Apollo Brown's beats are just so grim. The Mello Music Group mainstay has this amazing ability to create a frigidness on the track, even in the dead of Summer. For "Lonely & Cold," his latest link with Roc Marciano, Brown hit the parks for a street-stuck journey in gritty black... Read more

Last year, veteran New York City radio DJ Skizz released B.Q.E., a compilation-style LP, featuring a plethora of NYC lyricists. This underground favorite continues to make noise a year later, as Skizz and Soulspazm Records continue the looks. For the D.I.T.C./The U.N.-look "Light Years," a Futprnts Workshop-produced animation features portraits... Read more

One week after "Bish Wha?," Rah Digga locks in on her strong return to form. The North Jersey native is a proud product of never conforming to male-standards of how an MC should look, sound, or act. Outside of gender, Digga's stood for a less than popular style of Rap—that... Read more

When it comes to making Rap tracks about Rap, Rah Digga is one of the best. On "Bish Whaaa," she points out that the former affiliate of both Flipmode Squad and The Outsidaz is a 20-year veteran of verbally kicking down doors. With what sounds like a track straight out... Read more

Back when Eminem and Busta Rhymes were label-mates nearly a decade ago, the pair of mainstream fast-rappers came together on "I'll Hurt You." Notably omitted from Busta's lone Aftermath Entertainment LP, The Big Bang, the song seemed to miss the mark from two vets in transition, finding their latest style.... Read more

As O.C., Ghostface Killah, and Kool G Rap have all sounded extra-crispy on Apollo Brown tracks, perhaps one of the tightest fits has been Roc Marciano. Marci's nostalgic delivery, bygone images of street codes and fly attire complement the Detroit, Michigan-based producer's dusty loops, vocal samples, and hissy presentation. Following... Read more

Back in 1994, DJ Scratch was relatively quiet. Transitioning from his run as EPMD's DJ, the New Yorker was gearing up to work closely with Busta Rhymes on establishing a sound for the Leaders Of The New School front-man's next wave, Flipmode Squad. Heads in '94 did hear Scratch however,... Read more

Busta Rhymes and Raekwon's history runs deep. After all, it was through Busta (then an Aftermath Entertainment artist) that Chef was blessed with Dr. Dre production on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. II (although it released later, on a different label than first planned). Both of these MCs are students... Read more

In one of the cooler reveals in Hip-Hop as of late, it turns out that J. Period was not alone in honoring James Brown this week. As the True Elements DJ went in on #The Legend Of James Of Brown, EPMD/Flipmode Squad alum DJ Scratch offered up a companion mix,... Read more

Although he made one classic Hip-Hop single, Philadelphia's DJ Cash Money is a turntable innovator to the highest degree. Along with DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Spinbad, and DJ Code Money, Cash ushered in a Philly dominance in the scratching and mixing in the mid-late 1980s that's still up there with... Read more

Yesterday (January 21) was Jam Master Jay's birthday. The late DJ/founding member of Run-DMC would have been 49 years old—which is a reminder of just what kind of turntable prodigy he was. In memory of JMJ, his son TJ Mizell (who is a rising sensation behind the wheels of steel... Read more

Busta Rhymes' career is truly dynamic. Christened his name by Public Enemy's Chuck D; a Leader Of The New School tied to Native Tongues; an animated solo star; constant major label provider to J Dilla; onetime Dr. Dre affiliate; once signed Raekwon; forever tied to EPMD's DJ Scratch; mentor to... Read more

There are no comebacks in Hip-Hop that impress me more right now than Roc Marciano and Ka. Sure, the Soundscan numbers are still a work in progress, but these collaborators have been grinding independently (and on majors) since the '90s with low-key catalogs are hard-nose New York City Rap. Ever... Read more

The former First Lady of the Flipmode Squad, Rah Digga, is only a Native Tongues degree of separation from the Jungle Brothers (by way of Busta Rhymes/Leaders Of The New School). This new Hood House project the Jersey City MC is working on calls back to the late '80s/early '90s... Read more