Strength is generally found in numbers and the pairing of one of Hip-Hop’s most studious lyricists along with a divergent producer proves just that. Live From The Tape Deck, the remarkable collaborative LP from Skyzoo and !llmiind, has plenty of heads reminiscing back to the days when all you needed was a JVC stereo and Shell-Toe Adidas to get by. Read the rest of this entry »

You can’t question Akon’s ability. Equally adept in business as well as belting out hits, this modern-day renaissance man has used the music machine to capitalize on his brief time on Earth as much as anyone. Read the rest of this entry »

Much like the Walkman, I’d be halfway surprised that LimeWire was still up and running if it wasn’t for people asking me for an alternative from time to time. To which I always refer them to iTunes or Amazon being the upstanding citizen I am. Imagine how distraught I was when I heard a judge ordered LimeWire to shut down their operation. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the reasons Wafeek is one of my favorite rappers is that he’s the master of many styles. Lots of MCs are capable of doing one thing well—sh*t some of my personal heroes have made millions off of doing the same verse over and over *cough* Snoop *cough*. Much rarer is the MC that shows true range, adept at conveying a full range of emotion and feelings on different tracks or even different verses. Read the rest of this entry »

Every MC aspires to work with their idols. However, for many, those dreams not only become reality, but an overbearing burden that looms over their careers until the lofty expectations of having major label love are met. Upon reaching that fork in the road, some simply can’t take the pressure and hang up the mic altogether, while others move forward doing what they do best. Read the rest of this entry »

“In God I trust, not talking about the ones on your five…”

All this time, I assumed producer battles and rap contests were hoaxes to skim entrance fees from aspiring artists when there’s a few showcases do produce positive outcomes. Producer Frank Dukes – who has credits for the likes of Joell, Danny Brown and others – won a 2009 Red Bull Big Tune battle where the end result was the chance to create for Ghostface. Read the rest of this entry »

For those who dare to dabble on the darkside – or at least outside the lines of typical boom bap – Mansion On The Moon have a bag of treats that come fully endorsed by music curators Diplo & Benzi. After collaborating with the likes of N*E*R*D and Chiddy Bang’s Xaphoon Jones, the trio’s debut project Paradise Falls features tracks that are incredibly atmospheric with heady beats designed to keep your ears in the stars. Read the rest of this entry »

When BK MC Poe Picasso sent this over to our inbox, he was thinking, “There’s no way they won’t play this song.” And, for good reason. Featured on his latest mixtape, Exhibit B: Manifest Destiny, “Before The Sky Falls” is a three-and-a-half minute parade Read the rest of this entry »

“Aggins, got problems, I’m back on the scene, I got Outkast guns, they so fresh and so clean.”

Waking up each morn, each day promises to deliver at least one song so bananas that it becomes the song of the day and makes the cut to join my iPod playlist. Today, Murda’s “They Don’t Know Me” wins that honor even though the day is still young. Read the rest of this entry »

Houseshoes have been a-okay ever since Doughboy made them acceptable to be worn outside the confines of four walls. Now, Nike’s tossing out an alternative to the usual Dearfoams I cop from Walmart, offering up the Room Sock for Holiday 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

Jillisa Lynn

Did Lil B Really Threaten To Rape Kanye West On Twitter? [The Urban Daily]

T.I. Loses Remy Martin Endorsement Deal [GOT]

The 50 Greatest Ankle-Breakers In Basketball History [Complex]

Prostitutes In Spain Are Now Required To Wear Reflective Vests [F-Listed] Read the rest of this entry »

The R&B game is lacking passion and, quite frankly, in dire need of a substantial movement. When the genre’s best male artist just so happens to be one of Hip-Hop’s biggest talents, you know something is bass ackwards. But for the right price, Drake, Ghostwriter Esq. can make yo shit tighter and, if you can beat ‘em, might as well co-sign ‘em. And that’s exactly what Jamie Foxx has in mind. Read the rest of this entry »

This may be stating the obvious, but Chicago could have the best Hip-Hop scene in the country. If they’re not #1, then definitely top three because their track record proves such. The list includes Common, Kanye, Twista, Cons, Read the rest of this entry »

While his royal teammate is steady addressing a million and two questions, Dwyane Wade, secretly known as Agent D3, is a death-defying, paragliding, intelligence officer assigned with the sole task of restoring ring ceremonies to the city of Miami. He, along with his trusty sidekick, Specialist H, have approximately 82 games to prepare to meet their destiny and achieve their goal. Read the rest of this entry »

As Tastemakers, we stand firmly behind our filter here at TSS, screening and negating as many songs as we put on. For the past year or so, one artist we’ve stood firmly behind is Skewby. The man’s music speaks for itself, but the reason why can be described no better than the way it was put by the Memphis MC’s manager, Antonio, in a recent inbox message. Read the rest of this entry »