It’s been more than two years since we interviewed J. Cole in Atlanta during our second year at A3C. His star power at the time was merely a glimmer. “Lights Please” was the closest thing he had to a single, but it was buried in a 22-track mixtape that was getting a moderate amount of love from the blogs & very little love from the industry. The hopes for Jay’s apprentice were looking a little Bleek Read the rest of this entry »

Devin The Dude may never be seen as a lyrical wizard such as Andre 3000 or as poetical as Scarface, but his name rings bells in every circle of Hip-Hop. And when it comes time for him to hang up his Kangol cap, he most likely will be remembered for a few key things: his affinity for cannabis and keen, comedic sensibilities. Read the rest of this entry »

The cliché rapper line has always been “my life is a movie,” but most who choose to rap don’t star in the film day-to-day. Aside from being a part-time writer, I’m also an aspiring emcee and employee for the man, one of many “Blu Colla Workers.” Read the rest of this entry »

Photo: Boney Starks

First off, I can’t dance.

Now that we got that out of the way, I can tell you about an amazing song that causes me to willingly make a jackass of myself in public. For the sake of my social status I’m blessed this remained an album cut, but it’s unfortunate that “One Of Dem Nights” never hit the mainstream the way it should have. Read the rest of this entry »

Oneirology, the name of the CunninLynguists new album, is defined as the study of dreams. Dreams are as diverse as life as they are directly influenced by our endeavors. The title plays as a theme throughout the entire project with Kno’s beats, inundated with soul, sonically directing the album with cohesion and grace. Natty & Deacon The Villain lyrically paint pictures from a multitude of vantage points depicting the lives we lead and the powers we are ran by. Read the rest of this entry »

The jubilee that comes with childhood seems to be replaced with the anxiety that adulthood tosses in our laps like write-ups from our employers. The happiness given to a musician passionately expressing themselves through their instrument of choice begins to be muffled when business is mixed in. The video & song for Foster The People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” proves to be an anti-thesis of sorts towards the realities we are told must be true. Read the rest of this entry »

You can call me out for generalizing, but women tend to change their mind more often than gas stations been changing their prices lately. One day they’re complaining about not getting an invite somewhere & the next you’re being told things are moving too fast and space is needed. As long as you’re playing along with the whims they want you adhering to, contentment lies in their hearts. Read the rest of this entry »

There was a time when TSS was the only website in my Google Reader giving Danny Brown’s oddball Motown flow any shine. Now, the guy throws a song on Twitter and he sets the internet ablaze with admiration from an array of different types of internet sources. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve never heard Bay Area wordsmith Locksmith in a good mood. I’ve also never heard a Ski Beatz track that wasn’t smooth as silk. Read the rest of this entry »

Reading Danny Brown’s press release for the song “D*ck Suck,” I noticed it came with a disclaimer that it arrived “just in time for Black History month.”

If you think that’s blasphemous, you may not want to hit play. The Mo-Town’s oddball MC sticks to what he’s best at, which is spitting the most offensively hilarious lines in contemporary Hip-Hop. Read the rest of this entry »

When Adele’s 21 hit my iPod, I knew it was going to be somewhat of a task to soak in the music & not unfairly compare it to its predecessor due to 19′s significance in my playlist. My relationship with music hasn’t been altered by the internet culture I’m immersed in. I still look at every album as a piece of work to be enjoyed, not merely listened to in order to maintain cultural relevancy. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been a fan of Young Buck since before he had a single out of his own. The country drawl that carried out a third of the verses on Beg For Mercy was an intriguing change of pace when set against Banks & 50′s similar New York style. Several years later, I’ve seen his star rise & fall, hoping that one day the Nashville native will find his place back in the Hip-Hop conversation. Read the rest of this entry »

Those putting it down on the West Coast may not be grabbing the ears of every listener across the country, but regardless, the output is as strong as ever. The most impressive thing about the recent resurgence is the unity that stretches across all eras & subgenres that has never been so present as right now. Terrace Martin, whose faucet may be in dire need of repair, has three recent leaks that exemplify the new phase in the Golden State. Read the rest of this entry »

Kendrick Lamar has built quite a name for himself in a short amount of time. After receiving a co-sign from Dre, Compton’s latest torchbearer has wasted no time capitalizing on the sudden attention being thrown his way. Hooking up with Curt@!n$ & Schoolboy Q, the West Coast wordsmith & his compadres trade verses articulating the pain that arises from growing up in a negative environment Read the rest of this entry »

Georgia Anne Muldrow is a name I have heard countless times throughout the course of my musical searchings, but have never paid proper attention to. It’s unfortunate that I overlooked her soulful ways for such a long period of time. As soon as I hit play on her latest collaboration with Declaime entitled “Mind Traveling,” I was engulfed by the soulful sound Read the rest of this entry »