efore anyone cared who Mike Jones was or how Chamillionaire was riding, there was Lil’ Troy. One of the first rappers out of H-Town, Lil Troy has been in the game for nearly 20 years. Oddly enough though, Troy quickly asserts that he’s long been more of a businessman than an MC. Still, the man’s […]

I n the tight-lipped political world of Hip-Hop, perhaps Jim Jones is a revolutionary. The Diplomats’ movement has grown to one of the biggest forces in Hip-Hop, and their Capo still kicks it with street-corner candor. Maybe that’s why, if any rapper’s voyeuristic documentary appeals, A Day in the Fastlife lives up to its name. […]

I t’s been almost four years since a pair of Virginia-based brothers showed everyone what it meant to truly grind. While Malice and Pusha T say that the next Clipse album has no resemblance to Lord Willin’, that hustle will be tested once more. Originally from The Bronx, the Thorton brothers will return home to […]

W ith visibility ever-important for record sales, Lloyd Banks knows there’s no better marketing machine than himself. With his sophomore release, Rotten Apple on track for a September 19 release, Banks wants to unveil some of his album to the very city that inspired it in. Lloyd Banks breaks from his busy schedule to discuss […]

O n his acclaimed eight-minute mixtape track, “Dumb Out,” Joe Budden professed, “Let me find out Hip-Hop turned Republican.” In the election for “King of New York,” perhaps Joe is a worthy third-party candidate. With hit records like the current assist on Ne-Yo’s “Sexy Love” and a rich history of introspective verses, Budden meets the […]

The champion MC from last year’s battle returns to show his lyrics and penmanship in AllHipHop’s Breeding Ground Showcase after earning stripes the old-fashioned way. Tickets can be purchased at the door or Ticketmaster)! Almost a year ago to the day, a new Champion was crowned in the City of New York. It wasn’t Nas […]

Yung Joc’s catchy hit "It’s Going Down" was deemed the motto of AllHipHop.com’s 3rd Annual AllHipHop Week and the headlines the House of AllHipHop Fashion Show tonight (Aug. 7) in New York City (Tickets can be purchased at the door or Ticketmaster)! Like it or not, the rap game and the fashion industry go hand-in-hand. […]

F rom Fresh Prince’s “Summertime,” to Dre and Snoop’s “Nuttin’ But a G Thang,” Hip-Hop has expressed itself quite well at a barbeque. Even today, in an era that is fueled by beef, there’s still plenty of room for chicken, shrimp, and baked beans too – just ask G-Unit’s Lloyd Banks and Young Buck. As […]

“That’s what makes me different from every other rapper. When rappers be like, ‘What’choo want me to do, work at Mickey D’s?’ I’m the rapper that’s like, ‘Hell yeah, muthaf**ka. Then you know what it’s like. It teaches you to be a man so you can take care of your business. If you don’t never […]

T o many, Paul Wall is all smiles. After all, the Houston star struck monumental success rhyming about his diamond-covered grill, so why not show it? Another reason to smile: Swishahouse’s top priority welcomed a son into the world early in ’06. Now, Mr. Wall is preparing for an easy transition into his next major […]

A lmost thirty years ago in 1977, the Rocksteady Crew came to life and set a standard in the Hip-Hop culture that would echo decades later. Richard “Crazy Legs” Colón, a then youngster with the liquid motion, evolved from a crew favorite to President of the Rocksteady empire. One of the longest standing crews in […]

J ust as the September 11th attacks attempted to shut down New York, Brooklyn-bred rapper Shabaam Sahdeeq’s career almost burned in the ashes. On the Sunday after the attacks, Sahdeeq, who had already been through conflicts with his former label Rawkus, was arrested and charged with armed robbery. While serving a three and a half […]

W hen you think of Colorado, a few things instantly come to mind: high altitude, thin air, Kobe Bryant, and rehabilitation facilities. Hip-Hop music does not necessarily roll off the tongue. As it turns out, the city of Colorado Springs is the stomping ground of three MCs who would eventually come together to form The […]

I t appears coincidental that “Gillie” rhymes with “Philly.” However, the former Major Figgas front-man has represented for his hometown heavily over the last half-decade. Though he’s currently without a deal, and never achieved reputable sales, the street-savvy spitter believes he has a legion of fans over six-digits in the 215 area code alone. With […]

P rophets can come from the strangest of places. Perhaps the man asking you for spare change in front of the bodega has spoken unforgettable wisdom. Fiend is no panhandler, but his name and his image has been built upon being a man of the people, dirty and clean. Of all the former No Limit […]

N ew Orleans, Louisiana: a city hundreds of miles south of New York, has been referred to as the murder capitol of the nation. Yet, out of this violence emerged an influx of street entrepreneurs that made household names within No Limit and Cash Money Records. This culturally creative city, corrupted by Katrina’s chaos, has […]

F irst Degree Detective Derrick Parker, even with all of his clearances, could not keep himself from earning a bad rap in the eyes of the Hip-Hop community. Attending events, Parker knew rappers not for their singles, but for their criminal records. Since retired, the release of Parker’s DVD, Black and Blue: Legends of the […]

I t’s hard to find someone who thinks Shaq Diesel is the greatest rap album of all time. Even though the album went Platinum and Shaq is one of the NBA’s most popular players, his respect on the ball court never transferred over to the heart of most rap fans. NFL MVP Shaun Alexander is […]

G raffiti artists must be patient these days because law enforcement agencies are cracking down on the craft. Urban Van Goghs have to wait in the shadows until they have a chance to use city streets, buildings and trains as their canvas. The process is challenging but worthwhile once the artist’s creation is appreciated throughout […]

O n the approach of the Hip-Hop Political Convention in Chicago, the air is tense. While everybody waits to see the true impact of Hip-Hop’s political potential, one of its most decorated soldiers is on the move. Mr. Lif’s newly released Mo’ Mega is setting the underground on fire while the artist behind it considers […]