Nostalgic Fugee fans are buzzing about Lauryn Hill’s whereabouts, but when it comes to Wyclef Jean they need not worry.  With his guitar in tow, he invited the crowd into the “Clef Zone” at Brooklyn’s St. Ann Warehouse Tuesday (11/20) night. Onstage for a live taping for VH1 Soul, Wyclef introduced a medley of new […]

Upon entering the spot (NYC’s Quad Studios), one can’t avoid hearing Beanie Sigel in his prime.  The engineer blasts classic verses from the Broad Street bully to set the mood.  Joints like “Change The Game,” “Guess Who’s Back” and “This Can’t Be Life” bang while a powerful scent of hot wings fills the air. The […]

Philadelphia is quickly moving from being the City of Brotherly Love, to the last refuge of the prodigal child. As such, it produces emcees with a visual style that is griping and razor witted; mirroring the mentalities of those that inhabit it. Freeway knows this as personally as many others, but has the rare ability […]

Once upon a time there was a different type of sound in Atlanta.  At the forefront was a group called Outkast, whose clique The Dungeon Family brought the city some shine with their diversified content and a sound that could be described as down home cool. Fast forward to present day, and you have an […]

“Listen…people be asking me all the time, ‘Yo Mos, what’s getting ready to happen with Hip-Hop?’ I tell ‘em, ‘You know what’s gonna happen with Hip-Hop? Whatever’s happening with us.’ If we smoked out, Hip-Hop is gonna be smoked out. If we doin’ alright, Hip-Hop is gonna be doin’ alright. People talk about Hip-Hop like […]

The Roc Boys take their celebration to NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom.Two hours on the line outside with the temperature in the 40’s. Two hours standing still in Timbs on a hard floor.  It’s already ten o’clock and still no sign of Jay-Z. Brooklyn has stated their borough supremacy by being “in the house” for probably the […]

The average Hip-Hopper may not know the pioneers as well as he or she should, but that lack of awareness does not mean our forefathers have not been properly archived. Right, Joe Conzo?  While Busy Bee, Grandmaster Caz and Grand Wizard Theodore were creating an aerie of classic Hip-Hop, Conzo was right there saying, “Cheese!” […]

Not many would argue that Nas is one of the top ten lyricists living.  The rap laureates debut Illmatic put a barely known, fresh-faced MC onto the cusp of greatness.  By the time he dropped his fourth album Nastradamus, a frisbee for many but still viable for his hardcore fan base, he was in this […]

In preparation for Wu-Tang’s much anticipated 8 Diagrams due out next month, long time Wu-affiliate DJ Mathematics gives us a preview with the Clan’s latest mixtape Mathematics Presents Wu-Tang Returns (The 8 Diagrams Official Mixtape). With five new tracks slated for the upcoming album, lost gems and remixes of some of their classics; Staten Island’s […]

Since splitting with his original group Da Franchise, Brookyln’s own Red Café has maintained his name on the streets mostly through mixtapes while his official solo debut The Shakedown is on the way via Akon’s Konvict Music.  For the time being he’s teamed up with DJ Envy to release The Co-Op (Koch); a “warm-up” record […]

After hooking up with Disturbing tha Peace Tity Boi and Dolla Boi of Collipark rap duo Playaz Circle fell into personal trouble. After navigating through those murky waters, they were signed by Ludacris and became full members of the DTP family, appearing on the Ludacris Presents: Disturbing tha Peace compilation.  Since then they have finally […]

N.W.A can be credited for being the seminal zone for many artists. One of their spawns happens to be the southern super group Boyz N Da Hood. After Young Jeezy bounced on the crew for solo fame, the group has been through, in the very least, a transition period. After rumors of Lil’ Wayne and […]

6 starsWith a name like CunninLynguists, you would expect something more humorous and light hearted.  But CunninLyguists are probably one of the most talented Hip-Hop groups that you’ve never heard of.  The trio is from that southern school of Hip-Hop that is socially conscience, poetic and charming.  The southern artists that we all know and […]

From the belly of the beast, the valley of the shadow of death, and not to mention a prolonged absence from the spotlight, Cassidy is back.  The rapper’s ups and downs have been documented [life threatening injuries, murder raps, literally] as the Philadelphia young gun returns with B.A.R.S: The Barry Adrian Reese Story (Full Surface/ […]

From Kanye to Common, the Midwest is burning with talent and Chi-town native Soulstice throws his own words into the competition with his latest Dead Letter Perfect (Wandering Soul), making him a viable contender. Soulstice, one half of the group Wade Waters, returns with this solo effort as he spits soulful lyrics and conscious rhymes. […]

For the majority of us, Mobb Deep’s seminal classic Hell on Earth was our first introduction to the Queensbridge triumvirate that is Infamous Mobb.  Going hard on the classic “Animal Instinct”, the trio has since released two albums: 2002’s Special Edition and 2004’s Blood Thicker That Water, Vol. 1. Comprised of Ty Nitty, Godfather Pt. […]

Say what you will about Karrine Steffans, but thanks to her debut book Confessions of a Video Vixen, you probably know who she is. Whether the purpose of her book was merely to launch her career or to unmask the sexually explicit life of the music industry is still up for debate. However, one thing […]

Since their inception Smif N Wessun have been a vital piece of one of rap’s most talented, yet underappreciated crews, the Boot Camp Click.  Over the years the BCC has boasted a team of hard-knock emcees such as Sean Price, Buckshot, O.G.C. and Heltah Skeltah.  All have collectively or individually helped to push the team’s […]

Following their critically acclaimed 2005 debut, Feeding Einstein, Nuclear Family members Baje One and DJ Snafu better known as Junk Science return two years later with Gran’Dad’s Nerve Tonic (Definitive Jux/Embedded). Featuring a brew strange enough that even Cream could appreciate, the Brooklyn duo dishes out a wittily intoxicating concept album.Maintaining their unique melange of […]

Hurricane Chris’ performance on 51/50 Ratchet (Pologrounds/J Records) is like Rex Grossman on the 2006 Chicago Bears—he’s the only thing holding the team back from winning the championship. The Shreveport, Louisiana native shows some potential on his debut but he’s overshadowed by standout production.  Chris’ rudimentary lyrics and recycled song topics show a narrow view […]