The Neptunes

N.E.R.D. to Play the Fillmore

N.E.R.D.

Seeing Sounds (Star Trak/Interscope)

Santogold: pop's new Gwen Stefani

Seeing Sounds (Star Trak/Interscope)

Clipse

Hell Hath No Fury (Jive)

Hood

Outside Closer

Trend-Spotting

In a scandal-ridden election year, the year's top ten music stories were all about winning the popular vote.

Snoop Dogg

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece

BeatBox

Beans may be the last hope for glitch-hop; Doc Martin is still bringing the beats

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Beans may be the last hope for glitch-hop; Doc Martin is still bringing the beats

Turner's Death, Taxes, & Prozack

Oakland MC Prozack was headed for the big time. Then his major-label deal fell apart.

Hear This

A bite-sized installment of the large (and no doubt geek-laden) celebration of synth

Cee-Lo

Cee-Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine

Yukmouth

Godzilla

The Neptunes

The Neptunes Present ... Clones

Prick

The Neptunes Present ... Clones

Best Use of Corporate Radio

Wobbly's Wild Why

The Majesticons

Beauty Party

Little Brother

The Listening

Expensive Tastes

Rap duo Zion I can't stop being innovative, no matter what the costs

Common

Electric Circus

GZA

Legend of the Liquid Sword

The New Britpop

The Streets' vision of working-class England is full of beats, birds, and brandy

Beenie Man

Tropical Storm (Virgin)

Various Artists

Disco Not Disco 2 (Strut)

Souls of Mischief embrace the Prince Paul regime

Disco Not Disco 2 (Strut)

What To Do? Thursday's Pick: Left Fest w/ Souls of Mischief

Souls of Mischief​Left Fest w/ Souls of Mischief @ MezzanineOakland rap quartet Souls of Mischief is most fondly remembered for a 1993 hit. Prince Paul is a legendary oddball production Svengali from Long Island who also goes by the aliases Chest Rockwell and Filthy Pablo. The idea of holing them ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Black Keys, Common, Les Claypool, and N.E.R.D at NASA Ames

Richard Haick​Black Keys, Common, Les Claypool, and N.E.R.D at Yuri's Night Saturday, April 10, 2010 NASA Ames Q: What Russian cosmonaut made famous for being the first human to orbit earth in 1961 would eventually bring burners, hip-hoppers, rock fans, and space nerds together for ... More >>

The Honor Roll Crew's Top Dancers, Players & Pleasures

​Headed up by Trackademicks, The Honor Roll Crew is a creative collective of eight Bay Area-based MCs, singers, producers and DJs. They bring a fresh approach to hip-hop, as exemplified by critically acclaimed late-'09 releases by Track ("Enjoy What You Do") and Spank Pops (Beautiful Noise).  ... More >>

Breezy at the Top: Trackademicks might be the next king of Bay Area hip-hop

​Headed up by Trackademicks, The Honor Roll Crew is a creative collective of eight Bay Area-based MCs, singers, producers and DJs. They bring a fresh approach to hip-hop, as exemplified by critically acclaimed late-'09 releases by Track ("Enjoy What You Do") and Spank Pops (Beautiful Noise).  ... More >>

Kreayshawn Producer DJ Two Stacks on the Making of "Gucci Gucci"

​ Kreayshawn's "Gucci Gucci" is 2011's most divisive rap song. It's seen the leader of the White Girl Mob subjected to a cascade of commentary about her lyrics, her image, and her place in hip-hop -- although DJ Two Stacks' contribution to the "Gucci Gucci" phenomenon has gone largely overlook ... More >>

Voice of Tomorrow

​ Kreayshawn's "Gucci Gucci" is 2011's most divisive rap song. It's seen the leader of the White Girl Mob subjected to a cascade of commentary about her lyrics, her image, and her place in hip-hop -- although DJ Two Stacks' contribution to the "Gucci Gucci" phenomenon has gone largely overlook ... More >>

R.I.P. DJ Mehdi, Prolific French Electronic and Hip-Hop Producer

​ DJ Mehdi, one of the leading figures in French hip-hop and electronic music over the past decade, died tragically on Tuesday at age 34. According to reports, he was on the roof of his house in Paris with friends, throwing a birthday party for fellow DJ and sometime collaborator Riton. During ... More >>

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 >>