Wyclef Jean's long-awaited sophomore album delivers. Though it's less poppy than "The Carnival," Wyclef continues to revel in his beats-beyond- borders ideology, to the advantage of open-minded hip-hop fans everywhere.
"Backstage Mixtape"
DJ Clue
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The "psychic DJ," tastemaker DJ Clue is back with another exclusive mixtape that features Jay-Z, TLC's T-Boz, and Da Brat, among many others.
"Pimp to Eat"
Analog Brothers
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Ice-T and Kool Keith may seem like an odd couple, superficially: Keith's the space cadet rhyme fiend, while Ice-T's the straightforward original gangsta. But they actually have a lot in common, especially pimping. Their antidigital manifesto is both quirky and effective.
"Soulmates"
Nobody
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Nobody's "Soulmates" is a beautifully constructed, mostly instrumental hip-hop album. It's hypnotic, intelligent ear candy.
GREATEST HITS
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Two hip-hop icons, both of whom have demonstrated longevity
in the usually short-lived rap fame game, have just released
greatest-hits packages. The Edutainer and the Original
Gangsta, though their styles and messages are very
different, have both been outspoken advocates of hip-hop
since they started in the late '80s.
"A Retrospective"
KRS-One
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One of the most powerful political prophets in hip-hop, KRS-One was able to marry his revolutionary ideas with extremely funky beats. From his work with Boogie Down Productions to his solo career, it's all here. A must for every serious hip-hop fan.
"Greatest Hits: The Evidence"
Ice-T
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Pimpin' may not be easy, but Ice-T's been able to make a living at it for quite some time. Ice-T is the blueprint for the rap Mafioso, but he was more articulate and intelligent than most of the copycats he inspired. Classics like "Pusherman" and "New Jack Hustler" paint potent pictures of the life of a West Side gangsta.
"G.O.A.T."
LL Cool J
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LL Cool J is one of the very few in rap who can aspire to the title of Greatest of All Time. From his days as a rap phenomenon/teenage heartthrob to his multiple "don't call it a" comebacks, every time we think Mr. Smith is finished, he proves us wrong. And with "G.O.A.T." he may do it again.
"South Central Thynk Taynk"
Abstract Tribe Unique
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"South Central Thynk Taynk" is a great, groove-heavy album. They may be "underground," but Abstract Rude's Los Angeles crew creates luscious beats and rhymes that the world should hear.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
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"Dirty Harriet"
Rah Digga
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With a voice that's strong enough for a man, but made by a woman, New Jersey MC Rah Digga roars onto the rap scene. Her debut, "Dirty Harriet" is chock full of the tightest of rhymes, as well as ace production by Pete Rock and DJ Premier, among others; it rocks with the self-assurance of a young MC Lyte. One of the most promising debuts of the year.
BARGAIN BRILLIANCE
******************
"Blowout Comb"
Digable Planets
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After their shiny, (mostly) happy debut, "Reachin'," the Digable Planets took their jazz thing to the dark side on "Blowout Comb." A genius, criminally underrated album, "Blowout Comb" is musically and lyrically ambitious--and it works. A must-have.
REVOLUTIONARY RAP
*****************
Racism. Poverty. Drugs. Crime. Rap has been political since
acts like the Last Poets and Gil Scott Heron invented
it. Remember Radio Raheem's boombox blasting Public Enemy's
"Fight the Power" in Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing"? He
wasn't the only one. In those days, everybody was bumping
P.E., even if they didn't give a damn about politics. Why?
Because the Bomb Squad's beats were so funky. These days,
most popular rappers aren't concerning themselves with
revolution: they're trying to either look hard, or look
rich, or both. You might not have heard of them, but here's
a list of some of the newer artists who are making raptivism
sound good.
"Black on Both Sides"
Mos Def
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Every time Mos Def picks up a microphone, it glows. Though he has a reputation as a "conscious rapper," this debut ain't soft. It's hardcore intelligence, both intensely personal and political, and features rugged beats by the likes of DJ Premier. The best hip-hop album of 1999.
"Steal This Album"
The Coup
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Have you ever heard a rapper talk about his broken-down 1980 Honda Accord? While other rappers are talking about their shiny new whips (before they get repossessed), the Coup's Boots Riley is telling it like it is. Funny, funky, political, and honest, on "Steal this Album" Oakland's the Coup kicks it for the regular people who've never seen a real Rolex, but still know what time it is.
"The Unbound Project Vol. 1"
V/A
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This compilation was created in support of U.S. death-row inmate Mumia Abu Jamal, but with rock-solid appearances by everyone from the Dilated Peoples to Zack La Rocha (of Rage Against the Machine, on the ace posse cut "Mumia 911"), it's a good investment for the music alone.
ARTIST TOP 10
*************
In a recent phone interview with Amazon.com editor Lizz
Mendez Berry, dead prez's M-1 broke down his all-time top
10. Check out the music that inspires this revolutionary
rapper.
1. "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"
Public Enemy
CDs ON Sale!
2. "This Is Madness"
Last Poets
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3. "Sign O' the Times"
Prince
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4. "Legalize It"
Peter Tosh
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5. "Survival"
Bob Marley
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6. "More Time"
Linton Kwesi Johnson
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7. "What's Going On"
Marvin Gaye
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8. "2Pacalypse Now"
Tupac
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9. "Electric Ladyland"
Jimi Hendrix
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10. "Straight Outta Compton"
N.W.A
CDs ON Sale!
Mase "Double Up" Check it out HERE!
JT MONEY "Pimping On Wax" Check it out HERE!
Blackalicious "A2g" Check it out HERE!
Amazing 303 King : Phunky, Jul 19 Check it out HERE!
Black Dave : Next Stop The Ghetto, Jul 13 Check it out HERE!
Crazy : Please Don't Kill Me, Jul 13 Check it out HERE!
Epmd : Out Of Business/Greatest Hits, Jul 20 Check it out HERE!
Epmd : Out Of Business, Jul 20 Check it out HERE!
Epmd : Out Of Business, Jul 20 Check it out HERE!
Evil Tambourines : Library Nation, Jul 20 Check it out HERE!
Fifty-Fifth & Koree Blunt : Bustback, Jul 13 Check it out HERE!
Gang Starr : Full Clip-A Decade Of Gang Sta, Jul 13 Check it out HERE!
Lil' Cease : Wonderful World Of Cease A Leo, Jul 13 Check it out HERE!
Lil' Cease : Wonderful World Of Cease A Leo, Jul 13 Check it out HERE!
Lil' Keke : It Was All A Dream, Jul 14 Check it out HERE!
Public Enemy : There's A Poison Goin On..., Jul 20 Check it out HERE!
Roots : You Got Me, Jul 20 Check it out HERE!
Sporty Thievz : Street Cinema, Jul 20 Check it out HERE!
Street Military : Don't Give A Damn Ep, Jul 13 Check it out HERE!
Too Short : Can't Stay Away, Jul 13 Check it out HERE!
Too Short : Can't Stay Away, Jul 13 Check it out HERE!
VA-Black Gangster : Black Gangster, Jul 13 Check it out HERE!
VA-Black Gangster : Black Gangster, Jul 13 Check it out HERE!
VA-Sugar Hill Records Story : Sugar Hill Records Story, Jul 20 Check it out HERE!