The Disrupt
Artist: Oh NoTitle: The DisruptRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Kenny Rodriguez Music runs in Oh Nos veins. With an R&B vocalist for a father, a former Dizzy Gillespie trumpeter for an uncle, and Madlib the Beat Conductor as an older brother the Oxnard, CA artist was pretty much predestined to be a musician. But along […]

Legacy of Blood
Artist: Jedi Mind TrickTitle: Legacy of BloodRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone True unabashed, hardcore rap music comes few and far between these days. While many acts such as The Lox and Mobb Deep keep their minds firmly planted in street grime, they occasionally dabble in commercial acceptance on their singles. This isnt completely […]

Loose Cannons
Artist: Scram JonesTitle: Loose CannonsRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman The title of Scram Jones’ new mixtape, Loose Cannons (Sure Shot), is fitting as it features plenty of NYC’s hardest MCs letting off lyrical shots at random. Everyone from Saigon to Sean Price was summoned to participate. And producer/ DJ/ MC Scram laces each […]

This Week
Artist: Jean GraeTitle: This WeekRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Shawn Lawrence James The portrait of a female MC. Circa 1988, the bourgeoning genre of Hip-Hop presented a blank canvas of soul and decided to let nature take its course. The initial draft was sketched with brilliant shades of social-conscious vibes (Queen Latifahs U.N.I.T.Y) outlined by a […]

Jin Wins 50K In Fight Klub Battle
Ruffryder MC Jin defeated Shells, Jae Millz, and Wreckonize in a Fight Klub rap battle that took place at the Mixshow Power Summit on Saturday. In the battle, which took place in Puerto Rico, Jin bested Wreckonize, known for winning the Roc-A-Fella/MTV contest. After Jin won, he observed J Records Shells win over Jae Millz […]

Foxy Brown Signs With S.Carter Records
Rapper Foxy Brown has signed a deal with Jay-Z’s new label, S. Carter Records. A source revealed that the deal has not been officially announced, because Carter has not settled on a distribution deal for his new imprint. “Lyor [Cohen] was with Jay-Z in Chicago on tour and LA Reid was with him soon after,” […]

Judge Connected To C-Murder Trial Indicted For Corruption
A judge that helped set the tone for the murder trial of rapper Corey “C-Murder” Miller has been indicted on federal corruption charges, after he and another man allegedly conspired with a bail bonds mogul and took more than $20,000 in bribes. State Judge Alan Green was indicted last week on seven federal counts that […]

Jay-Z To Release Feature Film ‘Fade To Black’
Jay-Z has teamed with production company @radical.media and Paramount Classics to release “Fade To Black,” a film that chronicles the rapper’s farewell performance as a solo artist at Madison Square Garden in November of 2003. Jay-Z narrates the film, which takes viewers backstage during the concert and offers fans a chance to look at how […]

Nelly Defends ‘Tip Drill’ Video
Nelly is brushing off critics of his video “Tip Drill,” and is planning on producing a full-length adult movie based around the song and video. The original video, which aired on BET’s UnCut late night video show, came under fire from various African-American groups and women on college campuses across the nation for it’s portrayal […]

Kanye West Cleans Up At MOBO’s
Mos Def hosted the Music Of Black Origin awards, held last night at the Royal Albert Hall, London. American Hip-Hop act Kanye West was the evening’s biggest winner, taking home awards in three categories, including Best Album, Best Hip-Hop Act and Best Producer, fueled by the success of his album, College Dropout. The night’s other […]

Donald Goines: Street Novel Love
Early on, authors like Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim captured hip-hop’s street sensibilities scribing books that explored the seedier side of urban living in the ’60s and early ’70s. The Life of Goines has be resurrected this year for a new generation of hip-hop fans that have really been consuming the his work for years. […]

Let The Truth Be Told
Artist: KrumbsnatchaTitle: Let The Truth Be ToldRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine Twice, Krumbsnatcha has stepped to the plate and walked. No hits, no strikeouts just sort of came and went. Thats tolerable for a lot of rappers. But KS boasts an endorsement from the Gang Starr Foundation, the Midas ears of Hip-Hop talent […]

Mixshow Power Summit Kicks Off In Puerto Rico
The 7th Annual Mixshow Power Summit kicked off this week in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. The 4 day summit brings together some of the best mixshow and club deejays in the world, as well as some of the hottest talent all of the major labels have to offer. On Thursday, September 30th, the Mixshow Power […]
James Poyser: The Soul Innovator
Erykah Badus debut album, Baduizm, marked the beginning of a unique blend of old school soul with Hip-Hop sensibility that would dominate and influence the way soul was done from that point forward. Since then, artists like The Roots, Lauryn Hill, DAngelo, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, Common, Talib Kweli, Bilal, and Musiq have all released […]

12 Point Program for Hip Hop
Right about now, there is a resurgence of consciousness in Hip Hop. It reminds me of what was once known as "The Golden Age of Hip Hop". This new consciousness is evidenced in the rise of Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Paris, Zion I, Common, Mystic, Mos Def, Encore, Shamako Noble, Immortal Technique, the new tracks […]

The Love Deluxe Movement
Artist: The JuggaknotsTitle: The Love Deluxe Movement Rating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Maurice Downes On some kind of hell-bent to incorporate every annoying album concept at the same time, Juggaknots follow up their excellent re-release of Clear Blue Skies with a… wait for it… concept mixtape EP. Yeah. Titled The Love Deluxe Movement (Matic Records), […]

Sprint Wireless Puts Bling In Ringtones
Sprint PCS, one of the nation’s largest cell phone companies, introduced BlingTones this past Tuesday (Sept. 21), which allows subscribers to personalize their ring tones with original compositions by the likes of hip-hop producers such as Rockwilder and Hi-Tek. The wireless provider has partnered with Lagadere Active North America in hopes of increasing its share […]

Phonte And Nicolay Hooking Up Again
With their debut album, Connected, hitting shelves only a few weeks ago, the members of Foreign Exchange, Phonte of Little Brother and producer Nicolay, aren’t waiting very long for their next collaboration. “We’re working together again on this singer’s project named Darien Brockington,” Phonte told Allhiphop.com from his home in North Carolina. Many fans of […]

Digable Planets Reunite
Early 1990’s Hip-Hop collective Digable Planets have announced that they have reunited and are working on a new album. Butterfly, Doodlebug (Cee Knowledge) and Ladybug Ms. Mecca formed the group in the early 90’s while attending college in Massachusetts. The group’s debut release Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time & Space) was an instant classic […]

Pharrell Ditches MOBO’s, Mos Def To Host Awards Show
Pharrell Williams has ditched his duties as host of the 2004 MOBO Awards, Europe’s premiere award show for outstanding black music. The cancellation left organizers scrambling for a host for the event which tapes tomorrow (September 30th). "I fully support the MOBO Awards and unfortunately due to scheduling problems I will be unable to host […]