Bust a Rhyme
Exploring the men, women, and motivations behind your favorite hip-hop music.
Reason First: Is Cardi B the Greatest Rapper of the 2010's?
The rap arena is flooded with figures. In this age of “I want it now!” female rappers, especially, must contend with their fellow female rappers as well as male MCs quicker and with more verve. They often find themselves referring to their genitalia in songs. MC Cardi B summarized how difficult it is to traverse the hip hop landscape without promoting sexually explicit lyrics. “When I did ‘Be Careful,’ the rapper explained, “people [were] talking mad s––.” This observation has its roots in the thousands of years of artistry across many cultures. Is it “selling out” to appeal to the tastes of the masses? Have rappers already sold out a long time ago?
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Reason First: Did Megan Thee Stallion Shut Down Tim Westwood?
Tim Westwood, celebrated radio presenter, was knocked down a peg by Megan Thee Stallion on his own show. When asked whether her hair was a wig or weave, the Houston rapper replied, “not your business.” This barb comes on the heels of the United States government wanting to involve itself in private institutions concerning hairstyles. Megan Thee Stallion makes it clear to Westwood that he (and his audience) will not know the true definition of her magnificent mane.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Love and Hip Hop
Hip hop, the musical heartbeat of a generation. Built from the work of trendsetters and visionaries. Over the years countless DJs, performers, and lyricists built a foundation of words. From those words a generation grew up listening to the rhythm and beats of the message.
By John Ames Birch7 years ago in Beat
Reason First: Is Rapper Russ Right?
Russ is white. He’s also a rapper. He is also a one man band phenomenon who sells out shows, and knows his way around a mixing board, engineering equipment, and production studio. So, why is he concerned with the black rap community? Russ says that the business of music is designed to cull young, financially illiterate blacks to make old white men wealthy. Also, he says that such youths “perpetuate negative black stereotypes.” So, why would he voice these ideas? Is it merely white guilt rearing its ugly head again? What Russ is speaking is somewhat true although severely misguided.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Reason First: Do Cardi B's Accusers Hate Her Because She's Beautiful?
Before roving mobs start chanting “lock her up!” Cardi B should be given her chance at due process like any other rights holding American citizen. A Grammy, a husband, a baby, three number one singles, and an ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Award, and a number one album all set up Cardi B to be amongst the wheat while other female rappers have become the chaff. The indictment regarding her allegedly attempting to “assault two women with intent to cause serious physical injury and other charges like misdemeanor reckless endangerment, assault, criminal solicitation, conspiracy,” and harassment all amount to hate. It is the hatred of the successful for being successful. If Cardi B would have been a dancer still sliding down poles with a few thousand dollars attached to her name, would she be in this conundrum?
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Unsung: 90s Male R&B Groups (Part 2)
For those of you who felt we just scratched the surface of looked-over R&B groups from the last article, you are absolutely right. 90s R&B music was such a self-contained world from 1991 to 1996 that many acts experienced true fame and success without breaking into the "mainstream." Besides Troop, A Few Good Men, and Portrait here are some more groups that deserve respect for what they brought to black music.
By Michael Bonner7 years ago in Beat
Diggy Simmons Artist Analysis
Many people know Diggy Simmons as a son of Rev Run and from their family reality show, “Run’s House.” On the show, he was the typical younger brother. who was also trying to learn about himself and to be comfortable in his individuality. Ten years after the final season of “Run’s House” Diggy is an actor and rapper in his own right, working on BET and gaining his own record deal with Atlantic Records.
By Azaria Brown7 years ago in Beat
Reason First: Should Lil' Durk Start Snitching?
Rather than shooting videos, Durk has allegedly been seen shooting in a video with a firearm. Among the other charges including criminal intent to commit murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Lil’ Durk may see football numbers if tried and convicted of these alleged crimes. Lil’ Durk maintains his innocence throughout this whole ordeal. The Chicago rapper understands that the judge has discovered probable cause in Lil’ Durk’s case and has denied bond. There is that video floating around that illustrates Durk allegedly firing the weapon in question.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Augusta's Best Kept Secret
Who's the hottest in the city? A question you hear quite often throughout the Garden City's musical scene. On the other hand, an artist from the Southside of Augusta, Georgia..."Uptown" to be exact, keenly answers he doesn't care who the hottest in the city is because he's the hottest [from] the city.
By HRE Publishing7 years ago in Beat
Joyner Lucas: 'ADHD'
Joyner Lucas has been creating some buzz for his upcoming ADHD album, which doesn’t have a release date just yet. He announced the upcoming album in late 2018, since then we’ve seen the release of three singles “I Love,” “Devil’s Work” and “Isis.” Right off the bat, I wanna say that 9/10 I don’t really research albums before they drop. This is because I’m usually not interested in what the artist is trying to do with an album. I like to listen to it first and then look at what they say they were trying to do to see if they were successful. It's this idea of the realized intention. I only mention it because if Joyner did any interviews about any of the things I’m going to discuss, I wouldn’t have seen them. But anyway.
By Azaria Brown7 years ago in Beat
