Jay-Z

An open letter to Politico's Donovan Slack about your misinterpretation of Jay-Z's "Open Letter"

Hey, Ms. Slack, I couldn't help but notice the mini shit storm you caused yesterday at the White House press briefing when you misunderstood and misrepresented the lyrics of Jay-Z's "Open Letter." Real talk, that shit ain't cool. Have we learned nothing from the Nicki Minaj Romney-gate last summer? ... More >>

The ten greatest East Coast rappers of all time

The East Coast, particularly New York, is the mecca of hip-hop. It's birthplace and still the most reliable source for pure, uncut, unadulterated rap music. Chronicling the great MCs from the region would result in a list of hundreds. Ranking the top ten proves somewhat limiting, but it's also an en ... More >>

While there's been a hundred Jay-Z mash-ups, American Gangster by Big J Beats stands out

Contrary to trends among many rising hip-hop artists these days, Big J Beats doesn't flood the internet with a new song or mixtape every other week. Despite the shortage of releases, he's definitely prolific, and it turns out his hard drive is a goldmine of unreleased gems, including American Gangst ... More >>

The 50 worst rap lyrics of all time: 40-31

Okay, just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, and it does. Yesterday, I ran down some of the lamest lines, the worst rap lyrics from 50-41, and today we inch ever closer to the top of the bottom. Spoiler alert: Lil' Wayne makes the cut (again), as does Jay-Z (twice), as well as Eminem, Atmo ... More >>

Why do musicians endorse candidates?

There's probably a certain amount of sincerity involved when a famous musician endorses a political candidate. But even the most un-cynical, democracy-loving patriot will have to admit that there's a hell of a lot more to the rock star/candidate public union than just fiscal policy. Endorsing a poli ... More >>

GirlGrabbers

Chicks Only
Self-released

Jay-Z's come a long way from the Marcy Projects

What do you know about Jay-Z? Born Shawn Corey Carter in December 1969, the Brooklyn corner boy from the Marcy Housing Projects, who used to flip kilos of coke as fast as he flipped rhymes, turned his life of trial and tragedy into one of triumph and success, making a ton of money and marrying the g ... More >>

MTV's top five greatest on-air rap moments

​Oh, MTV. There has been no greater platform for fuckery's finest and the brilliance of unfiltered musician craziness than Music Television's many segments. Whether drunken freestyles, acceptance speech interruptions, or classic moments in live performance, hip-hop rightfully lived and thrived ... More >>

Rappers who rap over pre-recorded vocals should stick to wrapping at Christmas time

​This is a rant. It involves rappers and how rappers shouldn't rap over their pre-recorded vocals, a phenomenon we've been seeing more and more lately. It's the equivalent to singing along with a music video on BET turned up so high that the volume is distorted. No matter how lively and enthus ... More >>

Five rap albums to take on the mothership when the government shuts down at midnight

​Tonight when the clock strikes midnight, you should expect calamity, destruction, and famine to sweep the nation, because word on the street says the government is shutting down. Word to Chicken Little: A bunch of awful things are supposed to happen...we think. They don't pay us the big bucks ... More >>

Top 5 songs nodding to Notorious B.I.G

​Ah, Christopher Wallace, aka the Notorious B.I.G. There hasn't been -- and as long as hip-hop is a genre, won't be -- a quiet passing of March 9. Similar to when Buddy Holly took the fateful flight that inspired a nation to observe the day the music died, the day Biggie Smalls was slain is fo ... More >>

Hip-hop's ten most impactful deaths

​Today marks the anniversary of the day that the world lost the greatest rapper of all time. Christopher Wallace's untimely death on March 9, 1997, had a significant impact on the rap game. If Biggie had lived, for instance, his presence would have essentially erased the need for Jay-Z. Unstop ... More >>

Hey, is that Dave Grohl?: Ten awesome celebrity photobombs

Dude, Dave. Chill!Last week, NPR asked listeners to share photos of themselves with favorite musicians. That's a swell idea and all, but we thought that taking the angle of the photobomber would be a more entertaining way to look at pictures of famous people with non-famous people. While there have ... More >>

Mr. Midas

Son of the Crack Era
Self-released

A new NBA Jam and a remastered Metropolis top our pick for this week, November 16, 2010

​Are you starting to get nervous about the holidays yet? They're just around the corner and shopping season kicks off in a week. Perhaps you're worried you won't know what to pick up for that estranged uncle that inexplicably sent you a gift last year, or maybe you have a little brother that l ... More >>

Of Montreal, Kayne West and Air Dubai fill our playlists this week

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most common question we encounter is, "What are you listening to right now?" So whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a list of ... More >>

$16 million to recover $391,000: The RIAA just blew a lot cash. Here's ten more of the industry's greatest wastes

[via Flickr]​Last week, it was revealed the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) spent $16 million to recover $391,000 from lawsuits involving peer-to-peer file sharing. No, we didn't print that backwards; you don't need to adjust your screen -- they really did waste that much mone ... More >>

Jay-Z brought his A-game to the Pepsi Center last night

Aaron ThackerayCheck out full slideshow from last night's show.​ Jay-Z • Trey Songz • STS9 Pepsi Center | 03.22.10 Jay-Z is one of the few performers that truly is larger than life. Dude has an undeniably commanding presence on stage. From the opening cut, "Run This Town," until the fitt ... More >>

Faith restored: Coachella 2010 lineup announced

Fucking A. Ask and ye shall receive, eh? (Well, it's not Denver, but close enough.) Just glimpsed the lineup for this year's Coachella. As far as headliners go, you've got your Jay-Z and your LCD Soundsystem and, uh, let's see here, Thom Yorke and ... yada, yada, yada. Whatever, dude. Five words: Fa ... More >>

Michael Jackson top seller at Bart's CD Cellar

​Michael Jackson's This is It came in first at Bart's CD Cellar for the week ending November 15 while Gov't Mule's By a Thread and Triple C's Custom Cars & Cycles grabbed the second and third spots respectively. Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and Creed's Full Circle rounded out the top five ... More >>

Tech N9NE grabs top spot at Independent Records again

​Tech N9NE's latest effort, K.O.D., continues to dominate the top sellers at Independent Records and grabs the number one spot for the third week in a row. Jay-Z's Blueprint 3, meanwhile, still holds strong and claimed the second slot, while Wale's Attention Deficit, released last week on Intersco ... More >>

Tech N9NE top seller at Independent Records again

​Tech N9NE's latest effort, K.O.D., grabbed the top spot at Independent Records for the second week in a row, while Slayer's new disc, World Painted Blood, came in second and Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 grabbed the third slot. Michael Jackson's This is It and Say Anything's new self-titled album rounded o ... More >>

Tech N9NE top seller at Independent Records

​Tech N9NE's K.O.D., released last week on Strange Music, nabbed the top spot on Independent Records' charts for the week ending November 1. Michael Jackson's soundtrack to the film This is It and Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 came in at second and third, while Swollen Member's Armed to the Teeth a ... More >>

This Just In: Jay-Z tour confirmed, Kevin Smith show canceled

​Jay-Z, whose Blueprint 3 has been a strong seller since hitting the streets two months ago, just confirmed his 2010 North American tour, which includes a stop at the Pepsi Center Monday, March 22. Grammy-nominated rapper Young Jeezy will open the show and tickets go on sale Friday, November 13 at ... More >>

Flaming Lips top sellar at Bart's CD Cellar

​The Flaming Lips new album, Embryonic, was the top seller at Bart's CD Cellar for the week ending October 25, while Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and Roseanne Cash's The List grabbed the second and third spots. Bob Dylan's new Christmas album and Kevon Edwards' Who Knew rounded out the top five. See th ... More >>

Rammstein top seller at Independent Records

​German industrial metal band Rammstein nabbed the top spot at Independent Records with Liebe Ist Für Alle Da, the band's sixth studio effort released last week on the Vagrant imprint. Jay-Z, who had been at number one for the last few weeks with Blueprint 3 was knocked down to the second slot wh ... More >>

Jay-Z top seller at Independent Records again

​Jay-Z, who's been dominating Independent's charts for the past two months with The Blueprint 3, was on top again for the week ending October 18. Mario's D.N.A., released last week on J Records, debuted at second while Drake's So Far Gone came in at third. The Flaming Lips' Embryonic and Five Fing ... More >>

Avett Brothers on top again at Bart's CD Cellar

​The Avett Brothers' I and Love and You grabbed the top spot at Bart's CD Cellar again for the week ending October 11. Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and Alice in Chains' Black Gives Way to Blue nabbed the second and third slots while Mariah Carey's Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel and Lil Boosie Superbad r ... More >>

Jay-Z back on top at Independent Records

​After holding on the top spot for a weeks in a row and then moving down to the fifth spot last week, Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 is back on top at Independent Records for the week ending October 11. Mariah Carey's Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, which grabbed the top spot last week, moved down to the seco ... More >>

Avett Brothers top seller at Bart's CD Cellar

​The Avett Brothers' I and Love and You, released last week on American Recordings, grabbed the top spot at Bart's CD Cellar for the week ending October 4. Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and Alice in Chains' Black Gives Way to Blue nabbed the second and third slots while Mariah Carey's Memoirs of an Impe ... More >>

Mariah Carey grabs top spot at Independent Records

​Mariah Carey's Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, released last week on Island, grabbed the top spot at Independent Records for the week ending October 4. Black Give Way to Blue, Alice in Chain's first album with new singer William DuVall, and Dethklok's Dethalbum II claimed the second and third slot ... More >>

Jay-Z sadly missing from inaugural soundtrack

So I just flipped on the inauguration, a few minutes before Obama took the oath, and who do I see playing to usher in the 44th President, our first African-American president, the first president who acknowledges having Jay-Z on his iPod? Let me give you a hint. It wasn't Jay-Z. It wasn't Kanye (al ... More >>

Friday Rap-Up: Julox, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Aftermath Records

Friday Rap-Up: Ichiban, Ludacris, Wyclef Jean, Jay-Z

The Friday Rap-Up: DJ Low Key, Jay-Z, KRS-One, Buckshot, Dr. Dre

Friday Rap-Up

Jay-Z

American Gangster
Roc-A-Fella

Fall Out Boy

Friday, May 11, Coors Amphitheatre, 303-830-8497.

Nas

Wednesday, April 25, Fillmore Auditorium, 303-830-8497.

Jay-Z vs. Stallone

A pop-quiz in honor of Hova and Balboa both coming out of retirement.

Teairra Mari

Roc-A-Fella Records Presents Teairra Marí (Roc-A-Fella)

Terror Squad

True Story (Universal)

DJ N-Wee

The Slack Album (TheSlackAlbum.com)

Dead Prez

RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta (Sony/Columbia)

Jay-Z

The Black Album (Def Jam)

Fade to Black

Jay-Z hosts a listening party for his latest opus, The Black Album.

Nas

God's Son (Columbia)

He's Got the Beat

Going back to his roots, Scratch gives lip service to the lost art of beatboxing.

Fighting the Power

Rapper Nas steps back into the ring, fists flying.

Good Times, Gangsta Style

The Hard Knock Life tour puts on a happy face.