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Black Thought & Rhymefest Have A Grown-Man Conversation In Their Newest Collabo

Che "Rhymefest" Smith was a guest on the World Music Foundation podcast. In addition to a comprehensive look at the veteran MC's career, 'Fest shared a new song called "O.G. Philosophy" featuring Black Thought and R&B veteran Raheem DeVaughn. For episode 17 of the non-profit podcast dedicated to opening minds... Read more

February 16, 2020 Audio

Rhymefest Reveals Black Thought’s Secret To Writing Those Monster Rhymes

Chicago, Illinois MC, songwriter, activist, and actor Rhymefest recently appeared on Ebro In The Morning. The Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe Award-winner spoke on several topics, including a recent appearance on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Following a public 2018 dispute surrounding the condition of Donda's House, a community and arts... Read more

April 4, 2019 Video

Black Thought, Phonte & Rhymefest Have Formed A Super-Group

Producer S1 (aka Symbolyc One) has worked with some of the biggest and brightest in Hip-Hop. He is one-third of Waco, Texas group the Strange Fruit Project. Outside of that, S1 co-produced Kanye West's "Power," Eminem's "Bad Guy," The Game's "Last Time You Seen," and Royce 5'9's recent hit, "Caterpillar."... Read more

September 6, 2018 News

DJ Jazzy Jeff & MICK’s 9th Annual Mix Means Summertime Is In Effect Mode (Audio)

DJ Jazzy Jeff and MICK (fka Mick Boogie) are back with the latest entry of their Summertime mix series. Since 2010, the two kings of party-rocking have linked up to release the annual 4th of July mixtape inspired by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's hit single. These mixes,... Read more

July 4, 2018 Audio, Mixes

Rhymefest Rates Kanye’s Rhymes & Identifies The Beginning Of His Downfall (Video)

Che "Rhymefest" Smith and Kanye West had a bit of a public falling out recently. Well, actually, it was more like the two longtime friends and collaborators ending up at odds, with Kim Kardashian West in the middle. For those that may have missed or not followed, 'Fest had publicly... Read more

June 18, 2018 Video

DJ Jazzy Jeff’s New Album Is A Magnificent End To An Incredible Trilogy (Audio)

Different eras of Hip-Hop fans may know DJ Jazzy Jeff for various achievements in his career. Some first encountered Jeffrey Townes' turntablism and production skills thanks to DJ Jazzy & The Fresh Prince. Others have learned of the innovating mix-master through his stellar solo career, mixtapes, and collaborative works. With... Read more

May 8, 2018 Audio

DJ Jazzy Jeff Is Releasing The Magnificent 3 & He’s Finally Free To Do It His Way (Video)

DJ Jazzy Jeff is still heavily involved in music, but these days it's in a different capacity. Jeff's newest project is providing the sounds for The Trinity – a collective of Rhymefest, Dayne Jordan and Uhmeer. The group has a new album coming out under Jeff's imprint, M3, and the... Read more

May 2, 2018 Video

Rhymefest, Xzibit & Jesse Williams Say We Rise Together Or We Fall Apart (Audio)

Back in August, EPIX debuted a trailer for its docu-series America Divided, a politically driven program executive produced by Common, Norman Lear, and Shonda Rhimes. The powerful show has now inspired a corresponding body of music in the form of the J. Period-led mixtape RISE UP! Jesse Williams, Rhymefest, Aloe... Read more

January 20, 2017 Audio

Rhymefest To Transform Kanye West’s Childhood Home Into Studio & Arts Center

For more than a decade, Kanye West and Rhymefest have made substantial records together. The two Chicago, Illinois representatives first caught the Grammy Award wave during writing and demo'ing "Jesus Walks," and followed with tracks including the fully-actualized collaboration "Brand New," as well as lots of writing together. In addition... Read more

November 26, 2016 News

There Was Scary Good Hip-Hop In October. Here’s Some Of The Best (Audio)

October was a scary month for a number of reasons. Of course, itended with Halloween, but it also featured some of the most low rent politics the country has ever seen, with even the FBI getting into the action. What's even more frightening, amongst all the jockeying for position, there... Read more

November 7, 2016 Audio

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Rhymefest’s New Music Together Has A Lot Of People Hyped (Audio)

Last week, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Rhymefest revamped their "Jeff n' Fess" tandem after nearly a decade. They released "Mr. Officer," a powerful track featuring Eric Roberson that made no bones about showing the fear, the hurt, and the disconnect with Black citizens caused by police profiling and brutality. "No... Read more

October 18, 2016 Audio

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Rhymefest Have A Clear Message For Mr. Officer (Audio)

Producer and turntablist DJ Jazzy Jeff and fellow Grammy Award winner Rhymefest appear to have created a group, Jeff n Fess. The Philadelphia and Chicago link made its debut (and scratched at its band name) nearly a decade ago on The Return Of Magnificent, Jeff's LP. 2016 headlines and tragic... Read more

October 15, 2016 Audio

Rhymefest Is Back In A Major Way. Best BELIEVE It! (Video)

It has been more than a decade since Rhymefest released his major label debut, Blue Collar. In the time since, the Chicago, Illinois MC has made powerful and personal documentary films, run for public office, and still maintained his spot as a Grammy Award and Oscar Award-winning champion of Hip-Hop.... Read more

October 13, 2016 Video

10 Years Ago, Rhymefest Aimed His Lyrics At Gun Violence (Video)

Ten years ago last month, Chicago, Illinois' songwriter and MC Rhymefest put out his debut album. Blue Collar featured some major players including Q-Tip, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and Kanye West, with whom he had already achieved luster and acclaim. A few months prior to his LP's release, he won the... Read more

August 11, 2016 Do Remember

Sadat X & Rhymefest Paint A Picture Of A Better World Right On Time (Audio)

Tomorrow (7/15), Sadat X will release his new solo album, Agua, on Tommy Boy Records. The LP features stellar production from Pete Rock, Diamond D, DJ Scratch, Da Beatminerz, Easy Mo Bee and more, and guest appearances by A.F.R.O., RA The Rugged Man, Ed. O.G., Black Sheep Dres, and fellow... Read more

July 14, 2016 Audio

Rhymefest Details Third Album & Updates On Reconnecting With His Father

One year ago, Chicago, Illinois MC/writer/politician Rhymefest began screening documentary film In My Father's House. The work looked at Che Smith's father, who was estranged for much of the artist's life due to homelessness and alcoholism. In the film, the Grammy Award-winning artist (who, since filming, has added an Oscar... Read more

March 8, 2016 Food for Thought

Spike Lee Says Don’t Get It Twisted. “Chi-Raq” Is NOT A Comedy. (Video)

Earlier this week, film director Spike Lee released the trailer for Chi-Raq, a film that takes a look at Chicago's seemingly incessant gun violence, which hasn't gotten so bad, the city has earned itself a moniker that draws parallels to war-torn Iraq. The trailer, which included several comedic moments, earned... Read more

November 6, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Rhymefest Made A Film About Finding His Homeless Father. Watch The Trailer (Video)

The Academy Award-winning and Grammy Award-winning Rhymefest has a lot going for him. Che Smith isn't rushing back into the lab to make another album. With the hot hand, 'Fest is instead opening up into his compelling story. At the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival, Rhymefest will premiere In My Father's... Read more

March 30, 2015 Lifestyle, TV/Film, Video

Rhymefest Now Has A Grammy & An Oscar. Is He One Of The Ghostwriter Greats?

Remember that time Rhymefest beat Eminem in a Rap battle at the 1997 Scribble Jam? Unless you were there, likely not. It seems now that the two Midwest MCs have more in common all these years later. During the 87th Academy Awards this past weekend, Rhymefest and Common simultaneously became... Read more

February 24, 2015 News

Common Explains Why Nobody’s Smiling In Chicago (Video)

Common sits down with HardKnockTV to discuss his upcoming album, Nobody's Smiling, a concept that developed from Rakim's line "I'm in the ghetto, nobody's smiling," and took on a life of its own (0:50). Common's biggest inspiration for the project derives from the increasing crime rate in the Chicago area... Read more

July 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Common & Rhymefest Team With Urban League To Create Thousands Of Youth Jobs

Today's Chicago Sun-Times reports that two Hip-Hop stars from the city are collaborating with the Urban League to provide jobs for those in need of employment. The report suggests that currently "92% of young Black males are jobless" in the Windy City (not stating what the age range is). Rapper-turned-poilitician... Read more

April 17, 2014 Fresh

Raheem DeVaughn Gently Channels Marvin Gaye On A Powerful Black History Homage With Rhymefest (Video)

Raheem DeVaughn's place in Hip-Hop has been forged, even though he's a singer. The Maryland native makes real-life music, and always seems to develop song chemistry with whatever collaborators he's linked with. On "Final Call (Saviour's Day)," 'Heem teams up with Rhymefest (who has slowed his output down in the... Read more

February 19, 2014 Fresh, Video

Today It All Makes Sense: A Retrospective on the Chicago Hip-Hop Sound (Food For Thought)

Published by: Bandini “This the city of Chicago, the state of confusion The style I'm using is free or at least it would be if my mind was…” – Malik Yusef, “My City” (One Day It’ll All Make Sense) Since the 1990s, Common Sense has always been among my favorite... Read more

January 19, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought

Talk My Sh*t – Rhymefest (Official Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXJkO7JGMEs This one grew on me in verse 2. I met Rhymefest a few months ago at SXSW. Good dude. Never got his proper respect. Speaking of Rhymefest, check out Kanye's new blog.... Read more

June 14, 2010 Video