Music Reviews

Common: The Dreamer/The Believer

by Arasia Magnetic December 30, 2011 Music Reviews

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In recent years, I’ve been worried about Common because I didn’t recognize him. And as a self-proclaimed Common “Stan” and proud Chicagoan, this disturbed me because my favorite emcee was off balance. With the misfortune of Universal Mind Control and Finding Forever AKA “Be 2.0 The Leftovers,” I was losing my ability to justify his [...]

Hasan Salaam: Music Is My Weapon

by Jeff Leon December 29, 2011 Music Reviews

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“So when I say music is my weapon, I’m using my weapon to fight for freedom, justice and equality…” Rapper Hasan Salaam wants to change the world with his music. Now, a lofty goal like this is something many rappers aspire to achieve, and when they drop their latest tape or record they claim that [...]

Kooley High: David Thompson

by Uptown Bobby December 27, 2011 Music Reviews

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Hip Hop and basketball share an open marriage that most fans are privy to. And since Hip Hop’s inception, there have been many lyrical odes to the hardwood. From Kurtis Blow’s ‘’Basketball’’ to Pill’s ‘’Scottie Pippen/ Tim Duncan,’’ Hip Hop has always found a way to cleverly salute the game of basketball and its players. [...]

Doomtree: No Kings

by Michael Kaminsky December 15, 2011 Music Reviews

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No Kings marks the Doomtree collective’s third studio album. Following up 2008’s self-titled debut, No Kings is the final release in a very busy year for the group’s individual members that included a remix EP of indie soft-rockers and fellow Minneapolitans, Gayngs (of which P.O.S. and Dessa are members), Sims’ Bad Time Zoo musical menagerie [...]

Locksmith & Ski Beatz: Embedded

by Jeff Leon December 13, 2011 Music Reviews

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The Bay Area emcee Locksmith teams up with legendary beat maker Ski Beatz to create the collab album Embedded. Locksmith, or just Lock, is best known for his battle rapping, gaining notoriety for his fierce rhyming in MTV’s 2003 Freestyle Battle Championship and Grind Time Now. He also collaborates with emcee Left as the duo [...]

yU: The Earn

by Jeff Leon December 5, 2011 Music Reviews

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It amazes me how much quality Hip Hop is coming out of the nation’s capital right now; a scene, which is criminally slept on, that is developing some really talented artists. One such group is Diamond District, the collaboration of Oddisee, Uptown XO and yU, with all three releasing solid projects this year. Oddisee with [...]

YelaWolf: Radioactive

by Alex Edelstein December 1, 2011 Music Reviews

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People have been anxious to hear what YelaWolf’s official, full-length debut would sound like ever since word broke about his signing with Shady Records. Questions abound about how the trunk-popping Catfish Billy would crossover to the mainstream and whether or not his decidedly southern persona could mesh well with Eminem’s similar-yet-different trailer trash charm. Over [...]

Pac Div: The Div

by Andy Bustard November 22, 2011 Music Reviews

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I remember the first time I listened to Pac Div. Their video for “Mayor” had just been catapulted into rotation on 106 & Park (in other words, catapulted into my living room a week late, thanks to the UK air times) and what was originally background noise to my lazy afternoon became the focus of [...]

Idle Warship: Habits of the Heart

by Erin Smith November 20, 2011 Music Reviews

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You have now entered the renaissance world of love. And your one instruction is to, “Dance, dance, dance.” Fact is, we all go through heartbreaks and ups and downs in relationships so why not add some electro-funk, a pinch of the 60’s, and a cosmic touch to the soundtrack of your loves demise? With Idle [...]

Eligh & Amp Live: Therapy At 3

by Alex Edelstein November 18, 2011 Music Reviews

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Fans of West coast Hip Hop are undoubtedly familiar with the innovative work of producer Amp Live (half of the duo Zion I) and rapper/producer Eligh (Living Legends). Having overlapped on tracks on numerous occasions, it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see the two veterans team up for a collaborative project. One that, even by their [...]

Rapper Big Pooh: Dirty Pretty Things

by Uptown Bobby November 16, 2011 Music Reviews

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Everyone loves the underdog, and in Hip Hop, there has arguably been no greater underdog than Rapper Big Pooh. Pooh has been carrying this title since his days of being a member of Little Brother. Comedian Rodney Dangerfield complained about not getting any respect during his career, but he doesn’t get close to the lack [...]

The Roots: undun

by John Book (Guest Columnist) November 15, 2011 Music Reviews

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A lot of naysayers say today’s Hip Hop is a mess and its original “essence” has disappeared. But does it need to be fixed or are audiences diverse enough to understand there’s more than enough diversity to go around? And if this “essence” has been tampered with, and the damage has been done, can it [...]

Black Milk & Danny Brown: Black & Brown EP

by Michael Kaminsky November 13, 2011 Music Reviews

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The first time I heard the street shrill squawk of Danny Brown was over a Black Milk beat — years before the 2010 breakout, “Black and Brown.” In 2008, an unknown Detroit emcee named Danny Brown appeared on Elzhi’s The Preface posse cut “Fire RMX” produced by, you got it, Black Milk. A few years [...]

Icebird (RJD2 & Aaron Livingston): The Abandoned Lullaby

by Jeff Leon November 13, 2011 Music Reviews

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Producer RJD2 and singer Aaron Livingston are Icebird. Hailing from Oregon, RJD2 is well-regarded for his eclectic productions, from the dusty, heavily sampled soul and funk compositions of his earlier works to more instrumental, rock-influenced pieces later in his career. From Philly, Aaron Livingston is a member of the group The Mean, and has collaborated [...]

Pusha T: Fear Of God II (Let Us Pray)

by Alex Edelstein November 10, 2011 Music Reviews

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We’ve gotten to know Pusha T fairly well over the years thanks to his extensive catalog with older brother Malice, as the duo Clipse. Clipse is coke rap; their music delves into both the good and evil aspects of street life, highlighting the glamour that comes with the money, but also vividly depicting the struggles [...]

Nappy Roots: Nappy Dot Org

by D. Craig November 8, 2011 Music Reviews

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The country boys are back. Kentucky’s finest Nappy Roots teamed up with production trio Organized Noize to create what many southern Hip Hop heads anticipated being a classic. Nappy Roots has been a staple of the southern sound for nearly a decade, after dropping their multi-platinum smash Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz in 2002. The Dungeon [...]

MED: Classic

by Alex Edelstein November 7, 2011 Music Reviews

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Stones Throw rapper MED (aka Medaphoar) began his career with a buzz, generating some praise for his contributions to heralded underground projects like Madlib’s Shades of Blue. The Oxnard, California native has since gone on to establish himself as part of a regional underground movement, frequently collaborating with the likes of Madlib, Oh No and [...]

Proh Mic: Rhythm For Days

by Erin Smith November 6, 2011 Music Reviews

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In the world of fantasy and sound are musical notes, illuminating with color and vibrant frequencies yet to be heard. That is until Rhythm For Days, where synthesizers, heavy bass-lines, and keynotes reign supreme; introducing you to funk, West Coast nostalgia, and a genre crossing Picasso. Proh Mic stars as King of the “Mothaship” featuring [...]

Doodlebug Feat. D.O.R: Futuristic Sci-Fi

by Daniella Kohavy November 5, 2011 Music Reviews

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It takes courage and passion to release a solo project long after breaking the mold of a genre. Cee Knowledge aka Doodlebug, along with his fellow members of the now extinct Digable Planets, were credited for bringing true Hip Hop fans the ever-popular album Reachin’ (A New Refutation Of Time And Space). And eighteen years [...]

Wale: Ambition

by Alex Edelstein November 4, 2011 Music Reviews

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For a while now, rapper Wale has been a bit all over the map with his releases. The recently minted Maybach Music Group signee busted through a seemingly limited D.C. Hip Hop scene with a series of intelligently crafted, culturally relevant mixtapes, leading to an Interscope endorsement for his full-length debut, Attention Deficit, in 2009. [...]

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