Feb 4th
|
| Words By Samir S. For rappers like Señor Kaos – guys with enough talent and guile to break away from a 9-5 existence in pursuit of artistic dreams – the [...] |
The Smoking Section | 
Read More
| 
6 days, 10 hours ago. Jan 21st
|
| Oakland’s Mistah F.A.B. has long been one of Hip-Hop’s most renowned freestylers, an art where there is almost nobody else who can match him. However, his latest album, I Found [...] |
The Smoking Section | Read More
| 20 days ago. Jan 20th
|
| Fueled by the hardcore lyricism of The LOX, the edgy sexiness of first lady Eve and the soul-bearing intensity of de-facto crew leader DMX, the Ruff Ryders stood atop Swizz [...] |
The Smoking Section | Read More
| 21 days ago. Jan 14th
|
| For those who took a week off, shame on you. Here’s a recap of the Double R’s annual end-of-year lists. Catch up below and see you next year. Best Albums #1 The Throne Watch The Throne | #2 Drake Take Care | #3 Common The Dreamer/The Believer | #4 MMG Self Made | #5 Bad Meets Evil Hell:The Sequel | #6 Kendrick Lamar Section.80 l #7 J.Cole Cole World: The Sideline Story | #8 Wale Ambition | #9 Young Jeezy TM103: Hustlerz Ambition | #10 Mac [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 27 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| You are now watching the Throne—at the top of our list. Easily. What sounded like every rap fan’s dream on paper finally came true in early August. Jay-Z and Kanye recorded their masterpiece across the globe with producers Hit-Boy, RZA, Pete Rock, Swizz Beatz, Q-Tip, and The Neptunes. Mrs. Carter and Mr. Hudson are also [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| Radio sure has a way of turning shit into sugar. Day in and day out, Future’s cheesy hit stayed on the FM dial. If his faux accent didn’t kill you, his rhymes did: “I need a driver/ To drive me round, how I manuever/ Muthafuckin feel like I’m in Jerusalem.” Say, what? If this where the [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| Drake season has returned. Could he do it again? Yes, he can! Back with his trusty production visionary, Noah “40″ Shebib, these Toronto kids delivered a terrific second album. Unified in their independence, the OVOXO Hit Squad shine on captivating cuts like the Weeknd-featured “Crew Love” and “The Ride”. Even the outside guests here are [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| Yeah it got the people going and even got a name drop from The Throne, but let’s face it: this song is just wack on wack on wack. The melody is infectious, but what thee fuck are these guys talkin’ about?! We dare you rap geniuses to transcribe these trivial lyrics. Ha! The groove got [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| Be clear, Dwayne Carter is a certified Hall Of Famer. But sometimes, even the Great Ones don’t know their limitations. Remember Rebirth? Yup, I really hate when Wayne gets fixated on living his rock star fantasies in the studio. You can’t play guitar, homie and please leave the singing to Drizzy. “You had a lot [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| Common returned to the game like a prize-fighter after his second wind with his ninth LP, The Dreamer/ The Believer. Produced entirely by No I.D., he kicks off the opus with Maya Angelou and Nas on the ineffable “The Dreamer” and “Ghetto Dreams”, respectively. After delivering 14 shots to the dome on “Sweet”, he [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| A couple of days ago, J.Cole added platinum producer to his resume. But just because a song is a hit, doesn’t mean it’s actually good. Many would agree, this was The Sideline’s Story’s weakest moment. The Downy soft chorus combined with Paula Abdul’s ’80s staple was just too much to bear. Radio loved it. We [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| After Rozay convinced Wale, Meek Mill and Pill to take their talents down to South Beach, it didn’t take long for the Dream Team to create enough Swisher Suite Studios tunes to complete a potent compilation album. The instant chemistry is visible but still, each MC got a chance to showcase their individual skills with [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| The instrumental get’s its props, but that’s where it stops! This is name brand booty rap. Basic bitch? How ’bout basic flow? To Hell with you 29 million YouTube views, this Oaktown chick ain’t no MC, son. Miss me with the kiddie rhymes: “Now Google that, groupies follow me like Twitter/ I’m rolling up my [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| If lyricism made a resurgence last year, much of the credit can go to Bad Meets Evil and their EP, Hell: The Sequel. Havoc’s haunting crackle sets the tone with “Welcome 2 Hell”. “Fast Lane” ups the ante with Royce and Em battling for lyrical supremacy. Em keeps it G on “Above The Law”, (“I’m [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| Dr. Dre co-signs don’t come everyday. So when Kendrick Lamar released his independent album Section.80, best believe, all eyes were on him. Fortunately, he didn’t disappoint. From a production standpoint, scattered pianos anchor “Fuck Your Ethnicity” while lounging horns permeate “Hol’ Up”. Elsewhere, “Chapter Six” and “Rigamortis” locks down K-Dot’s unchained melody. “Ronald Regan Era” [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| Good things come to those that wait. And after two years, J.Cole’s core finally got what they wanted: Cole World: The Sideline Story. The album commences with the cinematic “Dollar And A Dream III” before segueing into “Can’t Get Enough’s” breezy bounce. Jermaine’s underdog tale is palpable on “Sideline Story”, “Cole World”, and “Rise and [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| The biggest misconception surrounding Wale signing with Rick Ross’ MMG Records was that his sophomore album would be infiltrated with the Rozay sound. Could Folarin maintain his identity? Well one listen to Ambition proves it. The first three songs sound like his band UCB is backing him up. Mr. Rich Forever only pops up at [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| Jeezy back! Man, it took a long time to get Young’s fourth album but he really came through victorious in the fourth quarter with the fourth highest first week sales of any rap album in 2011. How’d he do that? By keeping that trap music to the forefront and rounding up a gang of guests [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 13th
|
| After releasing a steady stream of mixtapes, Mac stepped up to the plate last year and delivered his independent debut, Blue Slide Park. With ID Labs handling a majority of the sound bed, Mac proved he wasn’t all party and bullshit. He gives haters the cold shoulder (“Smile Back”, “Of The Soul” ), helps White [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 28 days ago. Jan 12th
|
| We knew what we were getting ourselves into before opening this CD, but this is even worse than you can imagine. Out on bail, fresh out of jail, the first thing Gucci does is…. Randomly lock himself in the studio to create a joint album with Kreayshawn’s White Girl Mob affiliate, V-Nasty. You made the [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 29 days ago. Jan 12th
|
| Meek Mill and Rick Ross made 9-to-5ers feel like the H.N.I.C. with last year’s inescapable, “Ima Boss”. Fuck a blog dog, Jahlil Beats’ triumphant horns were responsible for nearly every party in 2011. Operating like a hip-hop Stockton and Malone, Meek creates a perfect assist for his mentor, “Got so many shades they thought I had [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 29 days ago. Jan 12th
|
| Respect due to Snoop for releasing free music each and every Tuesday for months. We enjoy that type of stuff on these Internets. But when he finally released his eleventh album Doggumentary, it did more than disappoint. This might be the worst edition to the Dogg’s legendary catalog. Things never get going over an overwhelming [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 29 days ago. Jan 12th
|
| It is safe to say, Khaled Khaled knows how to make a hit. With T-Minus, 40, and Kromatik handling the production duties, Khaled rounded up three of the game’s top MCs for this summer’s undisputed anthem. On the slow-rolling instrumental, Drake sets the tone showcasing his vocals. Don’t get it twisted though. Drizzy gets back [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 29 days ago. Jan 12th
|
| Lil B got the attention he wanted last spring after ceremoniously naming his album, I’m Gay. Unfortunately, his publicity stunt backfired like a double barrel 12 gauge. B’s production palette is noteworthy, but that’s where it stops. From beginning to end, I’m Gay is marred by off kilter ramblings and incoherent verbiage. Simply put: the [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 29 days ago. Jan 12th
|
| Lil B got the attention he wanted last spring after ceremoniously naming his album, I’m Gay. Unfortunately, his publicity stunt backfired like a double barrel 12 gauge. B’s production palette is noteworthy, but that’s where it stops. From beginning to end, I’m Gay is marred by off kilter ramblings and incoherent verbiage. Simply put: the [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 29 days ago. Jan 12th
|
| Folks of all races skated to one song and this one song only. Over Hit-Boy’s heavy drums and electrifying bridge, Jay and Ye displayed their balling antics on tilt that made even the poorest man wanna dig in his pocket to cop a bottle of bubbly. The Will Ferrell Blades Of Glory-sample during the break [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 29 days ago. Jan 12th
|
| Folks of all races skated to one song and this one song only. Over Hit-Boy’s heavy drums and electrifying bridge, Jay and Ye displayed their balling antics on tilt that made even the poorest man wanna dig in his pocket to cop a bottle of bubbly. The Will Ferrell Blades Of Glory-sample during the break [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 29 days ago. Jan 12th
|
| Yeah I know this was technically a mixtape but since Kimmy was selling this crap and PayPal ganked me not once but twice, I say it counts. Y’all remember the fuckery this disaster caused early last year but how many have you have ever taken the time to listen to this 76 minute CD in [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 29 days ago. Jan 12th
|
| Just in case anyone forgot Eminem and Royce Da’ 5’9″ could rap, “Fast Lane” was a great reminder. Released under their Bad Meets Evil banner, “Fast Lane” is a Stan’s wet dream. Over an aggressive soundbed, Em and Nickle bob and weave through pockets of syllables and complexities. By the end of the closing bell, [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 29 days ago. Jan 12th
|
| Jomo’s good with us ’round these parts. But when it comes to his last album, Capo, this was just all kinds of bad. For starters, his single “Perfect Day” didn’t live up its flawless title. Unlike Jim’s previous efforts, (particularly Harlem: Diary Of A Summer), Capo lacks continuity and cohesiveness. There’s jacked flows (“The Paper”, [...] |
Rap Radar | Read More
| 29 days ago. 