When Detroit-bred lyrical assassin Guilty Simpson walks down his block there are no flashing lights from cameras or gawking hysterical fans. Simpson isn’t ordinarily bombarded with ball points to sign his name upon articles of clothing, CD’s, nor body parts. But that is cool, because if it were up to him, the industry can take […]
We’re back with Part Three for all the comments about those who were left out…don’t worry, we got you. In Detroit, there is Detroit Hip-Hop, a circle of purists who almost all emerged from the Detroit Hip-Hop Shop, a now-defunct, but ever immortalized clothing store where Proof hosted legendary open mic’s. The Detroit Hip-Hop crowd […]
This interview went down before Lawrence Parker “welcomed” Soulja Boy Tell’Em to Hip-Hop. That’s cool and all, but the jury is still out for most rap listeners and Hip-Hop fans. Well, maybe not the three million that copped, and all that danced, to his “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” single.But no matter where you stand on […]
IT’S COLD IN THE D, Pt. 1: Detroit Rap CityPresident Franklin Delano Roosevelt once called the city of Detroit “the great arsenal of democracy” during World War II, when the notorious automotive manufacturing was used to create wartime weaponry. This same city birthed an iconic revolution on the streets of West Grand Blvd known as […]
The story of the Hip-Hop scene in my hometown is not 8 Mile. While most people love the film, which starred Eminem, as well as the money, opportunity and attention it brought to Detroit. We can almost all agree that it only captures the city in a small way. Yes, we had The Detroit Hip-Hop […]
Houston isn’t folding anytime soon. Proudly reppin’ the South and showcasing their mainstream appeal, Slim Thug and the Boss Hogg Outlawz follow up their 2007 Serve & Collect debut with Back By Blockular Demand (Serve & Collect 2), an album that still preserves the Outlawz street-value style. “We make the rules in the streets,” says […]
There are two choices for veteran MCs; advance your style and stay relevant, or remain static in your ways and become a glorified fossil. Thankfully Opio of the mighty Souls of Mischief and their overarching Hieroglyphics crew chose the former. It’s been 15 years since Souls dropped their heralded debut, ’93 ‘Til Infinity, and since […]
The ceaseless Hip-Hop pendulum’s arc, defying the laws of physics, has become suspended in the atmosphere of pre-packaged perfunctory MCs. During this mystifying era V.I.C. appeared offering his highly successful, yet highly commercial “Get Silly.” Due to his timing, V.I.C. has been dismissed as another inane quasi-rapper. The novice MC faces an arduous challenge of escaping […]
In the world of crime investigation a cold case is defined as a crime or accident that has not been solved and is not the subject of current criminal investigation, but for which new information could emerge from new witness testimony or re-examined archives. As the times change it’s possible that new technology or a […]
Joe Budden is Hip-Hop’s equivalent to Neo in the first Matrix movie; an average guy who discovers his potential for greatness and goes forward to achieve his destiny. Sure the Jersey City native was good at the time, but after the release of his self-titled debut album, fans were salivating for what was sure to […]
Ain’t nothing janky about the promoters these young filmmakers are documenting. The hottest college parties in the country go down in the ATL—right in the heart of Atlanta University Center—and these aren’t your normal weekend benders. College students from across the country travel to Atlanta each year to get down and busy, and students as […]
The soundtrack of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto IV video game reads like a Who’s Who in music. Everyone from punk icon Iggy Pop to Hot 97’s own DJ Mister Cee is featured on this game’s diverse soundtrack. Thus, it would only be fitting to include one of Hip-Hop’s grand architects and production icon DJ […]
“I’ma put my money where my mouth is,” says rapper Ice Cube of his decision to make his own Lench Mob Record his only recording home. While other rappers take the idea of independence only as far as some lip service or a stray mixtape, Ice Cube went all out. After years as a major […]
When Kid Capri speaks, the initial Hip-Hop excitement is still in his voice. Mostly though, The Bronx native is known for speaking with his hands as a legendary DJ and a producer for everyone from Heavy D to Styles P. Currently getting his own label, No Kid’N, up and running, Kid is slated to release […]
The T.I. that you read about in the media is presently the exact opposite of the T.I. that sits before you to discuss his upcoming album Paper Trail. Perhaps that’s a continuation of his T.I. vs. T.I.P. alter ego, or maybe he’s just growing up. T.I.’s “paper trail” runs thick, including banknotes and legal documents, […]
In order to describe Bushwick Bill’s past public persona, you would have to use words such as “sordid,” “repugnant,” or “sleazy.” Although standing 3 feet 8 inches in stature, the Brooklyn, New York native and former Geto Boys comrade has raised more hell in more cities than your favorite rapper. Stories of indecent behavior, drunkenness, […]
Gabriel Benn a.k.a. Asheru is perhaps best known for creating the theme song to The Boondocks, the irreverent comic strip turned animated series on Cartoon Network. But few are aware that this founding member of the underground Hip-Hop duo The Unspoken Heard has been working for over a decade, as a public school teacher and […]
Maino’s rep on those Brooklyn streets is thorough. But while it may garner him a certain level of credibility (he speaks on that below), it doesn’t have anything to do with making hit records. A few years back on the strength of “Rumors,” a brash, industry gossip smackdown of a song, Maino caught a deal […]
If you have had your ears anywhere close to the street within the last six years, you can hear DJ Khaled influence with artists like Plies, Rick Ross, Flo Rida, and T-Pain; all owing some of their success to the Miami music staple. It shouldn’t have surprised anyone when Def Jam ‘Listennn’ed and gave Khaled […]
Isaac Hayes was a musical genius. Chances are if you check the credits you will find your favorite artist has rhymed over a Hayes assisted beat creation at one point or another. So selecting a small portion of Black Moses’ extensive catalogue that’s been sampled by Hip-Hop artists and labeling it “best” is a fool’s […]
