Artists
Akir first entered the hip-hop scene as an on-air personality with WNMH 97.9 (Mass.) from 1994 to 1996. In 1998, he ranked 2nd out of 50 in Howard University’s Verbal Armageddon, MC competition. Akir sought to improve his musical talent and… (Read More)
In today’s super-crowded rap game, it’s not too hard to forget who paved the way for the “players” of today, but in order to really “keep it real,” the truth must be told. Before the rise of the Notorious B.I.G. and… (Read More)
Bionik Brown is the ultimate DIY artist. Not many others have been able to tour nationally and internationally and move thousands of cd’s without major label push. Bionik is the artist, the CEO and the street team (all in one incredibly… (Read More)
Robert Houston II (born March 24, 1980), popularly known as Black Pegasus or by a variety of nicknames (Black – P, The Black Mexican), is a Hip-Hop artist and current President and CEO of Brass Knuckle Ent. He is the most… (Read More)
Self-described “everyday brothers,” the Bay Area native Xavier Mosley (Chief Xcel) met the San Fernando Valley native Tim Parker (Gift of Gab) at John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento, California in 1987, and immediately struck up a friendship over hip-hop… (Read More)
In homage to hip-hop’s empirical formula – one DJ & one MC, and duos such as Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Gangstarr and Blackalicious, the Blue Scholars embody the chemistry that made these groups so consistent not only on wax, but… (Read More)
Brother Ali has no reservations in saying that he’s “trying to be one of the greatest of all time” (on the Molemen track “Life Sentence”). Inspired by golden era legends like KRS-One and Rakim, this undisputed Master of Ceremony began rapping… (Read More)
Coming to you from the historical streets of Detroit, Michigan, Critical Bill is the latest offering in a long legacy of musical Innovators from the Motor City. This five piece urban rock outfit features Powerdise on vocals (son of Motown legend… (Read More)
With what Spin Magazine calls “Outkast’s tragicomic poignancy”, Deacon The Villain and Kno follow in the footsteps of artists like Goodie Mob, Witchdocter, Ya’ll So Stupid, Geto Boys and the aforementioned ‘Kast, as well as recent southern indie artists such as… (Read More)
De La Soul is a Grammy-award winning hip hop group from Long Island, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling and quirky, surreal lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap subgenre. The members are… (Read More)
That voice is unmistakable, so just be glad that Debbie Harry isn’t going anywhere. The lead singer for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Blondie is back with her Eleven Seven Music/ADA debut, Necessary Evil, her sixth solo album, and… (Read More)
Hailing from Oakland, California, Del and his crew, the Hieroglyphics came out as a markedly non-gansta response to a burgeoning West Coast scene. After being put on at the tender age of 17 by his cousin Ice Cube, Del released two… (Read More)
Texas rapper, Devin the Dude has been a guilty pleasure of hip-hop since he and his Odd Squad hit the scene in the early 90’s. Known for his homegrown blend of the lighter side of reality, the rapper returns with his… (Read More)
As hip-hop culture (DJing, MCing, b-boying, graffiti art and beatboxing) evolved in the late 1970s and early 1980s, two things were hallmarks of the movement: DJing and lyrical excellence. In the last several years, no rap group has done more to… (Read More)
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Dirt Nasty started rappin’ on karaoke machines at the age of 14. He grew up listening to Too Short, Geto Boys, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Terence Trent D’Arby, and Sade. Never having a father figure… (Read More)
One third of the influential L.A. hip-hop group Dilated Peoples, Evidence was born Michael Perretta in Los Angeles, relocating from Santa Monica to Venice Beach with his mother when he was six, after his parents’ divorce. Though Evidence was heavily into… (Read More)
As one of the original members of the seminal ‘90s rap crew the Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah (aka Tony Starks) made an impact before he released his debut album, Ironman, late in 1996. Like all members of the Wu-Tang Clan, the… (Read More)
Introducing…..the new and improved Guru, Version 7.0. Guru reinvented is nothing nice so don’t let the boyish, good looks fools you. This upgrade comes with 10 times the wit and the physical attributes to smoke stages across the globe. High-energy performances… (Read More)
The Oakland-based Hieroglyphics are an underground rap collective who, at their best, combine an offbeat sensibility with a strong grounding in battle rhyming, freestyling, and other hip-hop traditions. All the members enjoy their own separate careers—founder Del tha Funkee… (Read More)
Born Tracy Morrow in Newark, New Jersey in 1959, rapper / musician / actor / activist Ice-T was raised in the gang-infested, pimp-heavy streets of South Central, Los Angeles. He became immersed in both cultures, and began rapping about his daily… (Read More)
Born in a military hospital in South America, Immortal Technique was brought to the United States in the early 80’s while a civil war was breaking out in his native Peru. The US supported puppet democracy and Guerilla factions were locked… (Read More)
“We’re an electronic band,” affirms Amit “Duvdev” Duvedevani, singer and co-founder of the Israel-bred, Los Angeles-based psy-trance duo Infected Mushroom, “but when we became a full live band onstage, the reaction was so powerful that we knew we were inventing something… (Read More)
When Chicago native Jabari Evans began developing his literary gift in elementary school, he’d write short stories, poems, and anything else that would come to mind. By fifteen, he was deep into what would turn out to be his first published… (Read More)
What if a young woman could storm the rap world with a fresh sound and a hard-hitting message? What if her songs were so catchy and thought-provoking they had your feet fighting your brain for dominance? What if she proved… (Read More)
VURSATYL and JUMBO the Garbageman, the MCs and heartbeat of LIFESAVAS, were drawn together by fate and necessity. They first met playing basketball and rippin’ freestyling sessions in Portland, Oregon city parks. Working different projects out of the same makeshift studio… (Read More)
The evolution of Lyfe Jennings was bound to happen. With his authentic, soulful voice, innovative, creative style and undeniable talent, Lyfe is ready for a change. He’s ready to establish an even deeper connection with his fans and garner new ones… (Read More)
Mac Lethal thinks Nikes are obscenely trendy. He also wears them from time to time. After putting in over a decade of hip-hop elbow grease; he one day realized he has put entirely too much time into honing his craft. The… (Read More)
With a childhood rough enough to guarantee him rock star success, by the time he was out of his teenage years—at least according to the few details he’s given—Mickey Avalon had sold pot (with his mother), been… (Read More)
He is the only rapper with his own music festival. Each album he releases sells more than its predecessor. He toured the world without having a major record deal. So, there’s a reason why independent rap stalwart Murs decided to name… (Read More)
