Posted by Anupa Mistry on 05/07/2008 5:18 PM
Brian Burton, a.k.a Danger Mouse, is two for two in 2008.
With the spotlight trained on him as Cee-lo's odd couplet within the sombre, psychedelica of Gnarls Barkley, Danger Mouse confirms that this will be his year as producer of the Black Keys' fifth record Attack & Release. And while it's one in a line of well-received releases for the Akron, Ohio-based blues rock duo (Patrick Carney, drums and Dan... Read more...

Posted by Justin Deremo on 05/07/2008 5:10 PM
We know somewhere in the back of our minds that Shawn Lee must sleep, even if his release schedule suggests otherwise. With Christmas and pop-cover albums yapping at our heels, it’s a little surprising to realize that Miles of Styles is only the first Ping Pong Orchestra release of 2008. As one of the most visible figures operating in a style comparable to the jazz producer/arrangers of the... Read more...

Posted by Eavvon O'Neal on 05/07/2008 5:08 PM
Okay, we get it! Naming your album Lighter Subjects when its context revolves around some of the most difficult elements of life (love, loss, etc) is kinda clever. Kinda. But still, we have to be able to digest it. Costa Music (aka Joseph Costa), seems dedicated to clever ideas, and for our sake, this diligence crosses over to his music as well. Expansive structure and intelligent use of a range... Read more...

Posted by Jeff Artist on 05/07/2008 5:00 PM
reSearch reps the Holy Ridaz click of Harriman, Tennessee. Probably some bible-thumping, sermon-humping, holier than thou ‘ish, right? Naw, not really. “Christian Rap” is a pretty unfortunate title in some cases. Ever heard of Mars Ill? Anyway, God is most definitely in the mix (but no more than Allah on a Brand Nubian jam) and reSearch is a good enough lyricist. The production on Identity Theft is proper, good... Read more...

Posted by Nick McClure on 05/07/2008 4:56 PM
Sheek Louch (pronounced "Looch" for those wondering) is one of the founders of the Lox and D-Block. His latest release Silverback Gorilla is much of the same thug rap as his previous two solo debuts with a few introspective tracks thrown in the mix.

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Posted by D.L. Chandler on 05/06/2008 3:32 PM
North Carolina producer 9th Wonder (formerly of Little Brother) and New York MC Buckshot (Boot Camp Click, Black Moon) joined forces in 2005 to release one of the more anticipated pieces of work from that year in Chemistry . Well received by fans and critics alike, the union inspired more 9th Wonder pairings with Duck Down artists such as Sean Price and others. The duo join forces again for... Read more...