Shawnna is one of very artists who were blessed with music running through their DNA. As the daughter of Blues pioneer Buddy Guy, she had special privileges coming up as a young girl. Money was never an issue, and she always had the latest fashions before any of her friends and schoolmates. But don’t get […]
Ludacris recently took a break from recording and performing the southern club bangers that get us all crunk in the club. In the sequel to “The Fast and the Furious,” he joins Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, and Eva Modes in a brief but significant role. “2 Fast and 2 Furious,” directed by John Singleton, gives […]
Swinging the lyrical sword of the chosen few Inspectah Deck takes on his personal ills with no fear. Still, INS has survived years of label turmoil and has settled in at a new home with Koch Entertainment/In the Paint Records with new comforts. Here he revels in his past successes and obstacles and his desire […]
Three Years. A hiatus of such length is considered career suicide for most rappers, but not Roc-A-Fella’s first signee Memphis Bleek. Bleek was taking care of some real business – the business of family. He witnessed the birth of his firstborn son and almost saw his older brother return to the essence. Now, he is […]
I’ve never been alive and there wasn’t hip-hop. That is why I feel like I’m fortunate to have this in my life. I’m blessed. –Flo Brown The relationship between an individual MC and hiphop is one that can be observed through the artist’s musical execution. Some emcees have a relationship with hiphop that is strictly […]
The Cunninlynguists’ first album was aptly titled, “Will Rap For Food.” The duo made a record that illuminated a whole breed of conscious MC’s from below the Mason-Dixon. In the last two years, they’ve picked up a third member: SOS, built the rep, and rocked many stages. The group is comprised of two producers DJ […]
Ol’ Dirty to Dirt McGirt: Welcome Home A two years stretch in jail is liable to test hip-hop’s collective, forgetful memory. However, when Ol’ Dirty Bastard, now known as Dirt McGirt, was greeted with a flock of reporters, photographers, fans and family – a reminder that Dirt is one of the most fascinating rappers to […]
Stagga Lee knows he is getting a raw deal, but he cant seem to convince minions of rap fans of this. Nevertheless the Bronx-born, Yonkers-reared rapper assures himself and his detractors that his time is now, like it or not. A fan of the greats [Kool G Rap, Rakim, KRS-One], Stagga could, quite possibly be […]
April 10, 2003, 7:04 pm The Day. A shady ass Thursday to some, but for me it was the ultimate jump off. It was the day KRS One and I would meet and greet. sh*t. I didn’t plan for the episode, its just that I attended his lecture “Hip-hop Declaration of Peace” at Northeastern University […]
The Detroit Hip Hop Summit is over. Like every 24-hour day, April 26, 2003 had to end at midnight. But the feelings can last a lifetime. The dialogue sparked at the historic event can create sweeping change to echo around the world. It is obvious the enormous power that hip-hop holds, economically, musically, politically, and […]
While it is an accepted fact that Hip Hop culture was produced by both African Americans and Latinos, the historical record hasn’t always reflected this. Inside the stories of Hip Hop’s pioneers are the visible ways that Blacks and Latinos influenced each other and developed artistic expressions that spoke to their environments. After years of […]
Before anybody knew Obie Trice they knew his name. Eminem set it up perfectly on the intro to his smash single, "Without Me," allowing the Detroit rapper to open the song proclaiming "Obie Trice, real name, no gimmicks." Obie Trice has patiently waited for the limelight, putting in work and building a name for himself […]
Much like his Queen’s bred counterpart 50 Cent, Brooklyn born and Rockland County representative Saigon has seen a lot in his 20 some odd years on earth. From spending a good portion of his life in the streets, to spending time in the penile system only to take that aggression to the streets and pour […]
Twista’s dreams of hip-hop superstardom have been deferred more times than a little bit. Twista is widely accepted as one of the rap word’s most talented wordsmiths. His rhythmic, staccato delivery has endeared him to legions of fans while mainstream notoriety, of the MTV and endorsement deal variety, has continually eluded his grasp. Lacking any […]
"What has four eyes, but can’t see?" Gene Hackman queries his co-star Willem Defoe in the landmark 1988 film, "Mississippi Burning." Defoe replies, "I don’t know. What has four eyes, but can’t see?" Hackman answers, "Mississippi." Playing two FBI agents who’ve been sent to Mississippi in 1964 to investigate the disappearance and eventual murder of […]
When you think of musical Meccas, Cincinnati, Ohio may not be the first place that comes to mind. However, for the better part of three decades, from the nineteen-sixties up through the late nineteen-eighties, the Nati was the birthplace of some of the most important R&B, funk, and soul records to ever be produced. Legendary […]
ALLHIPHOP: So whats your current situation with MCA, is it a label deal, production deal, artist deal? HI-TEK: Its an artist deal, Hi-Tek as an artist. I just do whatever kinda album I wanna do. Thats what MCA is really about. ALLHIPHOP: So are you gonna have the option of introducing new artists, bringing new […]
Before Mr. Cheeks was a household name in hip-hop, the dreded rapper gained critical acclaim as a member of the Lost Boys. When Lost Boyz member Freaky Tah was gunned down, the group soon disbanded. In 2001 Cheeks broke the silence with his solo debut, John P. Kelly, which spawned the hit single "Lights, Camera, […]
In Hip-Hop, wack freestyles are like teenagers trying to purchase alcohol before they turn 21. They aren’t going to get very far, and they can be guaranteed a gas-face or two along the way. The art of "off the top of the head rhymes" is a lost, but precious skill, tried by many but mastered […]
His debut disc I’m Serious sported production credits from the omnipresent Neptunes and Jazze Pha, yet the combination of stellar beats with his laid-back but intense southern tinged delivery failed to garner widespread recognition (read: sales). Nevertheless it was a regional success with T.I. being a household name in states below the Mason Dixon line. […]
