Some of the most masterful art in hip hop comes from collaboration projects. When two talented souls align and form a genuine chemistry, sky's the limit. Gran Larson and Tato Tatum joined forces to create "Playa Patnas". Urban dictionary partially defines the term as "mostly used in Texas for your homie, or someone you kick it with on a regular." This alliance is symbolic of unity and solidarity. I'm excited and honored to dive deep into the minds of these guys. After discovering Gran Larson's music, I instantly became a fan. This will be my introduction to Tato Tatum, but I'm pretty sure tha ..read more

Anime and hip-hop have always one way or another had ties to each other. Backwood Brad does an excellent job merging these two worlds together with his latest album "Mary". I'm not super familiar with the anime world, so I love the fact that I had to do some extensive research to ensure that I understood some of the verbiage used in the music. I'm always excited to review hip-hop albums that have a vivid concept. Sadly that's become a rarity nowadays, as many artists just babble and jump from subject to subject all through their project. I love complex hip-hop that forces me to listen and thi ..read more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8arrqbRpoc The underlying theme of hip-hop in my opinion has always been about overcoming adversity. Rap music (Rhythm and poetry) is filled with relatable stories, affirmations, chants, and mantras. Anytime a soldier goes into battle, an athlete goes out to compete, or even when the average man goes to work every day, there is always some type of motivational music they listen to beforehand that gets them prepared for war. The first step to conquering any challenge is to keep a positive mindset. Up-and-coming hip-hop talent Horizon's latest single "Season" is ..read more

It's amazing to see how far hip-hop's influence has spread since its inception. It's gone from The Bronx all the way around the globe in such a short amount of time, and I think it's beautiful. One place where hip-hop culture is definitely thriving is The United Kingdom. The UK's hip-hop scene has been on fire for quite some time now, and Dr Lekta's latest album "The Manuscript" makes him clearly stand out from the rest of the pack! With 11 tracks and a total run time of around 30 minutes, Dr Lekta gives us a vivid picture of what it's like to walk in his shoes. The project is a well-rounded ..read more

Every hip-hop success story begins with a dream, a positive mindset, and a clear vision. Every individual has their very own unique outlook on life. The definition of success is also unique to each individual. Marcus Porter gives the listeners his outlook on life with his latest self-produced album ,"The Perception". With 13 tracks and a total run time of just under 30 minutes, this is an easily digestible project. In my opinion, the best art is that which comes purely from the heart, and I can appreciate it when rappers give us a glimpse into their complex minds while speaking their truths ..read more

“Hip Hop in America … is freedom,” - acclaimed Japanese DJ/producer DJ Honda In the Takahiro Shiraishi-directed documentary series ‘Hip Hop Originals’ (https://youtu.be/Br4S50JYyJs), it’s a three-part mini-documentary that traces the genre’s early underground beginnings in Japan to its present mainstream success. Hip hop was introduced by Japanese DJs who visited the United States. They would play popular hip hop records that they brought back from New York with the latest hip hop fashion. In Tokyo, mid 80s, hip-hop arrived at a time when people were just beginning to express themselves freel ..read more

Ever since Andre 3000 boldly demanded respect for Southern hip-hop at the 1995 Source Awards, the doors of the music industry have been kicked wide open for rappers in the South. Many rap legends are southern bred, and many would say that the South has been in control of mainstream hip-hop for at least the last decade. Gran Larson out of Dallas Texas is one of the freshest talents from the region. After listening to his latest project I believe he has a sound that can transcend all coasts. The title "SOUL 73", stems from a Dallas-based AM radio called KKDA SOUL 73. With only 9 tracks and just ..read more

Hip Hop talent from the DMV area (DC, Maryland, VA) has always somehow been able to bully its way into the rap game, underground and mainstream. While still in close proximity to the East Coast, This area seems to have always had its own super unique talent. Tokyo Cigar's rhetoric on his latest full-length album "26: The Maryland Era" is a very clear and vivid depiction of what it was like growing up in Maryland from his creative and abstract point of view. If you've never been to this area of the U.S. before, while listening you'll feel like you're walking down a Baltimore block with a blunt ..read more

Marcus "M-Positive" Paker is from Port Arthur Texas, and a true underground legend in my book. Personally, I've known and been a fan of his music since the early YouTube days. Since then his general message has never changed, and he usually writes positive empowering music for the youth. This time around MP is taking a different approach by targeting adult struggles, hence the title "Grown Folks Business". He's like a cross between a motivational speaker, a therapist, and a rapper. Marcus Parker always knows how to make relatable positive Hip Hop without it sounding corny . It's my pleasure t ..read more

Some artists focus on making music for other people to jam to, while others create their art purely for artistic expression and therapeutic reasons. Grady is a super talented lyricist and in my opinion a true diamond in the rough with a real passion for expressing his raw thoughts over beats. The spiritual themes of his songs and personal subject matter indicate to me that Grady is making music straight from the heart and soul. You may recall when I gave high praise to his previous EP "BabiesNFools" , so I was very excited to check out Grady's latest body of work "HEAVY". "They say we uninvit ..read more