Among the many releases emblazoned with the Wu-Tang phoenix logo, the consumer never really knows what they are going to get. Each member has carved out their own niche, not to mention the abundance of affiliate member releases from the Clan’s alleged 300+ member roster. Then there are the compilations, and then there’s releases like [cont.]

Repping Flint, Michigan, Jon Connor seemingly appeared out of nowhere, building a name for himself from his Vinnie Chase mixtape series. Setting beats on fire with a crisp, super-lyrical delivery comparable to the likes of Royce Da 5’9, Canibus, or Big Pun, Connor instantly gained a fan following via the rap blogosphere. With Salvation, he [cont.]

Heads might not realize that LMFAO’s origins begin in indie hip-hop. Red Foo along with current Party Rock Crew member, Dre Kroon, first stepped onto the scene around 1997 with their “Life Is A Game Of Chess” and “The Freshest” singles. Collaborating with DJ Revolution and Evidence, it was clear that these guys hearts were [cont.]

After creating a significant buzz for himself on his Finally Famous mixtape series, Detroit emcee, Big Sean, was snatched up by Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint, the first of a new generation of acts to represent the label. With Finally Famous: The Album, all of Sean’s hard work comes to fruition with his official debut [cont.]

On paper, the concept of a posse LP featuring underground fan favorites Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, and emcee/producer Black Milk on one album together sounds like a no-brainer. That’s exactly what we get with Random Axe, a team-up of the three artists, presented by Duck Down. However being that the three each have their own [cont.]

Rick Ross has seen an amazing turn in his career over the last year or so, turning accusations of being a correctional officer irrelevant, instead fashioning himself as the biggest boss that you’ve seen thus far, literally. Large in both physical stature and industry status, Ross has shot past rival 50 Cent in terms of [cont.]

Released from prison just about a month ago, Mobb Deep’s Prodigy serves up something for the fans in the form of The Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson EP, a free release presented by Complex Magazine. Built around clips from the 1997 film Hoodlum (of which Mobb Deep lent the title track), P loosely takes on the roll [cont.]

Ohio’s Blueprint has been putting it down on the underground scene for a good decade now, becoming an integral limb in the Rhymesayers family tree, and without a doubt one of the most consistent artists in his class. It’s been five years since his last LP with RSE, 1988, and with Adventures In Counter-Culture he [cont.]

Two separate reports surfaced this weekend, outlining the financial issues of Lil’ Wayne. First, he is being sued by the producer of “Lollipop”, “Let The Beat Build”, and “Mrs. Officer”, Darius “Deezle” Harrison. Harrison has filed a lawsuit against Young Money Entertainment for a sum of $20 million, over past due royalty payments. Harrison’s lawyer, [cont.]

The curse of the classic album. Every artist in the world wants to release an LP that shifts the paradigm of music as a whole, and remains timeless to listeners decades later. It’s arguable whether or not Pharoahe Monch did this on Organized Konfusion’s Stress: The Extinction Agenda in 1994, or later with his debut [cont.]

Travis Barker has led one of the most interesting and storied careers as an artist, from his humble beginnings as drummer for Blink 182 to performing with DJ AM at different spots on the globe. Tragedy struck Barker in 2008, after surviving a Lear Jet plane crash alongside DJ AM, while four others died. DJ [cont.]

Redman has had a storied career in hip-hop, releasing some of the best albums the genre has ever produced, including the classics Whut?!? Thee Album and Muddy Waters. But the rapper that prided himself on being “raw like Reservoir Dogs” has found it challenging to transition from “The Headbanger” era to that of “I’ll Be [cont.]

The legendary Sam Sneed has had a rough career, despite the cult success of his debut single, “U Better Recognize” with Dr. Dre, from the Murder Was The Case soundtrack. While Sneed, along with partner J-Flexx, were integral to helping craft some of the early Death Row classics, shake-ups at the label (which you may [cont.]

One of the most buzzed about artists overseas is Tinie Tempah, a 22 year old British rapper that has exploded onto the scene in the last few years, with a grime-influenced style similar to Wiley and Dizzee Rascal. His official debut album, Disc-Overy, has seen massive success overseas, with four chart topping singles and an [cont.]

On Christmas Eve, Rick Ross dropped his third official release of 2010, the Ashes To Ashes mixtape-album, which followed his critically acclaimed Teflon Don LP, and preceding Albert Anastasia EP. The collection is a bit of a mixed bag – a handful of tracks obviously not strong enough for his album tracklists, and a few [cont.]

Regardless of how you feel about his music, nobody can deny the business man and walking promotion machine that is Diddy. Truth of the matter is, many out there don’t really love Diddy musically, beyond the original Biggie Bad Boy era, but we follow him regardless to see if he will strike gold once again. [cont.]

Words cannot express the above performance. Which raises another question, is the studio audience on SNL not allowed to “boo”?

The Bay Area’s Zion I crew, made up of producer Amp Live and emcee Zumbi, have always been known for their incredible consistency and diverse musical palette. While they got off to a rough start, over the course of the group’s career, they improved with time, gaining a loyal following, perfecting their sound, never afraid [cont.]

The story goes like this. Once upon a time, a man named Renato Carosone wrote a song called “Tu Vuo’ Fa’ L’Americano“. Then, a group called Yolando Be Cool came along and sampled it the track, creating a massive club smash called “We No Speak Americano”. Then, house producer Alvaro remixed Yolando Be Cool’s remake [cont.]

This joint comes from Deacon and Sheisty’s Niggaz With Latitude project dropping November 30th digitally, and December 14 physically. LISTEN: Deacon the Villain (of CunninLynguists) + Sheisty Khrist – “Ascension” (MP3) Deacon the Villain (of CunninLynguists) + Sheisty Khrist – “Ascension” (MP3)