What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? This is the question faced by the current hip hop artist. As defined by Cheryl L. Keyes, the author of the book Rap Music and Street Consciousness, "Hip Hop is an urban youth arts movement comprised of graffiti, emceeing, disc […]
Ok, I don’t know how many of you are sick of people trying to destroy our culture and/or the feelings within the hip-hop community. But the one thing I can’t stand is when someone who doesn’t understand, know or want to know what the culture is about, spews ignorant statements towards a positive group of […]
“dead prez means dead the fu**ing president” This ominous message greets visitors that venture to socially conscious hip-hop artist Dead Prez (DP)’s official web site. However, with all forms of music it takes more than strong statements to entice listeners to hear the message being conveyed. But after moving 400,000 units of their debut album […]
I have never been moved to write to your site before – but having read this open letter I felt the urge. I am a Hip-Hop fan also and have been listening to the music for about as long as you. I can remember when beats DIDN’T all sound the same, when there wasn’t an […]
An Open Letter To DJ Premier As a fan of Hip-Hop for the better part of 15 years, I feel as if I have some say-so in how this art form should be portrayed. I feel that image has become grossly overrated, monotony has taken the place of artistry, and the voice of reason has […]
“Can’t I live my life/ without ’em treatin’ every brother like me, like I’m holdin’ a knife?” – Public Enemy, “War at 33 and 1/3” The other evening I was scouring the Internet looking for quotes to inspire my son for his judo class. I came across a very cool Eastern tale I want to […]
The emergence of Hip Hop entrepreneur Russell Simmons as an establishment-endorsed political leader of the new generation of Blacks gives me pause. Being a member of this new generation, I think this should be put on the table for discussion. Why have mainstream media’s political pundits given Russell Simmons an open mic? He’s a guest […]
Forget Michael Jackson–the face of hip-hop has changed more dramatically within the last three years than MJ’s reconstructed front piece has in the last three decades. And kinda like Mike, the change hasn’t been all for the better. Once upon a time, the only thing a Black kid from the ‘hood was able to successfully […]
When Barry White’s essence left this earth on the morning of July 4th, a large chunk of music history was lost. Not just R&B, Soul or whatever you feel like calling it. All music. His contributions to R&B music are common knowledge, but sadly many a hip-hop head is unaware of the influence Barry White […]
I spend a lot of time during my day reading Hip-Hop articles and listening to what a lot of these rappers have to say. In my short stint as a writer for this website, I have also been privileged to learn about different unknown aspects of the game. In my talking to various personalities and […]
Well now folks, the summer season is really in full swing. The BBQ’s are all sparked up, the coolers are packed with ice and whatever your favorite “drank” is. But what would summer be without a great murderous anthem like southern rapper Bone Crusher’s “Never Scared”? Let’s look at the lyrics and see what kind […]
The Tupac Shakur that I knew was a family member, a cousin to be specific. He wasn’t a rapper, actor, gangsta or dancer – just the creative cousin of the family. Some of my earliest memories of ‘Pac are of me staying the night on Greenmount Avenue in Baltimore, where he lived. In 1985, him […]
Again, it is not purposeful censorship. It is just that you dont make it to those positions. That includes the left (what is called the left), as well as the right. Unless you have been adequately socialized and trained so that there are some thoughts you just dont have, because if you did have them, […]
I kept my ear to the ground at my station’s (97.9 the BEAT) promo meeting last week. Method Man was coming out on May 29 to battle our listeners in Def Jam Vendetta. I thought to myself "cool, I’ma fall through." I invited my girl Suga since she’s a Meth fanatic. May 29 – Dalla, […]
For starters, I’ve got to commend Bakari Akil II for the column; Is Hip-Hop A Culture? I find it fascinating that collectively we, as a people are on this journey to define our culture. Damn, I wish I were seated in the center first row at Florida A&M when the respected Tim Reid, posed the […]
Another relaunch. You go ahead and browse around and see the new features. You are going to find that everything has changed and nothing has changed all at the same time. A lot of time and energy was invested in this new AllHipHop.com so I’ll just take a minute to say some thanks. The entire […]
Damn straight we at war, and hip-hop is wounded. On street corners from Brooklyn to Brixton, South Central to Shanghai, arguments, conflicts and battle raps occur to overstand whose side you on? Pop hop or "real" hip-hop? Regardless of where a hip hopper is located, the world bows down in respect to what the African-American […]
President Rogers: Mr. Speaker, Vice-President Fourtou, members of the big five, distinguished rappers, and fellow consumers: It gives me great pleasure to present to you my State of the Hip-Hop Union address this evening. I am certain that after hearing my plan for this nation, we will all come together in a show of solidarity […]
"Black is the color of my true love’s hair. His face so soft and wondrous there. The purest eyes and the strongest hands. I love the ground on where he stands. I love the ground he stands. Black is the color of my true love’s hair. Of my true love’s hair. Of my true love’s […]
While attending a symposium entitled, The Business of Show, which explored cultural images of Blacks in media, a simple but profound question was asked. Tim Reid and his wife Daphne Maxwell Reid, hosts of the symposium, owners of News Millennium Studios and stars of such shows Sister, Sister and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air […]