Domingo had a hit with the Mario Bros. inspired Cocoa Brovaz’ anthem “Supa BK”. It was something new and fun, marring contemporary NYC-thuggery with clippity-clap video game samples provided an irresistible head nod from Flatbush to the left coast. But to ride a concept fueled by a gimmick isn’t always as surefire as one would like [cont.]

In rap’s long-standing tradition of rappers extending the record label wealth to their friends, the Outkast and Goodie Mob  collective, better known as the Dungeon Family (and once called ‘Red Clay’ for you trivia buffs), unites to spotlight itself and several of its lesser known up & comers, with the debut album, “Even In Darkness”. [cont.]

“Memph Bleek Is….Murder! Memph Bleek Is…Money!…Memph Bleek Is….Drugs!” Unfortunately, Memphis Bleek is also stuck in Jay-Z’s shadow. Not a bad place to be, but Coming Of Age still leaves the Brooklyn representative under the shade of Jayhova. Jay-Z has brought up Bleek carefully under his iced-out wing for a few years now. Remember when Jay-Z was [cont.]

Step lively! This album does advance, but the walk to get there is treacherous and the rocks below are jagged. For starters, there’s the collaborative cut “Rainmen” by the Deep Puddle Dynamics. A heavy grooving bassline is the only thing that cements the lyrics to the track, but with lyrics like “you’re lost, between mold, [cont.]

In the glory days of the early 90′s, one half of the Native Tongue duo Black Sheep had a dream. To him, it was more of a nightmare, as Dres woke up in it in a cold sweat. After calming himself down, he turned to his partner in shock and said, “I had a dream that I [cont.]

Forerunners of independent movement, Mr. Eon and DJ Mighty Mi, otherwise known as The High & Mighty, first began to turn heads in 1997, going for delf (literally) on their first single Hands On Experience, featuring Bobbito The Barber and Company Flow’s El-P, speaking on the joys of flying solo. As their popularity among backpackers began to [cont.]

Black Moon are hip-hop veterans, despite the fact that this is only their second album. After dropping the essential Enta Da Stage in 1993, which Billboard described as “hardcore jazz,” Black Moon chipped diamond quality remixes off the Enta Da Stage block like “I Got Cha Opin” and “Buck Em Down.” Of their sophomore effort, Warzone, [cont.]

 Once you hit your peak, the only place to go is down. Such is the case with Raekwon’s second solo LP Immobilarity, the follow up to his 5 @ classic Only Built For Cuban Links. With Cuban Links, Raekwon and the Wu-Tang Clan changed the sound of that old New York rap. That album set so [cont.]

Similar to that of Peanut Butter Wolf’s My Vinyl Weighs A Ton (just condensed to 8 cuts), Spinna divides the EP’s time between lyrical joints and instrumental jams. “Who U Be”. featuring Missin Linx  exemplifies Spinna at his best. Sonic vibrations simmer out of the track like boiling water on the stove. The trio could [cont.]

The Arsonists obviously took lessons from the Ultramagnetic MC’s’s, both stylistically and in their discography. Instead of trying to drop a full-length debut album with no recognition with the old “throw it at the wall and see if it sticks” philosophy, this NY underground crew has slowly built up a solid reputation by dropping one hot [cont.]

This is your worn-down cassette, no longer sporting the imprint of its manufacturer, dulled from the consistent run it finds in your big ass walkman. Much like the kids and their burnt CD “mixes”, this mix once only heard through static of plastic is now nestled amongst the crisp ridges and valleys of your vinyl. [cont.]

Listening to DMX’s third LP, I am finally beginning to understand what gives the X-man his appeal. First and foremost, I think anyone can pinpoint that it’s his high amounts of adrenaline and testosterone that people are attracted to. While some may hate it, take a trip to an NYC club and peep the crowd’s [cont.]

Think back to the early 90′s. No matter if you were aware of it or not, you first were introduced to Lootpack on the Alkaholiks’ “Turn The Party Out”, when Wildchild set it off with the line, “…and with my backpack I’ll carry, / Mariah to the back / and show her how I pack, loot.” As [cont.]

Just when you thought you figured him out, Kool Keith flips the script, once again. “I mean, is the it just more of the same misogynist bullshit and rhymes that don’t make sense album after album?” cried the skeptics when Keith decided to start dropping albums left and right over the last few years. To the [cont.]

 “People be putting out like one single a year on vinyl. That shit ain’t tight; I don’t care what your name is.” That’s The Grouch, and he’s Making Perfect Sense with his latest solo album.. or is he? If you’re familiar with the Living Legends and the Mystik Journeymen, you already know his repertoire. The Grouch [cont.]

While Canadian emcees like Saukrates and Choclair have been getting their fair share of attention as of late, the Vancouver duo of Madchild & Prevail may be the best Canadian import yet (discounting Canada’s tasty alcoholic beverages). First and foremost some hardrocks may have trouble relating to SM’s dungeon & dragons topic matter. Romancing the elements of nature, [cont.]

Swollen steps up with their forth single, getting better and better everytime. “Front Street” is a pretty easily identifiable Alchemist track, a bit similiar to the beat he just laced Group Home with, and matches the unique styles of the Members well. Another treat on this twelve is “Counter Parts”, as beautiful chemistry between Dilated Peoples and Swollen Members [cont.]

The Doctor is in, but it’s not the one you think. This mysterious new characater project begins with an emergency page for the good Dr. Octagon to tend to patient with rabies. Instead what he finds is his angry, pistol packing, evil alter-ego, who tells him “Take two of these and call me in the motherfucking [cont.]

The Boot Camp Click (Black Moon, Heltah Skeltah, Cocoa Brovaz, O.G.C., etc) in their prime were a dynasty in the making, and consorted with the elite of NY s underground hip-hop scene. But since their auspicious arrival this talented core of emcees has been a shell of their former selves, suffering from a variety of growth-stunting [cont.]

Finding purpose in many Hip-Hop albums today is a lot like finding purpose in much of primetime television. Now, don’t front like there is some kind of substantial gain from zoning out to sitcoms and trashed-out “news” programs. And don’t even try to front like you can sit through every Hip-Hop full length released in [cont.]