Featured Videos

The Testament

Artist: CormegaTitle: The TestamentRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Sean A. Malcolm Webster’s Dictionary defines the word testament as “an affirmation of beliefs.” Though things happen for a reason, if you ask Cormega—who dubs himself “Queensbridge’s most respected rapper”—his official first album while a then Def Jam artist, The Testament (Legal Hustle), should have been released before […]

All Bets Off

Artist: JUICETitle: All Bets OffRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Christopher Scav Yuscavage Being the only man walking the Earth to have defeated Eminem in a freestyle battle definitely has its advantages – just ask Chicago rhyme-spitter JUICE, whose claims to fame include defeating Slim Shady in a mind-numbing off-the-top battle and losing gracefully to the […]

The Surviving Elements

Artist: Pete RockTitle: The Surviving ElementsRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Brolin Winning Though some heads were under whelmed by Soul Survivor 2, and the rumored reunion album with CL Smooth seems unlikely at best, Pete Rock comes back strong on his latest release, a fifteen track instrumental collection in the vein of his much-loved Petestrumentals LP […]

Triangulation Station

Artist: OpioTitle: Triangulation StationRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: William E. Ketchum III Solo albums from members of successful groups have varied results. While Fugees members Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean used their group affiliations to launch solo careers, Pras wasn’t as fortunate. Mos Def and Talib Kweli have shown that they’re just as deadly individually […]

S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.

Artist: One Be LoTitle: S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman The name One Be Lo may not immediately ring a bell, but chances are, it soon will. With the release of his official solo debut, S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. (Fat Beats), this promising MC/ producer also know as One Man Army of Binary Star is properly reintroducing himself […]

Sleepers

Artist: Rapper Big PoohTitle: SleepersRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone “Ever since The Listening, Pooh’s gotten a lot meaner,” Rapper Big Pooh reveals on “Now” off his debut Sleepers (6 Hole). Referring to Little Brother’s 2003 formal introduction, Pooh, one-third of that underground Cinderella story, has seemingly felt like that neglected sibling in a family […]

On The Grind

Artist: Big NoydTitle: On The GrindRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jayson Rodriguez As a frequent guest of Havoc and Prodigy’s, Big Noyd is always good for a hot 16 on a Mobb Deep track. But while his high-energy flow provides a balance between the murderous duo, Noyd’s rhymes are often too scattered to hold together […]

2050: Before the Massacre (Mixtape)

Artist: 50 Cent & Whoo KidTitle: 2050: Before the Massacre (Mixtape)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Shawn Lawrence James Before the platinum certifications, clothing lines, sneaker endorsements and just about any other venture Curtis Jackson’s added to his ever growing G-Unit empire, 50 initially spawned his popularity from the tested and true application of getting yourself […]

The Documentary

Artist: The GameTitle: The DocumentaryRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Remmie Fresh The rap climate is chocked full of hype these days, but no one has quite capitalized on it the way The Game has. The Compton-reared rapper has taken Hip-hop by storm courtesy of assorted beefs (Joe Budden, Memphis Bleek, Yukmouth and others), a powerful story […]

Osirus (The Official Mixtape)

Artist: Ol’ Dirty BastardTitle: Osirus (The Official Mixtape)Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Clover Hope Given that the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard was best known for his rabid eccentricity, it’s a shock—and a disappointment—that his first posthumous release Osirus (Sure Shot) exhibits minimal instances of the ODB Hip-hop has come to accept and sometimes love. The late […]

The Dirtiest Thirstiest

Artist: Yung WunTitle: The Dirtiest ThirstiestRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Shawn Lawrence James For the better part of 2004, Hip-hop broadcasted its current object of infatuation, Altanta as the synth heavy alternative to the beef oriented platters served from virtually every other region. Boasting multi-platinum big wigs such as Lil Jon and the Eastsideboyz and Ludacris […]

Loyal To The Game

Artist: 2PacTitle: Loyal To The GameRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Clover Hope Not many artists can pull off the thug poet persona. But the late, great Tupac Shakur was perhaps the best at it, if not its creator. On his seventh posthumous release, Loyal To The Game (Amaru/Interscope), the legendary lyricist ignites the same fire […]

Coup De Theatre

Artist: Haiku D’etatTitle: Coup De TheatreRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman Haiku D’etat, which literally means a “poetry takeover”, is a suiting name for the convergence of three of L.A.’s most gifted MCs: Aceyalone and Mikah 9 of Freestyle Fellowship, along with Abstract Rude. On their sophomore album, Coup De Theatre (Decon/Project Blowed), these […]