Thirty years ago, Da Beatminerz helped lead a charge with Black Moon's Enta Da Stage. The Nervous Records LP was produced by Evil Dee (also a Black Moon co-founder) and his brother Mr. Walt. The album help launch several movements—for the Boot Camp Clik, for underground/independent Hip-Hop, and for a... Read more

One of 2016's most steadfast MCs, Chris Rivers is a clear disciple of that hard-nosed late '80s and 1990s lyricism. While the Bronx, New Yorker's greatest influence would appear to be his father (Big Pun), there are other clear connections. Pun, after all, was a student of Kool G Rap,... Read more

To follow up the “ode to true love” Mickey Factz released last week, the Bronx-bred MC joins the Ghost himself, Styles P, on another Nottz production—and this one’s no love song. Instead, in a flow reminiscent of an old L.O.X. track, both lyricists flex their verbal abilities, going back and... Read more

Mickey Factz has a decorated music career to date. The New York MC has been featured as a XXL "Freshman" in the 2009 yearbook, in addition to making widely circulated songs with Drake, Yelawolf, and Kendrick Lamar, among others. Fresh off of the Nottz-produced video single "414 Words," Factz lays... Read more

North Carolina MC K-Hill has been grinding for more than 10 years, making a name for himself through work with the likes of Big Daddy Kane, Sean Boog, and the late PumpkinHead. Making noise from the N.C. state around the same time as Little Brother's emergence, his song "The Prodigal"... Read more

After making considerable noise in recent years, the Dirt Disciples (Rome Clientel and DJ Concept) are poised to release an EP this week. On October 9, the pair of New Yorkers (Elmira and Long Island, respectively) will drop The Ambition EP on Soulspazm Records (Torae, Pumpkinhead, Marco Polo). "Life Is... Read more

Since Your Old Droog's 2013 proper introduction, one of the producers of his inner-circle has been Marco Polo. The Brooklyn, New York MC and the New York City-by-way-of-Ontario, Canada transplant make strong music together, both displaying throwback sensibilities to the days of witty wordplay and chopped down samples. From July's... Read more

Cologne, Germany production duo JR & PH7 has amassed a career that includes an extensive list of collaborators, from Sean Price to King Mez, Phonte to Freeway. From Europe, this combined force of beat-makers has been a driving ambassador of the talent abroad. Already in 2015, JR & PH7 teamed... Read more

First Division are a Canadian duo, with some deeper history in Rap. One of the members, Shylow, may be familiar to Marco Polo album/mixtape supporters. Crossing the border for "This Iz The Time," F.D. teams with DJ Premier. Preemo laces the Soulspazm-backed pair with chops, cuts, and samples very much... Read more

On Tuesday (June 9) of this week, Brooklyn, New York MC Pumpkinhead passed away. The 39 year-old Brooklyn, New York native born Robert Alan Diaz left behind more than a 15-year legacy in Hip-Hop. He was an MC, a songwriter, a battle rapper, and a member of Brooklyn Academy, among... Read more

Veteran Brooklyn, New York MC Pumpkinhead (a/k/a PH) has been reported dead this morning (June 9). Friends and collaborators of the man born Robert Alan Diaz have begun to publicly mourn. Notably, Pumpkinhead appeared on acclaimed albums such as Immortal Technique's Revolutionary 1 and Revolutionary 2 albums, in addition to... Read more

Marco Polo and DJ Revolution both have strong ties to New York City label, Soulspazm (as well as Duck Down). In 2013, Canadian born Marco released two albums on the Soulspazm: his Newport Authority album, and PA 2: The Director's Cut, both featuring a jaw-dropping lineup of lyricists from the... Read more