Rap Round Table, Week Ending 1/28/2011

Music Analysis & Reporting:

Lil B: Understanding Rap's New Rebel by Noz

The 50 Greatest Bay Area Rap Songs by Willy Staley

Everybody Hates Nas by Robbie Ettelson

A B-Boy’s Alpha © Cannibal Ox (The Evolution Of The Backpacker 1991-2011) by Dart Adams

Is Lil’ Fame The New Primo? by Robbie Ettelson

The Enigmatic Performative Internet Art of Lil B by Julian Hattem

J Dilla: the Mozart of hip-hop by Rob Fitzpatrick

8 More MC’s Desperately In Need Of A Name Change by Beware

Afrika Bambaataa Says 'Luciferian Conspiracy' Exists Within Hip-Hop by Nolan Strong

“…And Gotdammit Yes, The Quest Is On…” by Danj!

10 Of Hip Hop's Most Criminally Slept-On Albums by J-23

Nottz’ “Shine So Brite” Illuminates Beatmaking's Impenetrable Force Field by Amir Said

There’s One on Every Jet: The Chronic Resilience of Fiend by Jeff Weiss

Lil B - the Criterion Collection #2 by The Great Gats, B

New Rap Music by Noz

More Rap, 2010: “Black & Yellow” by Noz

Sunday Sounds 01.23.11 by Amanda Bassa

Temperature’s Rising: Mister Cee’s Best of Mobb Deep by Jeff Weiss

Song of the Day: Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Searching (Remix)… by Mobb Deen

Best In Beats: 25 Songs From 2010 I Thought Were Adorable by WULU

AllTime8: G.T.D. by Danj!

Game releases star-studded 'Purp & Patron' mixtape by Jeff Weiss

Sic Alps’ “Napa Asylum,” a Garage-Rock Grower by Douglas Martin

Follow That Riddim: From Stranger Cole to U-Roy by Oliver Wang

Album Reviews:

Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows by Jeff Weiss

Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows by HL

Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows by Nate Patrin

Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows by Slava Kuperstein

Sam Sneed - Street Scholars by Allen Jacobs

Wanda Jackson - The Party Ain't Over by Ryan Dombal

Cake - Showroom of Compassion by Erik Stabile

Destroyer - Kaputt by Mark Richardson

Monotonix - Not Yet by Marc Masters

Epstein/Prefuse73/Jaytram - Epstein Remixed by Nathan James

Profiles & Interviews:

DJ Premier Revisits Gang Starr's "Step In The Arena" by Paul W. Arnold

TSS Presents Smoking Sessions With Talib Kweli by TC

Talib Kweli: Pot of Gold by The Company Man

What's The Scenario? Michael Rapaport Talks About His A Tribe Called Quest Doc and Why Q-Tip is Still Buggin' Out by David Prince

Game Talks Dr. Dre-Produced Tracks On "Purp & Patron" And "The R.E.D. Album" by Toshitaka Kondo

BIG GHOSTFACE: Questions & Answers by HL

Take Cover: Madlib Medicine Show by Ryan Dombal

Politics:

Feingold: ‘We Need To Regenerate Progressivism’ To Battle This ‘Gilded Age On Steroids’ by Zaid Jilani

Sports:

Drew Brees Somehow Just Got More Awesome by David D.

The Baseball Player Name Hall Of Fame: Where Cannonball Titcomb Shall Never Die by Jon Bois

WTF/LOL/WTF:

I’m not sure what I’d do without World Star by Byron Crawford

Did 50 Cent Really Shut Down World Star Hip Hop? by Henry Adaso

A tale of too few servers: A day in the Internet life of World Star Hip-Hop by Jeff Weiss

Where Were You When World Star Hip-Hop Went Down? by David Dennis

The little homey has little money left by Byron Crawford

Game - Purp & Patron: Single Shot

Even before Jeff Weiss offered his challenge and HL submitted his EP-worthy selections, I knew I’d have to whittle Game’s Purp & Patron mixtape down to a workable length. I tried synching-up my iPod with the original twenty-nine track playlist but iTunes kept on giving me the “c’mon son” error message. So with that I present to you Purp & Patron: Single Shot – my favorite, carefully chosen tracks off the new mixtape (plus a cut from Ghostface’s new album… sorry, I cheated). Pay attention, Interscope. Best of all it’s a “No DJ” mixtape (eat a dick up ‘til you hiccup, Flex). Enjoy… and turn it up!!

1. Bad Intentions (3:21)
2. Dead (3:44)
3. Children's Story (3:54)
4. Taylor Made (feat. Wiz Khalifa) (3:49)
5. Soft Rhodes (feat. Ashanti) (3:54)
6. Khaki Suit (feat. T-Pain) (2:44)
7. 187 (feat. Lil Boosie) (4:05)
8. L.A. Times (4:07)
9. R.I.P. Story (4:17)
10. I Just Wanna Fuck (feat. Kurupt & Mr. Porter) (3:12)
11. Supastar (feat. Ashley Cole & Mike Epps) (5:36)
12. Drama (feat. Ghostface Killah & Joell Ortiz) (4:26)
13. History (feat. Doug E. Fresh, KRS-One & Big Daddy Kane) (6:09)
14. The Kill (feat. La Roux) (4:33)

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #10

Sample Set #163

Kicking off my '91 Retrospective series, I'll be highlighting some of DJ Quik's earlier production, starting with this sample set for 2nd II None's eponymous debut record. Though DJ Quik had been putting in work throughout the mid-to-late '80s - including the release of his vintage "Red Tape" - it wasn't until 1991 when the Quikster set the tone for Compton, post-N.W.A./Ice Cube split. Sure, '91 was the year Quik dropped his solo debut Quik is the Name, which featured classics like "Tonite" and "Born and Raised in Compton" - but he also produced three overlooked gems, all debut albums from L.A.-based emcees: AMG's Bitch Betta Have My Money, Hi-C's Skanless, and of course 2nd II None.

Quik's production on the record alone deserves heaps of praise. A lot of this has to do with the easily-identifiable - partially in hindsight - samples sprinkled throughout the record, including Isaac Hayes' "Hung Up on My Baby" (Geto Boys' "Mind Playing Tricks on Me"), Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" (Mariah Carey's "Fantasy"; Above the Law's "V.S.O.P.), Curtis Mayfield's "Kung Fu" (Gang Starr's "Nice Girl, Wrong Place"), KC and the Sunshine Band's "Ain't Nothin' Wrong" (Digable Planets' "Where I'm From"), and more. Quik's crate banditry, toying with "Love and Happiness" on 2nd II None's "More Than a Player", might just be the best usage of an Al Green sample this side of Ghostface's "Iron Maiden".

Backed by cousins K.K. and Tha D, Compton duo 2nd II None had some stiff competition from neighborhood bullies N.W.A. and Compton's Most Wanted, not to mention like-minded artists across the map like Geto Boys. Going toe to toe with the ranks of emcees like Ice Cube and Scarface - at their primes, arguably - was certainly something of a tall order. Thankfully, with the assistance of none other than Quik behind the boards, their album packs a bevy of organic, enjoyable cuts and a couple of true west coast party starters. Enjoy... and turn it up!!

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #9

Rap Round Table, Week Ending 1/21/2011

Music Analysis & Reporting:

Nicki Minaj, Lil B, Kanye West, Rick Ross: The Triumph of the Weirdo Rapper by Jody Rosen, Jonah Weiner, Carl Wilson & Ann Powers

Album Preview: Raekwon's "Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang" by Insanul Ahmed

O.C., Homeboy Sandman, and the Infamous Ice-Grille by Thun

Late pass: Week 2 of Snoop Dogg's #PuffPuffPassTuesdays arrived Wednesday by Jeff Weiss

New Rap Music by Noz

The Bible According to Weezy by David D.

Bobby Robinson's Enjoy Records by Oliver Wang

Five Great LL Cool J Anecdotes by Robbie

Somebody’s Brother – The Unkut Guide to Rap Nepotism by Robbie

Fame As A Ferris Wheel: On Gucci Mane and Lil B by John Gotty

Freeway Sorts Through Fan Mail by Thun

Best In Beats: 7 Things About Rap In 2010 That Need To Piss Off by WULU

The new rap language: Recent and notable hip-hop downloads from Fiend, Danny Brown, Killer Mike and more by Jeff Weiss

The Side of Lauryn Hill We Never Saw by J. Tinsley

Distant Relatives Jamaican Journey Part Three: Trenchtown Rock by DX Staff

Complete cast revealed for Beastie Boys’ “Fight for Your Right Revisited” by Alex Young

Billy Preston: The 'Fifth Beatle,' Reborn by Marc Silver

Album Reviews:

Ghostface Killah – Apollo Kids by Nicholas Candiotto

Illastrate - Eddie Coleman’s Friday Night Theme Music by Eric C.

David Banner & 9th Wonder – Death of a Pop Star by John Healey

David Banner & 9th Wonder – Death of a Pop Star by Jess Harvell

T.I. – No Mercy by Arika Dean

Mistah FAB, DJ Rah2K & The Empire - I Found My Backpack by Edwin Ortiz

Tyler, The Creator - Bastard by Doc Zeus

IMAKEMADBEATS - IMAKEMADBEATS by Edwin Ortiz

Skipp Coon and Mr. Nick – Sophomore Slump Vol. 1, Independents Day EP by Thun

The Decemberists - The King Is Dead by Amanda Petrusich

Louis C.K. - Hilarious by Joshua Love

Georgia Anne Muldrow - VWETO by Marcus Moore

Diddy-Dirty Money – Last Train to Paris by Craig Jenkins

Anika – Anika by Ellie Pryor

Profiles & Interviews:

Interview with Common by Henry Adaso

Interview: Danny Brown Talks About Rap Pt. 1 by Noz

Interview: Danny Brown Talks About Rap Pt. 2 by Noz

Raekwon: Unstoppable by Paul W. Arnold

Full Clip: Pete Rock Runs Down His Entire Catalogue Ft. Public Enemy, Jay-Z, Nas, Biggie, Kanye & More by Keith Murphy

Question in the form of an Answer: Mary J Blige by Matt Shea

Doing It Live: Freddie Gibbs by Jacob Ganz

Freddie Gibbs may hail from the birthplace of the Jacksons, but he's not looking to take over where the King of Pop left off by Diana Benanti

Young Chris: A Reintroduction To The Future by Amanda Bassa

TSS Presents Fifteen Minutes With Droop-E by Droop-E

Politics:

Stuff You Should Know: Martin Luther King, Jr. by Kristi Harrison

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Peaceful Revolutionary Warrior That Was More Gangsta Than Amerikkka Would Have You Believe by Ice Pick Slim 17

WTF/LOL/WTF:

Money Can Buy Happiness — As If by Woody Allen

Worst I ever saw by Byron Crawford

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #8

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #7

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #6

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #5

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #4

Rap Round Table, Week Ending 1/14/2011

Music Analysis & Reporting:

Sorry Doug E. Fresh – Lord Finesse Is The World’s Greatest Entertainer by Robbie

The Limits Of Control © Jim Jarmusch by Dart Adams

If I Ruled the World: 2011 Wish List by TRU Nation

Help Yourself by Helping Others by Kosha Dillz

10 Tapes To Be Stuck On A Desert Island With… by Robbie

5 Questions About Mixtapes With TDK Chronicles & Gotty™ by John Gotty

Do Remember! by Danj!

Long dormant Shady Records arises from its slumber to sign Yelawolf and Slaughterhouse by Jeff Weiss

East of Edan by Mo' Codenames

Distant Relatives: RZA & Koolhass by JDS

Jay-Z Speaks Financial Truth in New Song With Kanye West by Zack O'Malley Greenburg

The Top 50 Songs of 2010 by Joey

Snoop Dogg starts weekly giveaway, #PuffPuffPassTuesdays, with ode to 'El Lay' by Jeff Weiss

Waking Up To The Reality Of Kanye’s Dark Twisted Fantasy by TC

A ham sandwich > Hamsterdam > “H.A.M.” by Byron Crawford

The Curse of H.A.M: Whose Swine Will Survive Until Easter Sunday? by Jeff Weiss

What's The Consensus? The Internet's Top Tastemakers React To Jay-Z & Kanye West's "H.A.M." by Every Blogger But Me #salty

Why Are We Infatuated With Rick Ross? by Meka

Sip Your Cognac, Let’s All Wash This Money Through the Laundromat by Jeff Weiss

How The Internet Changed Hip Hop – Part 1: Print Media by Harlem World

RZA’s ‘The Man With The Iron Fist’ Now Shooting In China by Kevin Jagernauth

Album Reviews:

Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik 0-60 by Fred Castano

Rick Ross - Ashes to Ashes by Tom Breihan

Planet Asia - Crack Belt Theatre by Andres Vasquez

Sha Stimuli - Unsung Volume 1: The Garden of Eden by The Company Man

G-Side - The One...Cohesive by Jake Paine

Yeasayer - Live at Ancienne Belgique by Ian Cohen

Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy by Brandon Rae

White Fence - Is Growing Faith by Martin Douglas

N.E.R.D. - The Best of N.E.R.D. by Tom Breihan

Atlas Sound - Bedroom Databank, Vols. 1-4 by Joe Colly

Gatekeeper - Giza EP by Jess Harvell

The Beets - Stay Home by Martin Douglas

Comic Wow - Music for Mysteries of Mind Space and Time by Zach Cole

Ellie Goulding - Bright Lights by Erik Stabile

Black Francis - The Golem Rock Album by Eric Grandy

Future Islands - Undressed EP by David Bevan

Profiles & Interviews:

Question in the Form of an Answer: Lord Finesse by Matt Shea

Art From An Honest Place Cuts Through The Fluff: An Interview With Jon Hope by Brian Hodge

Politics:

The Blair Hitch Project by Christopher Hitchens

The Giffords Tragedy: Is the Media Partly at Fault? by Matt Taibbi

Can Obama Turn Tragedy Into Triumph? by Jonathan Alter

State of the Unions by James Surowiecki

Obama Created More Jobs In One Year Than Bush Created In Eight by Alex Seitz-Wald

Defusing The Obama Internet ID Scare by Aaron Brauer-Rieke

WTF/LOL/WTF:

Patton Oswalt's Surprisingly Haunting Memoir by Cameron Tung

Sarah Palin and the Hand of the Dead Body

"Kill at Will" by Kenyon Bajus

"Ganksta N-I-P, Spice-1 and 2Pac never gave a gun to me."
- Scarface; "Hand of the Dead Body"

"We know violence isn’t the answer. When we ‘take up our arms’, we’re talking about our vote."
- Sarah Palin

Is Sarah Palin directly responsible for the shooting that took place in Tucson, Arizona this past Saturday? No. But is her rhetoric responsible for fomenting an atmosphere of hatred and violence that could lead to these sorts of tragedies? That's the question! This past week, I've been interested in deciphering the social dilemma that Sarah Palin has been urged to face (although I assume she views it as more of a public relations dilemma than anything else at this point). By now I'm sure you've all seen the following photo:


The image lists twenty congresspeople in swing districts, Gabrielle Giffords being one of them. What's gotten everybody up in arms talking about this image is the use of crosshairs on the pinpointed districts on the map. I get it. The symbolism is there. And eerily enough, Congresswoman Giffords spoke out on the not-so-subtle imagery a few months back. Soon after the tragedy, filmmaker Michael Moore sent out the following message on his Twitter page: "If a Detroit Muslim put a map on the web w/crosshairs on 20 pols, then 1 of them got shot, where would he b sitting right now? Just asking." That tweet basically summed up my initial reaction to both the story and the flaky, conservative backlash.

Now what intrigues me most about this exercise in political shit-hurling is Sarah Palin's stubborn position, wiping her hands clean from any and all implications - even so far as to proclaim herself a martyr by invoking the infamous "blood libel." Certain conservative pundits have even flipped the controversy on its head by labeling Loughner a left-wing extremist. That's appalling. In channeling Michael Moore's apt social analysis, I can't help but look at this issue wearing my hip hop glasses (word to those Cazal boys, Run-D.M.C.).

In 1992, Vice President Dan Quayle denounced "gangsta rap," specifically aiming at 2Pac's debut LP, 2pacalypse Now. On July 30th of that year, Quayle made the following remarks:

Companies... that produce these types of records have a responsibility. They can't just hide behind Free Speech. They can't just hide behind The Constitution. I'm not going to get into an argument whether this was constitutional or not constitutional. I'll just assume that it was constitutional and there was nothing illegal. It was wrong. It was fundamentally wrong. I hope they have recognized their mistake and I hope in the future that they will exercise better responsibility, better concern, for what these records will do on the street.

I've taken the liberty of revamping that statement for the 2-0-1-1:

People who release these types of images have a responsibility. They can't just hide behind Free Speech. They can't just hide behind The Constitution. ... It was wrong. It was fundamentally wrong. I hope Sarah Palin recognizes this mistake and I hope in the future that she - and all politicians - will exercise better responsibility, better concern, for what these messages can do to the psyche of a would-be killer.

Better? To me, the main difference between an emcee like Eminem saying "fuck blood, I wanna see some lungs coughed up" and Sarah Palin saying "don't retreat, instead - reload!" isn't the varying levels of violent imagery between those two lines. The crucial difference is that Sarah Palin is a former Vice Presidential candidate who is rumored to be running for President in 2012. (Worth pointing out: I used Eminem as an example. What if I had quoted a Black man's words instead?! *jawdrop*) The difference is akin to cable news channels standing in contrast to Jon Stewart's satirical comedy program. There's hardly any real, legitimate comparison or equivalency. Jon Stewart is not obliged by any ethical standards of journalism to be "fair and balanced." Hypocrisy and false equivalencies are often devastating when pointed out: In my summation, I notice that conservatives have been using the very same arguments that rappers have been using for years - often in reaction to outrage by... yep... conservatives.

"They say music can alter moods and talk to you/
Well can it load a gun up for you and cock it too?/
Well if it can, and the next time you assault a dude/
Just tell the judge it was my fault, and I'll get sued/"
- Eminem; "Sing for the Moment"

"They claim we're threats to society," Scarface delivered on "Hand of the Dead Body." How does that differ from Sarah Palin and her right-wing defenders' stance against the accusations that her provocative language and imagery can lead to the carnage we've just witnessed in Arizona? Truly, that final verse on "Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta" will never lose its relevance.

In closing, here's a pertinent highlight from Ice Cube's 2008 LP Raw Footage:

I do gangsta rap. They wanna blame the world's problems on gangsta rap. It's our fault 'cause motherfuckers is dying in Iraq. It's our fault 'cause motherfuckers is starving in Africa. It's gangsta rap's fault that people are poor, can't get enough to fucking eat or live they life. That's rap music's fault. It's rap music's fault that we've got all these god-damned laws and restrictions and shit we can't do. They blame it all on us. I'm blaming them motherfuckers for gangsta rap. Because if they didn't create these kinds of conditions, I wouldn't have shit to rap about, you know what I mean?

I know what you mean, Cube. We can play the blame game from now 'til infinity. That won't get us anywhere though. Barack reflected on that point throughout the remarkable speech he gave tonight. Instead, the focus should be shifted towards getting rid of those "conditions." That's change I can believe in. Can it be enacted? Hasta la victoria siempre!

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #3 (Instrumental Edition)

Rap Round Table, Week Ending 1/7/2011

Still (W)rapping Up 2010:

The Rap Up’s 20 Best Rap Songs of 2010 by Rizoh & Co. (a.k.a. TRU Nation)

50 Best Rap Songs of 2010 by Rizoh

’10 Underrated Albums: #5, #4, #3, #2 & #1 by Elliott Wilson & Co.

’10 Best Singles: #10, #9, #8, #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2 & #1 by Elliott Wilson & Co.

’10 Worst Albums: #5, #4, #3, #2 & #1 by Elliott Wilson & Co.

’10 Disappointing Albums: #5, #4, #3, #2 & #1 by Elliott Wilson & Co.

’10 Mixtapes: #10, #9, #8, #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2 & #1 by Elliott Wilson & Co.

’10 R&B Albums: #5, #4, #3, #2 & #1 by Elliott Wilson & Co.

DLT90s Presents… 10 From ’10 by Danj!

A Gang of Best of 2010 Lists That Only I Give a Fuck About… Part One (Top 200 Hip Hop EP’s, LP’s & Mixtapes Of 2010) by Dart Adams

A Gang of Best of 2010 Lists That Only I Give a Fuck About… Part Two (Top 100 Instrumental LP’s & Beat Tapes Of 2010) by Dart Adams

A Gang of Best of 2010 Lists That Only I Give a Fuck About… Part Three (Top 40 Non Hip Hop/R&B Albums Of 2010) by Dart Adams

Why Marcberg Was My Favorite Rap LP of 2010 (And 9 Others I Liked) by Jesse Serwer

WYDU’s Look At 2010: Favorite EP’s of 2010 by Travis

2010: Some Stuff Happened by Robbie

Fuel/Friends Favorites of 2010 by Heather Browne

Music Analysis & Reporting:

Nine Rappers, One Wu-Tang Clan by Joel Rose

Wu-Tang Clan: A Few Extra Chambers by Jacob Ganz

Keeping it Real Goes Wrong: Rap, Prison and Recidivism by Dallas Penn

Jay Electronica is off the artistic roll call by Byron Crawford

Madlib and MF Doom return as Madvillain on new Stones Throw Podcast 64 by Jeff Weiss

Dark Sun Riders “Time To Build” by Thun

Digital DIY music platform Bandcamp finds its footing with artists like Amanda Palmer, Sufjan Stevens and RJD2 by David Greenwald

Recovery © Eminem by Dart Adams

Spirit of the Boogie by Danj!

Free P: The War's On by HL

2011 Hip-Hop Predictions: Just Remember We Told You So by David Dennis

The highlights of hip-hop holiday giveaways: Jet Age of Tomorrow, G-Side, Oddisee, more by Jeff Weiss

It Was Written by JDS

Lauryn Hill, DMX Hit The Rocky Comeback Trail by Rizoh

The Wisemen Help Light Up Detroit with Golden Arm Touch by Amir Said

Mafioso Rap Chronicles by HL

DMV Rap Attack: WKYS’ Hottest Rappers of 2010 by Andrew Noz

Terrace Martin tears it up on 'Melrose' and elsewhere by Jeff Weiss

Lil Cease’s Not So Subliminal Shots At 2Pac by J. Tinsley

PSA to Independent Artists, Know Who You’re Doing Business With by FWMJ

And now begin the Kanye West critical walkbacks by August Brown

Get Your Mind Right: I Dream of Nicki by Brian Sims

Album Reviews:

Ghostface Killah - Apollo Kids by Doc Zeus

Ghostface Killah - Apollo Kids by Ian Cohen

The Left - Gas Mask by Dan Love

Sheek Louch - Donnie G: Don Gorilla by Ian Cohen

Jamie Foxx - Best Night of My Life by Amanda Bassa

Gorillaz - The Fall by Stephen M. Deusner

Mikkey Halsted - The Dark Room by Luke Gibson

Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu Steps Ahead by Matt Shea

M.I.A. - Vicki Leekx by Tom Breihan

David Banner & 9th Wonder - Death of a Pop Star by TSS Crew

Preemo - Concrete Dreams by Jeff Weiss

Vampire Weekend - iTunes Session EP by David Bevan

jj - Kills by David Bevan

Profiles & Interviews:

It's the Real and the Rise of the Rap Nerd by Ben Westhoff

The Believer: Interview with Pharoahe Monch by Adam Mansbach

Ghostface Killah & Raekwon The Chef – The Lost Unkut Interview by Robbie

Music Nerdery Sits Down with Dee-1 for Some Great Times by Ericka

Kendrick Lamar: The West Coast Got Somethin' to Say by Nadine Graham

Patric “Astroblack” Brown by Justin Boland

Hip Hop Snobs Interview: Heather Widener by Alan2000XL

Question in the form of an Answer: Caribou by Matt Shea

Underground Report: Copywrite by Sean Ryon

Metallungies Hollers @ Mark Ronson, Interview by KnobbzXL

Producer's Corner: Andrew Dawson by William E. Ketchum III

Literature:

The BeatTips Manual (Review) by Gedi Dabakaeri

Politics:

Why Is Jeff Sessions Blocking A Child Sex Trafficking Bill? by Tanya Somanader

Sports:

The 2011 Lakers Have a 2003 Stench to Them by Craig Kwasniewski

Allen Iverson: Fallen Star by Robert Huber

WTF/LOL/WTF:

Blame it on the Hennessey by Byron Crawford

A Lesson in Bad Business by Amanda Bassa

Crazy rappers? Who’d a thunkit! by Byron Crawford

How NOT To Get Coverage On A Blog or Web Site Part 2: Twitter/Facebook Spamming by William E. Ketchum III

Stop talking out of your ass, Chuck D by Byron Crawford

Knowledge:

Open Letter On Media, Messages & Pimps by Chuck D

Wise Words from a Random Stranger by Amanda Bassa

The Tape Deck '11: Volume #2