Loon: No Friends 3.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 There's something about the versatility of Harlem rap cats -- from Murda Ma$e's love/hate affair with the game to Killa Cam's switched up flow and ballsy stance as the contender to Jay-Z's throne -- that makes their career progressions hugely entertaining, ... full story
Obie Trice: Second Round's On Me 3.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 When Obie Trice made his first major TV appearance, with a peek-a-boo cameo in Eminem's "Without Me" video, he exclaimed, "Obie Trice, real name no gimmicks." At the time, this seemed like a simple ploy to garner Obie some exposure and buzz in preparation ... full story
India.Arie: Testimony: Vol. 1 Life & Relationships 3.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 You can never go wrong with these three L Words: loving, living and Learning. And that is what India.Arie teaches us on her third album, Testimony: Vol.1, Life and Relationship. India.Arie is already known for being a very spiritual singer, who expresses inner ... full story
The Roots: Game Theory 4.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 Some of the most powerful albums are usually aimed towards creating awareness of problems within society, politics and even the mass media. That's the direction Philly-based music collective, The Roots, steer in with their latest effort, Game Theory. Although ... full story
Agallah: You Already Know 3.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 It wasn't a bad idea for Agallah to name his album You Already Know, since it is unlikely that many not up on the history will be listening to his solo debut. The artist, formerly known as 8-Off Assassin, can certainly claim veteran status in the game, from ... full story
Living Legends: Legendary Music 4.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 Creative differences never worked, so well, until the Living Legends decided to drop Legendary Music Vol. 1, a glimpse into the future with all new music from each of the group members. The Grouch, Murs, Luckyiam, Eligh, Sunspot Jonz, Scarub, Bicasso, and ... full story
Letoya: Letoya 3.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 1 Say her name, say her name... After Six long years, Ms. Letoya Luckett is back and ready to take on the music industry once more, but this time solo. We all know what happened in the past, but that's history. The ladies have been waiting to hear, the guys ... full story
Dead Prez & Outlawz: Can't Sell Dope Forever 4.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 The East and West Coasts have come together in an unlikely collaboration to birth the reality check that is Can't Sell Dope Forever. And while Dead Prez and Tha Outlawz have distinctively different sounds and approach to flow, the mixtape surprisingly works ... full story
Jurassic 5: Feedback 3.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 Listening to Jurassic 5 is like a trippy daydream for 80s babies and children. It's like being at a South Bronx park jam where DJs are spinning, b-boys and girls are breaking, and the M.C. is rocking the crowd -- when more people saw hip-hop as a culture as ... full story
Field Mob: Light Poles And Pine Trees 3.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 1 Dirty South duo Shawn Jay and Smoke, b.k.a. Field Mob, are back with a new album and new record label. Light Poles And Pine Trees is the group's first release on Ludacris' Disturbing Tha Peace imprint, and the CEO's influence is recognized throughout the project. ... full story
JR Writer: History In The Making 3.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 It was a year ago and some change when J.R. Writer dropped his first mixtape, Writer's Block, showing great promise as the Diplomats crews' newest blood. Back in those golden rookie days, songs like "Cake Off" displayed a hunger and cockiness that made the ... full story
Big Sty: Stychology 3.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 You might expect that Richmond, Virginia (the former Confederate capital city), would produce artists built for Crunk bass rhythms. Instead, mixtape phenomena Big Sty delivers a flow and sixteen's that are more common in the north.Big Sty's double album, Stychology, ... full story
Shawnna: Block Music 3.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 Rashawnna Guy, better known as Shawnna, the first lady of Disturbing Tha Peace clique, has been knocking on stardom's door since the mid 90s. A former member of the female rap trio, Infamous Syndicate, and daughter of Jazz icon Buddy Guy, Shawanna posseses ... full story
Dogg Pound: Cali Iz Active 3.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 Daz, Kurupt and Snoop Doog -- collectively known as Tha Dogg Pound -- have weathered the implosion of Death Row, break ups and inner turmoil, and the waning relevancy of their L.A. sound. Amidst numerous cries, but mostly mocking laughs of "LA is dead," the ... full story
Pastor Troy: Stay Tru 2.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 Pastor Troy is ready to prove it's him who gave the South their voice on his latest effort, Stay Tru. And, while that may be so, he does a disservice by failing to show the current sound of ATL. But, maybe that's a good thing. Stay Tru definitely takes a a ... full story
Features S1: The Symbolic Strange Fruit Symbolic One, better known as S1, is one third of the infamous hip-hop trio called Strange Fruit Project, who brought ... full story
Editorials & Columns Hustle Harder: A Cup Of Joe... I recently performed at S.O.B's and the night seemed to last forever. I had gotten there early (hours before show time) ... full story
