Artist: Handsome Boy Modeling SchoolTitle: White PeopleRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jesse Fairfax Prince Paul has been long revered for his zany humor and creativity which knows no bounds. He’s the mastermind behind De La Soul’s golden days, MC Paul Barman’s It’s Very Stimulating EP, and the concept albums Psychoanalysis and A Prince Among Thieves; […]
Artist: NasTitle: Street’s DiscipleRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone Already an undeniable great in Hip-hop’s still growing annals, Queensbridge veteran Nas has consistently elevated the lyrical bar over the past decade. Even when his albums came under question (like 1999’s conceptually-misguided Nastradamus), his verses rarely came under scrutiny. Having arguably KO’d Jay-Z in one […]
Artist: L.G.Title: Industry Co-Sign II (Mixtape)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jayson Rodriguez The Lord’s Gift has blessed us with his presence. L.G., as he’s otherwise known, is a Brooklyn upstart who toes the line between the Boot Camp Clik and Black Star. Armed with a gruff flow, the Source Magazine’s Unsigned Hype alum is equally […]
Artist: DeclaimeTitle: Conversations With DudleyRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Kenny Rodriguez Declaime (alias Dudley Perkins) is living proof that simply knowing the right people can do wonders for a rap artist’s career. Having the good fortune to grow up alongside siblings Otis and Michael Jackson – now known as Madlib and Oh No – when Declaime […]
Artist: EminemTitle: EncoreRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone Without a doubt one of the game’s all-time grand lyricists, one of Eminem’s superior strengths throughout his illustrious career has been the uncanny ability to bring listeners into his turbulent psyche, one loaded with violent baby mama drama, parental neglect, and shameless insults. But on his fourth […]
Artist: JinTitle: The Rest is HistoryRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Robert DeGracia There are few tougher tasks in Hip-hop than selling your written raps to an audience that has grown accustomed to your success in the freestyle forefront. The Rest is History, is an attempt to pickup where Miami-native and freestyle champ Jin left off […]
Artist: MF DoomTitle: MM..Food Rating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Alvin aqua boogie Blanco If skeptics took some of their time spent panning underground Hip-hop music for being dull and lifeless-admittedly, on many occasions rightfully so-and used it to listen to MF Doom’s MM..Food (Rhymesayers), they would shut their traps for a little less than an […]
Artist: Wu-Tang ClanTitle: Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Shawn Lawrence James The year was 1993. Rather than scratching the surface, the rap collective known as the Wu-Tang Clan punctured Hip-Hop with sharp compositions of street life and quickly became a gritty alternative to the commercial avenue the West Coast paved […]
Artist: Ja RuleTitle: R.U.L.E.Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone While many have prematurely considered his career a wrap, Ja Rule has risen up to silence all naysayers with his sixth, and arguably most important, album, R.U.L.E (Def Jam). Cleverly opening up with Ja delivering Denzel Washington’s campfire spiritual from the Civil War epic Glory, R.U.L.E. […]
Artist: KaziTitle: The Plague (Feat. Oh No)Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Jesse Fairfax If you’re even vaguely familiar with the underground scene you’ve heard the name Stones Throw Records by this point. This West Coast powerhouse has built its reputation for putting out experimental jazz, hip-hop and funk music mainly produced by the extraordinary Madlib. Not […]
Artist: VirtuosoTitle: World War II: Evolution of the TorturerRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman Politically aware MC’s may never be satisfied with the government, but let’s face it: the outcome of the 2004 election will leave mindful lyricists no choice but to get even more militant on the mic. Just look at how many […]
Artist: Jacki-OTitle: Poe Little Rich GirlRating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Shawn Lawrence James Jacki-O should know that there is a thin line between vending sex and lyricism. While artists like Foxy Brown and Salt –N- Pepa exercised their provocative appeal to garner attention from many, their substance conveyed on wax, especially the latter, is what […]
Artist: MC EihtTitle: Veterans DayRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Jozen Cummings Dear Mainstream Media: I write this letter to you with deep concern. For close to 10 years, you have waited for the resurrection of West Coast Hip-hop. Ever since Pac died, you claim the West just isn’t the same. Snoop can make a great record […]
Artist: SupastitionTitle: The DeadlineRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Maurice Downes With The Deadline (Soulspazm), it seems like we’ve caught Supastition at “that” album. To be more specific, the album, technically an EP, that’s some kind of massive change between then and now, between the artist that sounded like A, but now comes across like B. It’s […]
Artist: R.A. the Rugged ManTitle: Die, Rugged Man, DieRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman After being lavishly courted by a host of major record labels in the early-90s, R.A. the Rugged Man opted to sign with Jive Records only to be dropped and sued. This erratic MC simply proved to be too much to […]
Artist: LibrettoTitle: Ill-oet The Last ElementRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Jesse Fairfax When thinking of the West Coast, even the most “die hard rider” of fans will admit that it’s slumped since the famed demise of Death Row Records. The Pharcyde broke up and Ice Cube discovered an acting career, leaving us with Snoop Dogg and […]
Artist: GoretexTitle: The Art of DyingRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone In a time of disposable albums filled with conventional methods of songwriting and all-too-familiar sounding beats, Goretex’s The Art of Dying is a rare exercise in completely unique rap music. One-third of underground revolutionaries Non Phixion (along with Ill Bill and Sabac), Goretex has […]
Artist: Edo. G featuring Pete RockTitle: My Own Worst EnemyRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Matt Barone Uniting the microphone abilities of Boston veteran Edo. G with the board skills of Mount Vernon legend Pete Rock would have surely been a high-profile collaboration a decade ago. As an unfortunate sign of the times, however, My Own Worst […]
Artist: MaroonsTitle: AmbushRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Jason Newman As Quannum heads anxiously begin their 6-month countdown for the new Blackalicious album, they hopefully will not overlook the release of Ambush (Quannum), the ambitious and innovative debut from Maroons AKA Latyrx’s Lateef the Truth Speaker and Blackalicious’ DJ Chief Xcel. A precursor to next year’s release […]
Artist: R. Kelly & jay ZTitle: Unfinished BusinessRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Jayson Rodriguez If The Best Of Both Worlds was Jay-Z and R.Kelly’s “Fiesta”-fueled Friday night then Unfinished Business (Def Jam), the duo’s second collaborative album, is their Saturday night sequel. Jigga and Kells re-team with the intention of flaunting their fantasy-inducing fairy tales, but […]
