Trae: A Touch of Trae

R ap-A-Lot Records has helped make local luminaries Houston Hip-Hop royalty for the last 20 years. The label’s most recent experiment has been Trae, a longtime affiliate of both The Screwed Up Click and Guerilla Maab. A cousin to Z-Ro, Trae has watched his friends and family’s lives forever changed by the legal system. In […]

Jurassic 5: Five Alive

W hile the sickle on Rawkus Records’ logo popped the jiggy balloon in ‘90s New York, Jurassic 5 led the charge out West. The six man crew combined harmonious choruses, sample-stacked beats, and tangible concepts to release the critically acclaimed Quality Control, followed by a respected Power in Numbers. However, in the three years since, […]

Jim Jones: High Flying

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. […]

Joe Budden: Live & Direct

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 […]

Gillie Da Kid: Face Off

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 […]