Artist: Prefuse 73Title: Security ScreeningsRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Dustin Glick Prefuse 73 (Scott Herren) has made a name for himself as a producer of challenging experimental beats. His versatile style lends itself to everything from straight up hip-hop to abstract broken beat. On his latest album, Security Screenings (Warp Records), Prefuse returns with some more […]

Artist: Bigg JusTitle: Poor People’s DayRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Angus Crawford Those familiar with Bigg Jus, formerly of Company Flow, will not be surprised by the title of his latest album, Poor People’s Day (Mush). However, new listeners will find the title a bit misleading, because the politically charged lyrics expected are too few and […]

Artist: VakillTitle: Worst Fears ConfirmedRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: illseed Darkness is what’s missing from Hip-Hop and that isn’t in reference to the complexion of the rappers doing it. These days, Hip-Hop is one big happy-go-lucky circus of confection, whether your love is killing your own people, doing drugs or just ignoring social issues. Vakill isn’t […]

Artist: Dilated PeoplesTitle: 20/20Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman Dilated Peoples have always prided themselves as being artists of expansion, but on their fourth official long-runner, 20/20 (ABB/Capitol), they don’t exactly push the envelope. They do, however, bring the best elements of their Hip-Hop to the forefront, including comprehensible yet razor-sharp rhymes and scorching […]

Artist: A-TrakTitle: Sunglasses Is A Must (DVD)Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Robert Longfellow No, his claim to fame isn’t being Kanye West’s DJ. Montreal’s A-Trak (Alain Macklovitvh) has been making a fresh sounding mess of cuts, scratches, flares and such since he was barely out of his pre-teens. On Sunglasses Is A Must (DVD/Audio Research), the […]

Artist: ApathyTitle: Eastern PhilosophyRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jason Newman Apathy’s one of those emcees that always seems to be hanging around the fringes of hip-hop – a guest verse here, a mixtape there – but never gets the shine on his own. With Eastern Philosophy (Babygrande)¸ the Connecticut-based emcee (Yeah, they got emcees too.) […]

Artist: T-K.A.S.HTitle: Turf War SyndromeRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine Bay area radio listeners may know T-K.A.S.H. from his radio show, “The Friday Night Vibe.” Others may remember K.A.S.H. from “Pork and Beef” and “Ghetto Manifesto” on The Coup’s re-entry album, Party Music. Now aligned with the revolutionary rap legend Paris, Turf War Syndrome (Guerilla […]

Artist: DJ Drama/T.I.P.Title: Gangsta Grillz: The LeakRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Alejandro Mojado The King of the South and his court have returned to the scene with a new mix-tape from DJ Drama. With the Atlanta based DJ now signed to Grand Hustle this is the first of many collaborative efforts to come. This time Drama […]

Artist: JelTitle: Soft MoneyRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman Ever since the Bay Area-based collective Anticon released Music For The Advancement of Hip Hop in 1999, countless Hip-Hop circles have written this crew/label off for what has been perceived as blatant elitism. Whether it be Dose One or Pedestrian, these guys have often made […]

Artist: Ursula RuckerTitle: Ma’at MamaRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Sidik Fofana Surely you’ve you heard of her. The spoken word sista? Shorty who is down with The Roots? Does it ring a bell now? Though Ursula Rucker is known most potently for her spoken word contributions on Roots’ albums like Do You Want More??? and […]

Artist: RascoTitle: The Dick Swanson Theory Part 1Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Bill “Low-Key” Heinzelman As one half of the Cali Agents, veteran emcee Rasco helped revive a stagnant West Coast underground scene in the late 90’s with his two critically acclaimed albums Time Waits For No Man and The Birth EP. With a distinguishable […]

Artist: OmniTitle: BallyhoooRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Starrene Rhett It’s safe to say that most artists live in their own world. In some cases, so much so, that the rest of us get lost in the midst of their expression ? take Omni for example. With his third LP, Ballyhoo (Ariel Records), it’s kind of […]

Artist: DJ Drama/Young JeezyTitle: Gangsta Grillz: Can’t Ban The Snowman (Mixtape)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Alejandro Mojado DJ Drama and Young Jeezy are back with Gangsta Grillz: Can’t Ban the Snowman. The Atlanta based DJ originally introduced Young Jeezy to the game with the release of Tha Streets Iz Watchin’ than banged heads (pause) when […]

Artist: Dem Franchize BoyzTitle: On Top Of Our GameRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Brent Woodie Dem Franchize Boyz (DFB) have made it cool again for rappers to dance and actually look like they are having a good time. Coming from the west side of Atlanta, Dem Franchize Boyz busted onto the hip-hop scene with their hit […]

Artist: Ellay KhuleTitle: CaliformulaRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jamin Warren Here’s the problem with speed rap: too much is abusive. Yes, rappers have made careers from occasional displays of lyrical speed; think Big Daddy Kane, Percee P, or even Ludacris. But all these rappers exerted quick phrases as part of a larger repertoire of styles […]

Artist: DJ CamTitle: DJ Cam Revisited ByRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Dustin Glick French hip-hop aficionado DJ Cam first came on the scene with 1994’s Underground Vibes, which was later repackaged with a live CD and the wonderfully titled Mad Blunted Jazz. This classic debut of thick jazzy beats paved the way for Cam’s successful […]

Artist: Sergio MendesTitle: TimelessRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Mark Cilantro Remember when Eazy E tried to cash in on the De La Soul craze, post Feet High and Rising? That was when Ruthless Records signed The Atban Klann. A Black cat with dreads, a Filipino dude, and a Pacific Islander; former dancers with a Boho […]

Artist: OddiseeTitle: The Remixture Vol. 1Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Bill “Low-Key” Heinzelman Oddisee may very well be the best producer you have never heard of. Drawing comparisons to the legendary Pete Rock, Oddisee has made a name for himself in the underground through his work with J-Live, Wordsworth, Little Brother, DJ Jazzy Jeff and […]

Artist: Whoo Kid & MaseTitle: Crucified 4 The Hood (Mixtape)Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Angus Crawford 2006 may go down as the year of the reclamation project for 50 Cent. Mobb Deep and M.O.P. arguably fit the profile of G-Unit artist, but former Pastor Mason Betha is causing a few people to scratch their heads. While […]

Artist: PenuckleTitle: The Sun Beckons…Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman The free flowing Hip-Hop of Penuckle is unquestionably characteristic of his Southern Cali stomping grounds. Yet on The Sun Beckons (Basement), this blunted MC proves to carry a style all his own with his easygoing nature, vivid rhymes and occasional sing-songy flow. While still a […]