From their new album “We got it from Here…Thank You 4 Your Service”
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Beyond Just The Moolah, Young Greatness Looks To Put On For His City In His Breakout Year
All my life I hustled just to get that moolah And stack my change up and go see the jeweler Standin’ in the kitchen I whip up that work Unless your aux cord game is anemic or you just choose to not pay attention to one of the most addictive songs of the past couple of […]
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Peep This: A$AP Ferg – Let It Bang Ft. Schoolboy Q
The self-proclaimed Trap Lord from the eclectic rap collective A$AP Mob is set to drop his newest album Always Strive And Prosper on April 22nd. It’s been three years since he released a full album, so fans are sure to cop that quick on pre-order. In late January, he dropped the single “New Level” which featured […]
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21 Years Ago Today, Big L and Jay Z Shut it Down on the Stretch and Bobbito Show
It’s February 23rd, 1995: the Stretch & Bobbito show was at the height of its cult following among those who knew what was really up, hip-hop’s golden era was in the midst of its second act, and two then barely known young and hungry emcees by the names of Big L and Jay Z […]
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Peep This: Vince Staples – Lift Me Up
Long Beach, CA spitter Vince Staples offers up a crazy visual for “Lift Me Up,” from his 2015 album Summertime ’06. Clearly, we need to give this dude a Video Of The Year award already, or at least a recognition with equal value. The dude has consistently put out some of the best videos that touch base on […]
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Peep This: Daye Jack ft. Killer Mike – Hands Up
The dialogue regarding police brutality and race relations in this country is on-going and a crucial conversation to be had to create any semblance of peace and understanding for all parties involved. A few months ago, Daye Jack joined this poignant discussion by debuting his take on the situation through the song, “Hands Up,” featuring noted […]
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#KanyeAnalPlaylist Is Trending and We Just Had to Contribute to the Fire
The Internet is really an amazing entity. Something that I’ve always pictured as a next level, lit af Zordon, if ever personified. Really. Earlier this week, it brought us the 0 to 100 Twitter beef between Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa/Amber Rose. Long story short, Ye was poppin’ off per his usual self and wylin’ on […]
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Peep This: brandUn DeShay – Had ‘Em All
The premiere of branUn DeShay’s “goldUn Child” album had me and the writers wanting more information about the upcoming rapper. When it was first released a few weeks ago it was blowing up my social media feed. I was thinking, “Am I the last to know about this dude?” Truth be told I probably was. […]
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Peace, Peace, Peace: Mos Def’s Greatest Joints
In a shocking turn of events last night, Yasiin Bey, better known as Mos Def, announced his retirement from the entertainment industry. Bowing out of the spotlight by way of an audio recording that mostly addressed his recent legal situation in South Africa on kanyewest.com, the man many have to come to know over the years as […]
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Jam On It: Skillz – 2015 Rap Up
As tried and true a New Year’s Eve edition as poppin’ bottles and Auld Lang Syne is, Skillz comes through once more in timely fashion to wrap up 2015 with, of course, “2015 Rap Up.” While giving a proper run down of all the the past year’s high and low lights, Skillz does so in his […]
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2015’s Best: Song Picks Of The Year
As we prepare to wave 2015 goodbye, I think back on the droves of new songs, artists, and sounds that hit the radio waves and my Spotify Discover Playlist this year, and selected a handful of jams that made an impression on me and the hip-hop audience in general. From conscious to ignorant, intoxicating to […]
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Jam On It: Snoop Dogg – I’m From Long Beach
“If you wanna find me, come to Long Beach. 213 is where I be, I’m from Long Beach,” chants the infectious chorus. 2015 is ending on a strong note thanks to this new track from Snoop Dogg. This new joint from The Doggfather is definitely heavy on that signature West Coast feel good vibe, the […]
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Jam On It: Shango – Demonstrate
Strng Frnds collective general and chief, Shango, shared a new single on Souncloud entitled “Demonstrate” from his forthcoming project Love Hotel. For a time, Strng Frnds had a sort of creative center at Shango’s apartment that housed a few other crew members. “Love Hotel” reflects the fluidity of that home, and maintains a clarity and […]
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HBK CJ Talks ‘Crash Course 2’ Album and the Rise of HBK Gang
In the music industry, it’s not about who you meet at the top, but rather, who you grow and build with on the way there. San-Francisco based collective, HBK Gang, also known as The Heartbreak Gang, is a prime example of this philosophy. The American hip-hop and music production collective based in Richmond, California was founded […]
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ATCQ Releases “People’s” 25th Anniversary Edition
Today is release day for the legendary group’s 25th anniversary edition of “People’s Instinctive Travels and Paths of Rhythm.” Accompanying Tribe’s milestone is a world tour of sorts through the media waves. Included stops were Sirius XM, Hot97, and a very special visit to ESPN where the Sportscenter set was decked out in ATCQ cover art as […]
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Peep This: Thriller Meets The Walking Dead in Tyga’s New “Dope’d Up” Video
It’s Halloween 2015 and my Instagram feed is already filled with bootleg costumes that got me shaking my damn head. Ladies, throwing on a furry throw blanket and putting on all your gold necklaces don’t qualify to be a “Cookie Lyon” costume from Empire. And you knew damn well you looked like a hot mess […]
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MED, Blu & Madlib Set to Drop ‘Bad Neighbor’
The three man dream team of M.E.D., Blu, and Madlib join forces once again for their new album, ‘Bad Neighbor’. Dropping October 30th, this full-length LP incorporates songs from the utterly delightful “The Burgundy” EP which they released in 2013. With Madlib on production and M.E.D. and Blu on vocals, ‘Bad Neighbor’ promises more funky […]
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INTERVIEW: Shea Serrano Pinpoints Hip-Hop’s Milestone Shifts in His “Rap Year Book”
Shea Serrano the gawddd. Responsible for Bun B’s Rap Coloring Book published in 2013 and my day-to-day distraction from doing any real work. A staff writer for ESPN’s Grantland, Shea is a rap writer’s writer, the right combination of certified opinion, expertise and Internet snark that make for absolute zero productivity in the office because […]
Read moreGoldLink Drops New Single and Album Release Date
With loyal fans scattered across the globe, GoldLink got the internet buzzing with help from the Soulection crew. So it only makes sense that his upcoming album And After That, We Didn’t Talk will be released via Soulection on November 13. If you were the one putting GoldLink on your friend’s radar then you should […]
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Editor’s Note: Stankonia Turns 15
October marks the 15 year anniversary of OutKast’s charismatic, genre-juggling, mind-bending, cosmic funk escapade – Stankonia. And you would think that I, a fan of OutKast since they were just two dope boys in a Cadillac crumblin’ herb, would have known this off the top of my head. Nope. The thought of this milestone for the album […]
Read more#DuRagHistoryWeek: Dipset Takes Over Tha Basement
For those unfamiliar with the National Recording Registry, it is an extensive compilation of recordings that “are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States,” as indicated by the Library of Congress. In it, one would peruse the already expected precious catalog and find the likes of Marvin Gaye, The […]
Read morePeep This: Triune ft. E.Q. & J-Go – Pray For Em
The I.E is definitely in the building with Triune’s latest video for his joint, “Pray For Em,” featuring E.Q. and J-Go. With a hard hitting track and dope visuals directed by Shames Worthy, “Pray For Em” is looking to be one of the many certified bangers off of Triune’s latest EP, Raised to Fail, Born […]
Read moreJam On It: Mos Def & Ski Beatz – Sensei On The Block
The Mighty Mos drops the Yasiin Bey persona on this jam that hearkens back to when he actually rapped and flexed the verbal dexterity that we all have known the Brooklynite wordsmith to possess. With Ski Beatz giving the backdrop in beat form for Mos Def to fire off his vaunted bars, “Sensei On The Block” is a […]
Read moreJam On It: Chance the Rapper x Lil B Release “Free: Based Freestyles Mixtape”
Unconventional in every sense of the word, the duo of Lil B and Chance the Rapper are a rap match made in based heaven. Loose flows straight off of the dome over low-fi beats make up “Free,” a six-track mixtape, and their interactions throughout make it seem like Chicago and the Bay aren’t all […]
Read moreJam On It: Drake – “Back to Back” (Meek Mill Diss)
Drake has had a busy month of July: witnessing buddy Serena Williams’ victory at Wimbledon, launching OVO Sound Radio on Apple Music, premiering new music, deflecting rumors of ghostwriting and, least of it all, dropping diss tracks. Drizzy’s rap beef resume closely resembles my 15-year-old cousin’s job resume, but the whole Meek Mill-ghostwriting accusation fiasco […]
Read morePeep This: Keith Ape ft. Waka Flocka Flame, Dumbfoundead, Father & A$AP Ferg – IT G MA (Remix)
In the name of all things lit, Keith Ape and the UNDERWATER SQUAD present to you the premier of the video for the IT G MA remix. Joining the orca ninjas to lend their hand at building up the flame are a few rappers that know a thing or two about going hammer all over a track: Waka […]
Read moreThe Top 5 Bad Boy Records Music Videos
If you grew up in the early 90s and liked music, there’s no doubt that you’re familiar with the ubiquitous influence of Sean “P.Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records. Regardless of its controversial past, the iconic label is important to hip-hop for a lot of reasons. For one thing, it left a significant mark on the […]
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THE 5TH ELEMENT MAGAZINE 