Dead presidents talk from Alley & Young. Rapping with wads of cash so big their pockets look like they got the mumps. Read the rest of this entry »

From last week:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana rapper Webbie was arrested Monday night (April 4) in Tennessee just south of Nashville in Marshall County after highway patrol officers pulled over his rented 2010 Nissan Altima following a show in Kentucky the night before, discovering two ounces of marijuana and $13,240 in a cardboard box in his lap. Read the rest of this entry »

Hypetrak:

“For over two decades DJ Premier has been the virtuoso behind some of hip-hop’s greatest records. Just off the Gang Starr output you have “Moment of Truth,” “Mass Appeal,” “Manifest,” “Royalty,” “Discipline” and you can’t forget about his work with Biggie, Nas, Big L and many other highly respected artists. Read the rest of this entry »

SP The Ghost ain’t for jokes and games, so he probably hasn’t used his tear ducts in ages. Good thing for Reks, the Boston bomber with the boom-bap sensibility. He’s the reigning Rhythm Eternal King Supreme and he most likely wears Carhartt overcoats in the summer. Together, they’re steady at work mopping up crocodile tears from rappers crying over spilled cognac. Read the rest of this entry »

Slowly, but in a blessedly peaceful way, Sudan is preparing to split into two separate nations after nearly 99% of voters in the southern part of the country voted for independence in late January. With memories of a brutal civil war fresh in the minds of the citizens, it’s a time of tremendous upheaval for the country. Oddisee, who is half-Sudanese, decided to grace “Tao Te Ching” from Apollo Brown’s Clouds with his reflections as the process moves forward.

Retitled “The Times,” the song is a strong piece of work by Apollo. His message is heartfelt and powerful, his talent in full effect, and the swelling horns – which as Beware aptly stated “command more respect than General Patton” – add stirring, inspirational air to the proceedings. When they’re pumping through the headphones, it’s hard not to get chills when the hook starts up: “And my, my look at the times we’re living in, As blind eyes begin to see the vivid end, As time dies, a new era fit to begin, Let’s celebrate the end, and get to starting over.” Wise words.

Apollo Brown’s Clouds is available now in stores and on iTunes.

From what has been publicized this year, Young Money’s next “build-a-superstar” project appears to be Lil’ Twist. Given Baby, Slim and Weezy’s prior successes, maybe they know something the masses are currently unfamiliar with. It is Tyga, however, who seems like the logical choice for such backing. Admittedly, his Black Thoughts 2 mixtape was anticipated on my personal radar. Read the rest of this entry »

Only a handful of rappers and DJs should even bother releasing a 4.20 project. Curren$y is one of the chosen few and Covert Coup hits the e-streets next week, a free gift for fans and tokers. Featuring full production by Alchemist, a signal the one artist-one producer approach is gaining momentum. Read the rest of this entry »

When a hot prospect signs to a well-known artist’s imprint, a feature from said superstar for the ensuing talent’s first hit is assumed. When Ya Boy signed to Akon’s Konvict Music label in 2010, little did he know “Lock Down” was the song that would officially kick off his California Konvict LP and the next chapter his nearlydecade-long career. A perfect compliment to a cool breeze and some blazing haze, this blueprint for branching out finds the Bay Area bandit and his boss behind the wheel of a single that should keep convertibles topless, dubs thrown and the Kon Man happy with his investment.

It may only achieve regional success, but this what YB’s been waiting for.

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Ya Boy Feat. Akon – “Lock Down”

Faviola Amore

50 Tyson Announces Debut Album ‘Rhythm of Autism’ [AHH]

Japan Facing Second Nuclear Disaster? [Uproxx]

Drag Queen Caught With Mister Cee Speaks: “I’m Not A Prostitute” [TUD]

This Week In Posters — Yep, Someone Made Honey 2 [Film Drunk] Read the rest of this entry »

Astronomy teaches us that the bigger the star, the greater the chances burnout can occur. The entertainment world aligns its stars very much the same, seeing that the more attention one of its premier members receives, the more likely the career can be banished into the black hole of yesteryear. Call it convenient amnesia, if you will. In a spiraling twist of good fortune and hard-nosed grind, Wiz Khalifa built his empire similar to which the proud citizens of his hometown Pittsburgh constructed their city: brick by brick, one fan at a time. Read the rest of this entry »

Shrouded in resilience and ruthlessness like every single character that ever bore the dragon symbol, Mortal Kombat’s ability to adapt with the times is a landmark achievement in itself. In 2011, not much has changed as the company, in association with Machinima.com and Warner Bros. have unveiled Mortal Kombat Legacy, Read the rest of this entry »

After a considerable amount of time waiting in the wing, the man with the sweetest lyrical capacity below the Mason-Dixon line is finally ready to be smacked with that Midas Touch to christen his next project. STS is a people person on all accounts, so it was only fitting to get you ready for STS Demand More: GOLD Edition, you get to see his interaction with the general population. Read the rest of this entry »

As residents of a renown, yet contained community, it is still vital that we protect our own and stick up for one another when outsiders breach our gates. They come in various forms, mostly as leeches, looking to use our trustworthy brand in solely their best interests until our usefulness no longer fits their needs. Nonetheless, monumental achievements in Hip-Hop may have slowed in favor for quick fix social media spoils, but they do still occur on occasion. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever ate food for thought off a flying saucer? Ever been beamed down by a wordplay transporter gamma ray? If you believe in UFO’s, RAP’s and 808s, Aleon Craft would love to cordially invite you to the planet of Mothership Decatur. It’s a spirited place where fun and artistic freedom run congruently in abundance. And in case you were wondering, all the girls in the yard got a “donkey kong” in the back seat. Read the rest of this entry »

“DC Shoes ain’t D.C. Shit…” – Fat Trel

Fat Trel is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in a grape cigarillo. He is aligned with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area’s most recognizable Hip-Hop artist, recent Maybach Music Group signee Wale. Oddly enough, Fat Trel is everything Wale is not. He wears North Face, not Billionaire Boys Club. Read the rest of this entry »