HHS: It was inevitable that sooner or later, your “behind-the-scenes” role and usual position would become more recognized with time – especially seeing how much you’re doing. Is it just that DJ personality which makes you more comfortable just laying low? JJ: “Well, yeah, yeah..actually it is, but that is really encompassing of my personality [cont.]

Since you were pivotal in launching Eastern Conference Records along with High & Mighty, do you hold a position over at Eastern Conference besides being an artist on the label? I haven’t had a real job in three years. I’m living strictly off the music. The last job I had was at Burger King when [cont.]

HHS: When did  hip-hop grab you, and when did you know that this is what you wanted to do with your life? Illogic: Well it grabbed me when I was six, or seven, just watching videos and listening to music.  I did not really know it was what I wanted to do until high school.  [cont.]

HHS: The Platform was a debut that was handled almost exclusively in-house.  Yet, Expansion Team, includes more contributions from artists outside the Dilated family, why the change? Rakka: Well, The Platform included allot more vocal collaborations. On the Expansion Team project Babu really stepped up his production game.  The people that we always work with [cont.]

Y’all know the name, and you know the countless amount of controversies he’s been embroiled in over the past three-years.  Yes, the Canibus man is back.  And though he has been out of sight for a minute, Bis’s new LP, C True Hollywood Story, promises to be just as controversial as his debut.  Yes, Germaine [cont.]

In the early 90′s, before the indy movement, there were a number of hip-hop artists and acts, that major labels put their money on, in hopes of discovering the next stars. Groups like The Pharcyde, Black Moon, Hieroglyphics, and countless others are among the many that put out one or two albums, and then fell [cont.]

If Omar Credle (O.C.) has learned anything in his seven-year recording career, it’s that while skills are a widely appreciated commodity, they are not enough to pay the rent. Reason being, though O.C. has been warmly embraced by critics, and fans alike, there has always been one thing that has eluded him: record sales. O.C.’s [cont.]

On the heels of two-critically acclaimed EP’s Music Tu Madre, and A Bottle Of Whup Ass, J-Zone’s first  full-length release, Pimps Don’t Pay Taxes, is a more maturated continuation of the brazen lyricism, and off-kilter samples Zone supplied on previous endeavors.  While Pimps Don’t Pay Taxes is almost like an interview in itself, J-Zone was gracious [cont.]

HHS: Where did you go to school? Paul Barman: I went to school at Brown, but I spent half my time at RISD, the Rhode Island School of Design. So did you meet Prince Paul at the school? How did this all come together? He got his hands on my 7″. I saw your 7″. [cont.]

If there is anyone who truly embodies the spirit of hip-hop it’s Marley Marl. In Marley’s 15-year career he has seen it all; from his early pioneering work with the Juice Crew (Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap & Polo, Masta Ace, Craig G), to a now legendary battle with those same All-Stars vs. a [cont.]

Shabaam Sahdeeq knows a little something about having his faith tested.  After all, it was only a few years ago that Baam was prepping to release his solo-debut on Rawkus Records—then the bottom fell out.  After Rawkus peeled wheels on releasing his debut, Baam decided to cut ties with the label that promised to make [cont.]

Never worried about the status-quo, The Pharcyde has always been unafraid of breaking new ground. We recently caught up to Romye of the newly reinvented group, to give us an update on their new album, Plain Rap, and music in general. HHS: Your music has always been full of life. But since the last album, [cont.]

Black Eyed Peas gets ready to deliver their second album, “Bridging The Gaps”. HipHopSite sat down with them and got the full scoop…. HipHopSite: So, with the new album coming out, “Bridging the Gaps”, this time you have a lot of guest appearances. Who is featured on this album? Will I Am: It’s really not [cont.]

Perhaps one of the West-Coast’s most slept on emcees, Encore, first made his debut with a pre-Stones Throw era Peanut Butter Wolf, on the “Step On Our Egos” compilation. Once Stones Throw got off the ground, Encore popped up on two more releases, sharing one with Rasco, then label hopping and finally hooking up with [cont.]

Approaching his fourth album, “Like Water For Chocolate”, Common talks about the industry, his new LP, and hints at mysterious guests that he’s working with. We’ve heard rumors of everyone from Ice Cube to Will Smith, but as much as we tried, we couldn’t get it out of Common, and we don’t really believe those [cont.]

HipHopSite: Triple album, right? But it’s not all coming out together…. Maseo: Right, the other two will be released at the top of 2001. The second one in March, the third one around June or July. HipHopSite: Are the other albums finished yet? Maseo: No, they’re not finished yet. Truguoy: The second one, we’ve got [cont.]

While they were on a tour with Abstract Tribe Unique, we got a chance to hang out with Swollen Members, who had just finished rocking the show. The two were quite drunk, which made this interview twice as much fun. Read on… HHS: Who owns your label, Battle Axe? Madchild: I do, but I have [cont.]

HipHopSite: Explain the meaning of the name Reflection Eternal… Talib Kweli: Basically, “Reflection” has to do with the reflection of our ancestors, or things that came before us, as well as reflection of where hip-hop is at now. “Eternal” is like forever, and that is just what we are trying to represent. HipHopSite: That’s interesting. [cont.]

Pioneers of the New York independent scene, The High & Mighty, a duo consisting of emcee Mr. Eon, and DJ Mighty Mi, dropped two albums last year – their debut “Home Field Advantage” and a compilation album of their previously released vinyl only singles, entitled “Eastern Conference Allstars”. This year, on their imprint label distributed [cont.]

HHSite: Who are Blackalicious? Chronologically, break it down as far as the other formed groups within the Quannum umbrella? Chief Xcel: Blackalicious recorded on CD is Chief Xcel and the Gift of Gab. Blackalicious live, when we touring is Chief Xcel, Gift of Gab, Versatile, Joyo Velarde and Lateef the Truth Speaker. Quannum is DJ [cont.]