Album of The Day: DXA – Progression

by Kevin on September 28, 2009

dxa

Every now and then there is an artist/group or album that REALLY catches my attention and I like to put the spotlight on them for a sec on the site. I gotta thank my man Jonathan for turning me on to this 4 member group out of NYC… DXA. I’ve been playing their album, Progression, non-stop since I got a hold of it a few weeks ago. The album actually dropped a year ago in August 2008, so allow me to take a late pass, but if you have yet to hear it grab your pass here and take a listen after the cut. If you’re into that 90s NY Boom Bap, as well as dope lyricism, I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

dxarmy.com
myspace.com/dxacrew

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Posted in Albums Worth Checking,First Listen

skeme

this group sounds nice..gonna have to check out this group and their future releases..thx kevin
K_SIR_RAW

Wow, this group is like a breath of fresh air ! Among all the trendy underground styles..countless groups and solo acts sound so similar. Its good to see artist that really stand out and keep originality in tact. I can’t wait to hear more from the DXA team, and hope others really take time to give them a listen. They hold there own and didnt have to have a thousand feature artist to hold a solid release. [ "Keep it real" ]

+ K SIR RAW
http://loopwhole.net loopwhole

yo thanks for posting this up. dxa is ill. i know some of these guys from the website they run dxarmy.com yo its official, especially on that sp1200 tip. this album is more than solid end to end. they got some dope youtube vids aswell…respect
-loopwhole.net
http://iggychop.com Iggy Chop

DXA is raw as fuck. I moved to NYC a couple years ago and I was on a quest to find dope hip hop. DXA is that. Stay tuned to these dudes… they’re bringing that NY hip hop back!
gonzo 5

DXA are what’s real in hip-hop. Their live shows are hot and the verses are always on point. These guys have been puttin it down for years, it’s good to see them finally get the props they deserve.
Art-Official

DXA all day!! Gettin the deserved props.
Melody

DXA is the shitt. i love their music. Once they get discovered they are going to do great. One of the hottest tracks out is summer time!!!
Drewsky Da Brewsky

Great album, reminds me of the 90′s. Definitely one of the best slept on albums of ’08.
Nora

Progression is definitely on of the illest albums out there- it’s got it all, beats, lyrics, that back in the day vibe that just makes you feel good! Great group, great guys, great albums-check out their first, Don’t Expect Answers- also dope! Love ‘em!
http://kevinnottingham.com Kevin

Glad to hear these cats are gettin their respect from the readers… look out for their new KevinNottingham.com sponsored mixtape coming soon!
King Fish

Shit is hot like FIRE!!!!!!!!!!
kenny

This shit is mad hot! Ive seen them perform a couple of times in the city and they put on an energy infused show as well! Good shit!
http://www.jaeonemusic.com Jae One

Big Ups to DXA.

I had the opportunity to work with these cats and produce a track on the album (I Don’t Wanna Hate). These dudes are extremely professional and are always working consistently, which I think sets them apart from many acts in the game trying to come up. You guys need to DEFINITELY keep your ears tuned to the new stuff they are always coming up with. Dope beats + dope rhymes = dope hip hop. Big ups to Kevin for giving these cats some shine!

Respect!
Seldom Seen

Word up these DXA cats are crazy on point…mad spit fire lyrics over tight beats…taking it back to the basics and showing true respect to the game and sounds of hip hop…tracks are off the chain…Progresion album is off the charts…want to hear much more DXA…
Lyris

Progression=Dope! A breath of fresh air from everything else that is out there right now.
Merf Dizzel

This album is great. Progression is hip hop music in its purest form. DXA is serious!!!
http://twodayoldshit.blogspot.com/ fozziebayer

DXA, FTW, as usual.
http://www.kicdrumproducts.com DRUMAT!C

DXA is the last of the great surviving hip-hop tribes. I can’t say enough about these guys… hardest working bunch next to James Brown. Always on point with live performances and their studio performances are nothing less than professional… with neckties in perfect knots, steam iron creases and all. The DXA Progression album still holds weight to this very day. Hip-hop is trapped in a giant bubble… still waiting for that shit to burst… these cats have some new projects in the works that I know you’re all going to love. Fans of true school, new school, old school, pre-school + summer school music will love what they’ve to offer. Get on the DXA train to the BX ‘cus summertime might be over, but the BBQ is still live and hot!
UpstateUnderground

Fresh, authentic, original music. Dope NYC Hip Hop-LiveNDirect!!!! DXA got the juice.
jj

DXA is legit, great album!
Carl

yo this is good shit right here
Kriston

Great album, great group! lookin forward to hearing more tracks soon
shane

yooo … i been down with DXA .. stay down .. way down .. underground !!
Laura

yay DXA! they are working on some new stuff and i’m real excited to hear it =)
Belly

DXA Baby! Congrats! Download this if you love Real Hip-Hop! Much love DXA EVERYDAY!
Sophia

DXA is amazing!! they are the best. they r so good at what they do, they ARE hip hop.
Phil

Yo these dudes are dope as hell ! !

I should know, I grew up with them.

Peep the Progression yo!!!
http://osavirtuoso.com OSA

IT’S AN ARMY! ARE YA’LL READY YET?!? DIRTY EXPLICIT ARTISTS!! DON’T XPECT ANSWERS!! BUT DO XPECT RESULTS!! CALAMITY CHRIS, D-FACE, ICE ROCKS, TOO DEEP, AND OF COURSE THE ILLY SANTO DOAM!!! STUY TOWN NYC STAND UP! FROM THE BOOTH TO CYPHERS.. FROM THE STAGE TO THE BLOCK! REAL HIP-HOP. YOU HEARD IT FIRST.
RISK

DXA capture the essence of true NYC Hip Hop. That gritty boom bap, ill lyrics, ill beats, ill concepts. I grew up during the “golden age” of Hip Hop and these dudes can hold their own with any group from that era. If you live in the NYC area, GO TO THEIR NEXT SHOW!!! they put in work for real. Cop the Progression album, support true Hip Hop. Yo I’m out in CA bumpin DXA all day!
http://kevinnottingham.com Kevin

wow, all these cats supporting DXA! Why am I just now hearing about them? lol Glad I did though… better late than never!
Bobby D. (A.K.A. Reefer Rob)

DXA is the truth!!!! Their Album is one of the hotest joints I’ve heard in a while. Each track is better then the last and they all get stuck in your head for days and days so you can continue to hear them and feel the beat even where its not playing. They are truley a talented group. Keep on rocking guys!
noey

DXA is the reason that I haven’t given up on hip-hop altogether. Their style reminds me of the 90s when hiphop was real and fun and less blingified and autotuned to death. Their live sets are out of hand. It’s good that they are finally getting the props they deserve.
Bboy Junior

DXA holdin it down…
HavDeaf!

DXA all day everyday. I’ve been working with DFACE since we was little tykes. DXA is the next movement. Dopest cats I know
http://ezrawine.com ezrapolo

DXA is the illest, good 2c them getting the well deserved props. Stuy town is mosdefinetly in the bldg. Instant cult classic, neighborhood celebs, st. fame, every1 knows em, that’s how you survive in nyc, plus they have the flyest wardrobe…On wax or on stage these guys entertain! Which is a lost art in modern hip hop.
Craig K

yoooo, these dudes are LEGIT.

Tunes just make me wanna do the Stuy Town shuffle.

Park 2, way back in the day…..
Son Dove

Yo DXA does it. Hard body true story…
AE

DXA is the jump off, illest rap group out of nyc in a long time.
MD

This album is amazing!!! Check it out and then cop the their first album to complete the whole Progression cycle!! Believe me, you wont regret it.
Mober

This album is straight crack! Their shows are fukin redick! Ive made it a point to go to every one since back in the day. If you have never seen them live, do yourself a favor. Find out when they are playing in a town near you and go see that shit, even if you have to travel to their home town of NYC, you wont regret it. IT’S TRULY SOME OF THE BEST SHIT TO HIT THE INDUSTRY. P.S. they have a huge following of dope single ladies, so even if you don’t like ill hip hop, you should go peep that shit anyways, or just go buy a DXA T-shirt, rock that shit, and see how many dope chicks jump on the dillz. Guaranteed brain son. Haha.
The Godfather

My business allows me to travel the globe…it also offers me an opportunity to see great acts and listen to great artist…I’m across the pond now in the UK, but after just listening to DXA again…it just reinforces my believe that they’re one of the hottest upcoming acts out there period!…I had the pleasure of catching a few of there live stage performances…they shared the venue with notable artist like, AZ, Royce Da 59, Sadat X, etc…not only did DXA hold it down…but quite frankly they rocked there funky joints and stole the show…they’re legit and I expect to see them touring Europe, Japan, etc real soon…I hope the UK is the first…don’t blink now because these cats is about to take off!!!
asa akira

love dxa! a fan since the beginning!
King Koopa

Aint nothing, no one better then DXA!!! I’ve been to every show they’ve put on and each one is better then the last. They are true performers and unbelievably talented musicians. Word is they have a video dropping soon and I bet its off the charts. If you haven’t seen them, WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU, GO NOW!!!!!!
Dumplin’

As amazing as the album is, it is a fraction of how fun it is to see these guys live.
Self

I know these guys personally and their heart is in their shit. There is a reason why roots hip hop needs to be preserved and these guys display it. Its refreshing to hear dxa. And your mind will be blown when you see them live. Big ups to dxa, keep that shit bumpin.
http://DXArmy.com Triple C

so many people showin loooove. i gotta give myself love.
Calamity Chris is in da HOuse
Ian

Yo, you guys kill it. About time you got some love on the blogs, well deserved fellas. Keep it up and if you haven’t heard them grab that album!
countess simone

Dxa has been bringing the heat for years. The downtown vibe is what these guys are all about. It’s eclectic and fresh with dope beats. Big ups to the crew. Keep the hustle goin!
Jay Da Great

attending some of their live events im definitly enjoying their album as of now. alot of people will sleep on them, but those who know their history of hiphop will definitly appreciate their album. definitely recomend people to cop the album and attend live DXA shows.
dizzal

LOVE THESE GUYS. they are what hip hop is truly about. It’s about time they get their much needed props. DXA ALL THE WAAAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anastasia

DXA ALL DAY! Love love love em
http://www.dxarmy.com icerocks

I’m glad you guys are feelin the album. Come through to the shows. This is me signing off. Peace and Love.
Icerocks
Kat_bk_allday

Thank god actual hip-hop; what hip-hop should sound like; not just about hos, drugs and gang bangin’. I know a few members of DXA and they are amazing guys! they deserve any future success they have coming their way =D
http://DestroyBabylon.com JBo

There is a reason why we collaborate with DXA every chance we get… DXA + Destroy Babylon record, soon come…
AJF

I’ve been listening to these guys and coming out to their shows for two years. “Right Here” is my cut! This album is fresh and familiar. No gimmicks. Fresh Beats. Genuine. Mad respect for Ice Rocks on the clean production. THis is NY hip hop. I know for a fact these cats put in work too cuz whenever I see them, they go strong, run like a real crew.
AJF

Gotta see do “Break it Down” live. It’s outta control. That’s it right there
http://Socialseed.org J-Remy

I’ve been DXArmy for years since the day I met Calamity on the UWS. These guys exactly what the NYC/global creative scene (music, hip hop & beyond) needs. You’d have to chill with them to realize how authentic they are as individuals, partners, and friends. Whether they’re tagging walls or writing pages, their productions come from the heart. You can’t fake what they have going on, because it’s 100% organic self-expression, grown in the LES of Manhattan. The depth of their lyrical content and the timelessness of their sound (love the saxophones) immediately let me know that I’d found some real cultural engineers/designers. I’ve never seen anyone rock the Knitting Factory like DXA. It feels great to know that they’re finally getting some of the props they deserve and that other ART/CULTURE conoisseurs are listening to them as much as myself.

Jeremy
Founder & Executive Director
Socialseed.org
Mignone

Congrats on always keeping it real, and on the success you guys have built thru hard work and dedication. All the countless hours are finally paying off. Stay true to the art, and keep puttin out that hot shit as always. Mad love, and big ups… your boy – Mike
monsterous

Good to see this record get some props. DXA!!!
xzist

ALBUM OF THE YEAR !! ! ! ! ! Fuck what you heard, these niggas are the shIT!! hip-hop is real!
CG

Not only are these guys mad cool but they put on an amazing show. So much fun! Love you guys! xo
http://www.Twitter.com/jamasian Jamasian

Mad respect to Mister Nottingham for knowing quality art when it reaches his ears. I’ll be forever grateful to him for putting me on to these guys. Just found them on YouTube and they got mad energy. Any live shows coming up, Kev?
SimplyIr3n3

Wow, what a refreshing sound..

Thanx Kev!
http://kevinnottingham.com Thomas

Album is pretty good. Gave it two listens this weekend.
parisa

Yes the album is great. Classic underground music. If you were searchin, I must have found! Progression is a regular in my ipod…especially in my morning workouts! Those who are sleep, the time has come to wake up!
parisa

If you’ve been sleep the time has come to wake up! Classic music. Indeed gots to progress and a regular in my Ipod…especially early morning workouts! Oh yes I am really feeling it!
http://borderinginsubordination.com Griff

yo if you dig the dxa album make sure to check out their live show. They got crazy energy and the recordings only capture a fragment of their awesomeness!

Fuck yeah I said awesomeness.
2EZ

DXA’s album is off the hook. They sound better in person. Check them out at their next show.
Keke

This group is dope!!!
Jane Buscher

Progression is in constant rotation on my mix. These guys are totally fun to check out live – they bring really great energy and easily convey the love for what they do.
Nahzee

Niiiiiiiiiiice!!!!!!!!!!! That’s why NYC is the home of hip hop.
I-104

DXA just earned a top spot on my ipod after hearing this shit. Good shit fellas.
Keyzer

it’s refreshing to hear that rap hasn’t died! Gooood shitt
O.Z. Productions

DXA is true to the game givin us what we all want: Dope Beats, Dope Rhymes, LIVE Energy for real. DXA is Hip Hop for real, check em out.
jeneye

my ears are ecstatic!!!!!!!
Skoota

Great album, get the 1st release too! Downloading mixtape now…
Skoota

Progression is great album, get the 1st DXA release too! Downloading mixtape now…