Swizz Beatz: One Man Band Man 2.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 When Swizz Beatz released his solo debut One Man Band Man, many hip-hop aficionados were secretly thinking "let the battle of the producers begin." Timbaland, Dre, Alchemist, Marco Polo, K-Salaam and 9th Wonder are all names of producers who are more than ... full story
Tupac: Nu Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2 (Evolution: Duets And Remixes) 3.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 1 Hip-hop fans can scream hallelujah; there's finally a decent rap record to cap the summer off with the release of Tupac's Nu Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2 (Evolution: Duets And Remixes). Tupac was more than an MC, he was an icon, and it's unfortunate that many of us ... full story
Kanye West: Graduation 4.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 4 When you are in a league of your very own, which Kanye is in, you have every right to be smacking people upside their heads with an atrocious ego. Kanye West should be recognized as the front-runner in hip-hop, regardless of his temper tantrums directed at ... full story
T-Hud: Undrafted 3.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 There's a saying that those that rap should rap, and those that ball should ball. Pick one or the other talent bestowed upon you by the almighty and enjoy what comes from it.Basketball players for ages have been crossing over and trying to cash in on their ... full story
Keith Murray: Rap-Murr-Phobia 3.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 1 When I had the opportunity to interview Redman back in March (see "The Return Of Redman: Got To Stay Gilla"), he waxed nostalgic for an era before the Yung Jocs and Lil Mamas of the world became hip-hop staples -- a time, as he said, when rappers were superheroes: ... full story
Killah Priest: The Offering 3.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 2 With all the disposable rap music being produced lately, Killah Priest's The Offering is definitely a breath of fresh air. The album is a Wu-Tang/Gravediggaz era project, mixed with new school production and concepts.Right off the bat, the intriguing "Intro" ... full story
M.I.A.: Kala 4.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 It must be a strange realization for M.I.A., born Maya Arulpragasam, that the very class that she seems to have vehemently chastised on her 2005 debut, Arular, and again on Kala, has now begun to embrace her. Granted, making the transition from cult status, ... full story
Pharoahe Monch: Desire 4.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 1 After reading a story on Pharoahe Monch in the Sunday Independent in the UK that his album was going to be crazy -- despite the genre not being considered music let alone a culture -- it just screams "classic" before listening to it. Having been away from ... full story
Common: Finding Forever 4.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 The verb "finding" should have been dropped from the title of Common's seventh studio album, Finding Forever. After all, the path to "forever" had already been found with the release of the single, "I Used To Love H.E.R.". Its accompanying album, Resurrection, ... full story
UGK: Underground Kingz 4.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 3 The undeniable hit off Underground Kingz, "International Players Anthem (Remix)," has blossomed into one of the most discussed records in recent years. UGK and Outkast (arguably the two biggest duos in rap) offer takes on love and relationships over a shifting ... full story
J. Wells & Kurupt: Digital Smoke 4.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 J. Wells, one of the most slept on and diverse producers to hail from the West, teamed up with lyrical phenom, Kurupt, of DPG fame, to give fans of classic West Coast hip-hop something quite nice to smoke on. This collaborative effort/compilation style CD, ... full story
Rasheeda: Dat Type of Gurl 2.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 1 If you are expecting to be blown away by lyricism and think hip-hop has a new female savior with the fourth studio album from "the Georgia Peach," Rasheeda, you will be highly disappointed. But if you are one of her fans you won't be let down, well, you might ... full story
Z-Trip: All-Pro 2K8 (Soundtrack) 4.0 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 These days, everything has a soundtrack; movies, TV Shows, even video games. Yes, video games. This trend has slowly developed, with Rockstar games being on the forefront with their "Grand Theft Auto" series. On the athletic front, 2K Sports has not been far ... full story
T.I.: T.I. Vs. T.I.P. 3.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 T.I is back with his newest release, T.I. vs. T.I.P., and everybody should be all over it. With every album, it seems that his talent and swagger gets bigger. What made this album dope is the vision behind it. The whole idea that T.I. and his alter ego, T.I.P., ... full story
Huey: Notebook Paper 2.5 out of 5.0 | Comments: 0 Despite many people questioning St Louis rapper, Huey's, artistic merit, he is getting plenty of radio spins off his "Pop Lock & Drop It" single. It's is the type of song that gets stuck in your head after one listen. It's a feel good song that gets the ... full story
Features Romeo: Wise Beyond His Years Romeo, the son of No Limit Records founder Master P, has grown up before our eyes. At the young age of 11, he followed ... full story
Editorials & Columns Scouting Report: J-Mizz Arkansas isn't exactly known for its hip-hop influence, but rapper J-Mizz hopes to put state on the map as well as become ... full story
Beyond Hip-Hop Game Review: Haze Ubisoft and Free Radical Design's new exclusive Playstation 3 title, "Haze," was geared to be one of the console's shining ... full story
