Artist: CanibusTitle: Hip-Hop For SaleRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine Forget the Keith Murray album, Canibus is the real enigma. Since going both independent and elusive, Canibus has offered fans a steady stream of albums with unique themes and producers. Mic Club, and Rip the Jacker, largely produced by Jedi Mind Trick’s Stoupe, found Canibus getting […]

Artist: Rob SwiftTitle: Soulful FruitRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Martin A. Berrios As a culture we owe it to ourselves to show DJ’s more respect. People forget that Hip-Hop spawned from breaks and backspins. Queens born Rob Swift has always tried to take the art to higher planes and his album Soulful Fruit. (Fat Beats), originally […]

Artist: O.C.Title: Smoke & MirrorsRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Starrene Rhett Where there’s smoke there’s O.C., and where there’s O.C. there are mirrors — and he’s holding them up to himself and the entertainment industry. One of the most slept on MCs in the game is back with his fifth album, Smoke & Mirrors (Hieroglyphics […]

Artist: Video Game ReviewTitle: True Crime: New York CityRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Alejandro Mojado Players wield the ultimate power as one of NYC’s finest in True Crime: New York City (Activision; PS2). Gamers assume the role of Marcus Reid, a former criminal turned cop. True Crime: NYC is a vast improvement over its predecessor, True […]

Artist: Prince PaulTitle: Hip Hop Gold DustRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine Aside from his cinematic, satirical albums, Prince Paul was good for just dope beats first. While his bodies of work have been widely toted and analyzed, it seems to have been years since fans were tripping off stand-alone records that the Long Islander […]

Artist: Juelz SantanaTitle: What the Game’s Been Missing!Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Brent Woodie The Dipset movement is now moving at full steam. Under the wing of Cam’Ron since the age of 14, Juelz Santana has played a vital role in the crew’s growing popularity. Since being named Vice President of Diplomat Records, Juelz has developed […]

Artist: Lady SovereignTitle: Vertically Challenged EPRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Jamin Warren When UK teen Lady Sovereign dropped “Random” this past spring, bloggers on both sides of the pond collectively freaked. The single brashly took aim at Yankee rappers and the 19-year-old wunderkind was, apparently, the new Queen of Hip-Hop. The Fader Magazine blessed Sov with […]

Artist: Movie ReviewTitle: In The Mix (Film)Rating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Edwardo Jackson BIASES: 30 year old black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare Darrell (Usher) is New York’s hottest DJ. Dolly (Emmanuelle Chriqui) is the JD-bound law school […]

Artist: Big Boi Presents…Title: Got Purp? Volume 2Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Oyama Caviness Big Boi is still reppin’ the “A”. In lie of the now defunct Aquemini Records Got Purp? Vol. 2 (Purple Ribbon/Virgin) is a compilation of Big Boi’s Purple Ribbon acts including Dungeon Family (DF) rappers of the new generation like Killer […]

Artist: PrasTitle: Win, Lose or DrawRating: 2 StarsReviewed by: Bill “Low-Key” Heinzelman Somebody get Prakazrel a drink. As the red headed stepchild of The Fugees, Pras has endured years of frustration, hate and setbacks. It is never easy being the “other guy” in a superstar group, but that is what Pras has had to live […]

Artist: SupastitionTitle: Chain LettersRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jamin Warren Supastition is a self-proclaimed arrogant beast. “F*ck Supa,” he sneers indignantly on Jake One’s soul-strutting “Hate My Face.” The man is definitely posturing to be the new king of North Carolina. With Little Brother’s less-than-stellar record sales from their sophomore release and a lack of […]

Artist: ChamillionaireTitle: The Sound of RevengeRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Bill “Low-Key” Heinzelman The city of Houston has owned Hip-Hop the past year. From the mainstream success of Paul Wall, Slim Thug and Mike Jones, to the overlooked releases of the Geto Boys and Z-Ro, H-Town is officially the newfound hotbed of Hip-Hop. But for […]

Artist: Mack 10Title: Hustla’s HandbookRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: James Johnson Mack 10 has been one of the more fortunate artists in this generation of West Coast rappers. While many West Coast greats have faded away due to their inabilities to maintain with the changing times, Mack 10 has persevered with his craft. It’s nothing […]

Artist: Young HootieTitle: Prince Of the Bity (Mixtape)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Conan Milne When you proclaim yourself to be your city’s royalty, you’re going to have something to prove. Such is the case with Compton’s Young Hootie, who has bestowed himself with the title, and the name of his latest mixtape Prince Of the […]

Artist: Sheek LouchTitle: After TaxesRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Martin. A. Berrios As one of the few rappers to step their lyrical game up each season, Sheek still needs to prove himself. As the third member of the LOX, he has always been in the shadows of his cronies Jadakiss and Styles P. Additionally, his 2004 […]

Artist: Video Game ReviewTitle: The Warriors (Video Game)Rating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Boudreaux The Warriors, the quintessential Hip-Hop flick with no actual Hip-Hop in it, save for a graffiti tagging character named Rembrandt. When word of its getting the video game treatment initially spread, a mixture of excitement and dread hit most aficionados of the […]

Artist: SupernaturalTitle: S.P.I.T.Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine The transition from freestyle acclaim to noteworthy albums hasn’t been historically successful. From Busy Bee to Craig G, MC’s who rocked many crowds get stifled in the Discman…iPod. After 2003’s mildly received The Lost Freestyle Files, freestyle laureate, Supernatural presents S.P.I.T: Spiritual Poetry Ignites Thought (Up Above), an […]

Artist: Sick SymphoniesTitle: Sickside StoriesRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Wacko Rising from the underground battlefield is the Sick Symphonies camp, loaded with lyrics of street tales and life experiences. In 1997 Sony released The Psycho Realm, the debut album from the group of the same name, made up of brothers Jacken and Duke, and B-Real of […]

Artist: Movie ReviewTitle: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (Film)Rating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Imani A. Dawson Thanks to his colossal debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and commercial omnipresence, everyone knows the saga of 50 Cent. The real challenge of his Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (MTV Films/Paramount) film is to weave humanity into […]

Artist: Sadat XTitle: Experience & EducationRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jessica Dufresne As New York as the Yankees, dirty water dogs, Carhartts, and the subway, Sadat X represents the city and its Hip-Hop glory days. But those days aren’t necessarily a wrap, despite all the talk about the city’s crown being taken away by the […]