Black Boy: Bet on Black
We are in the midst of a month that commemorates and memorializes people and events in Black History. It was in 1921 that Black Wall Street, a prominent Black owned business district was burned to the ground. Now, 86 years later, that name has re-emerged. This time, its taking on a whole new meaning. The […]
Twisted Black: Got it Twisted
In todays day and age, prosecutors have new a new weapon against some defendants- lyrics. Almost a decade after C-Bo proved this to be true in the Pacific Northwest, Fort Worth native, Twisted Black, learned this first hand when some of his lyrics were turned against him in a trial during which he stands charged […]
Atlantis: Hymns for Disco
Artist: K-OsTitle: Atlantis: Hymns for DiscoRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Rodney Dugue His name is K-OS (Knowledge of Self) and he raps frighteningly well with a conscience cadence and a demagogues virtue. Thats all you should care to know. Really. Its a shame everything is closeted and cost-effective; hes fluffily content with cheap ambition because […]
Lovework
Artist: Gabriel TeodrosTitle: LoveworkRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jason NewmanPerhaps the most telling line from Seattle emcee Gabriel Teodros Lovework (Massline) comes from In This Together, when he rhymes Theres so many raps labeled as conscious out there/A label people get no matter what they share. After a few listens all the way through, its […]
The Life & Grind of ESSO Entry 7
Whatup? Since my last entry, theres been a whole lot goin on over here. Im putting the finishing touches on my second mixtape ESSObama: The Champagne Campaign and Ive also been working on another project called Separated At Birth that I recorded last week with IB3, an artist out of Houston thats signed to Mathew […]
XM, Sirius Satellite Radio Announce Plans To Merge
Satellite radio giants XM and Sirius have reached an agreement to merge in an all stock deal, it was announced today (Feb. 19). The new company, which does not yet have a name, will be worth $13 billion including debt of almost $1.6 billion dollars. XM shareholders will receive 4.6 shares of Sirius common stock […]
New Rap Group La Coka Nostra To Make LA Debut During Unity Festival
The Soul Assassins second annual Soul Assassins Unity Concert will take place Mar. 8 in Los Angeles at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood.The concert, which was resurrected by DJ Muggs, DJ Khalil and Chace Infinite, will offer the first official Los Angeles performance by rap group La Coka Nostra. La Coka Nostra is comprised of […]
Bun B. Sells Out Museum of Fine Arts During Film Screening
Houston, Texas rapper Bun B. of UGK was honored during the "Movie’s Houstonians Love" film series at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston on Feb. 13. The Museum, which presents the series annually, invites four popular Houstonian’s to showcase and discuss their favorite movies to the viewing public.Bun B. chose to screen Henry Chalfont’s […]
DJ Kay Slay, Whoo Kid and Mike 5000 Watts Lend Support for Justo Faison Tribute Documentary
Revered music/mixtape pioneer Justo Faison will be remembered in a new documentary by those who benefited from his work. DJ’s Kid Capri, Whoo Kid, DJ Kay Slay and DJ Mars are among the DJs lending their support for the project, which began filming in the fall of 2006. The project is a joint venture between […]
Young Buck: A Lesson in Black History
What does it mean to be Black in America in 2007? The past year watched Sean Bells murder and Michael Richards rant prove that White on Black racism in America is very much alive. But in certain lights, things are a changin. For instance, some project that Young Bucks Buck the World album could certify […]
Is History Repeating Itself� Are All Our Black Hip Hop Leaders Dead?
When I think about the assassinations of Black Leaders such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King and reflect upon the Black Communitys reaction to these tragedies, Im compelled to question whether the deaths of Biggie and Tupac affected the Hip-Hop Community in the same manner. The length of this comparison begins and ends with […]
Musiq Soulchild: Lover’s Rock, Pt 2
AHHA: On December 25, Christmas morning, The Godfather of Soul, James Brown tragically passed away. How much of an influence has he been to you as an artist growing up and as you continue to make your music today? Musiq: I don’t think I could really put it into words. Because it’s so many things […]
Musiq Soulchild: Lover’s Rock, Pt 1
In early 2000, it was easy to fall in “Love” with Musiq upon hearing Aijuswanaseing. He is the melodic and youthful sound of an emerging class of soul. In this day and age, we call it Neo-Soul, a genre of music that forms its unique style from a combination of old school Soul, Funk, Jazz, […]
Gillie Da Kid Freed After 10 Days In Jail
Philadelphia rapper Gillie Da Kid was released from prison on Friday (Feb. 16). The rapper was arrested on Feb. 6, after authorities searched two houses on Passmore Street in Philadelphia and found more than 89 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated street value of $404,000. Gillie and four associates were charged with conspiracy and possessing […]
Foxy Brown In Florida Without Permission, NY Probation Department Seeks To Incarcerate Rapper
The New York City Department of Probation is seeking to have rapper Foxy Brown incarcerated, after she was arrested outside of a beauty supply store Thursday (Feb. 15) in Pembroke Pines, FL.Brown was sentenced to anger management classes and three years probation in Oct. 2006, for assaulting two Manhattan nail salon employees over a $20 […]
Kim Says Eminem Still On Drugs, Eminem Issues Statement
Superstar rapper Eminem has fired back at his ex-wife Kim Mathers in a statement released by his publicist today (Feb. 16). Eminem’s ex-wife Kim appeared on the "Mojo in the Morning" show this morning on Detroit’s WKQI 95.5. During the interview, Kim revealed that she had to force her children to visit Eminem, that he […]
Slum Village Teams With Chevy To Produce Child Safety Video, Song
Detroit rap group Slum village has teamed with Chevy and Safe Kids Worldwide, to produce a Hip-Hop themed safety song targeted at 8-10 year-olds, urging the youngsters to travel safely. The song and video, titled "4 Steps," was written by Slum Village members T3 and Elzhi and will be made available through a CD distributed […]
The Roots 4th Annual Grammy Jam Session
Artist: Concert ReviewTitle: The Roots 4th Annual Grammy Jam SessionRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Octavia Bostick The power behind a jam session comes from the adrenaline of energy poured into the instruments behind the soul force of its players; and when that force is brought forth from the Roots, it can’t help but to bear […]
Arrest Warrant Issued For Author Kody ‘Monster’ Scott
An arrest warrant was issued for Kody "Monster" Scott, landing the best-selling author on The Los Angeles Police Department’s new list of ‘Top 10 Most Wanted Gang Members,’ for an alleged car jacking. Scott, also known as Sanyika Shakur, authored the autobiography Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member from prison, which detailed his […]
Foxy Brown Arrested In South Florida Over Hair Glue, Spitting, Incident
Rapper Foxy Brown was arrested and charged with battery in Pembroke Pines, South Florida yesterday (Feb. 15), after a disturbance broke out in a beauty supply store.According to police, the Brooklyn bred rapper became involved in a disturbance at the Queen Beauty Supply Store last night. Police said that Brown was sampling beauty products in […]
