On his "I Shot Ya (Remix)" LL Cool J reminded music fans that his victories included wins against Kool Moe Dee, Ice-T, and M.C. Hammer. Five years prior, on LL Cool J's fourth album, Mama Said Knock You Out, he seemingly left the ring victorious with a TKO title track aimed... Read more

The City of Brotherly Love has undoubtedly produced some of Hip-Hop's best MCs to ever grip the mic, and equally, some of the greatest DJs to touch the turntables. Legendary Philadelphia DJ Cash Money has an extensive resumé with memorable mixtapes to prove the latter. After making seminal 1980s 12"... Read more

Less than three years ago, Lecrae reached the top of the pop charts with Anomaly. The Reach Records release, which subsequently went gold, marked a new pinnacle for what is commonly referred to as "Christian Rap." In this week's episode of TBD, Justin "The Company Man" Hunte examines the weird... Read more

At the height of his popularity in the early 90s, MC Hammer was one of the most polarizing figures in Hip-Hop. His immense success was both the source of ridicule and respect. His third album, 1990's Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em, spent an astounding 21 weeks at the top of... Read more

At the height of his career, MC Hammer was far from considered a gangsta rapper. With his parachute pants, highly-choreographed dancing and big pop records, Hammer was often the butt of jokes from his peers and considered a "sell out." His image was so cemented that when he showcased a... Read more

To describe Tupac as prolific in the eleven months after his release from prison and before his death would be a gross understatement. According to reports, Pac recorded more than 14 songs in the first two weeks after his return home and, over the next several months, he had enough... Read more

Throughout the 1990s, Tupac Shakur and Big Daddy Kane maintained a friendship. It was during Kane's 1993 Manhattan show that  'Pac and The Notorious B.I.G., with Scoob and Shyheim The Rugged Child, famously spit their iconic freestyles together. However, Tupac and Kane would also record together. One song, reportedly titled "Too Late... Read more

On Monday night (January 4), Vh1 premiered The Breaks. The film, inspired by Dan Charnas' book, The Big Payback, dramatically captures three Hip-Hop hopefuls living in 1990 New York City. One dreams to work at a hit Rap management firm. Another character wants to be a successful producer, and discover... Read more

On Monday night (January 4), Vh1 premiered film, The Breaks. An adaptation of Dan Charnas' The Big Payback, the dramatic work follows three Hip-Hop hopefuls living in 1990 New York City. With executive music producer DJ Premier, the film colored the era with music by Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool G Rap... Read more

Spike TV has launched a new show called Lip Sync Battle that is hosted by none other than LL Cool J. As the title suggests, the show pits contestants against one another in epic fake verbal jousts. In its premiere episode, oft-collaborators and joint Grammy/Oscar winners Common and John Legend... Read more

New York City-based store Turntable Lab and Adult Swim's "TV Carnage" have come together to mash-up some '80s and early '90s-skewed pop culture, with a Hip-Hop slant, in quite a cool way. Part DJ-themed, part VJ-themed, the resulting "War Inna Discoteca" is expertly beat-matched and synchronized to the instrumental from... Read more

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

Earlier in the year, a clip of Jeopardy's Alex Trebek reciting lyrics from Biggie, Dr. Dre, The Beastie Boys and Public Enemy provided a minute and change of comic relief. Apparently, the show's producers have a dark sense of humor because they've once again given him a Rap category, forcing... Read more

Click here to download.  Here are parts 1 and 2 of the "trilogy": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdNLClvoqro http://www.vimeo.com/13285609... Read more

The first time I saw Kanye West perform in person was when Talib Kweli brought him onstage in 2003.  Kanye did not have an album yet but was making a name for himself as a producer.  He wanted to be an MC but the gents at Roc-A-Fella thought he was... Read more