Reviews

It is a very rare thing in hip-hop when rappers are granted a third act in their career. If you're lucky, you will get a shot at a second but the third act is anomalous. LL Cool J told you not to call "Mama Said Knock You Out" a comeback but the truth is rap is a young man’s game and if you are lucky to get that second shot, you almost never get a third. ...

The mid-1990s could be considered the golden age of southern hip-hop. During that time, Atlanta rap crew Dungeon Family helped the region gain a voice by releasing a number of beloved albums built on funky, southern-friend instrumentals and socially conscious lyrics...

Los Angeles producer, songwriter and rapper Terrace Martin hasn't released a solo project since 2011, but that doesn't mean he's been stagnant in regards to making music. Martin has been a frequent collaborator with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Big K...

Ever eat a meal at Popeye’s? They’re known for their chicken, but the simple biscuit is what floors you. Their food is tasty and satisfying while you eat it, but when you’re done you kind of wonder why you chose this of all establishments to nourish yourself. Your belly is fu...

No Malice, formerly known as Malice, built a career on cocaine. As one half of beloved 2000s rap duo Clipse, the Virginia MC, along with his younger brother Pusha T, painted grimy pictures of the drug game through intricate lyrics that were as creative as they were clever...

There was a time when it seemed like A$AP Ferg's debut mixtape Trap Lord would never see the light of day. Since the A$AP Mob member's introduction to the world on standout cuts "Persian Wine" and "Work" from the collective's 2012 Lord$ Never Worry mixtape, fans who desired a grittier, more versatile answer to A$AP Rocky's efficient but clean-cut raps called for Ferg to release

"Free Earl." That was the motto, the creed and the goal. As Odd Future ascended to hip-hop cult hero status in 2010, fans chanted those two words at sold-out shows and plastered them all over the internet, elevating a prodigiously talented teenager with a self-titled EP and a few gross-out videos into a mysterious hip-hop folk hero...

You’re Kirko Bangz, 23, with a platinum single already under your belt, some “drank” in your cup and what seems like the unwavering support from your hometown’s ruling class, which just so happens to include some of the more well respected names in the industry (Bun B, Z-Ro, etc.) Sure, that might soun...

Ohio native Stalley has flown under the radar for the last couple years while under contract with Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group. While artists like Wale, Meek Mill, and even Gunplay have flourished under the MMG umbrella, Stalley has struggled to find his place, releasing just one mixtape as a solo artist since inking his deal. With...

It's no secret that consistency can be a dangerous thing for a rapper. Though sustainability is an admirable and enviable quality in a business, it can be destructive for an artist, especially one working in a genre that places such a strong emphasis on ingenuity...

Pete Rock is a man who knows his strengths. Of course, at this point in his life he should. The legendary producer/sometimes-MC has made a career out of leftfield choices, and 80 Blocks From Tiffany’s Part 2 is no exception. The mixtape’s tightly produced, jazz-inspired beats blend well with Camp Lo’s 90’s rap styles, making it an excellent blueprint for how older hip-hop influences can be brought

It took over 15 years, but the Long Beach, Cali. MC finally released his first studio full-length album. He faced loads of label drama, going from Virgin Records to Death Row Records to Treacherous Records and Shady Records. He joined forces with Joe Budden, Royce Da 5'9", and Joell Ortiz to form the supergroup Slaughterhouse...