AltWeeklies Wire
In the Slums of Orlando, Hip-Hop Means Businessnew
On the west side, struggling artists from Pine Hills to Orange Blossom Trail huddle in home studios, creating digital anthems and simplifying rhyme schemes to appeal to not only the lesser-educated and party-minded audience of the Dirty South, but to white suburbanites who want to experience the inner city from a distance.
Orlando Weekly |
Justin Strout |
09-18-2008 |
Music
Baltimore Hip-Hop's Biggest Outcasts Find Their Niche As Mania Music Groupnew
"We're like a gang of misfits, people that nobody wanted," says Dwayne "Headphones" Lawson, 28, describing the group of musicians whom he brought together to form Mania Music Group.
Baltimore City Paper |
Al Shipley |
09-09-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Godfather of Phoenix Hip-hop Recalls '70s R&B and '80s Gangsta Rapnew
Formerly known as Iroc Beats, Roca's been laying down lyrical flows and grinding it out in the local scene for the better part of two decades.
Phoenix New Times |
Niki D'Andrea |
09-09-2008 |
Reviews
D-Locc da Chop Envisions Taking Over the Kansas City Hip-hop Crownnew
The core acts from local R&B and rap label and promotions company Van Brunt Entertainment — Cash Image, D-Locc da Chop and D-Locc's little brother, Slopp da Gambla — grew up around Van Brunt Boulevard and 20th Street on Kansas City's east side.
The Pitch |
Nadia Pflaum |
09-09-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Ron Rico Summons the Ghost of J Dillanew
In the space of just over half an hour, Music in Me Instrumentals runs through 20 tracks, most of them playing out as simple loops with occasional variations.
Baltimore City Paper |
Al Shipley |
09-02-2008 |
Reviews
Stik Figa Aims to Make Hip-hop Fun Againnew
John Westbrook Jr., a 25-year-old rapper known as Stik Figa, recently totaled his car. He's unemployed. And yet, he's happy.
The Pitch |
Nadia Pflaum |
08-26-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Big Sean May be Detroit's 'Next Big Thing'new
"I just feel like everything is going well," Sean beams. "I'm still under 21. Everything comes in due time. I realize that, so I'm just happy. After all, what young rapper wouldn't want to be sign to the biggest artist in the world at Def Jam?"
Metro Times |
William E. Ketchum III |
08-26-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Much of Vordul Mega's 'Megagraphitti' is a Thing of Beautynew
The first nine songs feature cinematic, fiery beats and verses that are dramatic and inspired.
Washington City Paper |
Ben Westhoff |
08-25-2008 |
Reviews
The Flobots Rise and Shinenew
One-thirty in the afternoon on a blistering Monday in late July, and the Flobots are hardly forming like Voltron. The tour bus was supposed to leave from this Save-A-Lot off Federal Boulevard at 12 p.m. sharp, but it's nowhere to be seen and we're still missing several bandmembers.
Westword |
Adam Cayton-Holland |
08-25-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Aesop Rock Reaches His Peaknew
Much like his Def Jux boss and labelmate El-P, Rock has defied commercial logic by developing a successful career dropping notoriously esoteric (and at times, indecipherable) rhymes over highly textured rhythms and angular bass lines.
Chicago Newcity |
Brad Knutson |
08-20-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Now a Free Agent, Bilal Has More Love for Salenew
He shot Interscope to the left when the label shelved his 2006 sophomore album, Love for Sale. And now that he's independent, and resolutely so, he's composing most of his new material on Garage Band. Bilal likes it that way.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
08-20-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Gay Rappers Carry the Torch for Bounce, but Not Everyone's Comfortable with Thatnew
At the end of the day, the sissies enjoy an uneasy acceptance, both for carrying bounce's torch and, of course, for keeping the dance floor jumping with women. But in the working-class African-American South, male homosexuality can be a difficult identity to maintain.
Nas Revels in Frictionnew
There are a multitude of obvious reasons why Nas would choose to christen a record about race relations in America with an unprintable epithet, but there are subtler implications, as well.
Philadelphia City Paper |
J. Edward Keyes |
08-12-2008 |
Reviews
Rising Detroit Rap Star Invincible Creates Sonic Calling Card from Activism & Dissentnew
Here's the deal: Invincible is one of the best emcees in the country, as many will tell you, gender notwithstanding, though the odds are stacked against her: 1) She's a woman working a male-dominated genre 2) She's gay and 3) She's overtly political -- her sympathy for the Palestinians, and politicking in a pop world often spells fiscal failure.
Metro Times |
Brian Smith |
08-12-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Gnarls Barkley: Open-heart Surgerynew
Cee-Lo Green offers silver lining behind The Odd Couple's moody blues.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
08-06-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
