Artist: Rakim Album: The Archive: Live, Lost & Found Label: Koch Records Release Date: 03/04/08 There’s not much to say after mentioning that Rakim released a new album, The Archive Live, Lost & Found, which has live performances of some of Rakim’s biggest hits and new, unreleased tracks. Even the novice hip-hop fan will know that this album is a bona fide crowd pleaser, with nothing even coming close to being comparable, well, that is,... [continue]

I love JibJab's yearly roundups, they always take all the lame jokes I (try to) make and put them to a catchy tune. I didn't think that anything could beat last year's Nuckin' Futs, but this is still a hilarious video. Here's 2007, as sent from up above.... [continue]

... [continue]

The cultural diversity that exist in just about every nook and cranny of this country sometimes blinds people of the ignorant, immature, and, in some cases, overtly racist actions of our more idiotic counterparts. We, Americans, like to think that we’ve come a long way since the 1960s and that the battles to destroy prejudice is somewhat obsolete, but every so often high profile cases, like that of the Jena 6, comes along and... [continue]

Being from SoCal, I always feel ashamed for only taking a few years of high school Spanish, but at last I found a Spanish song I can understand! I’ve watched this a gazillion times, and it still cracks me up.... [continue]

Median Median's Relief Halftooth Records Release Date: 09/25/2007 Representing North Carolina and the group The Justus League, which also includes underground favorites like Little Brother, Median in jumping onto the scene with his debut album, Median’s Relief. The album embodies a variety of life experiences, with Median adding a personal touch through the usages of political and philosophical inferences. Median’s delivery style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Eminem’s, reiterates North Carolina’s contribution to the... [continue]

Kurious Jorge A Constipated Monkey Amaigam Digital Records Release Date: 09/18/2007 The re-release of Kurious Jorge’s album A Constipated Monkey, takes you on a nostalgic journey back to the early 1990s, serving as a prelude to Kurious’ sophomore album. Originally released in 1994, the album shows the earlier production styles of The Beatnuts and Pete Nice and takes on the laidback party beats of hip hop’s past. The album kicks off with “Spell It... [continue]

Hezekiah I Predict A Riot Rawkus/Soulspazm Records Release Date: 09/18/2007 Hezekiah teamed up with Rawkus and Soulspazm Records to release his sophomore album I Predict A Riot. Hezekiah has gained mass appeal by his works with Musiq Soulchild, Bilal and Bahamadia, and has now come to create an even bigger stir in the music industry. Fusing his influences of country music, Quincy Jones, and Kool G Rap, it is no wonder that the prodigy... [continue]

Where My Girls At?, a presentation at the annual Can A Sista Rock A Mic? Festival held a roundtable discussion bringing up an important subject that is often overlooked in media and within the hip hop culture: women’s voices in hip hop. Event producer Shyree Mezick picked panelist that, alone, marked the importance of getting women’s voices heard and the endless possibilities of how women can make positive changes in the world. The panelist included... [continue]

Extreme Crew vs. Last for One J.U.I.C.E.’s 4th Annual Danger Room: Justice for All Elements is going down tomorrow, August 23, from 4pm to midnight at the First Unitarian Church (2936 W. 8th Street). The $7 charge is well worth the eight hours of Bonnie & Clyde style Bboy+Bgirl Battles, live graf battles, DJs Kenzo, Renato and Ultraman, and an emcee showcase featuring Rogue Venom, OYG of Keetokers, SP-83 of Customers Service and Project... [continue]

From Mambo to Hip-hop is a phenomenal documentary about the origins of hip-hop from a Latino vantage point, an angle that is rarely seen when talking about the hip-hop culture. This is a must see for all hip-hop heads. The documentary can be seen in its entirety at Mumbohiphop.blip.tv.... [continue]

Known to some as La Brea Park and dubbed “America’s Champs Elysee,” Miracle Mile has put up a long fight to become one of the most visited neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Despite the area’s slight congestion, Miracle Mile is a great place for culture, business, and happy living....... [continue]

There’s two things you should do this Monday, July 23: (1) pick up Mr. J. Medeiros latest album Of gods and girls, and (2) head down to Mr. J’s album release party at the Knitting Factory with guest performances by Blue Scholars and DJ inka. Doors open at 9pm, and the $10 cover will be well worth it! Of gods and girls is the latest creation of Mr. J. Medeiros, an emcee that is recently... [continue]

As the political debates intensifies between candidates to see who will step up and gain their respective party’s presidential nominations, it’s hard not to think who will end up battling it out between the democrats and republicans. But have no fear, the Obama and Giuliani girls does all the battling for you. (I just hope I don't see Hillary in a video, eek!) Check out BarelyPolitical.com to see bloopers and the original “Obama Girl”... [continue]

If the name Big Shug rings a bell, there’s no surprise here. He became known all around the globe for hooking up with Gang Starr and becoming part of the pulse of the Gang Starr Foundation, and currently for his gig co-hosting a show with DJ Premier on Sirius Satellite Radio. But Big Shug is back on the music side of things, following his well received 2005 solo debut, Who’s Hard, with Streetchamp, which drops... [continue]

In case you’re not up-to-date on all the burial happenings going on nowadays, the ever so hated N-word was put to rest in Detroit, MI., taking on similarities to the organization’s mock burial of the Jim Crow laws in Detroit in 1944. The NAACP held a mock funeral for the word to symbolically call an end to oppressing terminology that has flooded the American society. The funeral comes in retaliation to the degrading images of...... [continue]

Blue Scholars Bayani Rawkus Records Teaming up with Massline and Rawkus Records to release their second full-length album, Bayani (due out on June 12th), Blue Scholars reaffirm their goal to mobilize minds and bodies towards liberation. The group fuses personal experiences with political stances and Baha’i spirituality. The album kicks off with “Baha’i Healing Prayer,” setting the spiritual undertone and openness of the album. The following 14 tracks fit nicely into the group’s laidback style,... [continue]

With the current state of hip-hop constantly being under scrutiny by critics and fans alike, it has become perplexing to determine which side of the controversy to take. By talking with the movers and shakers in the industry, clarity can sometimes be found. It is often interesting in looking into the background of upcoming artists to learn more about the direction of the industry, and the influences that business have over the music. Upcoming DJ... [continue]

Word is bond! When the state of hip-hop is in crisis with commercialized lyrics, unappreciative emcees, and NAS’ statement that hip-hop is dead, it becomes hard to focus on what is real hip-hop and what is not. Every so often an emcees will reemerge to enlighten the world of all that is pure and true, and this time around the teacha is back. KRS-ONE is back with his 15th album entitled Hip-Hip Lives, teaming up...... [continue]

What do you get when you mix together two hippie parents, a grandfather that sang with legendary artists, Santa Barbara college radio, and tight pants? Well if you’re an underground hip-hop fan, then the answer is Lexicon. Having performed all over the globe and having music featured in movies and TV shows, Lexicon now adds live instruments to create a unique sound in the hip hop world. After taking a three-year leave from the... [continue]