Bios

In the ever-growing school of hip hop, Kendrick Lamar is the most dedicated student of all. His love for the craft shows in every aspect of his artistry: from his unrelenting attention to detail, to his subtle and not-so-subtle tributes, all the way to his disdain for his underperforming peers. As far as rap music […]

If hip hop ever had a modern-day Shakespeare, it has to be none other than Eminem. A world-renowned artist with roots in Detroit, Eminem captures the full spectrum of human experience in his unparalleled lyricism. No emcee before him—and, in all likelihood, no one after him—has ever merged form and content so seamlessly in the

It’s funny. When we think about time, it’s hard to believe that some people existed in the same period as others. Some find it hard to believe that Pablo Picasso was alive at the same time as Martin Luther King Jr., and something similar can be said about 2Pac and Eminem. Especially today, since Eminem

Pharoahe Monch: the name alone radiates power and confidence—two skills that make up only the surface of what Troy Donald Jamerson is capable of obtaining. Just listen to the haunting, philosophical imagery riddled throughout the conceptual albums he’s created that weave as narratives. The “underground’ scene held down a name that should be known worldwide,

Every time I hear “Hip Hop Hooray,” my spirits are lifted for some visceral reason. Maybe it’s the feel-good vibes generated by the track’s production. Maybe it’s the colorful music video that makes you want to wave your hands like Queen Latifah. Or maybe I’m simply carried away by the ’90s nostalgia that this song

Every hip hop fan has watched at least one clip of the infamous “Five Fingers of Death.” You know exactly what I’m talking about: the hip hop gauntlet thrown down by DJ Sway Galloway on Shade 45. Playing five beats with varying tempos, Sway challenges his guest to freestyle continuously as one beat progresses to

Crafting stories is something I love to do. It’s a way to capture the minds of people willing to see what you’re wanting to tell them. A concept as old as humanity itself; I’m surprised it took us until the 80s to start using it in music. But one man singlehandedly brought this concept into

I’m not gonna trip: the ’90s were a rough terrain for femcees to thrive in. Not that the ’80s were any better, of course, but we’re talking about a period of time when hip hop was growing exponentially. With the genre blowing up all across the globe, you’d think that any poet who could bless

Q-Tip Introduction Q-Tip is a founding member and the primary producer of the seminal alternative hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. Considered among hip hop’s most influential creative minds, Q-Tip is the rare artist acknowledged for his production skills and rapping ability. Q-Tips’ production style and laid-back flow influenced an entire generation of artists and

The greatest rapper of all time is best known for his iconic bars, long-lasting career, and wise words in the rap circle. However, his hardcore fans know he is also a passionate tattoo lover with over 80 tattoos on his body. So, it is not strange that his fans want to honor their favorite artist