Each of The Demigodz core members had impressed us with a number of classic indy 12″ singles over the last few years, but the name remains unknown. They appeared on the types of songs that the average head might recognize from their local college radio show, but somehow couldn’t put a name to the voice (or [cont.]

If international acclaim equaled dope lyrics and production on record, these guys would be at the top of the game. Unfortunately, the connection isn’t always so simple. The Mystik Journeymen hit us with Magic, a project that will certainly satisfy their voracious fans but do little to draw in the skeptics from other realms. The listening [cont.]

Looking back a few short months ago, when I was arranging the pressing of the now-classic “Rain” / “Find You Out” 7-inch, I had an interesting conversation with RJD2. Upon hearing a few advance treats from his album, not to mention the tracks for the 45, I told him that I seriously thought that he [cont.]

Swollen Members rampant Canadian industry-shakedown did nothing short of placing the personification of what ‘underground’ hip-hop once was atop a celebratory silver platter, by all means, they are large (in Canada). But to the American ear, the Battle Axe  sound still speaks of a grit-scape and sans Abstract Rude’s mish-mash of a million styles on P.A.I.N.T., [cont.]

While Nas and Jay-Z battle over who is the king of New York, and Dr. Dre wears his crown over California, has the question ever been asked, who is the ruler of The South? Looking back at history, there’s one man who has kept his place in the game with a classic album under his belt, numerous classic [cont.]

While it may have not been evident to some at the time, in the early era of Fondle Em Records, Bobbito was really on his shit. He was taking risks by signing no-name artists, with little history or crew affiliation to tie them to, and creating some classic records. Among Siah & Yeshua Da Poed, [cont.]

When people were talking about the Fellowship album that was supposed to be on Celestial, this, more or less, was it. Or at least was the precursor to be could-of-been an incredibly remarkable album for Celestial. Well, Celestial disappeared for a while, the Fellowship fell on hard times and then somehow released Temptations, a ramshackle [cont.]

While Nature’s under-appreciated debut, For All Seasons, was placed on Columbia’s proverbial backburner and went through nearly two-years of industry gridlock. Nate’s conversational flow, commingled with production from Trackmasters, L.E.S., and EZ Elpee nevertheless stood the test of time and helped salvage what could have potentially been a fruitless effort. Though, many felt Nate caught wood [cont.]

Who would have thought that it would ever come back to this? In today’s industry of big-name producers using expensive equipment and 100+ track studios to churn out the next batch of slickly produced radio hits, there stands a skinny white kid who seems oblivious to it all. Perhaps the 23-year-old Edan has been locked in [cont.]

A few years ago before the The Neptunes were politicking with the elite industry tastemakers, Chad and Pharrell got together with childhood friends Malice and Pusha T and recorded Clipse’ debut Exclusive Audio Footage. Yet, there was a glitch in the Matrix, as Exclusive Audio Footage was scrapped by Elektra even after receiving some favorable press and reviews in [cont.]

Supastition is one brilliant writer/emcee who through his 7 Years of Bad Luck LP, has more than enough to say about his countless trials and tribulations. In making an effort to be appreciated as an emcee, a father, a son and a survivor, his raps are all self-defining compositions from the past seven years. The funny [cont.]

     When the term “Gospel Rap” is mentioned, images of Reverend Run, Ma$e, and Hammer pop into your mind, usually with negative conotations. Why? Most likely because hip-hop is, for the most part, a hardcore music artform born in the streets, which directly contradicts the sound that each of these artists have embraced after their [cont.]

I’m not going to sit here and pretend I’ve been following Sage Francis’ career since the “Homegrown Demo” or “AOI” days. In fact, I got put onto Sage through some of the Non-Prophets stuff when it hit the 12-inch scene, and I dabbled in a few of the Sick Of… discs. But what really put [cont.]

On Built From Scratch’s blazing preamble, “XL”, Large Professor asserts, —”this is how it started, two turntables and a microphone.” Yet, as hip-hop has progressed from park jams to Wall Street, the core elements of the culture have been indubitably blurred in the process. The X-ecutioners (Roc Raida, Mista Sinista, Total Eclipse and Rob Swift) are [cont.]

Dungeon Family affiliate Cee Lo’s solo venture, Cee-Lo Green and his Perfect Imperfections is a delicious barrage of contradictions. From doing work with Outkast, Goodie Mob, and the Dungeon Family, Cee-Lo has acquired more than enough experience and credibility to venture out on his own, and he states his independence boldly, rapping, writing, and producing all [cont.]

The commingling of flavors (hip-hop, reggae, soul, R&B and pop) that were prevalent on The Carnival transformed Wyclef Jean into one of the music industries most sought after producers; and lead to subsequent work with Destiny’s Child and luminaries such as Carlos Santana, and Whitney Houston. Clef’s sophomore LP, Ecleftic, was a direct result of that cross-genre [cont.]

When I heard about the new Crime Wave album Scripture Won: The Beginning Of… dropping, I had to pull out my old Shamus “Tight Team” and Crimewave “Serving Life” records for a few spins. They were records I used to spin on the regular, and news of a full length immediately brought back the craving for these [cont.]

From Minnesota, arrives a four-man troupe proving correct the old saying “hard work pays off.” With two of the members already in New York for school, the group took a leap of faith and decided they would all move to the East Coast. Seeming focused, dedicated and sounding even hungrier than previous releases, Oddjobs have embarked [cont.]

 Since his debut, What? The Album, we’ve watched Reggie Noble’s formula evolve, but it forever remains rooted in the heart of what is painted to be the worst ghetto in the world, Brick City, New Jersey. Malpractice continues the tradition solidified with Red’s third and defining album, Muddy Waters, sticking to the script of “if [cont.]

Thirstin Howl III is nothing short of a the new-school rap entity. Dipped in the finest Polo a man can steal he won his early accolades within the early Lyricist Lounge days garnering attention across the board from his flailing tongue and wit. The mid to late 90′s found Howl atop numerous 12″s, label to label, [cont.]