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J. Bair at the local hip-hop awards last year. Photo by Leon Laing.

J. Bair and I go way back. In fact, he remembers when I was a teen, and I used to wallpaper my bedroom with photos from hip-hop mags. Bair’s mission to recall hip-hop’s past is what keeps him relevant. “I’m a fan first,” the local rapper says about his position in hip-hop. As Bair preps to drop his new album in January 2010, he explains his feelings about opening up for the legendary Rakim on Nov. 14 in Harrisburg.

“For me, just being able to see Rakim perform live—that’s huge,” he says. It’s an honor to have him in our hometown.” Bair also explains how The R. influenced today’s hottest MCs, such as the Clipse, Jigga and Weezy. They have borrowed Rakim’s rhymes in their songs, Bair says. Rakim is not the only pioneer that Bair has opened up for. Before Dana Dane got on stage at the 2008 Central PA Hip Hop Awards, Bair paid homage to old-school hip-hop by performing the song “Hip Hop Back to Basics” and wearing a Run-DMC T-shirt with retro Jordan sneakers. “I like what J. Bair was doin’ with the real hip-hop,” Dane told the audience.

Bair’s upcoming album, The Struggle, is a follow up to his 90% Hustle, 10% Sleep mixtape. The new album features old-school MCs (Craig G and Sadat X) and locals (including rapper Young Cream and producer Aganee). Bair dedicated the album to his late mother.

Here are some other new releases:

Out now
windchILL Self Medication album
Windstar El Monstro De Las Melodias album
Stainless Steele My Top Friends are Beat Makers mixtape

Upcoming
Young Cream The Missing Link album December 2009