Mos Def is many things. He is an MC, thespian, boogeyman and revolutionary. But one thing he is not is adherent to the pigeonhole that is placed upon him. When we tell him to go up, he turns upside down. We can ask him to go left but he will go backwards. And when he is told what he should do, he rebels and well, does what the f%#$ he wants to do.
So what does this mean? It means Mos Def will never remake Black On Both Sides. That doesn’t take away from his brilliance nor does it mean that he’s lost that aptitude that keeps us wanting more. It boils down to a simple concept; Mos Def is an artist that is going to reside where his music and craft take him. And as heartless as it sounds, he isn’t going to change his mantra for the sake of satisfying you, me or anyone else. BOBS was released exactly ten years ago and that is where Mos Def leaves that album. He is about forward progression and nothing is going to prevent that; not even this dichotomy we call Hip Hop.
[read full article…]
2,342 views | Posted in Music Reviews
There are few truisms in life but one that withstands is the ideology that there is nothing new under the sun. After all, history repeats itself constantly, some of us have déjà vu and we all share a common ground if we manage to dig deep enough. So hearing the typical story of an artist making it big no longer impresses us but sometimes we come across one that manages to spark an interest.
Kero One’s rise to fame is as distinctive as the musical sound he’s created. As a resident of the bay area, Kero’s determination and ability is a true tell tale of turning your dreams into a reality. This emcee, producer, web designer and DJ used his personal credit card and his own recording equipment to put together his first project that he marketed and distributed across the world. The record became an instant hit in Japan and Kero was on his way to conquering the music world. He went on to release his impressive debut, Windmills of the Soul in which he handled all the business as well as artistically constructing the album.
Now, after the success of his debut, he has dropped his equally impressive sophomore release Early Believers to astounding reviews. KevinNottingham.com was granted the opportunity to speak to this jack of all trades who filled us in on his new album, record label and why he would work at Whole Foods if he weren’t doing music.
[read full article…]
617 views | Posted in Artist Spotlight, Interviews
For whatever reason, Southern Hip Hop gets a bad rap. No pun intended but the media and heads often times place these artists in one box and tuck them away not to be removed. But on the contrary: the Southern region is just as significant as any other coast. And judging by their album Summer Sessions, H.I.S.D. is off to an impressive start adding to that legacy.
Composed of eight artists that are as artistically inclined as they are talented, H.I.S.D. is a hub of remarkable emcees, visual artists and producers. Hailing from Houston, this super group has released a follow up to their phenomenal debut The District with one of the best albums of the year.
[read full article…]
1,020 views | Posted in Music Reviews
With the country in a recession and odd named diseases plaguing our mental state, most people navigate towards music for a peaceful retreat. And some artists provide a ticket to that destination but it seems as though second-rate music is taking over causing folks to be at their wits end. But lucky for us, Tanya Morgan (Ilyas, Donwill and Von Pea) offers up a safe haven for citizens to relocate by way of Brooklynati.
But don’t misunderstand; Brooklynati is not your average concept album. Not only does it hold remarkable production and lyrics that transform into appealing stories; it is a virtual city full of Hip Hop purists that enjoy the simple yet finer things in life. Providing its residents with cultural diversity, beautiful landscapes and opportunity for growth, TM’s world proves to be one of the most promising.
[read full article…]
1,504 views | Posted in Music Reviews
One inevitable factor that music lovers hear when a new artist comes out is the concept that they can easily be distinguished amongst their peers. However, most of us have seen this ideal prove to be false. With upcoming emcees running towards the latest fads like Snoop running to a blunt, we are left to wonder if novelty is dead. But every now and again, we are lucky enough to get one artist that manages to live up to the mystique of being one of a kind.
Baron Von Alias is that rare breed of artist that comes along and creates fads instead of following suit. Born in the early 1800’s, he was so ahead of his time, he blew into the present day armed with a pen, pad and his vision of what he would bring to Hip Hop before we knew it existed.
[read full article…]
448 views | Posted in Music Reviews
We all know who Jadakiss is. We know his story, his lyrical skill and we can recognize his signature laugh as it blares through our speakers. We’ve heard the tales of his tenure with Bad Boy, his constant feuding with everyone from 50 Cent to Bill O’Reilly but what remains a mystery, is the fact that he can’t drop a solid album.
Unless you have selective hearing, you can’t deny that Jadakiss has a unique voice that is as sharp as a machete and as crisp as a starch filled shirt. His flow can even be charismatic and intriguing but it still fails to add a classic to his list of accomplishments. You could hear the effort Jadakiss brought forth on Kiss Tha Game Goodbye and Kiss Of Death, but they both still fell short and he seemed to head down the same path with his latest project, The Last Kiss.
[read full article…]
946 views | Posted in Music Reviews
If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past ten years, than you are savvy enough to know that Verbal Kent is a dope emcee. If you keep your ear to the streets like any good Hip Hop head than you also know that Kaz One is a great producer. So when these two met at an emcee battle back in 2001 in Chicago, the cards were instantly aligned to bring forth a team that would compliment each other musically. The past eight years have allowed these two to truly understand how to bring out the best in each other and create an album that would aid in the resurgence of the culture they both grew up on.
[read full article…]
341 views | Posted in Music Reviews
There is no doubt: the music industry is fickle. It’s filled with labels that come and go, artists who are hot one minute and cold the next and fads that orbit like a revolving door. But some entities within this crazy business manage to stand the test of time.
Young Capone first hit the scene when he was seventeen signing a major deal with So So Def. This emcee and producer learned from industry veteran Jermaine Dupri and went on to produce tracks for Shawty Redd while dropping two singles, “What It Iz” and I’m Hot.” Although his tenure at So So Def was a good one, he parted ways with the label and stepped away from the scene. Now, after a brief hiatus, Young C has returned stronger, wiser and hungrier than ever.
Serving as the CEO to his own label, Trotti Entertainment, Young C is working diligently to drop his new album, Small Things To A Giant and prove that his love and respect for his music is indisputable. KevinNottingham.com had the opportunity to politic with Young Capone and get the 411 on his new album, what happened with So So Def and how he is gearing up to conquer the music scene and the Internet.
[read full article…]
198 views | Posted in Artist Spotlight, Interviews
There is nothing like getting your hands on one of those albums that takes you back to the days of falling asleep with your headphones blasting in your ears. Or hearing a track that instantaneously created the head nod we all have mastered because it spoke volumes beyond just beats and lyrics. Those are the kind of moments hip hop heads long for. So when Quite Nyce & Raydar Ellis‘ album Champ Vs. The League came under my radar, nostalgia reared its head like Redman around a bunch of plus size women.
[read full article…]
566 views | Posted in Music Reviews
