I’m a convicted card-carrying member of Team Snowman, but I must admit La Flare won me over this year. Yes, I enjoyed most of his seemingly endless collabos, but it was his album that truly surprised me. During an advance listen from Asylum’s Joey IE, I marveled at his new array of flows. Yeah, his lyrics still aren’t hip-hop quotable worthy but he sure puts them together well. Plus, he’s such a charismatic collaborator. Whether he’s gettin’ “Wasted” with Plies, […]

Curse the day that the man from Marcy suggested to Alan’s baby boy that he get Young Money’s Barbie on this booty track. I swear this Nicki chick is real hit and miss. And here’s she’s off like John Starks in an NBA Finals game. “Ball like Yao Ming-a-ling”? Get the f-f-f-fuck outta here! But the real blame of this earache has to go back to the funky Caucasian. You couldn’t tell dude this track wasn’t fires. (Pardon the terrible […]

Truth be told: I’ve never been one to listen to a Mos Def album from front to back. Still somethin’ kept bringing me back to The Ecstatic throughout the past year. And no it’s not because Diddy said it was hot. No, I think it’s because its such a unique collection of dense tunes containing true eclectic sounds. My faves: the intoxicating “Priority,” the as close to a Black Star reunion as you’re ever gonna get headnodder “History”, and the […]

The young king of braids and cornrows (sorry A.I.) graces the front page of the hip-hop world’s only true sports magazine. I don’t know tho. I mighta split with him his fellow Rookie Of The Year comp, Tyreke Evans. Dude’s turned me into a believer. Spotted: PreZZure via SLAM

Fuck a video message, Bun’s a rapper so he spits about his future plans. Album on the way: Trill OG slated for March 2. And I can’t wait til this year’s SXSW when Rosenberg salutes the Underground King. I’ll be there. Props: NR via Keep It Trill

Breezy tells Renada Romain, he was a lil’ tight about the coverline VIBE put across his chest. And CB later claims he would never speak ill of Usher. Oh well, I know from my experience, in most cases, if the artist loves his cover too much, you didn’t do a good job. Plus we can negotiate kid, but ultimately the media does what it wants. Press privileges, punk. Sue us. Ha. Previously: New VIBE Covers: Drake x Chris Brown

“Haters gonna hate but it’s okay tho”. Even the Tiger Woods of rap can’t save the God from another misstep on one of the few listenable tracks from Allah’s latest. I don’t think this visual is gonna make the streets feel this one. The hook is atrocious. World Preemo: WSHH (Make a better player)

Been lookin’ for this album for months. It contains the sample behind my favorite track off The Ecstatic. More on that tomorrow when B.Dot and I give you RR’s Best Albums and Worst Singles of the ’09. And, oh yeah, DJ Soul is puttin the finishing touches on his custom mix for the best blog in the game. Yup, ’10 is gonna spell the end for a lot of you subpar sites. Keep up or fall off. Nuff Respect: Fullundie

The same night as Wale’s stellar show, Drake was supposed to host an event at Club Love. Unfortunately, a girl had been stabbed the night before at their Trey Songz shindig so the spot got shut down. Still, Drizzy already had landed in the District of Columbia, so he headed up to Club Ibiza with Nick Minaj and brought the party there. I was too tired to go. Shoot me, stab me. Here’s some footage though. Pardon the far than […]

The Cons put up a flick from the G.O.O.D. Music NYE party in Hawaii. Aloha, bitches. A gang of more photos from GLC is at NR. Seems like no MCs stayed home alone on this night.