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Blogs
April 21, 2011
DJ Neil Armstrong on Playing Stadiums with Jay-Z, and How Time Decides the Classics
Conquering the world. It was exactly decade ago that DJ Neil Armstrong's release Original changed mixtape culture. Telling a story with every song transition and lyric, he demonstrated how DJ mixes can rival artists' albums. Beginning his turntablist career in the early 90s under the directi ... More >>
Blogs
April 21, 2011
Point/Counterpoint: Is a Sober Lil Wayne a Good Thing?
But are you any good sober? Lil Wayne emerged from Rikers Island late last year. Now, owing to the terms of his probation, he must lay off drugs and liquor for three years or return to prison. And, by all accounts, he's kept kosher. And yet something doesn't quite sit right. For the man wh ... More >>
Blogs
May 3, 2011
DJ Prince Aries Talks Bay Area Rap, Loving Too $hort, and Why Busta Rhymes Is a Jerk
Prince AriesPrince Aries has been a presence in the Bay Area's hip-hop scene for more than a decade now, holding down VJ duties on the Distortion 2 Static show, throwing local rap parties, and now releasing a mixtape that combines exclusive tracks from the Bay's bright new stars like DaVinci ... More >>
Blogs
May 4, 2011
The Top Ten Hip-Hop Drinking Anthems
Hip-hop's reliance on marijuana as a creative conduit and lifestyle accessory is well documented. But beyond the genre's top tokers, there's also a bubbling batch of rappers who've rhymed about not so much getting a little tipsy as daily dalliances with the dark world of being black-out drunk ... More >>
Blogs
May 9, 2011
Friday Night: Diddy Dirty Money Holds Court for Three Hours, Brings Out Lil B at the Warfield
Richard HaickP. Diddy at the Warfield Friday night. Diddy Dirty Money Tour May 6, 2011 The Warfield Better than: Not getting to study the science of weave-ology on a Friday night. "I thought I told you that we won't stop!" Friday night at the Warfield, Sean "Diddy" Combs, the artist former ... More >>
Blogs
May 12, 2011
The Top Five Rap Cameos on The Simpsons
Kid Rock!The squeaky-pitched funk of "Do The Bartman" might not come up often when rap nerds talk about hip-hop's golden era, but during The Simpsons' near 500-episode reign, the show has proved more than willing to spoof the rap world's biggest stars. So with the somewhat curious news that N ... More >>
Music
May 25, 2011
Mobb Deep's Prodigy Has More to Say Online Than in Rhyme
Kid Rock!The squeaky-pitched funk of "Do The Bartman" might not come up often when rap nerds talk about hip-hop's golden era, but during The Simpsons' near 500-episode reign, the show has proved more than willing to spoof the rap world's biggest stars. So with the somewhat curious news that N ... More >>
Blogs
May 25, 2011
The Top Five Utterly Embarrassing White Girl Rap Songs
Kreashawyn's "Gucci Gucci" is blowing up. The video to the song from the Bay Area-raised female rapper, which features cameos from members of Odd Future, is on track to top over a million YouTube views since its release last week. It's a high point in Kreashawyn's short career so far, as she attempt ... More >>
Music
June 1, 2011
J Boogie: Show Preview
Kreashawyn's "Gucci Gucci" is blowing up. The video to the song from the Bay Area-raised female rapper, which features cameos from members of Odd Future, is on track to top over a million YouTube views since its release last week. It's a high point in Kreashawyn's short career so far, as she attempt ... More >>
Blogs
June 7, 2011
Before Kreayshawn: 10 Underrated and/or Forgotten Female MCs
Kreashawn: Oakland's latest female rap sensation.Last week, around the fifth time someone sent me a link to Kreayshawn's "Gucci Gucci," I started having a feeling toward the diminutive rapper that was not entirely positive. This discomfort grew a few days later, when she reportedly signed a $ ... More >>
Blogs
June 16, 2011
Hip-Hop Legend Grand Wizard Theodore on His Three Favorite DJs
Grand Wizard TheodoreFriday night, old school hip-hop legend Grand Wizard Theodore will team up with one-time De La Soul producer Prince Paul for a night of grand grooves laced with a playful dose of turntable trickery at 330 Ritch. The Bronx-born and based Theodore's pioneering contribution ... More >>
Blogs
June 17, 2011
Before Lil B's I'm Gay: Five Great Hip-Hop Homages to Marvin Gaye
When it comes to creative career moves, the rapper Lil B usually blazes his own distinct and very often quirky path. But his decision to re-up the cover art of Marvin Gaye's I Want You album for his own I'm Gay project taps into hip-hop's long and lustrous admiration for the music of Marvin. ... More >>
Blogs
June 20, 2011
Kreayshawn: Overnight Sensation, White Girl Tourist, New Rap Paradigm?
The rapper herself. During a five-day promotional stay in New York City earlier this month, a cab driver ran over Kreayshawn's foot. The unceremonious snub came after the Bay Area-raised rapper spent her time in NYC taking meetings, granting interviews, posing for photos, dealing with 100 deg ... More >>
Blogs
June 29, 2011
Can Rising Rapper J Cole Overcome Jay-Z's A&R Curse?
J Cole "Jay-Z is the reason I signed to RocNation. It's very hard to say no to the opportunity when Jay-Z is involved." That's J Cole, talking optimistically about his status as the first signing to Jay-Z's RocNation label venture with concert giant LiveNation. But with Cole's debut album now ... More >>
Music
July 13, 2011
"Beats, Rhymes, and Life": Michael Rapaport's "Love Letter" to A Tribe Called Quest
J Cole "Jay-Z is the reason I signed to RocNation. It's very hard to say no to the opportunity when Jay-Z is involved." That's J Cole, talking optimistically about his status as the first signing to Jay-Z's RocNation label venture with concert giant LiveNation. But with Cole's debut album now ... More >>
Blogs
July 22, 2011
J Dilla's 10 Greatest Remixes
J Dilla Deceased hip-hop producer J Dilla, née Jay Dee, first asserted himself on the rap radar with his group Slum Village. Lauded by luminaries Q-Tip and ?uestlove, the Detroit-based trio of Dilla, T3, and Baatin (also sadly deceased) are held in cult esteem today, and tonight, remaining g ... More >>
Blogs
July 26, 2011
T-Pain Sues Auto-Tune Company He Used to Endorse
T-Pain.netRapper T-Pain, famous for his use and endorsement of Auto-Tune technology in his music, has sued Antares, the company that makes Auto-Tune, claiming that it used his image and name in marketing Auto-Tune software without his consent.After three albums and multiple award-winning songs ma ... More >>
Music
July 27, 2011
The Cool Kids: Cool with Recording for Mountain Dew
T-Pain.netRapper T-Pain, famous for his use and endorsement of Auto-Tune technology in his music, has sued Antares, the company that makes Auto-Tune, claiming that it used his image and name in marketing Auto-Tune software without his consent.After three albums and multiple award-winning songs ma ... More >>
Blogs
July 27, 2011
Seasunz on Hip-Hop Activism, Spirituality, and Speaking Klingon
Ashel Eldridge has made the rounds. Otherwise known as Seasunz, Eldridge has emerged as a social and environmental activist, working with groups like Amazon Watch and Project Pink and partnering with Will.i.am to open a youth center in Oakland. And, lest we forget, he also makes music. In ju ... More >>
Music
August 3, 2011
Insurgent Hip-Hop: Kreayshawn, Lil B, and Bay Area Rappers Throw Out the Rules
Ashel Eldridge has made the rounds. Otherwise known as Seasunz, Eldridge has emerged as a social and environmental activist, working with groups like Amazon Watch and Project Pink and partnering with Will.i.am to open a youth center in Oakland. And, lest we forget, he also makes music. In ju ... More >>
Blogs
August 17, 2011
The Antidote to Watch The Throne: Why We Need Chuck D's "Notice -- Know This"
Public Enemy's Chuck D The luxurious sheen of Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch The Throne has beamed brilliant over the last couple of weeks of the hip-hop hype cycle. But amongst the chatter marveling at the upscale audacity of it all, there came a sobering and grounded moment just before the al ... More >>
Blogs
August 19, 2011
The Game's The R.E.D. Album: A First Listen
The Game needs no introduction. The man who was kicked out of G-Unit and made a whole album about whinily stalking ex-benefactor Dr. Dre has most recently performed two actions: 1) Releasing a diss track called "Uncle Otis," whose targets include Tyler, the Creator; and 2) releasing a collab ... More >>
Music
August 24, 2011
Rock the Bells Brings Classic Hip-Hop Debuts to the Stage
The Game needs no introduction. The man who was kicked out of G-Unit and made a whole album about whinily stalking ex-benefactor Dr. Dre has most recently performed two actions: 1) Releasing a diss track called "Uncle Otis," whose targets include Tyler, the Creator; and 2) releasing a collab ... More >>
Blogs
September 6, 2011
Friday: Lil Wayne Apologizes for the Swearing at Shoreline
Lil Wayne's family-friendly fun.Lil Wayne Friday, September 2, 2011 @Shoreline Amphitheatre Better than: Rap shows without fireworks and fake gunshots "I apologize to the parents who brought their kids because of the cussing," said Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. at the end of a nearly two-hour ... More >>
Blogs
September 7, 2011
Consciousness vs. Sex: Jean Grae and the Plight of the Underground Female Rapper
Jean Grae 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 nothing more than her own lyrical merits, and shouldn't be given some sort of a rap pass d ... More >>
Blogs
September 13, 2011
Five Great Jimi Hendrix Samples in Hip-Hop Songs
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 deceased guitarist's own oeuvre, his music has received a second life as the sample source for a f ... More >>
Blogs
October 7, 2011
Lupe Fiasco: Hip-Hop's Greatest Whiner
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; nor for the Chicago-based rapper's ground-breaking work as a foremost collector of limited e ... More >>
Blogs
October 7, 2011
Five Hip-Hop Album Covers That Would Make Insanely Difficult Jigsaw Puzzles
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 released jigsaw versions of classic rap album covers by Biz Markie, Kool G Rap, Boogie Down Produc ... More >>
Music
October 19, 2011
DJ Shadow Goes Shopping for Inspiration at Amoeba
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 released jigsaw versions of classic rap album covers by Biz Markie, Kool G Rap, Boogie Down Produc ... More >>
Blogs
October 26, 2011
In Defense of the Game -- Our Last Honest Gangsta Rapper
The Game performs at Regency Ballroom this week. 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 constantly putting out desperate cries for atte ... More >>
Blogs
November 3, 2011
Live Review: Method Man Flips into the Crowd at the Smoker's Club Tour
Method Man joins the crowd.The Smoker's Club Tour with Method Man and Curren$y November 2, 2011 The Warfield Better than: Curling up at home with a bong and a Snuggie. My moshing days never really began, but they should have been over about half my life ago. Still, as the bruises from Meth ... More >>
Blogs
November 8, 2011
Souls of Mischief's A-Plus Reviews His Own Discography
A-PlusAs 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 movement, the rapper and producer has been involved with releases from Del, Pep Love, and C ... More >>
Blogs
November 9, 2011
Drake's Take Care: A First Listen
Funny thing about Drake: I'm forced to care. This goes beyond my duties as a music writer; rap now is in a state where someone like Drake or Rick Ross becomes the sun and everyone surrounding becomes an orbiting satellite. I'm a huge fan of co-Money Youngins Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj, and I ... More >>
Blogs
November 10, 2011
Justin BUA's Top Five Illustrated Hip-Hop Album Covers
"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 release of his new book The Legends Of Hip-Hop with a signing session at Booksmith this Friday start ... More >>
Music
November 23, 2011
"Distortion 2 Static" Turns off the Mic After 10 Years
"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 release of his new book The Legends Of Hip-Hop with a signing session at Booksmith this Friday start ... More >>
Blogs
November 25, 2011
Distortion 2 Static's Top Five Celebrity Guests
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 Nuñez and DJ Haylow, the show signed off on its broadcast run back in September; a farewell shindig will be going dow ... More >>
Calendar
November 30, 2011
It Was All a Dream
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 Nuñez and DJ Haylow, the show signed off on its broadcast run back in September; a farewell shindig will be going dow ... More >>
Blogs
December 12, 2011
R.I.P. Rapper Special One, of Oakland Duo Conscious Daughters
Special One (left) and CMJSpecial 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 partner CMJ (Carla Green); according to Green, the cause of Smith's ... More >>
Music
December 14, 2011
Freestyle Fellowship: Show Preview
Special One (left) and CMJSpecial 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 partner CMJ (Carla Green); according to Green, the cause of Smith's ... More >>
Blogs
December 30, 2011
Trombone Shorty on New Orleans Attitude, Growing Up With Hip-Hop, and Covering Lil Wayne
Trombone Shorty plays Friday and Saturday at the Fillmore. "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 Tremé district of New Orleans' 6th Ward and has already amassed a Grammy nomination for his debut jazz albu ... More >>
Music
January 4, 2012
Idle Warship: Show Preview
Trombone Shorty plays Friday and Saturday at the Fillmore. "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 Tremé district of New Orleans' 6th Ward and has already amassed a Grammy nomination for his debut jazz albu ... More >>
Blogs
January 6, 2012
Why Do People Hate Kreayshawn So Much?
This week, NYC rapper Azealia Banks called Kreayshawn a "dumb bitch." The outburst was prompted by Kreayshawn putting a link to Banks' "212" video on Twitter, via a porn website. We understand why a serious lady rapper would be offended by forcibly being associated with pornography, but obviousl ... More >>
Music
January 11, 2012
Prince Paul's "Negroes on Ice" Wants the Rap World to Take a Joke
This week, NYC rapper Azealia Banks called Kreayshawn a "dumb bitch." The outburst was prompted by Kreayshawn putting a link to Banks' "212" video on Twitter, via a porn website. We understand why a serious lady rapper would be offended by forcibly being associated with pornography, but obviousl ... More >>
Music
January 18, 2012
Wu-Tang Clan: Show Preview
This week, NYC rapper Azealia Banks called Kreayshawn a "dumb bitch." The outburst was prompted by Kreayshawn putting a link to Banks' "212" video on Twitter, via a porn website. We understand why a serious lady rapper would be offended by forcibly being associated with pornography, but obviousl ... More >>
Blogs
January 20, 2012
The Eight Most Memorable Pop Culture References on Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
The rap game -- well, any game -- could use more people with the ambition of the RZA and the ability to make good on it. The man born Robert Diggs is more than an MC, a producer, and an actor. His resume also includes "DICTATOR" in big, bold letters: When the Wu-Tang Clan was just a bunch of ... More >>
Blogs
January 25, 2012
Stretch Armstrong on the Demise of FM Radio and the Inanity of Celebrity DJs
One half of the Stretch and Bobbito Show on New York's WKCR through the '90s, DJ/producer Stretch Armstrong has played an essential part in the integration of hip-hop into mainstream radio. A fixture in the '90s hip-hop scene, he used media outlets such as mixtapes and radio programs to launc ... More >>
Blogs
January 31, 2012
Instrumental Hip-Hop Sucks. Ban It Forever.
RJD2 Instrumental hip-hop should be banned. It's the banal, meandering stepchild of hip-hop. It's a front-runner for the dubious honor of being the world's most snooze-inducing form of music. And, shockingly, there are still producers and fans who insist on validating it like it's anything bu ... More >>
Music
February 1, 2012
V-Nasty Wants to Flip Her Rough Background into a Rap Career
RJD2 Instrumental hip-hop should be banned. It's the banal, meandering stepchild of hip-hop. It's a front-runner for the dubious honor of being the world's most snooze-inducing form of music. And, shockingly, there are still producers and fans who insist on validating it like it's anything bu ... More >>
Blogs
February 2, 2012
Veteran Rappers: Do You Really Need to Continue Making New Records?
KRS-One: Great live, but the records aren't what they used to be.There was a time, back in the late '80s, when the legendary Bronx rapper KRS-One was a candidate for the title of Greatest Rapper of All Time. Twenty-five years later, though, the self-anointed Blastmaster's latest long-player, ... More >>
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