Public Enemy’s debut album, “Yo! Bum Rush the Show” was a critical success, but for the most part failed to bring Public Enemy to the mainstream. But one thing the album did do was lay the groundwork for what the group would accomplish with their second and superior effort, “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back”. See more…

When Eric B. and Rakim’s first hooked up with famed producer Marley Mall to record their first single, “Eric B. Is President”, I don’t think either man knew what was about to come in regards to their music careers. After the single dropped, Eric B. and Rakim proved that they were just that, legends in the making, and their landmark album “Paid in Full” is one of the best of all time. Listen and download…

What’s more important, quality or quantity? That question has been debated over and over for many years within music circles and after all this time, one thing is certain: when it comes to Dr. Dre, quantity doesn’t mean a thing. Dre’s debut album, “The Chronic”, was released in 1992 is considered one of the best hip-hop albums of all time.

Released in February of 2000, “Lets Get Free” was an extremely politically charged debut, and was showered with critically acclaim by journalists and other artists alike. Dead Prez didn’t shy away from any topic, taking on a slew of cultural touchstones including police, corporate control over the media, the music industry, education, the prison system, as well as religion and political repression. See more…

We all know that everyone makes mistakes. Even rappers. But in order to appreciate how far T.I.‘s fall from grace was, we have to first establish just how high he once was and how he elevated himself to the top of the hip-hop world. The self-proclaimed “king of the south”, T.I. truly established his royal lineage on his 2006 album, aptly titled, “King”. See more…

De La Soul’s debut, “3 Feet High and Rising” came along at an interesting moment for hip-hop. At a time when West coast gangsta rap was dominating the mainstream, the East coast group came on with a jazzy, alternative sound that was completely unique to the industry. See more…

Released in 1986, the Beastie Boys’ classic “License to Ill” album is one of the most important and influential hip-hop releases in history. Aside from the fact that it was the first rap album ever to hit number one on the Billboard charts, it solidified the Boys as one of the most original group’s in the game, and their place in history as well. See more…

Collaborations have been a long-standing tradition in hip-hop. Sometimes when two artists come together, things just click.  That’s exactly what happened when Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek first met in Cincinnati, Tek’s hometown, in the late 90’s. The two formed the group Reflection Eternal and started to collaborate on tracks. See more…

Pharrell Williams has had the most success as a producer, any intelligent hip-hop fan knows about Williams’ other affiliation: N.E.R.D. (No One Ever Really Dies). Comprised of Williams, Hugo and rapper Shay Haley, the group formed in 2001 and has released three albums to date. Their debut album, “In Search Of…” is easily their best piece of work, and for the group it was a labor of love. See more…

The organic combination of thunderous live drums, instruments and rapper Black Thought’s smooth rhyme patterns shows that the group has no equal in the industry. The Roots have an extensive body of work, but “Illadelph Halflife” is a distinct classic, the best example of their spontaneous and distinct sound. See more…