Rating:
  Review Date: July 21, 2007
  Website: Wise Intelligent Website
  Label: Intelligent Muzik

Wise Intelligent “The Talented Timothy Taylor” Album Review
Wise Intelligent’s “The Talented Timothy Taylor” opens up with a peaceful, serene piano intro that rides its way into the first track. Wise uses this track, titled Another Chance @ Life, to reflect on his past and rhyme about what he’d do with his life if could relive it knowing what he knows now. Starting with this song, I could tell this album was going to be different from what many of us had expected. (more…)

Distrakt solidfied his place in hip-hop last year with his critically acclaimed album “Distraktions,” which was voted among the top ten underground hip-hop albums of 2006. Shortly after the album’s release, Distrakt made an appearance at the annual Scribble Jam festival, which allowed him to greatly increase the size of his “Distraktoid Army.”

As a spokesman for Sedgwick & Cedar Clothing and devoted student of old-school hip-hop, Distrakt has raised many eyebrows in recently by creating and giving away free copies of “Hip-Hop Origins,” a CD containing classic hip-hop hits from old school masters such as Melle Mel, GrandMaster Caz, Busy Bee, Jazzy Jay and Afrika Bambaataa, among others. The CD challenges hip-hop lovers to “Study Your Lessons” and gives praise to the masters who created this culture. (more…)

Mr. J Medeiros, former member of hip-hop group The Procussions, has started the “I Am Constance” campaign, a mission to tell the stories of people affected by child pornography, rape, human trafficking, and as the campaign’s website says, “everything in between.”

The campaign hopes to increase both awareness of and accountability for these crimes, and to demand that the United Nations increase penalties for human trafficking worldwide. (more…)

Fresh off of it’s first project, the free download album, Cartel – Prepare For Glory, digital hip hop label Hoodgrown Records prepares to release it’s second project by Mount Pocono, PA based, Full Fam. Full Fam is a collective of mc’s who while record as a group, also all have solo projects on deck as well.

The first single, “Rock Stars” is already in the process of being serviced to deejays and the press while the video is making it’s way across YouTube and other social networks. (more…)

Established in 2006 The World Rap Championships is a global 2on2 Rap Battle League broadcast exclusively online on www.jumpoff.tv. Three hundred rappers across 8 divisions participate in more than 500 battles (60 hours) over a 5 month season for a chance to win a place in the $50,000 PlayOffs in Las Vegas.

This unique tag team format takes place before a select industry crowd at secret warehouse and rooftop locations across 8 city divisions; New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Atlanta, Houston, Toronto(Canada), London(UK) and Melbourne(Australia). (more…)

  Rating:
  Review Date: July 17, 2007
  Website:Danny! Website
  Label: 1911 Music / Badenov Records

Danny! “Danny Is Dead” Album Review
What would you do if you won a nationwide MTV rap contest, signed a record deal with one of hip-hop’s most respected and highest quality labels, and had a couple months to kill before beginning work on your soon-to-be-world-famous album? I know what I’d do homie. I’d jump a flight to Hawaii, get me a nice tan, sip Mai Tais on the beach during the day, and spend the evenings entertaining ladies who I would make sure knew I was on my way to becoming a star. Shit, who wouldn’t? (more…)

Random made big news last year with his critically acclaimed album “The Call,” which was voted among the top ten underground hip-hop albums of 2006. Shortly after a move from his hometown of Philadelphia to Phoenix, Arizona, Random followed the example of several hip-hop heavyweights this year by releasing an album for free download to his fans. That album, “Mega Ran,” is based on the Mega Man video game, and successfully gives the characters individual voices and a spoken agenda – a perspective of the classic video game never attempted before.

The self-proclaimed “Bruce Wayne of hip-hop” is a mild-mannered school teacher by day, and a “bad-guy slaying emcee” by night whose lyrics transcend boundaries to reflect the pursuits, accomplishments and struggles of the common man. (more…)

Despite staying busy with the production and preparation of fellow Else Where? Entertainment labelmate TrueBless’ upcoming “Mission ISpossible,” Maryland MC ScholarMan is offering a brand new track for free download.

The track, titled “Reach,” urges people to reach for better things and come together for survival and longevity. The song also speaks about the importance of saving Darfur, and criticizes rappers who brag about carrying weapons. According to ScholarMan, it is just a taste of what is to come from Else Where Entertainment’s upcoming releases. (more…)

Brooklyn MC Domer has once again pushed his unique blend of hip-hop and punk rock to the screen with last night’s premiere of “You’re On To Me” at Asterisk in Bushwick. The party included impressive performances by the Metermaids, Domer and brokeMC, among others.

The video is from Domer’s upcoming album, due out Fall ’07, and is directed by Austin Lynn (Kovarova.com). It features the entire MINDSpray family, a collection of dope NYC emcees. Peep the video below:

  Rating:
  Review Date: July 15, 2007
  Websites: Creature, Dax-Devlon Ross
  Publisher: Outside The Box Publishing

Creature “The Underdog’s Manifesto” Book Review
If you turn on the radio or sit down in front of the television, you normally experience a certain perception of hip-hop: Big time rappers and major labels. So it comes as no surprise that most emcees see signing a major deal as the only way to make it as an artist. They don’t want to settle for anything less than being that famous rapper on MTV – nothing less than being a star. But in reality, major deals are few and far between. And in many cases, major label artists are still broke and struggling. (more…)