Classic hip-hop albums, they do exist, but they are not made often. I believe there are 5 types of albums, Garbage, Coaster, Chill, Sweet and Classic albums. To better understand how these albums are made, I broke down the ingredients of each.

Garbage Albums
The first category are your “Garbage Albums,” also referred to as “wack,” “some shit,” “doo-doo,” and many other extreme descriptions. These are the albums where the album is lacking creativity, originality, substance, quality production, and that one thing that makes the artist great - character. (more…)

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  Release Date: January, 2007
  Website: Scholar Website
  Label: Else? Where Entertainment

ScholarMan “Candy Medicine” Album Review
This is a true story yo. People often ask me who my favorite underground MC is, and I always give the same answer: Scholar, or ScholarMan, as they call him these days. Now I’d be lying to you if I said ScholarMan was the most talented MC around. I’d be lying if I said that his albums were the highest quality albums I receive or review. I’d be lying if I said he were the best. Nonetheless, he is undoubtedly my favorite.  (more…)

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  Release Date: December, 2006
  Website: Intellekt & Dirty Digits Website
  Label: ArcTheFinger Records

Intellekt & Dirty Digits “Intellektual Property” Album Review
I’m one of those perfectionist cats yo. Shit, why you think my website is so fresh and so clean homie? I remember in third grade when we started using pens instead of pencils, I would write all my homework in pencil, then trace it over in pen so that I wouldn’t make any non-erasable mistakes. My third grade teacher thought I had attention-deficit disorder. (more…)

HIPHOPNEWSBLOG.COM has recently given Russell Simmons a bunch of props for his recent community service actions, all of which you can read about here.

However, what I was most excited about was his late-November “fact-finding mission” to South Africa and Botswana and it’s apparent intention of helping to empower Africans. (more…)

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  Release Date: November, 2006
  Website: Rob Rush Website
  Label: Rec-League Records

Rob Rush “Childhood Hero” Album Review
People don’t have enough confidence in themselves nowadays. And if there’s anywhere in popular culture where that’s blatantly apparent, it would probably be mainstream hip-hop. So many cats copy the popular styles and fads of radio and television that it seems like few artists are secure enough to be themselves on the mic instead of acting out some image that may be more publicly accepted. (more…)

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  Release Date: November, 2006
  Website: Graffiti Jones Website
  Label: Gary Johnson Music

Graffiti Jones “Seven” Album Review
In the words of Graffiti Jones, “hip-hop ain’t what it used to be.” Plain and simple. And to be honest with you, I’m still trying to figure out whether or not that’s a good thing. Personally, I like the direction hip-hop is headed, even with all the disturbing side elements you see on TV or hear on the radio. (more…)

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  Release Date: November 22, 2006
  Website: Diction & Serge Website
  Label: Metro League Records

Diction and Serge “Our Purpose” Album Review
“Diction and Serge, homie …” I found myself saying those exact words a lot this week. Next to the Internet, word of mouth is arguably the best tool for underground hip-hop, and I try to utilize that tool in all possible situations. Therefore, visiting family and friends for Thanksgiving is a somewhat of a yearly hip-hop word of mouth campaign for me. I try to promote what I’m bumping to the people I don’t see often. (more…)