In 2016 we had the privilege of speaking to the then rising social media star, Cardi B
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Twenty Years Later: Illmatic
Story originally published on The 5th Element Magazine Spring/Summer 2014 Issue Do you remember Hip-Hop in 1994? Some key events may come to mind: Warren G heralded the G-Funk era previously established by Dr. Dre, with his West Coast anthem, “Regulate.” Southern hip-hop flourished with OutKast’s debut and the release of Scarface’s The Diary . […]
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2015’s Best: The Album Picks of the Year
As the year comes to a close, I can’t help but be completely in awe of all the music I’ve encountered, for reasons that are pretty obvious. In 2015, we witnessed a resurgence of music that was not only diverse in genre, but culturally and politically resonant. One of the biggest landmarks in music was […]
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Rockin’ With the 5th: Nashville’s BASECAMP Talks New “Greater Than” EP
Following up a widely received self-title debut EP in 2013, the boys of BASECAMP came together earlier this year to drop the Greater Than EP under electronic mogul OWSLA, sharing the umbrella with music’s pioneers DJ Slink, Skrillex and Kill the Noise, just to name a few. Individually, the trio cut their teeth as songwriters […]
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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 […]
Read moreThe 5th Element Magazine Presents: Ritual Sunday
Long Beach we’re coming for you! Your next Sunday Funday is coming to you by way of the latest day party in town, Ritual Sunday. So make sure to RSVP here and sip on a drink or three and rock with us this coming Sunday the 28th at Cuban Pete’s in Downtown Long Beach from […]
Read moreWalls on the Street: Pow! Wow! Long Beach
On Wednesdays, everyone celebrates a woman crush. Here at The 5th, on Wednesdays we pay homage to our graffiti arts section and share our favorite wall of the week. In our series called “Walls on the Street”, we showcase murals and paintings that deserve to be in the spotlight. As noted earlier on the site, Pow! Wow! has […]
Read moreRockin’ With The 5th: Jorge Rivas of 3 Shibuya
Jorge Rivas is a seasoned vet in the clothing and streetwear industry who’s allowed his love for hip-hop culture to influence every aspect of his brand, 3 Shibuya. We sat down with Jorge to discuss the background behind the brand and also how his appreciation for hip-hop has lead to the manifestation of the […]
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The 5th Element Magazine Presents: “Woman Good, Lady Better” (Spring/Summer 2015 Issue)
To all our readers, we proudly present to you our Spring/Summer issue for 2015, which gives a unique and crucial highlight to many of the dynamic and outstanding females that help shape hip-hop culture and lifestyle through their various gifts and talents. This issue is entitled, “Woman Good, Lady Better”, and is our special shout out […]
Read moreRockin’ With The 5th: Dizzy Wright
Loud and proud, Dizzy Wright reps his hometown of Las Vegas to the very fullest in a way that commands as much attention as the bright neon lights the city is known for. Recently he was able to truly put on for his city by dropping his latest single, “Floyd Money Mayweather”, a banger of […]
Read moreBTS: Eden Hagos On Female DJs and Vintage Styles
As our Ladies issue continues to take shape, we thought it was time to drop a special Behind The Scenes video to show what we’ve been working on. Eden Hagos of the internationally known music collective, Soulection, sits down to discuss female DJs worldwide, her fashion style and what’s next for the up and coming […]
Read moreRECAP: Ladies First Fashion Event, 2nd Edition
This past Sunday, our 5th Element team joined in on the festivities and celebrated International Women’s Day with all the lovely ladies behind the “Ladies First Fashion Event”. In the nook of the Los Angeles Arts District, we were greeted by the beats of the 90’s and artistic visuals from the Container Yard. Making our […]
Read moreOn the Radar: Ladies First Fashion Event
Ladies, if it isn’t already, your calendar should be marked on Sunday, March 8th! Celebrating women all around the globe, not only is this date International Women’s Day, but it’s the second edition of Ladies First Fashion Event. With the intention to honor women in the creative business, D&J have put together an event you don’t want to miss. Bringing […]
Read moreRECAP: Brandalism x illest LA Opening Show
On a night that the weatherman predicted we stay home, we instead found our way to the heart of Little Tokyo. With last Friday, February 27th, marking the opening day of Brandalism, the crowd buzzed in and out of the illest LA boutique. With illest curating this month long event, Brandalism showcases the talents of Antonio […]
Read moreRockin’ With The 5th: CJ Trillo
What kinds of things do you think of when you think of Pomona, CA? Some immediate things that may come to mind are, of course, music-related. It’s home to great music venues like The Fox and The Glasshouse, and propping its ever-evolving cultural terrain is a blossoming hip-hop scene. One such emcee contributing to its […]
Read moreRockin’ With The 5th: Evidence of the Dilated Peoples
In the eight years since the Dilated Peoples have released their last album, the sonic landscape of hip-hop has morphed into different iterations that more often than not seem indistinguishable from its traditional musical identity. With their latest LP, Directors of Photography, the triple optics crew of Evidence, Rakaa Iriscience and DJ Babu have managed […]
Read moreBreaking Bread with Shepard Fairey x Hennessy
Photos Shot by: KirillWasHere On July 10, Hennessy made its West Coast presence known as the brand celebrated the official launch of the Hennessy V.S Limited Edition bottle designed by world-class contemporary artist Shepard Fairey.
Read moreDilated Peoples – “Word of Mouth” Tour
Marking their triumphant return from an eight year hiatus, underground hip-hop legends, Dilated Peoples are back. The LA-based crew, consisting of Evidence, DJ Babu and Rakaa Iriscience are releasing a new LP, Directors of Photography, on August 12, and will be promoting the album on a North American Tour. The tour will span nineteen major […]
Read more#RockinWithThe5th: J.Rocc of The World Famous Beat Junkies Crew
For our newest issue, we sat down with an iconic DJ, J.Rocc, of The World Famous Beat Junkies Crew. On that sunny day in LA we talked about his jet setting ways, his thoughts on music in different countries and the current status of the Beat Junkies crew. Get to know this DJ who is […]
Read moreRockin’ With the 5th: JO.EY
Enter JO.EY. – a young producer with a soul rooted in classic hip-hop, but a taste for that new futuristic sound. Now, we’ve all seen that description within the bios of many new cats rising to the music scene surface via SoundCloud, but what might separate JO.EY is the simple fact that he’s from London, […]
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Rockin’ With The 5th: JoJo
Having sold millions of albums worldwide and even lending her talents to television and movies, teen sensation turned full fledged R&B songstress, JoJo, really doesn’t need much of an introduction. With a body of work that epitomizes youthful success, JoJo is an artist that we can count on to always deliver with quality. And that’s […]
Read moreTop 5 Record Stores to Check out on Record Store Day: 2014 edition
Let’s face it. Music is relatively easy to access these days. Online streaming services facilitate our ability to uncover amazing new sounds, and that’s all good and well. But for analog heads like myself, the process of crate digging will always be one of the most intimate and tangible ways of finding a piece of […]
Read moreEditor’s Note: One Year Later
The vivacity of certain memories can be at such a high level that invoking them with a quick recollection can lead to a deluge of emotion, remembrance, and nostalgia, washing away the potential haziness that surrounds less significant flashbacks. I remember it like it was yesterday: I get a mid-day phone call from my then-boss […]
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Rockin’ With the 5th: Fly Moon Royalty
The most unlikely duos tend to make the dopest music together: from Outkast to James Blake and Chance the Rapper, the melding of the minds can be a beautiful thang. Forming a yin of choice beats and eclectic stylings to a yang of lyrical flows and buttery soul, Fly Moon Royalty is one duo personifying […]
Read moreCre(ATE)ives – Thurz
Some of the best conversations can get sparked up over some good food and even better company. Knowing that, we decided to capture that dynamic by getting together with some of the dopest creative minds we know and chopped it up with them over their favorite food – allowing us to present to you […]
Read moreThe Guy Who Told Jay Z What To Do
“From the crib I spend months gone Sat by the window with a clutched dome listenin’ to shorties cuss long Young girls with weak minds, but they butt strong.” – Common
Read moreJam On It: Phife Dawg – “Dear Dilla”
February is just around the corner, which means a few things: President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Super Bowl XLVIII. But aside from paid time off, flowers, and sports, February also represents Dilla month, and just in time to celebrate, A Tribe Called Quest’s infamous Five Footer has put out a personal J Dilla tribute aptly […]
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THE 5TH ELEMENT MAGAZINE 