PEACE. Every year, Hip-Hop Linguistics creates two lists. One list contains the top hip-hop albums from major mainstream, underground and independent record labels. The other list contains the top hip-hop albums from minor independent labels and unsigned hip-hop artists. The first list contains artists you’ve likely heard of, while the second list contains artists you’ve probably not heard of.

This is that first list – the overall top picks for 2007. The list below represents the best albums hip-hop had to offer in the year 2007 from what we consider major record labels – whether mainstream, underground or independent. We highly recommend checking them all out! (more…)

Students at dozens of campuses across the country walked out of classes October 1 in support of the Jena 6. The walk-out was organized by hip-hop artists Mos Def, M1 and Talib Kweli, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Change the Game, the National Hip Hop Political Convention and activists from 25 college campuses.

The anger at the plight of the six–and more generally at racism in communities across the U.S.–could be seen in the walkouts. (more…)

Artist/ Activist Mos Def along with M1, Talib Kweli, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Sankofa Community Empowerment, Change the Game, National Hip Hop Political Convention, Hip Hop Association, and student leaders from 50 campuses call for a National Student Walk-Out to rally and show support for the Jena 6, who are being denied their human rights by the Louisiana criminal justice system.

Mos Def is asking students worldwide to assist in the fight against racial injustice and show solidarity for these young people, who have been treated unequally by the law. The prosecution of these young men symbolizes a terrible miscarriage of justice, by punishing students who opposed segregation in their schools and disregarding the threatening acts of others who advocate it. (more…)

2K Sports today announced the soundtrack for NBA 2K8, which will feature 23 tracks, including three produced by late producer, J Dilla ( a.k.a. Jay Dee). Common, Talib Kweli, Madlib, and Q-Tip, all of whom had previously worked with J Dilla before his death early last year, contributed vocals for the tracks.

“J Dilla was one of the industry’s greatest talents,” said Q-Tip. “This recording is reflective of his legacy and of the wonderful body of work that he left behind.” (more…)

Hip-hop has such a negative connotation in some circles that some people equate it with thuggery or crime — an unfair depiction that DMC of the legendary rap group Run-DMC is trying to dispel.

DMC aims to fight rap’s bad rap by highlighting the hip-hop community’s positive contributions with the J.A.M. Awards, set for Nov. 29 in New York City. Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, De La Soul, Cassidy and Snoop Dogg are among the confirmed artists. (more…)

I came across an hour long hip-hop mix that everyone should listen to today!

Created by Davey D and Breakdown FM, “Hip-Hop Speaks Out: As We Remember 9-11″ gives hip-hop’s perspective of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with songs, speaches and interviews from hip-hop artists, activists and representatives.

Below is the track listing for “Hip-Hop Speaks Out.” Click the link to listen:
http://odeo.com/audio/16537983/view  (more…)

Peace. I came across a dope interview with Talib Kweli today on www.flow.tv. He makes some great points with clips from some of his greatest videos. Check it out below.

Talib Kweli dropped a video for “Hot Thing” this week, the first single from “Ear Drum.” It’s a dope video with that whole Hewlett Packard thing going on. Peep it below:

  Rating:
  Review Date: August 21, 2007
  Website: Talib Kweli Website
  Label: Blacksmith

Talib Kweli “Ear Drum” Album Review
Motherfuckers ain’t got no class man. Everybody knows that this album, plus or minus a bonus track or two, leaked like two months ago. And what can I say? Shit like that happens. But almost immediately after the leak, people started rushing all over the Internet waiving their “I’m a bootlegger” flags for everyone to see. The same hypocrites that complain about cats like 50 Cent selling more records than Talib Kweli took full advantage of the opportunity to snatch Kweli’s music … and then had the nerve to post early reviews and brag about it like they’re exempt from being considered freeloaders. (more…)