Not much to add that the title doesn’t explain. All in all, a fair quarter for rap albums: two great ones (UGK 4 Life, Born Like This), one great mixtape (Superbad), and a half dozen solid to very good efforts. For better or worse, contemporary hip-hop is about keeping up. Product is increasingly disposable. It’s… Continue reading »
Apr
10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTsEsOzStSg We’ve already discussed Kode9, so I’ll spare the windy intro. An interview with the Hyperdub baron is up at Pop and Hiss. A few extra answers are below the jump. His show tonight with Flying Lotus might be my most anticipated of the year thus far. Between Black Moth Super Rainbow and Flying Lotus,… Continue reading »
As you may have read, UGK 4 Life, has drawn largely rave reviews. This is to be expected for a sentimental favorite like the Underground Kingz, but the praise is warranted. Neck-and-neck with the Doom for my favorite rap release of the year, UGK’s last album manages to be the rare swan song essential for… Continue reading »
Few things irk me more than the glut of critics self-righteously spitting at all things indie rap, while championing OJ Da Juice Man as the savior–as though there weren’t reams of photo negatives of them rocking backwards fitteds and Jansports. Conversely, nothing seems more trite than dudes championing “that real hip-hop,” while sneering at anyone… Continue reading »
Contemporary KY-R&B isn’t typically my cup of Chamomile. But last week, the Times had me on double Dream duty, penning a preview for his Kanye West-aided, Myspace-sponsored show, and writing a review of said show. Suffice to say, I find The-Dream somewhere between Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon,” and The Cranberries single, “Dreams.” But in an… Continue reading »
In advance of the Good Life Reunion show this evening, I spoke with Myka 9 of legendary Good Life linchpin, Freestyle Fellowship. It wasn’t one of the best interviews I’ve ever done–Myka blew me off after 15 minutes to go eat lunch, and never called back. However, the dude gets a free pass, considering in… Continue reading »
Bishop Lamont on his beef with The Game: “I’m not trying to hate on the Game. At the end of the day, his mom and my mom are close friends. They go on vacation with T-Pain’s mom and Lil Wayne’s mom. It’s an issue of disrespect. He knows what it’s about. I’m not on some… Continue reading »
Like many long-time Busta Rhymes fans, it was disheartening to watch his once-promising tenure at Aftermath dissipate into a miasma of acrimony, artistic failure, and ridiculous coke and crime boasts. As one person aptly put it: “How can Busta be bragging about all the weight he’s moved? Dude was on “Scenario.” Thing is, after having… Continue reading »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9M0n-YBQIk The first hour of Mochilla’s “A Suite for Ma Dukes,” was solid if not soporific. But when the surprise guests started rolling out, events rapidly turned memorable. Pos and Talib Kweli performing “Stakes is High.” Bilal, AmpFiddler, and the guy in Sa-Ra who doesn’t wear leopard, singing the hook on “Runnin,” backed by an… Continue reading »
Sick and in no mood for pleasantries or feigned witticisms, as a grotesque and sudden illness precluded me from leaving the house to watch the Super Bowl and seeing Mulatu Atsatke and Cut Chemist. Needless to say, I’d be on the warpath could I stand on sturdy legs. In the meantime, I caught Wale’s set… Continue reading »
Excellent Adventures
Bogus Journeys
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Listening
Jeff Weiss
Sach O
Douglas Martin
Aaron Matthews
Abe Beame
Evan Nabavian
Tosten Burks
Matt Shea
Jonah Bromwich
Reading
Jeff Weiss
Sach O
Douglas Martin
Tosten Burks
Aaron Matthews
Abe Beame
Jonah Bromwich
Watching
Jeff Weiss
Sach O
Douglas Martin
Tosten Burks
Aaron Matthews
Evan Nabavian
Jonah Bromwich
Inner Sanctum
Miscellaneous Apostles
Local Natives
Understanding Media
The Sporting Life
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
Miscellaneous
