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

Chicago's A-Villa is a Closed Sessions producer coming up on the scene. Like anybody behind the boards, he's likely dreamed of big concepts, executed by lyrical giants. That dream is a reality on "Day In The Life." AZ Tha Visualiza, Havoc, Freeway, and Macie Stewart (Kids These Days) punctuate the... Read more

Rarely do Hip-Hop soundtrack singles say much anymore. The years of music-attached records like Ice-T's "Colors," Naughty By Nature's "Uptown Anthem," 2Pac's "Pain" or Ice Cube's "How To Survive In South Central" seem like a vestige of the past. Eminem, who famously attached "Lose Yourself" to 8 Mile, is out... Read more

Back in June, AZ wove in some Brothers Johnson greatness in his latest '70s derivation, "Red Magic." A master of "nostalgic cool," Tha Visualiza's sample source added to his metaphoric mind-altering substance in the song. For the video, seemingly a partial homage to Limitless, the veteran of The Firm pops... Read more

AZ is a proven master of being a current master, while channeling past eras of Hip-Hop, culture, art, and street style. This is wildly true of "Red Magic." Linking with Baby Paul, the veteran producer (and onetime member of Da Beatminerz) who's been working with A, Nas, and even Amil... Read more

Illmatic XX has Nas really looking in his rearview. The sometimes reclusive Queensbridge MC is completely open in looking at the formation of his most celebrated album. Zane Lowe, who is getting unrivaled access to guys like Eminem, Jay Z, and Kanye West, sits down with Nasir on his audio... Read more

Two New Yorkers who thrived in the 1995-era were AZ and DJ Doo Wop. Tha Visualiza and The Bouncemaster both provided a brand of Hip-Hop, heavy on substance and presentation. Nineteen years later, the pair links for Doo Wop to drop the needle on some breaks from the likes of... Read more

In the late 1990s, Nature and Black Rob had a lot in common. Both street-certified rappers got nods from lyrical circles, while still securing major label deals. Nature, taking Cormega's spot in The Firm, also had a solo deal with Poke & Tone's Trackmasters Entertainment at Columbia Records. Meanwhile, Rob,... Read more

Nasir Jones is making unfathomable moves for the MC who once "waved automatic guns at nuns." Queensbridge's finest has a Harvard University Fellowship. He has a stake in Mass Appeal magazine and digital. The veteran lyricist is enjoying the latest in a long catalog of originally-shelved and tribute material, in... Read more

Moments before he was honored by J. Cole at a VIBE magazine event during Grammy weekend, Nas sat with the publication. Asked if he's ever considered a Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. II-esque sequel to his classic debut, Illmatic, Nas answers what he answers with few words more than... Read more

DJ Skizz of Halftime Show fame loves New York. His B.Q.E. album features local legends like O.C., Cormega, and Craig G. On "Metal Bars," Skizz linked a Brooklyn-Queens (® 3rd Bass) tandem in Juice Crew alum Masta Ace and The Firm alum Nature. With both MCs having ties to Large... Read more

The last addition to The Firm (Cormega's replacement) has had a persistent career since parting ways with The Trackmasters. The Queensbridge MC stays active with his peers, visiting LeFrak's N.O.R.E. (who started off this year known as P.A.P.I) down in Mi-yayo. Together, the '90s major label acts turned indie stalwarts... Read more

Not since the Disposable Arts-era Masta Ace have I seen artist with an already-heralded career get consistently better with time. No longer signed to the major EMI Records, you cannot help but acknowledge that Tha Visualiza's intricate and vivid imagery is just as good, if not better than "Rather Unique."... Read more

As you gear up for the NCAA Sweet 16, here's another type of sweet 16. Check out 16 of the best hip-hop songs from 16 years ago--1997 to be exact. You'll hear music from Biggie, Jay-Z, 2Pac, Scarface, Mos Def, Busta Rhymes, Tha Dogg Pound, KRS-One, Camp Lo, The Firm,... Read more