Get out your raincoats, Wellington boots, and all-terrain Columbia jackets people ? the Weathermen crew is coming through with monsoons and tsunami waves of that straight uncut hip-hop. Yak Ballz, Flushing Queens MC, Weatherman, and underground fixture for the last five years debut LP, has finally dropped his debut LP, My Claim, and industry heads [cont.]

     Coming off of Battle Axe is Chase Phoenix’s first offering “Cut to the Chase.” While Battle Axe houses Swollen Members and others, Chase hopes that his release will be another notch on the blossoming Battle Axe belt, with a career that will last longer than the average underground artist. And with this attempt he is [cont.]

    What do you do when you are one of the most respected rtists in hip-hop,chosen by both the commercial scene and the hard to please underground heads? When you have had a career that artists envy, from movies to music to commercials. When you’ve released a slew of albums and have a catalog that [cont.]

 In preparation for his upcoming solo album, 1st Infantry, Alchemist, the young producer who got his start as an understudy for DJ Muggs, delivers his second volume in his mix CD series. This time titled Insomnia (“The Alchemist Vs. The Cousin Of Death”), Al once again spotlights his production with upcoming music from groups like [cont.]

      Boston emcee Reks is swimming in a sea of talent, one in which he hopes to emerge as the shark that eats all the small fish with his second project, Rekless. After creating a buzz with Along Came the Chosen, Reks is now attempting to build momentum with a much more focused project, as Reckless comes off as an attempt to separate [cont.]

      While majors pump out unhealthy, processed hip-hop, Tony Touch’s The Piece Maker II has been relegated to indie label, Koch.  However, a smaller label hasn’t affected the impressive guest list boasted on 2000′s The Piece Maker.  Joining Toca in bringing some straight hip-hop shit are Redman, Fat Joe, Raekwon, Pete Rock, Dead Prez, and many [cont.]

  It happens to every good emcee – they get on a winning streak with a few hit singles, a classic album or two, and then they decide to venture outside of the boundaries that made them such a favorite in the first place….. and they fail. Some fall harder than others (Ice Cube, Canibus , [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.]

     The always meditative 2Mex has become one of the most compelling MCs to surface from LA’s renowned underground. Rolling with the Visionaries, Shapeshifters, and Of Mexican Descent, 2MEX has dropped ample material solo and alongside his many crews. On his latest, self-titled album, he draws upon the many styles we’ve seen him flex along [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.]

     In 1995, at the tail end of hip-hop’s short lived fascination with sampling jazz records, there came a lone voice still struggling to establish himself after two little heard, critically acclaimed Freestyle Fellowship albums. The voice belonged to Aceyalone, and with All Balls Don’t Bounce, he ventured on his first solo mission, with a ridiculous [cont.]

     While Roc-A-Fella may have initially put Kanye West’s debut on the backburner, thanks to a parade of hits (Talib Kweli’s “Get By,” Ludacris’ “Stand Up,” Alicia Keys “You Don’t Know My Name” and his essential contributions to fellow Roc-A-Fella members efforts) some calculated risks (coming out of his own pockets to fund the current [cont.]

      Chi-town prodigy, Twista, has paid his dues many times over. Originally debuting in the early 90′s with the “Tung” prefix attached to his name, the artist better known only as Twista has gained legendary status with over 5 albums in his catalogue (solo or otherwise), and one of the pioneers in the now infamous double-time, [cont.]

      While Chops is better known as the sound provider for the Mountain Brothers, over the past year or so, he has released a few under the radar releases (including a break LP and a more experimental rock/rap hybrid) that have quietly given him an arena to display his full repertoire of talents.  And though Chops [cont.]

     Z-Man is not only the latest MC to get down with Oakland’s esteemed Hieroglyphics crew, but he may also be the most eccentric. But like the title of his last project (Anti-Nerd) implies, Z Man isn’t about to get caught up in the same category as the nerd rap he denounces.      Through his debut [cont.]

     Over the past year, remixing an established artists work has become a staple for the up and coming producer. 9th Wonder broke ground when he went from virtual nobody to, as Jay-Z  stated, the next big thing from his retooling of Nas’ God’s Son with his own God’s Stepson. Since then the craze has reached [cont.]

      As the Wu dynasty fades further and further into obscurity, another Wu affiliate emerges to attempt to salvage the name that RZA  and company made famous a decade ago. Never mind the feeble attempts set forth in the past (Killa Beez, Cappadonna, etc) this time the RZA reaches to the opposite coast to nab a [cont.]

    If patience is a virtue, then the Bravehearts might be some of the most virtuous people in the game. They have been down with Nas since the Illmatic days, and now over ten years later, the duo of Jungle and Wiz are delivering their debut “Bravehearted.”     Set off by the grimy feel of Midi Mafia’s [cont.]

     Who knew that the little heard 12inch single “Shatterproof” would eventually blossom into four albums, a successful independent rap label, two Juno Awards and unparalleled popularity as leaders of Canada’s rap scene, with popularity even crossing over into the U.S. Yes, Swollen Members went from being the brainchild of Madchild and Prevail, to being one of [cont.]

     Record industry rule #2434: Hip hop has no love for its own veterans. If you check for a list of emcees who have survived for more than a decade, you will probably find a list of rappers who are barely breathing the same venom that made them famous. Either they are existing because of sex appeal or because [cont.]