Run-DMC

Clutch Singer Neil Fallon Remembers When Rock 'n' Roll Was Dangerous

While a host of hard-rock groups still try to emulate the monolithic sounds of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, Maryland-based rock juggernaut Clutch stands as a rare band that captures the relentless swing and ferocious groove that elevated those two iconic acts to greatness. For more than 20 years, ... More >>

Clyde Stubblefield, the "Funky Drummer," on Playing With James Brown and Getting Sampled By Hip-Hop Greats

There's a special show going down at Mezzanine this Saturday, Nov. 3, for the opening of S.F. Funk Fest: It's a mini-reunion of sorts for the musicians who used to play with soul godfather James Brown. Headlining is Fred Wesley, legendary trombonist, and joining him onstage will be drummers Jabo Sta ... More >>

Five Amazing Murals Honoring Departed Musicians

The Los Angeles mural that has served as a site for Elliot Smith fans to pay tribute to the much beloved singer-songwriter has just been given a revamp, by Punk Rock Marthas -- an art-minded group of charitable folk -- who felt the mural needed a pick-me-up in honor of the nine-year anniversary of S ... More >>

The Bob Marley Parasite and Other Weird Crap Named After Musicians

If you've walked along upper Haight recently, you'll have no doubt noticed the series of tributes to much loved musical heroes who are no longer with us, lovingly arranged around single trees. Amy Winehouse recently joined Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin on that run. But tributes to musicians -- both ... More >>

Del The Funky Homosapien on His Favorite Old-School Rappers, New Album Attractive Sin, and His Very First Live Show

It's a weekday afternoon, and Del the Funky Homosapien's mom has just left his house. She was passing through to pick up an iPod the rapper had bought for her -- but left empty-handed, as she wasn't confident about being able to use Apple's dinky little music player. "She's gonna come back in a coup ... More >>

Top Six Christmas Songs That Don't Actually Suck

That's right, folks. It's the rarest of things -- a Christmas song that doesn't make you want to vomit, or jam sharp pencils into your ear-holes. Finding one of these gems is like stumbling across a white tiger in your backyard -- you can't believe it's there, you know it's not supposed to be there, ... More >>

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

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 the whole, the genre has shunned the lure of the extended holiday season. But don't despair! Rappers n ... More >>

Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle" Is a Father's Nightmare -- And We Need More Songs Like It

Harry Chapin in 1978​A father's fears generally fall into two loosely defined, ever-expanding categories. There's the keep-you-up-at-night, bite-your-nails-to-the-quick worries that focus on money, job security, and child safety. Meanwhile, there's the slightly less hardcore stuff: meetings wi ... More >>

TV on the Radio Steps Back to Gaze at the Apocalypse

Helpful Advice: How To Survive NOT Going To SXSW

This week, thousands of music lovers, wayward drunks, and music industry folk have descended upon Austin, Texas, for the 2011 South By Southwest music "conference" (yeah, right). If you're still here at home in the Bay Area, the reality that you're missing five days of non-stop free music/beer/b ... More >>

The Five Dumbest Songs By Artists Glen E. Friedman Has Photographed

The Dead Kennedys, photographed by Glen E. Friedman​As you may have seen in the Nov. 3 issue of SF Weekly, legendary photographer Glen E. Friedman brought his long-running "Fuck You All" exhibit to 941 Geary this past weekend, where it will happily live for the rest of 2010. We are so thrilled we ... More >>

In Print: Fuck You All, and the Persistent Fireball That Is Marnie Stern

Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys in a photo by Glen Friedman​Punk and hip-hop photographer Glen Friedman: Glen Friedman grew up on the front lines of the West Coast punk rock, skateboarding, and rap scenes. Photographs he shot in the 1970s and '80s are considered to be the definitive portrai ... More >>

Costco's Carne Asada Bake Is Nasty

Alex HochmanLike a doughy burrito hot from the oven, dribbling green liquid.​In Run D.M.C.'s 1986 classic "Peter Piper," D.M.C. raps about Jam Master Jay: "He's a big bad wolf in your neighborhood. Not bad meaning bad but bad meaning good." Unfortunately, the same can't be said of Costco's new ... More >>

Nas and Damian Marley show the wrong way to Africa

Vinyl's Hidden Messages Unmasked

Photo by Qsysue for Public Collectors​Public Collectors is working on a really cool project that spotlights a small detail of what's being lost amongst so many invisible MP3s. The site is making a list of the messages bands have "pressed into the matrix of their vinyl" over the years. Apparently t ... More >>

Hey DJ! Friday Q&A w/ DJ Platurn (Oakland Faders)

​Plenty of turntable junkies claim DJing is in their blood. But DJ Platurn's love for the dancefloor actually was passed down through family lines. The Icelandic music head grew up the son of a DJ, so by the time he moved to Oakland he was ready to spin on his own. He's been a regular at Luka's Ta ... More >>

Hey DJ! Friday Q&A: Roost Uno of Lowbrow Sundays, Tipsy Tuesdays

​Sometimes your set takes so long you've gotta pee your pants. Or so says DJ Roost Uno, who'd rather whiz on his leg than step away from the turntables. Luckily in his six years of keeping the party going Sunday nights at Delirium (and various other weeklies and events around town), Uno has yet to ... More >>

Kid Koala reimagines heavy rock with the Slew

Last Night: Vinyl Apocalypse at Lower Haters

Last Night: Cool Kids, Pacific Division at The Independent

LastNight: RZA at the Independent

LastNight: Prefuse 73 Glitches Out Slim's

CD Review: Z-Trip -- All-Pro

The Holy Spirit of Breaks

From church pews to dancefloors, Kurtis Blow knows how to party

Department of What the Fuck?

Beef, it's what's for dinner: Hip hop feuds we'd like to see

If it's kinda, sorta music-related, we'll review it. This week: Rick Rubin's moxie.

If it's kinda, sorta music-related, we'll review it. This week: the "Rev." in Rev. Run.

Revolutions

Once upon a time, DJ Qbert helped define and deify turntablism. That time is over. So what's next?

BeatBox

"The Real" funk and hip hop set off Nickie's BBQ; superstar DJs John Digweed and Danny Tenaglia play S.F.

Merry Christmas, Beeyotch!

Forget caroling. Here are a few hip hop jammy-jams to warm your yule log.

Unfaithful

Cheating spouses, meaty film

R.I.P. JMJ

A hip hop happening in honor of the late, lamented Jam Master Jay

Prick

Don't hate me because I'm corporate

Best Dorky But Cute Hip Hop Act

Lil' Pocketknife

Best Selection of Old-School Adidas

Harput's

Hear This

Legendary DJ Afrika Bambaataa brings his b-boy esoterica to town

Raw Deal

On his new album Greyboy ditches the acid jazz scene he helped create -- and returns to his hip hop roots

Pop Philosophy

What Bush's choices for inauguration music say about the next four years

Peace Out

The members of gay act Rainbow Flava don't want to change hip hop -- they just want some respect

Beat Scientist

Experimental rapper Doseone is too weird for the hip hop faithful -- but indie rockers love him

Trans Am

Red Line (Thrill Jockey)

Changing the True School

Berkeley's Zion I is out to prove that hip hop and drum 'n' bass aren't strange bedfellows

Dig the New Breed

Live Human proves that turntablism can learn a thing or two from jazz -- or is it the other way around?

Riff Raff

From the "Can We Please Get the Millennium Over With Now?" Desk and Happy [Expletive Deleted] Holidays

Creatures From the Black Leather Lagoon

Hear This

Night + Day

Hear This

Keeping It Real

Redefining hip hop with Spearhead, Ben Harper, and Aceyalone

Schools of Thought

The Roots, the Nonce and DJ Hurricane take hip hop to the next level