In 1994, just as in 1988 for hip hop, an incredible musical wave gave birth to some classic albums, trend-setting artists and dynamic songs that we’ve noticed throughout its history so far. Amongst this batch of history, the elite roster of artists who were born before, but didn’t really show signs of teeth until 1994, [cont.]

Before there was even a glimpse on this documentary running on YouTube or before any posted trailer clip started circulating, there was something really exciting just in anticipation about any type of documentary film focused on a milestone group such as A Tribe Called Quest – pioneers in hip-hop and credited to selling 5 Gold [cont.]

    Chances are, if you’re unconcerned (to a certain extent) about whom ‘they’ say is hot in hip-hop, you will have enough sensibilities to automatically detect a true emcee from the ones that are glorified via the mass media push. Whether humble or brash, true talent, just like how it’s similarly possessed by the varying flashy [cont.]

    First it was Z-Trip’s Uneasy Listening Vol. 1 of 2001, where he and DJ P blended his signature ‘mash up’ classics of rock and rap like Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way it is” with Run-DMC’s “It’s Like That,” or Public Enemy’s “Bring the Noise” with Naked Eyes’ “Promises Promises”. Although today he may still be known [cont.]

DEFARI (of Likwit Crew) & DJ BABU (of The Beat Junkies) are the Likwit Junkies, in this interview, they both get down and vent steam on how divided the hip-hop game is, depending on which side of the fence (or coast) you consider your tastes and preferences to be. HHS: Emcees meet DJs, DJs meet [cont.]

Mixtape/Compilation Release, No Rating Given      Since 1996, the emcee and DJ/producer duo (Chace Infinite & DJ Khalil) collectively named Self Scientific, without the hyphen bridged together their constant quest for the knowledge of self with pounding, sinister beats that draw from the inner, unfelt soul and spirit. Keep these integral elements in mind when [cont.]

     Also known as One Man Army of the now defunct group, Binary Star hailing from Detroit, One Be Lo’s official solo debut LP carries an acronym which stands for: Sounds Of Nashid Originate Good Rhymes And Music. With his 1988 upbringing on hip hop, influenced mainly by artists such as KRS-ONE and Ice Cube, [cont.]

     Who even knew Ali Shaheed Muhammad could rap? Like Pete Rock, he’s holding his own, slicing and dicing his timely rhymes superbly as his own beat productions soar. As he drops his first solo LP, making him the last member of Tribe Called Quest, A to do so, heads will just have to consider this long [cont.]

With a tour promised for late September, the Foreign Exchange – comprised of producer Nicolay from the Netherlands and Phonte of Little Brother in North Carolina – are making big waves in creating the first of its kind hip hop project, where upon completing their debut LP titled Connected, they hadn’t even physically met each [cont.]

     Although the climate of ‘success’ today is more geared for ex-Terror Squad member, with his simplistic party formula following the direction of “Lean Back,” a cute and cuddly jam, it’s in no way as defining as Triple Seis’ autobiographical debut LP, Time’ll Tell. The Bronx is bleeding a million images when Triple Seis pairs [cont.]

   Just six cuts – all instrumentals – set off DJ Spinna’s Compositions 2 into an outbound journey for a hopefully great summer venture. The ears of soul’s sophisticated hip hop lovers more interested in who’s behind the boards, than who’s behind the mic, are the welcomed bunch. In this case, the mic stand is [cont.]

Slick Rick’s forced hiatus caused many of us to forget and move on to the next. Some of us though, like myself, have never forgotten. When somehow, ‘The Ruler’ escaped to LA, just after his release from being confined in Florida by the INS, I had to meet up with one of the illest emcees, [cont.]

      It’s easy to overlook just another name, in the game oversaturated and flooded by emcees, crews and predictable marketing schemes. Even the most attentive ears - that would me mine - can miss or have a low tolerance when listening to yet another rap LP. Hailing from Milpitas, California, Encore’s no newcomer, already with a lengthy [cont.]

We caught up with cultural connoisseur/actor/literary assassin Bonz Malone, the narrator and writer of the movie, We Got Your Kids, a film not just about hip hop and the music or culture behind it, but a film about the impact it has on our society as it pertains to economic empowerment, cultural degradation and social [cont.]

HHS: The title, Pangaea – as far as Visionaries are concerned, what’s your significance for having a title like this? Key Kool: “The concept of Pangaea was – the world before it became seven separate continents, was just one continent. Kinda just like how the musicis for us. We came from all these different walks [cont.]

     If you stay up in the wee hours of the night, or still have energy to be awake after you get back from the club, on BET’s slate of raunchy, nocturnal music videos, you’ll know that Mighty Casey is the sole controller of this time slot. With his “White Girls” video in constant rotation in the [cont.]

     Earlier this year, you may have had heard the faded buzz on Kool G Rap’s ex-Rawkus  release, Giancana Story, once highly anticipated back in 2001. Transfer from the No. 7 train to the F, we’re heading to Queens as Kool G Rap gathers his new kinship, 5 Family Click. Made up of an assembly [cont.]

By Marlon Regis HHS: What was your main goal in putting out, Here Comes The Fuzz? Mark Ronson: “On a bigger scale, Here Comes The Fuzz, I just think like a lot of hip hop and R&B, and new music right now, is kinda like very clean and it’s like keyboard-sounds and stuff. This is [cont.]

By Marlon Regis HHS: From your debut, From Where? released in 1995 on Atlantic Records, up until now in 2003 with your anticipated I Ain’t Mad No More release on Rawkus, how difficult have all these major transitions and changes in the market, made it for you to still have hope in the game? Skillz: [cont.]

Compilation – no rating given. Across the map, the global culture of hip hop has been growing almost limitless. And unlike the rap that’s easily carbon-copied via pop-happy songs affecting everyday life especially in the commercial world, Audio Research out of Montreal, Canada since 1997 have been staying focused and poised in keeping their 12″ [cont.]