By shelz. and Odeisel
Def Jam’s evolution wasn’t always moonlight and roses.  There were years in the red, criminal allegations, power struggles, sell-offs and lulls in artistic quality.  But through it all, the label has survived …

By shelz
“Who is Russell Simmons?” That question will garner a multitude of different answers from people. He’s that guy who owns Phat Farm.  I think he’s the activist whose organization helped repeal those crazy New …

By shelz
If Rick Rubin had left a trail of bread crumbs back in 1982 when he founded Def Jam Recordings, it would be almost impossible for anyone in 2009 to trace them back to his …

By shelz.
One of the most irritating trends in Hip-Hop for the last few years definitely has to be one hot track equaling 132,001 freestyles.  Some producer has a moment of artistic clarity then the rest …

By Malice Intended
The Image of African Americans in the media has always been a cause of concern both inside and outside the African American Community.  Older generations of African Americans have long been mindful (some …

Hot Rod! The Rowdy One
As we get older, time goes by faster. The only things that help us stall off our impending mortality are our memories. They allow us to emote and relive experience. 2009 had …

By Odeisel

Old school shows are great when you have the right artists. They are great for the venue because the crowd is too old to get into a real fight, plus the bar will …

By Odeisel
Souls of Mischief is much more than a group; it’s a family. The lead group of the larger Hiero collective are brothers by way of life, and rappers by trade. While many groups scream …

By Elianne Halbersberg
During the past year, the Planet Ill team has been keeping readers up to date on new gear—everything from phone apps to electronic drum kits. As 2009 comes to a close, we thought …

By Odeisel
It’s been a grueling holiday season, as people scrambled to get their last minute shopping in and the last days of the year bring finals for students, vacation for workers, and hangovers for office …

By shelz.
The early 1990’s found more than one style of music at its own personal crossroads.  Country discovered that its reach was much bigger than previously thought with the advent of Soundscan.  Hip-Hop let loose …

Indiesent Exposure 2009 Hip-Hop Viewpoint & Wrap Up:
Indie Hip-Hop Music Is Having One Of The Best Times Ever…And Can Continue to Have It That Way If The Cards Are Played Right (And A Regular Old …

By Odeisel
Recently, Planet Ill had the privilege of checking out Melanie Fiona and Jadakiss live at the Highline Ballroom.  In the spirit of giving we got an added treat as the Clipse were late additions …

 Hot Rod! The Rowdy One
Happy Holidays to everyone. We’re back for another week of Out of Bounds. It’s been a rough week for your old boy the Rowdy One. Been a lil under the weather …

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This is the latest episode of the syndicated FuseBox Radio Broadcast with DJ Fusion & Jon …

By Odeisel
It’s hard out there for a pimp, particularly if you’re a G Unit soldier. It seems the glorious days is gone and everybody’s doing bad, even general Jackson. So what do you do when …

By Malice Intended
Avatar is a science fiction epic set in the year 2154 on the fictional moon of Pandora.  Pandora is inhabited by the Na’vi, a race of bipedal sapient beings with feline characteristics and …

By Odeisel
There comes a time in the lives of some bands where they have to decide whether they can really  play in the big leagues. The countless thousands of garage bands out there have to …

By Fawn Renee
Only champions can turn tragedy into triumph.  Truth be told, Hip-Hop almost lost Detroit when producer extraordinaire and Slum Village founder James “J Dilla” Yancey lost his battle with lupus in 2006. Dilla …

By shelz.
In the age of image, marketing a woman in music, at any age, is a complicated affair.  Even in a youth obsessed culture, youth is never enough alone.  And while pretty girls certainly have …