Social media allows indie artists to streamline their records to the masses in a way that’s totally devoid of any corporate puppeteers. It’s a process based on natural attraction, not unlike dealing with people on a day to day basis. But while some songs are sonically inviting in a way comparable to experiencing love at […]
“The whole feel that I’m going for with my new project is that whole grittiness,” Wara From The NBHD said to Atlanta’s 3 Little Digs back in 2013, describing the ideal sound as, “some type of rock sh*t,” later in the discussion. A little over a year later, the bubbling wordsmith’s vision came to fruition via Kidnapped, a lush 11-track concept album […]
In this day and age, it’s nearly impossible for someone raised in an urban setting not to be affected by Hip-Hop culture in some way. But to rise from fan to purveyor to a successful artist remains an uphill battle, especially when The Notorious B.I.G.’s famous quote, “Either you slingin’ crack rock or you got a […]
They say numbers don’t lie, but there’s room to argue that they don’t necessarily tell the truth either. In this case, New York up and comer Dave East is the guy who lends example to how even great talent can go unnoticed (or overlooked rather). A bona fide street MC whose catalog of gritty music […]
There’s very little that the Jamla clique can’t do. Under the guidance of Grammy Award-winning producer 9th Wonder, the eclectic, but balanced collective of MCs and dynamic production core, the Soul Council, have crafted their fair share of stellar projects in recent years. And on June 24, they scored another in GQ’s Rated Oakland LP.
Nitty Scott, MC back in February took the Who’s Next stage by storm at the legendary SOBs. She conquered a boisterous New York City crowd of fans and critics, unlike anything we’d expect to see from the rookie.
The overt lack of balance in Hip-Hop seems to be a dwindling issue if the gauge is the amount of fans outraged over the music’s one-sidedness. Building on that thought, how can a culture that currently echoes braggadocio over a humbleness ever become an even playing field that’s based on one’s ability to relate to an artist? Fortunately, there’s […]
Showmanship is a sorely under-valued skill set in Hip-Hop these days, especially when many interpret MC as an acronym for “move the crowd.” It’s easy to spot an artist with a powerful stage presence, but there are so many intangibles that speak to why this crop of MCs connect with and command crowds with an iron […]
In the typical tortoise meets hare scenario, it’s always fare to beware of the unassuming. In this case, the Rap game – one that’s so consumed by appearance and social status – is the hare. Meanwhile, the proverbial tortoise is rapper Vince Staples.
Let’s be perfectly honest with ourselves. Hip-Hop culture has allowed all colors, sects, creeds, origins and dialects to have a comfortable home underneath the culture’s umbrella, yet there are only a particular crop of MCs who generally lay candidacy for the throne.
To say that there’s a natural bias towards Los Angeles when discussing California’s contributions to Hip-Hop is unfair to a city that’s churned out a fair share of classic albums, but their Bay Area counterparts unquestionably receive an unfair shake in the conversation. For example, Compton native YG’s critically acclaimed debut, My Krazy Life (and DJ Mustard’s sound overall), […]
After years of putting on for Dreamville, J. Cole finally sits at the helm of a label of his own of the same name at Interscope Records. In fact, Light Skinned Jermaine could harbor another major player in Hip-Hop should the proverbial pendulum swing in the right direction. Some of that relies on Bas, a Sudanese […]
