New Edition: Call It A Comeback
When Boston grade school pals Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Bobby Brown formed a singing group in 1978, they may not have known the impact that their decision would make over the next two decades and beyond. Within two years of getting together, they added Ralph Tresvant and Ronnie DeVoe to the group, and were […]
Rowdee Black Giants: Breaking Conventions
When you hear the name Rowdee Black Giants, you might start thinking about some testosterone infused heavy metal version of Living Colour, a group of b######## guys screaming and destroying musical equipment. Actually, The R-B-Geez, as they are called by their fans, don’t destroy their equipment and they aren’t even a bunch of Black guys. […]
Connected
Artist: The Foreign ExchangeTitle: ConnectedRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Mark Cilantro Way back in 2002 I was in Cues record store in the heart of Philly right before The Roots Phrenology hit the streets. Steph Tatas had the advance promo copy and a friend and I were bugging off of Water. At that point he […]
Nas Rocks Central Park
On “Genesis,” the intro to his debut album Illmatic, a young Nasir Jones remarked: “When it’s real, you doing this even without a record contract.” Fittingly then, Nas took it back to the beginning with a free concert in Central Park yesterday (August 15) to mark his ten-year anniversary as a recording artist. “This is […]
Prison Officials Investigating Shyne’s Phone Records
The release of Jamal "Shyne" Barrow’s album Godfather: Buried Alive has hit a snag, as prison officials claim the incarcerated rapper may have violated inmate rules by doing business from the prison phones. Officials took Barrow’s phone privileges away today (August 16) and are now investigating that rapper’s phone calls. If he is found guilty […]
Mr. Complex ‘Enters’ Film World
While rapper Mr. Complex works the underground circuit and tours throughout the globe, during daylight hours he works in a world much different than underground Hip-Hop. As a production assistant [PA], Mr. Complex works with assistant director’s on various commercial movies and is planning his own film. While some may find it difficult to maneuver […]
Remy Martin: The Champ Is Here
During Jay-Z and Nas’s battle of boasts, Jay would often compare their lyrical tirades to boxing. Although his comments were made partially to quell the fears of another battle potentially going wrong (Biggie/’Pac), for the most part, his assertion was correct. For instance, rappers spend just as many hours recording in the studio as boxers […]
Nas Part 2: Fear & Loving
It’s been ten years since the prophet of hip-hop breathed new life into the game with the release of his instant classic Illmatic. Dropping science, dropping emcees and sometimes even dropping the ball, Nas takes it all in stride as he prepares to release a double disk CD to celebrate the past decade of delivering […]
The Blast Radius
Artist: InsightTitle: The Blast RadiusRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Maurice Downes It’s difficult to know what angle to take when talking about a new album from Insight, this one called The Blast Radius. Long-awaited doesn’t quite cut it as you could say that about a bunch of releases, though with the respect he’s garnered in […]
AHH Stray News: Butterfly, Royce Da 5’9, Ja Rule
Ja Rule, Ashanti and R. Kelly will appear on “Wonderful,” the first single from Ja Rule’s upcoming R.U.L.E. Ja Rule’s album hits stores November 9, one week prior to the release of Ashanti’s third album, which is untitled. Royce Da 5’9 is preparing to release a new album, M.I.C. The 16-track album is Royce’s third […]
Godfather Buried Alive
Artist: ShyneTitle: Godfather Buried AliveRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Robert DeGracia Shyne Po has been manifesting lasting warfare memories long before droning gavel knockings set the prelude to his conviction. Although 2009 dates his prison release, Godfather Buried Alive not only provides answers for today, but stirs echoes of gangster classics past. Shyne radiates a newer […]
Former Bad Boy Exec Charged With Money Laundering
A former president of Bad Boy Records has been charged with laundering $1 million dollars in drug money through a bogus company. Kirk Burrowes, who filed a $25 million dollar lawsuit against Sean “P. Diddy” Combs last year, is accused of depositing proceeds from cocaine sales into the bank account of a company known as […]
Lil Kim Denies Allegations, Launches ‘Lil Kim Cares’ Organization
Lil’ Kim has come forward to deny allegations that she lied to a federal grand jury about her knowledge of a daylight shootout in front of Hot 97’s New York offices in February 2001. "I am completely innocent of the charges I have been accused of, and am very confident that my co-defendants and I […]
Sabacolypse
Artist: SabacTitle: SabacolypseRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: DJ L.K. (Low Key) Think Non-Phixion is all about sex, drugs and violence? You don’t even know the half. Sabac Red, the groups most overlooked member, is an emcee with a message. Following in the footsteps of great social and political emcees like Chuck D, Sabac is a […]
I-20 Explains ‘Self Explanatory’
After being featured on six songs from Ludacris’ two albums and Disturbing Tha Peace’s Golden Grain album, rapper I-20 is preparing to drop his solo album, Self Explanatory. According to the rapper, his album will be a memorable release in the annals of Atlanta’s Hip-Hop history books. “It’s an explanation of me,” I-20 says of […]
Snoop Dogg Hit With Lawsuit On Stage
A Norfolk, Virginia concert promoter hit Snoop Dogg with a $5 million dollar lawsuit, while the rapper was on stage during a performance at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater on Wednesday. The plaintiff, Patricia Richardson, claims that she was arrested on January 28th 1997, the night of a Snoop concert she was promoting at local Club […]
Whoo Kid On New Eazy E Song; 50 Cent/ Shyne Beef
DJ Whoo Kid, G-Units in-house spin-doctor, recently took the liberty to rework an old Eazy-E verse and helped create Still Cruisin, a brand new song that features Compton native The Game. I got my hands on an Eazy-E accapella nobody ever heard before. I just did the same historical thing, called Red Spyda then – […]
‘Method & Red’ Producers Scrap Episodes, Fight For Creative Freedom
Producers of “Method & Red” have shelved an additional three episodes of the show, as Method Man, Redman and the show’s other producers fight for the show’s creative direction. According to high level executives involved with the production of the show, Fox completely changed the vision of the show, prompting Method Man to publicly complain […]
Nas: Street’s Disciple Pt. 1
Since Stillmatic, Nas has been continuously beating life into heart of Hip-Hop. Recent tracks like “Get Down” and “Thief’s Theme” proof that rap courses through his veins. Known for his reserved ways, Nas rarely talks about the insides of the game, not to mention his life. Usually, it’s all business and music. But, Nas has […]
Trillville: The Definition Of Crunk
Trillville has become an entity all itself – a place, an attitude, and most notably, a person. As a result of Lil’ Jon’s stronghold in mainstream Hip-Hop, Crunk is finally getting its praises. A key architect in the last five years of Crunk, is Atlanta’s three man collective Trillville. Part of Jon’s BME Recordings Group, […]
