When you’re 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’s 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 – Pit’s money issues. But amidst all the rise, Pitbull has stayed socially vocal, and at times, outspoken. The demand for the independent […]

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 has long been lumped between the success of Cam’ron, 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 Game’s Been Missing! – Juelz has seen more buzz off of two hit singles, than his debut arguably […]

In Hip-Hop, image is paramount component of the culture. Whether it’s a video, hood regalia, or diminutive speech; image solidifies an artist’s position among his or her peers. Imagery stands as a physical rendering of the intricate thought patterns and mental perceptions one hopes to elicit. Incredible reflections of life come in the form or […]

Part of the mystique in Ras Kass’ Van Gogh album was its portrait cover. Hip-Hop sees itself as meaningful, like we endear our musical artists. This is why there’s something so visually pleasing in seeing talented painters, photographers, and sculptors devote their energies to Hip-Hop’s beauty. Charnier Corey is a Fort Wayne, Indiana native who […]

Ricky Powell’s lens never lies. Neither does he. Ricky Powell is one of the reasons this writer has a manual focus camera. The strikingly humble “fourth Beastie Boy” has been capturing numerous snaps of MC’s, DJ’s, 70’s cinema extras, and dimes since the mid 1980’s. These images have developed into a visual archive of what […]

When you think of the Hip-Hop scene in Virginia, artists such as The Clipse, Missy Timbaland and The Neptunes immediately come to mind. And while Virginia Beach has produced some of Hip-Hop’s biggest names, the rest of the state has been virtually ignored. An artist looking to change that is Doujah Raze. Repping the Northern […]

One of the quiet, but well-received albums from California this year has been Self-Scientific’s Change. In many circles, the group is far from new, having released a compilation several years ago, as well as plenty guest work. DJ Khalil has since become one of Dr. Dre’s Aftermath producers, putting in work with Xzibit, Raekwon, and […]

The Black Eyed Peas are large. Love them or hate ’em, BEP is on top. This crew went from being underground b-boyin’ MC’s to moving multi-platinum units and achieving multi-cultural success on several continents. In between all the hits these guys have been doing music for cartoons like Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory, as well […]

Over the years, people have come up with more than a few different recipes for success. But one thing that is always included is perseverance, believing that, some day, your efforts will pay off. Despite only being in his mid-twenties, DJ Don Cannon, knows a thing or two about perseverance; probably more than many of […]

XXL has had a banner year. From a comprehensive expose of Jay-Z’s move to the Carter Administration, to a plethora of XL ratings on numerous major and indie releases, now to their very own CD, 2005 watched XXL fly high. However, some critics argue that if Interscope Records is doing good, it’s only natural that […]

When the legendary Bay Area crew Hieroglyphics as first formed, Jive asked me to write Casual’s bio. I went to meet him at Domino’s house, suprised to meet a tall, semi-husky kid playing Shinobi, on a video game console. Those were different times. Now fast forward a decade and some change. When AllHipHop.com called me […]

Sadat X has stayed relevant to Hip-Hop for fifteen years. Outside of his legendary status with Brand Nubian, the New Rochelle MC has made classics such as “The Lump Lump” and “1-9-9-9” on his solo endeavors. In 2005, he was courted by Missy Elliot and Beanie Sigel to appear on major label releases ages after […]

As far as track records go, the path for rockers-turned-rappers isn’t quite paved in Gold plaques these days. But Linkin Park frontman, Mike Shinoda has the confidence to walk that lonely walk. Under his Rap alias, Fort Minor, he’s, for the moment, stepping away from the safety net of his multi-Platinum band and venturing into […]

The Most Known Unknowns could not be a more fitting title for the latest Three-6 Mafia release. Though tasting plenty of commercial success in the fifteen year career, they’ve remained rooted in the groundwork they’ve laid. And unlike some of their counterparts in the game, they haven’t lost themselves in the crossover. There is something […]

AllHipHop.com: You got a segment on your show called “Real Talk,” so we need to have to real talk on some issues. You were talking greasier than cheesesteak meat about Benzino and The Source magazine a couple weeks ago. He recently did an interview with us and said he used to pay you to play […]

For the last decade, Funkmaster Flex has certified himself as Hip-Hop’s biggest DJ. From the club dates, to the primetime radio shows, to five Gold albums, as well as branding and marketing, Flex has paved a path to a higher plain. His reputation for quality has sustained him as one of the top ears in […]

Kanye West’s “Touch The Sky” tour is yanking the heavens to terrestrial venues across the nation and a tremendous effort has gone into the performance. The self-proclaimed "international a**hole" takes a moment to talk tours, censors, clothing and acting. AllHipHop.com: Speak on the “Touch The Sky” tour. Kanye West:We are doing a lot of groundbreaking […]

New York criminal defense attorney Robert Simels is a legend in legal circles for having represented everyone from Southeast Queens drug kingpin Lorenzo “Fat Cat” Nichols to mobster Henry Hill, the real-life mobster who was the inspiration for Goodfellas. Until recently, he was also the attorney for Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff and he spoke exclusively with […]