Bandini

J. Period Releases A Mix Of Mashups & Classics Celebrating 23 Years Of OutKast (Audio)

Today (April 26), OutKast's debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik turns 23 years old. The 1994 full length introduction of Andre 3000 and Big Boi was one for the ages. Deemed the "Best New Artists" at the following Source Awards, 'Kast raised the profile of Atlanta, Georgia's contributions to Hip-Hop simply by creating... Read more

April 26, 2017 Audio, Mixes

Sylvan LaCue Wants His Heavenly Video To Make An Eternal Introduction

Miami, Florida MC Sylvan LaCue is currently making major noise. Fresh off of touring the United States with "Best Me (Remix)" collaborator Saba, Sylvan is another independent artist (thanks to his Wise Up Entertainment movement) who needs no machine to draw power through numbers. With his album Far From Familiar... Read more

April 25, 2017 Ready Or Not

Mike Will Made It Explains Why Kendrick Lamar’s “DNA” Sounds So Crazy

The second official single to Kendrick Lamar's #1 new album is "DNA." Besides some audio from Geraldo Rivera, the second song on the album is a complete collaboration between Lamar and veteran producer Mike Will Made It (who also produced the first single, "HUMBLE.") Mike, known for producing such hit... Read more

April 25, 2017 Fresh

Pusha T, Lauryn Hill, T.I. & Others To Headline 2017 Soundset Festival

UPDATE: Mac Miller has announced that he is canceling his Soundset appearance planned for this Sunday. He apologized to fans in a tweet, but did not expound on reasoning. Earlier this week, a suicide bombing in Manchester, England killed 22 people and injured more than 100 took place during a... Read more

April 23, 2017 Fresh

DMX & The LOX To Headline 2017 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (Video)

Last night (April 21), the Ruff Ryders reunited on the stages of Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center. DMX, Eve, Swizz Beatz and others celebrated nearly 20 years of guttural street music from the New York City collective that also spawned the careers of The LOX, Drag-On, Cassidy, and others. While the... Read more

April 22, 2017 Fresh, Video

Showbiz & A.G. Plan Their First Album In 5 Years. Soul Clap To The Single. (Audio)

Twenty five years ago last month, Showbiz & A.G. released the Soul Clap EP. The first release from the Bronx, New York duo would launch a strong catalog, and give Lord Finesse some esteemed company in making Diggin' In The Crates a stacked crew. Show and 'Dre have stayed a... Read more

April 19, 2017 Audio

Nicki Minaj Re-Asserts Her Claim As The Queen Of Rap In Her New Video

Nicki Minaj and Remy Ma's beef quieted down in the last five weeks. The two New York MCs went from throwing apparent subliminal jabs to throwing heavy verbal artillery this year. After Rem' appeared to throw some televised shade Nick's way this month on Hip Hop Squares, Barbie brings her... Read more

April 19, 2017 Video

Hot DAMN. Kendrick Lamar Projected To Achieve Third #1 Album.

Last week, Kendrick Lamar did his DAMN. thing, literally. Including last year's untitled unmastered. compilation, this is the Compton, California MC's fourth major label title, and apparent fourth album in a run that began with 2011's Section.80. According to Billboard, it also appears that the Top Dawg Entertainment flagship artist... Read more

April 18, 2017 Fresh

Black Thought, Posdnuos & Pharoahe Monch Say It’s Time To Rise For Freedom (Audio)

In an increasingly complicated time in the world, The Roots' Black Thought, De La Soul's Posdnuos, and Pharoahe Monch stand up for oppressed people with a truly standout, topical collaboration. Orchestrated and produced by J. Period, "Rise Up!" is as grabbing a collaboration as any in some time. In the... Read more

April 18, 2017 Audio

J. Cole Keeps It 100% Real. He Shares Footage Of S.W.A.T. Raiding His Home (Video)

Last week, Kendrick Lamar released the song "DUCKWORTH." The 9th Wonder-produced DAMN. track recounts a story of K-Dot's musical mentor, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith plotting to rob his own father many years ago at a fast food restaurant in Los Angeles. In a twist of fate, Lamar's father was spared... Read more

April 17, 2017 Video

Taylor Bennett Makes A Birthday Song For Chance That Moves His Brother To Tears (Audio)

Today (April 16) is Chance The Rapper's 24th birthday. Presumably, "Lil Chano" may be celebrating his big day with family. The MC's younger brother, Taylor Bennett made some of the festivities public with his own song, "Only Brother (A Special Remix)." Reworking some of Chance's 2016 cut "D.R.A.M. Sings Special,"... Read more

April 16, 2017 Audio

J. Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only Doc Features This New Song 4 Your Earz. (Audio)

In the last six months, J. Cole has released a plethora of great songs. While 10 of those tracks ended up on the platinum, #1 album 4 Your Eyez Only, not all did. Leading up to that Dreamville/Roc Nation LP, Jermaine released two potent singles through his pre-album visual campaign... Read more

April 16, 2017 Audio

WAIT…Talib Kweli & Styles P Released A Great New Project Too.

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So...let us fight through it for you and only supply you with that good stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it's ever been before. Not only are we able to go... Read more

April 14, 2017 Audio, Playlists

Kendrick Lamar Reveals Top Dawg Planned To Rob Kendrick’s Father Years Ago (Audio)

In the closing hours of April 13, Kendrick Lamar released his DAMN. album. Less than 24 hours old, the MC's latest major label title is clearly another example of rich concept, leaving music fans some unpacking as they listen for the days ahead. Fourteen songs, all of which are one-word,... Read more

April 14, 2017 Audio

Devin The Dude Recites The First Rhyme He Ever Wrote. He Hasn’t Changed A Bit (Video)

Last month, Devin The Dude and his Coughee Brothaz clique self-released Acoustic Levitation. The Texas-based MC/producer is up to his famous three W's: wine, weed, and women on an independent release that involves some lush harmonies from the MC who is a highly capable singer. Devin The Dude's career spans... Read more

April 13, 2017 Video

Talib Kweli & The LOX Pull No Punches On An Earthshaking Collabo (Audio)

In 2000, The LOX released We Are The Streets while Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek dropped Train Of Thought as Reflection Eternal. At the time, these New York City artists appeared to some, to exist at opposite sides of the Rap industry. While Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch were... Read more

April 12, 2017 Audio

Termanology & Saigon Use Q-Tip Production For A Sobering Look At What’s Wrong (Video)

One of the most poignant tracks in Termanology's expansive catalog is "We're Both Wrong." The track pairs the 1982 MC with production from A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip. For a song about the ills of society, especially law enforcement profiling and brutalizing people of color, Saigon's slang editorial is a... Read more

April 12, 2017 Video

Lil Wayne Joins Roc Nation. The “Best Rapper Alive” May Soon Get His Cash Money.

Lil Wayne has been symbolically estranged from Cash Money Records for more than two years. While Weezy F. Baby has since been photographed with onetime adoptive guardian Birdman (the label's co-founder) during his $51 million lawsuit, the New Orleans, Louisiana MC has been unable to release projects, namely the long-awaited... Read more

April 12, 2017 News, Video

Talib Kweli’s 10 Favorite Albums Are An Eternal Reflection Of Great Music

Last month, Raekwon raised some eyebrows and even more discussion when he listed his Top 10 albums. While his own acclaimed purple tape and Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele were on the list, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) missed the cut. That prompted some discourse from fans, surrounding the classic LP upon... Read more

April 12, 2017 Fresh

Nas Dusts Off A Gil Scott-Heron Sample For A Nasty Look At Addiction (Audio)

Nas is an executive producer (and rhyme-writer) on the series, The Get Down. Set in the 1970s Bronx, the show looks at the earliest days of Hip-Hop music and culture, and the circumstances around its creation. While DJ'ing, MC'ing, breakin', and graffiti are colorful forms of expression, crime, drugs, and... Read more

April 11, 2017 Audio, The Bridge

Kendrick Lamar Releases The Title, Artwork & Tracklist For His New Album

For the last several weeks, Kendrick Lamar has apparently dropped cryptic social media posts and lyrics surrounding his next album. Initially, his March social media posts with "IV" had many fans believing K-Dot may be using a numeral title for what would be his fourth major label release. That week,... Read more

April 11, 2017 Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Has Earned His Biggest Hit Ever By Not Being Humble

Many Hip-Hop Heads stayed up last Thursday night, into the morning of April 7 to see just what Kendrick Lamar had in store, based on his rhymes. The lyrics of March's "The Heart Part 4" warned that 4/7 was an important event, especially for other MCs. It now appears that... Read more

April 10, 2017 News

Ludacris Is Independent Now But He Still Knows How To Make A Def Jam (Video)

Going into 2017, Ludacris appeared to be the most tenured act on Def Jam Records. Signed to Def Jam South back in 2000 when Scarface ran the short-lived label offshoot, Luda' since released eight albums and two compilations with the label, dating back to Y2K's Back For The First Time.... Read more

April 10, 2017 Video

DOOM & Black Thought Have Released A Track Showcasing How Mad Nice They Are (Audio)

In the mid-2000s, MF DOOM was on a run as prolific as any in Hip-Hop. Between 2003 and 2005, the Metal Face villain released at least eight projects, not including a live LP and a compilation of Special Blends. That run began with off-shoot group Monsta Island Czars' 2003 Rhymesayers... Read more

April 10, 2017 Audio

A Breakdown Of What Makes Big Daddy Kane A Superior MC (Video)

Big Daddy Kane has not released a solo album in nearly 20 years. However, when Antonio Hardy said "Nobody's Equal" in spelling out the acronym of K.A.N.E., the statement was (and remains) irrefutable to many. Big Daddy Kane is one of the greatest MCs to ever touch the microphone, and... Read more

April 9, 2017 Video

Treach, Snoop & T.I. Bring Tupac Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame In Style (Video)

Friday night (April 7) at Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center, Tupac Shakur was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. More than 20 years after the legendary rapper, actor, and revolutionary was killed in Las Vegas, Nevada, his name and music will live on forever, positioned alongside The... Read more

April 8, 2017 Video

AZ, Raekwon & Prodigy Are Out To Carry On Tradition For Hip-Hop, Doe Or Die (Audio)

Hip-Hop Heads knew that April 7, 2017 was going to be a big day for the music. However, few could have expected that three supreme lyricists from the 1993-1994 class of New York City Rap would come together to do microphone damage to make today all the more special. Marching... Read more

April 7, 2017 Audio

Teasers For The Tupac Movie Have Been Really Good. The Official Trailer Is GREAT (Video)

Tupac Shakur's life story is coming to theaters in less than 10 weeks. The film, All Eyez On Me will chronicle the rise and fall of one of Hip-Hop's immortal voices. The movie traces a timeline from 'Pac's impressionable childhood to his sudden, tragic death. Following several teasers, the June... Read more

April 6, 2017 TV/Film, Video

Raekwon Details Wu-Tang Clan’s Response To U-God’s $2.5 Million Lawsuit

Last November, Wu-Tang Clan member U-God slapped his band-mates with a reported $2.5 million lawsuit. The Staten Island, New York veteran named RZA and brother, manager Mitchell "Divine" Diggs in the lawsuit, and alleged that he had not been paid for any group work since 2013. That period includes a... Read more

April 5, 2017 Fresh

Troy Ave Defends His Attacks On Capital STEEZ & Details His Shooting (Video)

Troy Ave's career has massively changed since his 2015 album, Major Without A Deal. The Brooklyn, New York MC independently rose through the ranks to reach the Top 200 charts, with an LP that included appearances by 50 Cent, Puff Daddy, Cam'ron, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Ma$e, and Fabolous. At least... Read more

April 5, 2017 Video

Drag-On Releases His 1st Project In 10 Years, As The Ruff Ryders Reunite (Audio)

Later this month (April 21), the Ruff Ryders are reuniting in their native of New York City. While DMX, Swizz Beatz, Eve, and The LOX have always been the flagship artists within the R.R. management and label, the Ryders have long boasted a deep roster of talent. At times, names... Read more

April 4, 2017 Audio, Mixes

Saint Joe Louis Spar With JR & PH7’s Beat & A Rugged Rah Digga Guest Verse (Video)

JR & PH7 and St. Joe Louis have crossed oceans to collaborate, and anchored a strong feature to boot. "Duck Duck Goose" links the German production duo (Phonte, Oddisee, Saigon, Freeway, etc.) with trio of Michael Cardigan, Tommie Chase, and Elete Wright. St. Joe Louis represents the same New Jersey.... Read more

April 4, 2017 Ready Or Not

DMX Gon’ Give It To Ya…But He Now Wants Trap Beats To Do It

For more than one year, DMX has reportedly been preparing his eighth album. In May of 2016, Swizz Beatz, one of X's longest collaborators, confirmed his deep involvement, as well as potential tracks from Dr. Dre and Kanye West. While Dre and X have never released work together, a pre-College... Read more

April 3, 2017 Fresh

Lupe Raps That Kendrick, K.R.I.T. & More Embody Hip-Hop. But He’s Still The Heart (Audio)

On Thursday (March 30), Kendrick Lamar released "HUMBLE." The video single arrived just over one week before Dot's upcoming album, confirmed one week prior. In the song, the Compton, California MC spit "I'm so f***in' sick and tired of the Photoshop / Show me somethin' natural, like afro on Richard... Read more

April 2, 2017 Audio

Rikers Island Jail May Be Closing. Jay Z Supports The Plan.

For 85 years, New York City's Rikers Island jail complex has been one of the most notorious prisons on the planet. Lodged on an island in the East River, between Queens and The Bronx, the facility is often home to as many as 10,000 inmates and another 9,000 officers. It... Read more

April 2, 2017 Lifestyle

Why LL Cool J Is The Original GOAT (Video)

Like Will Smith, Ice-T, and Queen Latifah, it may be easier to name an LL Cool J role in the last decade, than a song. However, James Todd Smith continues to make time for Hip-Hop (right now, with Dr. Dre), and when he's right, he's really sharp. Aside from that,... Read more

April 1, 2017 TV/Film, Video

Raekwon Salutes Marvin Gaye With Some Musical Healing On The Anniversary Of His Death (Audio)

One week ago, Raekwon released his seventh album, The Wild. The ICE H20 Records release features rhyme commentary on the state of Hip-Hop and relationship break-ups, as well as some classic Shallah Raekwon slick talk. Additionally, there is a tribute to Marvin Gaye, simply titled "Marvin." The Wu-Tang Clan swordsman... Read more

April 1, 2017 Audio

Das EFX Celebrate 25 Years Of Dead Serious Rhymes With Reunion Concert

Twenty five years ago next week (April 7), Das EFX released their debut album, Dead Serious. The duo of Dray and Skoob took a giant leap from under EPMD's Hit Squad umbrella when they released their first LP on EastWest Records. Produced almost entirely by Solid Scheme, this was a... Read more

March 31, 2017 Fresh

Dave East & Beanie Sigel Say They Stand For Real Raps In An Era Of Fakery (Video)

Dave East's Kairi Chanel album features a number of veteran supporters. Cam'ron, Fabolous, and 2 Chainz all believe in the East Harlem MC, and want to make music with him. Another artist is Beanie Sigel. Heard on "The Real Is Back," Beans cosigns Dave. Like Sigel during his late '90s,... Read more

March 31, 2017 Video

Rah Digga Uses Fiery Rhymes To Blaze A Trail For JR & PH7 and St. Joe Louis (Video)

Leading up to her beloved Dirty Harriet LP in 2000, Rah Digga had made a host of powerful feature performances. The fiery MC was heard on Fugees' multi-platinum The Score, DJ Clue's The Professional, and the famed Lyricist Lounge double album. More than 20 years after she made her first... Read more

March 31, 2017 Exclusive, Video

Ludacris Reworks Sisqo’s Smash Hit To Create A New Type Of Fantasy (Audio)

In 1999, Dru Hill's Sisqó freaked the charts with his solo smash hit "Thong Song." While "Got To Get It" had broken into the Top 40, the veteran Baltimore, Maryland singer crossed over in the biggest way by making a simple song about ladies' lingerie. At the time, Nelly, Lil'... Read more

March 31, 2017 Audio, The Bridge

Logic’s Next Album Is Coming & The 1st Single Reminds Everybody He’s An Elite MC (Video)

In the last year two and a half years, Logic has released two gold-certified, Top 5 albums on the charts. The Gaithersburg, Maryland MC is now ready to follow 2014's Under Pressure and 2015's The Incredible Story with his third album. Today (March 29), Visionary Music Group and Def Jam... Read more

March 31, 2017 News, Video

Ice-T Provides Some Rare Facts About The Song That Nearly Killed His Rap Career (Video)

This week, Ice-T's Heavy Metal band Body Count will release their sixth album, Bloodlust. In doing so, the 35-year Rap pioneer is releasing his first full-length project in nearly three years. Just as Tracy Morrow does on TV, in film, and has always done in music, he strikes with a... Read more

March 29, 2017 Throwback, Video

Wood Harris Argues Why New Edition’s Story Is The Ultimate Musical Biopic (Video)

In 2017, actor Wood Harris is quite busy. Approaching 25 years since he starred alongside Tupac Shakur in Above The Rim, the highly accomplished actor is staying busy through The New Edition Story and The Breaks. Both films are music-based. In the first, Harris portrayed Brooke Payne, New Edition's longtime... Read more

March 29, 2017 TV/Film, Video

N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton Album Heads To The Library Of Congress

Approaching its 30th anniversary of release, N.W.A.'s album Straight Outta Compton continues to be rather suddenly treated as a classic album in the mainstream. The 1988 Ruthless Records LP by Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella has always been a grassroots success. However, the album that... Read more

March 29, 2017 News

DJ Premier Recalls The First Show Gang Starr Ever Did (Video)

Nearly 30 years into his recording career, DJ Premier actively tours across the globe. The iconic Gang Starr producer performs regular DJ sets, shows with PRhyme, jams with his band, and playing with other artists. Currently overseas with his artist Torii Wolf, Premier recalled the first time he took the... Read more

March 28, 2017 Video

Just Blaze Makes Classic Breakbeats Sound Brand New In A Jamming Mini-Mix (Video)

Just Blaze is a producer's producer. The New Jersey native DJ-turned-beat creator has made hit records for Jay Z, Ghostface Killah, Fat Joe, and others using some of the same break-beats and samples that helped get Hip-Hop music started. Moreover, through work for Fabolous, Freeway, and Saigon, Just has brought... Read more

March 28, 2017 Mixes, Video

Nas Still Carries Rhymes In His Pockets. Greatness Is Never Done (Video)

In 2002, Nas released the Alchemist-produced song "Book Of Rhymes." Within, the Queens, New York MC rapped bits and pieces from stored composition books of verses. Whether or not that moment was staged or real, it appears that Nasir Jones still literally carries his rhymes with him. More than 25... Read more

March 27, 2017 Video

Rock Star: Pharrell’s Childhood Story To Be Adapted Into Major Film Musical

Long before he donned some pretty memorable accessories, Pharrell Williams wore many hats. Fifteen years ago, emerging from hit-production duo The Neptunes, the Virginia Beach native built a full-on Rock force with N*E*R*D, he established his Star Trak label (which was hard at work with The Clipse, Fam-Lay, and Roscoe... Read more

March 27, 2017 News, TV/Film

Shawn Wayans Recalls Robin Harris Roasting Him For Getting Booed Off Stage (Video)

Since his earliest days as DJ SW-1 on In Living Color, Shawn Wayans was immersed in entertainment business at a young age. Still in his teens when older brothers Keenen Ivory and Damon Wayans secured the FOX sketch comedy show, Shawn would eventually leave the DJ booth to become part... Read more

March 27, 2017 Lifestyle, Video