Tupac Shakur got these niggas gassed. Take that prison bid and then when you touch the town, hit the studio and soon you’ll be the undisputed #1 rapper. Maybe Wayne will pull this off. But T.I. certainly couldn’t. After his much heralded release, The Kang started last spring to attempt to get his career on track. But from “I’m Back” to his song from Takers (“Yeah Ya Know”) to that horrible collabo with Ms. Hilson (“Got Your Back”), Cliff struggled […]

For pretty much all of his incredible career, Em’s first singles have been Slim Shady-fueled, celebrity-bashin’, tongue planted-firmly-in-cheek tunes that scream, “OK, Jimmy you want a radio record, here you fuckin’ go, buddy.” A lyrical master dumbin’ down for the dum dums. Thankfully, Marshall switched the style up on Recovery. Produced by one of Drake’s production partners-in-crime Boi-1da, Em’s “Not Afraid” is a stirring, here I stand declaration that’s painfully honest about his professional and personal problems of the past […]

They say don’t kick a kid rap star when he’s down but those folks actually never took the time to listen to Soulja Boy’s new album. If this was a say something nice challenge I would tell you it’s okay to turn up “Speakers Goin’ Hammer” and that something about the over-the-top “30 Thousand 100 Million” is appealing. But that’s where it stops! Sorry Fif, “Mean Mug” is ugly. “Blowing Me Kisses” is gross. “Hey Cutie” is crap. And I’m […]

The Conglomerate’s young gunna is back with a visual to the final track off his mixtape, The Gift. Oh did you lose focus during the holidays? Download the joint right here. You need it in your life!

You know what this is? A song that came out before last Labor Day that I still enjoy listening to today. It’s in constant rotation. Just ask your local radio PD. Truth be told, Team RR was late to jump on the Taylor Gang bus. Just ask Arthur Pitt. But now we’re here, my dear. And yes, the Kush man got the #1 mixtape and this big hit has him poised to be the next breakthrough star in Hip-Hop 2011. […]

Jay-Z murdered T-Pain with “D.O.A.” but DJ Khaled brought him back to life. A master of thug motivation, the mouth of Miami radio roared with another assortment of hip-hop all-stars. Luda sounds happy to be recognized. Ross makes things official. And Snoop slips in like a suprise guest. Clearly though it’s the hook that provided this song with such a long shelf life. Damn, Khaled Khaled knows what he’s doin’. Another anthem. Get your damn hands up!

Admittedly I’m not a big N.E.R.D. supporter. I like my Pharrell peddling beats and hooks to great MCs and stayin’ on the sidelines. But with a somewhat open, slate-cleaning mind I copped the oft-delayed Nothing the day it dropped. And guess what? I didn’t like it. From the annoying chorus-laden opener “Party People”; to the Al Green on acid space ride “Hypnotize U”; to a slithery shit sandwich called “Help Me”, the album clearly stumbles badly out the gate. To […]

I’ve already gone on the record a coupla times about how much I dug Kanye’s comeback song from the moment the joint accidentally leaked. Oops! Fuck the radio, “Power” was the record Donda’s baby boy had to deliver. A snarling salute to one’s self—it’s swagger on a hundred thousand somethin’ somethin’. Almost serving as its own EP, it set the stage nicely for the G.O.O.D. Friday campaign, which all culminated with the release of MBDTF. Whether one song or with […]

Let’s pretend the original version of this song isn’t great. That the sequel isn’t even greater. That shortie from Paramore’s hook isn’t intoxicating. That Bobby Ray didn’t insightfully take you into his life and his struggles to make it as a rapper. That when Em cleared his throat, your heart didn’t skip a beat. That you didn’t crack a smile, nod and marvel at Marshall recallin’ his Rap Olympics days. That the song’s wordplay didn’t blow you away. Let’s pretend […]

It’s still amazing that two songs from a mixtape made such a splash that they had to be included on an artist’s album. The streets spoke loudly and Rozay’s Teflon Don wouldn’t have been complete without “MC Hammer” and “BMF”. You talk about a one-two Lex Luger-produced punch. Simply put, this prequel brought Ross to the forefront of this rap shit. This signaled the end of the Officer jokes. Hardbody collabos with Yo Gotti (“Gotti Family”) and Kool G Rap […]