Tagged: raphiphop

With hip-hop hitting a dull period, experimentation is full speed ahead. Many rappers, DJs and producers are testing new sounds and styles to push through the boredom of rapping a few lines and singin

As the official release of the Black Sands Remixed album approaches, we've been treated to the video for Eyes Down featuring the UK lyricist DELS - which was easily on of the most exciting tracks on the LP. DELS' powerful bars on the unexpected pregnancy of what sounds like his sibling changes the outlook of the song completely, but given the opportunity he's chosen to portray an emotional subject and that's massively inspired. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjMTgQ YZPgI The video is however only short and DELS still features the full length version recorded over [...]

In my opinion this mash-up is one of the best I've heard in awhile. Sure, it's pretty simple, but my gosh does it make Kanye West's "Gold Digger" soulful. I might even venture to say that this re-application of the Chiddy Bang instrumental for "Ray Charles" is better than it's original use. Sorry, Chiddy Bang... MashMike kicked some ass with this one. Check it out for yourself. - Chuck Ryan

Here's MaLLy spreading love.​While many are scanning Etsy or Telaflora for the perfect gift for Valentine's Day, the Twin Cities hip-hop community is working on breath control and verbal acumen. You s

"Whatever you do don't funk with my groove..." 'QueenS' is psychedelic swagged out funk soul song from Stasia Irons and Catherine Harris-White more commonly known as THEESatisfaction. Recommended if you like the kind of futuristic soul that Erykah Badu has been bringing of late. These ladies are hitting Twisted Pepper on May 18th on the same night as close friends Shabazz Palaces (they feature on their album Black Up ) so there may be a chance of a Cork date too. They also hit mainland Europe in [...]

Photo by BFresh Photography​We have been blessed with one of the most diverse and successful independent hip-hop scenes in the country, but it didn't happen overnight. Most of the pillars of our scene

​Rhymesayers vet I Self Devine continues his onslaught of new music with the second of four free mixtapes dropped at the front end of every month. The Upliftment Struggle was released on Sou

In my opinion there's almost nothing better than some classic hip-hop and Pretty Lights aka Derek Vincent Smith's latest work is absolutely bang on the money. We Must Go On, released this week, is actually part of a really interesting project alongside his girlfriend who is a very talented visual designer. In 2011 they travelled around the world touching down in cities in almost every continent and returned with some great footage which has just been released as an accompaniment to the song. Speaking about the goal/mission of the video, their aim [...]

u mad bro?

​If you haven't heard by now, the Twin Cities Hip-Hop Awards recently celebrated it's sixth year. What started out as a simple MySpace poll back in 2007 had turned into a semi-respectable affair -- o

Back in December XO Man was joined by Mikill Pane, Master Shortie and Sincere for a simple but very effective video - acoustic guitar and vocals provided by Ed Sheeren. Good bars, good video although a bit of movement on the cam would have been lovely. www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqbbwO Mz4fA

When I come across a group that can successfully play live music behind hip-hop rhymes it's something that I can truly appreciate. Any good DJ can get behind a computer and make a beat, and don't get me wrong, there are plenty of great DJs out there who are great at what they do, but when you have a full live band making those back-beats it's a slightly bigger challenge. Chef'Special does just that as a five piece band that makes some sweet, live, hip-hop music. Their debut album One For The Mrs. was released last year [...]

• Chef'special - Airplaying

Beats inspired by J Dilla is the theme at the centre of SertOne's newest EP Quesadillas . Each of the four tracks is inspired by an individual Dilla production from the Intro to the Ruff Draft LP to chimes and vocals of 'Make'em NV' to Slum Village's 'Fall In Love'. Proceeds for the sale of the EP go towards the J Dilla Foundation . Sert got the idea for the EP because he is playing a Dilla charity night in Liverpool. [...]

Photo by Gilliane E. Mansfeldt​After taking some time away from music last year, T.Q.D. of the Background Noise Crew sat down and wrote his latest album Taketh Away in under a month. "I don't like to

Bet you've never heard the late Notorious in the way that San Franciscan producer Viceroy wants you to, well we haven't, and it's so different that we instantly fell in love with it. Think the caribbean, think tropicana, think palm trees and white sandy beaches and so on, which may be where the larger than life rap supremo would have chosen to have spent his maturer years if we were still around today. Check it out... via Manalogue.com

I was excited to see this one pop up in my email for three reasons: Twin Cities. Underground. Hip-hop. That's right folks, feast your ears on some home-grown lyrical talent. Wize Guyz dropped '85 fall of last year and it received a fair amount of local hype. After listening to the LP, I can definitely see why. What do I always say are the most important things in good hip-hop? That's right kids, smart rhymes, inventive beats, great flow and social consciousness. These Guyz have all that, in spades. I hear bits and pieces of other, [...]

• Wize Guyz - Wize-Guyz-The-Dawn-Part-2.mp3

The recent passing of Etta James got us thinking about all the other musical legends we have lost over the years. One of the greatest losses to Hip Hop was the death in 2006 of James Yancey aka J Dilla. Then that thought train reminded us of this excellent mix of Dilla productions and remixes pulled together by TomE. Featuring joints by The Roots, The Pharcyde, and Faith Evans plus lots of tracks from the man himself, its a fitting tribute to one of the most talented producers Hip Hop ever called its own. Turn it up and reminisce... [...]

A still from Friday night's brawl at the TC Hip-Hop Awards.​What a difference 48 hours can make in the life of the Twin Cities hip-hop community. Sunday night welcomed a positive showcase of local tal

Facebook.com​I Self Divine's LA State of Mind EP Release PartyWith Brother Ali, Muja Messiah, and Alicia Steele & the Endevours7th Street Entry, MinneapolisSunday, January 22, 2012Better than: The

Well hello again friends, it has been far too long since I have been here but a busy past three weeks can attest to that. What matters is that I am back now and that I'm pretty excited about the music that I am featuring in this post. Dylan Owen dropped his debut E.P. Keep Your Friends Close just yesterday and it's not every time I come across music that hits me how this did when I listened through it. This New York kid brings all kinds of emotion to his tracks, he's telling stories in every one [...]

• Dylan Owen - xzmugb5bix8eyn2vrmvd.mp3