In the latest Soundcheck column, Donna-Claire reflects on Boldy James rapping with the most conviction of his his career across Penalty of Leadership, an intimate ode to survival and overcoming physical trauma.

Matthew Ritchie speaks to the Detroit rapper about his albums ‘Mr. Ten08’ and ‘Fair Exchange No Robbery,’ the importance of knowing your own worth, and treating his art like it’s poetry.

'Bo Jackson' is at once a testament to Boldy and Alchemist's skill level and a declaration that few will ever reach their heights.

TE P. speaks with one of Detroit's most vivid rap writers about the darkness of his upbringing, not wanting to make turn-up music and what his daughter tells people he does for a living.

Steven Louis goes in on a Hitler Wears Hermes 7 highlight.

After a two-year hiatus, Boldy James returns, and so does Mobb Deen.

A disappointing effort from the talented Detroit native.

Harold Stallworth wears his leather in the winter Bobby Shmurda wedging his stage surname into the hip-hop lexicon will ultimately have more impact, but Boldy James gets my vote for this year’s most valuable slang editorialist. The greatest slang is functional. It rolls off your tongue like a folk song and tastes good in your […]

Harold Stallworth nicknames everything. For the those keeping tabs, “Goose Egg,” a cut originally featured on DJ Frank White’s Bout That Life mixtape, is the first real Boldy James record to surface since his Alchemist-helmed LP dropped last fall. The modest buzz from My 1st Chemistry Set earned a cosign from Nas, a vague partnership […]

“Call my nine Nina and my glock E-40 and the Click.” Boldy James got last month’s Hip Hop quotable whether you were aware of it or not. The obvious reference point is Big L’s “Ebonics,” but I also endorse Rafael Casal’s Bay Area slang song. In 2013, there’s Moochie, nicknaming everything. I want Boldy to […]