Hip-Hop

‘Illmatic’ turns 20; how Nas ignited a new generation of MCs

It was 20 years ago today that Nas released his seminal debut album, Illlmatic. It wasn’t the huge crossover hit that, say, The Chronic or Doggystyle had been in the previous years. And it didn’t quite re-ignite the East Coast’s hardcore aesthetic, either; acts like Redman, Onyx, Das EFX, Black Moon had started doing that as early as 1992. But what Illmatic did was introduce the world to a thoughtful and gifted rhyme-writer from the Queensbridge Projects, and in doing so, it returned the traditional New York City emcee to hip-hop prominence.

April 19, 2014 No Comments

Future celebrates album release in Chicago

On April 15, Future celebrated his upcoming album Honest with a private listening session at Pressure Point Studios in Chicago presented by Hennessy V.S. Photos: Onasis

April 17, 2014 No Comments

Mixtape Mondays: Jay Z ‘Unreleased’

For all you die-hard Hov fans … here’s a collection of rare and unreleased Jay Z songs, freestyles and remixes. Standout tracks include “Young, Gifted,

April 14, 2014 No Comments

Drake clowned on Twitter for switching NCAA loyalties after UConn win

Despite showing up in the Kentucky Wildcats locker room after their Final Four win last weekend, hip-hop star Drake was photographed hanging out with former University of Connecticut star Richard “Rip” Hamilton, following UConn’s victory over Kentucky in the NCAA Championship Game last night (April 7th.) The photo caused many fans to sneer at Drake’s apparently shifting loyalties; as he was considered to be a die-hard Kentucky fan after several players spoke about the support he showed during his earlier locker room visit.

April 8, 2014 No Comments
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