Everybody has to pay the price for bad living—even musicians. Seems obvious, but, as long as there are angsty teens scribbling “It’s better to burn out than fade away,” in the margins of their algebra notebooks, it’s a message that bears repeating: there’s absolutely nothing fun or romantic about self-destruction. Fortunately, as Havoc puts it on this new leak (the third off his fort
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In late January, Q-Tip proved his remix prowess beyond a shadow of a doubt, bringing a trio of wildly different talents together to revamp his Renaissance Rap. Though this latest remix doesn’t have the strange-on-paper, great-in-execution surprise factor of its predecessor, the tried-and-true talent brought to bear here is undeniable, and the results should appeal especially to the old school .
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Here at the DJBooth, we pride ourselves on spotlighting emerging artists who are preparing to parlay underground buzz into mainstream success. Such is the case with Baltimore rapper 810; though he’s rapped as a hobby since the age of 11, it was only when others began to compliment his skills that he started to seriously consider a career in music. This month, the emcee plans to release his deb.
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Due to the outside perception that New Yorkers are hurried and impatient by nature, the phrase New York Minute has come to mean an extremely short period of time (Johnny Carson once described it as the time it takes “From the (traffic) lights to turn green, till the guy behind you starts honking his horn”). On his latest single, South Bronx native French Montana describes everything that can
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If hip-hop ever stopped being hip, I never got the memo, but it’s hard not to celebrate along with Booth newcomer Oddisee as he announces that Hip Hop’s Cool Again. Who’s responsible for this resurgence of coolness? If you answered “President Barack Obama,” well, you’re close—in fact, it’s Oddisee himself, a fellow Washington D.C. resident. While the emcee may not really be carr
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We’ve all been there. You’ve got a girlfriend or boyfriend who’s dumber than a can of paint, but the sex is so good you just can’t seem to let ‘em go. Well J Cole can relate. Having apparently recovered from his Heartache, the North Carolina native is back with his previously leaked, now officially mastered debut single Lights Please. While a bass-thumping beat from producer The Jam bump
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On New Year's Day, 22-year-old Oakland, California native Oscar Grant III was shot to death by a police officer responding to reports of men fighting on a Bay Area Rapid Transit train. The senselessness of the killing, compounded by the fact that Grant was lying face-down on the train platform when he was shot, spurred local protests and proceeded to spark outrage on a national level. In respons
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Booth readers already know Colin Munroe as an up-and-comer with an unconventional take on pop songwriting, but this latest feature may be his quirkiest—and most intriguing—yet. Originally featured on his Unsung Hero mixtape (available for free download here) and currently being promoted as the latest single off his debut album, the cut finds Munroe looking back to his childhood, wondering if
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Following the release of his newest mixtape, Bullets Ain't Got No Name (Vol. 2), earlier this week, rapper Nipsey Hussle has blessed the Booth with the first street single off his forthcoming debut album, South Central State of Mind. Produced by Aphilliates Music Group associate Detroit Red, Hussle In The House showcases one simple fact: Nipsey is pure West Coast. Over a flute-led bassline tha...
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As evidenced by his stage name, Bright Nights emcee Lyriciss considers his pen game one of his best qualities, but that’s far from all the DMV native’s got to offer – he also prides himself on his ability to Give ‘Em a Show. Though the lack of video evidence requires us to take Lyriciss at his word when it comes to his live performances, it’s not hard to imagine this mixtape inclusion ge
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Wale has never been shy about his criticisms of the music game, or his intention to call Attention to our current Deficit of quality tunes, but it isn’t till now that fans have been privy to the Washington, D.C. rapper’s full mission statement. Recorded way back in 2007 and considered for placement as the intro to the emcee’s debut studio album, musical ‘manifesto’ The Meeting finds Wale
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There’s low maintenance, and then there’s low maintenance. Played by R&B foursome Cherish, the woman Hurricane Chris addresses on this potential Unleashed single is clearly a member of the latter category – perhaps thanks to the sexual prowess Chris boasted of in his last selection, she’s perfectly willing to be his Secret Lover, no strings attached. Backed by Scorp Dezel & Don Vito‘s sp
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The last time we heard from DMV heavyweight K-Beta he was bringing us some musical joy in the form of the uplifting, Booth approved I’m Grateful. Well, times have changed. Beta’s latest offering is the intensely emotional I’m Bleeding, a track that more than lives up to its heavy title. On Bleeding producer Team Demo has constructed a soulful beat that seamlessly incorporates ethereal vocal
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If you don’t immediately recognize Kida’s name, don’t worry; you will soon. Making his solo debut on our pages just a week ago with his Booth approved What Is It Now, Inglewood native Kida is on a mission to make sure everyone knows his name, a mission that has resulted in his latest offering We Made It. The eighth track off his daily Who Is Kida? series, We Made It features a beat from freq
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To paraphrase the great Isaac Newton, every action has its equal and opposite reaction – and for Dujeous’ latest single, the uplifting Spectacular, that reaction is gloomy B-side Death and Taxes. Centered more on the latter topic than the former, this cut finds emcees Rheturik, Mojo the Cinematic and Mas D mourning the loss of their hard-earned dollars over their instrumentalist cohorts’ app
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I’ve always found the “Love Is War” concept a little lopsided. I mean, try to imagine a soldier on the front lines in Afghanistan or Iraq turning to his buddy and saying, “Hey, this is exactly like a difficult relationship!” Not too plausible. Be that as it may, the comparison’s been enjoying a resurgence of popularity in urban music. Following in the footsteps of such artists as Sean
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Hey, remember when we brought you this ‘official remix’ of I.Y.A.Z.’ Replay, featuring club-rapper extraordinaire Flo Rida? Well, turns out we spoke too soon – it seems that the Virgin Islands-bred singer has decided to roll with this version of the megahit single (which recently hit #1 on Billboard‘s Pop Chart). The songwriting masterminds behind Replay, Da Spokesman and Don’t Talk Mu
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Booth readers already know XO as one-third of The Diamond District, a DMV-based trio with a penchant for gritty, boom-bap inspired beats and aggressive rhymes. As you might expect from a guy whose stage name means “kisses and hugs,” however, the Washington, D.C. native is as much a lover as he is a lyrical bruiser. On Take Home, the lead single off his forthcoming One One Ten LP, the undergrou
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Nothing beats the feeling of hearing a master emcee tear up the mic and, though rap legend Rakim‘s third solo album fell short of the transcendent experience many were hoping for, its best tracks still packed that “natural high” only authentic, uncut hip-hop can deliver. Those who registered their copy of the LP online got an extra dose of musical goodness for their trouble: aptly-named bonu
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Hope you all have your pens and notebooks at the ready – Rap 101 is in session! Though the title of K. Sparks latest Booth feature, the first leak off a forthcoming street album by DJ Qvali, suggests an entry-level course, the Queens phenom doesn’t waste any time drilling the basics. On the contrary – after a profanity-laced intro, he dives right into the deep end, delivering a characteristi
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