D avid Styles is a self-proclaimed problem. He’s adamant about you knowing it, absorbing it, and passing the declaration on to the next man. More often than not, listeners are overrun with gangster tales and tough talk that varies from phony album rhetoric, fabricated industry imagery, and true-to-life hood legends and trap stars that fall […]
GM Grimm, perhaps better known as MF Grimm, has lived the life that many rappers can only write fictional rhymes about. Emerging in the early ‘90s, Grimm collaborated with Hip-Hop greats Kool G Rap, Akinyele, and KMD, to name a few. The rugged rapper even penned undisclosed parts of Dr. Dre’s The Chronic for West […]
S temming back to Eric B & Rakim classics like “In the Ghetto,” the Nation of Gods and Earths, otherwise known as Five Percenters, have been some of the most successful MCs and producers to date. From Busta to Raekwon to J-Live, this powerful belief system changed the Hip-Hop vernacular from using words like “God,” […]
B one Crusher had the world on his side just three years ago. His hit, “Never Scared” was a major muscle in moving Crunk from the clubs to the country club dance-floors. However, as his peers caked up on bigger deals, stronger marketing, and endorsements, Bone Crusher was lost in the Arista merger with Jive. […]
W ith over 40 credits to his name, including roles as a producer and director, let it be known that Sticky Fingaz stands to soon be a household name. As “Slam” continues to get burn on greatest hits compilations, Sticky’s most recognizable feat may come as he takes over for Wesley Snipes as Blade: The […]
C lassic albums come along few and far between in the music world. The hunt for the perfect combination of lyricist and production chemistry can sometimes resemble a well-developed scientific experiment. The aim is to get a cohesive effort that gels and soothes listening ears, and at best, you get a mix that combusts to […]
B ack in 2002, Troy “Smack” Mitchell probably never thought that his DVD magazine would become a phenomenon in Hip-Hop culture. But some element of belief kept him tapping rappers on the shoulders, and begging them for a voyeuristic look at the lives of the lyricist. Everything about the S.M.A.C.K. DVDs captures that “fly on […]
T wenty-three and with a flow scratched out of sandpaper rawness, Chaz “G.A.G.E.” Scott is Aftermath’s newest and youngest signee. And while his sometimes-nickname — “Shottie” — implies the kind of double-barreled sawed-off that left Cuba Gooding Jr. screaming “Ricky!” in an alley, G.A.G.E.’s rap handle has little to do with guns. Born, raised and […]
T he gods over at Google must invest in irony, because upon searching for the Georgian group Field Mob, the description lists them as artists from New York. Surely anyone with even an earlobe to the street knows of the current situation regarding the Albany, Georgia natives and their take on the New York Hip-Hop […]
T he American Airlines Arena is usually jumping when the Miami Heat are playing, but it’s not always Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade causing the excitement. The person electrifying fans is often DJ Irie, the official DJ of the Miami Heat. During the pre-game warm-up, timeouts, and intermissions, Irie transforms the AAA into “one big […]
If you read the liner notes to any major Hip-Hop album from early ‘90s on, chances are you’ll see Bobbito’s name in the shout outs. If you a go to an New York street-ball event or Madison Square Garden halftime show, chances are, you’ll see Bobbito teasing the crowd with his mesmerizing handle. The same […]
“Dead beat dad is what the media say/ best father in the world is what my son will say.” On Christina Milian’s “Say I,” Young Jeezy shared a bit of his personal life – rare form for the Snowman. Since the boy from the hood first reached the charts, his name has been tossed around […]
F or the first time in his career, Fabolous appears to have had almost a year to “breathe.” After his Just Blaze-laced banger towered the Hip-Hop charts, it failed to match Fab’s previous work in reaching Top 40 radio. Meanwhile, the Elektra Records star was stranded in an Atlantic merger, where his marketing strategies fell […]
A s more and more rappers claim they’re in it to “get money,” how many really understand the origins of Hip-Hop? While Eldorado Red isn’t bashful in his pursuits to prosperity, this Harlem street dude began his career around Jazzy Jay and Afrika Bambaataa. Equally unique, the Uptown spitter is backed by a producer widely […]
W hen San Francisco and Oakland’s Hip-Hop communities went into hibernation, at least on the national scale, one producer had no problem bringing food home. Whether he was producing hits for Jay-Z, Xzibit, or Busta Rhymes, Rick Rock stayed on the charts with his various sounds. The Alabama and Bay representative keeps sounds on file […]
U ntil the captivating writing and gritty cinematography of The Wire, Hip-Hop seems to have been slow to embrace Baltimore. But as one of the few remaining checkpoints on I-95 gets its due, Aaron Lacrate rejoices after years of work in the effort. The DJ/producer has been getting the Baltimore City name up with spray […]
A brother with strong business acumen is extremely important in today’s America, especially when you’re dealing with the pythons and cobras of the recording industry. Devo Harris is in a real G.O.O.D spot. He proudly encourages, “Naysayer, please show me one example why Kanye’s crew ain’t the s**t and I could refute you with five,” […]
I n the Hip-Hop world, a memorable cameo appearance and endorsements from A-List artists can be both a gift and a curse. After impressive guest spots alongside one-time mentors on EPMD’s “Hardcore” and Dr. Dre’s “Deep Cover,” Redman and Snoop Dogg respectively proved that artists can parlay a quality 16-bar verse into a successful solo […]
B rother J of the X-Clan once rapped, “I’ll walk with the lions, stalk with the elephant / pivot like gorilla, pigs become irrelevant.” Fifteen years ago, Hip-Hop and nature seem to have existed on a much more parallel plane than today. However, gear peddler extraordinaire, Marc Ecko seeks to change that. For decades, Ecko […]
O ne year ago, Smitty released his single “Diamonds on My Neck.” Though it promoted an album that’s still unreleased, the knocker affirmed a buzz that the Miami native, born Varick Smith had been building for five years. Still on a journey that paired him with Dr. Dre, P Diddy, and Jay-Z for different periods, […]
