1. The Roots - How I Got Over

Tentative Release Date:  Spring/2010

Producers/Collaborators: Phonte (of Little Brother), Blu, Cody Chesnutt

What We Know: The Roots are set to release their ninth studio album How I Got Over. The album title comes from a Mahalia Jackson gospel song of the same name. The band has described the new LP as upbeat, funky with political influences. The title track was first premiered on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in June 2009. According to ?uestlove, Phonte recorded three to five tracks for the album. Here’s hoping the live version of “How I Got Over” makes the final cut it because its clearly superior to the studio version. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s no secret that hip-hop is in constant motion – it changes year to year. Emerging technologies combined with the fickle needs and wants of the industry, the artists, and the fans, all play a role in shaping our musical world. Some of the changes to the hip-hop scene have been, well, less than desirable (see: the decline of radio rap). However, the past ten years, 2000-2009, still held releases of some of the most creative and unique hip-hop albums of all time, with an ever-expanding range of sub-genres. Traditional hip-hop rooted in the golden age of the ’90s was certainly alive and well, but it was sharing chart space with newer, progressive styles. That said, we have compiled a list of our 25 favorite hip-hop albums from the past ten years, as a form of celebrating the musical diversity in hip-hop from the decade that was.

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Album Review: 50 Cent – Before I Self Destruct (2009)
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Potholes

Buy Now! 50 Cent – Before I Self-Destruct

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Hip-hop has been around for nearly thirty years now. However, its still feels very young at its core. Whiles many emcees have graduated to have success some are just college dropouts with no plan for what’s next. In a genre of music that has no set rules it also seems to be void of maturity in the process. The idea of hip-hop and “growing up” feels like something of an oxymoron when you look at the current music landscape and its future. Very few emcees are willing to take that music past frivolous beefs/feuding, actually becoming successful as artists and making music that doesn’t compromise who they are. In hip-hop for some reason that feels unrealistic? Music is supposed to inspire, how come we ain’t getting no higher? © Lauryn Hill

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Welcome to the weekly rundown where we (soulsupreme and Marty) provide you with our top ten headlines for the week that was.

1. Shyne to be released from prison and possibly deported. Lookout Diddy, Shyne is coming home. The real question is will he deported back to Belize or not.  I don’t like the way P. Diddy did Shyne with different lawyers © Nas
2. The Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch feels ‘hopeful’ about cancer treatment. After a year full of deaths, we’re happy to report some good news from the Beastie Boys. We’re hoping for a speedy recovery.
3. Jay-Z wins MTV’s Hottest MC of the year, Eminem not included on the top 10 list. MTV sucks, ’nuff said. Seriously, there’s nothing else to say about this without stooping to MTV’s level of shittiness. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the weekly rundown where we (soulsupreme and Marty) provide you with our top ten headlines for the week that was.

1. R.I.P. DJ AM. I can’t say we’re really up on DJ AM, but he was a huge influence on many artists like DJ Premier, DJ Jazzy Jeff, John Mayer and Questlove. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends at this time.
2. Drake – Forever (Feat Eminem, Kanye West & Lil Wayne). We’re happy for his success, but the music he’s making is uninteresting. It’s the same mainstream hip-hop we won’t remember a year from now.
3. N*E*R*D to add a female R&B vocalist. N*E*R*D is a dope alternative rock group, but if the new music sounds anything like BEP with Fergie >>>FAIL. The only female they should be adding to that group is Santigold. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the weekly rundown where we (soulsupreme and Marty) provide you with our top ten headlines for the week that was.

1. Jay-Z releases Blueprint 3 final track listing. With so much fanfare, we sure hope it’s a good album. Promotion is bordering on overkill at this point.
2. DJ Scratch versus DJ Premier in the park. Hip-hop outdoors in the park with two legends on the turntables. It doesn’t get any better than that.
3. Peter Bjorn and John “rapper feature” remix mixtape. Another remix project? While the lineup looks nice and PB&J are some talented cats, we would prefer some original material from everyone involved instead. That doesn’t mean we won’t give this a spin, though. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the weekly rundown where we (soulsupreme and Marty) provide you with our top ten headlines for the week that was.

1. R.I.P. Baatin of Slum Village. The details surrounding his death are still unclear since we received the news yesterday. We just lost another founding member of Slum Village. It’s also sad because Slum Village were set reunite for the a new LP dropping in September. Our condolences go out to his family at this time.
2. Jay-Z replaces The Beastie Boys at the All Points West music festival. He covered the Beasties classic “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” then sequenced into “Brooklyn (We Go Hard)”. The video footage is dope.
3. Drake injured during concert fall. An episode of Degrassi or real life? He really does have a bad knee…lol Read the rest of this entry »

Album Review: Royce Da 5′9″ – The Revival EP (2009)
Rating: 4 out of 5 Potholes

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Album Review: Alchemist – Chemical Warfare (2009)
Rating: 4 out of 5 potholes

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