hot-bed of rap talent. 1997 has homegrown rapper JIMMY LUXURY (Jimmy Kelliher), being discovered in San Francisco and signed to major label, Sony 550. Kelliher would record two albums, and also featured on two movie soundtracks ("Go" and "Me, Myself and Irene"). NEW YOUTH MASSIKA (Dave Hagloff, Mike Beckman, Shaun Sharpe) emerged on the scene in the mid-90's with the help of DJ/MC MIKE. SFD PRODUCTIONS began promoting NEW YOUTH MASSIKA at The WALKOVER CLUB and had success with 1997's BROCKTON HIP HOP JAM & TALENT SHOW featuring TRECH EMCEES, NEW YOUTH MASSIKA, NAPALM, COOLER THAN SMACK (Van Bates and Dave Wedge), BLACK LABEL (Marky Royster, Perry Francis and Jay Royster) and at their first show ever BLUE STEEL (Naldo Cataldo, Jeffery Andrade and Eric Zarrella) won the Talent Show First Prize $100. Thus beginning a new era in the highly competitive Brockton Hip Hop scene. Many rappers cut their teeth at SFD PRODUCTIONS, THIRD FLOOR TRIBOU STUDIO, on Brocktons earliest AKAI MPC 3000. Other noteable acts began performing in the late nineties such as DJ ADMEN, P-ROD, DOPE QUALIFIED POET, JUKE BOX, KID KELVIS (Jim Kelliher), THE JERKS (Derek 'TURK' Zakrosky and Steve 'PIECE OF SHIT' Crowe) 24DOPE (Tommy 'Soprano' Boyle), THE BIRD (Jeff Katz)..

Class of 2012: Smit Rat

If you were around the Brockton rap scene during the 1990's you'll remember rapper / producer / DJ Mark Smith known as Smit Rat as a central figure in the studio and on stage. Many well known Brockton rap acts were helped in no small part by Smith's recording prowess, including New Youth Massika, Trech Emcees, Dutch and 4 FIFTH, The Rhyminal and the list goes on. Prior to 2000 Smit Rat presented Brockton Classics (forerunner of the Brockton Rap Hall of Fame) with over 100 one off's and rare brockton rap tracks recorded between 1987-1997. If you were not around during the nineties then please thank Mark Smith for filling in a decade's worth of Brockton rap music history, without which there may be no Brockton Rap Hall of Fame. Smit Rat appeared on 1999's underground release Brocktons Illest. We take this opportunity on our 5th anniversary to induct the Thomas Paine of  Brockton rap history, Mark 'Smit Rat' Smith.

Class of 2012: Jimmy Luxury

Jimmy Luxury is arguably the City of Champions most successful rapper of all time albeit Luxury a/k/a James Kelleher hardly made a name for himself as a rapper in the city of Brockton. It wasn't until he moved to San Francisco in the late nineties that he was discovered bartending at a local dive bar. Jimmy Luxury has released two albums. The first A Night in the Arms of...was released in 1999. The second album, Hotels, Limousines and Lawn Chairs, was released in 2002. Luxury also has songs featured on the Me, Myself and Irene, Go and Ocean's Eleven soundtracks.

Jimmy Luxury and the Tommy Rome Orchestra Live at Vielles Charrues France July 20 2002.

Class of 2011: D. Lopes

Brockton rapper Daniel Dwayne Lopes a/k/a  D. Lopes along with producer J. Beats released "The Bright Darkness" in 2005. As a top Brockton rap artist, D. Lopes quickly became the King of Cape Verdean Hip Hop. The team went on to receive the award for "2006 Best Original Hip-Hop Performance" on BET's number one syndicate 106th and Park, twice, and on both occasions they won by a landslide. D. Lopes also received "Best Cape Verdean Artist of 2006" award from ForCv. With the 2007 release of Concrete Intelligence, D. Lopes cemented his legacy as one of the premier Brockton rappers ever.