Washed away in a tide of SEO-grabbing blog posts, there's actually quite a bit of interesting, entertaining, valuable, and just plain good writing out there... if you look for it. Call me a dreamer, but wouldn't it be great if there was a hip hop magazine that somehow managed to stay in print and keep the following writers on payroll? If only... 'til then we've got the Rap Round Table, a new feature that aims to highlight the week in writing. Enjoy:
Music Analysis & Reporting:
MusicStudy: Gamble & Huff by Amir Said (a.k.a. Sa'id)
Once The Face Got Revealed The Game Got Real © Ghostface Killah by Dart Adams
Rappers of the Decade: Ghostface Killah - Original Stylin by Abe Beame
War Report II: The new Cuban Linx II? by Bryon Crawford
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted is 20 today so of course I had to write a love letter to it by Logan
Judge Denies Trae's Injunction Request Against The Box by Rizoh
Peedi Crakk Says Jay-Z Stole Young Chris’ Whisper Flow by Elan Mancini & Kevin Clark
A failed business, man by Bryon Crawford
The Live Show Is Not Dead by Meka
I'll Be Bach: A computer program is writing great, original works of classical music. Will human composers soon be obsolete? by Chris Wilson
The Myth of Falling Fidelity, and Audio History Unburdened by Fact by Peter Kirn
When Consumers Suddenly Become Professional Musicians; Best Buy and Soulja Boy Poised to Boost Profile of Beatmaking by Amir Said (a.k.a. Sa'id)
Another year, another chorus of bitchfits by Byron Crawford
Moving Keys by Oliver Wang
Moving Keys: DJ Premier by Oliver Wang
Analyze Dis: Is Nas Getting at Jay-Z on “Friends”? by Rizoh
Why is Nas so fascinated with Africa? by Byron Crawford
Album Reviews:
What’s New In Dart’s iPod #15 AKA Late Like The Kanye Song by Dart Adams
The Beat Generation: Roc Marciano — He Rhymes, Y’all Boring by Zilla Rocca
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid by Matthew Perpetua
Roc Marciano - Marcberg by Sean Ryon
Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma by Brandon Rae
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma by William E. Ketchum III
Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives by Jeff Weiss
Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives by Tom Breihan
Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives by Andres Tardio
Guilty Simpson & Madlib - OJ Simpson by Daniel Levin Becker
Guilty Simpson & Madlib - OJ Simpson by Ian Cohen
Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) - Revolutions Per Minute by Kathy Iandoli
Scarface - Dopeman Music by Jayson Greene
9th Prince - Revenge of the 9th Prince by Luke Gibson
The Black Keys - Brothers by Larry Fitzmaurice
Profiles & Interviews:
The Vibe.com Cover Story: J. Cole - "[The Girls] Scream And Go Crazy Like I'm Drake" by Tray Hova
Lucy’Lo of 84.85 Interview; Pt. 2; Wrap Up by Chase March
Big K.R.I.T. Is Here by John Gotty
TSS Presents Smoking Sessions With Reflection Eternal by TC
Inside the Lyricist’s Studio With Tila Tequila by David D.
Meet 'Renaldo,' Solar's Self-Proclaimed Hacker by Tray Hova
R.I.P. Dolla: My Brother’s Keeper [Scrapp Deleon] by Starrene Rhett
Flying Lotus Rising by Chris Martins
Diego Bernal – Besides (Download and Insight) by Travis
Sports:
I Feel It in the Water, I Feel It in the Earth, I Smell It in the Air by Joey
The Undeniable Greatness of Rajon Rondo by Charles P. Pierce
Blogging:
On Rap Blogging and Music Leaks by Eskay
Hip-Hop Blogs and the World Premier Horse Race by knobbzXL
Blog Science: Rafi, Khal and Reyn by Justin Boland
Rafi Kam on “OkayPlayer x Advertising x Community” by M.Dot
Look at Me! A writer’s search for journalism in the age of branding by Maureen Tkacik
Not to be outdone, Jay Smooth caps things off with the political story of the week:
Music Analysis & Reporting:
MusicStudy: Gamble & Huff by Amir Said (a.k.a. Sa'id)
Once The Face Got Revealed The Game Got Real © Ghostface Killah by Dart Adams
Rappers of the Decade: Ghostface Killah - Original Stylin by Abe Beame
War Report II: The new Cuban Linx II? by Bryon Crawford
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted is 20 today so of course I had to write a love letter to it by Logan
Judge Denies Trae's Injunction Request Against The Box by Rizoh
Peedi Crakk Says Jay-Z Stole Young Chris’ Whisper Flow by Elan Mancini & Kevin Clark
A failed business, man by Bryon Crawford
The Live Show Is Not Dead by Meka
I'll Be Bach: A computer program is writing great, original works of classical music. Will human composers soon be obsolete? by Chris Wilson
The Myth of Falling Fidelity, and Audio History Unburdened by Fact by Peter Kirn
When Consumers Suddenly Become Professional Musicians; Best Buy and Soulja Boy Poised to Boost Profile of Beatmaking by Amir Said (a.k.a. Sa'id)
Another year, another chorus of bitchfits by Byron Crawford
Moving Keys by Oliver Wang
Moving Keys: DJ Premier by Oliver Wang
Analyze Dis: Is Nas Getting at Jay-Z on “Friends”? by Rizoh
Why is Nas so fascinated with Africa? by Byron Crawford
Album Reviews:
What’s New In Dart’s iPod #15 AKA Late Like The Kanye Song by Dart Adams
The Beat Generation: Roc Marciano — He Rhymes, Y’all Boring by Zilla Rocca
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid by Matthew Perpetua
Roc Marciano - Marcberg by Sean Ryon
Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma by Brandon Rae
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma by William E. Ketchum III
Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives by Jeff Weiss
Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives by Tom Breihan
Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives by Andres Tardio
Guilty Simpson & Madlib - OJ Simpson by Daniel Levin Becker
Guilty Simpson & Madlib - OJ Simpson by Ian Cohen
Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) - Revolutions Per Minute by Kathy Iandoli
Scarface - Dopeman Music by Jayson Greene
9th Prince - Revenge of the 9th Prince by Luke Gibson
The Black Keys - Brothers by Larry Fitzmaurice
Profiles & Interviews:
The Vibe.com Cover Story: J. Cole - "[The Girls] Scream And Go Crazy Like I'm Drake" by Tray Hova
Lucy’Lo of 84.85 Interview; Pt. 2; Wrap Up by Chase March
Big K.R.I.T. Is Here by John Gotty
TSS Presents Smoking Sessions With Reflection Eternal by TC
Inside the Lyricist’s Studio With Tila Tequila by David D.
Meet 'Renaldo,' Solar's Self-Proclaimed Hacker by Tray Hova
R.I.P. Dolla: My Brother’s Keeper [Scrapp Deleon] by Starrene Rhett
Flying Lotus Rising by Chris Martins
Diego Bernal – Besides (Download and Insight) by Travis
Sports:
I Feel It in the Water, I Feel It in the Earth, I Smell It in the Air by Joey
The Undeniable Greatness of Rajon Rondo by Charles P. Pierce
Blogging:
On Rap Blogging and Music Leaks by Eskay
Hip-Hop Blogs and the World Premier Horse Race by knobbzXL
Blog Science: Rafi, Khal and Reyn by Justin Boland
Rafi Kam on “OkayPlayer x Advertising x Community” by M.Dot
Look at Me! A writer’s search for journalism in the age of branding by Maureen Tkacik
Not to be outdone, Jay Smooth caps things off with the political story of the week:
