RapStation

Although relatively unknown, MC Siimba Liives Long managed to gain the attention of Vice/Noisey, who marveled as his safari-esque aesthetic. The fact of the matter is, Siimba is making incredible Hip Hop music and tapping into his experiences living in New York, New Jersey and Ethiopia to stand apart from the sea of rappers out there. Known for frequently posing with majestic creatures of the jungle, including lions, Siimba often uses them for props in his videos and is clearly influenced by his time in Africa. As he prepares to release his forthcoming project, Zemenay's Gemiinii, the Brooklyn-based artist had a few brief moments to talk about killing the lames, learning to rap in Ethiopia and how he uses his music as therapy. 

Tony Simon, better known as New York-based producer Blockhead, recently announced the title of his sixth solo studio album and follow-up to 2014’s Bells & Whistles, Funeral Balloons, however, it’s going to be quite a wait for the final product due to scheduling issues with the label, Backwoodz Entertainment. Fortunately for his loyal fans, the frequent Aesop Rock collaborator has also revealed his 2007 album, Uncle Tony’s Coloring Book, is getting a vinyl reissue courtesy of Detroit’s Heavy Soul Records, which is being unleashed on Record Store Day (April 22). Until then, Simon had some time to talk the new album, what he does in his downtime and why he’s cooled it on his blog, Phat Friend.&nb

New York native Leon Michels of El Michels Affair carved out a monumental task for himself when he decided to recreate Wu-Tang Clan’s classic debut album, 1993’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36th Chamber), as the all-instrumental album, Enter The 37th Chamber, a sonically unique adventure into uncharted territory. Michels has, once again, revisited the idea with a sequel to the original 2009 album with Return To The 37th Chamber. The first single, “Tearz,” features contributions from legendary soul singer Lee Fields and The Shacks. In the RAPstation Interview, Michels opens up about his inspiration behind the record, discovering Wu-Tang and what RZA had to say about the first album. 

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Up and coming New Orleans MC Alfred Banks has endured one of the most difficult periods of his life. After losing his 33-year-old older brother to suicide, he took his pain and turned it into art, namely the brooding new track, “The Funeral Of Orlandas Banks.” The emotionally charged song kicks off his forthcoming project, The Beautiful, which addresses his brother’s schizophrenia, the emotional response Banks had to his death and the subsequent lessons that come with tragedy. Banks shared a trailer for the album, which recounts the moments after he had to leave his brother’s funeral early to perform for a contracted show. 

Chuck D recently took notice of the hard work Banks and his tour mate, Memphis rapper Marco Pav&eac

Damu The Fudgemunk has never been afraid to be different, and on his latest album, "Vignettes," Damu experiments with the core elements of hip hop itself, creating a unique concept album that blends genres and pushes boundaries.

D.C. based artist Damu has managed to sell thousands of records and built up a sizeable following primarily through positive word of mouth, without any promotions or major collaborations. "Vignettes" marks Damu's tenth year as a solo artist, and he's marking the occasion by releasing his magnum opus, an epic two hour, mostly instrumental concept album.

True to its name, "Vignettes" features a series of wildly different tracks, which pull inspiration from a variety of genres, ranging from electronica to go

Nawlege 405 takes us back to the beauty of passionate, introspective rap, which makes manifest in his latest single, “Demons”.

The track flaunts its minimal approach towards sounds and beats, creating a solid background to which Nawlege is able to showcase his erratic rhyme schemes and volatile wordplay. Combine those two with the song's ominous tone, and what listener's find is nothing short of rap underground's finest (with a subject that befits its genre all but too well).

The song in itself begins with the emcee dishing out some smooth-flowing verses, likened to that of a wayward soul engaged in a perplexed soliloquy. As it progresses, however, and the dynamics build up, Nawlege displays his mastery at manipulating his flow, speeding up an