Posted on 09/29/2005

 

Mixed Blessings is a very interesting reggae-influenced album from the British artist who goes by the name of Lotek Hi-Fi. The music itself is not just reggae or dancehall; there's slight hints of hip hop weaving in and out of the mix as well. But this slight hint is what drags the album down.

Posted on 09/28/2005

 

New York’s Pumpkinhead has been a presence in the underground circuit for years, cutting tracks with his crews Brooklyn Academy and the Plague as well as collaborating with artists like Immortal Technique and Jean Grae. Unfortunately, longevity and reputation alone are not enough to boost a lackluster album out of the doldrums.

Posted on 09/28/2005

 

Bizzy, for those with more important things to pay attention to, is now truly "solo", having been kicked out of Bone Thugs in 2002. Now, in addition to starting his own web "reality show" (just what you needed, right?) to be streamed only on allhiphop.com, he has spit forth the fifth album under his own name.

Posted on 09/27/2005

 

In retrospect, it's pretty shocking that a hip hop record like Blazing Arrow was released on a major label in 2002. As many compromises as there were (and they were present in the form of Ben Harper and Jaguar Wright, amongst others), it was still a very artistic offering that was more concerned with quality than having a hit, despite having a very accessible, relatively polished sound. And that pretty much sums up Blackalicious. This is what makes the duo's latest, The Craft, kind of shocking.

Posted on 09/27/2005

 

Memphis, Tennessee's Three 6 Mafia has been a staple of southern hip hop since the group's breakout "Tear Da Club Up" in 1997. Known for their sinister production and horror-core style, Three 6 differed from artists like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and the Gravediggaz by injecting a distinct southern influence by chanting and call-and-response choruses that preceded most of the current crunk rappers.

Posted on 09/26/2005

 

After hearing "Florida", the sixth track on Grandaddy's new EP, I sent a fun-song-alert email to five of my friends. Full of snide, satirical lyrics backed by good-times jangle-core, the song will definitely find itself on a few mixtapes I'm making for college girls working at Barnes & Noble. The rest of the EP sounds like broke-dick Flaming Lips.