Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1
Artist: Wu-Tang ClanTitle: Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Shawn Lawrence James The year was 1993. Rather than scratching the surface, the rap collective known as the Wu-Tang Clan punctured Hip-Hop with sharp compositions of street life and quickly became a gritty alternative to the commercial avenue the West Coast paved […]
Murder Inc. Bookkeeper Busted For Money Laundering
Murder Inc. Bookkeeper Cynthia Brent was arrested and indicted Monday (November 8) on money laundering charges, as federal prosecutors continue their investigation into a connection between the rap label and drug dealers. Brent, 39, was charged with laundering over $1 million in drug money and arranging cash deposits to evade federal filing laws, officials said. […]
Pioneers To Detail Plans For The Universal Federation For The Preservation Of Hip-Hop Culture
Hip-Hop pioneers Afrika Bambaataa, GrandMaster Caz, Kurtis Blow and others will announce the establishment of the Universal Federation for the Preservation of Hip-Hop Culture, a nonprofit organization invested in safeguarding Hip-Hop’s evolutionary history. According to the Federation’s Vice President Kenny “Yoda” Syder, also a member of the legendary Crash Crew, artists have consistently toured the […]
Philly DJ Claims Fabolous Bodyguard Body Slammed Her
Power 99 DJ Golden Girl of Philadelphia alleges that she was attacked by the bodyguard of Brooklyn wordsmith Fabolous during the radio station’s yearly Powerhouse 2004 concert. The radio personality, known for her blonde hair, detailed her experience to local NBC 10 News yesterday (Nov. 8). "I was talking to one of the artists, which […]
St. Lunatic Murphy Lee Accused of DWI
Murphy Lee of Nelly’s St. Lunatics was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of drugs after police claim they stumbled on almost 35 grams of marijuana in the rapper’s Mercedes Benz, according to published reports. Police say they found the marijuana after stopping Lee, 22, for an expired license plate Oct. 31 on […]
R.U.L.E.
Artist: Ja RuleTitle: R.U.L.E.Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone While many have prematurely considered his career a wrap, Ja Rule has risen up to silence all naysayers with his sixth, and arguably most important, album, R.U.L.E (Def Jam). Cleverly opening up with Ja delivering Denzel Washingtons campfire spiritual from the Civil War epic Glory, R.U.L.E. […]
The Plague (Feat. Oh No)
Artist: KaziTitle: The Plague (Feat. Oh No)Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Jesse Fairfax If you’re even vaguely familiar with the underground scene you’ve heard the name Stones Throw Records by this point. This West Coast powerhouse has built its reputation for putting out experimental jazz, hip-hop and funk music mainly produced by the extraordinary Madlib. Not […]
World War II: Evolution of the Torturer
Artist: VirtuosoTitle: World War II: Evolution of the TorturerRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman Politically aware MCs may never be satisfied with the government, but lets face it: the outcome of the 2004 election will leave mindful lyricists no choice but to get even more militant on the mic. Just look at how many […]
Immortal Technique: New Rules
Immortal Technique is one of the few emcees in New York City re-writing the rigid rules to the Hip-Hop game. With a volatile mixture of brutal political commentary, spiteful battle raps and street knowledge, Technique put himself on the field of play without significant aid from outside forces. Now, the Peruvian-born, Harlem-bred rapper has remained […]
Lil’ Flip Sued For Copyright Infringement – Again
Lil’ Flip has been hit with a second copyright infringement lawsuit, this time due to alleged unauthorized use of three melodies on his major label debut, Undaground Legend. The latest round of legal wrangling for the Houston, Texas rapper stems from three songs on the CD, “Texas Boys,” “Make Mama Proud” and “What I Been […]
Boyz II Men: Doin Just Fine, Pt 1
Boyz II Men has experienced heights in their years together that even some of the most seasoned artists are still yearning to attain. With multi-platinum singles and albums, they set records for keeping songs at #1 on the charts first with End Of The Road in 1992 at 13 weeks, followed by 1994s Ill […]
Boyz II Men: Doin Just Fine, Pt 3
AHHA: Have you considered covering any songs outside of classic R&B rock songs or any other genre? Nathan: Weve considered creating some rock songs and different things like that. As far as covers, there are so many songs that wed love to do. This Throwback album that we have now is not even the […]
Boyz II Men: Doin Just Fine, Pt 2
AHHA: Do you have any regrets about your musical direction during the course of your career? Shawn: I have more regrets about our mind states during some of those albums than the music. The music was always the easiest thing for us to do we can sing almost anything. If we feel it, we […]
AHH Stray News: Dr. Dre, Fade to Black, The RZA, S.H.I.N.E.
Dr. Dre has restarted his highly anticipated solo album, Detox. The super producer put the project on hold to produce albums for Aftermath artists Eve and Busta Rhymes. According to published reports, the album is slated for a fall 2005 release. Jay-Z’s documentary “Fade to Black” earned $475,648 during its opening week in theaters. The […]
Yukmouth And Game Speak, Say Beef Is Still On
For those not in tune with their Hip-Hop beef, Aftermath/G-Unit rapper The Game and Bay-area rapper Yukmouth of Regime have been volleying back and forth with insults, even though peace seemed on the horizon. A song that featured both rappers on the same track was apparently recorded separately, where Game decided to dis his counterpart […]
Diddy Says Citizen Change Wont Stop, Wants To Be Black James Bond
Rap impresario turned political activist Sean “P.Diddy” Combs announced today (Nov. 6) that Citizen Change, his non-partisan voter registration initiative, will continue to operate and recruit young people into the electoral process even though presidential election has passed. “This is phase one, step one for us to get people engaged," Diddy told the Associated Press. […]
Bill Cosby Gets Down With Hip-Hop
Actor/Comedian Bill Cosby and various Hip-Hop artists have joined with Ras Baraka, Deputy Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, to launch Hip-Hop for the P.E.O.P.L.E., a national community service program aimed at underprivileged urban youth. The mission of Hip-Hop for the P.E.O.P.L.E. (Providing Education Opportunity, Prosperity and Life Eternally) is to enlighten inner city youth on […]
A Critique: Jay-Z’s “Fade to Black”
Under the Paramount Classics banner, "Fade to Black" unspooled before me as I remembered Jay-Z’s previous documentary "classic," an execrable piece of immature backstage concert antics named, well, "Backstage." Imagine my shock and pure joy when "Fade to Black," through fits and starts, eventually emerges to live up to the lofty title of its studio […]
Jacki-O: The Miami Madame
The self proclaimed Queen of the South, Jacki-o, is looking to prove that she is much more than another female emcee looking to strike it rich by flaunting her sexuality. With her debut album Poe Little Rich Girl currently in stores, Jacki is out to tell the world that there is a new girl on […]
Family For Mac Dre Holds Public Viewing
The family of Andre “Mac Dre” Hicks will hold a public viewing for the rapper, who was shot to death on a stretch of highway in Kansas City. The family will hold the viewing from noon to 5 p.m. at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 1735 Enterprise Drive, in Fairfield, California A private service for the […]
