Artist: Young GunzTitle: Brother From AnotherRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Jay Peregrine For rap artists, balancing commercial and raw street appeal is an art, not a science. It is a very delicate procedure that very few acts have been able to master, though it hasn’t stopped many of today’s major label recording artists from giving it […]

Artist: GrafhTitle: The PreviewRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Bill “Low-Key” Heinzelman He hasn’t been shot nine times, but Grafh has a story of turmoil and conflict unlike any other. During his teenage years, Grafh witnessed the brutal murders of his two closest role models, one being an O.G. in the streets and the other tragically […]

Artist: Living LegendsTitle: ClassicRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Maurice Downes The story of the Living Legends is the ever-living dream of every kid who picks up a pen and paper and starts writing rhymes with their friends. It’s also a pat on the back to every independent artist/MC/whatever who rails against the system and demands complete […]

Artist: Deep ThinkersTitle: Necks MoveRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Anthony “Lil Koop” Carr When it comes to Kansas City, Missouri, what rap artist can you name? Don’t drift down south to St. Louis keep your mind in Kansas City. Did Tech N9ne come to mind? Sole? Maybe no artist came to mind at all right? For […]

Artist: BoskoTitle: Super Producer Bosko Presents: That FireRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jozen CummingsBay Area producer Bosko can be considered the West’s people’s champ. Those Hip-hop heads raised on the likes of E-40, 3X Crazy, and Too Short have long been familiar with what the multi-instrumentalist can do behind the boards. But on his debut […]

Artist: B.G. aka B. GizzleTitle: The Heart of Tha Streetz Vol. 1Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Bill “Low-Key” Heinzelman B.G. needs Mannie Fresh more than he will admit. Since his departure from Cash Money, B.Gizzle has failed to replace the extraordinary production he was once privileged to receive, and in turn has delivered two disappointing releases. […]

Artist: Doujah RazeTitle: The Pre-Fix MixtapeRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Anthony “Lil Koop”™ Carr When VA/DC region is spoken about within the mix tape or music scene itself, the first genre to come to mind is the homegrown sound of Go-Go. Therefore making a name for your self will take the outside approach. Doujah Raze […]

Artist: Junior M.A.F.I.A.Title: Riot MusikRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Orisanmi Burton Ten years after the release of their debut album Conspiracy, Junior M.A.F.I.A. have some B.I.G. shoes to fill. For starters, the late great Christopher Wallace was the motley crew’s rhyme guru. His charisma on hit singles “Get Money” and “Player’s Anthem” was undeniably the […]

Artist: CommonTitle: BeRating: 5 StarsReviewed by: Sean A. Malcolm Classic…that’s not a word us critics use lightly. We don’t throw that word around like a 99 mph Randy Johnson fastball. Unfortunately, this game hasn’t seen an overall flawless album since…EXACTLY. Peep the quick “classical” lineup: Illmatic…classic. Midnight Marauders…classic. Reasonable Doubt…classic. These albums embodied everything we […]

Artist: The ChapterTitle: Us vs. ThemRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Chris Yuscavage Fans of The Roots and company are already halfway towards becoming a fan of Hip-hop duo The Chapter. Handpicked by ?uestLOVE to appear on 2004’s OkayPlayer compilation, True Notes Vol. 1, emcee Verbal E and producer 3Sixty are introduced to the world again by […]

Artist: Roots ManuvaTitle: Awfully DeepRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Conan Milne Firstly, let’s kill all of the inevitable comparisons between British and American artists dead in their tracks. The fact is that someone’s location doesn’t determine whether or not he or she is a talented MC. Enter Roots Manuva. The British/Jamaican hip-hopper returns with his third […]

Artist: C-Rayz WalzTitle: Year of the BeastRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Chris Yuscavage C-Rayz Walz has got it made – literally. With an upcoming appearance on MTV’s social rags-to-riches endeavor “Made” (playing the role of mentor to an emcee hopeful), the Definitive Jux and Stronghold Crew member has created enough buzz with last year’s We Live […]

Artist: OutlawzTitle: Outlawz 4 LifeRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine On their latest album, Outlawz 4 Life (One Nation/33rd Street), Kastro, EDI, and Noble press on defiantly without ‘Pac. The album is their attack on a marketplace that may have never given them a fair shot. No longer with former member Napolean’s services, the remaining trio […]

Artist: Movie ReviewTitle: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (Film)Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Edwardo Jackson BIASES: late 20s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare I got the Millennium Falcon for Christmas when I was seven. We all know […]

Artist: Various ArtistsTitle: The Very Best of Death RowRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman With their introduction of G-Funk to the world, the artists of Death Row Records dominated urban radio and music video shows from early-‘93 to late-‘94. With the easygoing, Parliament-inspired vibes, comprehensible lyrics and sing-a-long choruses of singles like Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ […]

Artist: Chief Kamachi & The Juju MobTitle: Black CandlesRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Jay Peregine With dissension prevalent amongst the rank and file of many rap factions, it’s encouraging when four emcees make U.N.I.T.Y. look easy. Collectively, Chief Kamachi and the JuJu mob form the self-proclaimed “4 Headed Monster” on the enchantingly rancorous Black Candles (Eastern […]

Artist: Movie ReviewTitle: Crash (Film)Rating: 5 StarsReviewed by: Edwardo Jackson BIASES: late 20’s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare “In LA, nobody touches you… We miss that touch so much, we crash into each other just so we […]

Artist: MF DoomTitle: Live From Planet XRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Kevin Polowy Let’s face it, there’s not but a handful of emcees truly worthy of a live LP. Forget the fact that listening to a live set can sometimes equate to the relative excitement of watching the Super Bowl three months later. Most Hip-hop […]

Artist: High & MightyTitle: 12th ManRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine High & Mighty and their Eastern Conference Records were achieving many feats five years ago that are perhaps too quickly forgotten. Their full length debut, Home Field Advantage was one of the most complete albums Rawkus ever released. It featured a pre-Dre Eminem, Kool G […]

Artist: Memphis BleekTitle: 534Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Bill “Low-Key” Heinzelman Memphis Bleek will never be Jay-Z, so get over it. While early on Bleek was hailed as Hova’s retirement plan, such lofty aspirations never came to fruition, as Bleek has continually lived in Jigga’s shadow. Now with Mr. Carter’s departure from the rap game […]