Island Def Jam Music Group

Our Mardi Gras Phat Tuesday Playlist

That's right folks, it's Mardi Gras. The day before Lent kicks off with the solemn Ash Wednesday where absurdly excessive partying hits its absolute peak. Of course, whether you're a Catholic or not, Fat Tuesday is a fantastic excuse to cut loose and have the absolute most fun one can have on a Tues ... More >>

Christopher Jordan Dorner Manifesto Includes Likes (Like Larry David) and Dislikes (NRA)

Christopher Jordan Dorner's infamous manifesto identifies around 40 Southern California law enforcement officers he believes have wronged him. Indeed, those passages burn most of the rambling post's 6,000 words. But Dorner also cites films, TV shows, celebrities, athletes and newsmen he likes, inclu ... More >>

Finally, a Treat: 'Fun Size'

Josh Schwartz's teen comedy isn't bad for you.

Kanye West and 50 Cent's 9/11/07 Album Showdown Revisited

See Also:*Five Unexpected Cover Songs From the Insane Clown Posse*Five Artists (Besides Lil Wayne) Who Think New York Sucks*Kai: Street Artist Painted Kanye and Eminen How They Act--Like Medieval Kings Believe it or not, at one point Kanye West was considered an underdog. Before we were watching the ... More >>

Top Five Hits: Second Spin in Costa Mesa

See Also: *Top Five Acts You Can't Miss at Rock the Bells*Top Five Hits: Vinyl Solution in Huntington Beach*Top Five Hits: Pepperland Records in OrangeFor this week, we got in touch with Second Spin, 1781 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8870. This week's top seller might be the first rap albu ... More >>

Big K.R.I.T.

The Observatory

Top Five Hits: Factory Records in Costa Mesa

Here are the top five selling records from Factory Records, 440 E 17th Street in Costa Mesa, (949) 722-8101. This week's top position goes to the new Off! self-titled LP.

Top Ten Rap Albums For People Who Don't Know Shit About Hip-Hop

Our good friends over at LA Weekly ran a post today recommending ten rap albums for people whose knowledge of the genre is limited to Kanye West -- and only then because Obama called him an asshole for interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech. Naturally, the comments section has exploded with " ... More >>

Asher Roth on Partying at Coachella

Creator of the infamous college party song, "I Love College", Asher Roth made an appearance at the Details Magazine Coachella after party presented by Hennessy last Friday night. He took the stage with his new single with Meek Mill "Party Girl" and "I Love College". Though there were no beer pong t ... More >>

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 >>

Big Sean, Now Really Big

The Detroit rapper lives the dream on his debut album

Kanye West and Jay-Z Confirm New North American Dates for Watch the Throne Tour

​As we reported earlier, Jay-Z and Kanye West have new dates for the Watch The Throne Tour due to the "overwhelming response to presale tickets." The North American tour will now begin on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Philips Arena. All fans who purchase their tickets online will r ... More >>

Top 10 Musical Moments in Video Games

Aerosmith's Revolution XThis week, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) took place in Los Angeles, drawing fanfare and hype across the gaming world. The three-day trade fair is open to only vendors and developers, but it provokes the kind of suspense Apple fans feel before a major Steve Jobs annou ... More >>

Winter Jam 2011

Anaheim Convention Center

Record Review: Rick Ross, 'Teflon Don'

​Borrowing the nickname of iconic crime boss John Gotti, Rick Ross' newest effort employs an Escalade-full of gaudy, bone-rattling beats to remind us exactly how hard he's shining with his latest album, Teflon Don (out today on Def Jam).

Record Review: Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Method Man, 'Wu-Massacre'

​The Hype: When legendary Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah, Raekwon the Chef and Method Man announced their plans to record an entire album together in July 2009, the anticipation among Wu-heads was palpable. Then we waited for it...and waited....and waited. 

Busted Rhymes: The Top 10 Most Preposterous Rap Songs of 2008

By Ben Westhoff Hip-hop A-listers including Rick Ross, Akon and Plies were caught grossly exaggerating their gangster credentials this year. (Turns out they were painfully law-abiding. The horror!) But even if your favorite rapper wasn't caught in a lie, you can bet he or she put out a hilariously ... More >>

The Year in Music: 2008's Top Ten Pop Songs

BY ANNIE ZALESKIPop music often gets a bad rap for being disposable or vapid, and in many cases that's true. (Katy Perry, Danity Kane and the Pussycat Dolls, step right up!) But every year, a few irresistible bits of innovative ear candy rocket up the charts and seep into our subconscious. The foll ... More >>

On-Sale Saturday: Bloc Party, Donavon Frankenreiter, More

Some good shows announced this week, highlighted by, as pictured, Bloc Party and OC's own Donavon Frankenreiter! Woop woop!

[Sprawl of Sound] Slayer's 'Reign in Blood,' Ariel Pink in the Studio, C.R.A.C. at Abstract Workshop

Eight Months After Its 'Burial,' Explosive Epithet 'Nigger' Is Still Rampant Among Rappers

Hits!

Music Revolution

Hits!

V.I.P. Records

Hits!

Stacks the Vinyl Authority

Rick Rubin: Music Biz Savior?

The New York Times Magazine's Lynn Hirschberg ponders this crucial matter and concludes that Rubin, the Def Jam impresario/producer (Jay-Z, Beastie Boys, Slayer, Dixie Chicks, Johnny Cash and 17,000 others) who's now employed by Columbia Records, just may be the mensch to prevent this Titanic from ... More >>

Hits!

Music Revolution

Hits!

V.I.P. Records

Hits!

Stacks the Vinyl Authority

Anti-Bling

The Roots

Hits!

THE NOIZE MUSIC

Hits!

Rhino Records

Hits!

SECONDSPIN

Snap to It

WEB EXCLUSIVE!: Comeback kids, rhymin Limeys and songs about partying defined Hip-Hop Nation in 2006

The Method to Your Madness

Method Man

Hits!

Bionic Records

Hits!

Stacks the Vinyl Authority

Hits!

Virgin Megastore

Hits!

Music Revolution

Hits!

Virgin Megastore

Two Days in the Valley

Coachellas always gritty and stinky and yet were still going. Again

Hits!

V.I.P. Records

Stacks the Vinyl Authority

V.I.P. Records

HiTS!

Virgin Megastore

Beat Vinyl & Life

Big Respect

The Up in Smoke tour means hip-hops all grown upand safe

Hip! Hop! Shop!

Black Guys Imitating White Guys Imitating Black Guys: The strange end of the hip-hop revolution

Not Angry No More

Warren G chills

Escape From Death Row!

The falland possible rise againof LBC hip-hop