News Archives

Big Boi, Run The Jewels & Danger Mouse Dare Competition To Keep Up (Audio)

Since 2013's "Banana Clipper," Run The Jewels' Killer Mike has cemented the fact that even with his latest brand of music, mentor Big Boi fits into the fold nicely. On single, "Kill Jill," Daddy Fat Sax welcomes Mike Bigga to his lates party-starter. The Dungeon Family vibe is alive and well,... Read more

May 18, 2017 Audio

Watch The Troubling Alternate Ending To Get Out (Video)

2017's Get Out not only raised the bar for how a horror film should perform at a box office, but also its place in the cultural zeitgeist. Featuring none of the gore, kitsch, or apparitions of juggernaut classics of the genre like the Halloween series and The Shining, the Jordan Peele-directed film was understated... Read more

May 18, 2017 TV/Film, Video

Kendrick Lamar Joins George Washington & More As A Painting In The U.S. Capitol

Back in 2015, it was announced that Kendrick Lamar had inspired the "Be Alright" scholarship at a New Jersey school. It was an exciting development for Hip-Hop, as it spoke directly to the culture's growing rate of acceptance as a worthy, inspiring, and important presence in education. Shortly thereafter, Lamar's To Pimp... Read more

May 17, 2017 Fresh

Big K.R.I.T. & B.O.B. Ask When Exactly Was America Great On “Peace Piece” (Audio)

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

May 16, 2017 Audio

David Banner Raps From The Perspective Of A Tree Used To Hang Black Men (Audio)

For nearly 20 years, David Banner has spoken deeply and frequently about issues of race in and out of the recording booth. The MC/producer double-threat hails from Jackson, Mississippi, a place with some ugliness in its past, especially with regards to the prejudice, violence, and institutional racism against Blacks and... Read more

May 16, 2017 Audio

Snow Tha Product Has 99 Problems But Incredible Lyricism Ain’t One (Video)

Snow Tha Product is an MC whose fame and talent cannot be denied, despite perhaps never attaining the level of recognition of others in her class. Since yesterday alone, her latest video - for the song "Problems" - has garnered over 200,000 views, a remarkable feat for an artist whose... Read more

May 16, 2017 Video

Dillon Cooper Doesn’t Scare Easily & Turns A Blind Eye To His Competition (Video)

Dillon Cooper is a Crown Heights, Brooklyn rapper who sound and look familiar to fans of the Hip-Hop inspired Netflix series, The Get Down, for which he contributed to the official soundtrack and played a supporting role as a young Grandmaster Caz. Also an accomplished musician,he attended the prestigious Berklee... Read more

May 16, 2017 Ready Or Not

Teddy Riley Reveals Some Of Heavy D’s Biggest Hits Were Meant For Wreckx-N-Effect

UPDATE: Teddy Riley's full Red Bull Music Academy Festival lecture video with Jeff "Chairman" Mao: ORIGINAL MAY 15 POST: Earlier this month, artist/producer Teddy Riley appeared before a live New York City audience as part of the Red Bull Music Academy speaker series. There, the Harlem, New Yorker spoke about... Read more

May 15, 2017 Throwback

Jeff Sessions Did Not Get Jay Z’s Memo That The War On Drugs Is An Epic Fail

Last fall, Jay Z narrated a powerful animated short about the costly effect of the war on drugs, not just in terms of tax dollars, but also human lives. "The History of the War on Drugs: from Prohibition to Gold Rush" was released by the New York Times, and included troubling statistics... Read more

May 15, 2017 Lifestyle

MC Ren Reveals That Dr. Dre Ghost-Wrote An Eazy-E Hit (Video)

Throughout his 30-plus-year career, Dr. Dre is one of the Rap superstars who has openly used other songwriters. Throughout the years, Eminem, Jay Z, Ice Cube, The D.O.C., Snoop Dogg, and others have written verses for Andre Young, which contributed to a legendary catalog with at least three storied labels.... Read more

May 15, 2017 Video

KRS-One Apologizes For Naming The Wrong Beastie Boy In A Tribute To Hip-Hop’s Fallen MCs

In the last week, lyrical legend KRS-One excited fans with the latest sneak attack release, The World Is Mind. Just over 30 years after Criminal Minded, this self-released album had many praising the latest body of work from the South Bronx representative. However, as fans delved into the album (available... Read more

May 13, 2017 News

Devin The Dude Reveals How DJ Premier Prevented “Doobie” From Burning Out (Video)

Fifteen years ago, Texas MC/singer Devin The Dude released one of his most important albums, Just Tryin' ta Live. From Rap-A-Lot Records, the album reunited Devin with Dr. Dre following a 2001 collaboration. Additionally, one of Hip-Hop's other most revered producers, DJ Premier worked with The Dude on single "Doobie... Read more

May 12, 2017 Video

Raekwon Critiques Every Album In His Catalog, Noting The Good & The Bad (Video)

Six weeks ago, Raekwon released his seventh solo album The Wild. The independent LP made its way to the charts and signaled a new sound for the Wu-Tang Clan lyrical swordsman, alongside the likes of Lil Wayne, G-Eazy, and CeeLo Green. In promoting the album, Chef stopped by HipHopDX offices... Read more

May 12, 2017 Video

Bizzy Says He & Krayzie Are The Ones Capable Of Creating New Waves For Bone Thugs (Video)

One year ago, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony released "Coming Home." The reunion single came just days following the Cleveland Cavaliers' first NBA title crown. In the 52 years between championships across major sports in Cleveland, one of its other symbols of success with Bone Thugs. Winning Grammy's, dominating the charts, changing the... Read more

May 11, 2017 Food for Thought

Nas Makes Us Look At The Real Reasons Young Black Men Are Dying Too Young (Audio)

Since his days as a teenager, Nasir Jones has been gifted in telling the stories surrounding his experiences and the lives of others. On "One Love," he put the correspondence between friends—one free and one incarcerated into song. On "U.B.R.," Nas narrated, in verse, the journey and success of Rakim—one... Read more

May 11, 2017 Audio

Nas Teams With Jack White To Make Some Ill Street Blues (Video)

For any student of Rap music, its origins in other forms of African-American musical traditions is well known. Many scholars argue that the roots of the rapping tradition can be found in the call-and-response elements in Black church music and the dozens. Certainly, the arrival of a distinct Blues sound in the... Read more

May 11, 2017 Video

The 2017 Forbes Rap List Shows Drake Has Passed Wayne & Has Birdman In His Sights

The 2017 rankings for the Top 5 wealthiest Hip-Hop artists have been released. Compiled through estimation and public record, Forbes and its longtime editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg take an annual look at the assets and estimated wealth surrounding some of Rap music's leading artists, producers, and some of its multi-threat... Read more

May 10, 2017 News

Nick Grant’s Freestyle Is More Than Funky Enough On This D.O.C. Classic (Video)

Over the last couple of years, Nick Grant has established himself as one of Hip-Hop's most most promising new voices. In 2016, the South Carolina-born MC released his mixtape 88, which, as its title suggests, was a throwback to the era that played host to names like Rakim, Big Daddy... Read more

May 10, 2017 Video

A Black Comedian Reflects On Attending A KKK Cross Burning (Video)

W. Kamau Bell is a comedian whose fame is steadily rising, thanks in large part to the success of his CNN series, United Shades of America. Launched in 2016, it's a docuseries following Bell as he interacts with pockets of society not often explored in depth on mainstream television. Past topics... Read more

May 10, 2017 Lifestyle

9th Wonder Releases His Lost Tapes With Mr. Cheeks & They Are Found Jewels (Audio)

With their debut album, Legal Drug Money, The Lost Boyz were one of the most exciting groups in Hip-Hop, in the mid-90s. Songs like "Renee", "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz" and "Lifestyles of the Rich & Shameless" had clubs, radios and car stereos on lock in 1996. Their run... Read more

May 9, 2017 Audio

KRS-One Has Just Released His Best Album In Years (Full Audio Stream)

It's been a beleaguered couple of years for KRS-One. In 2015, in the heat of a battle with a fan, the veteran MC said some words that were taken as a diss of LL Cool J. Weeks later, the MC born Kris Parker, made a formal apology to the Queens... Read more

May 9, 2017 Audio

Freddie Gibbs Details The Nightmare Of Being Falsely Accused Of Sexual Assault (Video)

In September 2016, Freddie Gibbs was acquitted of sexual assault charges, a celebratory bookend to what was otherwise a traumatic ordeal for the Gary, Indiana rapper. However, his acquittal was hardly the end of the saga. Understandably, the experience will have lingering effects on him, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. Despite the... Read more

May 9, 2017 Video

Hodgie’s Street Lights Video Burns Bright. Bizzy Bone’s Son Shows The Flows In His DNA.

Lima is not one of Ohio's big cities, and thereby it is not traditionally associated with Hip-Hop music. However, with the continuous diaspora of the culture, the city approximately 80 miles away from Toldeo and Dayton, has an artist who aims to take his sound far and wide. Hodgie released... Read more

May 9, 2017 Ready Or Not

Here’s The Musical Life Of Ghostface Killah Told In 2 Minutes (Video)

Today (May 9) is the 47th birthday of Ghostface Killah. For just over half of his life (dating back to 1993), the Staten Island, New Yorker has been widely revered as one of the most original, convention-defying lyricists in Hip-Hop. In that esteemed catalog are more than two handfuls of... Read more

May 9, 2017 Video

Your Old Droog Explains Why He Did Not Stop Rumors That He Was Nas (Video)

For those who've been following Brooklyn, New York's Your Old Droog since the infancy of his career, the now-infamous Nas rumors are as much a part of his early brand as is his tremendous talent as an MC. With a flow, cadence, and an ear for beats that made comparing... Read more

May 9, 2017 Video

Scott La Rock To Have Street In The Boogie Down Bronx Named In His Honor (Video)

This upcoming August 27 marks 30 years since Scott La Rock (aka Scott Sterling) was shot and killed in the Bronx, New York. A founding member and DJ/producer of Boogie Down Productions, Scott lived to enjoy just one album release, 1987's classic Criminal Minded. The musical partner of KRS-One, the... Read more

May 8, 2017 News, Video

Questlove Mentors A Young Street Drummer With Common & Black Thought’s Support (Video)

In the early 1990s, The Roots (as The Square Roots) regularly played before sidewalk audiences along Philadelphia's South Street. In the days before major label support and Grammy awards, Questlove, Black Thought, Malik B, and company used their music as a free gift to the people, and presumably welcomed any... Read more

May 8, 2017 Video

Wale Acknowledges The Truth In The Shots J. Cole Sent His Way On “False Prophets” (Video)

In December of 2016, J. Cole released "False Prophets (Be Like This)," an aggressive record that was clearly aimed at someone - though he never dropped a name. Following its release, rumors began to swirl that Cole was addressing Wale, at least in a particular passage. "I got a homie,... Read more

May 8, 2017 Video

J. Cole Gives Logic Blunt Life Advice In A Hard Hitting Hidden Verse (Audio)

While Kendrick Lamar has dominated the Hip-Hop discourse for the last four weeks, there has been some amazing Hip-Hop to drop before, during and after that time. Joey Bada$$, Talib Kweli & Styles P, Brother Ali, Big Sean and Oddisee all have released stellar projects in 2017, just to name... Read more

May 6, 2017 Audio

Big Boi, CeeLo & Organized Noize Unite For A Dungeon Family Reunion (Audio)

UPDATE: The official music video for "We The Ones": ORIGINAL MAY 6 POST: Last week, Hip-Hop celebrated Outkast and Organized Noize with the 23rd anniversary of Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. That LaFace Records classic was a true collaboration between Andre 3000, Big Boi, and the production trio of Sleepy Brown, Ray Murray, as... Read more

May 6, 2017 Audio, Video

You Will Not See Adult Videos The Same After Hearing Brother Ali’s New Song (Audio)

Yesterday (May 5), Brother Ali released All The Beauty In This Whole Life, an LP which unequivocally continues the Rhymesayers MC's career-long history of addressing the personal and universally relatable through his music. This time around, the Minnesotan keeps it 100% about being the white father to a Black son, being... Read more

May 6, 2017 Audio, Lifestyle

Jermaine Dupri Penned Hits For Many. He Explains Why Using Writers Ain’t A Thang (Video)

In recent years, Hip-Hop has called into question the use of additional writers on songs. In 2015, Meek Mill created a beef when he publicized Drake's working with Atlanta, Georgia MC Quentin Miller on #1 album If You're Reading This It's Too Late. In turn, Meek and Drake's relationship disintegrated,... Read more

May 6, 2017 Video

Big Sean Shines A Light On Those Losing Their Lives To Senseless Violence (Video)

While it might seem like ages ago, it has only been 3 months since Big Sean released his excellent album, I Decided. As the title implies, the album is about the effects decisions can have on one's life, and nowhere is that more evident than on his song, "The Light,"... Read more

May 5, 2017 Video

Joell Ortiz Says Most Rap Millionaires Are “Scared Silly” Of His Rich Bars (Audio)

In the eyes of some, Kendrick Lamar's #1 status and fast-track to platinum with DAMN. suggests that lyricism, clever songwriting, and album-making is winning. Clearly, for one Compton, California creative master, it is. However, it took Kendrick some years and quite a few apparent setbacks to get that spot. At... Read more

May 5, 2017 Audio

Hear How Warren G Saved Def Jam Records (Audio)

Warren Griffin, III is revered as a Hip-Hop underdog. The MC/producer/DJ better known as Warren G came up as the shy half-brother of Dr. Dre. Raised in Long Beach, California Warren is the man many believe is responsible for the introduction of Snoop Dogg. Warren, keeping the music going at... Read more

May 5, 2017 Audio

Black Thought, Logic & Chuck D Unite To Fight The Power In 2017 (Audio)

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

May 5, 2017 Audio, Playlists

Barack Obama Is Opening A Recording Studio On Chicago’s South Side (Video)

Former president Barack Obama leaves behind an enormous political legacy, but his memory is not relegated to domestic and international policy. President Obama and his wife, Michelle, will likely go down in history as one of America's most beloved first couples, not because of the agendas they pushed in Washington,... Read more

May 5, 2017 Lifestyle

25 Years Later, Listening To Gang Starr Remains A Daily Operation (Video)

Twenty five years ago today (May 5, 1992), Gang Starr's two-man crew of the late Guru and DJ Premier released their third album, Daily Operation. Less than a year and a half prior, the Brooklyn, New York-based pair proved that they were a 1980s Hip-Hop group on a heavy upward... Read more

May 5, 2017 Throwback, Video

Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. Is The Fastest Selling Album Released In 2017 With 1 Million Sold

Since releasing his song "The Heart, Pt. 4" on March 23, Kendrick Lamar has been on an absolute tear. He achieved his first ever solo #1 single, with the release of "HUMBLE." He also secured his third consecutive #1 debut with his album DAMN. What's more, with an opening tally of... Read more

May 4, 2017 News

Matt Citron Aims To Purify His Soul As He Reaches The Next Plateau (Video)

Atlanta, Georgia's Matt Citron has been making a lot of noise the past year. It was one calendar ago Matt spiced up a sacred Just Blaze production for Jay Electronica with his seasoned "Tabasco Flows." The MC with the nimble delivery and deeper voice stepped ahead, working with G.O.O.D. Music's... Read more

May 4, 2017 Ready Or Not

Mannie Fresh Explains Why He Regrets What Cash Money Records Did To Hip-Hop (Audio)

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Cash Money Records was a dominating force within Rap music. While the label dated back to the top of the decade, Juvenile's 1998 hit "Ha" made plenty of fans, DJs, and record industry followers say "huh." In short time, "Ha" was followed with... Read more

May 4, 2017 Audio

A New Mixtape Mashes Madlib & Nas. Meet ‘Nasimoto’ (Audio)

Outside of Nas' verse on the Madlib-produced "The Sickness" for J Dilla's posthumous album, The Diary, Heads don't have much collaborative material between the legendary MC and illustrious producer to choose from. Each has contributed greatly to Hip-Hop's enduring legacy, and while Nas may have more commercial success in the traditional... Read more

May 4, 2017 Audio

My Poetry’s Deep: Nas Schools Harvard On His Lyrics (Video)

In 2013, Nas achieved yet another one of Hip-Hop's proudest accomplishments, when it was announced that Harvard University was establishing the Nasir Jones Fellowship in his honor. The mission of the fellowship was “to seek projects from scholars and artists that build on the rich and complex Hip-Hop tradition.” Over... Read more

May 4, 2017 Video

Marsha Ambrosius Explains Why She Will Never Say Yes To Another Floetry Reunion (Video)

In the first half of the 2000s, Floetry was an exciting addition to the Soul genre and Philly's booming scene. Marsha Ambrosious and Natalie Stewart made two Top 20 albums, with 2005's Flo'Ology sophomore peaking at #7. The five-time Grammy-nominated duo made their fans "Say Yes" right along with them,... Read more

May 3, 2017 Video

Tyrese Says A ‘Baby Boy’ Sequel Is Coming & John Singleton May Be Involved

In 2001, Academy Award-winning director John Singleton, Tyrese Gibson, Taraji P. Henson, Omar Gooding, Snoop Dogg, Ving Rhames, and others delivered Baby Boy. The film was a coming-of-age tale set in South Central Los Angeles that followed the lives of Jody and Yvette, a couple (played by Gibson and Henson, respectively)... Read more

May 3, 2017 News

Brother Ali Details How Our Pleasures Are Used By Those In Power To Control Us

After a nearly five-year break, Brother Ali will release All The Beauty In This Whole Life this Friday (May 5). The Rhymesayers Entertainment mainstay has crafted an album that confronts so many issues in the modern universe. Ali Newman has a lot to say on what's happening with the world, and while... Read more

May 3, 2017 Food for Thought

Joe Budden & Lil Yachty Have A Battle Of The Rap Generations & Neither Backs Down (Video)

Battles between generations in Hip-Hop have existed nearly since the inception of the culture. Grandmaster Melle Mel had issues with KRS-One, challenging him to a battle at KRS' own Boogie Down Productions show. Kool Moe Dee beefed with LL Cool J, who he saw as unjustifiably arrogant. Ice-T took on... Read more

May 2, 2017 Video

CeeLo Borrows Childish Gambino’s Muse For His Own Funky Fling (Audio)

Childish Gambino's "Redbone" was one of the biggest, most welcome surprises of 2016. Long before the song opened Get Out, it first signaled Donald Glover's deep dive into Funk music, emerging with a sound rich with inspiration, yet all his own. "Awaken My Love!" is a beautiful collection of modern... Read more

May 2, 2017 Audio

MC Eiht, WC & DJ Premier Form An East/West Connection In Crazy Toones’ Final Video

In January of this year, Hip-Hop lost a talented DJ and producer in Crazy Toones. Passing away on the ninth day of the year, Toones was part of WC & The M.a.a.D Circle ('Dub is his brother) and worked with Ice Cube, Westside Connection, and Kurupt. Part of MC Eiht's... Read more

May 2, 2017 Video

The Hot 8 Brass Band Prove Can’t Nobody Get Down Like New Orleans (Video)

New Orleans' expansive musical history is perhaps no better recognized than by the ubiquitous brass band. For generations, musicians in the Big Easy have taken up brass horns (wooden instruments don't do so well in the humidity) on street corners, in second-line parades, and in performance venues as instruments for both celebratory... Read more

May 2, 2017 Ready Or Not