Email Author Phillip Mlynar

2011 Stories by Phillip Mlynar

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  FEATURED STORY

  Trombone Shorty on New Orleans Attitude, Growing Up With Hip-Hop, and Covering Lil Wayne

  published Dec 30, 2011

  "I've been hearing hip-hop music since I was born." So says Trombone Shorty, the brass-playing band leader who grew up in the Treme district of New Orleans' 6th Ward and has already amassed a Grammy ... More >>

• Q&A: Hieroglyphics' Casual on Being a '#RapGod' and Battle-Rapping in Middle School

  published Dec 30, 2011

  For his latest project, the Oakland-raised rapper Casual has anointed himself a rap god. It's a lofty and arrogant title, but one that the Hieroglyphics crew's undisputed battle champ has earned the ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Kreayshawn Looks Back on Her Breakout Year, Invents a Signature Cocktail, and Talks Plans for 2012

  published Dec 27, 2011

  Kreayshawn is 2011's most dramatic hip-hop blow-up story. After starting the year planning to transition from directing videos for local Bay Area rappers to releasing her own mixtapes, the 21-year-ol... More >>

• R.I.P. Rapper Special One, of Oakland Duo Conscious Daughters

  published Dec 12, 2011

  Special One, a rapper in the East Oakland hip-hop duo the Conscious Daughters, passed away on Saturday. Initial reports say the woman born Karryl Smith was found dead at her apartment by her rhyming p... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Distortion 2 Static's Top Five Celebrity Guests

  published Nov 25, 2011

  During its 10-year run, the Distortion 2 Static hip-hop TV show graduated from profiling local upcoming artists to chatting it up with rap superstars. Started by Prince Aries, Ariel Nunez and DJ Haylo... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Top Five Hip-Hop Songs That Shout Out and Give Thanks

  published Nov 23, 2011

  Hip-hop isn't exactly the most festive or friendly music in the world. Yeah, there's a smattering of Christmas rap songs -- although Run-DMC's "Christmas In Hollis" really isn't that good -- but on th... More >>

• "Distortion 2 Static" Turns off the Mic After 10 Years

  published November 23, 2011

  "Me and Ariel Nuñez walked into the public access TV studio on a Friday in 2002, and they gave us a time slot for that Monday!" Halline... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  SF Rapper DaVinci Lists His Five Favorite Fillmore District Memories

  published Nov 15, 2011

  DaVinci represents the Fillmore passionately. The rapper claims roots in the area going back to his grandmother's time, and has traced the changes in the blocks he grew up on through songs like "What... More >>

• Justin BUA's Top Five Illustrated Hip-Hop Album Covers

  published Nov 10, 2011

  "Historically, artists painted the court and the aristocracy. I'm the court painter of hip-hop -- the artists are that important." So says Justin BUA, the hip-hop generation artist who celebrates the ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Souls of Mischief's A-Plus Reviews His Own Discography

  published Nov 08, 2011

  As part of the mighty Souls of Mischief crew, A-Plus ushered in a new style of Bay Area rap with the group's breezy and effortless "'93 'Til Infinity" anthem. Also a mainstay in the Hieroglyphics move... More >>

• A Conversation with Honor Roll Crew's Mike Baker The Bike Maker About Uptempo Hip-Hop and Women's Legs

  published Nov 04, 2011

  Mike Baker The Bike Maker is part of the Bay-based Honor Roll Crew. But in April of this year, he made the decision for personal and professional reasons to haul himself across the country to New Yor... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  SF Rapper San Quinn Reviews His Own Discography

  published Nov 03, 2011

  San Quinn is a certified Bay Area rap veteran. Since dropping his debut, Don't Cross Me, back in 1993, he's gone on to amass a 15-album discography, with his latest project, Can't Take The Ghetto Out... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Detroit Rapper Danny Brown Doesn't Remember What He Did Last Night

  published Nov 01, 2011

  "I smoked so much weed I don't remember what I did last night. I don't know what the fuck is going on with this interview." That's Danny Brown, on a tour bus going somewhere to some place in Texas, g... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  In Defense of the Game -- Our Last Honest Gangsta Rapper

  published Oct 26, 2011

  Lately, The Game, who performs at the Regency Ballroom on Thursday (Oct. 27), has been psychoanalyzed as some sort of rapping mentalist. Armchair critics are quick to characterize him as an artist co... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Top Five Classics From Quannum, the Bay Area Hip-Hop Collective

  published Oct 21, 2011

  With a line-up that includes cut-and-paste maestro DJ Shadow, innovative rap duo Blackalicious, and the spirited funk styles of Latryx, the Quannum collective is a Bay Area institution. Since its inc... More >>

• DJ Shadow Goes Shopping for Inspiration at Amoeba

  published October 19, 2011

  Two years ago, Josh Davis realized he had accumulated a whopping $800 of store credit for Amoeba Music. Davis had built up the bounty after... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Metronomy's Top Five Remixes of Other Bands

  published Oct 14, 2011

  British electronic ensemble Metronomy plays the Rickshaw Stop tonight. Back in its home country, Metronomy scored a coveted Mercury Music Prize nomination for its last album, The English Riviera, whic... More >>

• Five Hip-Hop Album Covers That Would Make Insanely Difficult Jigsaw Puzzles

  published Oct 07, 2011

  This week, a new candidate emerged for the spot of hip-hop's fabled fifth element: The jigsaw puzzle. With a canny eye on the not-too-far-off Christmas season, the Boston-based Get On Down Records has... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Lupe Fiasco: Hip-Hop's Greatest Whiner

  published Oct 07, 2011

  It's time for the hallowed halls of hip-hop history to start giving Lupe Fiasco his due respect. Not, you understand, as a purveyor of conscientious rap music bursting with positive-leaning messages;... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  DJ Shadow's The Less You Know The Better: A First Listen

  published Sep 29, 2011

  Let's get this out of the way right from the off: DJ Shadow's fourth solo studio album, The Less You Know The Better, won't finally stop long-time fans from requesting that he makes a true sequel to ... More >>

• Five Great Jimi Hendrix Samples in Hip-Hop Songs

  published Sep 13, 2011

  Today is officially Jimi Hendrix-Winterland Day in San Francisco, which is a fine excuse to soundtrack the rest of your afternoon with a dose of Hendrix's classic guitar grooves. But beyond the decea... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  DJ Shadow Reviews His Own Discography

  published Sep 08, 2011

  This week On Oct. 4, DJ Shadow will release his fourth solo studio album, The Less You Know, The Better. Featuring cameos from Little Dragon, De La Soul, Talib Kweli and Tom Vek, Shadow insists that t... More >>

• Consciousness vs. Sex: Jean Grae and the Plight of the Underground Female Rapper

  published Sep 07, 2011

  Jean Grae, who performs tonight at the New Parish, is a very talented rapper. That's not just a very talented female rapper, but a very talented hip-hop artist who deserves to be considered on nothin... More >>

• The Top 5 Modern Rapping Drug Dealers

  published Aug 30, 2011

  Young Jeezy's TM: 03 album is being released on September 20th. Ahead of that date, the trap-star is hitting the tour circuit to drum up hype for the project, and will be bringing his stripped-down cr... More >>

• The Top Five Keytar Moments In Music History

  published Aug 26, 2011

  The kitschy appeal of the keytar refuses to die. Modern-boogie revivalist Dam-Funk, who plays the New Parish in Oakland next Wednesday, is a committed fan of the inspired amalgamation of guitar and sy... More >>