At first glance, Michael K. Williams’ stoic, unflinching gaze can make you think twice about approaching him. Despite any possible intimidation, ardent fans of the character Omar Little on The Wire can’t help but to express their excitement when Michael walks into a room. His ‘round-the-way appeal makes him more relatable to the streets than […]
Building an empire is no easy task. But that’s exactly what rhyme czar Ill Bill has been doing ever since he hopped on the microphone. Whether it was representing Non Phixion, one of the most underground respected and politically charged Hip-Hop groups of recent years, tackling a solo career, pushing his label Uncle Howie Records […]
Wood Harris knows about paying dues. He’s got a Master of Arts from New York University, and his acting roles range from someone’s sidekick to a crime boss, to the greatest guitarist of all time. Now he’s making his way in the world of music as well, and it’s safe to say that Wood has […]
Putting out an album, managing The Runners, and hosting the number one night show in South Florida, DJ Khaled forced the entire country to Listennn in 2006. But it wasn’t just the fans who were listening to Khaled, it was the entire industry. Expanding his influence from the 305, Khaled became the DJ other DJs […]
“He was not only the Godfather of Soul, but the Godfather of Funk and Rap. Music will never be the same.” – Ice Cube A godfather sponsors our baptism into the world we live in. One whose relation to us is defined not by our physical but of our soulful nature. A patron who spiritually […]
If ever I believed Hip-Hop was Dead in 2006, Murs’ Murray’s Revenge single-handedly changed my mind. A Metro City, Los Angeles native, Murs has a story that is arguably less fabricated than your toughest gangster rapper from any coast, let alone the West. He’s seen the bullet and the damage done, the decaying communities and […]
Admit it – you’ve made plenty of those “New Year’s Resolutions” with the best of intentions, only to have them fall by the wayside before you know it. It’s been said that good intentions pave the road to hell, and some of us know that all too well. In honor of our imperfections, we got […]
Major Label Albums of the Year: King by T.I. (Grand Hustle/Atlantic) After two successful albums – and a debut flop, T.I. crowned himself with his fourth full length in early 2006. Bolstered by the synthed out Roberta Flack sample for “What You Know” and Crystal Waters-inspired "Why U Wanna" T.I. songs asked many questions, that […]
Best Mixtapes of 2006: Best of The Roots by DJ J Period The Bay-meets-Brooklyn DJ did it to death this year, when he linked up with Black Thought for an official Roots jump off tape. With over 50 tracks, J Period added blends, rare verses, and remix material that helped show why Stetsasonic may’ve started […]
Artists We Expected To See, But Didn’t… Talib Kweli Listen! was all set to drop, and then Warner Brothers got cold feet about something. Was it a weaker first single? Was it the poor sales of Lupe Fiasco, Jurassic 5, and others in 2006? Nobody’s sure, but if Blacksmith is worth their salt, they’d better […]
Lupe Fiasco just might be okay. No, he didn’t sell the units he or Atlantic Records executives probably had hoped for, but the Chicago MC secured critical acclaim including a Grammy Nomination, with a homegrown debut album. Moreover, in a year where stunting, ass-slapping, and gangbanging were at the forefront, Lupe held down the lane […]
For over a decade, KRS-One has campaigned that “I Am Hip-Hop” in part of his “Rap is something you do, Hip-Hop is something you live” mantra. With that conviction, The Teacha had to feel some kind of way when friend and associate Nas declared Hip-Hop’s death with his recent album title. With his own latest […]
In response to Nas’ Hip Hop is Dead song “Where Are They Now?”, AllHipHop.com decided to answer some of Nasir’s questions. Take a jaunt down memory lane, and find out what the greats of yesteryear are doing, the music they’re making, and what we can do to uphold their names. Redhead Kingpin: You know? This […]
Nas’ mission isn’t over. Hip Hop is Dead has moved appriximately 355,000 units according to SoundScan and blessed him with his third Number One album in the 12 years since many of us pulled the plastic off Illmatic. Fans and critics still talk about whether or not the genre is actually deceased, which has offered […]
W When you think of the West Coast, no particularly mixtape DJ comes to the average mind – as say a Drama in Atlanta or a Clue in New York. DJ Warrior is trying to change the way the industry looks at and markets the west with his Cali Untouchable Radio mixtape series and his […]
Often times, rappers are marginalized. One gun reference makes you a gangster rapper, and one push for piece makes you conscious. Kanye, GLC, and Common make G.O.O.D. Music hard to classify under these umbrellas, but Consequence may be even tougher. Birthed into the industry by way of A Tribe Called Quest’s Beats Rhymes & Life, […]
James Brown once sang “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto.” Certainly, that’s not always the case. But as many Hip-Hop and R&B stars will tell you, there are memories of all sorts. From the shoreline of Coney Island to the traps of Bankhead, AllHipHop asked various personalities to reflect on the nicer things they’ve […]
No matter how many artist bios or magazine articles you read, one thing remains the same: the best way to connect with your favorite MC’s is to pay attention to the lyrics. If you listen to Spider Loc’s “First Degree” he flatly states, “West Coast classic gimmie my space / and for the record I […]
DEATH AROUND THE CORNER A Novel By C-Murder “If I cry, his blood will be my tears.” The next day, Daquan awoke with a throbbing headache, and he couldn’t unknot his stomach. Even the smell of Grandma Mama’s gumbo didn’t give him an appetite for anything other than blood. He showered and dressed quickly, then […]
Depending on who you ask, the word 8 Ball can take on different meanings. Ask my uncle, and he’d tell you he’s going to sink it every time. Ask a drug dealer, and he’ll give you a price. But ask anyone that’s ever stepped inside the world of Hip-Hop and they’d tell you he’s a […]
