Freddie Gibbs’ road is layered with evocative imagery; when he delivers, he delivers. His does not hold anything back, and his tough guy attitude never falters, contributing to the dark themes that are commonplace in the world of gangsta-rap. In his latest EP, Lord Giveth, Lord Taketh Away, Freddie Gibbs continues on with his street-smart bravado, teaming up with producer
Shabazz Palaces have released their first, 10-song EP with Sub Pop records on June 28th, entitled Black Up. Black up features electronic flavors and mesmerizing looping beats. Shabazz Palaces gets an A for originality. Their overall sound is a mix of genres and it is far from the mainstream rap and hip-hop of today, but I could see this new
Nothing can help an awkward girl through the roller coaster that is high school like a group of four boys sensually singing about love and heartbreak. Okay, maybe that’s too much personal experience talking there, but Jagged Edge’s comeback album The Remedy whisks me back to my sophomore year when I might be found spending a whole Friday night listening
Curren$y is arguably the greatest rapper in the game right now. When you talk about best by any measurements he could be deemed G.O.A.T. in that he fulfills parameters that are quantifiable. Wordplay, story telling, cadence, catalog, beat selection, holding ones own on guest appearances and, the most important, consistency. You name it and Curren$y does it and does it
If you’re struggling with life’s trials and tribulations, Seattle breakout rapper Grieves wants you to know you’re not alone. His debut album, Together/Apart chronicles the struggles of a regular old guy – one who stops at nothing to dramatically bring to life what those struggles are. Vivid imagery and clever metaphors dominate Together/Apart, which strays from the traditional rapper’s norm
Yonge and Dundas square was raring for some ill hip-hop for North by Northeast Festival(NXNE) June 19th, a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Toronto. Hip hop was on display as the headliners for the festival — Pharcyde — were set to take center stage. Many a hip hop head came out to a free show with one of the heavy weights
Finally Famous Sean Don aka Big Sean finally has a barcode out and about on Tuesday June 28. The G.O.O.D. music signed MC has been waiting in the wings for this opportunity ever since he dropped a sixteen in front of Mr. Yeezy back in ’05. The Finally Famous mix tape series — volumes one through three — having been
It’s not often that one uses the word “classy” or “refined” to describe a rap record. Now, I’m not saying that Action Bronson’s new album Dr. Lecter is defunct of profanity or the sporadic salacious reference; no, I promise you all of the obscenities and crude imagery anyone would hope for in any legitimate rap song. But Action Bronson does
Detroit rapper Big Sean says he’s ‘finally famous,’ and if the VIP cast on his album of the same name is any indication, you should probably take him seriously. Finally Famous is the symbol of Big Sean’s glamorous come-up in the rap industry – and glamorous this album is. As his first studio album, it’s the culmination of his grandiose
I’m going to say this right off the bat: Bad Meets Evil’s album Hell: the Sequel is probably not going to sway you one way or another about Eminem. I was truly hoping for a mind-changer, as I call it – a song, an experience, a revelation that can completely transform your opinion of an artist – but alas, I
