The Bay and L.A. join forces to form the collective Quannum, a group that comprises of Latyrx (Lyrics Born and Lateef the Truth Speaker), Blackalicious (Chief Xcel and Gift of Gab) and DJ Shadow . Individually, these artists mentioned have all laid their mark with some potent 12″ releases, classic albums, by extensively touring the West [cont.]

This record is a prime example of good independent hip-hop. It’s not too nerdy, not too experimental, not too gimmicky, or not too unoriginal. It’s just good underground production and rhymes “Blue Light Special” begins with a hard hitting classic drum break, then breaks into mellow grooves, as the emcees catch wreck, excellently meshing with [cont.]

Up and down the West Coast of the US and Canada are a steady stream of artists who keep pumping out quality hip-hop. The Mind Clouders are made up of 2Mex and Mum’s the Word, and have enlisted some of their fellow West Coasters on this effort. They include Iriscience, Key-Kool, Vixxen and Circus. So [cont.]

When most heads think of skating, the words “thrash” or “extreme” come up before the words “fresh” or “dope”. Not being a skater, I’ve always seen skateboarding culture as one that would embrace punk before hip-hop, but in the early nineties, that started to change. My friend Cavan, who used to skate, was the kind [cont.]

 This album is a success in two ways. One, compiling this many Project Blowdians on a single album (albeit 39 tracks!) and two, and most importantly, producer Fat Jack’s praiseworthy accomplishment of taking those emcees (many of which fans outside the Blowed functions have only heard rhyme over dusty-n-crusty dubs and demos) and successfully meshing [cont.]

In 1996, the son of Fox mogul, Rupert Murdock, formed a new independent label called Rawkus Records. They showed up on the hip-hop scene, delivering a less than stellar single from a cristal sippin’ mafioso crew called The Rose Family. After the single was shat upon by college deejays from east to west, the company [cont.]

 I first met Eminem in the fall of 1997. He came out to Vegas for the Magic Clothing Convention, and I met up with him and his old manager to purchase copies of the now infamous Slim Shady EP. When he entered the room, I was explaining to his manager that I was also involved with [cont.]

After delivering one of 1998′s strongest underground releases Rasco returns with a teasing 6 track EP, one which finds the Soulfather truly in a stage of infancy. You see Rasco is back at step one, as The Birth is not only the name of Rasco’s latest brain child, but it also the birth of his creative [cont.]

There are many producers in this game that have stamped their names on a number of classic records (and otherwise) over the years, but there are few that have actually developed a signature style, and remained so consistent that they helped define the sound of hip-hop on its many levels, during their respective eras. Among [cont.]

 What you really know about the Dirty South? Among the things they got are scorching weather, good barbecue, fine ass women, a deep devotion to God and that distinctive musical sound. No one holds it down better for the ATL than Outkast and Goodie Mob can. Now with their 3rd album, Goodie Mob have shown they’ve been [cont.]

Acting as the first single from Industry’s upcoming Process Of Elimination album, Kool DJ EQ grabs a few acclaimed lyricists once again. Souls of Mischief “Airborne Rangers” sports different production than we are used to from the Souls, but still sounds cool. “Groundbreaking” pits Swollen Members Vs. a Kool DJ EQ track. Eq’s production is ever [cont.]

 This year’s most surprising comeback award will undoubtedly go to the Jungle Brothers. What seemed like an impossibility, after a ten-year slump from the crew, has become a reality, on the group’s fifth album V.I.P., with much thanks owed to a European fellow named Alex Gifford. But before delving into the new Jungle Brothers album, [cont.]

 Coming from the depths of the Detroit underground is Binary Star, a duo that first landed on the scene two years ago, catching heads’ attention with a four song EP, highlighted by the fatal attraction tale, “Glen Close”. Since then, their audience has patiently awaited the full-length release, which finally is earthbound in 2001. The [cont.]

The debut of the Rebel INS’s solo LP is one of the most anticipated releases in the Wu-Tang Clan’s history. He’s been called the Wu’s most underrated emcee, even though his was the first voice heard when you played Enter the 36 Chambers for the first time. Deck’s powerful impact on mics was never really fronted [cont.]

Personality wise each member of the Living Legends is as different as night & day. But it is readily apparent thru their musical offerings that they all have one thing particularly in common– a taste for the obscure. Eligh is no different in that regard, as his eclectic array of production and mind-expanding lyricism is indeed [cont.]

Is Gift of Gab the schizophrenic tenant number one? One thing is for sure: on the Blackalicious A2G EP, he’s definitely housing & arousing the intellect with introspect. This is the kind of release in only seven short songs that most rap soloists and crews wish they could come up with in bulky blathering thirty cut double [cont.]

 The danger of reviewing any commercially oriented rap artist is that you walk a thin line between played out cliches. On one hand, it is so standard to diss rappers for coming out flossy that many critics slam the content without even checking the music, content, or flows. On the other hand, it is so [cont.]

 Some artists know how to strike when the iron is hot, and some don’t. Rahzel created incredible buzz with the Pete Rock produced All I Know and then pushed his album back month after month. Mobb Deep nearly bled themselves dry with a year of delays on Murda Muzik, by which time the entire album had [cont.]

The Boston scene can blow well enough on its own without the infamous and degrading controversy that surrounds The Almighty RSO/Made Men and The Source magazine.  Any publicity may be good publicity, but Boston heads have got to be damn tired of being remembered as the city that Guru left behind for the bright lights [cont.]