Who Is This Man? It’s not only the album title of this MF Doom produced album, but the question I had to ask about his partner, John Robinson.  While Doom’s work has long been heralded, John Robinson hadn’t made a splash on my radar.  Given the album title, though, it’s clear he’s out to explain [cont.]

Madlib’s Beat Konducta series of instrumental albums began as a series of beat-tapes handed out to artists like De La Soul and Talib Kweli, and then soon ending up in the hands of fans. Given official release through Stones Throw, each volume has been released in pairs, with volumes 1 & 2 aka Movie Scenes [cont.]

Ryan Leslie has remained behind the scenes for most of his career thus far, producing and writing tracks for numerous artists, including Beyonce, Britney Spears, Danity Kane, and most notably, acting as the brains behind Cassie’s breakthrough single, “Me & U”. He was supposed to drop his debut album, Just Right, in 2005, but the [cont.]

In history the fusing of two genres sometimes yields great results, i.e. Run DMC and Aerosmith and Jay-Z with Linkin Park. But to have something monumental come from this type of collaboration, all parties involved have to be fully committed.  There has been many times this just didn’t work (anyone remember the Loud Rocks compilation?).  So once [cont.]

With the passing of J. Dilla, many of his peers, both from Detroit (Black Milk, Illa J, Dwele, Slum Village) and abroad (The Roots, Busta Rhymes, Madlib) have felt the need to carry on the sound of Jay Dee. Whether through the resurrection of unused beats, or by creating music with essentially the same sound, [cont.]

Being a member of a critically acclaimed group, creating a hip-hop masterpiece, and then going on to produce for some of the most notable emcees to ever do it, Large Professor is a staple in the hip-hop community.  It can be argued that many opportunities were missed, Extra P still managed to keep himself relevant [cont.]

Truly standing out as the late coming member of the acclaimed group Slum Village, Elzhi basically had the difficult task of filling the void left after J Dilla’s departure.  Well, with impressive talent through sharp lyricism, Elzhi lived up to the expectations set by wowing listeners on Slum Village projects, as well as guest appearances.  It [cont.]

The times are changing.  With the evolution of internet based music it seems that not only style and substance are enhancing, but just the overall approach to hip-hop in general.  Subject matter is starting to become more diverse while experimentation with production is being heavily explored.  So who are The Knux exactly?  Comprised of brothers [cont.]

Freddie Foxxx (aka Bumpy Knuckles) is already a legend it most hip-hoppers minds. With the classic Industry Shakedown and the solid Konexion under his belt his place in hip-hop was solidified long ago.  Little did some know, Freddie Foxxx was around long before what some consider his debut album in 2000. In 1998 he was featured on the [cont.]

As the story goes, Madlib impatient and wanting Doom to record new tracks for the official sequel to the 2005 classic, Madvillainy, went ahead and “reworked” the original album, with all new beats and skits. First released as an elaborate Stones Throw box set, this $125 package (yes, you read that correctly), included the CD, [cont.]

It’s funny how things go in cycles. Fifteen years ago, RZA was sampling classic kung fu flicks (The Five Deadly Venoms) and Asian cult cinema (The Killer), and churning out classic records for everyone in the Wu-Tang Clan. Today, RZA is creating the music for an anime series called Afro Samurai, and in turn, releasing [cont.]

Since Jedi Mind Tricks came on the scene in the late 90’s, they’ve put out darker music then just about anyone on the east coast, without actually getting into horror rap territory.  They seem to lie on the fringes, too violent and brooding for most, yet still solid enough to capture the ears of any East [cont.]

Ugly Duckling stepped onto the scene in 2001 with their 2001 debut, Journey To Anywhere. Here, this LP found a trio of classic hip-hop enthusiasts recreating their favorite era with sample and breakbeat rich tracks that one might find on De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising. With their second LP, 2003’s Taste The [cont.]

For about 15 years now E-40 has been doing his thing.  He has been around to see a lot and also to live through it.  This covers every aspect, from an emerging Bay Area scene, when he was a lone representer of it, all the way to its resurgence with the Hyphy Movement, by being [cont.]

Based on his career as a two time Oscar winner (and subsequently, star of Booty Call), it’s sometimes hard to accept when someone like Jamie Foxx comes along and decides they want to make a contemporary / pop R&B album. Does he get a pass just because he’s famous? Well, truth be told, Mr. Foxx [cont.]

In a recent conference call Erick Sermon put it better than any writer could.  “EPMD makes music for people that like EPMD”.  If more artists had the EPMD mentality hip-hop might not be in such a state of crisis.   It’s been nearly 10 years since we last heard from the duo of Erick “The Green-Eyed [cont.]

Having a famous, universally loved sibling probably isn’t easy. Ask guys like Charlie Murphey or Jermaine Jackson how flourishing their respective careers have been over the years. In Illa J’s case, he is the younger brother to J. Dilla, an artist who’s light was extinguished too soon, and is widely recognized as one of the [cont.]

Underrated is a word that gets tossed around much too casually in modern society, particularly when it pertains to music and entertainment.  Still, it seems to fit Termanology, the Massachusetts-by-way-of-New York MC who finally gets a chance to have some of the spotlight for himself on his first official solo album, Politics As Usual. Term [cont.]

Scarface’s Emeritus is being billed as his farewell.  The last record.  There are all kinds of caveats, of course.  He might do a group album, maybe some production work, maybe a rock album (please, Face, don’t do it!).  But I think any claims of retirement from Brad Jordan are about as believable as Brett Favre. [cont.]

Common, dear sweet Common.  What are we going to do with you?  You give us two near classics with Be and Finding Forever and then you handed us something completely different with Universal Mind Control. Could this be another Electric Circus?   In a nutshell, no it’s not, but it’s no Ressurrection either.  So how does Universal [cont.]