Artist: CassidyTitle: Split PersonalityRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine Cassidy earned his way into the spotlight the old fashioned way, battling. When Cassidy stepped to Freeway, nobody in the City of Brotherly Love expected to see the challenger last a minute in the ring with the hometown and Roc-a-Fella Records endorsed favorite. But somehow, someway, […]

Artist: The Sound ProvidersTitle: An Evening With The Sound ProvidersRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Boudreaux The Love Child The Sound Providers (SP’s) are the tandem of production virtuosos Jason Skills and Soulo. Back in ’98 they raised eyebrows with the release of a 12” record (“Dope Transmission” b/w “The Field”) which fostered the groups signing a […]

Artist: Cee-LoTitle: Cee-Lo Green Is The Soul MachineRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Martin Berrios<font face="verdana" size="2" Cee-Lo Green has often been overlooked on Hip Hop's crowded stage. He has collaborated with various artists ranging from Carlos Santana to Trick Daddy. With a combination of Gospel hymns and reflective lyricism, he gave us a taste of what […]

Artist: EncoreTitle: LayoverRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Mark Cilantro These days it seems like most independent/underground MC’s are either cheap clones waiting for their turn on the corporate merry-go-round or whiners complaining like Homey the Clown that the man is keeping them down. Rarely do you see an indie MC with an actual plan of […]

Artist: Halftooth Records PresentsTitle: You Don’t Know The HalfRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Paine Budding labels that debut with a compilation are too often making a mistake. These records make big promises but rarely deliver. Too many artists, no theme, and one good single, maybe. The Halftooth crew has defied this trend. The label that will […]

Artist: Planet AsiaTitle: The Grand OpeningRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: TOBY9060 After years of developing his name in underground Hip-Hop with various twelve-inch singles and stellar guest appearances, Planet Asia has finally released his proper debut album,The Grand Opening. As the title suggests, this is the first day of business for Planet Asia’s long awaited […]

Artist: Royce Da 5’9Title: Death Is CertainRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Jigsaw Royce Da 5’9″ resonated across the internet and streets when he wrote one of hip-hop’s most vindictive dis tracks “Malcom X,” an audio war cry against D-12 (and to a lesser degree Eminem). The rage-filled song provided the groundwork for his second album, Death […]

Artist: Young GunzTitle: Tough LuvRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: StaX Soul<font face="verdana" size="2" Any new artist on a major label, let alone part of a self-proclaimed dynasty, has a huge burden to contend with on their debut release. Not being of the breed to run from a challenge, the Young Gunz (Philly emcee Young Chris and […]

Artist: MicranotsTitle: The Emperor And The AssassinRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Maurice Downes If you ever want to understand why hip-hop’s “Golden Age” was tagged as the late eighties through the early nineties, you need look no further than Eric B and Rakim, De La Soul, and Wu-Tang Clan. Ok, what’s the point? Eric B and […]

Artist: RodanTitle: Theophany: The Book Of ElevationsRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Brolin Winning A founding member of fast-rising New York super-crew Monsta Island Czars (M.I.C.), Rodan has been doing his thing since the golden era; as a youngster in Long Island, he also rolled with KMD before they were signed to Elektra. In the past year, […]

Artist: Tony TouchTitle: The Piece Maker 2Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Vaughn C Tony Touch assembles an all-star line up to catalogue another worthy installment for the DJ that raised the stakes in the mixtape world with his 50 MC’s trilogy. In a time when mixtapes are generally some hype man’s one chance to score […]

Artist: Z-ManTitle: Dope Or Dog FoodRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: TOBY9060 “And stepping to me, yo that’s the wrong move..so what you on, huh, dope or dog food?” That is the classic battle line Big Daddy Kane made famous in ‘88 (“Ain’t No Half Steppin’”). Now in the year 2004 Z-Man comes through with his […]

Artist: Drag-OnTitle: Hell and BackRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Ra’Chelle Rogers Ryde or die is a tough commitment. Take it from the crew who pledged it first. Loyalty is the main ingredient in keeping a family together. A few summers ago no other kinship of like minds represented this better than the Ruff Ryders. Complete […]

Artist: Kanye WestTitle: The College DropoutRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Robert De Gracia What does it take to legitimize an acclaimed producer in the release of his own rap album? To gain that respect, he must be more than just a notoriously good-bad singer, have an affiliation with the Roc-a-fella Family, and the reputation of […]

Artist: VariousTitle: Barbershop 2 SoundtrackRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Boudreaux the Love Child Nowadays soundtrack albums are exercises that focus on a labels self-promotion rather than relevance to the film it is associated with. So in that regard, The Barbershop 2: Back in Business Soundtrack is not expected to have much to do with its […]

Artist: Pitch BlackTitle: Pitch Black LawRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Ra’Chelle Rogers Jiggaman aint the only one claimin ‘lights out’… The gritty and grimy streets of NYC’s most notorious borough (Brooklyn) has unleashed five new deadly venoms, (D.G., Devious, Fast, G.O.D. and Zakee) collectively known as Pitch Black (PB). After creating a buzz in the […]

Artist: Phat KatTitle: The Undeniable LPRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine Phat Kat has been a hyped rising artist for two years now. Coming from Detroit, he has caught the attention of the D-12 camp, as well as Philly’s Okayplayer crew. His appearances on compilations and mixtapes have gotten some thirst for the LP. Kat’s dropped […]

Artist: SpooksTitle: Faster Than You Know…Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine Three years ago, Spooks brought the five deep crew to our ears with “Things I’ve Seen” off of their debut S.I.O.S.O.S., Vol. 1. Still with an eerie video presenting the crew’s####, few people cared to check for more. Thanks to overseas success, the group went […]

Artist: ChopsTitle: VirtuosityRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Toshitaka Kondo Being the first Asian American hip-hop act signed to a major label, the Mountain Brothers dropped real s###, no gimmicks. Unlike potential flash-in-the-pan rappers who want you to learn Chinese. Their debut Self: Volume 1 established them as a humorous and talented outfit repping the Philly proletariat. […]

Artist: David BannerTitle: MTA2: Baptized in Dirty WaterRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Yama Caviness MTA2: Baptized In Dirty Water is the follow up release to David Banner’s certified platinum album Mississippi: The Album. Impressive collaborations include Scarface, 8-Blall, Busta Rhymes, and Nelly. Despite all of this potential on paper, the album still feels more like a […]