Bios

P. Diddy is one of the most iconic figures in hip hop and has contributed to some of the greatest albums in music history. From helping shape the career of a young Biggie Smalls to producing seminal albums for Mary J. Blige and Lil Kim, P. Diddy helped create the sound of 90’s hip hop. […]

What’s in a name? Even in the ego-driven industry of hip hop, it takes a lot of hubris for an emcee to call himself Prodigy. But, when all was said and done, no one could ever humble the late Albert Johnson. With each gritty verse emanating from his lips, Prodigy lived up to his moniker

Despite receiving critical acclaim, sales were disappointing. No, this isn’t a one-sentence eulogy of the “supergroup” that would come to be known as Slaughterhouse, although it may be fitting. Instead, it’s a reference to former rapper turned podcast host and media personality Joe Budden’s third studio album Halfway House. Released exclusively as a digital download

Pusha-T is one of the most respected lyricists in rap and has had a long career spanning over two decades. He came into the game as one half of the group Clipse, alongside his brother Malice (now known as No Malice), and went on to have a massively successful solo career. Later on, he teamed

Ice Cube is one of the most controversial rappers in American hip-hop. Hearing his song “It Was A Good Day” for the first time was a revelation to me. I started tripping that I was a gangster while cruising around the hood with my boys. He has always been interesting to me because of his

The first time I heard of Rakim was on Twitter. Silly, I know. Back in 2011, pro wrestling star Montel Vontavious Porter was asked to name the greatest rapper of all time. Was it Tupac or Biggie? In response, MVP Tweeted: “Rakim.” When I saw this on my feed, I went, “Who’s that?” It took

When hip hop fans talk about fallen legends, the names of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. come up right away. Lamont Coleman, however, is sadly an afterthought. During the same time that Pac and Biggie were taking the hip hop industry by storm, the artist known as Big L was building up his notoriety

In the competitive realm of hip hop, is it possible for two feuding emcees to both come out on the losing end? The beef between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. is the most infamous example of this tragic outcome. While some rap feuds originate from a few braggadocious lyrics dropped here and there, this

The Wu-Tang Clan is one of the most legendary groups in the history of hip hop. The nine-member collective captivated fans with their unique style heavily influenced by 70’s kung-fu movies, comic book superheroes, blaxploitation films, and eastern philosophy. The group was instrumental in shaping the sound of underground New York City hip hop in

Ask any rap aficionado about the greatest rivalries of hip hop, and they’ll wax poetic about Jay-Z and Nas. Like two heavyweight boxers trading haymakers, the two legendary New York icons engaged in a beef filled with brilliantly constructed lines and scathing personal attacks. While I can make strong arguments for either man as the