There was a time before street stories, glamour and glitz were the mainstays of hip-hop. There was a time when it was a culture of not only musical innovation, but of plain old fun. In hip-hop's early days the rockers downtown met the b-boys from uptown and had a blast. Many have lamented hip-hop's slow shift from good times to hard times over the years.

Enter Brooklyn's own Metermaids, the duo comprised of Swell and Sentence, have found that space where cutting edge rock meets hip-hop in grand fashion. The crew's 2009 EP Smash Smash Bang took fans on a journey that commanded them to keep their hands high in the air for the entire ride. Through a relentless schedule of hitting New York's live scene and self-promotion, hip-hop fans quickly discovered the party was wherever the Metermaids were at.

Fan reaction spilled over into a wave of positive reaction from the media. Major publications including Playboy, Wired, and The Village Voice lent the guys their nod of approval. Online kudos poured in from media giants like Clear Channel Online, who hailed the group "Artists to Watch". They gained additional support from MTV.com. Shortly thereafter, they found their clip for the song "Turn The Lights Out" in heavy rotation on Fuse and earning the honor of becoming a featured video on MySpace.com.

In short time, the crew had gained the attention of hip-hop heavyweights like 9th Wonder who invited the crew down to North Carolina to record their EP Rooftop Shake. The guys' fun loving nature must have rubbed off on the famed producer as they even coaxed a very rare vocal performance from him. Not ones to watch the party fade, the Metermaids Fans will have to sit tight for awhile before the release of the EP as they have a few treats in store first. Accumulating respectable buzz on their own accord, and having the undeniable respect that comes with working with a heavyweight like 9th Wonder, the crew have expanded their rolodex of hip-hop legends. The group's upcoming Hello Mixtape sees celebrated turntablist Rob Swift step in to mix nine new Metermaids tunes. The tracks are re-mixes of some of today's hottest indie rock acts allowing the guys to flow over music from Grizzly Bear, Spoon, Animal Collective, and Deadweather. With the help of 27 Sound's Matt Shine, the blend of hip-hop and rock with Rob Swift's decorative turntable mastery have created something quite unique.

As fans wait on their invitation to the Rooftop Shake, the sounds of Hello will whet appetites for what the future has in store for hip-hop's self-proclaimed Bad News Bears.