Artist: Talib KweliTitle: The Beautiful StruggleRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Jozen Cummings Since bursting onto hip-hop’s underground scene in 1998, Talib Kweli has been a slow burner among many hot flashes. From his debut as one half of the rap duo Black Star onto his 2001 solo debut Quality, with Reflection Eternal DJ Hi-Tek in between, […]

Artist: Chief KamachiTitle: Cult StatusRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Bill Low-Key Heinzelman If there is one thing the City of Brotherly love is known for in regards to Hip-Hop, its uncompromising street music. From the State Property crew, to Jedi Mind Tricks and Outerspace, Philly is a breeding ground for hardcore street music. Chief Kamachi […]

Artist: Crown City RockersTitle: EarthtonesRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Brolin Winning Previously known as Mission, the Crown City Rockers have been making top-shelf Hip-Hop for many years now. They came together in Boston back in ’98, where several members were attending Berklee School of Music. After hooking up with Rashaan Ahmad to handle mic duties, the […]

Artist: I-20Title: Self ExplanatoryRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Martin A. Berrios With the recent explosion of Southern Hip-Hop, all eyes are currently focused on MC’s hailing below the Mason Dixie line. As a part of the Ludacris lead Disturbing Tha Peace consortium, I-20 hopes to capitalize off this movement. His deep voice, which at times […]

Artist: NellyTitle: Sweat – SuitRating: 2 StarsReviewed by: Orisanmi Burton Nelly’s Sweat Suit (Universal) is the latest double Hip-Hop CD (technically) to drop since 2Pac’s monumental All Eyes On Me started the trend. With few exceptions, most notably Outkast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, the dual disc format in popular music has served no purpose, other than […]

Artist: AlchemistTitle: 1st InfantryRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone Consistency and dedication are the true keys to success, two character traits that producer extraordinaire The Alchemist definitely possesses. Coming up under the wing of Cypress Hill’s Muggs, Alchemist went on to produce hood classics for the likes of Prodigy (“Keep it Thoro”) and Jadakiss (“We […]

Artist: J-ZoneTitle: A Job Ain’t Nuthin But WorkRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman J-Zone has always been somewhat of a misfit in Hip-Hop’s underground and independent scene. Ideally the underground is supposed to be a safe haven for creativity, but elitist fans can be quick to dismiss brutally honest artists like J-Zone. As a misogynistic, […]

Artist: WordsworthTitle: Mirror MusicRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Kenny Rodriguez Wordsworth has worn many hats in the last ten years. Sure, he’s co-starred on MTV’s short-lived Lyricist Lounge Show, written pilot sitcoms for HBO, and appeared in a cinematic film or two, but the Hip-Hop community knows Words best for his ability to drop witty punchlines […]

Artist: SoulSticeTitle: North by NorthwestRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Bill Low-Key Heinzelman With the windy city producing some of the best material these days, it’s only right that it is home to one of Hip-Hop’s best kept secrets, SoulStice. The Chi-town emcee started out as most emcees do, by rocking local parties and events to […]

Artist: Truth EnolaTitle: 6 O’Clock StraightRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine On De La Soul 19TK album Stakes is High, Mos Def appeared on “Big Brother Beat”, confirming his Native Tongue status. Five years; Mos is famed as a b-boy, media darling, poet, and leader of the new school. Another young MC featured on that […]

Artist: L.L. Cool JTitle: The DefinitionRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone While his self-given title of the “greatest of all time” is debatable, one thing that can’t be disputed is that LL Cool J is a definite legend in hip-hop’s legacy. Having spearheaded the dominance of Def Jam Records, cranked out radio hit after hit, […]

Artist: Ice CityTitle: Welcome To The HoodRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Jayson Rodriguez Putting “Ya mans and ’em” on is as much a perk for rappers today as pushing a Bentley, sipping Cristal, or starring in a straight-to-DVD flick. Freeway, a beneficiary of the latter benefits as both Beanie Sigel’s homeboy and a successful solo artist, […]

Artist: Jim JonesTitle: On My Way to ChurchRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Martin A. Berrios From the crack game to the rap game, Harlem, NY has often bred flamboyant hood legends. As a founding member of the Cam’ron led Diplomats crew, Jim Jones looks to carry on the Uptown tradition of flossing ones, wears and weaves. […]

Artist: The BeatnutsTitle: Milk MeRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Robert DeGracia The Beatnuts have been running mates even before the Hip-Hop renaissance. Constantly feeding true gold to the crate digger and DJ, less heralded duo Psycho Les and Junkyard Juju have never been elected as Latin Hip-Hop presidents, although they have been campaigning longer than Pun, […]

Artist: Devin The DudeTitle: To Tha X-TremeRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jozen Cummings If Scarface is the king of Houston rap, then Devin the Dude is H-town’s court jester. Both funny and tragic, Devin’s albums about weed, women, and hard luck always make for a laugh-out-loud listen, and on his latest effort, To Tha X-Treme […]

Artist: OuterspaceTitle: Blood and AshesRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone When Vinnie Paz, the violent-minded front man of Jedi Mind Tricks, executive produces a project, odds are in favor of an unabashedly hardcore listening experience. On the Philly-based duo Outerspace’s debut, Blood and Ashes (Babygrande), that’s exactly what is delivered. Group members Planetary and […]

Artist: Triple SeisTitle: Only Time’ll TellRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine Triple Seis is one of those many artists lost in the shuffle of bad breaks. In terms of talent, Seis has proven himself from his work dating back to Terror Squad’s self titled underrated debut, strong work on the Beatnuts’ Musical Massacre LP, and […]

Artist: Young BuckTitle: Straight Outta CashvilleRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Javid Louis Straight Outta Cashville (Interscope), G-Unit is back on the scene with the debut album from Young Buck. After the astronomical success of 50 Cent and the platinum, and growing, success of Lloyd Banks, many wondered how the first Southern release from the New York […]

Artist: MaseTitle: Welcome BackRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone “I’m just a Bad Boy gone clean,” admits the newly reformed Mase on the title track from his third disc, Welcome Back (Bad Boy/Universal). Back like the Prodigal Son featured in his favorite read, M-A-dollar sign-E has put down the Holy Book for his rhyme book […]

Artist: The Foreign ExchangeTitle: ConnectedRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Mark Cilantro Way back in 2002 I was in Cue’s record store in the heart of Philly right before The Roots Phrenology hit the streets. Steph Tatas had the advance promo copy and a friend and I were bugging off of “Water.” At that point he […]