hip-hop
Supersoul: Plastic Rap
Electronic hip-hop from Miami.Jun 29, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Lukid: Onandon
Lukid’s beats are nicely crafted out of bits and pieces.Mar 10, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
February Roundup
Hip-hop and IDM: DJ Cutler, Bukue One, 8yone, and Arc Lab.Feb 28, 2007 in Reviews
Various: Everything
This compilation reveals a vibrant Midwest rap community.Jan 3, 2007 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Distrakt: Distraktions
Distrakt is a natural crate-digger.Nov 30, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Cappablack: "Components & Variables" MP3
From Façades & Skeletons courtesy of ~scape.Nov 14, 2006 in MP3s
Cappablack: Facades & Skeletons
My favorite tracks are instrumentals.Nov 12, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Jair Dynast: V.I.A.L.E.N.C.E.
Most of this album is too poppy for my taste.Oct 17, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Fresh Air: Slowly Coming Along
Yet another hip-hop group expertly combining jazzy early nineties-style production with conscious lyrics.Oct 8, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Jedi Mind Tricks: Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Just the right mix of over-the-top violence and personal introspection.Sep 27, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Black Ice: The Death of Willie Lynch
Black Ice is a poet.Sep 18, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
J Dilla: "Love" MP3
Featuring Pharoahe Monch. Courtesy of BBE.Sep 12, 2006 in MP3s
J Dilla: The Shining
A beautiful, bittersweet release.Sep 9, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Various: From the Powerhouse
Graffiti legend Rammellzee and dubby electronic music from Berlin.Jul 30, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Strange Fruit Project: The Healing
Three MCs from Waco, Texas: Myone, Myth, and Symbolyc One.Jul 25, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Shadow Huntaz: Instrumentals
Both discs are great, with production courtesy of Funckarma and MCs Non, Breaf, and Dream.Jun 28, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Mr. Lif: Mo' Mega
Mr. Lif teams up with El-P for his first album in four years.Jun 9, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Small Eyez: Vipassana
Small Eyez is a rapper from Ohio, and this is his first EP.Jun 2, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Machine Drum: Mergerz & Acquisitionz
This two-disc remix project is so big, it’s taken me a while to form an opinion of it.Apr 30, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Ghostface Killah: Fishscale
Ghostface has a knack for combining pop-friendly tracks with really crazy experimental and underground ones.Apr 27, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
CopperShot: Issues
According to their press material, Copperpot and LongShot both have bad boy reputations.Apr 7, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Innerstance.Beatbox: "Tekniques"
IBB shows his skill as a producer on this new CD/vinyl single. The centerpiece is a funky, clubby tune.Apr 2, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Modill: Midnight Green
Chicago-based Modill have a fresh sound, thanks to creative raps by Racecar and inventive production by funk drummer K-Kruz.Mar 13, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Tanya Morgan: Moonlighting
Tanya Morgan is a rap group posing as a soul singer. Von Pea teams up with the duo Ilwill (Ilyas and Donwill) for a wild hip-hop ride.Feb 21, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Various: Futurism Ain't Shit to Me 2
The sequel to Kyo’s 2004 compilation offers an even wider variety of strange hip-hop. This time there are even excursions into grime and nerdcore.Feb 13, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Prefuse 73: Security Screenings
Prolific Prefuse 73’s latest mini-album sees him veering even further from hip-hop influences.Feb 4, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Depth Affect: Arche-Lymb
Combines hip-hop beats with unusual sounds.Jan 19, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: The Celluloid Years
Electro with connections to punk, jazz, and reggae.Jan 14, 2006 in Reviews: Disco/Funk
Malcom Kipe: Lit
Interesting hip-hop breaks.Dec 29, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Dabrye: Additional Productions Vol. 1
A few tasty tracks.Dec 13, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
The Primeridian: Da Allnighta
Creative lyrics, smooth flow, and jazzy production.Dec 1, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Innerstance.Beatbox: "Astor Street"
Courtesy of Consumers Research and Development.Nov 10, 2005 in MP3s
Various: Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture
A dream-team compilation.Nov 9, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Innerstance.Beatbox: Your Eyes Are Like UFOs, My Darling
A real treat.Oct 31, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
The Pharcyde: Humboldt Beginnings
Less humor and less soul.Oct 2, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Cyne: Evolution Fight
Refreshingly honest and real.Sep 25, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
One Be Lo: S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.
Amazing.Aug 31, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Jus Allah: All Fates Have Changed
Uneven production and absurdly violent lyrics.Jul 11, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Immortal Technique: "Bin Laden"
Political hardcore.Jul 10, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Shadow Huntaz: Valley of the Shadow
Gritty vocals and elaborate, murky production.Jun 20, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Zion I: True & Livin'
Bound to become a classic.May 1, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Various: Teeth
Downtempo electronica inspired by hip-hop and dub.Mar 2, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Prefuse 73 feat. Ghostface and El-P: "HideYaFace"
We need more angry tracks like this.Feb 23, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Noakes Pressure: "Rhyme More"/DLF: "5 Bar Funk"
Hip-hop-informed electronica.Jan 25, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Ra: Raoul Loves You
Gritty urbanscapes with the occasional uplifting moment.Nov 12, 2004 in Reviews: Electronica
KutMasta Kurt: Redneck Games
Remixes, from Blackalicious to The Beastie Boys.Nov 11, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Automato: Automato
The kind of hip-hop we need in 2004.Nov 4, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Zion I: Family Business
The production is thick and vinyly.Oct 4, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Prince Po: The Slickness
Deeper than average [hip-hop] club tracks.Aug 2, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
The Roots: The Tipping Point
A lot more poppy than their previous LPs.Jul 24, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Various: Futurism Ain't Shit to Me
Hip-hoppers embrace a technology-enhanced future.Jun 21, 2004 in Reviews: Electronica
Team Shadetek: Burnerism
Hip-hop beats and grungy electronicsJun 15, 2004 in Reviews: Electronica
Shadow Huntaz: Vampire
Another blast of dope electronic hip-hop.May 31, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Various: Urban Renewal Program Supplement 1.5
Far superior to its predecessor.Mar 28, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
King Gheedorah: Take Me to Your Leader
The beats are fresh and the unknown rappers do their jobs.Feb 21, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Shadow Huntaz: That Ain't Where It's At
Experimentation with hip-hop.Feb 16, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Jimmy Edgar: Access Rhythm
Slickly-produced instrumental hip-hop.Jan 29, 2004 in Reviews: Electronica
Vast Aire: "Look Mom... No Hands"
Solid hip-hop.Dec 7, 2003 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Dual Purpose: Runfastmaybefaster
A killer set of tracks.Nov 6, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica
Diverse: One A.M.
There’s not a single weak cut.Nov 2, 2003 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Diverse: "Explosive"
A future classic.Sep 29, 2003 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Various: Infiltrate
Politically conscious electronica and hip-hop.Aug 5, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica
Prefuse 73: One Word Extinguisher
Few artists get me as excited at the blending of electronics and hip-hop.May 21, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica
Tomato Weirdo: Best Before End + Toujours Comestible
Another Spring release I can confidently add to my list for the best of ’03.May 18, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica
Push Button Objects: Ghetto Blaster
A decent balance between rap and more abstract pursuits.May 13, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica
Beta Bodega Coalition: Banana Republic Vol. 3
As important musically as it is politically.May 4, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica
Souls of Mischief: Spark
Lyrics bound to satisfy even the most discerning head-nodders.Mar 30, 2003 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Crunch: 2
Crunch: 2...Nov 1, 2002 in Reviews: Electronica
Diverse: "Certified"/"Build"
Diverse: “Certified”/“Build”...Sep 19, 2002 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Various: Urban Renewal Program
Various: Urban Renewal Program...Sep 6, 2002 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Various: Staedtizism 3: Instrumentals
Various: Staedtizism 3: Instrumentals...May 26, 2002 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: Solid Steel Presents DJ Food & DK "Now, Listen"
Various: Solid Steel Presents DJ Food & DK...Nov 4, 2001 in Reviews: Electronica
Prefuse 73: Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives
Prefuse 73: Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives...Aug 9, 2001 in Reviews: Electronica
Crunch: 1
Crunch: 1...Mar 15, 2001 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: Rapid Transit
Various: Rapid Transit...Dec 5, 2000 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: SoleSides Greatest Bumps
Various: SoleSides Greatest Bumps...Nov 5, 2000 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
Various: Xen Cuts
Various: Xen Cuts...Oct 7, 2000 in Reviews: Electronica
Boulderdash: We Never Went to Koxut Island
Boulderdash: We Never Went to Koxut Island...Apr 24, 2000 in Reviews: Electronica
Push Button Objects: Dirty Dozen
Push Button Objects: Dirty Dozen...Feb 28, 2000 in Reviews: Electronica
Ko-wreck Technique: Ko-wrecktion
Ko-wreck Technique: Ko-wrecktion...Feb 24, 2000 in Reviews: Electronica
DJ Vadim: USSR Reconstruction
DJ Vadim: USSR Reconstruction...Apr 19, 1998 in Reviews: Electronica
Luke Vibert: Big Soup
Luke Vibert: Big Soup...Feb 15, 1998 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: Street Jams: Electric Funk Parts 1-4
Classic ’80s electro.Jan 11, 1998 in Reviews: Disco/Funk
Coldcut: "More Beats and Pieces"
Coldcut: “More Beats and Pieces”...Aug 3, 1997 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: Journeys by DJ: Coldcut
Various: Journeys by DJ: Coldcut...Jul 13, 1997 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: Hip-Hop Don't Stop
Various: Hip-Hop Don’t Stop...May 4, 1997 in Reviews: Hip-Hop
