Featured Videos

Convexed

Artist: Various ArtistsTitle: ConvexedRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: D. Allen Underground heads be on alert. The Prof. has devised a new lesson plan for you to follow with his new compilation, Convexed. The well-known producer, dj, and journalist brings slept on mc’s to his Nature Sounds label with the intentions of leaving you craving for more […]

Too Hot for T.V.

Artist: Bad Boy’s Da BandTitle: Too Hot for T.V.Rating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Toshitaka Kondo It’s judgment day for Babs, Freddrick, Ness, Dylan, Sara, and Young City (formerly Chopper) of Bad Boy’s Da Band. Their debut album, Too Hot For T.V., is the culmination of a difficult and tumultuous development process; all scrutinized by a […]

The Good Brothers

Artist: Project Blowed Presenst…Title: The Good BrothersRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Ducksauce The Good Brothers is the latest release on Aceyalone’s Project Blowed Recordings – named after the long-running open mic session held weekly in Los Angeles’ Liemert Park. This new collaborative effort features a plethora of upcoming Project Blowed MC’s, a handful of West […]

Chicken -N- Beer

Artist: LudacrisTitle: Chicken -N- BeerRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Quia Querisma From that high-profile snafu with Pepsi and Bill O’Riley to his movie roles, Ludacris keeps busy. It’s easy to think that he’s not focusing on the rap game if he’s into so much other stuff right? Wrong. Chicken -N- Beer, the Atlanta-bred rapper’s third release […]

The Struggle

Artist: CappadonnaTitle: The StruggleRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine Before Killah Priest and Shyhiem , Killarmy and Mathematics, the first Wu affiliate to arrive was Cappadonna. After his blazing verse on Ghostface’s “Winter Warz”, it’s little wonder that his debut, The Pillage reached number one on the Billboard charts in 1998. With no strong single, […]

8 Million Stories

Artist: Soul PostionTitle: 8 Million Stories Rating: 2 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jason Newman When Columbus, Ohio’s RJD2 released Dead Ringer, his first major label record, in July of last year, the album became an immediate critical success and had many instrumental hip-hop lovers putting him on par with the grand poobah of the genre: DJ […]

Still Reportin

Artist: Tragedy KhadafiTitle: Still ReportinRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine Arguably the best super-group in history, the Legendary Juice Crew boasted a membership including the likes of Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Kool G. Rap, Roxanne Shante, et al. As the crew began to disband in the early 90’s, leader Marley Marl devoted his efforts […]

Silver or Lead

Artist: Ursula RuckerTitle: Silver or LeadRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Ashiya Smith The world got its first glimpse of Ursula Rucker when The Roots commissioned her to close their first LP (Do You Want More) with “The Unlocking”, a vivid piece that narrated the real-time sexual exploitation of a woman poised to regain her power. […]

Murphy’s Law

Artist: Murphy LeeTitle: Murphy’s LawRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Ra’Chelle Rogers If you assumed that Murphy Lee was at his full potential playing the background as the inconspicuous mask-wearing baby boy, sidekick of Nelly and the St. Lunatics, you were both right and wrong. He’s actually done more than just performing wild country dances on […]

The Highlite Zone

Artist: The High & MightyTitle: The Highlite ZoneRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine The High & Mighty is one of hip-hop’s most well-respected crews. While they keep it defiantly underground, Mr. Eon and Mighty Mi have harbored an undying love for the hip-hop of yesterday that’s reflected greatly in their music. Few realize that their 1999 […]

Wooden Leather

Artist: Nappy RootsTitle: Wooden LeatherRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Erin Jackson Nappy Roots’ 2002 debut, Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz, earned them critical acclaim, and with their sophomore release, Wooden Leather, they seem destined to follow in its successful footsteps. In today’s hip hop game, where it’s often difficult to differentiate artists from their posses of nondescript […]

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

Artist: OutKastTitle: Speakerboxxx/The Love BelowRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: aqua boogie On Outkast’s new double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below they take the bipolar nature of their music to the extreme; creating two separate solo albums. OutKast has always consisted of two separate, though kindred, personalities. As they’ve grown artistically and as men, Antwan “Big Boi” […]

Deliverance

Artist: Bubba SparxxxTitle: DeliveranceRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Toshi Kondo With talk of the New South’s recent impact on hip-hop, Bubba Sparxxx’s lack of mention is as conspicuous as the colorful tattoos on his forearms. Then again, listening to his sophomore release Deliverance, makes it clear that he may be from the same state that […]

Grand Champ

Artist: DMXTitle: Grand ChampRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Jayson Rodriguez When DMX burst onto the scene in the late ‘90s, his brazen flow and rabid lyrics bit the industry in the ass and solidified his spot as the top dog in the post Biggie/2pac era of rap. And X reaped the benefits that two number one […]