Yello: Booked, Behind Bars
God, please pardon your son, my mind was young and my feet were unable to outrun where Im from. Yello begins his first book, Respect the Jux, with this fitting quote. A onetime thief, Yello saw his life of crime come to an abrupt end when he was arrested and decided to take the blame […]
Rewind the Rhyme: Snoop Dogg
As the end of the year approaches, labels are scrambling to drop a slew of heavy hitters hoping to rake in that last bit of bread before ’06 is a wrap. Among them, The Game, Young Jeezy, The Clipse, Pitbull, and Lil Scrappy are holding it down for the new jacks and Jay-Z and Nas’ […]
Hip-Hop and The Great Pumpkin
From charity moves to the timeless tradition of good football and family love, everyone has their own special turkey day story – even some sad memories. In celebration of Thanksgiving or Thankstaking, as illseed likes to call it – we asked some artists, actors and DJs what their most memorable moments were. B.G.: Thanksgiving […]
Storm the Unpredictable: Quiet Storm
Theres a difference between trying to send a message and actually speaking from experience. Storm the Unpredictable brings feel-good Hip-Hop while embarking on topics that culture enthusiasts of any age can relate to. Not only because of the subject matter but because of the way its done. Dope beats, well-composed lyrics and random doses of […]
Nas: Hip-Hop’s Eulogy Part Two
AllHipHop.com: In 2002 you told AllHipHop I want to build bigger alliances throughout Hip-Hop. It’s time for unity among the whole Hip-Hop world. Sounds like aligning with Def Jam was always in the cards. Nas: Absolutely. This is New York. This is the house that Russell Simmons built. This is a house where you got […]
Nas: Hip-Hop’s Eulogy Part One
Nas is entitled to change his mind. So despite his new album being tabbed Hip Hop is Dead, its a safe bet that Nasir Jones has more up his sleeve than just a provocative title. Since aligning with the Def Jam ship currently steered by Jay-Z, his once bitterest of rivals, the publics take on […]
Jim Jones: Boulders At The Throne
For the clueless few, Jay-Z and the Diplomats have had friction between them even when the group leader Cam’ron and company were signed to Roc-A-Fella Records. The tension had settled under the surface, dormant for many years. Furthermore, when Cam’ron issued his own lyrical barrage at the Def Jam president last year…it was basically ignored. […]
DJ Cocoa Chanelle: Ladies Night
Being a woman in Hip-Hop is not the easiest task. Surfing through the waves of misogyny, bias, and assumed physical inferiority, ladies in the industry are faced with multiple obstacles just to align themselves as equals to the fellas. DJ Cocoa Chanelle is no stranger to this struggle. A seasoned DJ- one of the greatest […]
AZ: Superhero with no Disguise
In an industry full of loud, braggadocios rappers feeding gimmicks to the masses, its a relief to see that some of the strong who move quietly arent being silenced. AZ is definitely one of those who has been standing firm for over a decade, and has no plans for slowing down. One of the signs […]
Duece Poppi: Chuckin’ the Deuce
Duece Poppi isnt your average newcomer to the realms of rap music. In fact, he isnt new at all. Cutting his teeth on high school chum, Trick Daddys 2001 release, Book of Thugs: AK Verses 47, and more notably, the single, Shut Up, the Atlanta-born rapper went on to work with South Florida rap elites […]
Trick Daddy: Super Ugly
With Rick Ross being the one to “blow” up Miami as of late, a certain label colleague probably left some wondering if he indeed slipped into obscurity. Trick Daddy fans need not worry though, because Trick hasnt been sitting idle even though he wont say hes been busy either. Perhaps thats just thug code, […]
Count Bass D: No Kidding Around
Above The Law once rapped about a Black Superman, and with all due respect to Hip-Hops favorite nine-man super-group from Staten Island, no MC seems to fit the profile better than Nashvilles Count Bass D. The average rapper would have you believe they really are living in the lap of luxury; in reality their powers […]
Ice-T: High Roller
Rhyme pays, but TV pays better. In 2006, Ice-T has little to no reason to still be making records. Between a leading role Law & Order: SVU and hosting Hip-Hop Honors, the original gangsta is a well-paid household name, who never lost one bit of his outspoken, street image. But for the love of the […]
Del the Funkee Homosapien: Mid Day in a Perfect World
For several years, the whereabouts of Del Tha Funkee Homosapien were a complete mystery. Resurfacing on a few tours, including some with his Hieroglyphics brethren, Del spent the past six years learning life lessons and educating himself on the science of music. The Cali native has come an incredibly long way from his debut LP […]
Jody Breeze: Trap or Die
Jody Breeze mayve started as a boy in the hood, but hes made a successful rap career using his talents. From his humble beginnings in Macon, Georgia to the charts, Jody has seen it all. Young Jeezy, Jodys former crew-member isnt the only Trap Star either. Here, Jody breaks down the fine lined differences between […]
Mr. T: Pity The Fool
"[You] talking much junk like Mr. T is your back, but he’s not so don’t act cute." -EMPD on "You’re A Customer" Its hard to determine if he realizes it or not, but Mr. T is indelibly linked to Hip-Hop and many of the culture’s ingrained sensibilities. Legendary lyricists like Slick Rick, Bug Pun and […]
Westside Bugg: Buggin’ Out
It can be said that most rappers only thank God when they get their awards. However, L.A.s own Deon Holly, perhaps better known as Westside Bugg makes it clear that he is a man of the higher power. With the album, The Roach Motel coming in January on Native Records, Bugg is going to make […]
The Game: One Man Riot Part 2
What’s new with The Game? Well, in his quest to dominate, the Compton rapper has started to produce Hip-Hop tracks under the tutelage of Scott Storch and J.R. Rotem. He’s squashed an old, rusty beef with Ja Rule and created new alliances with the likes of Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas. Doctor’s Advocate, the […]
The Game: One Man Riot Part 1
The Game knows all too well the notion off the survival of the fittest. For Game, whose real name is Jayceon Taylor, survival is all he’s known from the days to selling drugs on the street, to getting shot up, to a highly volatile beef with one of rap’s dominant labels. As he prepares The […]
Juggaknots: Movin’ the Chains
How cool would it be to say your junior high school teacher belonged to a celebrated Hip-Hop group? Wouldnt that be awesome if your teacher could bust rhymes during recess, make a knuckle beat on the lunchroom table, or man the turntables at the high school dance? There exists three such teachers and together, they […]