Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon: The End of the Day
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 25,041 views

Cleveland native Scott Mescudi, aka Kid Cudi, first got his break in the hip hop scene with his popular single “Day and Nite” back in 2008. About a year later, after featuring on Kanye’s 808 & Heartbreaks and Jay Z’s Blueprint 3, Cudi has finally released his first, and possibly last, solo album, Man on [...]

Zion-I – The Takeover
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 10,517 views

Words: Jesse Ducker
The Zion I crew has always been adept at creating hip-hop that melds a vast array of musical styles. Their ability to create music that draws from an eclectic group of influences, but still sounds unique, is one of the things that has made Zion I Bay Area icons. The Takeover, the group’s [...]

San Quinn – From a Boy to a Man
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 5,876 views

Words: Evan KideraSan Quinn started his career off as “The Young Baby Boy” at the age of 14 in 1991 and 17 years later he has connected the dots between a baby and grown folk with the release of his newest album, From A Boy To A Man. Quinn is definitely one of those artists [...]

E-40 – The Ball Street Journal
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 6,480 views

Words: Evan KideraE-40 has done it again with The Ball Street Journal. The Ambassador of the Yay’s newest album will tickle most listeners’ eardrums with its back 2 back shhlappers! Every beat dumps and E-40 is on point as a freshly sharpened pencil. Now with the backing of Warner Brothers Records, 40 filled his record [...]

Beeda Weeda – Da Thizness
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 7,126 views

Words: Ben HopferI have some mixed feelings about Beeda Weeda’s new album Da Thizzness. On one hand Beeda is easily one of the best upcoming stars of the Bay Area’s rap scene, but at the same time Da Thizzness as a complete album is just too predictable. The album follows almost all the rap albums [...]

Lyrics Born – Everywhere At Once
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 5,613 views

Words: Ben Hopfer
What happens when a hip-hop artist outgrows hip-hop? If you Lyrics Born you expand your sound to include funk, neo-soul, and elements of world music. Don’t think that this isn’t a hip-hop album, it’s just that Everywhere at Once is so much more than that. Lyrics Born has always stood out to me [...]

Killer Mike – I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind II
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 5,166 views

Words: Ben Hopfer
I was fiending for this album ever since I first heard he was making a follow-up to I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind. Thank god it doesn’t disappoint. Right from the Intro, Killer Mike lets you know what this album is about, intelligent lyrics over sick as fuck beats. Killer Mike calls this [...]

Yukmouth – Million Dollar Mouthpiece
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 6,592 views

Words: Jordan HamiltonOh you heard about beef, rumors, label trouble and nationwide hate. Stop. Chill. No real listeners care. Yuk’s Million Dollar Mouthpiece is ready. That’s what matters. And yes, it was supposed to come out three years ago. But the way I see it that just gives us Section 8 all-stars enough time to [...]

Snoop Dogg – Ego Trippin’
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 5,831 views

Words Jordan Hamilton
Some hear the single “Sensual Seduction” and immediately think, “Wow, Snoop’s trippin’.” Others, me being one of them, respect how his love of music allows him to have fun and make some party music. Laugh if you want, but Snoop is an O.G. If he pulled up in his Porsche in front of [...]

The Grouch – Show You The World
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 5,536 views

Words Ben Hopfer
As one of the most prolific members of the Living Legends collective, The Grouch has always been a unique character in Hip-hop. Having put out quality music independently since ’96, Show You The World is no different. Being known for his intelligent rhymes with conscious lyrics in addition to his ego, The Grouch [...]

Too $hort – Get Off The Stage
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 5,294 views

Words Jordan Hamilton
In the late 1980

The Federation – It’s Whateva
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 5,401 views

Words: Jordan Hamilton
Lets pretend for a minute you never heard the term hyphy, and everything associated with the term is thrown out the window too. I’m talking a blank slate. No preconceptions. Now, press play. When listening to It’s Whateva, the sophomore album from The Federation, you’re hearing an experiment in sound by super producer [...]

Kafani – Money’s My Motivation
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 6,714 views

Words: Jordan HamiltonWith some help from DJ Montay and Amp Live’s high-energy production, Kafani’s first solo album Money’s My Motivation will have listeners breaking a serious sweat this winter. Drawing national attention, the Oakland rapper’s hit single “Fast (Like a Nascar),” serves as an appropriate appetizer for the rest of the album. Packed with party [...]

The Frontline – Lock and Left
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 3,970 views

Words: Jordan HamiltonFor those of you still trying to figure out

Messy Marv and Mitchy Slick – Messy Slick
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 6,470 views

Words: Jordan Hamilton
In an interview last year with Messy Marv, he told me his career as a rapper may be nearing an end. Fresh out the clink, he sounded bored as an artist and said it was time for

Too $hort & Friends – I Love The Bay
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 5,116 views

Words: Jordan Hamilton
Ready to ride with Short on a trip thick with drugs, fetti and sex? Well you’re going to have to take the wheel because Short Dawg’s hands are full if you know what I mean. On the way up the 101 Freeway exit East on University and hear the Hoodstarz speak on the [...]

Turf Talk – West Coast Vaccine (The Cure)
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 5,490 views

Sick Wid It Records
Words: Jordan Hamilton
Regardless of your opinion concerning the current state of rap music on the left side, the West Coast Vaccine (The Cure) is now available at your local pharmacy for under $20. Sometimes the best albums take the longest to come out. After much anticipation Turf Talk’s long awaited sophomore album [...]

Tha Dogg Pound – Dogg Chit
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 5,704 views

Koch Records
Words: Jordan Hamilton
The Dogg Pound returns in 2007 with an album cover resembling that of their 1995 release Dogg Food as a reminder that things have changed but nothings different. On Dogg Chit, the Long Beach Eastside Insane and Rollin’ 60′s Gangster get together for some true blue gangster music. Hard hitting beats from [...]

Evidence – The Weatherman
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 6,319 views

Words: Kyle Wulff
Caught between stunted traditionalism and the post-hyphy west coast resurgence, L.A. native Evidence seeks to establish himself with his commendable if unsteady 2007 solo debut The Weatherman LP. He enlists the likes of Sid Roams and Alchemist to handle the bulk of the production, who together construct a slow and chaotic musical backdrop [...]

Mistah F.A.B. – The Baydestrian
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 8,268 views

SMC/Thizz
Words: Jordan Hamilton
Following-up his sophomore release Son of a Pimp (2005) won’t be easy, but momentum is behind the conductor of the Yellow Bus. Following his attention grabbing MTV Jam of The Week “Ghost Ride It” there’s no better time for Mistah F.A.B. to drop an album.
The Baydestrian follows a formula similar to that of [...]

A-Plus – My Last Good Deed
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 4,702 views

Hieroglyphics Imperium
Words: Evan Kidera
After many moons of anticipation, A Plus from the legendary Hieroglyphics is prepared to release his debut solo album, My Last Good Deed. From 93′ til 07′, A Plus has held his position in the Hip-Hop game down as a member of Hiero and sub group Souls of Mischief. Now as we [...]

J. Stalin – On Behalf of the Streets
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 7,186 views

Live Wire RecordsWords: Jordan Hamilton
Full of young flow and a sharp seriousness J. Stalin drops his rookie release On Behalf of the Streets. The tone of his album is controlled by The Mekanix production. Using an interesting style that skips and jumps like a movie soundtrack, the beats are wide open for Stalin to rhyme [...]

V. White – Perfect Timin’
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 7,191 views

SMC Records
Words Jordan Hamilton
It’s no secret the national scene is again ready to embrace hustlers like Jeezy, Killa and Jay-Z as exalted artists recognizing their game-lacing-go-getta content as chart-topping rap music. If that’s what time it is then it’s only right that an original Oakland gangster reemerge to glaze the game in the first quarter [...]

Cali Agents – Fire & Ice
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 6,364 views

HBD Label Group
Words: Evan Kidera
The Cali Agents are one of the iller Hip-Hop duo

Zion-I and the Grouch – Heroes in the City of Dope
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 4,462 views

Words: TrendOne JeffZion I and the Grouch of Living Legends collaborate on a full album together for the first time for a solid effort. Heroes in the City of Dope saves you from overdosing on tired rap music that almost requires chemicals to enhance listening enjoyment. It’s honest and conscious messages are like Ritalin prescribed [...]

PSD, Messy Marv, Keak Da Sneak – Da Bidness
Posted: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 | No Comments » | 7,805 views

SMC Records
Words Jordan Hamilton
When I first received the tracks for Da Bidness (SMC/Thizz), the much-anticipated album due out in February from PSD, Messy Marv and Keak da Sneak, I went directly to the track entitled