Kay Slay: Brillo Lesson 101
With so many celebrity DJs trying to be down, there are few that dont really care about having artist affiliation. It seems as if when Wayne said Thats my DJ every artist wanted to stake claim to a DJ and every DJ was trying to find a home.However, when DJ Kay Slay dropped Nas classic […]

Five & Done: 2 Pistols
Hip-Hop is saturated with emcees laying claim to a lifestyle they never lived. Turn the radio on and you hear tracks laced with rhymes about pulling triggers and pushing weight. Sure it sounds exciting but much of it is based upon fantasy for pure profit. That is why it is rare that we come across […]

Where Are They Now?: Roxanne Shante
There are female MCs, and then theres Roxanne Shante. The original bad girl blindsided Hip-Hop fans in 1984 with the Marley Marl produced Roxannes Revenge, her clever lifting of UTFOs Roxanne, Roxanne. At 14, she was already a superstar and began battling (many times unprovoked) everyone from Kurtis Blow to MC Lyte. At 21 she […]

Tha Alkaholiks: On Award Tour
You dont need to be under the influence to appreciate a party-down performance by Tha Alkaholiks but it sure is more fun. You dont need to bring a girl with you to have a great time but dont expect there to be any good ones left after they shake the spot. You dont […]

DJ Scratch: Start From Scratch
In only true turntablist form, DJ Scratch put on one of his world-famous performances at Club Society in St. Louis during the 2008 DJ Technology Retreat and Convention. He kicked-off the finals for the convention’s DJ Battle, as well as a show with St. Louis’ own Jus Bleezy and Yo Gotti, with an out of […]

Masta Ace, Punchline, Wordsworth & Stricklin = eMC
When Masta Ace announced that A Long Hot Summer would be his final solo album most fans thought theyd have to settle for old albums and spot tour dates to keep them going. However, with the help of Punchline, Wordsworth and Stricklin, Ace looks to continue building on his legacy in hip-hop with the underground […]

Dizzee Rascal: Wrath Of The Math
Whatever insecurities Dizzee Rascal is dealing with he has managed to discard them with a f**k em banner. When speaking to Dizzee you get no sense of him having any diffident qualities. Perhaps it is the ghettos of Britain that preserved and groomed his confidence and morphed into his music. Whatever the case, Dizzee has […]

Baby Bam of Jungle Brothers Speaks On New Movement
I got at Afrika Baby Bam of the Jungle Brothers to explain himself. I am a fan of the JB’s from way back and was startled at some of the rumors that had leaped from the online community. So, I reached out to the dapper dressing fellow to see what exactly was going down with […]

The 2008 DJ Technology Retreat and Convention
In the heart of downtown St. Louis, just blocks from the famous Gateway Arch and directly across the street from the St. Louis Cardinals Ballpark [Busch Stadium], DJs from all over the country and a few from as far as Germany, South Africa and Japan converged upon the elegant downtown Hilton Hotel to participate in the […]

Where Are They Now?: Smoothe Da Hustler
With the release of the hardcore classic Once Upon a Time in America, Smoothe Da Hustler took hardcore Hip-Hop repped with Brooklyn sensibility to another level. With the success of Broken Language, Smoothe, and his brother Trigga the Gambler, seemed poised to become the superstars they wanted to be. But sometimes what we want is […]

The Beat Melee Battle #7: The Biggie Battle
Here we go again. First off, last week was another classic melee. Both producers brought their “A” game, but Chuck LaWayne ran off with the victory in the end. His sampling techniques put it over the edge.This week was crazy and we acknowledge in advance that somebody will be upset in the end. It’s a […]

The Clipse & Re-Up Gang: Blowin’ Up The Spot
Call them the Fantastic Four. Except, their superpowers were not the result of cosmic radiation but a byproduct of an appreciation for the fundamentals of Hip-Hop lyricism; wordplay and delivery. Composed of VAs Malice and Pusha T of the Clipse and Philly brethren Ab-Liva (formerly of Major Figgas) and Sandman, this fearsome foursome call themselves […]

DJ Toomp: The Making of Jay-Zs Say Hello
DJ Toomp has quickly become a fan favorite, even though the veteran producer has been a staple in Hip-Hop since the late 80s with MC Shy D. N Zone Entertainment caught up with DJ Toomp as he produced the beat that Jay-Z would eventually use for Say Hello from the Brooklyn rappers American Gangster album. […]

Industry Spotlight: Massah David: Events With Kanye, AllHipHop, Def Jam
Name: Massah David Job Title: Vice President of Events & Marketing Company Name: MVD Inc. Industry: Entertainment Location: New York City Job Description: My job consists of creating concepts and handling production for all of our signature events; which varies from the smallest detail such as the color schemes and wording for our invitations to […]

One.Be.Lo: Be Lo the Influence
Posted up in Seattle on a breezy Saturday afternoon, One Be Lo awaits an evening performance as he discusses his formula for a humble rap career. The Pontiac, Michigan wordsmiths life thus far has been a whirlwind of worldwide touring and networking, having no real promotional vehicle to drive concertgoers other than himself. Lo possesses […]

The Beat Melee Battle #6
The battle rages on. Last week we had a head to head match up with Assassin the Chief and Furious Styles. Most of the comments gave props to Furious’ originality but the vote tally went to Assassin the Chief for being what people would want to hear. Both producers deserve props for those banging tracks. […]

Del the Funky Homosapien: Broadcasting Live from Planet Hella
Before Del the Funky Homosapien debuted as a solo artist he ghostwrote for N.W.A.’s ace writer, his cousin Ice Cube, who put him to work on AmeriKKK’s Most Wanted. Surrounding himself with brilliance even as a teenager, Del’s debut album, I Wish My Brother George Was Here, was well received. But it was his second […]

Rick Ross: The AllHipHop Interview, Pt. 2
Rick Ross: The AllHipHop Interview, Pt. 1AllHipHop.com: Once you have a certain amount of success, your lifestyle changes. With that being said, can fans expect your lyrical content to change on this album?Rick Ross: When it comes to making concepts and records theres different places you want to take people. Me, naturally, I talk about […]

Rick Ross: The AllHipHop Interview, Pt. 1
After coming into the game on the strength of a heavy street buzz and a presidential cosign from Jay-Z, Rick Ross beat the odds with the runaway success of his hit single “Hustlin.” His debut, Port of Miami, went on to near platinum status and his ringtone sales were beyond a million. Not bad for […]

Russell Simmons: From Hillary Clinton To Barack Obama: Why
Russell Simmons has some questions to answer regarding his recent ringing endorsement of presidential aspirant Senator Barack Obama. In a previous feature, Simmons told AllHipHop.com a plethora of rock-solid reasons for his support for New York Senator Hillary Clinton. He did not endorse the former First Lady, but it certainly sounded like a co-sign when […]