The streets are Hip-Hop and we’re Hip-Hop so the streets belong to us. No self respecting MC should be caught dead in those streets without viable (read: free) marketing  for their fanbase. In our continuing efforts to give you the last of the 2009 in 2010′s first week, here’s the best of digital goods that circulating throughout the year. Read the rest of this entry »

As we brave into the unknown as well as clear the cobwebs from our holiday hangover, allow us to revisit the last year of last decade one more time for old time’s sake.

This one’s for the King of Pop though. Long live the music. Read the rest of this entry »

October

T-Pain’s Vocoder tried to take over the game and we helped VH1 recognize game. 1520 Sedgwick Ave. flew totally under the rap industries radar. Common got some of that Bill Gates Money. ?uestlove stopped by and told a few stories, while we wished McGruder would tell us some more. Letterman went in on McCain. We looked at the elephant in the room and David Allen Grier gave out wise words to close out the month.

R.I.P. Johnny J & Rudy Ray Read the rest of this entry »

July

Mos Def had the best week ever and Nas blessed the leak of his album. We collectively were down to our last 5 cigs as we defined what classic meant to us and wondered where the new ones were. We reminisced over L Boogie and jammed out to “Yacht Rock”. Jesse and The New Yorker went after Obama, but Luda and Nas had his back. Rakim’s influence was examined and Soulja Slim was remembered. Rocsi & Terrence made 106 & Park worth talking about for a hot second and signs of the recession started popping up. CNN shined a light Read the rest of this entry »

April

Crooked I finished out his Hip-Hop Weekly in grand fashion, as he set a template numerous emcees have co-opted for their own means. We looked into the art of sampling and whether a magicians producer’s tricks should ever be revealed to the crowd. Jay-Z sent another kidney shot to the music industry when he signed to Live Nation, as well as a blow to the psyche of anyone who thought they still had a shot at B. He also looked out for Sean Bell’s fam. Rick Ross’ “Speedin” video was broken down like game film after a tough loss. Nas was called out, Big Boi did ballet, & 50 kicked his baby moms & kid to the curb. Jean retired (sorta). Read the rest of this entry »

January

With the Industry on a temporary shutdown, the Crew was pretty much left to our own devices to start of the year. After shaking off the extra holiday pounds, a lot speculation for the upcoming year and recollecting of the past kept the month moving along. That and a healthy dose of stray shots.

We started the year in a quizzical mood as we had time to take look at some burning questions.

Would this be the year digital music surpassed CD’s? Would Lil’ Wayne finally deliver an album to back up his “Best Rapper Alive” claims? Is it time for Prodigy to hang up his mic? Is Google gonna become Big Brother? Has Pro Tools cheapened the feature? It’s easier to ponder these issue when the faucet leaks at a controlled drip versus a steady flow as it does later in the year.

We took a look at XXL’s Most Anticipated albums for ’08. While Estelle and Jay Electronica were pegged as one’s to watch for the upcoming year. Crooked I was rounding 3rd on his freestyle odyssey.

Tragedy Khadafi received words of encouragement as we once again tipped our hat to Aaliyah. Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, so 2008 probably won’t go down as one of the best years in Hip-Hop, like say 1988 or 1998. But it’s the only one we’re gonna get, so we had to make the most of it.

Coming into the year, no one was really sure what to expect with so many heavy hitters releasing works the year before. As always, it stated off slow, but picked up a considerable amount of steam as the days stacked up. One thing for sure is 2008 did not lack for excitement, music worthy of acclaim, accolades, a fair share of comedic moments and interesting storylines. From Lil’ Wayne to Obama to Nas to Rick Ross to T-Baby, the fodder was there, & so was TSS to offer our opinions and thoughts on what was going on then…and now, trying to apply 20/20 hindsight on it all. Read the rest of this entry »

Mmhmmm.

We had some TSSkeptics at the beginning of our official 1998 Week, so The Crew worked overtime to show just how much the year was smashing on smashing.

We covered a lot this week…

– The importance of the family; with posse cuts, Lyricist Lounge, Flipmode, Def and Terror Squads, and No Limit.

– The best day ever; September 29, 1998. So agree-eth XXL (when magazines were still dope.)

– The days when music videos were actually on TV; with Aaliyah, Tupac, A Tribe Called Quest, Redman, Xzibit and Warren Beatty. Read the rest of this entry »