Women who truly rock are inherently gifted with the ability to create passion from a place of honest emotional desire. Once you realize this notion, the truth comes […]
OPINION: 500 words on the resurgence of Baltimore club music
The short term memory of the average American hipster or hipster sympathizing partier was a fickle friend to Baltimore club music. As the genre soared into the mainstream […]
OPINION: On Wale’s Ambition, and notes on hip hop’s latest generation…
This is a Washington, DC story with international implications. Much maligned Washington, DC area rapper Wale’s sophomore release Ambition dropped on Tuesday morning, and in the mind of this columnist, […]
INTERVIEW: Big K.R.I.T. on Mississippi, his influences, and stage diving
“I just want people who have never heard of Meridian, Mississippi to get to know a little bit about myself and where I’m from. Kicking back with 2011 […]
INTERVIEW: Joe Budden on lyrical honesty, “Mood Musik” and Shady Records
Speaking with Joe Budden prior to the DC area Red Bull EmSee competition at Fillmore Silver Spring reveals an intriguing fact. The rapper’s direct rhyme style mirrors the […]
INTERVIEW: Bun B discusses his legacy, UGK, DJ Screw and keeping things trill
“People always say that Southern people are slow, inarticulate and unintelligent. I know that’s not the case.” – Bun B “The one stereotype I always wanted to combat […]
INTERVIEW: Rising UK producer Star Slinger
Self-effacing honesty dominates the conversation with Darren Williams, aka rising UK producer Star Slinger. His bass heavy, electronic and melodic take on hip-hop and R & B tinged […]
INTERVIEW: Phonte on Big KRIT, his career and his latest album
(Charity Begins at Home) is that ‘what the fuck’ experience that a lot of legendary artists have had. This is like Common’s Electric Circus, Marvin Gaye’s Here My […]
CMJ PREVIEW: Drop the Lime
Goth-tinged club music with a rockabilly edge certainly doesn’t sound like a formula for success. Furthermore, gold toothed greasers with rockabilly roots certainly don’t belong in the world’s […]
CMJ Preview: Kendrick Lamar – The west coast’s new vanguard
Kendrick Lamar teaches us that straight A students from the streets of Compton use words as artillery to illustrate our common dreams and combat the ills of society. […]