hip hop

<!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; &lt;![endif]--> Whether good or bad, there isn’t a huge market for deejay albums. A brief resurgence of the medium sprung up during the mid to late ‘90s, mostly centered around various Los Angeles associated crews, but that didn’t last all too long. Of course, the folks who garnered a bit of press from that time have gone on to produce works for a great many top tier hip hop acts. But a resultant effect of that brief balloon of attention was that more outlets were created for deejays to release sample based music. And even with the troublesome copyright problem omnipresent, some pretty listenable discs have gone to press. Read more

<!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; &lt;![endif]--> U-N-I is certainly an integral part of what’s goin’ on in the So Cal rap scene at this point. They don’t have a record deal and have, themselves, seemingly, created any hype that surrounds them. And after a few mix tapes over the last year or so – Before there was Love and Chicken and Waffles – the duo has secured enough of a rep as to have legions awaiting its newest release A Love Supreme. Read more

<!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; &lt;![endif]--> The background of any performer, but specifically in the realm of hip hop, is tantamount to understanding the individual’s work. And considering the fact that Oddisee is nothing but in touch with his familial roots in Sudan, looking at the situation there can lend some important insight into how this Maryland/DC based emcee and producer perceives the world. The tribal and territorial problems that have arisen – and don’t seem to be nearing a resolution – lends Oddisee the ability to examine situations through the guise of a nation’s internal strife. Read more

<!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; &lt;![endif]--> No other label really traffics in the same brand of hip hop, soul and funk that Stones Throw is able to touch upon. Included amongst the label’s catalog, in addition to the J Dilla disc, Madvillain and others, are a few choice re-releases like the reissued Stark Reality disc Now, which featured a young John Ambercrombie. Read more