By Alex Shtaerman It’s true that in 2016 Hip-Hop doesn’t have many new tales left to tell. For those old enough to remember, it sort of feels like Rock N Roll did in the 1980’s, but instead of the tight pants, makeup and wild hairdos … oh, wait…

by Alex Shtaerman As one half of the legendary Brooklyn Hip-Hop duo Smif N Wessun, General Steele has long had an affinity for the borough that has, to a large extent, come to define his career. Few artists have brought to life the essence of Brooklyn’s gritty undercurrents…

by Alex Shtaerman As Hip-Hop continues to evolve to encompass an ever-increasing variety of styles, subject matter and viewpoints, the torch of mainstream success is also concurrently passed – whether it’s from artist to artist, borough to borough, coast to coast, or from city to city. More often…

by Alex Shtaerman The late ‘90’s would witness rap music in the United States coasting into an unprecedented era of mainstream popularity and commercial success. As many of the adverse circumstances that profoundly shaped the genre at its inception and through the creative explosion of the 1980’s began…

by Alex Shtaerman Hailing from the Queens, New York projects of Queensbridge and Lefrak City respectively, Capone-N-Noreaga first burst onto the national stage in 1996 with the release of the landmark single “L.A., L.A.”. At a time when many New York artists found themselves embroiled in a vicious…

by Alex Shtaerman If you want to know whether legendary Hip-Hop trio Cypress Hill is still on their grind, there can only be one answer to that question: a resounding YES. Boasting a global cult following for nearly two decades, Cypress Hill has been the epitome of Hip-Hop’s…

by Alex Shtaerman To say Y-Love is somewhat of an anomaly in Hip-Hop may be a gross understatement, even by today’s standards. Many might consider the path Yitz Jordan took in life to itself qualify as remarkable. Born to a Puerto Rican mother and an Ethiopian American father,…

by Alex Shtaerman Lending powerful insights into a medley of broken English and abstract slang is nothing new for Cappadonna. A legend in the borough of Staten Island long before he first appeared on Raekwon’s classic LP Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Cap has since forged a die…

by Alex Shtaerman As an MC, beatboxer, DJ and visual artist, Hyphen-One is a throwback to a time when Hip-Hop wasn’t just a CD you bought at Best Buy, but rather, a way of life. “If I didn’t break my thumb the first time that I rocked a…

by Alex Shtaerman While his reputation as one of the most savage MCs on the planet has remained largely unblemished for well over a decade, it is Raekwon’s exploits in recent years, or perhaps the lack thereof, that, for some, has brought into question the service at The…

by Alex Shtaerman With the release of their sixth studio album, A History Of Violence, indie Hip-Hop powerhouse Jedi Mind Tricks continues to forge ahead amid turbulent times, delivering their signature brand of hardcore socio-political rhymes and eerie soundscapes that aims to recapture the formula established on their…

by Alex Shtaerman With multiple classic albums under his belt and a catalog that spans a number of eras as well as decades, Too Short reigns supreme as the undisputed godfather of Bay Area Hip-Hop – that much is certainly clear. However, when it comes to many of…

by RiotSound contributing writer Todd Davis In case you didn’t know, Sadat X, member of legendary Hip-Hop trio Brand Nubian and the self-proclaimed “Dot Father” is back. Following a two-plus year hiatus, the veteran MC is still kickin’ knowledge and taking no shorts with the release of his…

by Alex Shtaerman For nearly a decade and a half the Kottonmouth Kings have championed their own unique brand of Hip-Hop and punk rock fusion, dropping at least an album a year while touring virtually non-stop across the United States and abroad. Since 1994 the Kings of Rip-Hop…

by Alex Shtaerman Emerging out of the West Coast Hip-Hop revolution of the late ‘80’s, Kam first burst onto the scene as an affiliate of Da Lench Mob, a rap group mentored by Ice Cube following the rapper’s contentious departure from N.W.A. in 1990. After dropping his debut…

by Alex Shtaerman It goes without saying that very few rap groups can claim an iconic global following comparable to the one commanded by Hip-Hop legends Cypress Hill. And as B-Real, Sen Dog and DJ Muggs are set to be honored at the 2008 edition of VH1’s Hip-Hop…