Words by Jo Basch DJ Khalil. One half of the rap group Self-Scientific (for underground hip-hop fans). The man behind beats such as Jay-Z’s “I Made It”, 50 Cent’s “I’ll Still Kill”, Drake’s “Fear” and Eminem’s “Won’t Back Down” (for the commercially inclined). And most notably, a staff producer for Dr. Dre (for those of […]
Rapper and actor Ice Cube can’t stay out of the police station. After terrorizing Kevin Hart in “Ride Along” and busting Woody Harrelson’s chops in “Rampart,” he reprises his role as a foulmouthed head detective, Captain Dickson, in “22 Jump Street.” This go around officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) go undercover at […]
Hip-Hop has repeatedly proven that there is strength in numbers. The genre has a history of bringing together strong soloists for specific songs, or entire albums with great results, from Brand Nubian and Black Star to Jay Z and Kanye’s The Throne. While some unions can feel a little manufactured, in the best cases it’s a […]
“A lot of people don’t really know me because I played the back scene. People know the songs I put out but not the face behind it,” says Brooklyn born producer Sharif “Reefa” Slater, echoing the circumstances of many of his peers. “Now with social media people want to know who is doing the music […]
When comedian Dave Chappelle abruptly left his hit TV series, “Chappelle’s Show,” in 2005 fans and critics were left scratching their heads as to why. Speculation ran rampant that he’d either gone crazy, made plans to leave the country, or both. Since then he has returned to doing stand-up and has a sold-out show at […]
Nicki Minaj has finally released the video to her single, “Pills And Potions,” the first single from her upcoming album “The Pink Print.” In this kaleidoscope of THC inspired imagery rapper The Game plays her object of affection as Minaj gives Playboy an upgrade while crying T-1000 tears. Here are some of the moments that made […]
Detroit, Michigan has a respected and accomplished lineage in hip-hop, specifically among its producers. With artists like Black Milk, J-Dilla, DJ House Shoes and Wajeed laying the foundation, the bar has been set pretty high. Enter Apollo Brown. The twenty-something track master has been filling iPods providing his dusty, drum heavy compositions for instrumental albums […]
Last year actress Krissy Chula posted one of the BEST reaction videos to “The Red Wedding” episode of HBO’s popular series “Game Of Thrones” that we had to check and see if she had something for last week’s shocking fight between The Red Viper and The Mountain. In the literally jaw-dropping episode Oberyn Martell takes […]
In the latest issue of GQ magazine some of the biggest names in comedy, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Marlon Wayans, Chris Rock and more, remember the extemporaneous, once-in-a-lifetime performance at NY’s “Comedy Cellar” where the stars almost literally aligned. It was a routine Wednesday at the Comedy Cellar in N.Y.C….until Dave Chappelle dropped in for […]
Which team does Laker fan Ice Cube hate more? The San Antonio Spurs, who swept the purple and gold out of the first round of the playoff’s in 2013, or the Miami Heat, the beasts of the East going for their third straight NBA title? While out promoting his new film, the hilarious sequel “22 […]
James Brown’s influence and impact on American music is almost impossible to measure, but the continued consumption and recreation of his work from generation to generation is a testament to The Godfather of Soul’s genius. For Black Music Month award-winning producer DJ Scratch has assembled a tribute mix of some of James Brown’s most well-known […]
Rapper Pharoahe Monch has displayed his singing skills on songs like “The Light” and “So Good,” but he has managed to take his vocals into a new chamber on the emotional, “Broken Again,” from his latest album, “P.T.S.D: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” RELATED: Pharoahe Monch Loses His Mind In “Time2″ [EXCLUSIVE] “With ‘Broken Again’ I kind […]