Labels and artists alike loathe the technology advances that are readily available in our dot-com culture, file swappers, in a few isolated instances, have actually worked in concert to assist a few artists—ex: Last Emperor.  Through lost deals with Rawkus, Hi-Rise, and Dr. Dre’s AfterMath imprint, Emp’s “vaulted” material has nevertheless been widely accessible and in [cont.]

Upon completing a three-year bid for assault, the stars finally started to align for Keith Murray.  After being graciously released from his deal with Jive, Mr. Murray re-upped with one of, if not the most powerful label (Def Jam) in hip-hop and when your rolling with Rush, any concerns of having an under-promoted LP are [cont.]

Though Pep Love would eventually go on to secure a solo-deal with the Hieroglyphics Imperium imprint, before his Ascension, Pep, along with Jay Biz, were short-lived members of The Prose.  While the duo’s debut, The Shaman, never saw the light of day until now, it was recorded (92-94) at the height of Hiero’s rise to prominence and [cont.]

    “Cause I’m cool like dat/I’m out.”  After releasing two seminal efforts (1993′s Reachin’: A New Refutation Of Time and Space & 1994′s Blowout Comb) as a member of Digable Planets, Ishmael/Butterfly (alongside Ladybug and Doodlebug) played a major role in redefining the Jazz/Hip Hop infusion.  Yet, almost as quickly as they rose to prominence, Digable [cont.]

“I’m so high, you so high, I be getting money till the die that I die.”  With that chorus (and the unforgettable Buckwild production that accompanied it) ringing loudly from every borough in N.Y.C., Mic Geronimo’s “Masta I.C.” became an almost instant block anthem in 1995.  Yet, while Mic sounded like the next emcee in line [cont.]

“I’m afraid though we rap for food, were still hungry.”  The Cunninlynguists (Deacon The Villian  & Kno) maybe the next crew residing past the Mason Dixon (Kentucky to be exact) line too generate a healthy underground buzz. After their debut, Will Rap For Food, went largely ignored, the rapidly improving duo is back with a [cont.]

“Street Dreams are made of these, niggas push beamers and 300 E’s, everybody’s looking for something.”  With those sentiments and a flossy big budget video from Hype Williams, Nas  went from Nasty to Esco and helped usher in hip-hop’s pretty boy thug era. Undoubtedly influenced by those words, Fabolous, has taken a cue from Nasir [cont.]

    Depending upon who you ask, sans 50 Cent, Freeway’s debut, Philadelphia Freeway, is the second most anticipated release of 2003.  Though his debut has undergone a slew of delays (is Jay-Z the only member of the R.O.C. who can put out an LP on schedule) Freeway stayed busy and furthered his buzz by guest appearing [cont.]

*Compilation, no rating given* After having a stranglehold on the mixtape circuit for the better part of two years (EXCLUSIVES), Clue ran into hefty competition from Kay Slay, Whoo Kid and nameless others.  Thankfully, for Clue, he struck while the irons were hot and parlayed that mixtape success into a deal with Jay-Z (major label [cont.]

HHS: What does the name Little Brother represent? Phonte:  The name Little Brother represents the homage that we pay to the artists who came before us; the Jungle Bros, Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, the Roots, etc…  They were like our big brothers coming up in the game.  Now, that we’ve decided to make music, [cont.]

HHS: Its been six years since you split with El and everyone pretty much associates you as being an Artifact, since the break-up has it been challenging for you to break that correlation? Tame: Only to the media.  Everyone else accepts it and don’t/won’t even bring his name up in my presence.  Individually we started [cont.]

After numerous Cold Chillin classics with former partner DJ Polo (Road To The Riches and Wanted: Dead Or Alive) Kool G Rap has spent the last decade trying to get above ground.  However, a series of roadblocks have prevented G Rap from doing just that; his solo career has been marred by record industry rule #4080, under-funded labels [cont.]

Jay Dee is certainly no stranger to instrumental based endeavors.  After all, his last opus, Welcome To Detroit, not only ushered in BBE’s influential Beat Generation series, but also provided Dilla with the ultimate outlet to exhibit his diversity behind the boards.  While most of us are eagerly anticipating his solo-debut, or his upcoming EP on [cont.]

Matt Conaway HHS: Over the past year, we have seen you undergo a very interesting transition, from being known primarily as a producer to wearing both hats (producing and emceeing).  Was this your goal from the start, to juggle both aspects? Blueprint:  I don’t know if it was necessarily a goal of mine to juggle [cont.]

     EDITOR’s NOTE: We have decided not to review Dangermouse’s Grey Album due to cease and desist orders and 9th Wonders Black Album remix in order to protect the LP’s sanctity, per his wishes.     While the remix is certainly not a new medium, 9th Wonder’s renovation of Nas’ God’s Son (God’s Stepson) not only opened [cont.]

On “Last Real Nigga Alive” Nas states “I’m the last real nigga alive that’s official.”  Now while nearly every emcee currently holding a mic (sans Eminem) will take some offense with that statement, to be blunt, there are only a handful of emcees breathing who can honestly claim that they are putting there life between the [cont.]

Though it took nearly a decade for the “record buying” public to acknowledge their obvious talents, the inevitable finally happened in 1999 as The Roots took a major step out of the underground with Things Fall Apart and the Grammy award winning single the LP spawned “You Got Me” featuring Erykah Badu. If we have come [cont.]

On Loyalty’s blazing pre-amble, “Take A Look At My Life”, Fat Joe asserts his new Big Willie status—”Not Crack with a Platinum plaque/no.”  However, if anyone told you last year before J.O.S.E. dropped that Fat Joe would go platinum, you would have probably just chuckled slightly under your breath and went about your business.  Granted, Joe [cont.]

After releasing their vastly under-rated debut, The Self Science, last year, DJ Khalil and Chace Infinite managed to turn some heads outside of the sunny California state they reside in.  Now in ’02, they return with a “comprehensive collection of B-sides and Rare 12 inches”, The Works, which digs up some of the archives from their five [cont.]

When you brick at the time when you are billing yourself as the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) it has to do a little something to your self-confidence.  Yet, while LL Cool J has undeniably proven himself to be one of hip-hop’s most iconic figures, he has also proved to be just as resilient. After all, [cont.]