For a decade, the Lone Catalysts have lived up to their name as one of the few groups still advancing Hip-Hop through the ‘90s conventions for pure, underground music. That underground label appeases some fans, but has it held the duo of J. Sands and J. Rawls back from the success and recognition they deserve? […]
As a five-person unit, Crime Mob might have made collective impact with their 2004 hit “Knuck If You Buck,” but the individuality of the members are lost in the shuffle. Diamond and M.I.G. speak on behalf of the Atlanta quintet, explaining the roles of the members to AllHipHop.com. Diamond comes to grips with her sex-symbol […]
In the race to bring New York back, who is to say that a woman can’t do it? For three independent albums, Jean Grae has won over fans with candor, creativity, and a work ethic that rivals the last days of Tupac Shakur. This year she’s planning at least three releases, and don’t even ask […]
The video for Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones Part II” showed Havoc and Prodigy skating to the bowels of New York, where you can speak the wrong words and you will get touched. A decade later, places like that still exist, and Hip-Hop photographer Boogie knows it all too well. In late 2006, Boogie’s photography book […]
They say luck is what happens when preparation meets with opportunity. When Atlanta’s latest production wunderkind met Southern Rap legend Eightball in the parking lot at Magic City, he was more than prepared. That chance meeting led Nitti to production credit on seven of the fifteen tracks on ‘Ball’s 2001 release Almost Famous, including the […]
Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Rugged Intellect is pushing his way to the industry by any means necessary. Growing up as an outcast for not being the “right” color in a neighborhood dominated by African Americans and Latinos, Rugged Intellect has broke the color barrier to be recognized as a Hip-Hop MC. The first deal for […]
You’ve heard Domingo, you just might not realize it. This East New York, Brooklyn producer has been at it for two decades as a go-to guy for the self-proclaimed “’90s sound.” Behind such records as Blahzay Blahzay’s “Danger,” Fat Joe’s “Success” and Masta Ace’s “No Regrets,” Domingo has more credits than an Oliver Stone film. […]
With The South dominating rap sales and radio play the last three years, many could argue that it needs no reinvention. But all one has to do is open a copy of Ozone magazine, and you can see the endless pictures of new blood trying to get in on the fame, the fortune, and even […]
When Nas asked where are they now to some of rap’s pioneers, Ill and Al Skratch heard their names shouted out once again by the QB veteran. A longtime fan of the duo from Uptown and Brooklyn, Nas wanted people to ask Ill and Al Skratch “Where My Homiez?” the title of their 1994 hit […]
Biblically, there were believed to be three wise men that brought Jesus three gifts—gold, frankincense and myrrh. Since only, these three gifts were recorded, most believe that there were only three gift givers. Yet, the scripture doesn’t exactly specify how many wise men there actually were. Wu-Tang disciple, producer/MC Bronze Nazareth, developed a Detroit based […]
In today’s “Everyone listens to everything” age, finding Mobb Deep and Australian punk-pop group Noise Addict on someone’s iPod isn’t so unusual. In the mid-90s, though, bridging the gap between New York street rap and pop-friendly Aussie tunes took a bit more explaining. For 26-year old Noise Addict guitarist-turned-rapper Macromantics (born Romy Hoffman), growing up […]
Throughout the last decade, Christopher Wallace has come up in plenty of discussions on AllHipHop.com. Here’s some of the best, most memorable quotes on the late, great veteran, from people who knew him, and a few who didn’t. On Biggie’s character and legacy: “Well as far as my son is concerned, I taught my son […]
The Golden Age of Hip-Hop, according to most historians, ended in 1996, if not sooner. Whatever the case, nobody’s saying “these are the days.” Still, coastal-connect Verbal Threat still pounds out joints themed for the burgeoning age of creativity and mic skills. While most of Hip-Hop is still battling for where the genre should rest […]
Those who can remember the early ‘80s when Punk Rock and Hip-Hop convened in the wee hours of the night (think Blondie) know that Hip-Hop influence extended beyond Kangols and Cazals even back then. One line in the sand that appeared to be crystal clear was the division between Hard Rock and Hip-Hop – separate […]
With a lack of female representation in Hip-Hop’s front line, one woman has surpassed the generic life span of most performers. Having been immersed in drum patterns, melodies and sixteens for close to two decades and a member of the all female Soul Food Symphony, Tiye Phoenix is breaking the mold in whichever way she […]
Lynching is a word synonymous with murder. Staten Island’s NYOIL, tired of seeing the metaphorical death in the eyes of “shorties around his block,” decided to fight back by spittin’ truth. Voicing his frustrations through his edutainment style of MCing brought forth the October 2006 release of NYOIL’s (pronounced N.Y. Oil) self-produced single “Ya’ll Should […]
My friends dragged to me to a club on a snowy Saturday night, when I would have likely just stayed home, selfishly reading or digitizing dusty vinyl. The DJ was spinning the usual suspects of Jim Jones, M.I.M.S., and T.I., when all of a sudden, Howler Monkey (the peculiarly named DJ) threw on “The Man […]
Stars pull from the pack. Shawnna started out as a member of the short-lived Infamous Syndicate, while Busta Rhymes was a Leader of the New School, and Young Jeezy was a Boy in the Hood. With the exception of N.W.A. and The Juice Crew, no group has ever had a full roster of stars, and […]
Plies’ tagline is “I’m not a rapper, I’m a hustler who can rap.” That said, amidst talk of Hip-Hop’s death, does anybody want to buy an album for 1-900-Hustler-like tips? Plies thinks so, offering his experiences as potentially life-changing to the listener. The Ft. Myers, Florida rapper claims that his raps are non-fiction, and he’s […]
It’s been over two years since Brooklyn’s own Fabolous has dropped his last album, Real Talk, a lot of “breathing” room. Atlantic Records chose the thunderous street anthem Breathe as a first single and it was well received by audiences – but not as much as it was when found its way onto the mixtape […]
