How many producers in the game right now can say that they have a hit record? Plenty. Of those same producers, how many can say that have done scores for television shows and movie soundtracks? The pool is getting smaller. Finally, of that remaining bunch who can say that they have worked with Missy Elliott, […]
Investigative journalist Ethan Brown recently followed up his critically acclaimed Queens Reigns Supreme with the true crime book titled Snitch: Informants, Cooperators, and the Corruption of Justice. Brown’s new book provides insight into the secret history of the Stop Snitching movement and documents a troubling by-product of the War on Drugs, “a cottage industry of […]
Saturday Night, 12-15-07 8:15 pm: The “I Could Care Less” Game of the Week, Pt. 1: Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-10) Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, CA Right now, the heads of the NFL Network are shaking their heads in disbelief. Fate has dealt them an ugly hand because […]
Excuses are tools of the incompetent, they build monuments of nothingness and bridges that lead to nowhere. Fortunately for music lovers, Stoni doesn’t have any excuses. Despite being part of an industry of notables that are overwhelmingly male, Stoni views herself as a producer with adversity parallel to her male counterparts. The New York City […]
America loves the outlaw. We romanticize and fantasize about them. Recently, the movie American Gangster has brought to light the tale of Frank Lucas and in telling his story, we have been exposed to many layers of peripheral tales of connected lives. One such life is Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson. Depicted as Lucas’ mentor, the exploits […]
Yep, the Crime Mob you know is no more. We got Diamond and Princess, separately, to offer their takes on the situation. The whispers started in early 2007. One member short of their original line up, Warner Brothers recording group Crime Mob was enjoying their most successful hit to date with the release of “Rock […]
Willie D of The Geto Boys speaks on the passing of his dear friend Pimp C and greater perspective.While the world of Hip-Hop continues to struggle with the recent death of Pimp C—funeral services will be held today (Dec. 13) at the Robert A. Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur, Texas—the loss has affected people […]
Just after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled (7-2) Monday that federal judges can use their discretion when giving shorter prison sentences in order to reduce the disparity between crack and powder cocaine, the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) decided today (Dec 12) to make the new sentencing laws retroactive. Street pharmacists and social activists have been […]
“We The Best!” Upon hearing these three words laid over a track it is evident who the DJ is. Making himself a brand through that slogan, DJ Khaled is joining the elite ranks of DJs such as Funkmaster Flex, Clue, and Drama by creating albums drenched with hot artists from all regions of the country. […]
When family problems arise, even the best-laid plans get put on hold. Cincinnati production kingpin Hi-Tek took a little time away from the game recently when his daughter took ill, but thanks to a big paper hustle and some focused foresight, not many would have recognized his momentary absence. Even from the days of his […]
Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. never needed much help in the ring, but what if that ring he’s fighting in is Hip-Hop? Mayweather, who has rechristened himself as “Money,” plans to take the leap in to the world of Hip-Hop as a rapper, and he’s got the biggest knock-out artist in his corner, 50 Cent. […]
It’s often hard for young artists to break away from comparisons to the artists that inspired them, as flattering as they may be. In light of his early work with Slum Village, and being from the talented yet relatively untapped city of Detroit, Black Milk has been striving to carry the torch that J Dilla […]
Bun B Interview with Mad HattaTime always runs out. Poised to see the continued success of the Southern flavored Hip-Hop he helped foster, UGK’s Chad “Pimp C” Butler was found dead in a Los Angelese hotel room on the morning of December 4th. While his physical being may no longer be with us, his spirit […]
Amanda Diva’s been around long enough to debunk Andy Warhol’s famed 15-minute theory. But the singer/rapper/jill-of-all trades has endured several years in the music industry with jobs ranging from spoken word poet (Def Poetry Jam) to journalist to radio music host and even representing Hip-Hop as a talking head on VH1’s humorous series “Best Week […]
The West Coast is about more than just gangbanging and the occasional Dr. Dre produced single. Just ask rapper Glasses Malone. The Cali rapper’s story may have begun like many young men who come from his neighborhood, but he’s taking his life lessons and following them in a new direction. Malone split his time growing […]
Hip-Hop is a music that often is built on regions. It began in the North East before migrating to the West Coast and then down South. In recent years the Mid-West has really become a serious force in the industry. With artists like Paul Wall, Lil’ Flip, Slim Thug, and Chamillionaire, Texas Hip-Hop sought to […]
Ghostface aka Paisley Fontaine goes in on his style, vision and that other Wu-Tang Clan album.Chances are, an above average rapper will drop a solid album or two or three, some good, some not so good, and call it a career. When it comes to Ghostface Killah, the odds are a bit better. Dennis Coles, […]
A gold album might be common or sub par in today’s society, but for a 16 year-old Swedish-American in 1984, it was extraordinary. Such is the story of Quincy Jones, III, the son of music legend Quincy Jones. Not to be confused with his father, QD3, as he is prevalently known in the industry, created […]
Cassidy delivers his third album B.A.R.S (The Barry Adrian Reese Story) with a strong lead single “My Drink N’ My 2 Step.” B.A.R.S is the calm after the storm of 2006 where he served a jail term for involuntary manslaughter, and months after being released critically injured himself in a motor vehicle accident, sustaining a […]
If you analyze and study the game there is a serious void in Hip-Hop. Back in the day there was more artistic credibility in the music. On the average, you had a greater percentage of MC’s that could actually spit and didn’t vanish off the map after one album. Taking that into consideration, there are […]
