Archive for Reviews

Last week, Wiz Khalifa woke up a lot of major media outlets, music fans, and record label execs, that had previously been sleeping on the Pittsburgh artist's incredible fan base, with his release of Kush x Orange Juice.

Ever since parting ways with the people at Warner Bros., the XXL Freshman's career has really taken off due to the impressive amount of grass roots marketing orchestrated by his management team at Rostrum Records.

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Dom Kennedy is one of today's many emerging artists who's talent greatly outmatches their buzz. Although not the best situation, this does make him a great fit on this year's Paid Dues festival.

Once Dom and his management team find a better way to get his music on the radio and into the hands of potential fans, this West Coast emcee will start enjoying the increased buzz he deserves.

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Fifteen tracks plus two bonus cuts seems a little long for an EP, but when you're releasing quality music few people will complain about the length. Also, Shawn Chrystopher has stated that while making The Audition EP, he focused less on appealing to critics and more on creating something that he could enjoy, himself.

Having said that, there were a few too many songs that focused on the opposite sex, making the EP a bit redundant at times. Leaving out some of these tracks would have made for a more enjoyable listen. (More..)

I've had Kidz In The Hall's Land of Make Believe album in rotation since it dropped two weeks ago, and what I find most refreshing about the project is its ability to be played straight through; a trait that's becoming harder and harder to find with today's growing focus on hit singles over complete albums.

The sample free-production put forth by Double O, and personal lyrics let loose by Naledge, make every track interesting.

This marks the third album release from the Penn grads, who've been creating a type of "paid dues" feel around themselves, releasing a number of underappreciated raps since 2006....

The mixtape, which suffered numerous delays, finally dropped earlier this month. I was definitely surprised and had already accepted not being able to hear it anytime soon!

It turns out the music was well worth the wait. Fabolous acted out the mixtape artwork and laid to rest a good selection of beats.

Adding to the tape's "last rights-feel" was DJ Drama, who decided to change his knickname from Barak O'Drama to DraMcCain for this project. Regarding the switch, Drama explains how he's "starting to feel like a Republican, giving out the death penalty and killin' you niggas!" (More..)

This mixtape had me at the Lou Bond sample.  My love affair with the mysterious singer's "To The Establishment" stems from Outkast flipping a baseline for "Wailin',"one of my favorites off ATLiens.  Seven years later, when Brother Ali used the intro vocals and piano as the framework for his hauntingly beautiful "Picket Fence," I was sold.  Once I heard that familiar hum and piano cascade in "Alright", the second track off of Starlito's latest effort, Renaissance Gangster, I knew I was sticking in for the long haul.

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The Brazilian-born, Florida-raised emcee, Laws has been creating a great deal of buzz around his impressive 4:57 mixtape, hosted by DJ Don Cannon. The Grammy award-winning group of producers, The J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, first discovered the cocky artist after he built up a reputation as a standout battle rapper in Tampa, FL. Fans of the confident Laws are well aware of his brash persona, with the majority of them having already enjoyed his Your Future Favorite Rapper mixtape, hosted by DJ Smallz. Often a new emcee with a cocky attitude can be quiet annoying, but in Laws' case, the attitude doesn't ...

Yesterday, XXL Magazine and DJ Whoo Kid gave us a handful of new tracks from some of the best new artists in the game with their 10 Freshmen for '10 mixtape.

The tape helps to defend the new class of emcees against bitter fans and critics who argue that a different group of ten are more deserving. It also serves as a quick glimpse into each artists' style.

Regardless of whether or not these are the best freshmen emcees in the game, I applaud XXL Magazine for continuing to create a great deal of buzz around ten hard working artists each year.

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Joe Scudda, the flannel-wearing, PBR-drinkin emcee uses his Not Your Average Joe EP to show how he breaks the common stereotypes associated with rap.

Joe describes "average" as "common, typical, and ordinary," and often pokes fun at the many artists who fall victim to these traits in an effort to fit in with the crowd.

In the following video, which introduces the EP, Scudda talks about these artists and their behavior in a comical manner, over the dark "Think About It."...

Alley Boy's movement is taking off quick, and with the numerous co-signs coming his way, it'd be a shame to sleep on Definition of Fuck Shit, hosted by DJ Holiday and The Empire.

Some have said that the project was the most anticipatedmixtape since Young Jeezy’s Trap or Die.

Those are some big shoes to fill, but his music does give off the same "larger-than-life trap feel" that Jeezy and Gucci have perfected.

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