About Rap / Hip-Hop

Album Review: Rakim's Seventh Seal

2009-11-23T18:07:14Z

The Seventh Seal is Rakim's first album in nearly a decade, as Ra tries to reassert his authority as the super MC. Was it worth the wait? Here's my Seventh Seal review.

Album Review: Rakim's Seventh Seal originally appeared on About.com Rap / Hip-Hop on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 18:07:14.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Album Review: Kid Sister's Ultraviolet

2009-11-23T18:02:04Z

Kid Sister came to national prominence in 2007 by parlaying a cute song about mile-long acrylic nails into hip-pop success. "Pro Nails," Kid Sister's first single, enjoyed a commercial boost from its Kanye West cameo and became an instant club hit. Her oft-delayed debut album, Ultraviolet, plays like a 40-minute extension of that song. Here's the verdict on Ultraviolet.

Album Review: Kid Sister's Ultraviolet originally appeared on About.com Rap / Hip-Hop on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 18:02:04.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Eminem 'Refills' Prescription with New Release

2009-11-22T15:21:34Z

Can't get enough of Eminem's Relapse? Check back with the doctor for a Refill on December 21st. Relapse: Refill is the re-release of Slim Shady's chart-topping fifth studio album. It's loaded with seven bonus tracks, including the single "Forever", alongside featuring Drake, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne, "Taking My Ball" (also released with the DJ Hero video game), and five never-before-heard tracks."

"I want to deliver more material for the fans this year like I originally planned" Eminem says via a press release. "Hopefully these tracks on The Refill will tide the fans over until we put out Relapse 2 next year". Eminem has been busy in the studio creating even more new material since Relapse was released. "I got back in with Dre and then a few more producers, including Just Blaze, and went in a completely different direction which made me start from scratch. The new tracks started to sound very different than the tracks I originally intended to be on Relapse 2, but I still want the other stuff to be heard."

Relapse, one of the most anticipated rap albums of 2009, entered the Billboard Top 200 album chart at No. 1 in May 2009 after selling over 618,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week. It's still the top selling hip-hop album of 2009.

Eminem 'Refills' Prescription with New Release originally appeared on About.com Rap / Hip-Hop on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 15:21:34.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Album Review: 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct

2009-11-19T10:31:38Z

Though 50 Cent recorded Before I Self Destruct before Curtis, the former was briefly canned while he engaged in a SoundScan showdown with Kanye West. With that feud behind him, Before finally gets to see the light of day. Sadly, 50 never really managed to shake off some of the dust this album gathered while it was sitting on the shelf. Here's my take on Before I Self Destruct.

Album art � Shady/Aftermath/Interscope

Album Review: 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct originally appeared on About.com Rap / Hip-Hop on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 10:31:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Wale's Attention Deficit Sells a Disappointing 28,000 Copies

2009-11-19T02:37:31Z

This isn't the coming out party Wale had in mind. Despite heavy promotion and big name collaborations, his Interscope debut, Attention Deficit, only managed a measly 28,000 units in its first week. Those numbers were only good enough for a #21 spot on the Billboard 200 Albums chart.

Wale's Attention Deficit Sells a Disappointing 28,000 Copies originally appeared on About.com Rap / Hip-Hop on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 02:37:31.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Ted DiBiase Jr.: "Eminem makes me angry"

2009-11-19T01:49:34Z

Eminem has fans in every area code and professional field, from movie stars to pro wrestlers. Take WWE's Ted DiBiase Jr., for example, who told MTV.com that listening to Eminem's music makes him angry. "I'm a fan of all music," DiBiase said. "I'm not just saying that. I like the pop music that comes out. I live in Mississippi, so I do like the country music. I'm a big fan of the Kings of Leon. I really dig their music. I work out to Eminem and stuff. He gets me going in the gym. He's got some good lyrics, and he gets me a little pissed off. That's what I need to push some weights sometime."

I know exactly what Dibiase is talking about. A combination of Em's lyrics and Dre's hard-hitting beats usually makes for great workout music. Here's a great workout playlist, if you're into that sort of thing.

Ted DiBiase Jr.: "Eminem makes me angry" originally appeared on About.com Rap / Hip-Hop on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 01:49:34.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Bushwick Bill Finds God, Gives "Testimony of Redemption"

2009-11-19T00:54:56Z

In his Geto Boys days Bushwick Bill was the mastermind behind some of the most disturbing lyrics hip-hop has ever witnessed. He was a walking horrorcore genre. The little big man says he's now walking with Christ and has a gospel album to show for it. Bill's new album, Testimony of Redemption, arrives December 1st, 2009.

Bushwick Bill Finds God, Gives "Testimony of Redemption" originally appeared on About.com Rap / Hip-Hop on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 00:54:56.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Beanie Sigel "Goes Off" on Jay-Z

2009-11-16T11:25:29Z

Barely a week after signing with G-Unit, former Roc-A-Fella MC Beanie Sigel has unleashed a Jay-Z diss titled "I Go Off." Actually, Beans keeps the insult subliminal, while 50 Cent boldly rips into Jay at the end of the track. Sigel is still as raw as ever, but 50's lame hook renders "I Go Off" nearly unlistenable. I'll be surprised if Jay takes the bait and gives Beans the attention he so desperately seeks.

Beanie Sigel (Featuring 50 Cent) - I Go Off

Beanie Sigel "Goes Off" on Jay-Z originally appeared on About.com Rap / Hip-Hop on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 11:25:29.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

LL Cool J to Host Grammy Nominations Concert

2009-11-16T01:14:47Z

Hip-hop vet LL Cool J has been tapped to host the next Grammy Nominations Concert. The 2010 Grammy Award nominees will be announced on a television special on CBS, Dec. 2 from 9 to 10 p.m. Maxwell and Sugarland will be among the performers.

The 52nd Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on January 31, 2010, and will be held at Los Angeles' Staples Center.

LL Cool J to Host Grammy Nominations Concert originally appeared on About.com Rap / Hip-Hop on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 01:14:47.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Album Review: Wale's Attention Deficit

2009-11-12T09:56:42Z

In just three years, Wale went from virtual unknown to hip-hop eminence. He's dropped three notable mixtapes, four singles, and a gazillion shoe references in that time. 2008's A Mixtape About Nothing was impressive. Still, I wondered how much of that lyrical jewel would end up on the only thing that will matter years from now, his debut album. The wait is over. Here's the verdict on Wale's Attention Deficit.

Album Review: Wale's Attention Deficit originally appeared on About.com Rap / Hip-Hop on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 09:56:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this