Posted on 10/21/2009
There’s a particularly good episode of South Park where Canada goes on strike to get more appreciation for its numerous contributions to the world. The gag is of course that nobody (apart from Terrance and Philip devotees) notices. Just as you might say nobody really pays much mind to Canadian hip-hop. But with Drake and K-os in the vanguard, and this fine record from Tona and Lyve now out there,...

Posted on 10/21/2009
When KRS-One proclaimed: “we will be here forever,” to set off his 1993 classic, Return of the Boom-Bap, the words reverberated with more than just the bombast of the Blast Master’s baritone. In the face of necessary artistic expansion, as well as corrosive commercialism, the teacha was letting it be known that Hip-Hop, the boombox and breakbeat real shit, would find a way to survive. Sixteen years later, arrives Survival...

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Posted on 10/21/2009
In a time where dense lyrics and layered production have taken back seats to simplicity on both fronts, it is indeed refreshing to note that the underground movement in Hip Hop continues to propel itself forward by not remaining stagnant. The phase of so-called “conscious” rap has long been pushed to the side in favor of more easily digestible fare. However, groups such as Scienz of Life have continued to...

Posted on 10/12/2009
Raekwon had heard the fans ask him to return to his roots, to deliver another dose of hardcore “crack rap,” — a staple that made his 1995 debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx such a classic. That album, commonly referred to as “the purple tape,” was a straight-up raw piece of East coast hip-hop. Fast forward to now, and Raekwon has cooked up Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt. II,...

Posted on 10/12/2009
If George Clinton had booted more heroin and smoked less crack back in the day, he might have churned out something like this. That’s not to say that drugged-out allegory should dismiss the artistic merit of Nuclear Evolution. Sa-Ra’s new double album is a layer cake soundscape; mad noises joined forces to effectuate an aural opiate rush. Fans of Koushik or The Love Below should feel at home but for...

Posted on 10/12/2009
Boy Meets World is likely to garner a certain amount of attention simply due to the presence of Exile, an established and increasingly well-regarded Californian producer who can now add Fashawn’s debut to his résumé. While it’s true that Exile brings a lot to this album via his distinct instrumental style, it is no less true that the Bay Area MC is up to the challenge, having summoned up a...