Category Archives: News

Rap’s new generation

Posted on August 15, 2010 by plugoneboss

When I posted my article on the so-called “Blog Rap’s Second Wave” yesterday, I realized I haven’t posted other entries from my Rap Is Not Pop column for Rhapsody. Actually, I didn’t re-post this one because I wasn’t happy with … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged B.o.B, blog stars, Drake, hipster rappers, mainstream rap, popapocalypse, rap is not pop, Rhapsody | Leave a comment

Blog rap’s second wave

Posted on August 14, 2010 by plugoneboss

This essay on the latest crop of street rappers was posted August 10 on Rhapsody.com’s Music Stuff Place blog. I wrote it for my Rap Is Not Pop column. I freely admit that I don’t specialize in breaking new artists. … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged Big K.R.I.T., blog stars, Freddie Gibbs, Lil B, rap is not pop, Rhapsody, Shabazz Palaces, Wiz Khalifa, Yelawolf | Leave a comment

Dipped in blackness: Shabazz Palaces

Posted on July 16, 2010 by plugoneboss

This essay on Shabazz Palaces was published in the July 14 issue of the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Dipped in blackness What lives in the mysterious Shabazz Palaces “I’m a bright light on the dark side of town,” raps “Palaceer … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged blog stars, dread bass styles, Ishmael Butler, Northwest scene, post-silver age, Shabazz Palaces | Leave a comment

Are iTunes sales an elaborate hoax?

Posted on July 13, 2010 by plugoneboss

Tommy Boy Entertainment CEO Tom Silverman made an interesting claim during an interview Wired.com posted on July 9: Silverman: People are telling me that the majors have teams of people who actually buy singles on iTunes to try to drive … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged Apple, Eminem, industry apocalypse, iTunes, Sam Adams | Leave a comment

Dungeon Family’s Future: Big Boi

Posted on July 8, 2010 by plugoneboss

This essay on new-era Dungeon Fam was posted on Rhapsody.com’s Music Stuff Place on July 7. I wrote it for my Rap Is Not Pop column. Prince once sang, “All The Critics Love You In New York,” mock-celebrating the rock-crit … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged Andre 3000, Big Boi, Cee-Lo, Dirty South, Dungeon Family, Janelle Monae, Khujo Goodie, mainstream rap, OutKast, Willie Isz | Leave a comment

A Brief History of Rap and Bullshit: Drake

Posted on June 17, 2010 by plugoneboss

This essay on Drake was posted on Rhapsody.com’s Music Stuff Place blog on June 15. It analyzes Thank Me Later‘s mix of hip-hop and R&B. Obviously there’s a lot more to be said about Drake’s rap and vocal performance, the … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged auto-tunin', Drake, it's all Diddy's fault, R&B vs. soul, rap and bullshit, rap is not pop, urban radio, Young Money | Leave a comment

Photo(s) from Free Kutmah benefit in Los Angeles

Posted on June 15, 2010 by plugoneboss

Last week I got a request from a publicist to post a few photos of the June 3 Free Kutmah benefit at the Echoplex in Los Angeles. I was assured that they hadn’t been posted on the Internet yet. Alas, … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged immigration, Kutmah, L.A. underground, street art | Leave a comment

What’s the write word?

Posted on June 9, 2010 by plugoneboss

Last month, veteran journalist and Internet pioneer Jason Gross (he co-founded the e-zine Perfect Sound Forever in 1993) invited me to contribute to a collection of advice on music writing. The series, “What’s The Write Word?” was published in four … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged ghost in the machine, music journalism | Leave a comment

Lies, Relatives and Revolutions: Nas, Talib Kweli and Sage Francis

Posted on May 28, 2010 by plugoneboss

This essay was posted on Rhapsody.com’s Music Stuff Place blog on May 25. I wrote it for my Rap Is Not Pop column. ————————————- Rap Is Not Pop: Lies, Relatives And Revolutions Do rappers even rap anymore? When B.o.B’s The … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged Damian Marley, Hi-Tek, lyrics to go, mainstream rap, Nas, Reflection Eternal, Sage Francis, Talib Kweli, true school | Leave a comment

Kon & Amir’s greatest breaks

Posted on May 17, 2010 by plugoneboss

On May 13, Complex magazine published a list of the top 50 hip-hop samples from certified DJs and crate-diggers Kon & Amir. If you’ve ever been casually interested in breaks, or been curious about that culture, then this is a … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged BBE, crate diggers, internet ether, Kon & Amir, linkorama | Leave a comment