T.I.’s Paper Trail could be the year’s best rap album
In “The Year of the Big-Name, Highly-Anticipated Album Release,” Paper Trail is King — for now.
Why Chicago blues is dying, even in its birthplace
Maxwell Street is both the birthplace and grave of the Chicago blues.
Common’s Northwestern freestyle, on video
If you stayed inside finishing off that handle of vodka during Common’s performance on Dillo Day, you missed his freestyle rap about Northwestern. Some good soul went ahead and filmed the rap, then slapped it up on YouTube.
Pretty neat, and always a good time seeing a celebrity wearing an NU sweatshirt. Some of [...]
Trust MySpace? It says that The Cool Kids are coming on Dillo Day
Plus, a primer on the rap duo.
Dance Marathon music preview: Block 7
Ahhh, sometimes you have to love DM’s block themes. Block 7 (hosted by everyone’s favorite chain Applebees!) promotes “80’s and Oldschool Hip Hop.” The two, which are sort of oddly jammed together since 80’s would not fence in some of the more popular rap tunes other blocks can’t nab. Mainly, I feel [...]
Ghostface, Rakim: legendary talents kill it at the House of Blues
The Hip Hop Live! Tour showcased lyrical prowess at an excellent performance on Nov. 12.
Reasons you shouldn’t give up on rap yet
This hasn’t exactly been a banner year for hip-hop, not remotely. Kanye aside, 2007’s birthed terrible rap like “This is why I’m Hot,” “A Bay Bay” and “Ayo Technology.” And if I see one more sorority girl do the Soulja Boy dance…you’ll see me on the next episode of Cops. There is [...]
Quick reviews of fall’s finest
Annnnnnd….we’re back. Hope you had a great summer, one rich in sonic awesomeness. And, with excellent releases from M.I.A., Spoon and Okkervil River among others, it wasn’t that hard to do. But, with temperatures dropping, school returning and Caveman debuting, even more awesome music has hit shelves in the last two weeks [...]
A review of Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come
Out of retirement, Jay-Z’s back on top with his new album Kingdom Come.