Bleu Collar: Designfully Gangsta
In Los Angeles, a pair of 26-year-olds are making names for themselves by working hard and playing hard as they chase their Hip-Hop dreams. Reese One and Basik of the duo Bleu Collar have been on the grind for more than five years delivering rhymes filled with drunken party raps, mack-game boasts and threats to […]

Queens Reigns Supreme: Part 2, Chapter 7
Meanwhile, in Hollis, another storied street guy—Curtis Scoon—was seeking to trade his hustling past for a hip-hop future. Though he’d helped friend Freddie “Nickels” Moore recuperate from the Quad shooting at Moore’s 201st Street home in Hollis, Scoon still figured the music business to be safer than the streets. Indeed, by 1996 Scoon left the […]

Chino XL: Ain’t A Damn Thing Changed
While some youngsters may have seen him on Comedy Central’s Reno 911 and just laughed it up at the show’s slightly off centered humor, those who know Chino XL, know he’s no joke when it comes to the mic. When he was younger than Lil Bow Wow, Rick Rubin took what he saw as the […]

Queens Reigns Supreme: Part 1, Chapter 7
For all the street bluster that marked the Supreme Team’s reign in southeast Queens—the souped-up Mercedes armed with gun turrets and an oil slick, the matching jackets emblazoned with the crew’s logo, the packaging locations crowded with dozens of baggers who were forced to work in the nude so as not to walk off with […]

Lord Finesse & A.G. : Encore
The Diggin in the Crates crew has a legacy paved in Gold. Though some of the records reached Gold status, its the bronzed respect of Hip-Hop thats endured the groups name. While Lord Finesse has taken a hiatus from releasing albums and producing, Buckwild has placed tracks on Game’s, 50 Cents, and Black Robs albums. […]

Skillz: The Will of a Ghostwriter
Skillz stops suddenly mid-sentence, glancing out of the corner of his eye. Hes like, You ever heard of Big L? he finally says, breaking the silencealmost with a giddy curiosityfrom the other side of the table at Virgils BBQ in Times Square. Hes been eavesdropping intently on a fellow patrons conversation. Seconds later, hes turned […]

Chopper: New Jack Swing
Many of us only saw the damage of Hurricane Katrina from our television sets, however, Young City was there to see it first hand. Born and raised in New Orleans, Chopper was one of the millions of people who were uprooted from the only homes they knew. While many people are still, four months later, […]

B-Legit: Click of Respect
B-Legit is a hell of a lot more than E-40s brother. After a decade plus, B has led by quiet example for his community, both as an artist signed to Jive and today, as an independent. His hemp-themed albums sat lovely with red-eyed cruisers everywhere, but in 2005, B-Legit brings it back to the block. […]

Troy Dunnit: Canada Fly
Troy Dunnit is making moves. Some may remember him from Montreal crew, Obscure Disorder, which also yielded Kanye West’s DJ, A-Trak. After a small success with Obscure Disorder, he has journeyed from the frozen north of Canada, to Kool G Raps proverbial mass-populated streets of New York to seek success. Perhaps its just as easy […]

Kardinal Offishall: Canada Rises
Kardinal Offishall is a true contender. When releasing his freshman album, Firestarter Volume One: Quest for Fire, he was forced to deal with a record deal gone sour no thanks to MCA, or as Talib Kweli is calling it, Music Cemetery of America. Instead of complaining, Kardinal took his platinum-selling status and came back with […]

Joe Budden: The IC Interview Part Two
AllHipHop.com: We heard you got arrested recently? Joe Budden: No. No. No. No. No. No. [In my life,] I have been artested. Ive been arrested quite a few times. AllHipHop.com: For what? Joe Budden: Oh, man. Bulls**t. Suspended license here, child support there, different bullrandom bulls**t that people go to jail for for short periods […]

Joe Budden: The IC Interview Part One
Joe Budden is easily one of Hip-Hops finest lyricists. He receives the adulation of countless fans that study his art via mixtapes or Internet leaks. Hes signed to one of the juggernauts of Hip-Hop, Def Jam. The New Jersey-bred MC has remained interesting through provocative, attention grabbing leaked records, but its still been over two […]

Lone Catalysts: Ones We Miss
The Lone Catalysts arent the only independent group causing a change in Midwest Hip-Hop. But they may be one of the most under appreciated. Theyve toured in Japan and all over Europe, in places where the people cant even speak English, but know their lyrics. However on American soil, the group just cant seem to […]

Lil’ Flip: Spearhead of the Lone Star
In Hip-Hop, every year is major, and the year is not over yet. Its the fourth quarter; 4th and inches, so only the star players are shuffling in the game to tally those critical points necessary to put the nail in the coffin. As Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, and Bun B got […]

The Reavers: Hard Times
The Hip-Hop supergroup is formed as needed. Diggin in The Crates arrived to attack stagnant production. The Wu-Tang Clan swarmed to return the ruggedness into raps. While individually, The Reavers may be unknown to many, this group of established underground artists united with social and musical cause. Vordul Megallah, Akir, Kong, Spiega, Dom Pacino, Billy […]

Dem Franchise Boys: Speak Ya Clout
High off the crest of a hit remix featuring Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat and Bow-Wow, Dem Franchise Boyz are ready to take the success of I Think They Like Me to the next level on their forthcoming sophomore LP, On Top Of Our Game. With the ink still wet on their very, very lucrative contract […]

Lady Luck: Re-entry
When youre signed to a deal at 17, people watch and listen. Years later, when you ask to be released from your deal, few pay attention. This emotional rollercoaster is nothing new to Hip-Hop, and a way of life for Lady Luck. From her early attention earning appearances with Funkmaster Flex and EPMD, Luck never […]

Pitbull: Say It Loud
Pitbulls had a tremendous year for himself. At the start of 2005, Pitbull was unknown to many, and by the close, hundreds of thousands of people have supported the album, and thus Pits money issues. But amidst all the rise, Pitbull has stayed socially vocal, and at times, outspoken. The demand for the independent […]

D4L: Candyshop
By now you might have heard yourself humming – if not, flat out singing – the chart-climbing song by D4L, Laffy Taffy. The metaphoric reference is a favorite but is it a bit push-pop? D4L frontman, Mookie B has his own opinions. The rapper chimed in with AllHipHop.com to discuss the little known, but […]

Juelz Santana: Crack Music
Juelz Santana has long been lumped between the success of Camron, and the character of Jim Jones. But as the youngest of the Diplomats shot-callers, Juelz is out to fix that. With his sophomore album, What the Games Been Missing! – Juelz has seen more buzz off of two hit singles, than his debut arguably […]