If you’ve ever watched an adult film from the late ‘90s or today, you might know who Mr. Marcus is. And if you’ve never seen his work, some might say there are a few things to gain from watching him in action. Known for wearing his baseball cap while performing, Mr. Marcus has been in […]

            While Flavor Flav may have become an object of ridicule through cable television’s last five years of programming, we, as a Hip-Hop journalists, can’t help but “roast” the man for his merits.     It’s arguable that no “hype-man” in Hip-Hop history has done more. Flav, who with one late-released solo album, has […]

Andre 3000, born André Lauren Benjamin, is one half of Hip-Hop’s buried treasure, Outkast, an accomplished musician and actor, and now Sunny Bridges, a prize-winning musician who gives up touring to teach at his alma mater. Class of 3000, co-created, executive produced and starring Benjamin, is Cartoon Network’s latest attempt to progress with the times. […]

Anything put together by Dr. Cornel West is best listened to with your thinking cap on. The album Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations (Hidden Beach) is a trek through a level of consciousness usually reserved for a higher plateau of understanding. Concepts of crime, poverty and government corruption come to life at the tongues […]

There aren’t many opportunities in your life time where you get to be a part of something that marks an era, or that designates a moment of achievement never before attained.  Last night, whether you saw it in person, watched it on television, or heard about it in the papers, you experienced Barry Bonds blast […]

Lady Sings the Blues meets the new millennium with this outrageous and daring reintroduction of Lady Day.  Remixed & Reimagined (Columbia Legacy) is a true masterpiece that expands the expectation of “new music” in an era where predictability is expected.  Billie Holiday’s unique jazzy style made major noise throughout the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s and […]

    Attention! Be prepared for a draft by the fashion brigade this fall. Phil Gapud, creator and head designer of Cavi Designs, has established a unique niche with his military inspired line of clothing, giving urban fashion another bragging right. Established in 2004, Cavi designs has since earned its stripes, with artists like Jay-Z, T.I. […]

Catherine Hall Park in Montego Bay, Jamaica was flooded with Reggae music’s hottest talent accompanied by thousands of local and international fans during the 15th annual Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, July 15th-21st. Sumfest, Jamaica’s only annual week long music festival dedicated to supporting and promoting the lands indigenous music, was divided into three nights of […]

After weeks of speculation, Tennessee Titans cornerback and return specialist Adam “Pacman” Jones is the newest member of Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling.   The former West Virginia University student, who signed an exclusive contract with the pro wrestling company, will make his firs in-ring appearance Thursday (Aug. 9) on TNA’s iMPACT! television show.   […]

Christian Audigier set trends with his crystal-laden, detailed designs. There aren’t many celebrity events where you won’t see a signature Ed Hardy cap bearing shimmering skulls and crossbones, a flaming tiger or a studded geisha girl. The stars need to have their favorite Ed Hardy designs wherever they go, and Christian Audigier makes it all […]

Dear McDonald’s, What it is, what it do and what is gon’ be? This is Hip-Hop. You know me. I just wanted to drop you a line real quick, because I saw that you dropped Twista from the “McDonald’s Live” tour. I have to admit that Twista can be a bit raw and aggressive, but […]

For the past couple of weeks I’ve been inundated with news, views and all sorts of commentary about celebrities, athletes and rappers gone wild. Now I’ve listened to more than few television pundits including those on the Today Show, The View and Regis & Kelly make the case that the multiple drunk driving incidents, possible […]

    In recent years, the Hip-Hop we see on television and hear on the radio has been reduced down to ridiculous clown images of men and women in oversized clothes or scantily clad dresses shaking oversized and unhealthy fat a#### over and over again. When I hear Hip-Hop heads talk about the culture it makes […]

With their sixth studio LP, No Place Like Soul (Stax), the New York-based jazz/funk trio Soulive looks to further distance itself from the jam band scene. In an attempt to push its sound in a new direction, the band has added a new member, Boston-based vocalist Toussaint, who appears on most of the album’s tracks. […]

Huh?  What? Can you repeat that? We’ve all been there and done that. The Bluetooth-ed world of wireless has made us a people who look like we are talking to ourselves.  Sure we can now drive without risking a crash, but many times neither we nor the person on the other side of the call […]

To be a Rock artist is one thing, but to be a true Rock Star is another. The first step towards the latter category often begins with creating a persona that’s not only larger than life, but larger than even the imaginations of the audience. Prince has certainly done that, but after thirty-plus years, it’s […]

    Ike Taylor is a product of the Hip-Hop generation. The Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Back grew up in New Orleans, and was a childhood associate of both Lil’ Wayne and B.G. Just as he’s watched his rapping peers rise to stardom, the Super Bowl ring-wearing Taylor has matured into one of the most versatile players […]

In the last few years we’ve had a regional struggle for dominance in Hip-Hop, with traditional powerhouses like New York and Los Angeles ceding ground to newer hotspots like Houston and Atlanta for both attention and sales. As rappers have aged, retired, gotten locked up, or fallen off, we have seen a shift in the […]

The Salvation Army isn’t going to like what I am going to say, but I have to say it. If you really want to stay fly, don’t throw any of your clothing away. My closets are overflowing with clothes, sneakers, jerseys, jackets and other such great clothing. Oh, I forgot to mention – much of […]

Summertime playlists are consumed with Bob Marley’s mellow rhythms, political awareness, and overall timelessness. In the spirit of updating remix projects heard by Motown, Verve, Blue Note and other boutique labels, Roots, Rock, Remixed (Quango) sidesteps the Legend followers for a pure Marley experience, with contemporary tempos, rhythms, and reconsiderations. Some of these mixes reach […]