Artist: MF DoomTitle: Live From Planet XRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Kevin Polowy Let’s face it, there’s not but a handful of emcees truly worthy of a live LP. Forget the fact that listening to a live set can sometimes equate to the relative excitement of watching the Super Bowl three months later. Most Hip-hop […]

Artist: High & MightyTitle: 12th ManRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine High & Mighty and their Eastern Conference Records were achieving many feats five years ago that are perhaps too quickly forgotten. Their full length debut, Home Field Advantage was one of the most complete albums Rawkus ever released. It featured a pre-Dre Eminem, Kool G […]

Artist: Memphis BleekTitle: 534Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Bill “Low-Key” Heinzelman Memphis Bleek will never be Jay-Z, so get over it. While early on Bleek was hailed as Hova’s retirement plan, such lofty aspirations never came to fruition, as Bleek has continually lived in Jigga’s shadow. Now with Mr. Carter’s departure from the rap game […]

Artist: Prince PaulTitle: ItstrumentalRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Brolin Winning A card-carrying member of the “all time greatest producers” posse, Long Island legend Prince Paul has dedicated nearly 20 years of his life to making incredible, game-changing albums. From his early days with Stetsasonic, through the formative De La Soul era, onto horrorcore pioneers the […]

Artist: The Away TeamTitle: National AnthemRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Chris Yuscavage Riding alongside fellow North Carolina residents and Justus League members Little Brother, it is almost too fitting that The Away Team, consisting of emcee Sean Boog and producer Khrysis, would take the role of younger siblings on their debut album National Anthem (6 Hole […]

Artist: Da BeatminerzTitle: Fully Loaded w/ StatikRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Orisanmi Burton In recent years the sonic landscape of hip hop has lost some of its edge. The integration of the music and style into the feeding frenzy that is popular culture has had many consequences, one of which has been its glamorous makeover. […]

Artist: QuasimotoTitle: The Further Adventures of Lord QuasRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Brolin Winning It’s no secret that Madlib is one of the most original and prolific artists out today. Not just in the rap game, but in music period, he just keeps on coming with the gems. From his early days working with Tha […]

Artist: Lyrics BornTitle: Same !@#$ Different DayRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman Remixes are always a risky entity. While artists revisit their own songs in an attempt to put a fresh spin on them, oftentimes they wind up either butchering them or adding very little to the original. There are exceptions of course. And Lyrics […]

Artist: C-MurderTitle: The Truest $%!@ I Ever SaidRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Matt Caputo With the release of his sixth LP, The Truest $%!@ I Ever Said (Koch), Corey Miller or C-Murder brother of No Limit leader Master P, brings a new meaning to the phrase “jailhouse flow.” Direct from Jefferson Parrish prison, the New Orleans […]

Artist: Black Market MilitiaTitle: The Black Market MilitiaRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: William E. Ketchum III Hip-hop and politics have a love-hate relationship. While many of the originators used the music as a platform to protest against the injustices and unfortunate circumstances created or neglected by the justice system, artists today incorporate social messages in […]

Artist: Mike JonesTitle: Who is Mike Jones?Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Mark Cilantro It is not often that an artist is known for his Sprint PCS cell phone number. But that was before “Mike Jones, who?” Mike Jones, came on the scene. Sometimes you like an artist because of his music and sometimes you like an […]

Artist: Josh MartinezTitle: Midriff MusicRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine Josh Martinez has crept onto the scene with several EP’s and a few LP’s to boot. On the intro his latest album, the Vancouver based rapper admits that he’s more into small pressings; selling them, and moving on. This high paced artwork comes into the […]

Artist: Tame OneTitle: O.G. Bobby JohnsonRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Kenny Rodriguez A friend of mine once joked that marijuana seems to be Hip-hop’s unspoken fifth element. Smoking weed, he explained, has prompted so many rap records, freestyle sessions, and stage shows that – with the exception of reggae music – no other genre can boast […]

Artist: EmanonTitle: The Waiting RoomRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman Emanon is one of Southern California’s best-kept secrets. This Orange County duo, comprised of MC Aloe Blacc and DJ/producer Exile, has been making music together since 1995, but until recently, only a select few have gotten their hands on their material. Following up on their […]

Artist: Z-TripTitle: Shifting GearsRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Paine For the last five years, Z-Trip has been too strongly associated with his penchant for mixing Rock records with Rap records. Even so, it’s been entertaining to see huge veterans like DJ Muggs or DJ Spinbad follow suit. Regardless, Z-Trip has continued to rock parties, create themed […]

Artist: BlueprintTitle: 1988Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Chris Yuscavage 1988 gave Hip-hop music a real voice, and what it was telling the rest of the world was that it was angry and ready to snatch the ear of the mainstream. From Ice-T seizing the reins on his sophomoric Power to Public Enemy ordering the youth to […]

Artist: Grand AgentTitle: Under the CircumstancesRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine In the burgeoning independent era of Hip-hop of the late 90’s, few records had more energy than Grand Agent’s By Design. The album was a bold contrast to Mos Def and Talib Kweli’s mellower grooves. It also featured rising names like Chops and Kutmasta Kurt, […]

Artist: Various ArtistsTitle: Impeach the PrecedentRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Chris Yuscavage Rarely does Hip-hop catch a ray of positive light in the mainstream media these days. So when 1999’s Funky Precedent, the first album in the Funky Precedent benefit compilation series, received acclaim as the “#1 Underground Record of the Year” from Spin Magazine, it […]

Artist: Zion ITitle: True & Livin’Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Paine Zion I is the freshest new talent to come out of Oakland, California since The Coup in the early 90’s. 2000’s Mind Over Matter remains a breakthrough for the area and the duo. But with leaks and pushbacks of Deepwater Slang, the group has faded […]

Artist: Planet AsiaTitle: Jewelry Box Sessions, Pt. 1 (Mixtape)Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Conan Milne Frustrating. If ever there was a word that better describes California native Planet Asia’s skill behind the microphone, I’ve yet to encounter it. A versatile MC who has paid his dues through years of grinding both as a solo artist and […]