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Review Date: March 21, 2007
Website: Reason Website
Label: Poorly Drawn People
Reason “Gemini Slang” Album Review
From my perspective, a large percentage of the younger hip-hop generation seems to show inadequate respect to their hip-hop elders … the cats that started this culture. I guess that’s why I liked Reason’s “Gemini Slang.” This kid seems to have a lot of love and respect for the history of hip-hop, often quoting, sampling or referencing the Old School. (more…)
New trends and slang words are invented everyday in this ever changing world of hip-hop. One that I find intriguing is the term “dumbing down,” or “dumbed down” in reference to how hip-hop in its current state is being down-graded so that a younger audience can truly understand and appreciate the music. You must be kidding me.
So let me get this straight: Are we saying that all of hip-hop is stupid as in a lack of intelligence? Or are we making a point that just the “pop” type hip-hop that we hear and see through various mediums lacks intelligence? To some degree, I agree with the latter, but I believe just like with everything, there’s more that meets the eye. (more…)
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Review Date: March 15, 2007
Website: Smoke Website
Label: Oldominion / Superhappywax
Smoke “Bleed” Album Review
For the past couple weeks, I’ve been planning on writing an article on Northwest hip-hop. If there’s any area of the country from which we are currently receiving the most hot underground hip-hop albums, it would have to be the Pacific Northwest. And when I recently received two records from a Washington state underground crew called Oldominion, I was further assured of the depth of talent that is continuing to emerge in the Northwest underground. (more…)
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Review Date: March 14, 2007
Website: Clockwerk Website
Label: Sandpeople Music / Superhappywax
Clockwerk “Due Yesterday” Album Review
Over the years, East coast, West coast, and Dirty South hip-hop have all developed their own comprehensible sounds. This basically means that you can listen to music from each section of the country and tell where it’s coming from. And in many cases, that accurately describes the commercially-monotonous sounds you hear on the radio. (more…)
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Review Date: March 5, 2007
Website: Chi-Rho Website
Label: Optive Productions
Chi-Rho “Oralgami” Album Review
Many people first heard of Chicago-based rapper Chi-Rho back in 2003 when one of his songs was featured on Chappelle’s Show. Unfortunately, I don’t recall that track even though I know the episode well. Thus, the first time I heard of Chi-Rho was in mid-February, when I kept coming across a press release entitled, “Hip-Hop Fans Receive a Positively Conscious Boost.” The article was about the release of Chi-Rho’s debut album “Oralgami” and its goal of bringing conscious hip-hop back to the people. (more…)
If one more person sends out an email, a Myspace bulletin or does a song dubbed “Hip-Hop is Dead” or anything of the sort, I swear I might go crazy. When something is dead it no longer exists, it is a memory, a dried tear on your pillow and from what I can see, hip-hop is no where near dead, nor is it dying.
Thus the reason why I titled my last album “Candy Medicine” because I believe that hip-hop is simply sick and needs the care and attention from great hip-hop artists, underground, middle-stream and main-stream to bring it back to its healthy state. What state is that you ask? The state when you personally fell in love with hip-hop. (more…)
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Review Date: February 28, 2007
Website: Gino Website
Label: Infamous Players
Gino “The Prelude” Album Review
There is one major thing that immediately impressed me about Gino Lispi and his debut album “The Prelude.” And that is potential. Now this album is obviously the 20-year-old’s first release. It is in no way perfect. But throughout the entire album, it became clear that this kid has skills, drive and the potential to be a dope and successful emcee. (more…)
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