Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nuthin’ to fuck with! From December 2007. Live rap is rarely great (and this ain’t either), but it’s often interesting (and this is). A few tastes, then a zip. Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’ Wit Da Mystery of Chessboxin’ Fish (Ghostface) Duel of the Iron Mic (GZA) It’s Yourz Liquid Swords [...]

I was gonna start this post by writing, “I listen to a lot of rap . . .” But the truth is, I listen to rap a lot, but not a lot of different rappers. Most rap I hear doesn’t move me–especially the rap I find in my mailbox. Which is why Distrakt was such [...]

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost of major-label hip hop. I’m splitting this entry between all three albums, because each offers something special but all three are, at bottom, no better than industry rap. I don’t say that like it’s a bad thing—you won’t find a bigger fan than me of The Black Album – [...]

6. The Features-Contrast (Review). I can’t express myself on these guys any better than I did the last time I wrote about them. I’m a huge, huge fan of this band and have been for years. (And by huge fan, I don’t mean I’m fat. I mean they’re great!) Contrast 5. Illinois-What The Hell Do [...]

Consider this an early gimme list for Santa: The ten albums I’m most looking forward during the last quarter of ’07. 1. FOO FIGHTERS-“Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace.” I already got it scheduled for preorder, so technically I don’t need Mr. Kringle’s help here, but I’ve loved every one of this band’s albums and I [...]

Brother Ali is truly amazing. Not only has he released what is likely the best rap album of the year so far, but now he’s released the best mixtape of the year as well! Apparently, though, there’s no way to get your hands on it unless you were lucky enough to get one of the [...]

As promised . . . 1. Hey Ya-Low 2. Hey Ya-Fuzz 3. Hey Ya-Ryan Miller. An awesome acoustic alt-country version. 4. Hey Ya-Supersuckers. 5. Hey Ya-Starbuck of Ekoostik Hookah 6. Hey Ya-Drive By Truckers 7. Hey Ya-Razorlight 8. Hey Ya-Weeping Tile 9. Hey Ya-The New Amsterdams 10. If you can figure out why I selected [...]

Sometime in the mid-1970s, Afrika Bambaataa was kicking out a brand new sound up in the Bronx, while down at CBGBs punk was being created by Richard Hell, Blondie, The Ramones, and The Talking Heads. Although they were scared, a few of the white folks were taken across to the Bronx, to see what the [...]

2007 finally gets another great mixtape! This year has been, in my view, a disappointing one for hip hop, particularly mixtapes. There’s been some good stuff, for sure: Back in January, Ghostface dropped More Fish, but that was mostly leftovers, and Haystak and Jae Millz gave decent albums. But only NaS provided a record that [...]