Throwback Philly rapper Meek Mill, Rick Ross protege gets a fresh start

WHO: Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill, 24, has spent the past decade shuffling around every corner of the rap landscape — from the Philly underground to a courtship with T.I.'s Grand Hustle to finally finding a place in Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group. Recent singles like "Ima Boss" off MMG's Self Made Vol. 1 and "House Party," from his mixtape Dreamchasers, are in the same vein as his 2008 radio hit "In My Bag." It's like rap needed to catch up with Mill, whose timeless style — catchy, urgent street tales — temporarily went out of fashion.

SOUNDS LIKE: Rick Ross in a bizarre alternate universe. All of the bluster and throaty hooks, but buttressed with decidedly down-to-earth content, delivered in a focused yammer of a voice. (Does it get more workaday than rapping about a particularly wild house party?) Meek also has the ability to unfurl touching personal rhymes as well. "I only make songs for myself every once in a while," he admits, citing "Faded Too Long," a freestyle over Drake's "The Ride" as an example. "It's one of those soulful joints where I'm speaking nothing but the truth."

BROTHERLY LOVIN': Meek credits his hometown's rap scene for building his confidence: "In Philadelphia, everybody raps and everybody's lyrically nice. So automatically, it makes you stronger." His work is a refreshing throwback to the early-aughts Philly tough-guy rap of Beanie Sigel and Freeway. And the song "Dreamchasers," which features Sigel, finds the two sharing devastating stories of growing up without options, while still allowing for a glimmer of hope in that they can now rap about it rather than keep on living it.

PEN TO PAPER: "I ended up going back and forth to jail [on gun charges]," Meek explains, accounting for downtime between his Grand Hustle days and linking up with Ross. Though Mill can laugh about the past ("My memory's, like, kinda shot out anyway," he jokes), he prefers to focus on what's next, pointing to last year's Dreamchasers tape as an example of "where I'm at right now" as he starts laying down the foundation of his forthcoming debut full-length.

LEAK PHOTOS: RAPPER KHIA NUDE PHOTOS LEAK

KHIA KNOWN FOR THE SONG'' MY NECK MY BACK''

INDUSTRY TALK: How To Be a Better Rapper/Singer

I run a small recording studio and therefore I come into contact with a lot of artists of all different types. Because the major genres I deal with are Hip Hop and R&B, I interact with a whole lot of rappers and singers. I myself started rapping at an early age went on to win competitions and awards in my home country, on my way to becoming a producer and audio engineer. Over the years I've gained some insight into what it takes to become a better rapper (or singer for that matter), and I want to share a few points here:

1. Read more. Sounds basic but it's important. The more you read, the more you get familiar with words and the nuances of language, enunciation and cadence. These are essential tools for any vocalist.
2. This is related to point 1. Expand your vocabulary. Learn more words and what they mean. Especially for rappers, this helps you to have a bigger arsenal when writing or freestyling.
3. Stay up on current affairs. Again it's about feeding the mind so that you will have sources of inspiration and knowledge to draw from. Some of the best lyricists in rap are also some of the most socially aware and intelligent members of the community.
4. Don't practice in isolation. This is why having a circle of like minded individuals around you is very important. Your crew should be able to keep you sharp via friendly competition and constructive criticism. Don't stay alone in your corner and not expose yourself to other opinions and stimuli.
5. Practice a lot and try new things. Don't settle for doing the same thing over and over again. Challenge your abilities. It's a good way to grow.
6. Vocal training (yes rappers need this too). Not only should you have a vocal coach teach you correct breathing techniques and such like, but you should also take good care of your voice since it's your instrument of choice.
7. Search for and use beats that suit the type of artist you want to be. There are almost infinite resources to choose from, especially when buying beats online, so listen through your options and choose what sounds and feels right.

I know that was a mouthful but I felt as though it needed to be said. Here's to better music and better music careers for all of us!

RAPPER FABOLOUS Drops $45,000 on 120 BOTTLES Inside Atlanta Nightclub

Rapper Fabolous got a record number of people wasted last weekend in Atlanta -- dropping $45,000 on 120 BOTTLES of champagne at a nightclub ... and it was all a favor for his good friend.

Sources tell TMZ, Fab bought the bottles of Rosé Moët as a present for his buddy -- who was celebrating his birthday at Club Compound in Atlanta last Saturday.

The bottles were delivered in a golden bath-shaped litter by club personnel -- you know, that wheelless carriage thing royalty travels in ... usually carried on the shoulders of their half-naked royal subjects.

According to sources, Fab was hosting the event -- and decided to show everyone in the club a good time by comping the endless flow of booze.