The commercial success of Yung Joc and his debut, New Joc City, made Block Entertainment a household name, but for how long? Based off of the current underwhelming album sales of Joc’s sophomore effort, Hustlenomics as well as the much delayed re-up from Boyz in the Hood, the label is quickly losing momentum and we […]

“The Heavens” refers to a spot a graffiti writer has to climb in order to paint his piece. Graffiti prohibits no place for its artist to express themselves except for the graveyard and the church. Steve Grody discusses these commandments in, Graffiti L.A.: Street Syles and Art (Harry N. Abrams, Inc), a big art slash […]

I’m sure you’ve heard it all before.  “I ain’t no one hit wonder.”  “This is a movement!” “We not in it for the ringtones.”  Images of Laffy Taffy, Chicken Noodle Soup, and other disposable cannon fodder come to mind almost immediately.  Enter Hurricane Chris and the Ratchet Movement.  The ingredients are all familiar. Catchy club […]

Good things take time. In an era where half-baked rappers release multiple albums to invisible masses, Percee P bares 20 years of rhyming excellence known mostly to cult twelve-inch collectors and from hand-to-hand album sales in front of New York’s Fat Beats. Decades after lung-collapsing lyricism on microphones shared with Big L, Pharoahe Monch, Large […]

Most of the world knew nothing of the Black Eyed Peas until they recruited Fergie and released their third album, Elephunk. There is, however, a contingent of fans who are still waiting for the group to ditch the bird and return to their crunchy roots (or at least hope that will.i.am’s solo albums will make […]

If Havoc, the lower-key member of Mobb Deep had to choose a claim to fame as an artist it might be a challenge. Some dub him chiefly responsible for the gritty Queensbridge theme music that is his signature production style. Others tip their hat to his baritone vocals that have played lyrical double dutch with […]

A quick glance at the massive crowd and lines outside of the Kool Haus on Monday night (Sept 24, 2007) were a good indication that the stock of Chi-City’s illest MC has clearly risen since the last time he touched down in the T-Dot, back in February 2006 at this very same (albeit less crowded) […]

If such thing as black urban politics exists, the bracket has surely found its most loyal correspondent. William Jelani Cobb’s The Devil & Dave Chappelle & Other Essays (Thunder Mouth Press)compiles his writings on Hip Hop, the Million Man March, the Cosby Show, the Tuskegee airmen, and any other topic that perplexes the thinking black […]

Coming back for the first time is no easy task. So with Twista’s latest release Adrenaline Rush 2007 (Atlantic) holding the same name as its predecessor 10-years the senior, expectations are high. This nouveau rush finds Twista further away from his radio friendly previous releases, which was technically a deviation from the style that he […]

A little background: those that somehow don’t know Prince Paul by name should know him by his work as a member of Stetasonic and as a producer on De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising. Paul’s gone on to produce comedy albums with Chris Rock and work with the RZA as part of Gravediggaz. […]

Grayskul’s latest offering, Bloody Radio (Rhymesayers)—their first release since 2005’s Deadlivers—is an album that shares a similar (albeit darker) feel to other artists coming off of the Rhymesayers label such as Atmosphere and P.O.S. Yet, Bloody Radio fails to leave a lasting impression after repeated listens; like numerous other albums have  on this respectable indie […]

Remember when Hip-Hop really meant something? A better question, do you remember when it was about quality rhymes, not taking life too seriously and having a good time? After an almost 14 year departure, Kurious Jorge is back with the release of his 1994 debut, A Constipated Monkey (Amalgam Digital). This collection of humorous tongue […]

Chamillionaire’s going all political on his new album, Ultimate Victory (Universal Motown), and this time he doesn’t care if he impresses anyone with slick punch lines and metaphors. Instead, Cham packs this album with intelligence and a sick flow. Coming off his Grammy-winning single “Ridin’,” Cham shows no signs of fall off on his delayed […]

As G-Unit adds to its entourage, newest member Spider Loc reps the west coast with the release of West Kept Secret: The Prequel (Baymaac/RBC/Koch) setting the stage for his major label debut. Spider Loc uses his laid-back flow to bring subtle realism back to Los Angeles gangsta rap. He keeps to his hustler status without […]

After starting out as something of a side project for Xzibit, California mixtape superstars Strong Arm Steady have since moved on without their biggest star to join Talib Kweli on his new Blacksmith label. The crew may seem like an odd pairing with Kweli, butStrong Arm’s fans need not worry because the partnership hasn’t diluted […]

Queens’ MC Mic Geronimo earned respect as a Hip-Hop lyricist for his 1995 LP, The Natural.  A gem worth mining, it spawned the hit singles “Sh*t’s Real” and the moody masterpiece “Masta I.C.,” and the album is revered in Hip-Hop as a street-certified classic. More albums followed (1996’s Vendetta and 2003’s The Long Road Back) […]

Unlike L.A. veterans DJ Quik and MC Eiht, WC has always released material, whether group or solo, at a slower pace. Since 2004’s Def Jam one-off, the shadiest one has rebuilt Lench Mob Records with Ice Cube, and the two-thirds of Westside Connection worked hand-in-hand in crafting Guilty By Affiliation (Lench Mob Records), a polished […]

As time ticks by and we enter 2007’s home stretch, Wu fans are still awaiting the impending releases of the Clan’s 8 Diagrams (rumored to drop sometime in late ’07 or early ’08) and Raekwon’s highly anticipated Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, which apparently is already completed and currently collecting dust at the offices […]

Even though he might not admit it publicly, 50 Cent is looking at some serious pressure coming into Curtis (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope). His debut, Get Rich Or Die Trying, killed everything moving in 2003. As a follow up his soldiers would put up respectable numbers individually going into the G-Unit general’s follow up, The Massacre.  Fast forwarding […]

Black robes. Tassles. Commencement? Not in the world of Kanye West. Replace that robe with an under-sized Starter jacket, polo shirt, and over-sized shades and you’ve stepped into his Graduation (Roc-A-Fella/ Def Jam). On this the third album from the Louis Vuitton Don you might just flip out with excitement over both familiar Ye beats […]