Welcome to the first edition of Bump it or Blow it. In this feature, we’ll be presenting you with mixtapes, videos, and occasional singles and leaving it to you, the readers to make the call. Dub Frequency comes through with imeem to bring you the Creme De La Creme mixtape, an eclectic mix of […]
After much underground hype and very little impact left on the United States, Canadian native Kardinal Offishall has finally broke onto the pop charts with Not 4 Sale (Kon Live/Geffen Records). Kardinal may not be for sale, but he and Akon’s production crew spent their money wisely when it came to stacking Not […]
When T.I.P. ran his initial campaign in 2003 to be anointed “King of the South,” he made a compelling case with his dismantling of then commercially viable Lil Flip, and his breakout third LP Urban Legend. Met with little resistance, T.I. went on to further build his legacy and become a mainstream […]
Underground Brooklyn rhyme veteran Ill Bill has been putting in work for years as a part of his now defunct group Non-Phixion and more recently with the La Coka Nostra collective. With a reputation built on brash wordplay and socially and politically influenced subject matter, Ill Bill (who is also the older brother […]
Quick, name the most consistent MC of the 90’s. Giants like Nas, Jay-Z, and Scarface might first come to mind, but you’d be as equally accurate in giving that distinction to Brick City lyricist Reggie Noble. Throughout that decade, the Funk Doc not only gave the Hip-Hop world classics like Whut? Thee Album and Muddy […]
The 90’s were a bittersweet symphony for Heltah Skeltah. Piggybacking the success of fellow Duck Down members Black Moon and Smif N Wessun, the “Twin Towers” of the Boot Camp Clik obtained an immediate loyal following with their 1996 debut Nocturnal. Unfortunately, that momentum as underground royalty was stifled by the mainstream centered follow-up […]
Fresh of the hiatus he proclaimed he’d take at the end of his sophomore album, Ultimate Victory, Houston hotshot Chamillionaire is back with part four of his acclaimed Mixtape Messiah series. While none of the projects have ever come close to matching the original Mixtape Messiah, this by far is a close second.Featuring guest appearances […]
Young Jeezy has a problem. Since the Georgia native blindsided the national Hip-Hop scene with 2005’s Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, there have been countless peers who have appropriated his raspy voice and ad lib centered flow to craft their own hits. Jeezy reaffirmed his position with 2006’s The Inspiration, but […]
The Game’s alpha male A-type personality and aggressive approach obviously didn’t fall in line with G-Unit’s pecking order. But as a solo artist, it’s these attributes that have allowed him to carve out a unique path in the industry. He’s the Cali rapper with the New York swag. He’s lyrically talented and […]
Effort and struggle don’t equal mainstream success. For anyone who needs a real time example within the culture of Rap could look no further than Sha Stimuli. The Brooklyn MC actually sat in the Ready To Die sessions back in ‘94, and as we fast forward to 2008, he still is a relative […]
Long before rappers were ghost-beefing and making threats they never intended on following through with, New York’s original rhyme bully Freddie Foxx, a.k.a Bumpy Knuckles was busy beefing with Rakim and laying down aggressive cameos with the likes of KRS-One, Kool G Rap and Gang Starr (“Militia” anyone?) all the while hanging in […]
There are few MCs that can claim a resume close to Ice Cube. From his early days of letting us know how to “Express Yourself”, to dropping bombs on “Black Korea” with Sir Jinx, or how to tell exactly if “Today Was A Good Day”, Ice Cube’s musical pedigree is unforgiving and real, […]
It’s been three years since we last heard from Wu-Tang’s GZA. This time around he connects with fellow Clan producers True Master, Mathematics and Bronze Nazareth with guest appearances from RZA, Masta Killa and his son Young Justice on Pro Tools (Babygrande). Not only are some of the elite members of the […]
With our ongoing Class Of ‘88 features, we have been paying tribute to the immensely classic work that came out that year. So far we’ve gone in with Big Daddy Kane, Eric B., Chuck D., EPMD, MC Lyte, Marley Marl just to name a few. It’s only right though. 1988 is probably the greatest year […]
Arguably one of the most underrated lyricists around, eLZhi drops his first official solo album The Preface (Barak Records). Most known as a member of the influential Detroit faction Slum Village, the microphone was passed on to eLZhi as Jay Dee made his departure from the group. Now with his solo release on deck, […]
City Of Men, a coming of age story set in the bubbling favelas of Rio de Janeiro, is the tale of slum-beautiful redemption that City Of God should have been. The follow-up to Fernando Meirelle’s 2003 Academy-Award winning classic stars best friends Acerola (Douglas Silva) and Laranjinha, a.k.a. Wallace (Darlan Cunha) days away from […]
After countless stunning bars and flawless flows on the notable We Got It For Cheap mixtape series, The Re-Up Gang have finally brought their hustle to the big leagues with their studio debut album, The Clipse Present: The Re-Up Gang (Koch). The twelve track effort consists of nine brand new tracks as well […]
Welcome to world of biblical monsters, hallowed warrior orders, and marijuanaclogged adventures. In Method Man’s self-titled graphic novel via Grand Central Publishing, omni hero Peerless Poe leaves his disheveled private investigation office and joins forces with John Albeit, Arilion Despite, and Jeanne D’Arc to combat Lillith Morningstar, a grand witch who plans to use the […]
Timing is either salvation or sin. Salvation in a sense that apparent sin can be forgiven; sin in a sense that apparent salvation cannot. N.4.L. (KOCH) the latest mixtape from MC veteran AZ is a direct sign of the latter. It features some solid rhymes and occasionally has production that gets your […]
Every Rap crew needs a musical enforcer. The Hip-Hop enforcer role doesn’t require the person to enact real violence on enemies, but musically he must possess the lyrical acumen and aggressive persona to ward off rivals and challengers. For the splintered Dipset family, Bronx native Hell Rell has fit that description perfectly. […]
