RZA CLAUS DECKS THE BELLS

In case you missed it, RZA on The Late Show, busting the beatbox and singing "Deck The Halls"

Channel Live - Hip-Hop Nation

This is a breath of fresh air that the HipHop nation really needs.
I always have to give props to cats like Channel Live for fighting
the good fight and putting forth effort to restore the balance in Hip hop.

R.I.P. PIMP .

R.I.P. PIMP C
Hip Hop has lost another great voice and force that was on his way to shake up
The Game with some revolutionary ideas of how we should be the soul controllers
of our culture. Even if your not a fan of this brothers music you have to respect him
for being a raw stand up take no shit man. We need more cats with this kind of mind
in Hip Hop.

Pimp C...

The Barrel Brothers: Ghostface Beanie Sigel Styles P

For all grimey hip hop cats that miss that raw rugged east coast sound...
Checkout The Barrel Brothers: Ghostface Beanie Sigel & Styles P
WHAT!!!

Ghostface Killah Big Doe Rehab Commercial

Prodigal Sunn & Trek Life on The Cyber Mix Tape Show-Friday, Nov 30th, PM PST!

Join us live on air tonight, Friday 30, 2007 at 9pm pst as we welcome Prodigal Sunn, one of the core members of the legendary rap group Sunz Of Man. If that isn’t enough, we have one of LA Hip-Hop’s best kept secrets, Trek Life calling in, despite the nasty cold he is dealing with!

We will talk them both about their careers in Hip-Hop music, play some exclusive music, and just have some Hip-Hop fun ya'll!!

We hope to have some of our friends here tonight as well, adding to the online radio cypher, with DJ Shiro checking in, as well as LA Hip-Hop promoter Swess from Chinky Eyed, the crew responsible from bringing some of the hottest underground Hip-Hop acts to Los Angeles! (ILL BILL--NEXT FRIDAY--THE AIRLINER-ANOTHER CHINKY EYED PRODUCTION!!!)



Check out the video clips and some of his music below. Call in tonight and say hello to Prodigal Sunn!


New show on OctaneTV, The Grindz, hosted by Ronnie Faisst (MotoX) and Prodigal Sunn (Wu Tang)
The Grindz - Ronnie Faisst & Prodigal Sunn - OctaneTV

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TREK LIFE

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Off The Chain video

Prodigal Sunn

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Goblins-Wise Men Approaching feat Prodigal Sunn


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More goodness from the The Cyber Mix Tape Show here at The Blogcritics Radio Network!

UGK -UNDERGROUND KINGZ CD REVIEW

Coming deep from the dirty south, Bun B and his partner in rhyme Pimp C have returned with a double disc album. The Texan rap veterans are known to the world as UGK. They have delivered one of the most anticipated albums of the year, complete with their trademarked soulful sounds and slick turf talk. The new album UGK-Underground Kingz is a celebration of sorts for the two, as they have overcome personal obstacles to return to the game as a duo. Pimp C, recently released from his jail sentence, is finally back on the block, bringing a fire in his vocal delivery that is determined and undeterred.

While he was away, Pimp C’s name became legend in the rap world, as “Free Pimp C” became the mantra of the mixtapes and word on the street. Bun B took the opportunity to do feature work on damn near every popular rap song coming out of the south, with each guest vocal appearance outshining the last. The ploy worked, as Bun B's solo album Trill reminded everyone why he is in the game, with his effortless performances and memorable metaphors. Now that Bun and Sweet Jones are back together, you know the level of trillness is about to go through the roof! UGK recently won BET Music Awards for Best Collaboration with Outkast "International Players Anthem" and Video of the Year for the same song! The song is the first single off the UGK double disc.

In case you are new to the underground sound, be forewarned. This is not the east coast, backpacker version of underground, nor is it the west coast, sun filled, care free, underground flow. When Bun & Pimp C take it to the underground, it more like the criminal side of the underground. Their tales of hustlers, crooks and drugs is a look into the world of the average, local D-Boy. What else would you expect from a man named Pimp C, but “real talk”, as we say.

UGK are pioneers in rap, as their mix of blues rhythms, Hip-Hop and tales from the hood have influenced several of today's top rappers. They have been a cornerstone of Southern Hip-Hop since the beginning, a fact they feel many overlook. Hip-Hop heads and UGK fans will not be disappointed by the package. UGK ride out dirty as ever on this one!

The blazing Three 6 Mafia produced “International Players (I Choose You)” feat. Outkast is here, with a Three 6 Mafia version and a chopped and screwed version. “The Game Belongs To Me” is a perfect example of the UGK sound, with wah wah guitars and a sung chorus declaring the royalty of the street scholars. UGK have held the spot of the slickest hustlers on the mic, with their pimped out, slow riding music that has won them fans worldwide. This album is a perfect addition to the UGK collection.

The legends were joined on this project by many top notch rap celebs on production and on the mic. Jazze Pha brings his party vibe to “Stop & Go”, Slimm Thugg chops it up with UGK on “Take The Hood Back”, and Rick Ross helps seal the deal on the mesmerizing “Cocaine” giving the overplayed subject matter an amazing twist and mournful music track.

Too Short, Z-Ro, Dizzie Rascal, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G. Rap, and Three Six Mafia are just a few who join the party, giving props to UGK and putting work in on this album. It clocks in close to two hours, with a few tracks that can catch the fast forward button. Yeah the remix has that Keith Sweat smoothness, but two version of "Like That" might not have been necessary. "Heaven" is a cool look for UGK, showing a insightful side of the southern OGs, with Bun and Pimp trading verses about the afterlife. They go in the opposite direction and return to the sinful ways of the streets with the pimped out "Two Types Of Bitches", a song thats too groovy to ignore. Dizzie Rascal and Pimpin' Ken both share their insights on the varying degrees of bitchdom in high fashion, sure to delight the O'Reilly factor fans and such.

Pimp C brings his musical side to the album, producing "Underground Kingz", and "Real Women", with Talbi Kweli and Raheem DeVaughn on the mic with a track that seems to aim to redeem their previous joint. The song is yet another sonic knockout! Pimp lets it be known how he feels about those who look down on southern rap artist on the unapologetic "Quit Hatin' On The South", with Charlie Wilson and Willie D of Geto Boys fame adding in on the new southern anthem.

They way they re-work "Let's Straighten It Out" shows the opposite sentiments they feel toward their detractors in the rap game. The album ends with a banger in the Dungeon Family inspired "Living This Life", with the Texas boys sharing their thought on living the life of kings of the southern underground of Hip-Hop. All in all, UGK deliver one of their finest packages to date, marking their impressive history in music!

VIDEOS- /"International Players Anthem" /Bun B interview at BET 2007 Hip Hop Awards


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Mike Jones lives the dream!

Mike Jones has a new album and a movie on the way, both called "The American Dream". If that wasn't enough, Jones has a mini series running on YouTube. Check the second episode of "The American Hater" below!


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Dungeon Family alumni Witchdoctor returns!

Dungeon Family fans worldwide will be thrilled with this one! Witchdoctor, the main behind some of the illest tracks to come through the Organized Noize crew, has a new album in stores now. "Diary of an American Witchdoctor" is the name of the new album, and it looks to be a return to that S.W.A.T.s style of Hip-Hop. Mr. Johnson has a reputation for laying down serious lyrics, making sure now one can ever say the South lacks real emcees. Witchdoctor just got back from tour with Ghostface Killah, also sponsored by Adult Swim. Click the link to download his new single, "Best Year". Check the Myspace page for the video too!

Track listing for Witchdoctor's "Diary of an American Witchdoctor".

God is Good
Just Like You
Suicide Bomber
Put a Spell on Them Hoes
Treasure Chest
Cream of Da Crop
Prayer Call (Interlude)
The Barrell
Part of Your Brain (featuring Khujo Goodie)
Best Year
Semi-Automatic
Dezonly1 Part 2
Oxygen
Are You Happy There?
Jake Got Ya Body
King of the Beasts
Wonderful God
Mercy

Wyclef Jean video "Sweetest Girl (Dolla Bill)"

Wyclef Jean has new music on the way! His new album, "Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant" will be year by years end. Check out the new video, entitled "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" featuring Akon and Lil Wayne!

More Videos

Talib Kweli - Hot Thing / In The Mood

DJ Envy &Red Cafe get dollars!

NY diddy bop swagger from Envy & Red Cafe, with help from Nina Sky, Fabolous &Jermaine Dupri. Check the video below.

Things You Do feat. Nina Sky


Dolla Bill

The Salt-N-Pepa Show Preview

I for one never thought you saying "p***y real good" Pep. But now that you have put that image in my mind, I love the song even more! (Sorry Cheryl)

Midnite aka Luck Of The Tribe

Peace to the first crew to do it with style!

Freestyle Fellowship - Promo Video Circa 1992

Freestyle Fellowship is one of the most ground breaking crews to come out of Los Angeles. The collection of emcees basically formed in LA famed Good Life, and was whittled down to Aceyalone, Myka Nyne, P.E.A.C.E., Self Jupiter and producer J Sumbi.

As the name implies, Freestyle Fellowship concentrated in free forms of rapping, and hit the world with their rapid fire multi syllabic, complex word play. Stay tuned to Rap Critics for more on this group and all the members involved, and check out the rare promo clip I found floating around on YouTube!

FRESH:A DAY IN THE LIFE--LIVE BY ZEN,PERCEE P, JHAVOICE,TREK LIFE,U-N-I,LIVE GRAF BY MARK 7, SHIRO,AND MORE!! FREE!! ALL DAY EVENT!!

Calico Magazine Presents:
FRESH: A Day In The Life!
Saturday September 15, 2007 1pm to 8 pm
CO$T: FREE

Come out and enjoy the sounds of real Hip-Hop music, in one of Los Angeles premier record stores, 33Third!

LIVE PERFORMANCES BY

ZEN (VISIONARIES/WRITER’S BLOCK/UP ABOVE RECORDS)

PERCEE P (HIP-HOP ICON, NOW SIGNED TO STONES THROW)

DROOP CAPONE (BLACK LOVE RADIATOR)

TREK LIFE (TIMELESS MUSIC)

JHAVOICE (KAYARO RECORDS)

U-N-I (NEW RELEASE CHICKEN & WATERMELON)

BENT VINYL

LIVE ART BY GRAF LEGENDS

SINNER (L2S)
CR8 (RTN, WCA)
MAKE (STN)
MARK 7 (LTS,EL,BIF,SK)
REZ (BIF,SK,EL)
SHIRO (BIF,SK,EL)
ZUCO (KAP)

ON THE WHEELS OF STEEL

SHIRO (DUB HEDS)
TOMMY BLAK (LORD GANG DJS/PROJECT BLOWED)
MAIN VYBE (CALICO/LION’S DEN)
DJ MONEY
~~ ~~
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT 323.337.3363

HIT US UP ON MYSPACE!

MYSPACE.COM/SHIRO7
MYSPACE.COM/KRAMDA2NDHANDSMOQMAN
MYSPACE.COM/INKREZIN
MYSPACE.COM/DJMAINVYBE
MYSPACE.COM/LARONQ
MYSPACE.COM/JHAVOICE
MYSPACE.COM/QROCK639

33Third Record Store
5111 West Pico Blvd.
LA CA 90019

FREE GIVEAWAYS PROVIDED BY OUR SPONSORS

UP ABOVE RECORDS
STONES THROW RECORDS
UNDERGROUND STUDIOS
WEST WORLD ORDER
TIMELESS MUSIC
BLACK LOVE RADIATOR
LIONS DEN CONCEPTS
STREET SCHOLAR CONCPETS
REZINATED GROOVEZ
KAYARO INCORPORATED/KAYARO RECORDS

Under The Wire-Christian Scott, Kat De Luna, Mr. J., and "Finding Forever" review

Concord Jazz presents the follow-up release by Grammy nominated trumpeter Christian Scott titled Anthem available in stores August 28th!! Listen to two of his new songs below!

“Anthem (Postdiluvial Adaptation)” w/ Brother J of X-Clan

“Dialect”

Check back for more from Christian Scott here soon!
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Blogcritics.org Music Review
Common Isn't So Common-Written by Jose Vilson
"Until artists like Immortal Technique, Jean Grey, or Little Brother place anywhere in a substantial pole position, the division of underground and mainstream remains. Common has built up his brand in the mold of a Norah Jones or even a Jill Scott, where people don't even need to know the title of the album to purchase the product, confident that it's just that good."
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Mr. J. Medeiros “Constance” (Video) featured at XXLMag.com. Check the comments to see how people are feeling the new song as well as Mr. J.
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Kat De Luna
Kat talks about recording "Cut Off Time" with Omarion and Timbaland
Kat DeLuna at the Studio

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Whine Up ft Elephant Man - Video
Kat DeLuna - Whine Up (Official Video)

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DanjahOne - Mid-Summa Classic 2007 at HipHopDX.com

this is whats on deck here at the compound today......

Mid-Summa Classic 2007 | Mixtapes > HipHopDX.com

1. Intro / Saigon - Don’t U Baby f. Swizz Beatz
2. Keith Murray – Hustle On
3. Termanology - Has It Ever Occurred (prod. Don Cannon)
4. Common – Misunderstood
5. Lords of the Underground – The Clinic (DanjahOne Remix)
6. M.O.P – Sharks
7. Talib Kweli – In the Mood f. Kanye West
8. Swizz Beatz – Top Down
9. The A.O.D. – It’s The A.O.D. f. DJ Darkfada
10. Havoc (of Mobb Deep) – Be There
11. Special Teamz (Jaysaun
12. Slaine and Ed OG) – Get Down
13. Ruel – Make Money
14. Defari – King’s Holiday
15. Infamous Mobb – Go Hard f. Alchemist
16. Little Brother – Good Clothes (prod. Illmind)
17. Dilated Peoples – Spit it Clearly f. Alchemist
18. Sy Scott – Looking For A Penny
19. Buckshot – Go Around (prod. Marco Polo)
20. “Twinney”
21. J. Barre – Fresh (I Am) f. DJ Most High (prod. DanjahOne

Hip Hop.net

Heres a quick run down of some of the top Hip-Hop websites that are up on the net, in no particular order. Some you know, others you should get to know. More to come soon.

Nah Right
Fam-Lay, Keith Murray, Talib Kweli, N.O.R.E. freestyles and more are currently on the main blog page.

AllHipHop.com
One of the landmark Hip-Hop sites out there, partially thanks to illseed and his hip-hop quotable Rumor page. The news section is always quick with the latest headlines and they bless you with some music and videos for good measure. Oh yeah, the foroum pages get hectic too.

Hip-Hop Game.com
This is where you go to listen to all the new songs, period. The streaming player holds down the audio, so you are free to listen to tons of mixtapes cuts, new tracks, and radio spots from everyone in the game. The interviews, blog post and journal entries are a nice touch, with enties by Skyzoo, Killer Priest, 9th Wonder, Strong Arm Steady, DJ Babu and tons more.

Current Top 10 songs at Hip-Hop Game.com
italics = song plays
50 Cent Vs Cam'ron - 126555 Live on the Air Hot 97
Lil Wayne - 89937 Something You Forgot
T.I. f/ Jay-Z - 84842 Watch What You Say
Jadakiss - 78949 In the Trap House
50 Cent, Styles P, Angie Martinez - 77742 Hot 97 Interview
Lil Wayne - 75948 "I Feel Like Dyin"
Lil Wayne - 71128 "Married To The Block"
Lil Wayne - 69102 "Let's Talk It Over"
50 Cent - 68830 "I Get Money"
Lil Wayne - 65587 "Hip-Hop Legend"

XXLMag.com
The well known magazine has an impressive web presence, with articles and behind the scene photos of cover shoots, exclusive music and videos, and a news section that should be added to your Google reader.
Current highlights at the site include the Lil Wayne and Baby cover shoot, coverage on their 1998 Man of the Year award winner, Master P. Byron Crawford is alway on point with his Saturday Night Workout, another extension to his blog empire. The video section has Jay-Z exposed, Nas, Ice Water feat. Raekwon, and Chammillionaire's AOL freestyles. The Eye Candy section is top notch as well with appearances by Flavor Of Love's Deelishis and Hoopz.
Ozone

DUBCNN.com
The West Coast super site is the first source for all things west side! The media section is packed tight with podcast, new and rare audio, videos and more. 2Pac, Snoop, DPG, DJ Quik, Roscoe, The Game, Crooked I, Traxxamillion Feat. San Quinn, Huslah & The Jacka, Young Joker Feat. Eastwood & Meech Wells, Planet Asia, The Fixxers, Dilated People, and more westsiders are in the audio/video sections, with interviews from many of the same artist. Peep game at DubCnn.

IAMHIPHOP.com
This site is a newer player in the online Hip-Hop game. With it's recent affiliation to the Rock The Bells tour, and their upcoming site site launch, IAHH looks to be very intense website. The site will feature user profiles similar to MySpace of Facebook where you can upload your content and network with other users. The video section promises to be deep with exclusives from major artist as well as underground emcees and DJs, breakers and graf heads. Keep your eye out for IAMHIPHOP.com!

::more soon::

Sean Kingston drops album

Make sure to check out Artist Direct.com Listening Session to listen to Sean Kingston.

His self titled album is in stores now and looks like a contender at the register lines. Check out the audio and video links from the Beluga Heights/Epic Records release.

AUDIO: "ME LOVE"
WMP
QT

VIDEO: BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
QT
Flash
Windows
Musicbox

AUDIO: BEAUTIFUL GIRLS (produced by J.R. Rotem)
QT
WMP

sidenote: props for the Johnie's Coffee Shop choice for the video. The corner spot is a landmark of LA, and has been a site for tons of film sets.

Remember "I can get you a toe, with green nail polish" or Mr. Orange's scene in Reservoir Dogs? What about the scene in American History X?

David Banner-Speaker featuring Akon, Lil Wayne &Snoop Dogg

David Banner is currently on the road with Rock The Bells, getting ready to drop his new album and leaking singles online. The new album, "The Greatest Story Ever Told", hits store shelves in October but you can check out the new track, "Speaker" below!

WMP

REAL

Madi B's "My Money's Long" video

Peep Out Madi B's "My Money's Long" video from his debut album, "Street G.E.D." on Anytime Records. In stores now.

Blind Eye

Blind I Is For The Kids has tons of music for your listening pleasure, everything from Vandross to Nelly Furtado, T.I. to Incubus and tons more.

Check them out and tell them Q sent you!

Welcome to Rap Critics

Peace to you and yours for finding this new venture! Rap Critics is the new home to unbiased hip-hop, as well as a good place to find the latest info in all things funky.
Stay tuned for more, bookm akr, catch the RSS and leave a comment if you dare.