The Ohio Valley Rap Scene

A story of wannabe baby gangsters, the never went nowhere, and one who actually seems determined to make it.

Los Angeles is best known for its rock, Nashville for Country, New York for hip hop. Hell, even my hometown of New Orleans made a giant leap back in the 90s to be put on the map for its rap sound. For this article I am going to focus on the Ohio Valley, more specifically the areas surrounding Weirton,WV (Hancock Co.), Wellsburg, WV(Brooke Co.),Steubenville and Toronto,(Jefferson, Co.) the last two both being in Ohio.

I could say a lot about life in the Ohio Valley, but that is a story for another time. Life there has its pros and cons I will leave it at that for now.

For as far back as I can remember the music genre of rap has always influenced my own taste in music. In fact, the first ever professional demo that I ever recorded with a friend was a cover of “King of Rock” by Run DMC. I was hooked from that point on. I listened to ICE-T, Public Enemy, and NWA just to name a few I even had the shirts and the posters all over my room. Unlike most, I lived that lifestyle growing up in New Orleans.

Then once I moved to the Ohio Valley as an adult I noticed a lot of young people mimicking what they had seen on tv or heard on the radio. I could tell quickly that only a few actually knew what they hell they were talking about, they were real.

Before I get to the real ones I am going to address the wannabe baby gangster, and hold on because you’re not going to want to miss this. I had been working in the music business for a while and had a young man approach me I believe he was from Toronto, or maybe Steubenville. He asked if I would work with him, so being polite I asked him to send me some of his music and I was blown away. Not by his talent, but more by his audacity to send me something that reminded me of something that I had once heard in a movie.

This wannabe gangster had the flow of molasses on a cold December morning in West Virginia and the thuggish demeanor of B-Rad from the movie Malibu's Most Wanted. He rapped about the time that he spent “down” which he probably survived that by the help of someone else. I followed him for awhile and everything was always about rapping, picking fights with other artists, or how bad of a “gangster” he was. Seriously, he was about as much a gangster as a Chia pet. He was lucky if he weighed 150lbs with sand in his pockets, had a lisp (nothing wrong with that, but don’t try and sound like a hardass). He was basically a clown. The only difference between B-rad and the wannabe thug is that the movie made millions.

Then there is the case of the country rapper who got semi-famous rapping about muddin’ and living wild and free he is from Weirton. He reminded me of that old high school quarterback who just can’t let go of his glory days. His biggest highlight was going off on a major label rapper (allegedly) on stage just outside of Pittsburgh. Back in the day we would call this chasing clout, for obvious reasons.

Finally, there is the one who is determined to make it. His name is Ryan Ault and he is more than just some random rapper from the Ohio Valley. He is rapping about the life that he has actually lived. Growing up in near poverty, substance abuse, and redemption are the central themes of his music. He took a little time away from music for reasons known only to him, but I am glad that he did. The music he has been releasing more recently is phenomenal it is among his best work so far. As an artist it is important to grow or you will face a lifetime of what never was moments.

Just the other day he made a post on Facebook wishing that the rappers of the Valley could all come together. I am not sure if this will ever happen because everyone wants to be the next MGK (damn near puked), Eminem, or Mac Miller. They want individuality they don’t want to help elevate one another, and this isn't just a problem in the Ohio Valley it is everywhere. It just shows more there than anywhere else.

Listening to Ryan’s music a person can feel the heartbreak and feel all of the emotions that he puts into it all. Some may not agree with my assessment of the previous two rapper B-rad and the Quarterback and that is okay, but I encourage you to keep an eye on Ryan because I honestly believe that he will achieve the dream that he is chasing.