Here’s a run-down of narrative-driven rap albums. A case could have been made to include Kendrick’s last LP but shorty said nah, pulled the trigger and stepped. R.I.P. GURU. No Country For Old (Rap) Men: The Art of Storytelling
Author: Robbie Ettelson
Unsigned Skype: M. Will
Marlon Williams, Jr. is the son of the greatest hip-hop producer of all time, Engineer All-Star Marley Marl. That’s a lot of pressure to deal with. Nevertheless, this classically-trained musician eventually found himself drawn into the world of beats and rhymes. His last couple of instrumental projects – dedications to Dexter Wansel and Alan Parsons…
No Country For Old (Rap) Men: LL Cool J Is Rap’s Worst Troll
James Todd Smith has been reduced to the internets worst troll as he attempts to trick the world into buying his next album. No Country For Old (Rap) Men: LL Cool J Is Rap’s Worst Troll
DJ Chuck Chillout – The Unkut Interview
In response to Mr. Magic‘s Rap Attack show on WBLS, New York’s KISS-FM mounted a counter-attack by recruiting DJ Chuck Chillout and Kool DJ Red Alert. The resulting competition meant that Tri-Borough residents were spoiled for choice in the mid to late 80’s when it came to hip-hop on the radio. Chuck was also a…
No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Everybody Hates Papoose
There’s no need for me spend valuable mental energy penning barbs at Papoose when his own quotes provide all the ammunition required. No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Everybody Hates Papoose
Lakim Shabazz – The Unkut Interview, Part 2
Concluding my discussion with Lakim Shabazz, he talks about leaving Tuff City, remembering his friend Apache, Queen Latifah incorporating the Flavor Unit name and plans for his final album. Robbie: So how long after the second album did you get off Tuff City? Lakim Shabazz: I was being managed by Dave Funkenklein. At one point…
A-Trak – The Modern Fix Interview [2007]
Just found this interview from Modern Fix magazine, which was my first published cover feature, that I never put on the site. Ironically, A-Trak would prove to be heavily involved with the dreaded Hipster Rap invasion which Unkut was so instrumental in shutting down… While most of us were trying to score a six-pack and…
Lakim Shabazz – The Unkut Interview, Part 1
With the exception of Queen Latifah, Lakim Shabazz proved to be the most prolific of the original Flavor Unit line-up, releasing two albums and a long list of guest spots on 45 King projects during his time at Tuff City. Despite his diminutive frame, Lakim wielded “the voice of power” with authority, as he combined…
No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Remembering Record Labels and Rap Radio
The game has changed. I attempt to analyse the development. No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Remembering Record Labels and Rap Radio
Freshco – The Unkut Interview, Part 2
Concluding my talk with Freshco, he details what went down in the New Music Seminar in 1990, teaming up with DJ Miz, the mutual respect he shared with other top-tier lyricists and why his career as an MC didn’t turn out the way he’d hoped. Robbie: How did you get involved with the NMS? Freshco:…
Download: LA Rap – The Good Old Days
There was a time when I was rocking as much, if not more, LA Rap than I was stuff from New York. This was a time when rapping about shotguns over old Zapp loops was all that was required to impress. So in the spirit of rap blogging from 2006, here’s an hour of great…
Dallas Penn and Combat Jack Are: The Black Odd Couple
During an “ideas storm” at the Fuckboi Media Group, International HQ today, one of my crack team of creatives decided to rip-off an idea based on a Mike Heron Tweet and put together an outline for a new VH-1 sit-com starring Internets Celebrities Dallas Penn and Combat Jack… Read the Season One Episode Recap Here