All Photos: DeAndre DaCosta So about last night: I officially kissed the 30s goodbye at the Spotted Pig with my family and a select few friends and colleagues. Yup, the food and that open bar was something special (My aching dome piece!). Anyways, special thanks to Shirea Carroll a.k.a. Ms Invite Only, my lovely wife Danamo, photographer DeAndre DaCosta and young H.O. for breakin’ my 100% rapper free rule. I forgive ya! Ha!

A word from your sponsor: Gonna be hard to get a ticket. Ha!

Like we always do at this time, here’s more behind the scenes footage of the Conglomerate’s young gunna. Take a peek at The Gift‘s mixtape release party at HK Lounge and Reek’s performance at S.O.B.’s for Rap Radar’s Joell Ortiz show. Good night! Previously: Pt.5

On Inside The Actors Studio, host James Lipton always asks his guests, “What sound or noise do you hate?” I vote for this! On paper: Things shouldn’t have been this bad. Fresh off tyin’ the knot with his lil ride or die chick Tiny, Cliff was obviously hopin’ to craft a lil ditty for the ladies and male radio program directors. “Whatever You Like” on steroids? Not even close. Keri may look good but she sounds Charles Barkley-turrible here and […]

On July 19, 2010, Young Jeezy took his talents to Ustream to give us the status of his constantly-delayed TM103. It was a fun day at the RR mansion and Da Snowman even shouted us out. But then the streaming stopped and Def Jam blasted out a new song. It was supposed to be “Who Dat on steriods”. It was gonna jump-start the project to a true release date. Then we heard the song. Oy vey! Yuck! ‘Fuckin’ thing sucks! […]

Warning: This one might get a lil Blackout-ish. But I’m sick and muthafuckin’ tired of people frontin’ on this album. Yeah “9 Am In Dallas” and “You Know You Know” were dope but their exclusions didn’t do anything to damage this excellent effort. You So Far Gone stans need to get over it. Nitpickin’ nitwits. I’ll admit I still respect “Over” more than I like it but there’s some songs that are undeniable like the three formidable features with Minaj […]

This ain’t for everybody. Anchored by producers, Plain Pat and Emile, Kid Cudi takes us on another dark ride but this time it revolves around some guy named Mr. Rager? Yup, I’m confused about that part too. But seriously I do know good music, and this G.O.O.D. music artist’s sophomore release has plenty of it. From hippy dippy trippy (“Mojo So Dope”) to vulnerable (“All Alone”) to brash (“Ashin Kusher”), Scottie bares his soul whether through singing or spittin’ bars. […]

The most critically-acclaimed consistent group in this business of rap did it again last year with their ninth album. You thought that becoming a late night talk show band would cause them to lose their edge or focus? Never that. In fact it went the opposite way. Brought them closer together as an even more sonically strong music machine and who knew lead voice Black Thought could sing? He shines on the titilating title track and proves his pen is […]

Hate her or love her, Ms. Minaj is on top. And no album has divided the hip-hop nation as much as her debut. I for one have grown to appreciate it. Although it falls short of the hype built from her scene-stealing cameos (“Monster” made me a believer), it’s an awkwardly sequenced but clever collection that combines moments of greasy street talk (the brutal “Roman’s Revenge” and the dastardly callous “I Did It On Em”) with an unabashed aim at […]

On some Sade shit, Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek reunited for their first album in 10 years and they did not disappoint. Underrated? Underappreciated? Slept-on? All the above. But most important is to classify Revolutions Per Minute with its rightful distinction as one of the best rap albums of the year. It’s an essential listen of a true master MC and brilliant beatmaker working together to craft substantial hip-hop songs. (R.I.P. Guru.) Whether on their own (the crafty “City Playgrounds”, the […]