Ever since 2018 and its first-ever reunion, getting wizened Philadelphia rappers Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Peedi Peedi, Omillio Sparks, Young Chris, and Neef Buck together for a reconnoitering of the 2002-2005-era hit-making super-group, State Property, has become an annual holiday tradition – like turkey or cranberry sauce. This year, the festivities of State Property hit The Fillmore on December 22.
“We’re in each other’s business, or on the phone with each other every day,” said Sigel in anticipation of his hip hop outfit’s first hometown date last year.
“This isn’t a reunion. We’re family. That never changes,” stated Freeway.
“Me and Johnny sat everybody down with a vision and a plan,” claims Neef. “When State Property first came up, we’d see the appreciation fans had for us at gigs. They knew our songs word-for-word. Today, we see that all day, every day, on social media. People want to know when we were playing and recording. Social media brought us closer to fans, and, God is showing us the path that has been written for us going forward.”
The history of State Property starts with South Philly’s Sigel signing to Roc-A-Fella Records in 1999, a label then connected to Def Jam, and founded by Jay-Z, Damon “Dame” Dash and Kareem “Biggs” Burke in 1995. “Jay-Z took a real liking to us, to Philly,” said West Philly’s Neef Buck, who, along with Young Chris, formed Young Gunz.
Though each member was/is star rappers in their own right, State Property had one rule coming up: all members had to be in the studio for a song to be a proper State Property track. “No one staggering in separate or late,” noted Sigel.
“We were always stronger together,” said Freeway. “It was not, as if, any one of us had assigned roles; we just fell into who we were to the group. Everybody respected each other. There was genuine energy there among us.”
That same strength and energy are what’s guiding State Property today. See that in action when State Property takes the stage at The Fillmore right before Christmas Eve. Their brotherhood will be good for you.
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