Forgive the impending pun, but rappers often get a bad rap. Sometimes deservedly: [insert name of MC with inept law abiding skills here]. Other times, the said artist may boast an image that endears him to his hood friendly fans while simultaneously rising the ire of his, let’s say “sophisticated,” detractors. Such is the case […]

What’s up beatmakers? The week before last was a true Beat Melee. Everyone was fighting for the top spot that week. There were eleven competitors but probably about 20 submissions that could have made it.  If your remix wasn’t selected, you may have been right on the heels of being in that top eleven, so […]

The beauty of Hip-Hop is that there’s always a hungry MC out there making great music you’ve haven’t heard yet. Enter LA rapper Blu, who burst on the scene last year with the Exile produced album Below the Heavens. Since then, the young MC has had praises heaped on him everywhere from ?uestlove of the […]

From protests and rallies to petitions and marches, Berkeley has been the nation’s epicenter for change and revolution since the ‘60s. While enthusiasts and purists alike stress that the music industry needs its own revolution, one Berkeley artist isn’t interested in talking about this need for change. Following in the footsteps of so many great […]

With so many celebrity DJs trying to be down, there are few that don’t really care about having artist affiliation. It seems as if when Wayne said “That’s my DJ” every artist wanted to stake claim to a DJ and every DJ was trying to find a home.However, when DJ Kay Slay dropped Nas’ classic […]

Hip-Hop is saturated with emcees laying claim to a lifestyle they never lived. Turn the radio on and you hear tracks laced with rhymes about pulling triggers and pushing weight. Sure it sounds exciting but much of it is based upon fantasy for pure profit. That is why it is rare that we come across […]

There are female MCs, and then there’s Roxanne Shante. The original bad girl blindsided Hip-Hop fans in 1984 with the Marley Marl produced “Roxanne’s Revenge,” her clever lifting of UTFO’s “Roxanne, Roxanne.” At 14, she was already a superstar and began battling (many times unprovoked) everyone from Kurtis Blow to MC Lyte. At 21 she […]

You don’t need to be under the influence to appreciate a party-down performance by Tha Alkaholiks – but it sure is more fun. You don’t need to bring a girl with you to have a great time – but don’t expect there to be any good ones left after they shake the spot. You don’t […]

In only true turntablist form, DJ Scratch put on one of his world-famous performances at Club Society in St. Louis during the 2008 DJ Technology Retreat and Convention. He kicked-off the finals for the convention’s DJ Battle, as well as a show with St. Louis’ own Jus Bleezy and Yo Gotti, with an out of […]

When Masta Ace announced that A Long Hot Summer would be his final solo album most fans thought they’d have to settle for old albums and spot tour dates to keep them going. However, with the help of Punchline, Wordsworth and Stricklin, Ace looks to continue building on his legacy in hip-hop with the underground […]

Whatever insecurities Dizzee Rascal is dealing with he has managed to discard them with a  f**k em’ banner. When speaking to Dizzee you get no sense of him having any diffident qualities. Perhaps it is the ghettos of Britain that preserved and groomed his confidence and morphed into his music. Whatever the case, Dizzee has […]

I got at Afrika Baby Bam of the Jungle Brothers to explain himself. I am a fan of the JB’s from way back and was startled at some of the rumors that had leaped from the online community. So, I reached out to the dapper dressing fellow to see what exactly was going down with […]

In the heart of downtown St. Louis, just blocks from the famous Gateway Arch and directly across the street from the St. Louis Cardinals Ballpark [Busch Stadium], DJs from all over the country and a few from as far as Germany, South Africa and Japan converged upon the elegant downtown Hilton Hotel to participate in the […]

With the release of the hardcore classic Once Upon a Time in America, Smoothe Da Hustler took hardcore Hip-Hop repped with Brooklyn sensibility to another level. With the success of “Broken Language,” Smoothe, and his brother Trigga the Gambler, seemed poised to become the superstars they wanted to be. But sometimes what we want is […]

Here we go again. First off, last week was another classic melee. Both producers brought their “A” game, but Chuck LaWayne ran off with the victory in the end. His sampling techniques put it over the edge.This week was crazy and we acknowledge in advance that somebody will be upset in the end. It’s a […]

Call them the Fantastic Four. Except, their superpowers were not the result of cosmic radiation but a byproduct of an appreciation for the fundamentals of Hip-Hop lyricism; wordplay and delivery. Composed of VA’s Malice and Pusha T of the Clipse and Philly brethren Ab-Liva (formerly of Major Figgas) and Sandman, this fearsome foursome call themselves […]

DJ Toomp has quickly become a fan favorite, even though the veteran producer has been a staple in Hip-Hop since the late 80’s with MC Shy D. N Zone Entertainment caught up with DJ Toomp as he produced the beat that Jay-Z would eventually use for “Say Hello” from the Brooklyn rapper’s American Gangster album. […]

Name: Massah David Job Title: Vice President of Events & Marketing Company Name: MVD Inc. Industry: Entertainment Location: New York City Job Description: My job consists of creating concepts and handling production for all of our signature events; which varies from the smallest detail such as the color schemes and wording for our invitations to […]

Posted up in Seattle on a breezy Saturday afternoon, One Be Lo awaits an evening performance as he discusses his formula for a humble rap career. The Pontiac, Michigan wordsmith’s life thus far has been a whirlwind of worldwide touring and networking, having no real promotional vehicle to drive concertgoers other than himself. Lo possesses […]

The battle rages on. Last week we had a head to head match up with Assassin the Chief and Furious Styles. Most of the comments gave props to Furious’ originality but the vote tally went to Assassin the Chief for being what people would want to hear. Both producers deserve props for those banging tracks.  […]