Between the failing automotive industry and record low seasons from their professional football team, the city of Detroit has more reasons than usual to feel hopeless during a recession. Sharing the same sense of disparity comes a rapper not afraid bank his aspirations on the power of alliteration: Finale. Planted firmly in the Motown music scene, his debut A Pipe Dream And A Promise features prominent beatsmiths such as Black Milk, Oddisee and of course his mentor J Dilla to deliver the soundtrack to his life as a wishful thinker thus far. Read the rest of this entry »

With the spectacle that was VH1′s Miss Rap Supreme failing to be that missing link that separates the female rapper and total acceptance, it’s back to the drawing board for those women hoping to overcome those lingering stereotypes. While most rely on visual attributes, veteran rookie Invincible rather let her mic skills be her judge and jury. With a keen layer of ideology that covers her lyrics, the Michigan native is a wolverine on the microphone equipped with a slick wordplay that can twist any syllable at any speed. It’s these qualities along with an intriguing array of production that make her debut Shapeshifters an above-average event. Read the rest of this entry »