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.]

Mission Impossible for the underground rapper: Create an album that stays true to your core audience, yet still supply the Tunnel banging club hits that the commercial crowd craves without playing oneself. Many have tried, unsuccessfully, yet the unthinkable has now been accomplished. Underground champion Pharaohe Monch has risen from the relative obscurity of …Konfusion [cont.]

The title of this compilation could have just as easily been called Superproducin’ – Great Beats. That’s not to take anything away from the all-star caliber of this diverse rhyme roster, but how fat would this sound acapella? That said, it’s obvious they decided that as long as the album was going to be called [cont.]

The outlet for this release finds the walkman taking first priority! Save this one for your rides and stereo after. With street appeal more than matching up to the mix-tape status that underground gems enjoy, most of the beats off this release are lovely.  But sometimes the singing chorus-hooks just destroy the effect. When istrumentals, [cont.]

 Oakland is the home to many an artist; some flamboyant while others remain more incognito, although only one can remain Elusive. Said dread is deeply rooted in the Living Legends family garden, having lent his board-work to the entire roster, release after release. As well as his own catalog of instrumental and compilation-like albums, he’s also [cont.]

While Gang Starr’s popularity has skyrocketed, it’s once promising stable of underground affiliates (Jeru The Damaja, Group Home, Big Shug, AKA- Gang Starr Foundation) have virtually disappeared off the hip-hop map. Back at square one, a now independent Group Home re-emerge to drop their sophomore LP, minus one of the most-revered sound constructor’s to ever [cont.]

JMT’s latest is an interesting contrast… On “Heavenly Divine”, Ikon’s style has gotten a little more hardcore, while Stoupe’s production follows closer to the song’s title, with its somwhat “religious” flutes and violins. “Trinity” unites the holy trio of Ikon, L-Fudge and Louis Logic for some more on that same divine level… Could be a [cont.]

 It’s assumed that if you’re into hip hop as low as the ‘underground’ goes, you would have inevitably drifted north of the U.S. borders where temperatures drop even lower. Enter Canada, and one of its premier lyricists, Choclair. Very hip to the essence of the beats and rhyme theory, on Ice Cold however, Choclair’s quest [cont.]

 Among hip-hop enthusiasts, Rakim is looked at as THE pioneer of the new school, and perhaps the greatest lyricist of all time. Once paired with DJ Eric. B, the two dropped four arguably classic albums before The R went solo two years ago. His last album, Book Of Life was a series of hit & miss [cont.]

 What defines a great emcee? That question is asked throughout the extent of J-Live’s The Best Part - at least that’s how it was intended to be. What is billed as The Best Part on two pieces of wax, is in fact J-Live’s long-awaited album, yet the running theme of asking the man on the street [cont.]

Coming from the God Quality crew and ABB Records is Superstar Quamallah. 7 tracks deep, his conversational style especially works well on tracks with shared vocals, such as “Sugar Hell No!”, where he and Tajai of Souls of Mischief tell listeners it’s okay to say “just say no”, whether it be to the bum on the [cont.]

 The acronym Murs has stood for many an interesting quote, but if I was to create my own meaning for the four letters it would be: MURS Utilizes Rap Staples. As flamboyantly raw in person as behind a microphone, MURS can simultaneously call you a “bitch”, step on your toes, turn a track inside out [cont.]

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.]