On the fourth track off his new album Sacrifice, Prince George County bred MC Substantial takes a sec to quote the backbone of broadcast journalism, Edward R. Murrow:     "This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined [cont.]

2007 brought back Beanie Sigel, Jay-Z and finally, Scarface, amongst others for the first time in years.  It was long enough for Jay-Z to retire, and unretire and to go through his stint as Def Jam CEO.  But Scarface has been gone longer and was down with the business aspects of Def Jam years before [cont.]

With all of the press that Mark Ronson has got lately – including a recent Grammy for producer of the year – a little heard project slipped through the cracks last month from the famed producer. Ronson teamed up with Chicago super-emcee Rhymefest for Man In The Mirror, a tribute album built upon samples from [cont.]

Third times a charm? DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist re-team once again for The Hard Sell, the latest installment in their non-stop 45 live mixes, following classic entries Brainfreeze and Product Placement. The mission this time around? To be the first headlining turntablists to play the Hollywood Bowl, the legendary 16,500 seat venue which has [cont.]

You won’t find too many producers more diverse than Hi-Tek. From teaming up with Talib Kweli to putting in work alongside Dr. Dre, he’s accomplished quite a bit and been involved with the work of artists from coast to coast. He’s also found time to release a few projects of his own, the latest of [cont.]

Mary J. Blige has been through it all pleasure, pain, trials, and tribulations.  Through it all, she has managed to make some of the most soul-stirring music that we have seen in the last couple of decades.  Since her debut album, What’s the 411, Blige has opened up to the world about her life and [cont.]

The first verse of Gucci Mane’s “I’m Cool” includes the line “Gucci Mane’s back and they can’t get rid of me.” That probably sums up the way a lot of people feel about the Atlanta-born rapper, who came up off the strength of his 2005 single “Icy” and never left. Atlantic Records thought enough of [cont.]

Just a year after the release of his critically acclaimed sophomore LP, Once Again, John Legend returns with a follow-up disc to start the year off, Live From Philadelphia. This is his second Target stores exclusive that he has released, following a 2006 Christmas EP, “Sounds of The Season” (who knew?!). The new live offering [cont.]

Usually when celebrities try to take on projects that are outside of their craft, it’s viewed as a “vanity project.” It’s more or less the star saying to the audience, “Yes, I am so infinitely talented as an (actor/athlete/singer/rapper) that I can also (sing/rap/act/play sports)!” In the case of rapping, the results are usually disastrous. [cont.]

The big question here is, how do you fuck this recipe up? 1) Take one of the hottest club producers, who has produced hits for Jay-Z, Beyonce, DMX, Eve, Cassidy, and countless others; 2) give him a major label album deal; 3) let simmer for a year or two; 4) and the end result should [cont.]

  Sixth Sense is a Bronx, via Westchester, MC who has been doing it for a good bit now. When Rawkus came up with there Rawkus 50 idea (digitally releasing 50 underground albums) he was one of the first people they got at.    The beats on It’s Coming Soon are handled by Sixth Sense [cont.]

Think back to 1996, the beginning of the underground era of hip-hop.  When Puffy was sampling 80’s and Master P was ruling the charts.   Labels like Rawkus, Stones Throw, Fondle Em, and of course Raw Shack were leading the pack in forward thinking hip-hop.   A little known emcee by the name of J-Live came onto [cont.]

It is rare nowadays when you hear an album that actually makes you think, mainly in the aspect of conceptualizing an idea.  With his critically acclaimed debut album Food and Liquor, Lupe Fiasco touched on various subjects in such a creative and unique way that even if you did not own a skateboard you could [cont.]

Ever since those first four bars of Nine Inch Nails “Closer” hit back in the early 1990′s, there’s been the question of what a hip-hop album produced by Trent Reznor would sound like. Sure, Nine Inch Nails are a rock band, but long-time listeners know, under some of those guitars and sounds of scraping metal [cont.]

Some say this decade has so far belonged to the South, once again however the Midwest is being underestimated.  Every year the lists have been filled with everyone from Chicago’s Common and Kanye to Detroit’s Eminem and Jay Dee or Minneapolis’ Atmosphere and Brother Ali.  One Be Lo is yet another Midwest who’s been solid [cont.]

Pittsburgh is not known for being a hip-hop metropolis, but unknown to many outside of the city, Pittsburgh has a strong hip-hop scene.  One notable artist hailing from the Steel City is Pittsburgh Slim.  Pittsburgh Slim, or “Slimmie” as he likes to affectionately call himself, was influenced by an eclectic and wide range of artists, [cont.]

The prospect of a new Wu-Tang album in 2007 doesn’t seem very exciting. Hip-Hop has changed so drastically over the years, and after a pair of disappointing, back-to-back releases (Iron Flag & The W), the Wu-Tang Clan have struggled to remain relevant in the constantly changing climate of hip-hop music. It’s safe to say that at [cont.]

East Coast Hip-Hop is back and in full effect with Year Round Records, the new label imprint from the legendary DJ Premier.  Fans of groups/artists like Screwball, Cormega and Mobb Deep (pre G-Unit) are guaranteed to be feeling NYGz, with outstanding production from rising producers like Emile and Kingdom. Comprised of the duo Shabeeno and [cont.]

In 2007, Kanye hyped and delivered Graduation, Jay-Z surprised and blew up with American Gangster, and Freeway came back after four years with Free At Last.  So far, it’s been a fine year for the Roc, the best since their early millennium highlights, and now Beanie Sigel has capped the year with his new album [cont.]

In the early 1980′s, before acts like Run DMC and The Beastie Boys helped hip-hop become mainstream, MTV was dominated by primarily two types of music – heavy metal and new wave. Sure, Michael Jackson and Prince held down the R&B side of things, but essentially pop music fans were split into two groups – [cont.]