Category: Hip-Hop

Categories
Books Hip-Hop Music Rap Reviews

“The Motherlode” – A Beautiful, Undefinable History of Women in Hip-Hop

“Men write history, but women live it.”

Chloe Angyal

It’s true that history is written by the victors, but it’s also been predominately written by men. That is especially true in hip-hop. As the culture closes in on its fiftieth birthday, the contributions of women, whether behind the mic or behind the scenes, have been largely overlooked, marginalized, or outright ignored.

The Motherlode (Abrams, 2021) by Clover Hope could help begin to change that. A cogent and forceful entry in the ongoing need to give the ladies their due, it is a book that is undefinable, or at least not easily categorized, that also happens to be the definitive history of women in hip-hop.

Continue reading ““The Motherlode” – A Beautiful, Undefinable History of Women in Hip-Hop”
Categories
Hip-Hop Rap

Nas & Black Thought Finally On a Track Together…

They’re two of the greatest lyricists in hip-hop history.

Continue reading “Nas & Black Thought Finally On a Track Together…”
Categories
Hip-Hop Lists Rap

Hey, Look! I Found the Worst Rap List of All Time!

Lil Dicky, Quavo, and Ski Mask The Slump God over Rakim? I quit.

“Every time I stepped into madness of the crowds, I longed for the wisdom of the loneliness.“

— Mehmet Murat Ildan

“Why don’t you write about rap anymore?”

Continue reading “Hey, Look! I Found the Worst Rap List of All Time!”
Categories
Hip-Hop Rap Wu-Tang Clan

From the Vault: The Wu-Tang Paradox

This originally appeared on I Hate JJ Redick on February 3, 2012

“What RZA put together let no man tear asunder.”

I would argue the Wu-Tang Clan the most influential hip-hop collective outside of possibly Run-DMC. It’s more than just music, chess, and karate flicks. It’s a way of life and almost a religion. For proof, look no further than the fact that the makeup, philosophy and history of the Wu-Tang Clan has its own manual and even its own bible.

Continue reading “From the Vault: The Wu-Tang Paradox”
Categories
Hip-Hop Rap Wu-Tang Clan

Still ‘Supreme’ After Two Decades

With his sophomore disc, Ghostface Killah threw the Clan on his back and reached his apotheosis

via wudisciples.blogspot.com/

“Walk with me like Dorothy”

It was over.

Continue reading “Still ‘Supreme’ After Two Decades”
Categories
Books Hip-Hop Rap Reviews

“On Writing” for the Hip-Hop Culture: Rakim’s “Sweat the Technique” Reviewed

In most cases, progress and evolution happen slowly, over a period of time marked by small, incremental changes. Occasionally, however, a seismic shift occurs and a culture transforms overnight.

That is what happened in 1986 when a young man with a voice that sounded like it was from outer space came in the door and changed the game forever with “Eric B. Is President,” the first single from Eric B. & Rakim. The latter half of that duo was still in high school when he introduced a “new era of rhyme style” with complex internal rhymes full of multisyllabic words and a relaxed, composed delivery that was more conversational than shouting.

It was a new day in hip-hop.

Continue reading ““On Writing” for the Hip-Hop Culture: Rakim’s “Sweat the Technique” Reviewed”
Categories
Hip-Hop Rap Reviews

Gorilla Monsoon Rap – “Dream Team: A Stokely Hathaway Joint” Reviewed

Image result for griff scorcese dream team

There are times when being a musical artist creates a no-win situation. Fickle fans want you to grow, but keep making the same sort of music. They don’t want you to repeat yourself, but quickly become unhappy if the new stuff is too different from what they expected.

Continue reading “Gorilla Monsoon Rap – “Dream Team: A Stokely Hathaway Joint” Reviewed”
Categories
Hip-Hop Music Nostalgia Rap Wu-Tang Clan

The Return of the Purple Tape: Raekwon’s Classic Sequel Turns Ten

“Got me behind the pot again”

The odds were stacked against him.

Continue reading “The Return of the Purple Tape: Raekwon’s Classic Sequel Turns Ten”
Categories
Books Hip-Hop Reviews

A Fun, Glib, and Honest Trip Down Rap Memory Lane – “Ruffhouse” Reviewed

Growing up in the Philly area, there is a constant underlying feeling of inferiority, like a little brother, in regards to New York City, particularly within the realm of hip-hop.

Continue reading “A Fun, Glib, and Honest Trip Down Rap Memory Lane – “Ruffhouse” Reviewed”
Categories
Hip-Hop Music Rap

A Decade of Slaughterhouse

“Soon as I hold a pen I co-defend the sickest MCs”

August 11, 2009.

I walked into the FYE in the Gallery at Market East in Philly and headed straight for the new releases section. I had already gone digital with my iPod Classic but a new album dropped that day and I wanted an actual physical CD.

Continue reading “A Decade of Slaughterhouse”