Veterans to the game, New York’s elite rhyming duo, M.O.P. recently dropped their ninth studio album, Sparta, and first with European production crew, the Snowgoons. Arranged thematically like the film 300, the album features Lil’ Fame and Billy Danze bringing their signature aggressive raps to a soundtrack that can only be described with one word: triumphant. Read the rest of this entry »

It was a star-studded event in Los Angeles’s premiere venue, The Music Box, where the sold-out crowd gathered to watch their beloved hometown hero, Kendrick Lamar. Big names like A$AP Rocky, Krondon, and Busta Rhymes were in the house as either entourage or performers and even the mythical Dr. Dre had a section of the balcony for himself to enjoy the festivities without being hounded by the peons. Featured on the bill, Left-Coast duo TiRon & Ayomari caught everyone by surprise as they preached about relationships and love’s many complexities, Read the rest of this entry »

It’s old hearsay by now: Mac Miller makes tunes for the kids and not for the old, hardened Hip-Hop heads. There’s been countless digs at the Pittsburgh native ranging from him riding Wiz’ coattails to being the next white MC to have buzz and nothing more. He’s pals with Young Khalifa, sure, but people are missing the point. He’s making songs that resonate with someone whether you’re a fan or not. Read the rest of this entry »

Parties are designed to be joyous occasions where worries are checked at the door along with other miscellaneous items that get in the way of enjoying the spoils of the good life. The 2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards brought all corners of the rap world together to engulf Atlanta above their usual quota of nightlife entertainment, including a club full of kids packed in like sardines having the time of their lives on a weekend ripe for the taking. Read the rest of this entry »

Since releasing their breakthrough album Fancy Footwork back in 2007, the boogie-fever-enducing duo Chromeo has seen its fair share of success. They’ve enjoyed sold-out shows across the globe and die-hard followers, who move on their every note. From a fan’s perspective, it’s easy to think Dave-1 and P-Thugg – two Canadian comrades who’ve grown up building their brand of new wave, electro-based dance jams since high school – aim simply to blow up and achieve the extraordinary. Read the rest of this entry »

Joy and pain have been inconveniently intertwined well before Frankie Beverly & Maze decided to immortalize the saying. Quite frankly, life is about the lumps just as well as the lollipops. When your profession is making people bowl over with laughter look easier than breathing air, a hard knock life is probably the last suspected factor for inspiration. Kevin Hart’s road to uproarious reactions has come along with an embattled childhood as well as the more recent separation from his wife. However, a golden comedian is able to find the humor in every situation and that’s why Kevin Hart’s the man he is today and the man in the entertainment world. Read the rest of this entry »

In a recent interview with MTV’s Rapfix, Wale noted that too many rappers had blown up from the Internet, therefore crowding the window of opportunity for artists via the world wide web. He had a valid point, seeing that the model that worked for several artists such as himself circa 2008, is pretty much commonplace in today’s Hip-Hop atmosphere, making it harder for acts to stand out. Read the rest of this entry »

Photos: Arian Stevens | Graphics: Talia

As the stronghold of Bay Area underground Hip-Hop, Zion I has never stepped on the mainstream stage despite creating several critically-acclaimed alternative albums in the last decade. Their desire to stay to true to their music and loyal to their fans is a great responsibility to them. Subsequently, it takes priority over any amount of money they could receive on any higher platform. Read the rest of this entry »

For over 20 years, Vallejo, California-born E-40 has stayed on the map, fulfilling his role as the self-proclaimed “Ambassador of the Bay.” Whether it was with his family, The Click, or by himself, he’s always played his part seriously, consistently putting out two plus decades of music he describes that “slaps.” Read the rest of this entry »

People often forget that before Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X became the revered leaders they are today, they were regular men from humble beginnings. Meaning that anyone with the drive and desire can pick up where they left off. Sadly, this is a concept that has slowly faded away over the years, especially in Hip-Hop music—a brand that resonated in the streets to speak for the people. Read the rest of this entry »

Home to many of the greatest albums that Hip-Hop has ever seen, the West Coast tradition is one of longstanding glory and pride. But as the years have worn on, the greats have transitioned into in the elder statesmen of the music, paving the way for the next generation.

In 2003, the octet of Strong Arm Steady was eager to take on the role of torchbearers. Read the rest of this entry »

Musical careers bloom and blossom, wither and falter, completing the full circle. For the great artists though, the nice, budding parts can still take place well after a sustainable catalog is obtained. Therein stands Talib Kweli. Around the world and back again, with numerous projects, singles and guest appearances to cement his legacy, yet he’s still in the middle of sculpting the landscape. Read the rest of this entry »

Intro by TC

DJ Premier.

The mere mention of the name can elicit a million different emotions from a million different residents of the house of Hip-Hop. Whether you’re a primetime industry player, artist with a collage of shiny plaques or disciple of the culture who’s allotted a percentage of your budget to the cause over the years, the Works of Mart have impacted your life in some shape or fashion. Read the rest of this entry »

In the military, when the top-ranking official of the operation is rendered incapable of doing their job, the next in line steps up and fills the slot without so much of a eye blink. The G-Unit battleship has posed a similar situation in 2010. Although General 50 Cent is still very much in tune with the rap world, he has come to a stage in his career where spitting rhymes isn’t his primal focus. Leave it to Lloyd Banks to all but obliterate his solo hiatus by clearing out car lots with his monster single “Beamer, Benz Or Bentley” and simultaneously renewing the interest in his camp’s brand in the process. Read the rest of this entry »

There are two lines of thought when it comes to dealing with the past. You can either do your best to forget it and put the best foot forward or you draw from those experiences to better handle the future. Von Pea, of Tanya Morgan, wisely chose the latter when the time came to begin work on his debut album Pea’s Gotta Have It. Taking the “Nati” off of Brooklyn, Von takes listeners back to the simpler days of of his time in high school. Read the rest of this entry »