Archive » Rap Snacks

This page contains 144 entries posted under the "Rap Snacks" category.

Wiz Khalifa Names His Album After Something Weed Related, No One Is Surprised

In a move about as shocking as revelations that news of Mary J. Blige's admission to Howard University was the opposite of true, proud puffer Wiz Khalifa has revealed that his forthcoming major label debut will be titled Rolling Papers....

ChrisAlexander | 01/27/2011 at 1:45 PM | Comments () | Permalink

I'mma Let Kanye Finish If He Promises Not To Do This Again

I'm not going to pretend to know what the hell is going on in Kanye West's mind. I do know that he tweeted the banned image of this album cover yesterday that Roc A Fella/Def Jam rejected of what he...

ill Mami | 10/18/2010 at 12:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

BET To Examine Women In Hip-Hop In 'My Mic Sounds Nice' Doc

Typically I would be the last person to tell folks to tune into BET given their track record of questionable programming, but the channel is making a concerted effort to do better and tonight they premiere My Mic Sounds Nice: A...

Butta | 08/30/2010 at 6:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Cover Artwork For Kanye West's 'Power' Shows Him Powerless

Of course, the cover art for limelight craving and perpetually tormented star Kanye West's single "Power" would feature a disembodied head--crown still tightly affixed--with a sword jabbed into its ear. Why not? It invites questioning and looks dope. The striking image is...

Ro | 07/01/2010 at 3:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

The Roots To Get 'Over' This June

After numerous delays and push backs, it looks as if Def Jam will finally release The Roots' new album, How I Got Over, on June 22nd--yes, as in next month. It's hard to believe that the Legendary Roots Crew's 11th...

Butta | 05/17/2010 at 5:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Brandy Is Getting Bran'Nu On Us

The alter ego fad is contagious it seems. And, while Beyoncé's Sasha Fierce popularized the idea that sweet Southern belles can transform into wanton, gyrating vixens on stage, Brandy Norwood is set to show us that girl-next-door types can also...

Moon | 04/19/2010 at 2:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Little Brother Plans Last Stand With 'LeftBack'

Ever since hearing the news that Little Brother had decided to hang their mics up as a duo, I've been in mourning. Because, you see, way before I developed a love jones for The Foreign Exchange's brand of Soul Hop,...

Butta | 01/26/2010 at 6:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

When Mary J. Showed Us What She Could 'Do'

You know, I feel like Kiki Shepard should be doing this post, as it seems like an old school "Apollo Legend Moment." Heh. The year was 1990. Uptown/MCA Records recording artist Father MC had just hit the scene with catchy,...

Harlem | 11/27/2009 at 2:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

BET, Nike Present A Cypher For The Ages

The next time MTV, or VIBE, or any other institution with capital letters or acronyms for names decides to make a list of the best MCs in the rap game, they should be forced to watch the cyphers that BET...

Harlem | 10/28/2009 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Hip Hop: A Tale Of Two Demographics

There has been much aflutter in the Hip Hop realm lately concerning younger rappers calling out older heads who earned a modicum of respect from everyone but the newcomers. Granted it's a pissing contest battle royale, nonetheless, but what's really...

ill Mami | 10/15/2009 at 1:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

N.E.R.D. Gets All 3-D With A New Female Member

And then there were four. Those hip-hop rock star rascals N.E.R.D.--Pharrell and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes and the other guy*--have officially added a chick to the mix: R&B singer Rhea. The Canadian native has been touring with the...

huny | 10/07/2009 at 4:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Murs Pontificates On The Lack Of Women In Hip-Hop

Hey rap fans, to what do you attribute the lack of female emcees? The predicament itself isn't new, nor is the sentiment that it's due in part to rampant misogyny. What is refreshing, however, is that this conundrum is being...

huny | 09/23/2009 at 2:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Q-Tip Shows 'Late Night' Some 'Love'

Seems Jimmy Fallon is on a roll this week, and proving what I said yesterday about giving the Hip Hop nation great exposure. One night after welcoming Ghostface to perform on Late Night, Kamaal the Abstract, aka Q-Tip, was not...

Harlem | 09/17/2009 at 2:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Ghostface & Raheem On 'Late Night'? Oh, 'Baby'!

Not since the heyday of Arsenio Hall have hip-hop artists gotten this much exposure, with both Jimmys (Fallon and Kimmel) leading the way in providing access to late night, mainstream audiences. Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.has been especially generous, and...

Harlem | 09/16/2009 at 3:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Nine Reasons To Watch Tonight's Jay-Z Benefit Concert on FUSE

Today is a really solemn day. So many of us are walking around with full hearts, remembering the events of eight years ago, when our world was changed in the most stunning of ways. Still, today, it's hard to process...

Harlem | 09/11/2009 at 4:45 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Q-Tip Talks 'Kamaal The Abstract'

Finally, Q-Tip speaks out about why it's taken so long for his "latest" album, Kamaal The Abstract to be released. Of course, by now you know that this was supposed to be the follow-up to Amplified, and was recorded in...

Harlem | 09/09/2009 at 3:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Wale Keeps On 'Rising' With TV Showcase

DC native and SoulBounce fave Olubowale Victor Folarin, better known as Wale, is getting his due on the national stage after recently taping a Rising Icons special for BET, airing this week. The rapper, of course, rose to prominence in...

Harlem | 09/02/2009 at 2:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Jay-Z's Latest Appearances Are Sure To 'Ad' Up

Jay-Z has been on quite a roll this past week. Fresh from his appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher on Friday, this weekend a new ad for the highly anticipated (and recently leaked) Blueprint 3 album dropped online, sponsored...

Harlem | 08/31/2009 at 4:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

What Special Ed Has 'Made' Of Himself

Can you believe that Special Ed was only 15 years old when he signed his first recording contract? And although it seems like just yesterday, it's been 20 years since his first single, "I Got It Made," hit the airwaves....

Harlem | 08/27/2009 at 12:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

How Long Are You Willing To Wait For Outkast?

Don't get me wrong, I love Outkast as much as the next Bouncer. However, when I repeatedly read that their new album is on the way and to be patient because it's going to be [enter hyperbole] I start to...

Ro | 08/20/2009 at 4:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

The Blueprint For Jay-Z's 'Blueprint 3'

Whether you're one of the ones who feels like "D.O.A." was deemed hot by default or you think that without him there is no game, there's no doubt that Blueprint 3 is one of the most anticipated albums of the...

Ro | 08/19/2009 at 1:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

De La Soul Is Still 'Rising' After 20 Years

If anyone's been wondering what iconic hip hop group De La Soul has been doing to celebrate their 20th anniversary of their debut disc, 3 Feet High and Rising, all they have to do is head over to Ticketmaster, as...

Harlem | 08/18/2009 at 12:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

There Still Ain't No Half Steppin' With Big Daddy Kane

What really makes me scratch my head about the late 80s and early 90s is why hip-hop artists didn't market themselves better. Granted, back then, their music could usually stand on its own merit, but still, hearing more about how...

Harlem | 08/10/2009 at 3:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

The Other Rapper With A Book Deal

What got lost in all the hullabaloo about Jay-Z writing a book in which he translates his ever-so mystifying lyrics into layman's terms, was that Q-Tip has also inked a book deal with Random House. Perhaps not a multiple-volume situation...

nOvaMatic | 07/16/2009 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Oh, THERE'S Loon!

Amir Junaid Muhadith, formerly Chauncy Hawkins, professionally known as "Loon" or "Mase 2.0", is finally at peace. Since leaving Bad Boy five years ago, he has converted to Islam, as shown in the Al Jazeera TV clip after the bounce....

nOvaMatic | 07/06/2009 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Notable Quotables From PackFM's HipHopDX Interview

It's easy to dismiss someone that openly rails against the status quo as a hater, but this seems to be the last thing PackFM is worried about. He recently did an interview with the folks over at HipHopDX, in anticipation...

nOvaMatic | 06/09/2009 at 12:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Jay-Z is Auto-Tune Free

With the anticipated third part of the Blueprint trilogy close(r) to release, it's come to the fore that Jay-Z has insisted that none of its tracks use Auto-Tune. According to producer and Auto-Tune aficionado Kanye West, this is a deliberate...

Ro | 05/28/2009 at 3:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Confused By Rap Lyrics? Now There's Help

I'm not quite sure if this is a spoof or a something genuine, but UnderstandRap, a website accepting submissions from those confused by rap lyrics, is now here to rescue hoardes of confused masses. By now most of you have...

ill Mami | 04/01/2009 at 1:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

De La Soul Plans to Work It Out With Nike

In the event that Kanye's "New Workout Plan" has gotten old, then De La Soul may have the solution for you. The trio who once brought us an ode to big girls with "Baby Phat" has linked up with athletic...

Butta | 02/09/2009 at 2:45 PM | Permalink

Run-DMC Movie In the Works

The recent news of the Juice Crew film getting the plug pulled was a bit of a blow, but this news that the Run-DMC story will be made into a feature film may satisfy those hungry for more classic...

Butta | 01/30/2009 at 4:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Who's Gonna Be Hot In '09? Just Ask ?uestlove.

When ?uestlove speaks, folks tend to listen. With that said, it would behoove you to hear him break it down for it to forever be broke about who and what got next in '09 by checking out this video below....

Butta | 12/10/2008 at 1:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

M.O.P. Ups The Ante On John Cena Over Nonsensical Word

Know what "BRRR Abado" means? Us neither. Which is why I would love to be a courtroom observer when M.O.P.'s case against WWE wrestler and wanna-be rapper John Cena goes to trial. M.O.P. claims that Cena's entrance song not only sounds...

ill Mami | 10/29/2008 at 11:30 AM | Comments () | Permalink

New Common & Busta Releases Influenced By Glowstick Wielding Masses?

Common's new release, Universal Mind Control, is now slated for a December 9th release. Are we surprised? The more important question may be do we care since, barring the upcoming presidential election, there has been more drama surrounding UMC's release...

ill Mami | 10/23/2008 at 12:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Latest In Q-Tip News: Rocking A Backpack, Reminiscing Over Tribe Tracks, Documentary In The Works

Q-Tip has been a busy fellow lately. When not traversing the country hosting listening parties for his new album The Renaissance which drops November 4th a/k/a "Obama Day" according to The Abstract or confirming rumors that he used to date...

ill Mami | 10/22/2008 at 4:20 PM | Comments () | Permalink

NWA is 'Most Dangerous' in New VH1 Doc

Possibly the worst thing to come as a result of N.W.A.'s tenure in the game was the term "Gangsta Rap," which to this day is used to define a genre of reprehensible Hip Hop that isn't very "gangsta" at all....

nOvaMatic | 10/01/2008 at 1:07 PM | Comments () | Permalink

VH1's Hip Hop Countdown 'Fights The Power' Not To The 'Delight' Of Rappers

VH1, the music cable channel who rose from its humble beginnings as a soft rock video pusher to becoming a powerhouse for questionable and tactless reality show programming, has declared Public Enemy's "Fight The Power" as the top hip hop...

ill Mami | 09/26/2008 at 12:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Diddy Proves That No One Is Safe From His Biting Ways. Not Even Pete Rock.

How wack is it to straight jack a beat in front of someone's face, then usher in an era of biting as not only acceptable, but rewarded? It's kind of like this current election where ignorance in the face...

ill Mami | 09/25/2008 at 3:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

MC Lyte is Frustrated About the State of Female MCs

MC Lyte is caps-lock upset about the media (really, only blogs) just now picking up on the lack of female MCs in music today, and rightfully so. This has been a topic of discussion here at SoulBounce and on other...

Ro | 09/23/2008 at 2:45 PM | Comments () | Permalink

'Let's Get Free' With Black August Hip Hop Project

It's hard to believe that the Black August Hip Hop Project has been around for eleven years. The movement that was born out of the need to promote human rights and raise awareness through hip hop about U.S. political prisoners...

Harlem | 09/22/2008 at 3:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

New Andre 3000 Solo Joint in the Works [Patience is a Virtue]

Benjamin Andre To Be Exact was voted The Dopest MC Out Right Now even though he doesn't really have anything out right now, which means his awesomeness laughs in the face of release dates and the existence of any tangible product....

nOvaMatic | 09/18/2008 at 11:30 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Queen Latifah Returns To Hip Hop Roots

After gaining a new audience with her jazzy adult contemporary albums, Dana Owens Queen Latifah is going back to where it all started and making her return to hip hop with a new album scheduled to be released this December....

Butta | 09/16/2008 at 12:20 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Book of Rhymes

Did you know that Michael Eric Dyson was writing a book based solely on Nas' Illmatic? "Why for?" you ponder. Well, Illmatic is the "greatest Hip Hop album ever" and the main work Nas fans call upon when qualifying whatever new...

nOvaMatic | 09/04/2008 at 11:24 AM | Comments () | Permalink

KRS-ONE Announces the Arrival of the Million DJ March!

Earlier this month, we hipped you to the fact that the Million DJ March would be headed to Washington, DC. Well, that time has come, with the group invading the nation's capital this weekend, and while we know that it...

Harlem | 08/29/2008 at 3:15 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Method Man Was Also Better in the '90s

I use that title in jest. Method Man is a cool, smart and funny dude, and I suspect that maybe he would enjoy this site if he ever got around to visiting it. But have any of you heard about...

nOvaMatic | 08/21/2008 at 1:17 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Olympic Wins Are Spawning A Hip Hop Race Of Sorts

olyWith this year's gold medal Olympians being treated like rock stars, and after some of them revealed what gets them hyped to perform so well, you have to start to wonder when they'll really make their mark on society and...

ill Mami | 08/20/2008 at 5:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Believe the Hype! Olympians Say Hip Hop Prepares Them to Go for the Gold

Rocky had "Eye of the Tiger." Hell, even Popeye had the spinach theme song. You know, the one song that is needed before one competes. The one that makes you go a few extra miles on the treadmill. The one...

Harlem | 08/19/2008 at 3:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Hip Hop Honors Committee Vindicates Itself...Sort Of

Proving once again that it continues to have relevance among a public for whom "old school" means "last year," the VH1's Hip Hop Honors is set to roll out the red carpet for its 2008 honorees this October 7th. Cypress...

ill Mami | 08/16/2008 at 2:15 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Q-Tip Shows Us A 'Renaissance' in the Making

Of course, by now we're all aware that Q-Tip's sophomore disc, The Renaissance, will hit the shelves on October 14th (please mark your calendars). We can't wait. Over the weekend, a video shot by Tip's cousin Consequence surfaced, showing the...

Harlem | 08/11/2008 at 12:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Is This LL Cool J's 'Exit 13' Cover? Really?

El Todd the Sex God's Def Jam swan song is named after the most unlucky number in the world. It's called Exit 13 and is meant to be released on 8/26, about two years after it was originally intended. 50...

nOvaMatic | 08/03/2008 at 11:15 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Is Nas Better With DJ Premier or With Dr. Dre?

MTV is reporting that Nas wants to pull another blog-baiting stunt in the near future. See, he has this wacky idea, or "dream," that he can drop two albums in the same day--one entirely produced by DJ Premier, who's responsible for...

nOvaMatic | 07/22/2008 at 12:59 PM | Permalink

Illa Keeps Dilla Alive on New Project

J Dilla was never the type of producer to make a couple of hot tracks then rest on his laurels; the cat stayed in the studio, churning out beat after beat with each one sounding nothing like the one...

nOvaMatic | 07/17/2008 at 1:45 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Common Pushing Album Date Back To Make Us All Dance

Common has decided to push the album release back for his forthcoming album, Invincible Summer, to September 23rd, which happens to be the first official day of Fall. Granted, this means that bloggers and journalists everywhere can't refer to Common...

ill Mami | 06/23/2008 at 3:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Immortal Technique Proves Conscious Rappers Are Politically Involved

Memo to John McWhorter: The premise of your latest book, All About the Beat: Why Hip-Hop Can't Save Black America, is about to be shattered. It turns out that not only are certain conscious rappers political within their communities, they are...

ill Mami | 06/23/2008 at 11:30 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Phonte Proving To Be Quite The Comedian

If any of you are unaware of "Gordon Gartrell Radio" hosted by Phonte from Little Brother (pictured at far right with 9th Wonder and Al Gore...huh?) , do yourself a favor and subscribe to it here. We at SBHQ were...

ill Mami | 06/18/2008 at 2:45 PM | Comments () | Permalink

LA Shows Its Hip Hop Roots In New Documentary

Remember back in the '90s when West Coast hip hop meant more than gangsta rap? Yeah, we do, too. That's why it's such a pleasure to see This Is The Life, a documentary exploring the roots of LA's freestyle scene...

ill Mami | 06/16/2008 at 12:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Hip Hop Recognized At The Tony Awards

At last night's Tony Awards, four Tonys were awarded to the cast and crew of In The Heights, a musical about a Dominican bodega owner and his crew in New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood. Incorporating hip hop, salsa, merengue, and...

ill Mami | 06/16/2008 at 10:26 AM | Comments () | Permalink

That's Gangsta!

Remember the days of yore when songs about smoking the pigs were all the rage? Criminals Wanted takes a jaunt down memory lane to recount some of the most bad-ass Rap songs that would deign to challenge the police to...

nOvaMatic | 06/12/2008 at 10:45 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Common Wants Kids On 'The Corner'

Common is starting a book club (Oprah-style) for students age 13-18. The Common Ground Foundation is giving students the chance to discuss and critically analyze books through an online community called The Corner. Students will have the chance to blog,...

SoulBounce | 06/06/2008 at 1:30 PM | Permalink

Obama Wins Nas' Vote

Barack Obama has won the Democratic presidential nomination. So, who do you go to for a political analysis? Bill O'Reilly? No. You go to Nas. On the song "Black President" Nas samples a little 'Pac and dishes out his opinions...

SoulBounce | 06/05/2008 at 2:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

The Wu Masters Chess. Checkmate!

Every so often, a hip hop mogul starts a fragrance, clothing line, or a bling jewelry line none of us can afford. But just when you think hip hop is in a rut of redundancy, here comes the Wu-Tang Clan...

SoulBounce | 06/05/2008 at 1:00 PM | Permalink

New Documentary Explores Untimely Death of Jam Master Jay

Last night at the annual Hollywood Black Film Festival, 2 Turntables And A Microphone kicked off the four-day event with its debut. While there had been some speculation about a theatrical release chronicling Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell's rise to...

ill Mami | 06/04/2008 at 3:00 PM | Permalink

Jermaine Dupri Has Been Reading SoulBounce, Mocks Our Sensibilities

That Jermaine Dupri is quite a character. The diminutive producer who once claimed "Money Ain't a Thang" alongside Jay-Z says that money is one of the things that's killing music. Well gee, you could've knocked me over with a Steve...

nOvaMatic | 06/04/2008 at 12:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Nas Screens 'Be A Nigger Too' Video

Warning! If you're tired of hearing about Nas, then don't read this post. He has made the news again. After stirring up plenty controversy about his new album cover, be prepared for more with the release of his new video...

SoulBounce | 06/03/2008 at 11:40 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Oddisee Goes Down Nas' 'Memory Lane'

Nas' new album, formerly titled Nigger and still incensing legions of his (former) fans, will be making its debut 29 days from now. For all of you tired of the hype and wishing you could just go back to the...

ill Mami | 06/02/2008 at 1:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Nas' New Album Cover: Now Even More Controversial!

Not one to go down without a fight, Nas' potential new album artwork may no longer be entitled Nigger, but that doesn't mean that he can't come with the realness on the album cover artwork. Seems to be able to...

ill Mami | 05/30/2008 at 1:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Femcees Getting Their Just Due from Just Blaze

If you've been watching Miss Rap Supreme, then you're likely lamenting that next week will be the season finale. It seems as though we were only just starting to get to know Byata, Rece Steele, Miss Cherry, and Chiba and...

ill Mami | 05/29/2008 at 12:00 PM | Permalink

Skillz Exposes Timbaland and Missy

In anticipation of his new solo album, Million Dollar Backpack, to be released by Koch on July 8, Skillz recently explained why he is no longer associated with Timbaland and Missy Elliott. After appearing on Tim's Bio and Aaliyah's remix...

SoulBounce | 05/27/2008 at 4:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

LL Cool J Takes 'Exit 13'

Mr. Ladies Love, LL Cool J, is releasing his last album on the post-Jay-Z Def Jam. Titled Exit 13, the album will be the last Def Jam release for Uncle L. The single "I Cry" featuring Lil' Mo has already...

SoulBounce | 05/27/2008 at 2:50 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Appreciate Hip Hop With Our Top Picks

It's Hip Hop Appreciation Week in case you didn't know. Generally anything with "appreciation" in its title harkens back to a far gone time that people often feel the need to reminisce about, almost to the point of eulogizing it. We've attempted...

ill Mami | 05/23/2008 at 1:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Record Store Owners Breathe Sigh Of Relief As Nas Agrees To Change Album Title

I sure hope Nas didn't get too many of these t-shirts printed. News broke yesterday that he has decided to change the controversial title of his forthcoming album from Nigger to Nas. This likely came as a response to the less...

ill Mami | 05/20/2008 at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Kanye West Makes Diddy Fall In Love With Hip-Hop Again

After going to see the Glow in the Dark tour last week, Diddy felt the need to vlog about the epiphany that he had while there. Apparently the purveyor of Bitchassness has been so uninspired with hip-hop and "bullsh-- ass...

Butta | 05/19/2008 at 3:35 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Nicolay: The New Foreign Exchange Album is Almost Done

For anyone that hasn't had a chance to experience The Foreign Exchange's Connected album, you are missing out on one of the most finely executed, melodic and original Hip Hop albums to drop within the past few years. Dutch producer...

nOvaMatic | 05/13/2008 at 4:32 PM | Comments () | Permalink

RZA Shows Love To The Ladies On New Album Cover. If By 'Love' You Mean 'Objectify.'

Wu-Tang leader RZA has a new album in the works as his alter ego Bobby Digital. I loved RZA as Bobby Digital and thought his alter ego was a great concept (Prince Rakeem notwithstanding), even when he completely went misogynistic on...

ill Mami | 05/05/2008 at 4:22 PM | Comments () | Permalink

OK Kanye, We've Had Enough.

I loves Kanye West, Lord knows I do. I've even defended his mania on occasion. But there are moments like this when I don't quite mind disowning the brother. Entertainment Weekly had the gumption to rate the Seattle stop of...

nOvaMatic | 05/05/2008 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Kanye West Sits Out On 'Invincible Summer'

It's official. As hinted earlier, Kanye West will not be involved (musically, at least) in the production of Common's forthcoming Invincible Summer. Yeezy is a busy man, what with that tour and all, so the ever-reliable Neptunes and Mr. DJ...

nOvaMatic | 05/01/2008 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

At Least They Can't Blame Jay-Z

Why are The Roots even on Def Jam in the first place? L.A. Reid doesn't know what the hell is going on with an act signed to his label. Well, maybe just Mariah. SOHH breaks down ?uestlove's comments to Billboard...

nOvaMatic | 04/29/2008 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Pete Rock Delivers 'NY's Finest' Beats

It's been two months since super producer Pete Rock released his first album in years -- NY's Finest -- debuting on the Billboard Top 200, selling over 3,000 units during its first week. Now, on the heels of those very...

Harlem | 04/28/2008 at 3:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Has Jean Grae Kissed Her Career Goodbye?

Rumors are swirling about that Jean Grae, one of the last well-known and respected female emcees in the past 10 years, has retired from the rap game. Jean, signed to Talib Kweli's label Blacksmith Records, had a album, Jeanius, with...

ill Mami | 04/28/2008 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

MC Serch Puts Khia in Her Place... Again

If anyone has been keeping up with VH1's Ego Trip's Miss Rap Supreme, you saw the way Khia, known for her hit "My Neck, My Back", got booted off the show. The competition calls for the femcees to spit original...

Q. Salazar | 04/24/2008 at 3:01 PM | Comments () | Permalink

The Legendary Roots Are Part of Billboard's 'Green 10'

Congrats to The Roots for making Billboard's list of the most green bands, "acts that, through their actions in the past year, are making a difference with environmental issues and inspiring their peers to do the same." Being musically progressive...

nOvaMatic | 04/23/2008 at 11:38 AM | Permalink

Talib Kweli Showing His Comedic Colors on Blacksmith TV

What is the link between Mos Def, Erykah Badu, and Talib Kweli? Besides all being featured in Dave Chappelle's Block Party movie, they have all shown their senses of humor outside of their musical talent. Mos was regularly featured on...

ill Mami | 04/11/2008 at 3:15 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Hip Hop's Roots Being Challenged As Starting In Texas

Anthropology professor Frank Rochester is challenging the well-known notion that hip hop began not in South Bronx housing projects' outdoor parties, but in Texas as an extension of cowboy culture. Rochester contends that it was during a popular run of...

ill Mami | 04/11/2008 at 1:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Prodigy Is On That Ish Again

Previously on SoulBounce, we hipped you to the madness that lives within the mind of arguably one half of the dopest rhyme duos, Mobb Deep, of the late '90s. Prodigy has been (un)fortunately keeping a blog in ALL CAPS...

ill Mami | 04/10/2008 at 12:15 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Common: 'Believer' No More

Guess I didn't get the memo. In an interview with HipHopDX, Common says that his new album is titled Invincible Summer (his album titles are starting to sound like romance novels or candles) and will be released this June. There was...

nOvaMatic | 04/08/2008 at 11:52 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Del The Funky Homosapien Is Getting A Little Too Old For This Ish

Heads have been nodding to Del The Funky Homosapien's new Eleventh Hour, but at a recent concert, it was noted that the rap funkster may need to slow things down a bit. A recent review of his show at...

ill Mami | 03/31/2008 at 2:30 PM | Permalink

Nas ♥ Jay Electronica

Ever since being featured on URB magazine's last cover with boo Erykah Badu, tongues have been wagging about Jay Electronica. One rapper particularly feeling Jay these days is Nas, whose forthcoming album Nigger still has no confirmed release date....

ill Mami | 03/31/2008 at 12:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

20 Year Anniversary of 'Yo! MTV Raps' Reminds Us That We're Getting Old

3:30 PM was indeed a magical time in my neck of the woods circa 1990. I have no shame admitting that I am old enough to remember that when Yo! MTV Raps was in its heyday, I had exactly 30 minutes...

ill Mami | 03/24/2008 at 3:45 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Would You Loan This Man $100 Million?

It's too early for April's Fools jokes. If Jay-Z wants to start his own label to put out more bad music, then more power to him. But if he's asking other labels to invest $100m into it, then he's on...

nOvaMatic | 03/20/2008 at 11:02 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Q-Tip to Save Rap by Regurgitating Party Line

Q-Tip brought The Gospel Truth to Interview magazine recently, by daring to utter words so alarming, so unthinkable, that we had to clutch our rosaries between the cut and the paste: "I think it's pretty evident - and everybody says it - that hip-hop...

nOvaMatic | 03/18/2008 at 11:30 AM | Permalink

Oral Diarrhea Continues To Spread Within Hip Hop Community, DMX Now Afflicted

As SoulBounce exposed the lunacy and delusions of grandeur that inhabit the mind of Mobb Deep's Prodigy, now comes word that DMX is now a prime contender to hold the record for the craziest man in hip hop. Why...

ill Mami | 03/17/2008 at 11:25 AM | Comments () | Permalink

The Roots' New Album Cover: Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane?

April 29th is a date that cannot come fast enough for fans of The Roots. And depending on who you ask, some of their fans are very perplexed by their choice of lead single. Their cover art for Rising...

ill Mami | 03/14/2008 at 4:15 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Common is Good at Upholding Contracts

Common, who recently rocked a show in New Orleans over All-Star Weekend, is dropping albums at a steady clip. He's eying November as the potential release date of The Believer, which he hopes will involve The Neptunes, Just Blaze (who...

nOvaMatic | 02/20/2008 at 11:28 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Nas Explains Himself

Who do you call when you need to clear things up? You call Jamie Foxx, that's who. Nas, Hip-Hop's Truth Teller, called in to Foxxhole Radio to discuss what happened on Grammy's red carpet and offer some insight into his...

nOvaMatic | 02/18/2008 at 12:16 PM | Comments () | Permalink

What to Expect When 'Nigger' Hits the Shelves

Realistically, Nas and Nas fans have a small reprieve when the Nigger album is released next month. If Target doesn't want to carry it and we don't want to suffer the beatdown embarrassment of asking for it by name, we...

nOvaMatic | 02/11/2008 at 2:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Kanye West Owned the Grammys, If You Don't Include That Whole Herbie Hancock Thing

At the Grammys last night, Kanye West was one man against evil forces that included the ceremony's producers, Vince Gill and Herbie Hancock, proving that there is no leniency for the mourning. To his credit, Kanye was responsible for one...

nOvaMatic | 02/11/2008 at 2:15 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Blu Bubbles

This has seriously got to be the funniest thing that I have seen all week. I peeped this fake album cover of Blu & Exile's Below the Heavens on Blu's MySpace page and had to do a triple take....

Butta | 02/08/2008 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

What Can We Expect Now That Harve 'Joe Hooker' Pierre is President of Bad Boy?

That's the burning question, at least in my mind. Harve Pierre has done everything at Bad Boy since probably about, oh, let's say, since Jesus was a boy. According to a widely circulated press release, "as President, he will oversee...

nOvaMatic | 01/31/2008 at 12:00 PM | Permalink

Jean Grae's Old School 'Jeanius'

Jean Grae's 9th Wonder-produced Jeanius album has been in the works for the past 2 1/2 years, and will finally see the light of day this year, hopefully soon. Keeping with the old skool crate-digging vibe that Erykah Badu...

ill Mami | 01/28/2008 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

9th Wonder Declared 'History Maker'

9th Wonder, oft-mentioned producer here on Soul Bounce, along with other luminaries such as Fab Five Freddy and Danyel Smith, current editor-in-chief of Vibe magazine, have been featured in the 2008 Black History Calendar, a collaborative effort between Pepsi and Ebony/JET...

ill Mami | 01/25/2008 at 4:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Masta Killa Voted PETA's 'Most Friendly Hip Hop Artist'

Continuing our tireless Wu-Tang coverage this week comes the news that Masta Killa, original Wu-Tang member and long-time vegetarian, has been awarded PETA2's Libby Award for "Most Friendly Hip Hop Artist" of 2008. Masta Killa won the Libby (short for...

ill Mami | 01/24/2008 at 4:30 PM | Permalink

Ghostface: 'Stop Downloading My Album'

Original Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah recently pleaded with fans via video to stop downloading his album and instead purchase his latest, The Big Doe Rehab, at your local retailer. "Real talk...I thought y'all loved me, man," a disappointed Ghost says during...

ill Mami | 01/24/2008 at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Nas Videos Once Lost Now Found

With the countdown to the forthcoming Nas album officially having started once the controversial title was released, renewed interest in all things Nas has ever done, whether present or past, has revealed some rare finds. Although the tracks for...

ill Mami | 01/18/2008 at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Common Busts A Rhyme For The Lord

This past New Year's Eve Common wasn't out poppin' bottles with models or participating in any other sort of raucous rapperish debauchery. Instead, he attended Watch Night service at his home church, Trinity United Church of Christ, in Chicago. During...

Butta | 01/10/2008 at 2:02 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Pete Rock: 'New York hasn't had an album like this in such a long time.'

A few things that caught my attention while watching this promo video for Pete Rock's upcoming NY's Finest:The thought of 9th Wonder and his mama nodding their heads to a Pete Rock beat makes me chuckle.Don't let Diddy hear...

Butta | 01/10/2008 at 12:10 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Seventy 'American Gangster' Remixes and Not a Peep From 9th Wonder!

Yup, we're still waiting on that. Although a couple of tracks have already leaked, we're feenin' for the full release. More than enough DJs across the world have tackled the American Gangster a capellas but it's time for some brand...

nOvaMatic | 01/10/2008 at 11:03 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Get Ready For The Salt-N-Pepa Documentary

[Addendum 1/12: Since the posting of this entry I've received a number of misguided comments (most of which have been deleted) regarding the accuracy of this blog post. Worth pointing out is that all three members of the group are...

nOvaMatic | 01/09/2008 at 10:37 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Lulu Determined to be Most Controversial Rapper of Our Time Without Shooting Someone

Our favorite lyric-forgetting, nose-picking DID-sufferer is at it again! Lupe Fiasco recently got into a heated debate with Rhymefest over politics, of all things! For starters, we commend these guys for arguing over an issue that actually affects society and...

nOvaMatic | 01/08/2008 at 4:20 PM | Permalink

It's Cold Here in Hell

I offer my sincerest apologies for tacking Curtis's contemptible countenance on this website, but this anomaly deserves some copy.Today O-Dub posted a mash-up of 50 Cent's "I Get Money" and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings' "Nobody's Baby". You know...

nOvaMatic | 12/06/2007 at 6:46 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Q-Tip's Interview with MP3.com

Yesterday we posted the very dope "Feva" by my man Q-Tip and I just found this interview he conducted with MP3.com. You know we snatched the audio! Press play below for the full joint, but here are some highlights:Tip says...

nOvaMatic | 12/05/2007 at 1:00 PM | Permalink

New 'Boondocks' Hip-Hop Dock Trine Two Mixtape Coming Soon

Next Tuesday is going to be a beautiful day for hip-hop heads. Not only do new CD's from the Wu-Tang Clan, Hi-Tek, and Beanie Sigel drop, but the Hip-Hop Dock Trine Two Official Boondocks Mixtape hits the bricks, too. This...

Butta | 12/03/2007 at 7:28 PM | Comments () | Permalink

2Pac Resists Temptation With Amel Larrieux On New Album

There are few things in this world that you can count on these days: War, global warming, and the adoption of a child by a celebrity from an impoverished country. Additionally, the release of a new 2Pac album every year...

ill Mami | 12/03/2007 at 1:00 PM | Permalink

J.A.M. Awards Last Night in NYC

Last night at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom, some of hip hop's most notable personalities assembled under one roof to honor the memory of the late Jason Mizell AKA Jam Master Jay. The J.A.M. Awards, honoring those who have...

ill Mami | 11/30/2007 at 8:45 PM | Permalink

Inside The Rapper's Studio With Miss Info And Ghostface Killah

Miss Info is kicking off a new online interview series, Inside the Rapper's Studio, and her first guest is the one and only Ghostface Killah. Ghostdini was there to discuss his upcoming CD, The Big Doe Rehab, and he broke...

Butta | 11/28/2007 at 1:10 PM | Permalink

Common: The Standard is Coming

Common and Q-Tip are onto something. While most of us are anticipating the debut of CRS, cats like me are waiting with bated breath for The Standard. Until recently, most of what we heard about the project has been from...

nOvaMatic | 11/26/2007 at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Lupe Fiasco Making Promises (Threats)

Lupe Fiasco's The Cool drops the same day as Mary J. Blige's Growing Pains, so this is probably the last time I'll be writing about him. Kidding! "The Cool" was my favorite joint from Food and Liquor, mainly because the...

nOvaMatic | 11/20/2007 at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Mos Def and Kanye Collaborate on New Album

Mos Def has recently been signed to indie label Downtown Records and has recruited the help of Kanye West to produce his debut album on his new label. Downtown Records has no plans to re-release the Grammy-nominated True Magic, which under...

ill Mami | 11/19/2007 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

From The Vault: Mos Def

Mos Def's latest album True Magic, released this past January, has been plagued with drama between Mos and his label company, Geffen. Apparently, the same-old record label dissatisfaction of this album not having a identifiable single has been the reason...

ill Mami | 11/14/2007 at 3:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

The Greatest on The Greatest

Some history for you cats on the what went down behind "Modern Day Gangstas", the Biggie and Busta Rhymes track re-fashioned on Born Again as "Dangerous MCs". Neat tidbit: Nas was also supposed to be on the track. Other names...

nOvaMatic | 11/08/2007 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Witchdoctor On Williams Street

Ever since seeing EJ the Witchdoctor, a member of Organized Noize, out of ATL back in '97, I have been wondering "where oh where did this dude go?" His flow was sick and the beats were more than enough to make people...

ill Mami | 11/07/2007 at 12:00 PM | Permalink

Own a Collectible Ghostface for Only 500 Bones!

In what must surely be the most belated April Fool's joke ever, NerdWithSwag is reporting that "The Ghostface Doll" over at 4Cast is priced at $499.99. Although The Ghostface Doll is designed with that patented Ghostface sneer that we...

nOvaMatic | 11/05/2007 at 11:09 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Is Phife Dawg OK?

This is what I pondered when I saw Phife Dawg and the other members of A Tribe Called Quest on the VH1 Hip Hop Honors which aired last month. Known as "The Funky Diabetic," I was concerned about Phife since...

ill Mami | 11/05/2007 at 11:00 AM | Comments () | Permalink

D-Nice, Film Auteur

Derrick "My Name is D-Nice" Jones has apparently been doing much more than DJing recently. Not only has Jones been busy since launching his own United Camps web design company in 2005, but citing his mentor Gordon Parks as inspiration,...

ill Mami | 11/02/2007 at 1:00 PM | Permalink

9th Wonder's 'The Wonder Years' Is For The Children

Fresh off of his Dream Mercant Vol. 2 compilation, 9th Wonder is scheduled to bring some more heat in January with the release of The Wonder Years. While we continue to bump DMV2, we are patiently waiting for the new...

Butta | 11/01/2007 at 4:00 PM | Permalink

Free Remixes From Guru And Solar

Guru and Solar are hooking their fans up something lovely with a couple of free remixes courtesy of their record company, 7 Grand Records. And while you're nodding your head to these cuts, don't forget that Jazzmatazz Vol. 4 is...

Butta | 10/30/2007 at 7:00 PM | Permalink

"These drunk and hot girls..."

There are fans, and there are fans. Check out this footage of what went down backstage at a recent Common show. A few questions:Where exactly did he perform that she was able to drink that much? Not that she was...

nOvaMatic | 10/29/2007 at 4:00 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Talib Kweli Hosting 'Rap City' All This Week

Set your DVR's, people. This week Talib Kweli will be hosting BET's Rap City (airing 5 PM EST/PST), and he's bringing a few of his friends with him. Check the schedule of guests:Monday - Hi-Tek & Mad Lib w/ DJ...

Butta | 10/29/2007 at 2:30 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Is You Is or Is You Ain't My N-Word?

Ok, confusion! We met Nas' announcement that his forthcoming album is titled Nigga with ambivalence? A shrug? A slight acknowledgment that there will, sadly, never be a follow-up to "Oochie Wally"? But the label says it's not happening. They should've...

nOvaMatic | 10/17/2007 at 6:36 PM | Permalink

Spinderella: Found

[Photo: D-Nice Journal]For anyone curious of the whereabouts of Salt N Pepa's sexy DJ, Spinderella offers this to the fans:I can't go outside without being asked about it... You should know by now that the Salt N Pepa show is...

nOvaMatic | 10/15/2007 at 10:03 PM | Permalink

Thanx Phonte!

On September 8th: All I ever wanted was for my music to be heard. If it was solely up to me I'd throw up a zshare laink for y'all to download tonight, rather than leave it in the hands...

zillz | 10/12/2007 at 2:08 PM | Permalink

Get in Line, Lupe

Lupe Fiasco is threatening to "take legal action" against VIBE for the article they recently posted online, which lead most of us to believe he was nucking futs for dissin' A Tribe Called Quest in the wake of his...

nOvaMatic | 10/11/2007 at 1:14 AM | Comments () | Permalink

Say What You Want But Keep Your Lips Sealed

"These guys fail to realize that when you talk about Def Jam, you're talking about my legacy. Everything that ever happened at Def Jam is my legacy. Without me being a 16-year-old with my rhyme book, Def Jam [wouldn't]...

nOvaMatic | 10/10/2007 at 10:41 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Wait Your Turn!

Wes posted a quickie (so now we are) about Erick Sermon being upset that EPMD hasn't been inducted into the Hip Hop Honors. And he has a right to be mad. It's not like this event happens EVERY YEAR. [HHE...

nOvaMatic | 10/09/2007 at 10:38 PM | Permalink

Lupe Not 'Cool' Enough to Hold On to Release Date

If any of you thought you'd be copping Lupe Fiasco's The Cool on the intended date of 11/20, you'll have to wait a little longer. He's now been pushed back almost an entire month to 12/18. Merry Christmas, punk. ...

nOvaMatic | 10/01/2007 at 6:31 PM | Permalink

Please Pass the Salt-N-Pepa

How excited are we that The Salt-N-Pepa Show is only a few weeks away from hitting the airwaves? After seeing that spicy preview clip last week, we can't wait for Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandy "Pepa" Denton to premiere...

Butta | 09/21/2007 at 12:52 PM | Comments () | Permalink

Go Team Kanye!

It's official, Kanye West has sonned the competition and landed firmly atop the album sales chart with a reported 930K copies of Graduation sold, according to HITS Daily Double. Official SoundScan numbers haven't been reported yet, but does it even...

Butta | 09/18/2007 at 4:17 PM | Comments () | Permalink