If there ever was an award for the dopest emcee who never got the credit he deserved, it would have to go to AZ. While it can be argued that AZ has never lived up to the lofty expectations placed on him after his scathing verse on Nas’ “Life’s A Bitch”, AZ has always [cont.]

      The title of Pitbull’s second official full-length, El Mariel, refers to the historical Mariel boatlift, in which some 125,000 Cubans left their homeland in 1980, landing on the shores of Florida. The scene is depicted at the beginning of the most popular gangster movie of all time, but as the intro to this album [cont.]

    Kelis has had her share of ups and downs throughout her career, but nevertheless has managed to stay in the spotlight with each album release. With The Neptunes at her side, she came out the gate with her first LP, Kaleidoscope, and it’s lead single “Caught Out There” solidifying her position as “the first girl [cont.]

      I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Rappers don’t retire. Think about it, does a piano player wake up one day and decide that he is never going to touch a piano again? In the case of Jay-Z, we all knew his retirement was only temporary. Remember, this is the guy who [cont.]

    It’s clear that if A.G. is pretty confident in his place in the hip-hop lexicon. The numerous references to his long-celebrated Diggin’ In The Crates (D.I.T.C) crew and samples of other rappers calling out his name on Get Dirty Radio will give any newcomer reason enough to Google A.G. But reminding listeners of past [cont.]

   Emcees come from various backgrounds. Some pushed drugs, some gangbanged, others were college dropouts, but how often do you hear about an emcee with an Ivy League background? Not very often at all. Emcee Naledge and producer Double O both met while attending the confines of the University of Pennsylvania and after hitting the [cont.]

   The rebirth of Rawkus is one of those things that could go incredibly well or terribly wrong. Because there was so much invested in that legacy, to make an attempt to relive an era that gave us artists such as Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, and Mos Def can almost be blasphemous.  This new era [cont.]

    It could be argued that 50 Cent’s kicking Game out of G-Unit was the best thing to ever happen to the Compton emcee. Truth be told, Game was lucky enough to be shown the door, just before commercial flops from Tony Yayo, Mobb Deep, and Lloyd Banks were released under the G-Unit banner. Now, [cont.]

   JR Writer’s, History in the Making, comes off as the hustler’s ambition exemplified. At times redundant, the M.O.B. (Money Over Bitches) mentality is in full force. If you want to do anything in life: get your mind right; be about your money; and “keep riding till the wheels fall off of this bitch.”     [cont.]

   Three years ago, we were all dancing to “Right Thurr”, leading Chingy to a multiplatinum plaque for Jackpot, as it seemed like anyone from St. Louis could do no wrong. But after that platinum plaque, things went downhill. Chingy left DTP in a nasty breakup that had him and Ludacris sending shots at each other for [cont.]

   We’ve all seen the MTV documentary and probably saw a few people “going dumb” in the club, but until you hear E-40′s My Ghetto Report Card can you understand and appreciate the Hyphy Movement. Perhaps the most overlooked and underrated commercial hip-hop release of the year, My Ghetto Report Card is such a remarkably consistent [cont.]

     The best rapper under 30? That’s what Lloyd Banks (aka “Blue Hefner”) coined himself, and with the bevy of endless talent under that age, what better way to solidify his new moniker than to follow up his hit debut album, Hunger For More, with another gem? Rotten Apple is the album with aims to [cont.]

    Darien Brockington may best be known as the voice behind Little Brother and the Justus League’s soulful hooks.  He’s been the fuel behind many of Little Brother’s grooviest moments (“Slow It Down” may be the most recognizable). Now with the Hall Of Justus spreading out to be more than just Little Brother, Darien Brockington [cont.]

    Ten years ago, Portishead opened the floodgates for a number of groups trying to imitate “the Bristol sound”, which made for some pretty good records from acts like Mono, Sneaker Pimps, Hooverphonic, Morcheeba, and others, each with their own take on the style. Ten years later, as the sound of cool is redefined by [cont.]

    When it comes down to it, there are basically two kinds of people in this world. Republicans or Democrats? PC or Mac? Prince or Michael Jackson? Star Wars or Star Trek? Rakim or KRS-One? With the release of John Legend’s latest, arguments will be fought, wars will be waged, and families will be split [cont.]

    Diddy. It’s a name that everyone knows and relates to multiple things– Biggie, Sean John, Rich, Bad Boy, commercialization of Hip Hop, biter, Vote or Die, etcetera. He’s been in the game for years, and whether you like him or not, Diddy has made his mark.  We all know Diddy is a businessman. We [cont.]

    Amid the recent explosion of the hyphy movement in the Bay Area, longstanding groups in the region like Zion I are proof that there’s a whole ‘nuther side of hip-hop up that way. It’s not that this Oakland duo’s music doesn’t bump, but Zion I’s ever-evolving beats and rhymes equal a sound that usually [cont.]

     Cinncinati’s Hi-Tek got his big break next to Talib Kweli, when the two debuted together as Reflection Eternal, on Rawkus Records almost a decade ago, with their “Fortified Live” 12inch. With the release of their full-length, Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek Are Reflection Eternal (to put it in layman’s terms) the duo reached arguable classic [cont.]

    Let’s face it: Daz is no stranger to adversity.  From his very public business and verbal beefs with the East Coast, Dr. Dre, Death Row, and even his very own DPGC brother from another, Kurupt, it’s obvious that Daz don’t run from shit.      For the last few years Daz has maintained some sort [cont.]

     If Tommy Guerrero isn’t one of the most overlooked musicians of the last few years, we don’t know who is.        Since his days as a pro skater he’s been in the spotlight, garnering attention for his skills and creativity. But it was in 1995, with the release of the now revered Backintheday ten-inch [cont.]