Posted on 07/28/2009
To listen to Chali 2NA’s Fish Outta Water is to listen to the story of a man who has triumphed over several obstacles in his life: a tour bus crash that fractured his skull, the pain of tragically losing a close family member, and the struggles of separation from the mother of his son. On 2NA’s long-awaited solo debut, the former Jurassic 5 emcee installed the help of some high-powered...

Posted on 07/28/2009
By definition, a revolution is characterized by a sudden change in power or abrupt shift in organizational structure. A Bronx poet declared 38 years ago that the revolution would not be televised. Prior to that, a group of British icons sarcastically asked the masses if they wanted a revolution. The latest proclamation of revolt comes from a collective of Cuban producers, aptly titled The Revolution, whose mission is to bridge...

Posted on 07/28/2009
Say what you want about Xzibit (yo dawg!) but he deserves only respect for his prominent support of the West Coast. Even more so when it’s for such an album as diametrically opposed to his own oeuvre as Owl Hours. He’s the executive producer here and drops a reassuringly offensive verse on “Brains Out,” but his presence shouldn’t distract from Awol One and Factor’s achievement in creating one of the...

Posted on 07/14/2009
In the case of Major Lazer, the inter-continental collaboration between Philly's Diplo and London's Switch, there's plenty reason to judge them based on the cover for their first album Guns Don't Kill People, Lazers Do! The imposing figure of Major Lazer, the lazer-armed Jamaican commando who's spirit guides the ambitious project, dominates a landscape populated with mummies, zombies and oversized speakers painted in bright comic book colors. It's textbook overindulgence,...

Posted on 07/14/2009
There was a brief moment in the mainstream when originality in hip-hop was both praised and expected. As time has proven, the public is concerned less with uniqueness and more so with the easily accessible. This disdain for innovation gave way for the underground to grow its numbers and challenge the listeners at every turn. Many of the artists who took the charge have failed more often than succeeded. There...

Posted on 07/14/2009
Oftentimes when we hear the name “Marley,” the dreadlock-swinging, soul song-singing martyr comes to mind. Despite the fact that Bob Marley is no longer with us, the legacy that he created through his numerous musical contributions is still alive and well. The influence he left on the world is evident with the newer branches on the Marley family tree, most recently Julian Marley. His latest offering, Awake, tackles the numerous...