Rodney O: Still Don’t Hear Me Tho

Rodney O & Joe Cooley’s “You Don’t Hear Me Tho’” was the group’s energetic opus to being snubbed by radio DJ’s, and became their biggest hit. With other animosity-driven records like, “F**k New York,” it’s easy to understand why the Riverside, California duo may be misunderstood. Before the tumultuous early 90’s, which saw many rappers […]

Loon: Full Circle

Loon’s back, but not in the manner that he wanted to return. The former Bad Boy, who has sought greener pastures with his own Boss Up Entertainment, was pursuing a career in acting. Then a chance interview with a New York radio station raised the ire of Ma$e, the Harlem entertainer that helped get Loon […]

J-Live: Twice Around

J-Live has long been a major presence is the underground Hip-Hop community. His immaculately produced, energetic debut The Best Part to many, is on the same plane as Black Star and Nia. His follow-up: the mellow, Jazz-inspired, All of the Above reached many more listeners through major media endorsements. Three years, a few EP’s, and […]

Royal Flush: Queens Wild

Royal Flush is casually-cool, laid-up lounging in a recording studio/apartment in his native Flushing, Queens. His cell-phone interrupts the conversation every few minutes, as his smoke clouds the room. The small, square box apartment is half living room and half recording space. It is here that Royal Flush plans his attacking return to Hip-Hop. In […]

Sean Price: Oh Daddy

Some Hip-Hop fans may’ve thought that Sean Price was forever Rock’s wingman in Heltah Skeltah. Though he lacked the baritone delivery that sounded sweet on hooks, Sean’s solo debut, Monkey Barz is proving to be a lead-pony in Duck Down Records’ “Triple Threat Summer” of albums from Buckshot and Smiff-N-Wesson. Away from his partner, Sean […]

Little Brother: Not Shuckin’ & Jivin’ Part One

“Dope beats, dope rhymes/ What more do y’all want?” –Phonte, on Little Brother’s “Not Enough” This straightforward question seems rather telltale for Little Brother’s current mood. In some ways, the North Carolina-based trio [MC’s Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh, and producer 9th Wonder] have reluctantly been cast as Hip-Hop’s “saviors.” Amidst an industry abundant in […]