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 […]
Read moreThe Outkast Effect: How Outkast can change Hip-Hop in 2014
It’s safe to say that Outkast has been on a media high as of late, and for good reason. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably aware that our favorite Southern rap duo is making a comeback, and the resulting media storm triggered by last week’s Coachella announcement seems to be proliferating social […]
Read more2013’s Best: The Brands That Made You Dance
There’s no question that 2013 has been a developing year in fashion and style. Who would have even thought this time, last year, we would be sporting leather jogging pants or long sleeve tees that have an abundance of cartoonish icons slapped onto them? From the OG brands of streetwear to the brands making a […]
Read moreRockin’ With The 5th: Kilo Kish
Los Angeles, you have a new neighbor in town. Kilo Kish, the 23-year-old vocalist/visual artist/songwriter/textile designer recently transplanted from New York City and also just released her first eBook to accompany her mixtape compilation, K+, which she released earlier this year. Collaborations with the likes of The Internet, Joey Badass, Jesse Boykins III, and Kitty Cash’s new […]
Read moreWhat Are We Thankful For?
It’s Thanksgiving once again. A time when you are secretly reading this on your iPhone instead of listening to your uncle’s ridiculous ramblings about how Thanksgiving was when he was a kid. A time when you bring your extra flask of Fireball to the family dinner because sparkling cider isn’t going to do the job. […]
Read moreOne Year Later: good kid, m.A.A.d city
It’s been a year since Kendrick Lamar’s critically lauded major label debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, took the hip hop world by storm. Without question, the album is one of the successful hip hop releases of the past five years, and it has been deemed an insta-classic by rap die-hards and casual music fans […]
Read moreRockin’ With The 5th: Black Milk
We caught up with Black Milk at Brick & Mortar in San Francisco, in the middle of touring to promote his new album coming out on October 15th, No Poison No Paradise. He was cool enough to chop it up with us after the show to go over what he’s got going on for him […]
Read moreThe Decades of Hip Hop Fashion – The Late 90’s to Early 2000’s
The 90’s: the decade when everything seemed so right, when our biggest issue was if our Tamagotchi was dead or not, when everything could be answered with a bucket of slime on Nickelodeon. Some of us were Saved by the Bell, but for hip hop and its fashion, the 90’s aspired to be the Freshest […]
Read moreYancey Boys – Sunset Blvd
Not many things in this world last forever, but a J. Dilla beat is one of them. Ever since his tragic passing in 2006, his soulful legacy has been carried on through a number of posthumous albums, tributes, and covers. One album that has always stood out to me was 2008’s Yancey Boys, a collection […]
Read moreThe Decades of Hip Hop Fashion – The 70’s & Early 80’s
Let’s face it, we wouldn’t have streetwear and hip hop fashion without hip hop icons starting it all. Without hip hop becoming what it was in the late 70’s and hitting the mainstream in the early 80’s, artists wouldn’t have started a revolution with their styles and trends, and who knows if we’d have streetwear […]
Read moreThe Focal Point: Style Profile With D-Pryde
In our previous installment of “The Focal Point”, D-Pryde described himself as a “Class Q Hypebeast.” He explained that when the latest trend strays to the right he goes left and sticks to what’s comfortable. His accessories are an essential to his everyday outfit and among them are high top kicks, which he’s garnered a […]
Read moreRockin’ With The 5th: Blu
Our very own Devon “Ironchef” Ward recently caught up with Blu before he performed at an LA Clique Clothing Co. function to chop it up some and discuss a few topics like what separates Blu from the rest of the emcees out there, and also, where he sees himself in five years. The SoCal spitter […]
Read morePete Rock & Camp Lo: 80 Blocks From Tiffany’s Pt. II Mixtape
What’s your favorite Pete Rock-produced album? Mecca & the Soul Brother? Soul Survivor? The Main Ingredient? If you’re a regular reader of this site, you appreciate that classic Hip-Hop sound (and you also probably have a very elaborate answer to this question). Luckily for you, Pete Rock and Camp Lo are back with a new […]
Read moreThe Focal Point ft. D-Pryde
Hailing from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, young and talented YouTube hip hop artist D-Pryde is making waves within the music industry. The 19-year-old who has been gracing your computer screens for the past five years is emerging into the mainstream after recently signing to BMG. With over 296,000 subscribers and over 40 million combined views on […]
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The 5th Element Does: Our Own Summer Lookbook
To kick off the season, we at The 5th threw a poolside BBQ and decided to document the experience to give our own interpretation of a summer lookbook. As you’ll see, shots were taken, cards were thrown, delicious food was devoured, more shots were taken, beats were bumped, pool was played, though no one was […]
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Album Review: Mac Miller – Watching Movies with the Sound Off
In the Hip-Hop game, first impressions are tremendous, especially for rookies. This goes for the indie rap game in particular. Building credibility through respected media outlets is important, as is label loyalty. Not to mention, if your name is thrown into that conversation of “rappers to watch out for,” you’re golden. Right? Wrong. At least […]
Read moreHip-Hop Dedications to Dads
Being the compulsive list-maker I am, I had to jump on the opportunity to compile a list of tunes proper for Father’s Day, but this proved to be a daunting task. Let’s face it, guys. In the arena of Hip-Hop tribute songs, moms have the edge over dads by a huge margin. But that doesn’t […]
Read moreJam On It: Jonwayne – “Notes to Myself”
Fundamentals. They’re necessary in all aspects of life; from work, to sports, to relationships, to, of course, music. Lately I’ve been going back to the basics, and craving some fundamental solid flows and sweet beats. As we all know, cravings don’t go away, which is why I was pleased to find this new track from […]
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