By Justin Lee
Jay-Z and DMX are easily two of the most successful mc’sin hip-hop today, having risen victoriously from the underground-status to the forefront in the last couple of years. After a couple of multi-platinum albums each, headlining the most successful tour in hip-hop history (1999’s The Hardknock Life Tour) and dabbling in acting, "Jigga" and "Y"… Continue reading Vol. 3…Life And Times Of S. Carter — Jay-Z
West Manhattan’s night club, The Tunnel, is notorious for many things–from the outrageous cover (up to $75 on any given night) and A-list celebrities mingling with blue-collar folk; to the heavy-use of drugs and highly sexual environment. However, one aspect that tends to be overlooked is the crucial role The Tunnel played in the rise… Continue reading The Tunnel — Funkmaster Flex & Big Kap
By Justin Lee
Movie soundtracks are traditionally reserved for the moldy leftovers that lurk somewhere at the back of an artist’s refrigerator or musical archive. Next Friday is no different, with the exception of gems offered by Pharoah Monch, Wu-Tang Clan and, are you ready for this, a brand new track from the original gangstas of Compton, NWA–sort… Continue reading Next Friday Soundtrack — Various Artists
Coming fresh off the success of 1998’s Enter Dru Hill, frontman Sisqó is the first Dru Hill member to release a solo album. Coinciding albums from fellow members Nokio, Woody and Jazz, are expected to drop later this year. At best, Unleash The Dragon is an uninspired effort that fails to expand the current state… Continue reading Unleash the Dragon — Sisqó
Primus is back, but with a different approach on their new CD, Antipop. The release finds frontman Les Claypool going back to the band’s first full-length CD, Frizzle Fry, for a heavier sound. His muse, turns out to be Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine). Morrello guests on three of Antipop’s 13 tracks, adding his… Continue reading Antipop — Primus
By Shawn Hoult
They are referred to as the hardest working band in hip-hop today and with the release of their first live album, it’s easy to see why. On Come Alive, The Roots show a kind of energy usually reserved for stars of the rock and roll genre. The album opens with the intro to a concert… Continue reading Come Alive
By Mike Carron
On his solo debut album, MOs Def gives listeners a run for their money. His earlier project Black Star, with Talib Kweli, took the hip-hop world and its critics by storm. MOs Def returns with an album sure to please fans and win some new ones. In a time when it seems like everyone who… Continue reading Mos Def – Black on Both Sides
Blending rock, rap, ska, funk, punk and pop, DDT’s latest offering, Urban Observer, deserves respect for its diversity. This quality is DDT’s greatest strength. Unfortunately, Urban Observer invites too many comparisons with artists more melodically savvy than DDT. At their worst, on songs such as "Pistol Whip" and "I Can’t Take My Eyes off You,"… Continue reading Try it again, Sam
By Bebe Vocong
Here Comes the Bride, the Spin Doctors’ latest album could not be a more appropriate title for this New York band’s fourth effort. It is the name of the first track on the CD and epitomizes the music and new image of this Grammy-nominated band. "Something old/… something new/… something borrowed/and something blue." The old… Continue reading Simply smashing
This four member Vancouver based band has an edgy quality. They sound as if they want to be categorized in the same manner as Bush, but with one big difference-they lack the allure. I will admit they can create melodious tunes with fabulous rhythm, but combined with repetitive lyrics and inane vocals, this music loses… Continue reading Threadbare band