Subject:

Hip-Hop and Rap

  • Blogs

    April 16, 2012

    Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Tupac's Hologram at Coachella, April 15, 2012

    See also:*Tupac's Hologram: How It Was Done*Top Ten Awkward Coachella Dance Move GIFs*Coachella: Five Signs You're An Aging Hipster*Radiohead at Coachella: No Alarms and No SurprisesDr Dre and Snoop DoggCoachellaApril 15, 2012Headlining on Coachella's Sunday night is a tough slot to fill -- by that ... More >>

  • Calendar

    April 12, 2012

    Dom Kennedy

    The Observatory

  • Blogs

    March 29, 2012

    Tyga at The Observatory, March 29, 2012

    ​TygaThe ObservatoryMarch 28, 2012 Warning: This review contains explicit language, and your children should not read this--too bad you let them attend this concert.If you were at the Observatory to see Tyga perform at his sold-out show, you heard a lot--and I mean a lot--of  "Rack City," ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 23, 2012

    Dr. Dre To Produce A Film and 5 Other Rappers To Work In Film

    ​Though this isn't his first rodeo in film (he's acted before), legendary hip-hop impresario Dr. Dre will be a producer on the upcoming horror/thriller film, Thaw. How this affects his Chinese Democracy-esque album Detox remains to be seen, but in the interim, this is likely to be the latest proje ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 12, 2012

    Alert: SXSW Coverage Ahead

    "What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area." -- Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive You don't have to spend much time at South By Southwest to know that all of the above building ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 9, 2012

    The Notorious B.I.G.: 15 Years Later His Music Enjoys 'Life After Death'

    ​Canibus offered his opinion that "the greatest rapper of all time died on March 9th" on "Second Round Knockout." For hip-hop heads, the day has been forever etched in stone as Christopher 'The Notorious B.I.G.' Wallace was fatally gunned down on Los Angeles in 1997. Hard to believe, but this day ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 27, 2012

    Lil Wayne's New Shoe Line: Will it Suffer the Same Fate as These Companies?

    ​Today, Lil Wayne announced his latest foray into the fashion business with the announcement of his yet-to-be named shoe company. Weezy has had success with his Trukfit brand streetwear brand and getting into sneakers seems to be the logical progression for the New Orleans-bred rapper. Just to rem ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 14, 2012

    5 Reasons DJ Quik and Sugafree Can Come Back To Orange County Any Day

    Last Saturday night the Galaxy Theatre held the most eclectic party in Orange County by hosting the legendary DJ Quik and Pomona-based rapper Sugafree. The soldout show invited a crowd of all ethnicities and cultures to the rappers show and some even climbed on stage and booty-bounced while the rapp ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 10, 2012

    Happy Birthday J Dilla: Must-Hear J Dilla Track No. 4

    ​Had he not passed away on Feb. 10, 2006, beloved hip-hop producer J Dilla would have turned 38 years young Tuesday. Although his official cause of death is cardiac arrest, Dilla suffered from a rare blood disorder called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.In honor of J Dilla's birthday, his pr ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 9, 2012

    Must-Hear J Dilla Track No. 3: 'Mash'

    ​Had he not passed away on Feb. 10, 2006, beloved hip-hop producer J Dilla would have turned 38 years young Tuesday. In honor of J Dilla's birthday, his passing (Dilla suffered from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, although is official cause of death is cardiac arrest) and his awesomeness, w ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 8, 2012

    Must-Hear J Dilla Track No. 2: 'Reckless Driving'

    ​Had he not passed away on Feb. 10, 2006, beloved hip-hop producer J Dilla would have turned 38 years young yesterday. In honor of J Dilla's birthday, his passing (Dilla suffered from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, although is official cause of death is cardiac arrest) and his awesomeness, ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday J Dilla! Commemorate With A Must-Hear Soundtrack

    ​Had he not passed away on Feb. 10, 2006, beloved hip-hop producer J Dilla would have turned 38 years young today. Not the household name of say a Dr. Dre, Timbaland or Jermaine Dupri, the man born James Dewitt Yancey was -- and remains -- an underground hip-hop icon thanks to his work with De La ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 2, 2012

    Eight Worst Hip Hop Collaborations

    ​Last week, Cypress Hill released their single "Roll It, Light It" with  dubstep sensation Rusko,  and it wasn't pretty. This is not what hip-hop needed. With rap trending on a horrible downward spiral, we thought it would be a good time to name our eight worst hip-hop collaborations.

  • Blogs

    January 19, 2012

    Wu-Tang Clan Last Night at the Grove

    ​Wu-Tang Clan City National Grove of Anaheim Jan. 18, 2012Even without Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, Wu-Tang Clan at the City National Grove of Anaheim last night was nothing short of spectacular. The C.R.E.A.M. Team showed Orange County what real east coast hip hop looks and sounds like, with the ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 18, 2012

    Remember Wu-Tang Clan's Terrible Video Game? We Do

    ​​In order to broach the subject of musicians appearing in video games, we're legally obligated to mention Rock Band and Guitar Hero in the first sentence, so there. Putting aside those big franchises, several other games have featured musicians in increasingly unusual capacities. Both The Beatl ... More >>

  • Calendar

    January 12, 2012

    Wu Tang Clan

    City National Grove of Anaheim

  • Blogs

    January 9, 2012

    Damizza On Being in the Music Biz and His New Book, Guilty by Association

    ​ Damion Young, aka Damizza, has done it all. He started in radio when he was 12 and his drive, passion, and ambition launched one of the most interesting and diverse careers in the music industry. He's worked with legendary greats like Michael and Janet Jackson, Dr. Dre, Mariah Carey, Tupac, Bigg ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 5, 2012

    Top Five White Trash Rap Anthems

    ​As Eminem's protege, the Alabama-raised Yelawolf is the latest rapper to tap into a niche you could politely call white trash rap. His debut album on Shady Records, Radioactive, openly embraces his less-than-classy roots, with brags about his body being totally tatted up, rocking "dirty ass jeans ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 31, 2011

    Kreayshawn at the Observatory Last Night

    ​Kreayshawn The Observatory Dec. 30, 2011 Having been to more shows than I can count in 2011, last night's Kreayshawn gig at the Observatory in Santa Ana was definitely was one of my most eagerly anticipated of the year. With all the hype (both good and bad) that surrounded the pint-sized rapper, ... More >>

  • Calendar

    December 29, 2011

    Kreayshawn

    The Observatory

  • Blogs

    December 22, 2011

    Top 10 Most Annoying Songs Of 2011

    ​As I mentioned once before, there's a shitload of really, really bad and annoying music out there. The music released in 2011 is no exception (No hate to Kreayshawn, but "Gucci Gucci," anyone?). Whether it's overexposure, repetition, or just a terrible melody, each of the songs below are some of ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 15, 2011

    Black Star: We Break Down Mos Def and Talib Kweli's Brilliance

    ​Hip-hop's history might be strewn with many more notable groups than duos, but time and time again, a couple of guys are able to come together and blow everyone to smithereens. So many great twofers have existed in rap: Eric B. & Rakim, Outkast, Blackalicious, Atmosphere, and Gang Starr. ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 12, 2011

    Jay-Z and Kanye West at Staples Center Last Night

    Christopher Victorio​Jay-Z and Kanye West Staples Center December 11, 2011 From the Givenchy-designed gold cover to lyrics dripping with foreign luxury brand references like "Hublot" and "Margiela" to the video in which they chop up a $350,000 Maybach for giggles, Jay-Z and Kanye West's albu ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 9, 2011

    The Ten Most Disappointing Albums of 2011: #5 - #1

    Stop grinning. Your album sucks. ​See also: The Ten Most Disappointing Albums of 2011: #10 - #6 5. Jane's Addiction The Great Escape Artist There was no way Perry Farrell and company were going to shock the world with another Ritual lo Habitual. That much we knew -- if for no other reason t ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 28, 2011

    Lupe Fiasco: 'These Ain't Bars, This is Barbarity!'

    ​ When I first downloaded Lupe Fiasco's free Friend of the People mixtape on Thanksgiving, I had no clue what to expect. Like many fans of the rapper these days, everything new that he does comes with the preoccupation as to whether the music industry will clamp down and restrain his genius. The i ... More >>

  • Music

    November 17, 2011

    Big Sean, Now Really Big

    The Detroit rapper lives the dream on his debut album

  • Calendar

    November 17, 2011

    Big Boi

    Galaxy

  • Blogs

    November 15, 2011

    Legendary Vibraphone Player Roy Ayers On Being One Of The Most Sampled Artist in Hip-Hop

    Roy Ayers​A music veteran whose legacy stretches from jazz to hip-hop, Roy Ayers is a legendary vibraphonist who, after a career in jazz, shifted to funk, R&B and even a bit of disco. His résumé includes collaborations with Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, the soundtrack to the Jack Hill ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 15, 2011

    Fat Joe to Rappers: 'Come Out Of The Closet'

    ​ Fat Joe says it's time for gay rappers to come out of the closet. "Hip-hop is the greatest gay market in the world," he told VLAD TV. "So why wouldn't a guy come out and say, 'I'm gay,' and go with that kind of love?" Fat Joe asks.

  • Blogs

    September 29, 2011

    Five Reasons We're Going to Miss the World Famous VIP Records in Long Beach, and Why You Should Try to Save It

    ​In mid-September, store owner Kelvin Anderson announced that the World Famous VIP Records in Long Beach announced the end of an era. He said that the store, which was made famous by Snoop Dogg and was considered a landmark of the famed West Coast rap sound in the '90s, will fold by the end of Oct ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 23, 2011

    Happy Birthday Nintendo! Top Five Weird Hip-Hop Songs With 'Nintendo' In The Lyrics

    sgs_1019/Flickr​Nintendo was founded as a multinational corporation in Japan 122 year go. Today the company is one of the most powerful in the gaming industry--well recognized both in and out of gaming circles. And the hip hop industry--with its proclivity to name-drop brands -- has been dicing N ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 19, 2011

    Mos Def and Talib Kweli to Perform at the House of Blues Anaheim as Black Star

    ​We bear good news for people who aren't fans of driving out to San Bernardino for shows! Mos Def and Talib Kweli, who performed their stellar set Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star at the hip-hop festival this summer, are currently touring the album, and will be at the House of Blues in Ana ... More >>

  • Music

    September 1, 2011

    Game On

    Rapper Game establishes his place in the hip-hop heirarchy with 'R.E.D. Album'

  • Calendar

    September 1, 2011

    Kendrick Lamar

    The Glass House

  • Blogs

    August 5, 2011

    R.I.P. Jeff Porcaro: Five of the Legendary Toto Drummer's Best Songs and How They've Been Sampled, on the 19th Anniversary of his Death

    ​People say that even without Toto, Jeff Porcaro would've cemented his place in music history because of the high caliber of his drumming. It's said to have defined much of the music produced in the late '70s and '80s. Born into a musical family, he toured and/or recorded with Sonny and Cher as a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 22, 2011

    Kreayshawn Gets Nominated Best New Artist at the VMAs--and Other WTF Moments This Year

    ​I've never agreed with any award-giving body on who gets nominated or gets awards for best this or that, but this year's VMAs are akin to the year Milli Vanilli won Grammys over the Indigo Girls. (The fact that I date myself by remembering this hoopla means I'm really mystified by what's going on ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 20, 2011

    Wu-Tang Clan Regroups for 'Legendary Weapons'

    ​The constant question surrounding every new Wu-Tang Clan album is whether the "Slums of Shaolin" MCs are still "nothin' to fuck wit." The deep imprint of Wu members was felt on Kanye West's ultra-hyped My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy letting hip-hop heads know where they stood among the newcome ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 13, 2011

    Lil Wayne Rips Apart Kreayshawn's 'Gucci Gucci' on His New Mixtape

    ​When our sister publication LA Weekly reported that Lil Wayne finally dropped his mixtape Sorry 4 the Wait and freestyled over white chick rapper du jour Kreayshawn's Gucci Gucci in a track by "Lil Tunechi," I got a little, well, nervous.Haters may diss Kreayshawn's one-hit wonder of a song as a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 12, 2011

    Top Five Asian-American Rappers

    Last month, OC Weekly's Justin Shady created a list of the Top Five Worst Black Rappers and Top Five Worst White Rappers. The following is a list of five Asian-American rappers or rap groups who have found moderate to great success in crossing the color line of hip-hop. Like the two previous lists, ... More >>

  • Film

    July 7, 2011

    Members of the Tribe

    Michael Rapaport observes the vibe and checks out the scenario

  • Blogs

    July 5, 2011

    Top Five Rappers in Movies

    ​Making it big on the big screen is rough. Judging by the forgettable attempts by the cast of Friends--sans Jennifer Aniston, whose most memorable roles involve playing some semi-neurotic version of herself in intellectually-gutted rom coms--transitioning to movies isn't made any easier through su ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 22, 2011

    Top Five Worst Black Rappers Ever

    ​I bet seeing Chuck D's photo below the headline "Top Five Worst Black Rappers Ever" almost made you shit your shorts, huh? Believe me, I love Chuck D. I just put him up there to grab your attention.Remember when I wrote this post about the top five worst white rappers ever? And then remember how ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 22, 2011

    I MiX What I Like! An Interview with Jared Ball (Part II)

    ​Yesterday, we published the first part of an interview with Jared Ball, author of I MiX What I Like! A Mixtape Manifesto, where the "Funkinest Journalist" talks about the politics of hip-hop and popular culture. Read the first part of the interview with Jared Ball here; in this second installment ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 21, 2011

    I MiX What I Like! An Interview with Jared Ball (Part I)

    ​ As I MiX What I Like! A Mixtape Manifesto pays homage in title to a series of articles written by the late freedom fighter Steve Biko, Dr. Jared A. Ball's first book declares hip-hop's mixtape as a principle means by which to "fight the power." Provocative in his analysis, the "Funkinest Journal ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 16, 2011

    Top Five Worst White Rappers Ever

    ​Nope, not MC Serch of 3rd Bass (as seen above)! His image from the early '90s is just a perfect representation of all things white rap: horrible haircut; worse glasses; shaved eyebrow; laughable jewelry; Jewish.Picking the top five worst white rappers is like picking the top five smelliest turds. ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 15, 2011

    Dexter Isaac, New York Inmate, Says He Shot Tupac Shakur in 1994

    ​Nearly 15 years after the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, a Brooklyn prisoner named Dexter Isaac is reportedly claiming he shot Shakur two years prior during a robbery in New York City.Isaac, who is currently serving a life sentence in New York for unrelated crimes, confessed to AllHipHop.com that ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 9, 2011

    Seven Rap Songs about Eating Well

    Buff Love aka The Human Beat Box​Last week, the USDA introduced a new symbol for healthy eating to replace the decades-old food pyramid long considered ineffectual. The new graphic, called "MyPlate," replaces the pyramid with a plate-shaped pie chart demonstrating the importance of making fruits a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 27, 2011

    Five Things You Didn't Know About Lil Jon

    ​Take some "shots, shots, shots, shots" and get crunk with Lil Jon this Sunday at Sutra, when the DJ representing Atlanta makes an appearance. Lil Jon paved his way to fame with hip-hop group, The Eastside Boyz and the song "Get Low" (which became so popular even Sandra Bullock paid a tribute to t ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 26, 2011

    Five Things You Want to Know About Akon

    ​Akon's been pretty busy lately--touring all over the world (he's was in India, Oregon and good old Cali), starting two labels (Konvict Muzic and Kon Live Distribution), collaborating with everyone from Snoop Dogg to Dr. Dre and prepping for his new album in the fall. The Grammy-nominated artist ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 25, 2011

    Rock the Bells 2011: Lauryn Hill, Nas, Cypress Hill and Black Star Performing Whole Albums

    ​This year's hip-hop festival Rock the Bells pushes something Pitchfork and ATP has tried before to the hilt: Nine of its headlining acts will perform their groundbreaking albums in full. The one everyone will be frothing at the mouth to hear? The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Ms. Lauryn herself. ... More >>

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