By shelz.
New York City has been searching for its Hip-Hop savior for some time. Someone who can shine through the haziness of southern slang and hipster moodiness to represent their city on a national level hasn’t …

By Odeisel
Family is probably the most difficult thing that we deal with on this earth. Our friends we choose, and should things go wrong we have a choice to continue or disassociate. Family is different. …

By shelz.
The ruling triumvirate of reggae, Bob Marley, Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh were never known for playing it lyrically safe. Their tales of oppression, official malfeasance, and revolution set the serious lyrical tone of …

By Odeisel
We often look at history through rose colored lenses. This is especially true when it comes to how we wax poetic about taking it “back to the essence” in Hip-Hop. Suddenly all the wack …

By shelz.
Michael Jackson’s talent was larger than words. You could call him a creative genius or a brilliant performer, but those declarations still wouldn’t do him justice. His gift was developed meticulously under the watchful …

By Odeisel
Some of us are truly only free when we do what we love. When in full bloom at the height of our powers it’s almost as if God’s living grace is shining through us. …

 
By Planet Ill
I’m sure you’re going to be subjected to dozens of playlists and forced stuff trying to do justice to the legacy of the greatest  entertainer of all time. We at Planet Ill find …

By Odeisel
History is not always self evident.  It is generally controlled by those who tell the tale and is subject to their spin on events.  When you don’t feel that you are represented properly, you …

 
By Malice Intended
While filmmaking is largely a technical exercise, it is not an exact science.  Very often a movie can be much more, or much less than the sum of its parts.  A “good” movie …

By shelz.
Anticipation can be a great thing.  Your mind runs rampant with excitement. You whip yourself into a frenzy with expectation.  Most times, however, anticipation raises the bar too high. The event pales in comparison to …

By Jordan Forrester
Any David who stands in the face of his personal Golitah and says, “No more!” deserves the utmost respect.  The proverbial story of the golden underdog fuels most people’s desire to be that …

 
By Odeisel
After surviving and persevering beyond the death of mentor Scott la Rock, KRS-1 had carried on the Boogie Down Productions legacy for years, continuing with younger brother DJ Kenny Parker, ICU, beat-boxer D-Nice, and …

By shelz.
Modern R&B is normally delivered in two forms. The syrupy sweet doo wop of love lost and found regularly battles the tawdry, lust-filled odes to knocking boots. The pair has coexisted in the eye of …

By Odeisel
You ever wonder how rappers that suck seem to drop albums every year, but (with the exception of Jay-z, TI, and Tupac) those with good music are always making you wait years for new …

By Odeisel
In the words of the late, great Christopher Wallace, spread love is the Brooklyn way. Despite continuous rain and the loss of its second stage, the 5th annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop festival was in full …

 By Deepa Shah
The emcee has always been the trend starter. From the delivery of rhymes to the unique expressions that keep the party going, emcees have kept Hip-Hop in the forefront of the public consciousness. …

 
By Odeisel
A few months ago we sat down with Boot Camp and Duck Down’s Own General Steele, half of the legendary duo Smiff N Wessun and discussed a variety of topics.  This particular segment speaks not only …

 
By Odeisel
Desperate times call for desperate measures.  In a landscape dominated by emo rappers and singing and mechanical augmentation, what is a megastar who got his light from hardcore rap to do? If you’re an …

By G.I.N.A. (Game Is Not Allowed)
By now many of us have read “Act like a Lady Think Like a Man” by Steve Harvey.  Once again the star of stage, television, film and radio has enlightened …

By shelz. 
These days, it seems there is little to no depth of thought in Hip-Hop. Most rappers are slaves to a bottom line controlled by suits in corner offices who don’t care about the significance of …