Gritty on so many levels, the song/video combo of “Just Like Me” looks you dead in the eye and gives a necessary preaching to anybody glorifying the gangbanging and drug dealing worlds. Read the rest of this entry »

Top Dawg’s team wasted no time capitalizing on the warm reception “Hood Gone Love It” received by ushering out the accompanying video after having just released the audio a few days ago. Read the rest of this entry »

Jay Rock has been performing this cut from his debut album, Follow Me Home, for a minute now, and it’s refreshing to hear the recorded, mastered version instead of random YouTube clips floating around. The Watts emcee has endured a long and bumpy road to score a definitive release date and judging from the fact that it’s available for pre-order most likely means July 26th is set in stone. Read the rest of this entry »

There’s a fine line between transformations and transitions, one that Boaz has keyed in on to become the focal point of his career in 2011. Most thirsty rappers would rather see an overnight makeshift. One that would have them looking like the act that’s a step in front of them. Yet Boaz maintains his hungriness–as exhibited on the !illmind-produced “Do It For Ya,” for example–to motivate his hustle. Read the rest of this entry »

All the news of rap groups and labels these days may center around Rick Ross and his Maybach Music Imprint, but the Black Hippy movement may very well be the best all around faction as far as talent is concerned. Ab-Soul will be releasing LongTerm: Mentality on April 5 and one of the standout tracks – let’s take a risk and call it early – features the rest of the squad (Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar) as they tag along for the ride on a track ironically called “Constipation.”

Thankfully we do no judge artists on the quality of their covers because I cannot say I’m a big fan of the visual. The song, however? Let’s just say fans of the Jadakiss/Styles P back and forth flow should eat this up.

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Black Hippy – “Constipation” (Prod. By Sounwave)

Respect: 2DB

Slay never sleeps, always managing to connect with young talent. On “Put That…,” the DJ brings along a gang of hungry savages, ready to rip mics for track three on Slay’s The Soul Controller. Read the rest of this entry »

Good things supposedly come to those who wait. I’ve been copping kicks long enough to disagree with that statement but that’s a topic for another day. On occasion good things also come to those who are cheap and lazy as well, this here is one of those times. Two weeks after releasing Setbacks on iTunes, Schoolboy Q let it loose for those who live by a different moral code. Read the rest of this entry »

Jay Rock doesn’t smile much and he’s not much for games in the vocal booth neither. It’s always business and personalized tales of hood life when it comes to the young, level-headed street soldier who dons the red uniform. Saving the comedy for Mike Epps, the Top Dawg of TDE takes you on a day in his life with a sample of the Black Friday Mixtape (which you probably slept-on to begin with). Read the rest of this entry »

Shopping or shooting? Clearance sales or crack sales? Magazine coupons or magazine clips? Jay Rock’s definition of Black Friday differs much than of the one most Americans painted for themselves. If you’re from poverty, neglected by the wealthy, then you can probably appreciate the reality rap the Watts representer is shoveling on his Black Friday Mixtape. Read the rest of this entry »

Poor folks don’t wake up before dawn before Black Friday. They’re out robbing the dopeman at the first signs of dusk. Jay Rock knows props don’t lace his pockets so he’s out to take what he needs like Omar Little in the streets of Baltimore. But this is Killer Cali and Kendrick Lamar and Giddy share his sense of exasperation so they’re riding shotgun–with the shotguns. Read the rest of this entry »

Any teacher can attest to the fact that each class taught has a different personality. Last year’s XXL Freshman class was full of eclectic, ambitious musicians who were either made or destroyed by their own decisions. This year, the class was intentionally chosen to be ambassadors to the streets. Each artist seems to fit that bill. However not everyone is living up to the precedents set by last year’s clan. Who’ll be the next break-out star? Who’ll be the newest expulsion? Read the rest of this entry »

Journey with Gary, Indiana’s finest 360° on the authentic gangsta tip. The OG mixtape was a rawer-than-sushi shootout designed for your weed smokin’ joyrides through the mind of the methodical genius. Where as Str8 Killa, presented a more concise and direct scope through Freddie Gibbs’ songmaking merits. And now, we have the full-length project stripped of its street décor to give your EP the missing pieces to the studio quality puzzle. Read the rest of this entry »

With the current anticipation and excitement surrounding this here release, nothing more needs to be said. But we’re going to say it anyway. Freddie has ascended to this milestone because you, the fan have given him enough support with his artistic craft and not forced him to compromise his core values when it comes to displaying his talents on the microphone. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s obvious Laws is a fan of the old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” About four months ago, the Brazilian-bred MC let loose of his J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League approved mixtape, 4:57. Since then, homie has been quietly, but efficiently building his brand trying live through on his own self-predicted prophecy as “your future favorite rapper.” Read the rest of this entry »

This record sounds like it should’ve dropped on Halloween.

Mentally, Jay Rock’s “Know Who You Trust” is equivalent to walking into one of those dusty, old fold-up haunted houses in the back of the unfriendly, neighborhood parking lot carnival. You hit play and swarming organs and daunting strings immediately cast a spell over you. Which is befitting considering the straight scary stories the Watts’ prophet rehashes on his track with upcoming R&B talent, Sean McGee, as part of the young Tyrese’s upcoming Rhythm & Streets Special Edition Gangsta Grillz. Read the rest of this entry »