Friends, the time has come to close the book on HipHopSite.Com. After nineteen years online, I have come to the decision to bring the site to its glorious ending. As many of you have seen, over the last few months I have been working closely with original Source Magazine founder Jonathan Shecter in creating Cuepoint [cont.]

Over at Cuepoint today, writer Donnell Alexander delves into the early days of Dr. Dre, attempting to pinpoint when he felt it was time to abandon the sound of the World Class Wreckin’ Cru and move on to pioneering L.A. gangsta rap. Dr. Dre’s Secret (Sequined) History

Great piece at Cuepoint today from the man behind the viral @PharrellHat account on Twitter. He tells what happened and how the well timed username caught on. How @Pharrellhat Went Viral

Over at Cuepoint today, Ras Kass gives an in-depth explanation as to why he wrote the song “How To Kill God,” from his Blasphemy LP with Apollo Brown. Why I Wrote “How to Kill God,” by Ras Kass

My latest piece over at Cuepoint examines 20 undeniable classic albums-across all genres-that were snubbed by The Grammys for the Album Of The Year category. 20 Classic Albums Snubbed by the Grammy Awards

Essential reading and listening at Cuepoint today from Stretch Armstrong, in his latest installment of Cassette Culture. Stretch explores the impact of the Latin Rascals’ tape-edited mixes, and offers a live mix from them recorded in 1985. How The Latin Rascals Mastered the Megamix

Essential reading today over at Cuepoint, courtesy of Check The Technique author Brian Coleman, who nabs a rare interview with MF Doom about the creation and subsequent shelving of KMD’s seminal Black Bastards LP. This is your weekend reading assignment. Check The Technique: KMD’s “Black Bastards” and the Birth of MF Doom

Over at Cuepoint, I had the honor of speaking with Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One about their new collaborative album for Stones Throw, Tuxedo, dropping this March. Read on, true believers… A Formal Introduction To Tuxedo: Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One

New at Cuepoint today, Talib Kweli speaks on the plight of the independent artist in his article “Why I Left The Major Label System.” In the article, he announces his next album, Radio Silence, and also reveals he has an album with 9th Wonder in the works, with both projects due 2015. He also outlines [cont.]

Over at Cuepoint, writer Dan Hyman speaks with DJ Mustard, who pulls the curtain back on the creative process behind hits such as Jeremih “Don’t Tell ‘Em,” Fergie’s “La La,” and many others. DJ Mustard’s Secret Ingredients For Producing A Hit

“We let Black artists create absolute shite for years but gag when it’s served on a white spoon.” Writer Shaka Shaw examines artists, race, and disposable hip-hop in this poignant new piece for Cuepoint. Don’t Blame Disposable Hip-Hop On White Artists

Over at Cuepoint, Byron Crawford explores the long history of rappers versus police. Read on, true believers… “Fuck tha Police” in Historical Context

In case you were wondering what RZA says at the end of the title track on Wu-Tang Clan’s A Better Tomorrow LP, we’ve reversed the audio for you. Play the clip below to hear RZA’s words, “The original man is god. The supreme being, black man from asia.”

My newest piece for Cuepoint examines why Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is the greatest rap album of all time. I spoke with Chuck D about the new reissues of Nation and Fear Of A Black Planet, why it took so long for them to come out, and [cont.]

Longtime rap scribe Byron Crawford was at the St. Louis, MO Run The Jewels concert on Monday night, while the Ferguson riots took place just 15 miles away. He reports for Cuepoint. Run The Jewels Stage a Rap Show During a Race Riot

In the latest entry into Stretch Armstrong’s Cassette Culture, which featured Kid Capri live at The Building NYC in 1990, Stretch dissects the set and tells the tale of the tape. Includes an amazing live recording of the set, which features tracks from A Tribe Called Quest, Brand Nubian, P.Y.T., and others being played in [cont.]

Over at Cuepoint, Grandmaster Caz weighs in on the death of Big Bank Hank of the Sugarhill Gang. For those that don’t know, Hank stole Caz’s rhymes for “Rapper’s Delight,” and saw platinum success in the process. Caz makes peace with the issue. Meanwhile, we get an in-depth interview piece with DJ Hollywood, the Harlem [cont.]

Over at Cuepoint, Questlove and other obsessive record collectors are chronicled in Eilon Paz’s Dust & Grooves, a photography and interview project. The Secret Lives of Vinyl Hoarders

Also today at Cuepoint, I’ve written some things about A-Trak’s pioneering label, Fool’s Gold Records. A-Trak’s Fool’s Gold: No Days Off

Over at Cuepoint today, author Marcus Baram offers scenery from his new book Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces of a Man, explaining the origins of his seminal track, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” Aside from being a classic record in itself, the song has been sampled on hip-hop tracks such as Common & DJ Premier’s “The [cont.]