RapStation

Idris Goodwin's Top Three Songs Off His New Album, Rhyming While Black By Kyle Eustice As the promo for Idris Goodwin's new album, Rhyming While Black, gets underway, the Colorado Springs-based artist may need a bit of an introduction. The HBO Def Jam poet, award-winning playwright, author, professor, and emcee grew up in Chicago, but has spread his wings to New Mexico, Michigan, Colorado, and beyond. His first book, 2011's These Are the Breaks, shone a spotlight on his incredible writing talent and garnered significant accolades from NPR, which is no easy task. His play, How We Got On, premiered at Actors Theatre of Louisville's 2012 Humana Festival and was nominated for an ATCA Steinberg New Play Award and published by Playscripts, How We Got

Consisting of 5-Star, O'Nill & Nivek, Dezert Eez formed at Western Michigan University, located in Kalamazoo, MI (the "Microbrew Capital") and after performing on the local circuit for a year, the trio began making waves in Detroit's underground scene. In early 2005, Dezert Eez released its first mixtape, The Realness, which won widespread critical praise that focused especially on the group's lyrics. The buzz helped them earn a raft of high-profile outside gigs, including shows with KRS-1, Dead Prez, Slum Village and a mini tour with Wu Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck. Dezert Eez leapt to a bigger stage in 2008 when 5-Star teamed up with C-Rayz Walz, Killah Priest, and Bronze Nazareth to form The Almighty. The album also featured hip hop legends Canibus, Keith Murray, and Planet Asia. In

Blockhead’s Top 10 Hip-Hop Tracks By Kyle Eustice (and Tony Simon) New York City-based producer Tony Simon, better known as Blockhead, has to know music inside and out to even function in his chosen field. As the architect behind albums such as 2004’s Music By Cavelight, 2009’s The Music Scene and his most recent, 2014’s Bells and Whistles, Blockhead has proven himself over and over again to be a master of musical genres. He’s also lent his talents to good friend/collaborator Aesop Rock to help him deliver an Aesop masterpiece, 2009’s None Shall Pass. While the music he makes is mostly instrumental, it’s hip-hop he prefers to listen to while mobbing around Manhattan or whatever city he may be in that day. Here Blockhead shares his top 10 favorite tracks as of January 30,

DJ EFN has just released "Revolutionary Ride Music" - the second single from his upcoming album - and he continues to honor his mixtape past as he rounds up Your Old Droog, Royce Da 5'9", O.C. and Reks to drop gems over a crazy Buckwild beat. DJ EFN’s Another Time will also feature INS Deck, Guilty Simpson, M.O.P., Cormega, Bun B, Jarren Benton, Black Milk, David Banner, Jon Connor, N.O.R.E., Fashawn, Troy Ave, Scarface, Stalley, Juvenile, Talib Kweli, Redman, Sean Price, Trick Daddy, Denzel Curry, Joell Ortiz, Gunplay, Royce Da 5'9" & Your Old Droog (among others) with production courtesy off DJ Premier & Buckwild. DJ EFN’s Another Time drops March 3rd! Please visit https://soundcloud.com/crazyhood/07-revolutionary-ride-music to check out the new single no

One of the best perks about being a music journalist is the moment you meet an artist you've admired for years and they are as cool and down-to-earth as you'd imagined them to be. Granted, it can go completely the other way and someone whose music you've always loved can turn out to be an arrogant bastard, but fortunately, this was not the case with Aesop Rock or his partner-in-crime Rob Sonic. Billed as Hail Mary Mallon, the New York-bred duo is on tour in support of their sophomore effort, Bestiary, which was released on Rhymesayers Entertainment in November 2014. From album opener, "Jonathan" to closer "The Red List," the album is solid from front to back. Aesop produced ten of the tracks while Rob Sonic produced the remaining three. Their most recent video, "Whales," seemingly

With the first release featuring O.C. selling out completely, the Australian label We Play Records is back with their second release featuring Connecticut's own Apathy. 'The 45 Killer' is a funky platform for Apathy (Demigodz/AOTP) to spit some of his braggadocios word play and he destroys the DJ Force produced track! Check out https://soundcloud.com/weplayrecordslabel/side-a-apathy-the-45-killer-original-version-01 to bear witness for yourself.   This release is limited to 500 units worldwide and comes on blue transparent vinyl. Please visit http://www.fatbeats.com/products/apathy-we-play-records-presents-apathy-7-blue-vinyl to order now!