May
30

Royce Da 5’9 – The Bar Exam 3

Sach continues to ride for the battle-rap porn that was the Slaughterhouse album. Personally, I found the enterprise half-baked. Joell, Crooked, Royce and Buddens are obviously gifted rappers, but they’re four solo artists who never understood how to come together as one. The lesson gleaned was that four hot 16′s doesn’t always make a good… Continue reading »

May
28

Raekwon – Cocainism Vol. 2

The ideal Memorial Day soundtrack if your plans are to make a verite re-creation of Scarface, eat linguine with shrimp scampi, and wear Aztec colored Wally’s with the oyster chain dangling off your ox-neck Orlando Woolridge. Or something. Rae’s latest and greatest are collected here, minus his latest gem “Sunset Strip,” a collaboration with Sick… Continue reading »

May
28

Question in the Form of An Answer: Homeboy Sandman

I’d say late pass on Homeboy Sandman, but so it goes when you share an almost identical name as an ex-member of the Re-Up Gang. Not to ignore the use of “Homeboy,” which even white sitcom writers stopped using circa ’96. This interview originally appeared as a part of a longer feature for Pop &… Continue reading »

May
27

Things Learned About Big Boi From Watching The Video For “Shutterbug”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPGUW7z34ew 10. Big Boi’s father’ s name was Chico Dusty, which means that there is a 64 percent chance that he is related to Razor Ramon.  Upon closer analysis, this is an obvious revelation based on Chico Dusty Jr.’s decision to reference Sgt. Slaughter in verse. There is also the alternate possibility that Sir Lucious… Continue reading »

May
27

The Style of Lidget Green Position

Thomas Odumade typically keeps time at A.M. 180. He is contributing to PoW as part of an elaborate scheme to help procure Canadian health care for the American contingent.  Since 2008, English gentleman/producer Dean Bentley, has released a steady string of singles on his own label, DMB Records, featuring such oft-overlooked talents as Phat Kat,… Continue reading »

May
26

Sach O: Vilify – The Filthiest Yet

Our bass music posts here at PoW trend towards experimental shit. Whether it’s the underground LA sounds bubbling beneath the Hollywood glitz or broody London Gothstep abstract enough to make Q-Tip reach for a Rick Ross track, chances are we bump it. Thing is, we also bump straight up bangers. Montreal renaissance-woman Vilify knows a… Continue reading »

May
26

Raekwon – “Alphabet Soup”

A-Z raps have been written by MC’s of nearly every letter –from Aesop Rock to Saigon, with Masta Ace, Blackalicious, Papoose, Busta Rhymes, and Kool G Rap filling in the blanks. But as Sach pointed out, “every decent concept has been done, the Alphabet thing is like the “Rhyme from a bullet’s POV” thing: it’s… Continue reading »

May
26

Madvillain – “Paper Mill”

My much postponed (through no fault of my own) feature on Madlib drops within a month, featuring revelations of Masonic Lodges, Mexican Bakeries, and Madvillain updates. When I spoke to the greatest Otis since Nixon (and maybe Redding) several months ago, he told me that Madvillain was almost complete. I’m not sure I believe him.… Continue reading »

May
25

Take — The Brain Stays Fed

We post a lot of mixes these days. Maybe you enjoy them, maybe you don’t. I can’t really tell. I’m not about to take a focus group survey — yes, there are blogs that do those things. But that’s less hip-hop than soy milk and yoga — then again, there is a night in Los… Continue reading »

May
25

Next Stop…Soweto Volumes 1 & 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWFOLyjqb28 Soweto, the most infamous apartheid stronghold, has received the brunt of attention from crate-diggers panning for  gold via the largely unknown outfits that perfected their craft in isolated township halls. Described by “trombonist Jonas Gwangwa as the “soundtrack for knife fights between local and visiting criminal gangs,” the bands culled for the Next Stop…Soweto… Continue reading »

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