Let The Truth Be Told
Artist: KrumbsnatchaTitle: Let The Truth Be ToldRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine Twice, Krumbsnatcha has stepped to the plate and walked. No hits, no strikeouts just sort of came and went. Thats tolerable for a lot of rappers. But KS boasts an endorsement from the Gang Starr Foundation, the Midas ears of Hip-Hop talent […]
The Love Deluxe Movement
Artist: The JuggaknotsTitle: The Love Deluxe Movement Rating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Maurice Downes On some kind of hell-bent to incorporate every annoying album concept at the same time, Juggaknots follow up their excellent re-release of Clear Blue Skies with a… wait for it… concept mixtape EP. Yeah. Titled The Love Deluxe Movement (Matic Records), […]
Guerilla City
Artist: Guerilla BlackTitle: Guerilla CityRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Shawn Lawrence James How the West was won. In 1992, a well-known rapper/producer by the name of Dr. Dre exploded to Hip-Hops forefront with his timeless classic, The Chronic. Carefully sewing his intoxicating lyrics to create an ambiance of gangsta grit and 70s Blaxploitational funk, this album, […]
The Beautiful Struggle
Artist: Talib KweliTitle: The Beautiful StruggleRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Jozen Cummings Since bursting onto hip-hops 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, […]
Cult Status
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 […]
Earthtones
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 […]
Self Explanatory
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 MCs 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 […]
Sweat – Suit
Artist: NellyTitle: Sweat – SuitRating: 2 StarsReviewed by: Orisanmi Burton Nellys Sweat Suit (Universal) is the latest double Hip-Hop CD (technically) to drop since 2Pacs monumental All Eyes On Me started the trend. With few exceptions, most notably Outkasts Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, the dual disc format in popular music has served no purpose, other than […]
1st Infantry
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 Hills Muggs, Alchemist went on to produce hood classics for the likes of Prodigy (Keep it Thoro) and Jadakiss (We […]
A Job Ain’t Nuthin But Work
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-Hops 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, […]
Mirror Music
Artist: WordsworthTitle: Mirror MusicRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Kenny Rodriguez Wordsworth has worn many hats in the last ten years. Sure, hes co-starred on MTVs 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 […]
North by Northwest
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, its 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 […]
6 O’Clock Straight
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 […]
The Definition
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 cant be disputed is that LL Cool J is a definite legend in hip-hops legacy. Having spearheaded the dominance of Def Jam Records, cranked out radio hit after hit, […]
Welcome To The Hood
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, […]
On My Way to Church
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. […]
Milk Me
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, […]
To Tha X-Treme
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-towns court jester. Both funny and tragic, Devins albums about weed, women, and hard luck always make for a laugh-out-loud listen, and on his latest effort, To Tha X-Treme […]
Blood and Ashes
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 Outerspaces debut, Blood and Ashes (Babygrande), thats exactly what is delivered. Group members Planetary and […]
Only Time’ll Tell
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 Squads self titled underrated debut, strong work on the Beatnuts Musical Massacre LP, and […]
