Rating:
  Review Date: March 31, 2008
  Website: Mighty Joseph Website
  Label: Urchin Studios

Mighty Joseph “Empire State” Album Review
I ain’t gonna lie to you. I bought this album for one reason – and one reason only: Vast Aire. I could listen to Vast rap all day long if I had to. Kid is that dope. He has a ridiculously innovative flow; a unique microphone attitude; and a wordy rhyme style unparalleled in hip-hop today – or ever, for that matter. (more…)

Allan Pineda Lindo knew struggle and perseverance early in life. An abandoned child of an American serviceman stationed at the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga, he planted rice and other crops to help his mother earn a living. When the opportunity came for him to travel to the US, he learned to speak English by reading a dictionary.

Now that he’s achieved success as a hip-hop artist, Allan ― better known as apl.de.ap of the Grammy-winning, internationally famous Black Eyed Peas ― says he wants to reconnect and give something back to his native land. (more…)

In a radio ad sponsored by the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti, Grammy Award-winning musician Wyclef Jean is asking his fellow citizens to give up crime and work to improve the country.

“If you love Wyclef, that means you love Haiti. So you should not be raping women, kidnapping people and children, because there can be no excuse for doing so,” Jean said in Creole in a short ad run several times a day by local stations in Haiti. (more…)

Rapper-actor Mos Def will play legendary rock ‘n’ roller Chuck Berry in “Cadillac Records,” which is filming in New Jersey. Also joining the cast is Gabrielle Union, who will play Geneva Wade, a girlfriend of Muddy Waters.

The Sony BMG film is set in 1950s Chicago and follows the turbulent lives of Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody), and the label’s artists, including Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Little Walter (Columbus Short), Howlin’ Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Etta James (Beyonce Knowles) and Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer). (more…)

  Rating:
  Review Date: March 26, 2008
  Website: Amanda Diva Website
  Label: Divaworks

Amanda Diva “Life Experience” Album Review
Like many individuals, I enjoy being pleasantly surprised: whether it’s due to an unanticipated visit from a good friend; a birthday wish from someone who you never would have guessed would extend one; or receiving an unexpected gift from your homie. In the past couple of weeks, I had the opportunity to experience all of the above. But what iced the cake for me was topping it all off with a new soulful album to add to my collection – Amanda Diva’s new album, “Life Experience.” (more…)

Sudanese hip hop artist and former child soldier Emmanuel Jal participated at last week’s three-day African hip-hop conference held at Harvard University. The conference, sponsored by Harvard’s Cultural Agents Initiative and the Ford Foundation, drew 38 panelists from 11 countries.

Jal, who was forced to fight in the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army from the time he was about six years old until he dramatically escaped the rebel army when he was about 13, sees hip-hop as one avenue to peace, tolerance and literacy for millions of African youth. (more…)

Featuring some of the best of the NYC underground: Propaganda Anonymous, Naada, iLLspoKinN, H2L and euphAmism.

  Rating:
  Review Date: March 24, 2008
  Website: HMD Website
  Label: PHILAsofikal Records

HMD “One Pursuit” Album Review
Before listeners plunge into HMD’s highly anticipated debut album, “One Pursuit,” they are given an unmistakable warning in the opening track: “We go get these old records … because you can’t copy these on the keyboard … we want those sounds.” Indeed this is one pursuit that HMD accomplishes triumphantly. His album showcases a stunning juxtaposition of instruments rarely rivaled by mainstream producers. (more…)