The Most Important Bassists in Hip Hop

Hip Hop wouldn’t be what it is without the bass guitar. Since the earliest, sample-driven days of hip hop, the bass guitar has been a crucial part of hip hop’s evolution. From veteran effects pedal-hogging luminaries like Pino Palladino to contemporary producer-musicians like Brady Watt, let’s dive into the world of the most important bassists in […]

Legends Never Die: Prodigy (Episode 3)

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mobb Deep‘s monumental sophomore album The Infamous, I pause and say to myself, “Damn, Prodigy is really dead.” Prodigy has been gone for three years now. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when he passed. I was at work walking through the lobby, going […]

Mass Appeal: New Noise Out the Northeast

When it comes to East Coast hip-hop, Boston—and Massachusetts as a whole—hasn’t garnered the same attention as neighboring cities like New York and Philadelphia. While there have been individual success stories, such as Guru of Gang Starr, viral sensation Joyner Lucas, boom-bap torchbearer producer Statik Selektah, and Ed O.G., acts on their level have been […]

20 Years Later: ‘Supreme Clientele’ Reminds Us All that Wu-Tang Is Forever

When the Wu emerged on the scene with their monumental single “C.R.E.A.M.” off their debut album Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) in 1993, it was like a new day in hip hop. It’s safe to say that the Wu changed hip hop forever. They were a part of what I like to call the […]

30 Years Later: ‘All Hail the Queen’ Still Sits On the Throne

Queen Latifah has led a career many rappers can’t hold a candle to. To keep it totally 100, not many in the entertainment business can say they’ve accomplished half of what she has. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grammy Award, Emmy Award, Golden Globe, two NAACP Image Awards, over two million albums […]

Rapper Skillz & Lena Waithe Bury the Hatchet Over Strong ‘Queen & Slim’ Criticism

The movie Queen & Slim has received mixed reactions amongst critics. Recently, Emmy award winner and producer of the film Lena Waithe and rapper Skillz became the center of attention in what looked like an online tiff over the film. Thirty-five-year-old Chicago-born Lena is an actress, screenwriter and producer. She is best known for her […]

The Legacy of Nas Doesn’t Stop At ‘Illmatic’

When you talk to the average hip hop fan about Nas and ask them what’s his best work, a good amount of the time you’ll hear Illmatic. If you ask them why, you usually get the cliche, “Man, the beats were incredible. He had DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor, Q-tip, and L.E.S. He painted […]

Review: Ras Kass ‘Soul On Ice 2’ Album + Book

If your into heavy lyricism and Boom Bap beats like I am, Soul On Ice 2 will be very enjoyable for you. It took me a few listens and a read through the SOI2 book (which was a great idea btw) for me to grasp everything. Ras Kass has one of the best pen games […]

SuperSTah Snuk & Termanology “ISIS” Freestyle

ST Da Squad lyrical governances SuperSTah Snuk and Termanology release mercenary “ISIS” Freestyle. Snuk returns with an unyielding comeback, reminding the rap world he’s no beginner. Bar for bar his uncontrollable rhyme schemes are blowing up boroughs causing fatal casualties. Term gunboats in with his own reminders on how quickly he can erase rooms, literally […]

Termanology & Dame Grease ‘Set In Stone’ LP

Termanology teams up with platinum producer Dame Grease for Set In Stone album, available now on all digital platforms. The lyrically conveyed canvas features Method Man, Bun B, Enisa, Vado, LA Novel, Wizz Dakota, Millyz, Sheek Louch, Wais P, Lil Fame of M.O.P, C Scharp, and Ea$y Money. Stream/Buy Here Set In Stone serves as […]

Willie The Kid Signs On As Producer Of PBS Langston Hughes Documentary

Hip Hop artist & entrepreneur Willie the Kid has joined on as a producer for I Too Sing America: Langston Hughes Unfurled a documentary slated to be released in 2020 through PBS’ American Masters Series about the great American poet, novelist, playwright, columnist & social activist who rose to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance. Willie & his […]

Thirstin Howl the 3rd Premieres Kung Fu Film ‘General Lo and the Legend of the Lo Palm’

Thirstin Howl the 3rd, a revered icon in the hip hop culture, embarks on a cinematic journey. Growing up in NY, Kung Fu films were wildly popular and still are. Thirstin puts a magnificent Love and Loyalty spin on his recent theatric debut in General Lo and the Legend of the Lo Palm. The cast […]

Planit Hank (Hip Hop Donor Benefit) Nov. 11th in Williamsburg, Brooklyn @ Music Hall

Planit Hank (Hip Hop Donor Benefit) Performances By Masta Ace, Sadat X, El Da Sensei, Marco Polo, Diamond D, DJ Evil Dee, Melissa J, & More… Tickets: https://www.axs.com/events/364382/beat-cypher-dj-evil-dee-diamond-d-marco-polo-large-professor-tickets?skin=mhow The Donor Benefit will be held at the Music Hall in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (capacity 600+). Confirmed performers are Canibus, Masta Ace, El Da Sensei, Sadat X, Angela Johnson […]

Wu-Tang Clan Celebrates 25 Years of ‘Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)’ @ A3C Festival [Live Footage]

This year Wu-Tang Clan floored the crowds at the A3C Hip Hop Festival in Atlanta celebrating their 25th Anniversary of ‘Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)’. The entire clan was present for this milestone event. Young Dirty Bastard put on a powerful performance on behalf of his father ODB (RIP). His delivery was spot on and truly reminiscent […]

A3C Is Atlanta’s Premier Hip Hop Festival

A3C is Atlanta’s number one hip hop festival! This year has a blazing lineup with your favorite artists. Lil Wayne just dropped ‘The Carter V‘ and you can catch him this week on A3C’s stage. Hip hop enthusiasts will enjoy some stellar performances from other hip hop greats such as Wu-Tang Clan, Talib Kweli, PRHYME, […]

20 Years Later: ‘Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life’ and the Rise of Jay-Z

September 29, 1998 was a huge day for hip hop. Three classic albums dropped in one day. Outkast‘s ‘Aquemini’, ‘Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star’ and Jay-Z‘s ‘Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life’. When I think about Jay’s albums now, all I can say is WOW! ‘Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life’ was the album that solidified Hov, […]

20 Years Later: ‘Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star’ Is Still One of the Most Underrated Albums Ever

Sometimes music is so ahead of its time that people aren’t ready for it, so they push it to the back, and then BOOM, years later everyone gets it. When we talk about the best hip hop albums of 1998, people always overlook the legendary Rawkus Records release, ‘Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star’. When The […]

On Sunday, September 30th Join “The Funeral to Bury the Violence” 2018, Presented by Doitall, 211ci, and Earlii Red

THE FUNERAL TO BURY THE VIOLENCE | 2018 PSA from Kim “Earlii Red”, the Outreach Director/Communications for 211Ci and DoItAllForNewark: “On behalf of 211Ci, DoItAllForNewark, and Dupre “DoItAll” Kelly, we would like to invite you to “Bury The Violence” anger, fear, and anything you need to heal. At 10am on Sunday, September 30th all Wards […]

Attend Omen44’s “Building A Nation” EP Release Party — August 24th In Brooklyn

The Plug International along with Mecca New York‘s notorious artist Omen44, present Building A Nation EP release party on Friday, August 24th at 8pm. The event will be held at Cafe de la Esquina in Brooklyn and hosted by Nikki. Omen44 rallied up some of the surrounding boroughs most elite Hip Hop endorsers to bless […]

Why Drink Champs Is Essential For Hip-Hop Writers/Enthusiasts And Fans

As a hip-hop writer in this era, we often source for stories, info and the likes via the web. We need to face the fact that the majority of paper publications are now web-based. Yes, companies still do prints but the internet has now become the norm when it comes to news. From traditional reporting […]