Artist: Jim JonesTitle: A Dipset XmasRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Bill Zimmerman At first it appears that A Dipset Xmas may be a fun ride. The cover features a Santa hat draped over the Diplomats’ logo, the disc is emblazoned with a Christmas tree capped with the same emblem, and best of all, the liner […]

Artist: Eminem Presents…Title: The Re-UpRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Sidik Fofana Let’s just give Eminem the benefit of the doubt and say that he is working with a sketchy connect, because The Re-Up (Interscope) did not reload enough. If you’re tired of South American cocaine analogies, here is the situation bluntly. Eminem is easily an […]

Artist: DJ PremierTitle: No Talent Required (Mixtape)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Felipe Delerme A Hip-Hop legend in every sense of the word, DJ Premier has contributed as much to defining the New York sound as anyone. Having produced for, “Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas,” amongst countless others, Premier is sought out by those looking for the […]

Artist: NasTitle: Hip Hop Is DeadRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: AJ FreshDue to the current trend of proclaiming Hip-Hop’s demise, Nas’ eighth album Hip Hop Is Dead (Def Jam), is pretty timely. If anything, the controversial title could make it a critical component to the success and ongoing longevity of true Hip-Hop music-if it’s any good. […]

Artist: Styles PTitle: Time Is MoneyRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Andrew Kameka Few albums are as aptly or unfortunately titled as Styles P’s <i?Time Is Money (Ruff Ryders/Interscope). Four years since the release of his gold-selling solo debut, A Gangster & A Gentleman, Styles has seen much of his shelf-life and earning potential waste away. The […]

Artist: CiaraTitle: The EvolutionRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Alex Thornton A few summers ago, it seemed like the FCC would revoke a radio station’s license unless they played Usher’s “Yeah’ at least twice an hour. The effects of the song’s domination are still felt today with an abundance of singles that infuse R&B with the sensibilities […]

Artist: Black-Ty/TyreseTitle: Alter EgoRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Maiya Norton In a climate where the musically jaded are chanting Hip-Hop is dead, testing the rap waters is probably daunting for Tyrese. In the same window he unveils his emcee skills, Nas, The Game, Jay-Z and other notables have been the catalyst to the resurgence of […]

Artist: Special Event ReviewTitle: Nike Air Force 1: 25th Anniversary PartyRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Boudreaux No one would have figured a basketball shoe designed for elite players a quarter century ago would be co-opted so fiercely and enthusiastically by the Hip-Hop generation. Such is the case with the Nike Air Force 1, which celebrated […]

Artist: Young JeezyTitle: The InspirationRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Alex Thornton With so much complaining about Hip-Hop going corporate, a self-made man like Young Jeezy is a refreshing alternative. In less than two years, he’s become a top artist on a top label, and while his rhyme skills are the subject of heavy debate, you can’t […]

Artist: Ill BillTitle: Ill Bill Is The Future, Vol. 2: I’m A Goon!Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine Since his 2003 debut, Brooklyn’s Ill Bill has stayed quiet. His group for the last decade, Non-Phixion, parted ways. His active independent label, Uncle Howie Records, went into near hibernation. Three years later, Ill Bill returns with […]

Artist: Ghostface KillahTitle: More FishRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Martin A. Berrios Ghostface Killah must love his craft. Starks dropped one of the best albums of ’06 with Fishscale but the sizeable sales numbers to match his rep still elude him. Instead of going into hibernation after taking that respectable “L”, Tone is back in […]

Artist: Lil ScrappyTitle: Bred 2 Die Born 2 LiveRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Latifah Muhammad What’s the recipe for an album that’s sure to have sick enough beats that the lack of lyrical range gets lost in the bass? Simple, ask Lil Jon and 50 Cent to executive produce. You may not remember his last album, […]

Artist: Award Show ReviewTitle: 10th Annual Mixtape AwardsRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Robert Longfellow Lackluster. That just about sums up the 10th Annual Mixtape Awards that went down last night (Thursday, November 7) at Harlem, NY’s Apollo Theater. No disrespect to the great Orpheus “Just-O” Faison (RIP), founder of the award show. But, unfortunately, rather […]

Artist: 2PacTitle: Pac’s LifeRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: KeiSaundra “K Sincere” Henderson While Nas is proclaiming Hip-Hop is dead, he may be speaking literally. While there are emcees currently in the business alive and well, the late, great Tupac continues to overshadow those who claim to be “the best in the game,” from the grave. […]

Artist: GyptianTitle: My Name Is GyptianRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Metanoya Z. Webb The world came to know him as Gyptian; the 23 year old Rasta bred, St. Andrew’s born, vocalist, whose old-school Lovers Rock sound urgently demanded attention back in 2005 with the release of his conscious tune, “Serious Times.” The song exploded in Jamaica […]

Artist: DVD ReviewTitle: Infamy (DVD)Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Sidik Fofana After watching Infamy (Image Entertainment), you’ll never look at a vandalized wall in the same way again. The Doug Pray directed documentary is an ambitious film which shadows renowned graffiti artists from all walks of the globe who practice various styles. Among them are Toomer […]

Artist: Gwen StefaniTitle: The Sweet EscapeRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Alex Thornton 2004’s Love.Angel.Music.Baby. was intended to be a one-off vanity project by No Doubt front-woman Gwen Stefani, but popular demand prompted her to record The Sweet Escape (Interscope). On her sophomore attempt, the good news and bad news are the same: Escape keeps the hectic […]

Artist: Concert ReviewTitle: Rock The Bells (Concert Review)Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Sidik Fofana The “Rock The Bells” Tour featuring headliners Raekwon and Redman reached full stride last night in Times Square. Damn, Hip-Hop is thirty-something now, and it showed its maturity last night at the illustrious B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on 42nd Street. […]

Artist: AkonTitle: KonvictedRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Tambra Cherie There is an old saying our grandmothers use to say years ago, “If it’s not broke, then don’t fix it.” Platinum-recording artist Akon must have adopted this concept when recording his sophomore album, Konvicted (SRC/Universal Motown). With 11 songs written, arranged, and produced by Akon himself, […]

Artist: ClipseTitle: Hell Hath No FuryRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Martin A. Berrios The dope dealer persona has always had its place in Hip-Hop. UGK coined the phrase “Riding Dirty,” Jay painted Technicolor style pictures of the ups and down of the game, and B.I.G. broke down the ten rules of success. Since their 2002 […]