Photo credit: Mamboso.net Hip-hop, in it’s current iteration, comes — and goes — in waves. The waves all have catalysts (like Drake, Kid Cudi, or younger drill gods like Keef, Santana, and Dirk), and set the stage for a tsunami of similarity. Rappers, influenced by other rappers, borrow flows which…
This morning as I woke up — sort of — for a (brief) few minutes, my wife broke the news to me: Phife, of A Tribe, Called Quest, had passed. His cause of death was not immediately disclosed, although, as intimately disclosed in their Michael Rapaport produced documentary, he had…
I’m always blindsided but lengthy milestones. That’s part of getting older, though. I remember like it was yesterday, being a young cat at summer Caribbean street festivals copping mixtapes (like actual tapes) from local and out of town vendors. One day I came across a cassette from a name I’d…
Today, the New York hip-hop scene lost a prominent figure, Keith Carter – better known as DJ Big Kap. He was a member of many crews and cliques, including the Flip Squad DJ’s, which also included names like Doo Wop, Biz Markie and Mark Ronson. For those of you not…
“If ppl are gonna just pray for the 90’s sound to come back (which I respect), shit is gonna be the same forever…” – Gavlyn (via Facebook) 26-year-old LA-based rapper Gavlyn has it factor that’s so prevalent it’s impossible to ignore. She’s been on my radar since she dropped From…
“When I come around homeboy watch your nuggets…” —Erick Sermon Artwork by Trenoops on DevianArt What makes a great producer? Some would say a sonic signature and an unmistakable style that helps shape cultural waves. Whenever the age old debate about producers gets started, names like Pete Rock and DJ…
I was gifted with a voice, but I have a rapper mentality. –Tim Vocals There has always been a fair share of R&B “bad boys,” for lack of a better term. By that, I mean singers who, well, have more of an edge to them than other singers. I’m not…
“It’s the wavelengths, bro, that change over time because nothing stops moving — including people. Niggas get older; new people take their place.” — Kidaf The next generation of hip-hop is coming of age as of late, and the future of the genre is bright. Not to say there wasn’t…
