Sky Balla: Sky’s the Limit
Aside from the obvious legal problems, any financial advisor can give you a laundry list of reasons why pimping and hustling are bad options for diversifying your portfolio. Yet, when faced with the prospect of finishing high-school and waiting for royalty checks to slowly trickle in, thats exactly what Sky Balla did. The result was […]
Dolemite: Rudy Ray Moore Looks Back
Do your homework, Rudy Ray Moore is an icon. The singer turned comedian propelled himself into the spotlight with using four letter words way before Eddie Murphy. Most known for his leading role in the cult film Dolemite, Moore trademarked a rapping style of delivering classic lines such as Dolemite is my name, and f**king […]
Spike TV Cancels ‘Blade’ TV Series
Despite a successful launch, Spike TV has canceled the Blade television series which starred rapper Sticky Fingaz. Blade was Spike TV’s first original scripted action-adventure series, which featured Sticky Fingaz as Blade, an immortal half-man made famous by actor Wesley Snipes in the movie of the same name. The series drew record ratings for the […]
Peanut Butter Wolf Presents Chrome Children
Artist: Various ArtistsTitle: Peanut Butter Wolf Presents Chrome ChildrenRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Alex Thornton In the five years since its debut on Cartoon Network, Adult Swim has not only become famous for their brand of off-beat animated programming, but has more recently earned acclaim for their string of hip-hop releases (The Mouse and the […]
Foot In The Door
Artist: OddiseeTitle: Foot In The DoorRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine Washington DC producer/MC Oddisee stays busy. In two years, he’s released several instrumental mixtapes, produced on Kenn Starr tapes, and official and unofficial remix tapes. For his lyrical talents, he consulted the legendary Jazzy Jeff to get on the CDJs to take it a […]
Live 1999 Public Enemy Album To Go To Highest Bidder
One lucky person could walk away with the full rights to their own Public Enemy album, as a live disc by the legendary group is scheduled to be auctioned off Oct. 26 by Ocean Tomo, an intellectual property asset management firm. The 24-track set was recorded in Helsinki, Finland, during Public Enemy’s 1999 European tour, […]
Crooked Lettaz’ Kamikaze Spurs Student Boycott
Anti-Bush statements still don’t fly these days. The latest target is Jackson, Miss., rapper Kamikaze, who was recently banned by student representatives at Mississippi’s Millsaps College after he criticized the war in Iraq during a performance.Kamikaze, one-half of rap group Crooked Lettaz with David Banner, was invited to speak and perform at Millsaps as part […]
All Access DVD To Spinoff On TV; Features Young Dro, Lupe, Rick Ross
All Access DVD has partnered with Starz In Black to produce 12 original episodes of All Access TV, a monthly television show that premiered two weeks ago.The joint venture calls for Starz to air 12 episodes once a month as a part of the network’s In Black Original series production.The first episode, which has been […]
Born Hustlers Inc: Snap Star
Hate or it or love it, snap music has consumed this country. When the percussion finger-snap sounds and the bassline drops, anyone who is near the dance floor is moved to join into the crowds cycle of leaning, rocking, and snapping their fingers. Although this sound was born in the impoverished community of Bankhead in […]
Chingy: All Ballers Don’t Bounce
Some critics of Chingy wouldve never believed that the former St. Louis teen-star would be one day delivering a third album on a major label. Perhaps like Cassidy, Chingy has evolved from a rapper birthed in a bubblegum fanbase, driven to the battle, then returning to his Pop sensibilities. As Pulling Me Back became a […]
AHH Stray News: ‘Baby Boy’ Lawsuit Dimissed, Ying Yang Rename Album, Jay-Z/TNT
A copyright infringment lawsuit involving the #1 single "Baby Boy" by Beyonce Knowles was dismissed in a US District Court. In July 2004, Jennifer Armour filed a lawsuit against Beyonce and other writers and producers of the song, which include Scott Storch, rapper Jay-Z, Jamaican artist Sean Paul and Sony Music, claiming "Baby Boy" was […]
Papoose and Nation of Thugacation Rep For ‘Educated Thugs’
While some MCs would be content celebrating a new $1.5 million label deal with Jive, Brooklyn-bred rapper Papoose is already planning his future with the rap group the Nation of Thugacation. According to Papoose, group members Tydro, Snipe, Odogg, Flip, Cbrown, Ike enfa diamonds, and R&B singer Maleeke will have cameos on the rapper’s upcoming […]
Too Bad
Artist: Buju BantonTitle: Too BadRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Metanoya Z. Webb The language is plain and simple. No hype, pop sheen, just 17 raw tracks that will undoubtedly take a 1990’s certified reggae lover down memory lane. Why is it that an ostracized, slick-talking, Rastaman veteran deejay had to usher in a wicked dancehall […]
The Dutchess
Artist: FergieTitle: The DutchessRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Kathy Iandoli The fact that duchess is spelled incorrectly in the album title could very well be an omen of what’s to come from Fergie’s solo debut The Dutchess (Interscope). Saturated with early 80’s spandex rap mixed and attempts at soulful coos, The Dutchess sounds more like […]
Christian Rapper T-Bone Hosting Gospel Music Channel’s Hip-Hop Video Show
The market for religious-themed Hip-Hop continues to grow with the Gospel Music Channel’s addition of the new program Hype & Glory.The gospel/Hip-Hop video show, developed with Open Rivers Pictures, will be hosted by bilingual Christian rapper T-Bone, a pioneer of the genre who released his groundbreaking album Redeemed Hoodlum in 1993."We’re seeking out top graffiti […]
Mr. Brown
Artist: Sleepy BrownTitle: Mr. BrownRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Alex Thornton Sometimes called “the third member of Outkast,” Sleepy Brown is perhaps the best known solo artist to never have released a solo album. Not only has the world heard his voice frequently on hits like Big Boi’s “The Way You Move,” his song-writing and production […]
We Are The Ones (We’ve Been Waiting For)
Artist: VisionariesTitle: We Are The Ones (We’ve Been Waiting For)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Slav Kandyba Underground rappers from Los Angeles and other ‘burbs of the Southern Cali wasteland possess undeniable skills on the mic but often trap themselves within limiting lyrics that praise the virtues of their life and little more. Production is often […]
The Medicine
Artist: Planet AsiaTitle: The MedicineRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Dr. Zero Planet Asia should be an emcee that every fan of indie or West Coast Hip-Hop should know or have at least heard about. The Source Magazine (before the issues) gave Planet Asia Independent Album of the Year credit in 2000 for his How the […]
Your Mom’s Favorite DJ
Artist: Kid KoalaTitle: Your Mom’s Favorite DJRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Dustin Glick Kid Koala is dope, plain and simple. Hailing from Canada, the 31-year-old DJ has been cutting up vinyl since he was 12. If you’re not familiar with his work, you may be aware of his classic track “Drunk Trumpet,” where he scratches out […]
Ice Cube Named Howard Homecoming Ambassador and Grand Marshal
Rapper/Actor Ice Cube will add a touch of West Coast flavor to Howard University’s homecoming festivities in October.The former NWA affiliate was recently tapped to serve as ambassador and grand marshal for the annual affair, which will be called Utopia: Pinnacle of Dreams. Events slated for this year’s homecoming include a yard fest, an alumni […]
