New Yorkers Respond to Trinidad Jame$

Trinidad Jame$ caused quite a stir earlier this week when he declared that Atlanta runs New York music. Rappers, radio personalities and bloggers chimed in from across the country to give their take on the issue, but what about the actual people of NYC? What did they think of a Southern rapper declaring his region's dominance over their hometown? XXL got the chance to ask them while at a Ty Dolla Sign and Vic Mensa show last night in Brooklyn. We asked them whether they agreed with Jame$' statement, what they think of the NYC hip-hop scene and  which NYC rappers they currently listen to:

"(The New York hip-hop scene) is not bad. There's a lot of rappers, mostly in the underground, so people don't know too much about it. So if someone says they're the king of New York, like Kendrick did -- well, Kendrick's from the underground so he might feel like he's boosted his ego to the point where he thinks he's king of anything -- but New York just needs to put on for its own more. (I like) Domo Briggs. Science. Isaiah The Third. Chris Casanova. There's a group called Genius Sounds Family, they're good too."  - Isaiah Thomas, 21, New York

"Honestly, from my point of view, it's fallen a lot. I don't know, it's just fallen. The West has been coming up and everything in the Midwest has been crazy lately. I don't know what to do with the East, New York especially. I like Fab. There should be more Fab out. There should be a lot more Fab on the radio but they don't do that. Method Man, they put him on the radio every now and then, but it's really nothing." - Mike, 21, Staten Island

"It's kinda different now 'cause there's not as many New York artists out as much. The ones I consider there now are Joey Badass and the Pro Era crew. They're the one I follow now... New York ain't really popping no more. It's more about the West Coast with Kendrick Lamar and the whole West Coast crew, they're taking over. Same with the down South rappers as well. New York isn't rising up no more. It's just at a medium level." - Chris, 19, Brooklyn

"I’m not gonna lie, right now the South is making noise but for the wrong reasons. The beats carry the track; it’s not lyrical. That’s something we (New York) are always gonna have on deck. It’ll eventually come back—it’s the birthplace of hip-hop. I’m not worried at all. (I listen to) Fab, French. It’s sad cause the sh*t we listen to right now is South and West Coast sh*t, like Ty Dolla Sign. But hopefully we can break it back." - Winkyn Paulino, Harlem

"New York hip-hop. Identity crisis. I think some of these rappers are scared to use New york producers. It's not one full answer, it's many answers, but I think, in my opinion, that's part of the problem. Try to find a identity. What Trinidad James said last night, I agree. You listen to radio, a lot of people blame the radio, but I blame the artist for not putting out records. And I don't mean blog records. I don't mean Soundcloud records... It's just like the NBA and college. You come out and jump in the league, but average 7.5 points. You're not really fulfilling your potential. But I think once we power through that, New York hip-hop will be better." - A.King, 30, Brooklyn, The Combat Jack Show

"I think New York hip-hop needs to step their shit up. That's my opinion. Artists from Atlanta, Chicago are on the come up and that's where the attention is going towards. So I definitely feel like New York hip-hop needs to step their shit up." - Jada Haitoff, 22, Manhattan

It's kinda dead, but Joell Ortiz is doing Slaughterhouse. Everyone else is just releasing mixtapes, they're not out there. I kinda like the older guys better. These guys will just say anything in their raps. - Tyree, 19, Brooklyn

"Everybody get their shine. The west had it with Death Row, New York had it with Bad Boy, South have had it for a long time now, but I feel like it’ll make its way back sooner than later to New York." - Gino Brown, Harlem

"Everybody knows that it's not the same anymore. I'm from the outside so it's just my perspective, but everyone from my generation grew up on New York hip-hop like Nas and Biggie and all the big dogs. It's different. It definitely has a more Southern vibe today, but I'm feeling it. I'm still a hip-hop fan... There's not any (New York MCs) that are killing it. I love the A$AP crew. They're legit. Otherwise there aren't a lot of people that stick out for me personally." - Justin, 25, Tampa Bay

Previously: Trinidad Jame$ Releases Response Track “L.I.A.A.R.S.”