Word always travels fast. While I didn’t attend the recent A3C festival in Atlanta, news of the movers, shakers and just all around good people are discussed and, in some cases, dissected if they have music to critique. You have to appreciate someone who takes their craft seriously. Regardless if they’re the next big thing or not, passion will get you noticed and that can never be undervalued. Read the rest of this entry »

Melanie Lopez

Taiwanese News Investigates Pedobear [GorillaMask]

Rihanna Signs With Roc Nation [Miss Info]

DJ Premier Says Drake & J. Cole Are Bringing Lyricism Back [RTNY]

Hip-Hop’s 50 Greatest Animated GIFs [Complex]

Sidney Starr, Kat Stacks And 50 Tyson Nominated For Thats Whats Up Awards [TUD] Read the rest of this entry »

People of the ’80s, I need your help.

On a whim, I’ve been wasting a bunch of time looking up how things were in the ’80s and ’90s. Much of my “research” lead me to spend hours digging through Google Books and YouTube to see where people’s heads were at during those years. Some of my findings – mostly found in SPIN, Ebony, Vibe and Jet Magazine – either supported my theories or flat out blew my mind. For example, I knew Bobby Brown was very popular in his time but I had no idea his debut album outsold EVERYBODY in 1989. Read the rest of this entry »

When Phonte sends a mailout, it’s so concise that there’s no need to paraphrase or alter it. Give it, just as it’s received because the content is too beautiful to be presented in any other way. Read the rest of this entry »

Some people flat out have more guts than others.

If I had been told there was an opening as police chief of Guadalupe, Mexico – the second deadliest city in the country – my dust cloud would’ve been carrying the conversation as I jolted back to my mid-day siesta. When Marisol Valles García was informed, she asked about the position’s benefit package. Read the rest of this entry »

Just so we’re clear, Joe and Catherine’s seventh born will forever be the shining example of a “child prodigy.” Still, the contemporary rise of stars in the Chris Hansen division of celebrities – a la Diggy Simmons, Justin Bieber and, most recently, Willow Smith – has been hard to ignore. Read the rest of this entry »

Philly cats are always known for showing love when it comes to assists for each other’s projects and in 2010, things remain the same. The Re-Up Gang giant that they call Ab-Liva has combined forces with rapper iCan for the first burst of lightening off the ¥€$ Vol.1 EP. And to compliment their rounds of head nods, they call upon the game’s hottest ticket—Gilbere Forte’ to hold down the chorus. How about them Eagles? Read the rest of this entry »

While no one seems to have solid confirmation on if “I’m On It,” it seems as if we can all agree that Grown Simba continues to murk any and all appearances right now. The wordplay here is clever and aggressive. Read the rest of this entry »

The title track from Skillz’s upcoming album features punchlines referencing Wheelchair Jimmy, a miniature Jermaine Dupri, Tiny & Toya and Biggie. Need I go on? Read the rest of this entry »

Photo: Diwang Valdez

At TSS, we are huge DJ Burn One supporters. Not only is the guy gifted musically, but also what’s even better is that he is one of the most genuine and trillest people in the game today. Keeping up with the adage that we’ll co-sign anything as long as it’s dope, we’re adding Burn’s upcoming project to that list. Read the rest of this entry »

A fellow employee’s cell phone during the middle of a meeting at work. Being sung obnoxiously by grown men in an ATL-area mall. A million entranced fans at the concert of the decade. Over the past month, those have been just a few of the places I’ve unwillingly heard Marshall and Ri-Ri’s anthem of neglect, “Love The Way You Lie,” leading me to the assumption that my personal playing of the song is no longer necessary. Read the rest of this entry »

Humans enjoy the chase more than anything else on the planet. It’s why scientists spend countless hours trying to understand our vast universe. It’s why heroin addicts still scrounge up dollar bills to try and feel that feeling they first felt when needle hit vein. It’s why Black Spade’s success is always building and also why his latest video catches the St. Louis native in some sweatpants following the one thing we chase the most Read the rest of this entry »

Action packed remixes have become somewhat of a fixture in Hip-Hop but on occasion, they can still deem themselves to be noteworthy. Such is the case for the Lone Star State’s most improved player, Dorrough. By snatching Puff and Maino from out east, fellow dirty-dirty neighbors in Bun, Gotti, Diamond and Carlos and getting DJ Drama to scream everything together, this event is kinda like a big effin’ deal. Read the rest of this entry »

I have a weird affinity with Canton, Ohio, which is odd considering I grew up in Columbus. Granted, my entire family still populates the area from Massillon to North Canton, so I guess it’s not that strange. I still keep close tabs on happenings in the area and I remain steadfastly proud of anyone who breaks out. Although, much like any deteriorating rust-belt town, you’d be hard-pressed to continually find celebrated exports from the city that produced the NFL, The O’Jays, a plethora of professional athletes and—I guess—Marilyn Manson and Macy Gray. Read the rest of this entry »

Burn Skotch Davis’ name into your memory bank if you’re looking for artists worth watching for now with expectations for a big future. Before the Harlem emcee took the PA stage @ A3C, I’d never heard his name before. Honestly, it took AOutrageous’ tiny self yelling it to me repeatedly over the music before I could understand that she was saying “Skotch” and not “Scott.” Any discrepancies disappeared once I saw him perform.

Along the same veins of yesterday’s short discourse on the importance of live performance, Skotch’s stage presence ranks far above his peers as he’s able to deliver his music and message with cheeky clarity. Once returning from Atlanta, I started e-digging and the first thing I stumbled across was “Exhibit Me,” where the guy’s panache comes through once again.

Skotch Tape drops soon. Although I wasn’t anticipating or even aware of it prior to early October, it’s locked and loaded on my radar.

Related: BlowHipHopTV’s Interview With Skotch