Don’t look now, but everyone’s favorite flame-spitting supergroup is back. Slaughterhouse returns to the headphones of the masses with “Back on the Scene,” a lyrical exhibition that doubles as a headnod to Black Sheep’s classic “The Choice is Yours.” Over a beat that updates the frenetic pace and feel of the original for today’s ears, Royce, Crooked I, Joell and Joe Budden do what they do best, which is tear up microphones each in their own unique fashion. Read the rest of this entry »

Keeping it low budget but “LuveLee” and modest to match the lyrical content, Dres provides the reading while the cameras take us through the streets of New York. Since I’ve already decided that me and this song go well together, given it’s grounded stance, I like the laidback approach taken with the video. Read the rest of this entry »

This is good. It’s not overwhelming, but it does succeed in striking a balance a balance between the money, materialism and the ilk that permeate the basslines of most songs. It’s Dres, employing a dash of irony for a sobering reminder to listeners Read the rest of this entry »

Aggins is coming out the woodworks in the name of Barry.

Words By Khalid Strickland

The deeper I get into this game, the more I doubt that I’m built for journalism. My homies think it’s a picnic. “Strick, you get to go to hot shows and parties for free,” they say. True indeed, but they don’t know the politics and bullshit I tolerate to attend some of these gigs. Being a real nigga, it’s tough to deal with folks lying to my face (“Sorry, there’s no media list”) and juiced-up bouncers barking orders (“Don’t cross the velvet rope!”) without hooking off on somebody. But I refuse to be dragged back into the gutter.

That’s why for nearly two hours, I patiently baked in the sun before entering the anticipated Rock The Bells concert at Jones Beach. Meanwhile, the Nikon Theater’s yellow-shirted minions ran a defensive scheme that Bill Belichick would envy. Many of the security guards, perhaps not used to corralling thousands of hip-hop fans, were a little overzealous. You’d think all the weed smoke hovering around would’ve mellowed security out, but no dice.

Once inside, I kicked it with my Brooklyn homie, underground icon Poison Pen; he’d just been onstage with his fellow Stronghold crew member, Immortal Technique. I was heated that I missed Technique’s show, but it’s always good to chop it up with Pen. I missed Murs show too, but I saw him in V.I.P. and as always he was down-to-Earth.

By the time I got to the main stage, De La Soul was beginning their set, which featured appearances from Q-Tip on “Buddy,” Dres of Black Sheep (the fans flipped for “This or That”) and Biz Markie, who had the capacity crowd singing along to “Just a Friend.” Next, B-Real of Cypress Hill introduced the The Pharcyde, who performed their hits “Runnin,” “Ya Mama” and the timeless “Passing Me By.” Two of my favorite artists, Raekwon and Ghostface, gave a decent performance together. As much as I dig those cats, I’ve seen them both do better. Supernatural followed with a crowd-pleasing freestyle where he incorporated items the fans tossed to him; blunts, t-shirts, and even a pair of panties (!!!) effortlessly meshed into his impromptu verses. Mos Def’s segment was respectable but didn’t really explode until Talib Kweli assisted him for some Black Star joints. Redman and Method Man brought down the house with their kinetic set; EPMD, Slick Rick and Ghostface provided entertaining cameos. Read the rest of this entry »