Obie Trice: No Gimmicks
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 […]

Saigon: The Yardfather, Part 1
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: Coat Of Arms
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 […]

David Banner: The Fire This Time
"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 […]

HI-TEK: MIDWEST SWANG Pt 1
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 […]

HI-TEK: MIDWEST SWANG
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 […]

Mr. Cheeks: Super Star
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, […]

Craig G: Battles By Fire
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 […]

T.I.: The Grand Hustler
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. […]

Proof: Airs It All Out
AHH: In the past week, all Hell has broken loose in the media and the Internet, just tell me what your reaction is to the way everyone responded to you specifically (not d-12) and Royce? Proof: I ain’t checkin’ the site. AHH: Well, is it out of hand? Proof: What are you hearing, so I […]

Royce Da 5’9: Airs It All Out
AHH: In the past week, all Hell has broken loose in the media and the Internet, just tell me what your reaction is to the way everyone responded to you specifically? Royce: It was bound to happen. Those brothers obviously doing what they gotta do to get they attention. It’s just a situation where I’m […]

Little Brother: Special Delivery
Of all the records released in the past year, only a few will still have us studying them in say, another five years. Little Brother’s The Listening deserves to hold one of those honored ranks. The North Carolina trio has supplied the masses with a record that pays homage to records with themes, ideas, and […]

Crooked I: Answers The Ill Community
Crooked I took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions from AllHipHop’s Ill Community. Peep it… Allhiphop: SweetCheeba asked; do you get tired of people asking you about your relationship with Suge? CI: Not really ‘cause I know people want to know what’s up with that and I’m always happy to […]

Royce Da 5’9: Eminem, D-12 And Beef:
I don’t typically release statements, but I have heard about all of the sh*t Proof has been talking on his website and I felt I needed to respond. First, I did not start of all this bullsh*t (diss tracks). I’ve said sh*t about them out of anger and vice versa. If Eminem and I are […]

Crooked I: Leader of the New School: Part 2
Allhiphop: Can you speak about your background a little bit, a lot of people know your name, but not too many know about your background? Crooked I: I was born in L.A. and I spent the majority of my life in Long Beach but I have lived other places. I lived in Okalahoma for a […]

Crooked I: Leader of the New School
Crooked I: Leader of the New School By Jigsaw It’s often been clichéd that a rolling stone gathers no moss, but the same principle hardly pertains to hip-hop rhyme styles. Tha Row’s (Death Row) hungry, battle-tested upstart Crooked I has laid his hat in many cities, and its apparent after hearing him spit, that he […]

Voletta Wallace Looks Forward And Back
Ms. Voletta Wallace is a martyr to the casualties of hip-hop. No mother raises a child to be slain over greed, pride, and envy. Ms. Wallace has endured that cruelest of fates, and still is willing to share. Almost six years to the day after he son was gunned down on the lawless streets of […]

Vita: Stand Up
Last year New Jersey-based rapper Vita anticipated that her long-awaited album, La Vita Dolce ("The Good Life"), would drop under the Murder Inc. banner. Her hopes would never come to fruition. Instead the original female on Murder Inc. would walk away after being signed to the label for over two years. Now, the former Murder […]

Ras Kass: Catch Him If You Can
Much like Van Gogh, a 19th century artist who never attained any real commercial success until after his death, Priority Records recording artist Ras Kass is struggling with similar obstacles to those of the famed painter. The fact that Ras Kass’ never-released third album was entitled Van Gogh, speaks volumes about the frustration felt by […]

Choppa: Line Em
New Orleans is quite possibly Hip-Hop’s best-kept secret and Choppa is set to become the Dirty South’s brightest star. At the tender age of 21, No Limit’s newest protégé is on the verge of taking the N.O. to even bigger heights. With his booming voice, unrelenting personality, and aggressive bounce style of music, Choppa is […]