Category Archives: Hip-Hop

G-Mo Skee & Stu Bangas Welcome You to “Filth City” (Album Review)

Richmond lyricist G-Mo Skee enlisting Boston producer Stu Bangas for his 4th full-length LP & the first since returning to Majik Ninja Entertainment. Emerging as a member of the trio Stampede & later the Inf Gang. He would drop 2 official mixtapes Got Filth & Got Filth II: The Great Adventures of G-Mo independently before Twiztid signed him to Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2016. His full-length debut My Filthy Spirit Bombcoming out that same winter to significant acclaim, but I personally think G’s sophomore effort Chaly & the Filth Factory is his best work so far because of it’s incredible concept & the instrumentals accompanying it (mostly handled by former Strange Music in-house producer 7). The previous LP The Filth Element commemorated his 30th birthday by proving that he didn’t need MNE until returning to The Dojo on 8 Bit Filth II: Hero Hunter last fall & is now turning Filth City from an EP to an actual album.

After the soulful intro, the title track starts us off by advising not to come to Filth City since shit can go left over a boom bap instrumental whereas the grimy ass single “Work Magic” explains to let the Filthnificent do his magic likening himself to Midas with the golden touch when it comes to flowin’ tough. “Jumped” hauntingly incorporates more kicks & snares obviously talking about not fighting fair with people who run up on him while “Evil Plans” sounds like something out of a horror flick keeping it dusty at the same time advising that you’re gonna see him act like an animal cleverly referencing The Animal.

After the interlude, “Diamond in the Dirt” links up with his Inf Gang brethren Jae Harmony & Nobe saying you’d have to time travel to beat them in a rhyme battle & to find them lurkin’ in the underground along with it being time for them to show ‘em what it’s worth on top of this eerie ass boom bap beat while “All in Your Head” featuring Linzy & Jaylin Skee on the intro & TheArtLawd on the outro brings these colorful vibraphones into the picture discussing fatherhood, worrying about shit that might happen & making good out of the bad he represents. “Autistic” featuring Kvng Moses has these sick ass synthesizers mixed with kicks & snares flexing that he eats more rappers than the ASTROWORLD Travis Scott entrance when they walk in it, but then the synths on “G-Mo University” feel like something out of a Sega Genesis game since it’s no secret that G’s a gamer talking about coming down to get a Filthication.

“Story to Tell” instrumentally goes for a dejecting approach telling a true story although he can’t say their names & that it gets messy while the rugged lead single “Postcards from Hell” talks about how he was raised with all the killers & dope fiends being on the frontline with everyone else in the nosebleeds. “2 the Side” featuring Young Zee of the Outsidaz aptly advises everyone to fall to the side over some Atari-like synths, kicks & snares calling your rap style more outdated than a payphone & that they’re more stuck-up than bitches are these days. And before the futuristic “Credits” outro, the final song on the album “Escape” serves as a climatic finish talking about the city to the point of no return & understandably looking to get the fuck outta there.

8 Bit Filth 2: Hero Hunter was a fun return to MNE for G, but I already knew Filth City would be a standout in his discography since his lyricism is unmatched & Stu Bangas is simply one of the absolute greatest underground producers ever. However after hearing that it wound up being an actual full-length after initially set to be an EP, my expectations increased immensely & we sure enough got one of the best albums of 2024 joining The Chainsmoker II from over a couple weeks ago in being a Hell of a way for Majik Ninja to start the year. Conceptually, the filthiest of them all takes us through what it’s like in Filth City as Stu gives G-Mo some of the coldest production he’s EVER murdered. I know it’s been a hard time for his family right now & I’d like to offer him my DEEPEST condolences, but this album is a special moment for him & I couldn’t be more proud of him. Be sure to catch him on tour with Rittz right now & at Attack of the Ninjas shortly after. I’m most certainly looking forward to the latter.

Score: 9/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Today In Hip Hop History: Cult Classic Hip Hop Film ‘Wild Style’ Debuted in Theaters 41 Years Ago

Wild Style

Wild Style is arguably the very first movie and one of the very few that shows the true essence of what Hip Hop is about. When Hip-Hop was being passed off as a fad that wouldn’t last beyond “Rapper’s Delight,” a vivid reenactment of the introduction of this artistic culture to the world was made. In 1983, film director and cultural artist Charlie Ahearn premiered the flick in Times Square, breaking records by selling out at all screenings for the three weeks it played.

A member of the collective artist group Collaborative Projects, Ahearn was initially exposed to Hip Hop in the late 70s through graffiti when he went to film the youth in the projects in Manhattan’s Lower East Side that studied martial arts. He was soon approached by Fred “Fab 5 Freddy” Braithwaite about making a movie encompassing all elements of Hip-Hop (emceeing, DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti). Fab 5 Freddy brought legendary graff artist Lee Quinones to meet Ahearn to discuss further the approach of filming graffiti and introducing it as a legitimate art form. Ahearn found out that Lee was the same graf king whose work he admired while filming in LES. With Ahearn as producer and director, the three began embarking on a journey to gather the individuals who would be the faces of this landmark film.

Developing its name from an abstract letter design made famous in the graffiti world by graff king Tracy 168, Wild Style featured some of the most prolific pioneers from all aspects of Hip-Hop. The Cold Crush Brothers, Rock Steady Crew, and Grandmaster Flash were just a few of Hip-Hop’s trailblazers that debuted on Wild Style’s silver screen. The Furious Five could not appear alongside Flash and had to be cut from the film because of prior obligations to another more mainstream motion picture depicting the development of Hip Hop that came out later called Beat Street. This is why Afrika Bambaataa, the New York City Breakers, The Treacherous Three, or female pioneer MC Sha Rock were not seen in the film. Other notable legends included Busy Bee Starski, graff legends Dondi, Zephyr, and Revolt, who designed the Wild Style logo and the Fantastic Freaks.

Lee Quinones played the main character “Zoro,” the anonymous graf phenom introduced to the art world by his pal and fellow graffiti writer “Faze,” played by Fab 5 Freddy. Faze introduces Zoro to Virginia, a journalist portrayed by cultural icon Patti Astor, who later shows Zoro to art’s world stage of galleries and museums. The story is an accurate historical account of how Hip-Hop, in general, was introduced to mainstream America and, later, the rest of the world. It also showed the poverty and despair that existed in the South Bronx, out of which the culture of Hip Hop emerged.

Over 30 years later, Wild Style is still an American pop culture icon. The players that participated and performed in the movie have made themselves legends in their own right. However, most will recognize their appearance in the film as the catapult of their career. The movie has been sampled on various classic Hip Hop albums, including ATCQ’s Midnight Marauders, Common’s Ressurection, and the Five Mic classic, Nas’ Illmatic. Wild Style was voted one of the top ten rock n’ roll movies of all time by the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame, and VH1’s Hip Hop Honors acknowledged the film’s influence in Hip Hop with a tribute in 2007.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Cult Classic Hip Hop Film ‘Wild Style’ Debuted in Theaters 41 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Cult Classic Hip Hop Film ‘Wild Style’ Debuted in Theaters 41 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

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It’s All About “Risk & Reward” for ST Spittin’ & DJ D Sharp (Album Review)

This is the 8th full-length studio LP from Oakland, California emcee ST Spittin. Emerging off his first few mixtapes Lighters & Ink Pens alongside 2nd Impression & Open Season, he would continue to expand his discography by putting out 3 albums The Morning ShowAction! & All in a Day’s Workfollowed by a trilogy of EPs Lucky 6When the Ball Drops & Retrofitted ahead of the 4th LP, EP & mixtape Boom!Don’t Judge Me & Footwrk respectively. We would later get a sequel to Boom! & Footwrk as his next 2 albums, Cool Water for the last one & Summer Madness being his 5th EP. However, I was interested in hearing Risk & Reward since Golden State Warriors deejay DJ D Sharp was behind the boards for the whole thing.

The title track is a jazzy trap opener to the album letting y’all it’s all about that whereas “Seat at the Table” shifts gears with it’s boom bap instrumental feeling like he’s moonwalking on the red carpet  getting what everyone else wants. “Pesos” featuring Stunnaman02 goes for a cloudier vibe so both of them can talk about being unable to rest since they have cake to make, but then “God in the Room” featuring Dustin Sharpe & Mani Draper fuses some kicks & snares with strings admitting the Big G was at work when they wrote this.

“Profile Pics” brings a groovier flare to the beat talking about how it’s time to put in a new shift since he’s back on the job just before “Maximize” featuring HBK CJ & Khyenci dives into a pop rap direction advising to maximize your energy. “It’s Alright” featuring Ian Kelly incorporates twinkling piano chords trying to tell her that something’s better than nothing leading into the luxurious boom bap cut “Flashes” talking about seeing the greatness in him shining.

Champ Green & D. Bledsoe join ST on “Each One, Teach One” hopping over a symphonic sample admitting to buying a lot of time to spend more while “Wide Awoke” takes it back to the basement instrumentally flexing that he knows for a fact someone gets inspired whenever he’s on the mic. Lastly to finish the album, “What Ya Call That???” happens to be a soulful ode to the ones tellin’ ‘em how it is.

Over a decade into the game & ST. Spittin’ celebrated Steph Curry’s born day by putting out the most well-crafted body of work of his career so far. DJ D Sharp continues to reveal himself as one of the best beatsmiths in the Bay Area right now as his production here is varied in sound & we get a glimpse of the Oakland emcee at his rawest, most confident, playful & honest all in 1.

Score: 8/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Elcamino Taps in With Real Bad Man on “The Game is the Game” (EP Review)

Buffalo emcee & singer Elcamino following up his Black Soprano Family Records debut They Spit on Jesus with his 15th EP. Blowing up in 2017 off his self-titled EP with Griselda Records, his profile increasingly grew after being followed up by Walking on Water mixtape in the summer of 2018 along with dropped 2 studio albums & a few EPs the year after that. They Spit on Jesus was the first Camino project that I had covered since On the 3rd Day & that much like No Weapon Formed Against Me was an improvement over some of the material we’ve gotten from him in recent years. Fast forward 5 months later, Real Bad Man’s being enlisted throughout the duration of The Game is the Game

“Give Them Hope (Curtis)” is a piano-driven opener saying he was more of an understudy for Ghost that constantly took notes whereas quasi-jazzy “Chest Wrestlers” talks about not having time for fake aggressive coke-snorters. “Champagne Pisses” featuring the B$F general himself Benny the Butcher works in these strings, kicks & snares asking if anyone fears not making it to the finish line just before “Fashion Week” featuring King Ralph finds the 2 brothers showing off their big mafia statuses.

Meanwhile, “New Levels” talks about being long way from a crook with all the sacrifices that he’s taken on top of some vibraphones leading into “C’mon Nephew” goes into soulful territory to pen an open letter to his nephew forgiving him for some bullshit he pulled some time ago. “No Fighting” featuring Boldy James is an organ/boom bap crossover likening themselves to scramblers, but then “Expensive Cloth” brings to funkier flare airing out those who want him to be more of a target

Rick Hyde joins Elcamino for the penultimate track “Melrose” pushing near the encore of The Game is the Game discussing their elevations over pianos, kicks & snares that is until “Sllick Talk” featuring Player K rounds out the EP by hopping over synthesizers calling themselves shooters trying to score as well as telling y’all that we should be seeing the way both of them be living now.

If you enjoyed They Spit on Jesus as much as I did 6 months ago, you’re probably gonna like The Game is the Game almost as much if not more than the LP that officially introduced Elcamino to the B$F roster. Real Bad Man continues to further cement himself as one of the most in-demand producers the underground, the guest-list is equally tight & Camino’s just breaking down how it be out here.

Score: 8/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Chyna Streetz Goes “From Hell to Chanel” (Album Review)

This is the full-length debut album from Brooklyn emcee Chyna Streetz. Starting in the spring of 2018 off her debut EP Weird Girl Antics, she followed this up with 2 more EPs in the form of both Hourglass & more recently Visions respectively. That said: I knew that From Hell to Chanel had to be the next artistic evolution for Chyna compared to those early EPs. Especially considering the fact that R.F.C. Music Group in-house producer 183rd did the whole entire thing top to bottom.

“Chanel Boy” starts by mixing a flute with kicks & snares exclaiming that we done let the right one in whereas “Emerald City” goes for a cloudier atmosphere talking about those moving sloppily even when they’re the ones who be rolling the dice. “Sirens Lullaby” goes straight g-funk reminding everyone that’s listening of the fact she’s been had motion leading into Rome Streetz joining his wife Chyna on “Matrimony” richly talking about it still being hard to believe they found the plug.

Continuing from there, “Bernadine’s Rage” gives off a soulful boom bap vibe declaring herself to be a goddess just before “Dark Night of Soul” passionately looks to make the moment count for a minute straight & the beat enhances the ambitious mood quite a bit. “Entitled” has this crooning sample encouraging y’all to make your next move the best one, but then “888” hops over some strings as well as kicks & snares talking about being born to shine.

“One of One” goes into spacious boom bap turf breaking down her uniqueness while “Right Back” featuring Ox Omni blends kicks & snares with a climactic orchestral flip talking about sending shots right back where they came from. “Judas Kiss” concludes the LP by admitting she’ll never know if it was all worth it & that even know a few have done their names dirty, the roses are still growing.

The trilogy of EPs we’ve gotten from Chyna throughout the last 6 years have each shown artistic progression in her & From Hell to Chanel brings it full circle to the point where I could argue that it’s her most consistent body of work to date in my personal opinion. She’s grown as a songwriter & 183rd’s production is significantly more fluent than her previous material.

Score: 8/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Kembe X Gets Personal & Explores New Sounds on Hippie Sabotage-Produced “Sleep Paralysis” (Album Review)

Chicago, Illinois emcee & Top Dawg Entertainment affiliate Kembe X returning for his 3rd full-length album produced by Sacramento duo Hippie Sabotage & his first in nearly 5 years. Getting his start over a decade ago with the debut EP Soundtrack II Armageddon & the debut mixtape Self Rule, his profile would continue to grow off the strength of the debut LP Talk Back as well as an eponymously titled 2nd EP & the sophomore effort I Was Depressed Until I Made This. He’s worked with the Saurer brothers a few times in the past, but they’re finally releasing Sleep Paralysis after working on it for a whole year.

“Fade the Sun” starts us off with a lively danceable opener telling anyone who wants a piece of him to get in line whereas “Pole Vaulting” hops over a trap instrumental to talk about being over the bullshit. “King” works in a more rubbery beat to remind y’all that he’s royalty around these parts prior to the synth-driven “Love Songs” taking a melodic approach talking about never seeing a king of romance that went wrong.

To end the first half, “Shallow” brings a cloudier vibe to the table wanting to be called a visionary who did it first when it’s all said & done while the atmospheric “Where Demons Come to Die” admitting he damn-near lost his soul & sacrificed his peace. “Kill Everything in the Way” declares himself as the new leader of the resistance over a slow boom bap beat just before the wavy “Rolling Stoned” featuring Isaiah Rashad talks about keeping it cold, fresh & clean.

One of my favorites on the album no question has to be “Start a Business” from the groovy instrumental to the motivational lyricism encouraging people to start up their own businesses since they can’t be employees for the middle man forever & finally, “Baby I’m Up” concludes Sleep Paralysis with a 7 & a half minute ode to his success after people tried to leave him for dead & drag his name through the mud.

TDE’s been slowly but surely allowing the biggest artists on their roster to release new music in recent years after making their fans wait forever, so it makes perfect sense for Kembe to make a comeback & one that new listeners will find themselves invested in. He’s exploring new sounds with the help of Hidden Sabotage & the subject matter is significantly more personal than his early stuff was.

Score: 8/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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UndergroundHipHopBlog.com Featured in Feedspot Top 100 Hip Hop and Rap Blogs

In the world of online music journalism, recognition is a coveted milestone for any platform. So, when UndergroundHipHopBlog.com was recently handpicked by Feedspot panelists as one of the Top 100 Hip Hop and Rap Blogs on the web, it marked not only a significant achievement for the site but also a validation of its commitment to showcasing the best of underground hip hop culture. When most are saying the Blog era is coming to an end, it’s great to see us keeping the niche alive and well.

With its finger firmly on the pulse of the underground hip hop scene, UndergroundHipHopBlog.com has carved out a niche as a go-to destination for enthusiasts seeking fresh sounds, emerging artists, and insightful commentary. The recognition from Feedspot alongside AllHipHop, XXL, Hot New Hip Hop, and more serves as a testament to our dedication to curating quality content and staying abreast of the latest trends and developments in the genre.

While mainstream hip hop often dominates the spotlight, we remain dedicated to shining a light on underground artists who may not have the same level of exposure but possess immense talent and potential. One unique aspect of our platform is our renowned mic session series. When artists on the rise come to UGHHBlog for a Mic Session, it’s proven as a recipe for success. The platform has a knack for highlighting artists like Benny The Butcher, Dax, Trippie Redd, Kota The Friend, Beanz, and more before they blew up onto the mainstream scene. These sessions not only provide exposure for up-and-coming talent but also serve as a testament to the blog’s keen eye for identifying potential stars in the making.

UndergroundHipHopBlog.com‘s recognition on the web is a well-deserved accolade that highlights our commitment to excellence and its invaluable contribution to the hip hop community. As the blog continues to thrive and push boundaries, it remains a beacon of creativity and innovation in an ever-evolving musical landscape.

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Stefan Rossi and Keith Kugo Deep Dive Sonic Exploration in Lucid

When an innovative sonic master producer/artist with beautiful exploration like Keith Kugo & and intricate writer with performative force like Stefan Rossi get together.. you get an explosive combinational hit of stylistic & relatable music.

Lucid’ their first single off their upcoming EP hears a calm yet catchy groove that always has you engaged, singing along with bursts of excitement throughout.

With their debut single “Lucid,” the duo sets the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating musical journey. Seamlessly weaving together calm yet catchy grooves with bursts of excitement, “Lucid” invites listeners to immerse themselves in a world of sonic exploration. From the opening notes to the infectious chorus, each moment is infused with a sense of creative energy that leaves a lasting impression.

But “Lucid” is just the beginning. With an upcoming EP on the horizon, Keith Kugo and Stefan Rossi offer a tantalizing glimpse into the diverse range of flavors awaiting listeners. From introspective ballads to high-energy anthems, this duo refuses to be confined to one genre or style. Instead, they embrace the freedom to experiment and innovate, pushing the boundaries of what modern music can achieve.

In an industry often saturated with predictability, Keith Kugo and Stefan Rossi stand out as a breath of fresh air. Their commitment to artistic expression and sonic exploration makes them a duo worth remembering. So, keep an eye out for Keith Kugo and Stefan Rossi as they continue to redefine the musical landscape one electrifying track at a time.

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Estee Nack Releases His 3rd Classic in the Span of a Year With Futurewave-Produced “Stone Temple Pyrex” (Album Review)

Lynn, Massachusetts emcee/producer Estee Nack joining forces with Toronto producer Futurewave for his 11th proper full-length studio LP. Emerging as a member of the Tragic Allies, he also branched out on his own my senior year of high school off his Purpose-produced solo debut 14 Forms: The Book of Estee Nack & has since built a lengthy yet impressive discography for himself. Other highlights include the Sadhugold-produced Surfinongold.wav alongside it’s sequel The Order of the Golden Fleece, the Giallo Point-produced Papitas, his collab efforts with al.divino, the V Don-produced B.R.A.P. (Born Rewards & Penalties), the Griselda Records debut Nacksaw Jim Duggan & the Mike Shabb-produced Live at the Tabernackle. So considering the high quality of those last couple efforts, Stone Temple Pyrex had to be as equally great.

“Sunday Service” starts by blending jazz & boom bap talking about getting rich every Sunday whereas “Subtracktion” gets more grimier instrumentally to say right now’s a great time to have a great time. “Glaciusvsfulgore” featuring Rome Streetz brings the 2 Griselda signees together likening themselves to the titular Killer Instinct characters of the same name with the beat sounding reminiscent to Daringer, but then “Oscardelarenta” hooks up & an uncanny loop with kicks & snares talking about never doubting himself.

On the other hand, “&Bondizlyfe” goes drumless to detail the hustler lifestyle leading into “Blockwarz” featuring Daniel Son talking about the top spot forever being theirs over a crooning boom bap instrumental. “Weirdscience” flips another eerie sample so Estee can diss all the weaklings who want power just before “Datewifdef” talks about mathematics being the foundation for him sonically keeping it in the basement.

“Cornchowder” featuring Raz Fresco incorporates a jazzy loop referring to their minds as weapons & letting it squeeze while “Wavydominicans” featuring ??? & BoriRock finds the trio over grim piano chords talking about a sinister presence. “Eddiebernays” featuring al.divino strips the drums once more making this shit complete while the final song “¡Sorpresa!” excluding the “Ogoscardelarenta” remix aggressively suggests to check the sign language.

This upcoming weekend will mark a whole year since B.R.A.P. (Born Rewards & Penalties) came out & the Nackman has already blessed us with his 3rd classic within the span of 365 days. The guest-list is briefer than Live at the Tabernackle’s was, Futurewave’s production is mainly rooted in the traditional boom bap sound with jazzy & drumless undertones mixed in & my favorite Tragic Allies member picks up where he left off 6 months ago lyrically.

Score: 9/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Cam Gnarly – ”Dro’s Interlude” | MIC SESSION

Cam Gnarly drops his exclusive Mic Session performing ”Dro’s Interlude”, off his latest project release “Northend Gnarly”.

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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