AltWeeklies Wire
Paris Lets His Inner P-Funk Shine on 'Acid Reflex'new
Listening to Paris in 2008 is like walking on the edge of a razor blade. On one side of that slippery slope, the East Bay militant rap icon continues to espouse the anger and violent revolutionary tendencies he's famous for. On the other, as evident on his new album, his music grooves and swirls and lifts.
East Bay Express |
Tom Chandler |
10-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
How the Web is Changing Black Youth Culture, and Vice Versanew
Wayne Marshall, a writer, DJ, ethnomusicologist, and probably the only person on staff at Brandeis University who's been written up by the Fader talks Web 2.0 and black youth culture.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
10-20-2008 |
Music
Lyrics Born, the Bay Area Mavericknew
If you were looking for a short description of Tom Shimura's more famous alter ego, Lyrics Born, this oughta do it: high-performance, low-key.
SF Weekly |
Eric K. Arnold |
10-16-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Ringtones Killed the New York Hip-Hop Starnew
While hip-hop in New York may not be dead, exactly, it is (at the very least) gravely wounded. If you're looking where to lay blame, look no further than ringtones.
New York Press |
Matthew Mundy |
10-16-2008 |
Music
Minneapolis Hip-Hop Duo Atmosphere Goes For Studio Goldnew
Atmosphere's Slug and Ant look to a live-band approach for a breath of fresh air.
Baltimore City Paper |
Tony Ware |
10-14-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Is Yung Lyricist the Future of San Diego Hip-Hop?new
In a San Diego scene that has all too often focused on blunts, balling and bitches, Yung clearly represents that new breed of MC like Kanye West, Common and Lupe Fiasco with emphasis on issues of the heart rather than hos.
San Diego CityBeat |
Seth Combs |
10-08-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Brass Knuckles' is Nelly's 'Thriller'new
Brass Knuckles shows an artist who, having been deemed irrelevant, has come back hungry, utilizing every name in his Rolodex and teaching himself some new tricks.
The Avant-Funk Visions of pc muñoznew
The producer at Talking House Productions makes beats for a strange, futuristic dance floor.
East Bay Express |
Tom Chandler |
09-24-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Common Market Takes an Uncommon Viewnew
Ryan Abeo, who goes by RA Scion when he's emceeing, is deeply interested in demolishing the wall between him and his listener.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Kiernan Maletsky |
09-23-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: hip-hop, Common Market
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
