Amerie: Perfect Fit, Pt 2
AHHA: A lot of female singers tend to get more revealing with their image after their first album. Is that something you think youve done or do you think youve kept a pretty clean image? Amerie: Well, I think definitely [my image] has gotten a little sexier. As far as with short shorts, that hasnt […]
Frankie J: Muy Calienté
The streets fell in love with Frankie J when he laced the hook of Baby Bash’s huge summer hit of 2003 “Suga Suga”. After completing high school in his hometown of San Diego, the Mexican-born crooner got his shot in the music business as lead singer for the successful group Kumbia Kings, and has since […]
Lil’ Kim: Dealing with the Trial for Real
Just a day in the life of Hip-Hop Eshu: Queen B***h 101 couldve answered all the questions posed about the course last semester, including whether or not it would deal with the upcoming trial of Lil Kim. Somewhere along the line, someone decided to simply re-title this course that developed out of my on-going research […]
NHL Player Anson Carter Launches Big Up Entertainment
National Hockey League player Anson Carter has launched Big Up Entertainment, a new record label which the hockey pro aims to turn into the next big Hip-Hop franchise. Carter spent the majority of his career with the New York Rangers. With the NHL on strike for almost a year now, Carter is using the time […]
Common, Kanye Talk ‘Be’
Kanye West is notorious for unabashedly hyping himself as well as his own artists, so naturally the Chicago rapper/producer has projected Common’s upcoming album Be as a classic. Meanwhile, Common has responded to critics who claim West restored his career. "I’m telling you right now it’s five mics [The Source album review rating], five stars […]
ODB’s Mother, Manager Claim Company Exploited Dirty’s Name
Cherry Jones, the mother of Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and manager Jarred Weisfeld have filed a $1.8 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against a Florida-based production company, alleging the company reneged on deals for a rap album and DVD, while using ODB’s name to lure investors. Weisfeld claims AGU Entertainment attempted to exploit Ol’ Dirty’s name after they […]
Paul Wall Talks Grill Biz
The king of chopped-and-screwed, Paul Wall, is knee-deep in the business of teeth, designing and marketing gold teeth for celebrity clients and ordinary folks with his TV Jewelry business. The shop also supplies other jewels besides mouth grills. "There [are] a lot of people that come through there and get their grills done and get […]
Trina Launching Fragrance, Sitcom
Along with a new album dropping this summer, Miami rapper Trina is also set to launch her new fragrance, Diamond Princess by Trina, and is starring in a new sitcom. Trina’s scent is described as floral and feminine, and the box bears an encrusted logo and lavender packaging, according to Trina’s Atlantic Records representative. "It’s […]
ASCAP Honors Jermaine Dupri
Producer/rapper, Jermaine Dupri will be honored with The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Golden Note Award during the society’s 22nd Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards, the group announced. Dupri will receive the prestigious award during an invitation-only dinner on May 16 in Los Angeles. The newly appointed president of Virgin Records’ Urban […]
Black Market Militia: Struggle Onward
Perhaps it is blind determination that compelled Killah Priest, Tragedy Khadafi, Hell Razah, Timbo King, and William Cooper to unite and form the supergroup Black Market Militia. Each MC respectively conveys a gritty style of street storytelling underlined with Islamic beliefs, Hebraic teachings, and Five-Percenter ideology. This combination of the secular and the spiritual leads […]
Lost and Found
Artist: Will SmithTitle: Lost and FoundRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Houston Williams Will Smith is madly in love with Hip-Hop. This is the only justifiable reason why Phillys first prince of rap would even bother making another rap album. When you are a $20 million-per-film sort of movie star, who needs to rap? However, when […]
The Best Damn Rap Show
Artist: Vast Aire & DJ Mighty MiTitle: The Best Damn Rap ShowRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Maurice Downes Not quite the same feel as a full-fledged album, but not another g-dd@mn mixtape (can we move onto the next forgettable trend in Hip-hop already?) The Best Damn Rap Show (Eastern Conference) occupies a sort of strange […]
The Ripple Effect
Artist: SplashTitle: The Ripple EffectRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Bill “Low Key” Heinzelman Credit is given to Petey Pablo for the introducing North Carolina Hip-hop to the mainstream, but it was Little Brother who broke down the door for the underground. Now the floodgates are open and more Carolina Hip-hop acts are reaping the benefits. […]
Memphis Bleek: Do or Die
Memphis Bleek has been in the wings too long. His albums have moved significant units, and his name transcends Hip-Hop and Pop culture, so why isnt Marcys second son satisfied? Bleek has been around a decade plus, but it is now that he sees as his affirmation to success to be determined this year. In […]
Vast Aire: Dummy Smack
The Hip Hop community is obsessed with labels. From gangsta rap to nerd rap, everything is broken down and placed into categories. But Cannibal Ox’s front man Vast Aire is not having it. With a fanatical underground backing, many have been quick to label Can Ox as so called “nerd rap”. This term, which has […]
West Coast Resurrection
Artist: GameTitle: West Coast ResurrectionRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine JT The Bigga Figga has been making albums for over ten years and is one of the Bay Areas biggest and most accessible stars. But somehow, he made his biggest dent recently releasing Untold Story, an album of pre-Aftermath material from The Game. The album spent […]
Good Fortune
Artist: Airborn AudioTitle: Good FortuneRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman Its been a few years since the forward-thinking trio Anti-Pop Consortium split, but until now, the critically-acclaimed Beans is the only former member who has successfully arisen from the groups ashes. On Good Fortune (Ninja Tune) Anti-Pops other ex-reps, M Sayyid and High Priest, […]
Dallas Austin Reactivates Rowdy Records
Producer Dallas Austin hopes to recapture the early success of his Rowdy Records label and will relaunch the imprint with a new group, Da Back Wudz. Austin’s label found mainstream success when the Atlanta, Georgia based label released Monica’s debut album Miss Thang in 1995, helping to launch Atlanta’s R&B/Hip-Hop scene to national prominence. Austin, […]
Master P., Silkk The Shocker Plead Not Guilty To Gun Charges
Percy “Master P.” Miller and his brother Vyshonn “Silkk The Shocker” Miller have pleaded not guilty to a felony gun charge, after the two were arrested in January. The Miller brothers were arrested on January 27 near the University of California when police pulled their leased Chrysler 300 over because it didn’t have license plates, […]
Tha Realest Leaves Tha Row, Preparing Debut Album
Rapper Tha Realest has become the latest artist to leave Suge Knight’s Death Row Records imprint and recently inked a deal with Omerta Entertainment/Tommy Boy. The Oakcliff, Texas native said he suffered numerous setbacks while recording for Death Row, including getting shot in front of a recording studio in 1999. With his release secured, the […]
