Proof that lyrical ability can take you far in the rap game, Ohio-bred punchline king Copywrite has gone from the subterranean exposure of Eastern Conference Records to the high-profile world of Roc-A-Fella connections and potential stardom, simply by murdering competition through battling. At a Roc The Mic Tour on-stage battle last year, Copywrite, who had [cont.]

While the common hip-hop fan rarely takes rap music beyond its surface value, those willing enough to dig deeper into what the culture has to offer will come across truly intriguing points of view. A perfect example of this is Brooklyn native Goretex, who, along with his Non Phixion brethren Ill Bill and Sabac, consistently [cont.]

Jean Grae is a picture-perfect representation of how possessing determination, passion, and a willingness to never compromise your integrity will bring rewards in due time. If proof is needed to believe such a claim, simply  take a look at her career thus far. Coming up as a member of the now defunct underground group Natural [cont.]

      While her buzz factor is currently at its highest point, Brooklyn’s female super-lyricist Jean Grae has been establishing herself for years. Her solo debut, Attack of the Attacking Things, was released in 2002 to critical acclaim, and her Bootleg of the Bootleg EP laid further claim into her status as the game’s strongest estrogen-charged [cont.]

“If skills sold, truth be told/ I’d probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli.” - Jay-Z  “Moment of Clarity” For the ignorant hip-hop listener, hearing Jigga show his praises for fellow Brooklyn native Talib Kweli may have been the first time Kweli’s near-flawless lyrical abilities were made crystal clear. A veteran behind the microphone, Kweli has gone from [cont.]

      Successfully pulling off the always tricky “double-album” is quite a task for any rap artist. While Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac were able to pull it off without scars, Jay-Z and Wu-Tang Clan came under scrutiny for overloading their discs with excess filler. The latest name to attempt the double-album is St. Louis golden child [cont.]

     Successfully pulling off the always tricky “double-album” is quite a task for any rap artist. While Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac were able to pull it off without scars, Jay-Z and Wu-Tang Clan came under scrutiny for overloading their discs with excess filler. The latest name to attempt the double-album is St. Louis golden child [cont.]

       Certain rap artists inspire equal amounts of hate and support with each new record dropped and freestyle recorded. One such act is the Diplomats, the Harlem-based crew consisting of front men Cam’ron, Juelz Santana, and Jim Jones. While many throw negative comments towards Dipset’s similarly sounding beats and simplistic wordplay, others rush street corners [cont.]

      Released with much praise yet minimal commercial attention in 1997, the Cincinnati-based crew Mood issued Karma, an avant-garde blend of pure lyricism and multi-layered instrumentals. Alongside DJ Jahson and Donte, Main Flow stood out with his obvious microphone proficiency over crisp production from a ‘pre-Reflection Eternal’ Hi-Tek. Seven years later, Main Flow is finally [cont.]

“Life’s a bitch and then you die, that’s why we get high, cuz you never know when you’re gonna go” With those words delivered on the classic Nas debut LP Illmatic, AZ was immortalized within the history books of hip-hop music. As the only guest to appear on that seminal record, Brooklyn native AZ began [cont.]