Mickey Factz is a part of that echelon of MCs who revere the late eighties and early nineties to the point where they relive it verbatim and aspire to bring it back to the charisma and creativity that produced the golden era. Don’t get it twisted; Factz isn’t stuck in the past. He is […]

  In the present world of Rap Music, new artists are flooding the airwaves pushing us further and further away from its creative origins. While bringing in new talent is always welcomed, over time the initiators tend to become a distant memory. Fortunately many have managed to continuously stay relevant by putting out hot albums, […]

  Whether it has been personal troubles, bankrupt record labels, bids up north or stellar verses, Big Noyd has seen it all. He has been known to make a splash on anything he does; his introductory verse on Mobb Deep’s classic “Give Up The Goods” would be proof of that. Not only one for features, […]

Hip-Hop was felt in its truest form this past weekend at The Bridge Live held at Studio B in Green Point, Brooklyn. This is a recurring event hosted by Ralph McDaniels of the influential Video Music Box show. Special guests included the legendary DJ Lovebug Starski, Chuck D of Public Enemy and headliner, Rakim.   […]

As everyone got comfy in the confines of New York City’s famed Chung King studios, Fat Joe makes it clear that he is very confident in his new work. The South Bronx native just wrapped up his eighth album Elephant In The Room (Terror Squad / Imperial) and is very confident he has a heater […]

  Imagine what a typical day might be like for Jay-Z and Ghostface. Now picture what it would be like if both men switched identities and lived in each other’s worlds; Hip-Hop’s Trading Places if you will. DJ Chong Wizard’s latest mixtape, American Ironman, is the aural equivalent of the aforementioned strange scenario. It is the […]

Kiki Swinson has a sweet telephone voice. Sadly, she’s a street fiction writer and most of her fans will never hear it.  Yet, before you think it’s all candy and flirts in lala land, understand that Swinson has been there done that with thug romance and a five year bid on her criminal record to […]

  It’s been quite some time since women have held some considerable weight in Rap. In the 80’s Salt N Pepa laid down the winning blue print for all female MC’s to follow. In the mid 90’s though, a new breed stepped in. Backed by the Notorious B.I.G., Lil’ Kim ushered in a more sexually […]

  Remember Quan? The Newport “Bad Newz” Virginia native made his artistic debut on “Just a Moment,” from Nas’ 2004 Streets Disciple. His rise to Hip-Hop prominence would be delayed with an arrest in late 2005. He did a little time but eventually beat the case. Now no longer signed to God Son’s Ill Will […]

Hip-Hop was seen at its purest form this past weekend. In a quaint, dimmed-lit room at New York’s Knitting Factory (1/5) a small crowd gathered to enjoy the lyrical prowess of  Brooklyn bred Lil’ Dap from Group Home,  Ruste Juxx repping the Boot Camp Click, and Queensbridge’s own Big Noyd and Infamous Mobb.   Ruste […]

In one corner you had Kanye West. A growing rapper, great producer, flashy dresser and his own number one fan all rolled in one. Billed as the new baby face of Rap, Ye’ has been rising through the ranks with ease. His good guy persona exploded on his sophomore effort Late Registration. The smash single […]

When you look at Jay-Z’s body of work, you notice there are a few slight blemishes. Even though Blueprint 2 and Kingdom Come might have fallen below his impeccable standard, his ten album catalog is matched by few. From his classic debut Reasonable Doubt to his stellar pseudo retirement effort The Black Album; the God […]

It was the best of times…it was the worst of times. While musically and artistically we saw a rebirth of sorts in 2007, we also saw our fair share of disappointment, tragedy, lunacy and some would say conspiracy.  We lost young lions like $tack Bundles and X-1, and grizzled veterans like the great Pimp C. […]

Rap has been in a strange place for some time. The old guard has been holding on to the game with a vice grip, while creatively, most of the new blood hasn’t offered anything strong enough to snatch the music from them. Our contemporary greats are on the brink of bowing out the game all […]

  Few rappers bred from Atlanta actually possess the lyrical skill to sit among Hip-Hop’s elite. The others subside in a group infamously known as ring tone rappers and trap-stars. With Gucci Mane mainly recognized for his hit “So Icy;” it’s obvious that he’s part of the latter. So a big single, one murder charge […]

Live and direct I don’t need no mic check. Remember mommy told me Peedi, you ain’t write that. It started in the bathroom taking a dump, listening to Ultramagnetic ego trippin’ you won’t…Pressure my word I’m the urban version of you chump. Stomped on a different ground, sound second to none. Synthesizers tweet to improvise […]

  The hunger heard from Joe Budden on Mood Muzik 3 is like B. Rabbit struggling to reach the top of the Rap food chain in 8 Mile. He previously experienced moderate success with the single “Pump It Up,” but has had to navigate through his sophomore album The Growth sitting on the shelf longer […]

  Feeding off the overwhelming critical reception of Food And Liquor, Lupe Fiasco announced plans for a seminal follow up release. The album would build on the themes covered in the song “The Cool” from his debut; an impassioned tale of a fictional emcee at his moral crossroads. He began work on the full length […]

To make one bob they head would be the track job, your job’s to spit that fire. Some of y’all MC’s take this rhyming for granted, I won’t comply. With that stacking, popping and cracking, 4th ward way we snapping. They wan’t that hardness, that oddness that gets a n***a to start this. What’s happening? […]

In Hip-Hop conversation, classic and legendary are thrown around way too easily. However, there remain those songs, moments, artists, and albums that have a timeless stamp and deserve their accolades if not more. GZA’s Liquid Swords is just such an album and in acknowledgment of its devoted cult, the Wu’s Genius billed himself as performing […]