Somalian born lyricist K’naan is far left of the normal gangster, hipster, or baller acts that rip the air waves today. His anti-norm noise contains worldly sounds of reggae, rock, and Hip-Hop which lay background to lyrics of struggle, spiritually and empowerment. Without being anymore obvious, K’naan simply cannot be compared to the musical efforts […]

Queens, N.Y.   Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Cam’ron, 50 Cent,   Logic, MPK 49, AKAI MPC 2500   17 Years.   The moniker “super producer” is too often given out freely based on the number of years honing one’s craft. While this is important, the criteria should also recognize those whose production throughout their […]

Jadakiss has survived the Bad Boy era, successfully gone head up with 50 Cent up and remains in the rap game after being on playing field over 10 years. The feat is about as rare as a 40-year-old virgin in Las Vegas. Yet, ‘Kiss has endured as one of the most versatile and respected rap […]

“We got a whole song in auto-tune, but it’s a like Kweli and Hi-Tek kind of auto-tune song,” says Talib Kweli, one half of the musical duo known as Reflection Eternal.  As this statement was muttered from the lips of an MC who has contributed to underground Hip-Hop’s rebirth in the late 90’s, one could […]

T La Rock is certain to befuddle Hip-Hop conspiracy theorists. The Boogie Down Bronx-bred rapper isn’t often mentioned when it is time to pay mainstream homage to heroes of the genre. It almost seems like an overt snub by the powers-that-suppress. Yet, the man born Terry Keaton finds himself in one of the best positions […]

Drama and beef are main courses on a rapper’s dinner plate. Cam’ron is no exception. While he’s shunned the light, mostly due to his mother’s health, the Harlem Diplomat still maintains a plethora of issues surrounding his existence. He returns at a time when former arch nemesis 50 Cent is in rare form in a […]

Miami, FL   Lil Wayne, Trina, Rick Ross, Pitbull   Logic, Motif, Phantom, AKAI MPC 3000   5 Years.   Paying the cost to be the boss has taken on a whole new meaning with regards to showcasing your talent. Brazilian born rising producer Andrew “Drew” Correa has definitely paid his dues in his very short […]

Public Enemy is one of Hip-Hop’s greatest and most storied groups.  Their sonic legacy combines cultural relevance, social consciousness, dope lyrics, and awesome production. That combination brought forth some of the greatest music in Hip-Hop history and as a consequence one of the very best stage shows ever.Tonight, celebrating controversial member Flavor Flav’s 50th (yes […]

There was a time when rappers weren’t respected enough to get the other kind of deal. Before rappers were getting profitable endorsements from fast food companies and cell phone carriers, there was only one main path to corporate co-signage – MALT LIQUOR. We know all about the 40-ounce bottles that ravaged the hood in the […]

The Notorious B.I.G. once proclaimed, “You’re nobody ‘til somebody kills you.” Cam’ron couldn’t possibly subscribe to the notion, because most of his trials have involved near death experiences in varying degrees. In 2005, an unknown assailant fired on the Harlem rapper in his Lamborghini, striking him in the right arm. Then, there was the near […]

On May 11, 2008 at 4:01 am, Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner welcomed a newborn son, Xavier Nathaniel Joiner, to the world. The Likwit Crew member and veteran West Coast Rap artist actually announced the child’s birth via MySpace on May 24, noting he was writing the message from the hospital, where he had been since Xavier’s […]

History is always up for debate. For instance, DJ Kool Herc, the Godfather of Hip-Hop, officially “started” Hip-Hop culture that fateful evening he DJ’d his sister’s birthday party in The Bronx in 1973, right? While those details are generally accepted as gospel, there are DJ’s in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, contemporaries of Herc, […]

Back in 2002 the South was not enjoying the prominence it is today. A then teenaged Archie “Mr. Evasocold” Eversole, randomly appeared and shocked the nation with his debut hit “We Ready.”   “I was fifteen years old; about to turn sixteen when I recorded it,” Archie reminisces. “I really didn’t have any expectations for […]

Chicago-bred MC Rhymefest is one of the industry’s, relatively, best kept secrets. He has gained notoriety for his clever battle-rap skills, where he outshined Eminem back in ’97 (see YouTube). He also penned Kanye’s Grammy-winning “Jesus Walks.” Now, ‘Fest is ready to show the world the total package.     This week, he will drop […]

Young Buck is stuck. The Cashville, Ten-A-Key (ahem, Nashville, TN) native was given his walking papers from G-Unit last year, but the rub is that he is still signed to G-Unit Records.   Despite his tenuous predicament Buck is willing and wanting to fulfill his recording obligations. But according to the exiled rapper his attempts […]

For a producer whose dark grooves helped define New York Hip-Hop’s aural landscape in the 90s, Havoc’s recent presence in the rap game has been underwhelming. The 34-year-old MC/producer displeased many fans two years ago when his long overdue solo venture, The Kush, came and went with dubious results. With his “other half” of the […]

2008 was like a reality show gone wrong for Yung Berg. And we watched.   Sure, he had two hits singles on the charts and dropped his proper debut, Look What You Made Me, but the Chi-Town representing MC was best known for controversy. Disagreements with rappers, catching a beat down and a slap, offending […]

Filmmaker Choke No Joke is a master at his craft and is the force behind indie film Code Blue (Sundy Carter, Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos), Gano Grills, JD Williams (The Wire), Jade Yorker, Chuck Zito, Dennis White). When Choke’s rap career did not move at the rate he anticipated, he decided to turn his focus […]

Long before Hip-Hop seemingly gave way to its vices – misogyny, violence, and drugs – there were The Elements. These cultural fundamentals still are DJing, B-Boying (aka Break dancing), Graffiti, and Emceeing. The climate of Hip-Hop, much like Rock and Roll before it, scared those who didn’t understand the intensity of the expression that resulted […]

Beef with Bad Boy Entertainment is nothing new in Hip-Hop. From Loon to the L.O.X., to Suge and Shyne Po, various cats have been disgruntled with Diddy’s movements at one point or another over the years.   Mark Curry, however, is a different case. The rapper/producer has written a new book, Dancing With the Devil […]