HOME OF HIP HOP XXL - REPRESENTING THE TRUE ESSENCE OF HIP HOP

REPRESENTING THE TRUE ESSENCE OF HIP HOP

HHH XXL WAS CREATED TO UPLIFT & CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMPLETE RESTORATION OF HIP HOP IN ITS PUREST FORM.

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FIRST GLIMPSE: EMINEM IN "FUNNY PEOPLE" MOVIE

Check out a first glimpse of Eminem in upcoming "Funny People" Movie.. SEE HERE

THE GAME IN TALKS TO PLAY B.A. BARACUS IN THE A-TEAM?

Is Game going to play in John Singleton's upcoming flick The A-Team?... GET THE FULL REPORT HERE

VIDEO: MICHAEL JACKSON'S LAST SHOW REHEARSAL LEAKED.

Check out the last show rehearsal for Michael Jackson before he died.. WATCH HERE

R.KELLY RESPONDS TO INACCURATE REPORT

Kelly released the following statement in response to an inaccurate Internet report about a supposed police search . . GRAB THE REPORT HERE

QUEEN'S BOROUGH NAMES STREET AFTER JMJ.

The corner of 205th Street and Hollis in Queens will be renamed "Run-D.M.C. JMJ Way"after Hip-Hop group Run DMC and.. GRAB THE REPORT HERE

LEGOLAND TO MEMORIALIZE MICHAEL JACKSON AS LEGO FIGURE.

Michael Jackson will soon be immortalized in plastic as a Lego figure at Legoland California... GRAB THE REPORT HERE

Behind The Scenes : Hip Hip

Check out new videos by Naledge, Meth and Red, and Marco Polo with DJ Premiere and more.. CLICK HERE

MJ DOMINATES SALES CHARTS.

Billboard reports show Three Michael Jackson albums sold about 100,000 copies apiece in the first days following his death Thursday.. GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE

VH1 PICKS UP 3 NEW SERIES.

It was announced Monday that VH1 has picked up three new series, including projects starring Salt-N-Pepa's Sandra "Pepa".. Frank "the Entertainer" AND.. GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE

JAY-Z CLARIFIES SONY/ATLANTIC DEAL.

"On this one, we're working directly with the Atlantic staff, which is Julie Greenwald, Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles and .. GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE

VIBE MAGAZINE FOLDS.

Music mag Vibe is folding, according to internal memos issued to the staff on Tuesday by editor in chief Danyel Smith and .. GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE

BET CAME THRU IN A BIG WAY FOR MIKE.

It was a non-stop standing ovation for Michael Jackson and his legendary career at the BET AWARDS '09.. GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE

SONY COMMENTS ON PASSING OF MICHAEL JACKSON:

Michael Jackson, one of the most widely beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time, leaves an .. GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE

THE INDUSTRY REFLECTS ON DEATH OF MICHAEL JACKSON.

Snoop, Diddy, Beyonce Usher ,and more reflect on the tragic loss of the king of pop.. GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE

NEW HIP HOP SHIRTS IN STOCK -- RI.P. MIKE

R.I.P.Michael Jackson shirts, I love *** , Hi Hater, and more.. Grab them while they last. CLICK HERE

KRS-ONE & BUCKSHOT LIVE PERFORMANCE IN NY

Check out the live performance of KRS-ONE and Buckshot live in New York.. WATCH HERE

MIKE JONES ANNOUNCES TOUR.

Mike Jones Announces his plans for the first headlining tour since the release of his first double platnum album.. GRAB THE REPORT HERE

DJ MONTAY WINS 2009 BMI AWARD.

One of the South's hottest producers, Oomp Camp Records affiliate, Southern Style DJ & Grammy Nominated DJ Montay, won a .. GRAB THE REPORT HERE

DIDDY INVITING TROOPS TO HIS WHITE PARTY?

"As we celebrate Independence Day at this year's White Party, it's only fitting that we show our gratitude for the heroic men and women who protect our freedom every day.. GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE

SNOOP LINKS WITH SPACEMAN.

He wasn't into doing a comedy video at first," Farah says. "But when we heard he was rapping, that was it... GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE

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THIS VISUAL MIX TRIBUTE IS FROM THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER THE WORLD WILL EVER KNOW....MAY YOU FINALLY & ETERNALLY HAVE PEACE IN HEAVEN "MICHAEL JACKSON".....ETERNALLY YOURS: GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION !!!!

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Posted: 02 July 2009
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MICHAEL JACKSON F-1 SUPERMIX

THIS TRIBUTE IN SONG IS BUT A MERE TOKEN OF MY GRATITUDE,INSPIRATION,TAKEN FROM THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER THE WORLD WILL EVER KNOW....MAY YOU FINALLY & ETERNALLY HAVE PEACE IN HEAVEN "MICHAEL JACKSON".....ETERNALLY YOURS: GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION. ( CREATE YOUR HISTORY EVERYDAY ) "FORCE ONE NETWORKZ"

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Posted: 30 June 2009
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FUNKY EP XXXL PROMO

FROM THE COMING ALBUM "THE FUNKY EP XXXL" FEATURING SOME OF GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION'S HOTTEST REMIXES FROM "THE FUNKY EP XXL" LP, AND SOME BONUS FLAVOR AS WELL....CLASSIC!!!!

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Posted: 24 June 2009
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THE MAN TO PRAISE

ANOTHER BANGER FROM THE UNDERGROUND CLASSIC SERIES "100 DEGREEZ DEEP VOL.1" THE HIP HOP MOVEMENT IS REAL !!!!

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Posted: 04 May 2009
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LAST OF THE GREATS

ANOTHER BANGER FROM THE UNDERGROUND CLASSIC SERIES "100 DEGREEZ DEEP VOL.1" THE HIP HOP MOVEMENT IS REAL !!!!

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Posted: 04 May 2009
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HIP HOP COMMENTARY

true hip hop sounds from the groundbreaking series: "brick city breaks" featuring some of the hottest beats on the street...check it out.

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Posted: 04 May 2009
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CYPHA ROYALE XXL

the highly anticipated video from one of the hottest songs on "THE FUNKY EP XXL" CD featuring: PERCEE P,LAKIM SHABAZZ,JACE THE GREAT,MEL OFFICIAL,TreAzure,GEE ROCK....FUTURE CLASSIC.

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Posted: 04 May 2009
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BEAT OF THE YEAR

TRUE HIP HOP SOUNDS FROM THE GROUNDBREAKING,UNDERGROUND SERIES ENTITLED " BRICK CITY BREAKS ",WITH SOME OF THE HOTTEST BEATS ON THE STREET....CHECK THIS ONE FOR REAL.

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Posted: 04 May 2009
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CONSTANT ELEVATION original mix

GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION'S Greatest Hits & remixes.

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Posted: 04 May 2009
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TODAY

GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION'S Greatest Hits & mixes.

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Posted: 04 May 2009
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NIG DEE - GHETTO CHILD 2

GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION'S Lost Mixes & Tapes NIG DEE DEBUT ALBUM: GHETTO CHILD (2002)

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Posted: 04 May 2009
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NIG DEE - GHETTO CHILD 1

GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION'S Lost Mixes & Tapes NIG DEE DEBUT ALBUM: GHETTO CHILD (2002)

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Posted: 04 May 2009
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HOLLYWOOD SWINGA (Blues Mix)

GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION'S Lost Mixes & Tapes

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Posted: 04 May 2009
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SPIRITUAL FREESTYLE

THE INTRO FREESTYLE FROM THE FOURTHCOMING AND FINAL INSTALLMENT OF THE FUNKY EP SAGA....COMING THIS SUMMER 09 !!!!

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Posted: 28 April 2009
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CYBERFORCE-FUNKY CARTOON

FUTURISTIC LOOK OF THE BRICK CITY BREAKS SERIES INTRODUCING CYBERFORCE....CLASSIC!!!!

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Posted: 28 November 2008
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BET Apologizes for Lil Wayne and Drake Performance

After days of non-stop backlash, BET has apologized for a performance by Lil Wayne, Drake and Young Money Records that involved underage girls during songs "Best I Ever Had" and "Every Girl" at the 2009 BET Awards.

During the Young Money set, a group of young girls, which included Lil Wayne's daughter and her friends, pranced around on stage. The problem is that Weezy's song "Every Girl" contains several explicit sexual references.

In a statement, BET expressed remorse over the performance. "BET Networks deeply regrets the performance by Young Money at the BET AWARDS 09 (featuring Lil Wayne, Drake, Gudda Gudda and Mack Maine). Elements of the performance were unplanned and should not have happened."

Wayne's performance at an award show that was billed as a tribute to Michael Jackson seemed inappropriate. It's good to see BET stepping up and taking responsibility for that.

New Video Alert: Eminem - "Beautiful"

Eminem has a track record of delivering memorable videos, and Beautiful" is no exception. The video, which was overseen by Anthony Mandler, is visually stimulating and inspiring. "Beautiful" is not my favorite cut on Relapse, but I commend Em for the interesting visuals. Take a look.

Video: Eminem - "Beautiful"

Q-Tip's Kamaal the Abstract Finally Gets A Release Date

After eight years in label limbo, Q-Tip's 2001 LP Kamaal the Abstract will finally get to see the light of day. The album, which features nine tracks that the Tribe Called Quest frontman produced entirely on his own, will be issued via Battery Records on Sept. 15.

"Q-Tip is a true visionary and ahead of his time," Neil Levine, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Battery Records, said in a press statement. "These songs are more contemporary now than when they were first recorded."

Kamaal the Abstract was originally scheduled for release in 2001, but it was shelved due to a disagreement between Q-Tip and Arista Records.

Q-Tip's most recent work, The Renaissance, topped our Best Albums of 2008 list.

Video: Drake - "Best I Ever Had"

If you've been anywhere near a radio lately, you've probably come across Drake's monstrous single, "Best I Ever Had." The song, which appears on Drake's So Far Gone mixtape (yes, mixtape), climbed all the way to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, thus setting him up for an intense bidding war. According to various reports, the young Canadian MC/singer decided to sign with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. His album, Thank Me Later, is set to drop this fall. Here's the "Best I Ever Had" video, directed by Kanye West.

Video: Drake - "Best I Ever Had"

10 Hip-Hop Classics Inspired by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson revolutionized music with his dance moves, thrilled the world with his music videos, and captivated everyone with his eccentricities. He had the unique ability to marry rock, pop, R & B, and hip-hop music, without losing his musical identity. Over the years, hip-hoppers have shown gratitude to the King of Pop through the art of sampling. Here are 10 hip-hop classics that sampled Michael Jackson.

Vibe Magazine Is Dead

Another day, another music magazine bites the dust. This time, it's the leading hip-hop and R&B magazine Vibe that has fallen victim of a declining print industry.

According to the New York Times, Steve Aaron, chief of the Vibe Media Group, sent a memo to staffers earlier today announcing that Vibe would no longer be in operation. Aaron says that the company tried, for months, to either find new investors or “to restructure the huge debt on our small company.”

WIth Vibe and King gone, and XXL struggling to stay afloat, it's safe to assume that The Source is on suicide watch.

Prodigy Defends His "Beat It" Jacket

Prodigy of Mobb Deep may be behind bars but that he's not out of the loop. Like most people, P heard about the biggest music loss of the year and he caught the BET Awards, which honored Michael Jackson's legacy.

Prodigy spoke to XXLmag.com about what Jackson meant to him as a child. And yes, he brought up that infamous summer jam saga as proof of his MJ obsession as a child. Proceed to read Prodigy's statement.

From XXLmag.com: One of the remarks Foxx made in particular struck a chord with the Queens rapper. "He said everybody used to dress like Michael Jackson when they was a little kid," Prodigy noted, bringing up the time that Jay-Z exposed a photo of him as a child dressed up like MJ, in order to discredit the MC. "You know I like that part 'cause certain n**gas "Oh yeah Prodigy had the "Beat It" jacket on when he was eight years old, like tryna discredit me like there's something wrong with that. Nah ain't nothing wrong with that and everybody knows and it's sad that Michael Jackson had to die but now everybody's professing, "oh I loved Michael Jackson when I was little too. Oh now it's okay."

"Rest in peace, Michael Jackson," he added. "Cause I damn sure thought I was Michael when I was a little kid. I wanted to be Michael Jackson, I wanted to be a celebrity like Michael. He did a lotta things I ain't agree with later on in life but overall that was a good muthaf*cka right there. That was an excellent person, with his music and what he contributed to the music world. Perfect, excellent."

Bottom line: Prodigy gets the last laugh. I wonder what Jay-Z has to say about this.

Video: Jay-Z - "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"

BET needed something to help keep the party going after the award show, so what better way to do that than with a premiere of Jay-Z's "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" music video. The clip, directed by , features Jay's friend and NBA superstar LeBron James. Watch "D.O.A." video and let us know if it gets a "yea" or "nay."

Video: Jay-Z - "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"

BET Awards Celebrates Michael Jackson's Legacy

BET made last-minute changes to the BET Awards plans after learning about Michael Jackson's death. They switched gears and decided to use the show as a vehicle to showcase and celebrate Jackson's legacy.

Throughout the night, hosts and performers paid homage to the late pop icon. Host of the event Jamie Foxx wore a red leather jacket (similar to the one Jackson wore in "Billy Jean") video during his opening monologue and did his best moonwalk to a mix of raucous laughter and applause.

Jay-Z gave shoutout to Jackson during his "D.O.A." performance, and Drake referred to him as "the best we ever had" during his rendition of the hit single "Best I Ever Had" alongside Lil Wayne. Ne-Yo, Ciara, New Edition, and Jamie Foxx all did their best to imitate Jackson during their respective tributes to the King of Pop.

There were little surprises on the award end of the event, Lil Wayne won for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, while M.I.A. won Best Female Hip-Hop. T.I., who's currently incarcerated, snagged the Viewer's Choice award for "Live Your Life," his collaboration with Rihanna (also absent from the show). (See complete list of 2009 BET Award winners).

The show ended with a speech from Janet Jackson, on behalf of the Jackson family. Janet fought through tears to express gratitude to Jackson's fans for their moral support: "My entire family wanted to be here tonight. It was just too painful. To you Michael is an icon. To us Michael is family. And he will forever live in all of our hearts."

And that he will.

Photo © Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Hip-Hop Artists React to Michael Jackson's Death

Shortly after news of Michael Jackson's death rattled the music world, hip-hop luminaries like Ice-T and P. Diddy took to Twitter to express their sadness over the loss. Here's a slice of the hip-hop community's reaction to Jackson's untimely passing:

LL Cool J: I'm devastated by the passing of Michael Jackson; incredibly sad..... He was one of my childhood idols. I salute you King of Pop."

Diddy: "Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life!! He made me believe in magic. I will miss him!"

Ice T: "Rest In Peace Mike. People can say what they want but you were 100% original. WE will always love , miss & remember your GREATNESS."

Ludacris: "If it were not for Micheal Jackson I would not be where or who I am today.His Music and Legacy will live on Forever.Prayers to the fam. R.I.P."

MC Hammer: "I have no words.. I loved Michael Jackson.. RIP."

Album Cover: © Epic/Legacy Records

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MICHAEL JACKSON VISUALMIX

MICHAEL JACKSON F-1 SUPERMIX

FUNKY EP XXXL PROMO

FROM THE COMING ALBUM "THE FUNKY EP XXXL" FEATURING SOME OF GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION'S HOTTEST REMIXES FROM "THE FUNKY EP XXL" LP, AND SOME BONUS FLAVOR AS WELL....CLASSIC!!!!

HIP HOP COMMENTARY

true hip hop sounds from the groundbreaking series: "brick city breaks" featuring some of the hottest beats on the street...check it out.

BEAT OF THE YEAR

TRUE HIP HOP SOUNDS FROM THE GROUNDBREAKING,UNDERGROUND SERIES ENTITLED " BRICK CITY BREAKS ",WITH SOME OF THE HOTTEST BEATS ON THE STREET....CHECK THIS ONE FOR REAL.

CYPHA ROYALE XXL

the highly anticipated video from one of the hottest songs on "THE FUNKY EP XXL" CD featuring: PERCEE P,LAKIM SHABAZZ,JACE THE GREAT,MEL OFFICIAL,TreAzure,GEE ROCK....FUTURE CLASSIC.

CONSTANT ELEVATION original mix

GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION'S Greatest Hits & remixes.

TODAY

GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION'S Greatest Hits & mixes.

NIG DEE - GHETTO CHILD 2

GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION'S Lost Mixes & Tapes NIG DEE DEBUT ALBUM: GHETTO CHILD (2002)

NIG DEE - GHETTO CHILD 1

GEE ROCK & THA CND COALITION'S Lost Mixes & Tapes NIG DEE DEBUT ALBUM: GHETTO CHILD (2002)

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KOOL HERC - THE FATHER OF HIP HOP

AFRIKA BAMBAATAA -THE MASTER OF RECORDS

HIP HOP IS HEATED AND READY !!!!

Hip Hop is a culture consisting of 4 elements which are based on creativity:

• B-Boying stands for the dance

• MCing for the lyrical

• DJing for the musical

• Graffiti for the graphical expression

Hip Hop can't be consumed; it has to be lived, not by buying expensive clothes, but by improving skills in one or more of the elements day by day. Hip Hop started in the middle of the 70’s in the Bronx in New York City (USA). The basic idea of this culture was that there should be a war with creativity, not with weapons, a battle of different and better styles to turn the senseless violence into productive energy.

History of Hip Hop

The origin and the roots of the Hip Hop culture are located in the South Bronx, New York City (USA). This borough experienced radical changes during the 60’s because of bad urban construction planning (e.g. building an expressway through the heart of the Bronx, building of huge apartment complexes). The middle class consisting of Italian, German, Irish and Jewish families moved away because of the decreasing quality of life. Instead, more and more poor Afro-American and Hispanic families settled down. Because of the augmented poverty the problems caused by crime, drugs and unemployment increased.
In the year 1968, seven teenagers who named themselves the Savage Seven started to terrorize their neighborhood, and with their activities they laid the groundwork for something that dominated the Bronx during the next 6 years, street gangs. Within a short time gangs appeared on every street corner and names like The Black Spades, Savage Skulls, Seven Immortals, Seven Crowns, Savage Nomads, Ching Alings, Black Skulls, Latin Kings, Young Lords and many others arose out of the Savage Seven. Because of the increasing number of members they could be seen everywhere.
After the gang activities reached their top in 1973, they died out one after the other. The reason for this turn can be found on different levels. On one side gangs got rotten out by other gangs, they got involved in the drug misery or got so big that their members didn't want to be involved anymore. On the other side, times were changing in general and people of the 70’s went to block-parties and clubs and loved the music and the dance more and more. The main reason that gangs decreased was because more and more people got involved in the Hip Hop culture and found a new activity. The basic idea of the Hip Hop culture was, and still is, to compete with creativity in one of the 4 elements and not with violence.
The driving force of all these activities within the 4 elements was to break out of the anonymity, to get heard and seen, and to spread one’s name. If somebody wanted to improve his skills he had no time left for doing bad things. He had to put all his energy into the Hip Hop culture, and with that he helped to bring it further, to the next level. He helped to develop its elements more and more, and he also inspired other heads.
Kool Herc is known all over and respected as the "father" of the Hip Hop culture, as he contributed a lot to its birth and development. Born in Jamaica he immigrated in 1967 at the age of 12 from Kingston, and he brought his knowledge about the Jamaican sound system scene and the "toasting" to the Bronx. Clive Campell, as Kool Herc is really named, was called "Hercules" by his fellow pupils in High School because of his physical appearance. He didn't like this nickname and took a shortcut to Herc. When he started to write he used the tag name Kool Herc. Around 1973 he attracted more and more attention as a DJ in his neighborhood. In the beginning he used his father’s sound equipment, but soon after he extended his equipment and his followers continuously. Besides numerous gigs at block parties, parties in parks and schoolyards, soon after he also got gigs in famous clubs like the Twilight Zone and the T-Connection.
The first reason for his success and for making people dance was because he followed the sound system philosophy of his homeland that the system had to be bigger, heavier and louder than all others. The second reason, and probably the most important, he created and developed a revolutionary technique to spin the records.
He never played the whole funk song but only the part which made people freak out the most, the break. This is the part where the beat was played in its purest form. Because the breaks of the songs were only a few seconds long he expanded them by using 2 turntables with 2 records. With these “break beats” he laid the foundation for the b-boys or break boys (dancers who freaked out on the dance floor during these breaks), and the MC’s or Masters of ceremony (entertainers on the microphone who amused the people and made them dance with their rhymes). Comparable to the Jamaican "toasting" from time to time Kool Herc used some phrases to make people dance and to welcome friends.
When the mixing of the beats got more complicated more concentration was needed and entertaining the crowd on the microphone wasn't possible anymore. So, Herc passed the microphone to 2 friends of his who consequently represented the first MC team, Coke La Rock and Clark Kent. Kool Herc and his sound system including his 2 friends on the mic were soon after known all over as Kool Herc and the Herculoids.
Afrika Bambaataa (aka Kahyan Aasim - born 1957) is well known and respected as the godfather or the grandfather of the Hip Hop culture as he brought everything together and laid the groundwork for the culture. He was a member and leader of one of the biggest gangs, the Black Spades, and he was also an eager record collector. Although he was DJing at parties already since 1970, he got more interested in it after seeing Kool Herc on the turntables in 1973. As a result, he began DJing more in the Bronx River Community Center where he also had his own sound system. Around the same time his gang started to die out. Soon after he formed a performance group named the Bronx River Organization which later he renamed The Organization. Because of his former position in the gang he soon had a faithful audience which consisted of former gang members.
Around 1974 he reorganized The Organization and renamed it Zulu Nation, inspired by his studies about African history at that time. He was impressed by the Zulus because they fought with full honor and simple weapons against the colonialism power in spite of apparent inferiority. Also, 5 dancers joined his organization and he named them the Shaka Zulu Kings or for short Zulu Kings. Besides the Nigger Twins they were the very first B-Boying crew ever. The Zulu Nation organized parties and meetings at which the members, especially Afrika Bambaataa, tried to pass as much knowledge about the Hip Hop culture as possible and to give people an alternative to the gang activities and the drug misery. Although Lovebug Starski was the one who came up with the notion "Hip Hop," it was mainly Afrika Bambaataa and his Zulu Nation who united the different elements and formed them into a whole culture. Afrika Bambaataa's idea was to transform the negativity of the gangs into positive energy.
Because he lost his best friend in a gang war during that time he was one of the very few who, not only realized that this gang war was senseless, but who also tried to do something about it. As people became more engaged in the 4 elements at that time and came together to have parties and show their skills (DJs mixed the break beats, MCs rhymed to them, B-Boys danced to them and most of these people were also writers) Bambaataa used them to spread his message to fight with creativity and not with violence.
With the integration of the 4 elements in the Hip Hop culture a situation of general competition arose that pushed people permanently to get better and more creative. Therefore it was an unwritten law that everybody was creating his own style without copying from others and stealing their ideas, so called "biting." Also, an overall respected guideline was, peace, unity, love and having fun. The groundwork for the different elements was laid down already, but with the integration in the Hip Hop culture their development came quickly.

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Tech N9ne

One of the foremost practitioners of Midwest horrorcore, Kansas City's Tech N9ne has been frightening listeners with his warped ghetto tales for nearly a decade, though casual listeners wouldn't know it from his paltry recording output. Like most artists who gravitate towards the bloody extremes, Tech (ne Aaron Yates) was brought up in a very strict, religious household with a fundamentalist Christian mother and a Muslim stepfather. Despite their best attempts to shelter him, Tech was exposed to rap early when an uncle brought over a copy of proto-rapper Blowfly's "Rap Dirty." Tech was immediately captivated and soon picked up a mike and started spitting his own rhymes. At 17, he left home and soon got involved in the drug game. But during this time, Tech's rap career was beginning to take off and the young rapper moved to New Orleans for the sake of his career. He has lent his unique perspective to tracks by such artists as Eminem, D12 and Tupac. Unfortunately, it would be the first of many false starts, and he would soon be forced to return to Kansas City sans record deal. Tech refused to give up his dreams, though, and he hooked up with longtime collaborator Icy Rock and producer Dan Juan, who would help the rapper record his 2001 debut, Anghellic. Based on the success of advance singles, the album received major label distribution via Interscope Records. Anghellic was predictably dark, opening with the invocation "Welcome to hell" and refusing to relent thereafter. Tracks such as "Psycho Bitch," "Suicide Letters" and "Tormented" were ghoulishly sinister, approaching the tone and themes of fellow Midwesterner Eminem's more extreme tracks. Though the album was lauded in underground circles, it didn't catch on in the mainstream and Tech was dropped from his contract. Undeterred, he quickly re-entered the studio and independently released 2002's Absolute Power. That album opened with the anti-industry screed "The Industry Is Punks." Throughout both of his two proper full-lengths, Tech's vocal cadence displayed an unusual pliability. From the double-time rap of "The Industry Is Punks" to the growl of "Trapped in a Psycho's Body," Tech's flow was unpredictable. The only common denominator among the songs was Tech's ability to project a sense of impending menace. We can only hope that this Midwestern madman will once again be resurrected. - Sam Chennault

Gym Class Heroes

A four-piece hip-hop group out of New York, Gym Class Heroes utilizes the live instrumentation rap dynamic developed by hip-hop groups like the Roots and Stetasonic. Where those groups infuse their sound with funk and jazz flourishes, Gym Class focuses on incorporating elements of modern pop. The resulting music illuminates the intersections between Beck and Outkast. The band's many fans are drawn to the appealing vocal harmonies and romantic lyrics of songs such as "Cupid's Stronghold." The Heroes are accessible and likeable, and their two albums -- 2005's The Papercut Chronicles and 2006's As Cruel as School Children -- have been embraced by pop audiences. - Sam Chennault

Gorillaz

The Gorillaz' image may be cartoonish, but with artists like Del the Funky Homosapian, Dan the Automator, and members of Blur, Cibo Matto, and Tom Tom Club contributing, their music is anything but lightweight. Experimental in nature and obtuse in scope, the Gorillaz' sound melds Damon Albarn's sharp pop sensibilities with Dan the Automator's eclectic bass-heavy, beat-driven hip hop. And although the combination doesn't always gel, when they hit the mark, it's usually with a bull's eye. Perhaps it was the cartoon facade, or the side-project feel of the collaborative, but when the Gorillaz's self-titled debut was released in 2001, critics predicted a short shelf life for the band. Despite this, the Gorillaz's album went platinum and the group scored a couple of hefty hits with "Clint Eastwood" and "19-2000." But when most of the members of the group went back to their day jobs, most assumed that was the end of them. But in July 2005, the band released its follow-up, Demon Days. As the title suggests, the Gorillaz's sophomore effort casts a darker shadow; however, this is tempered by slick-sounding beats and a variety of happy-go-lucky blips and bleeps. The group scored a radio hit this second time around with the single "Feel Good, Inc." - Linda Ryan

Lupe Fiasco

What makes Chicago's Lupe Fiasco special isn't that he's the most talented rapper of his generation, nor that he has a boyish charisma that jumps off his records and has drawn the attention of Jay Z and Kanye West. Technical acumen is not as important as your favorite indie emcee would have you believe, and charisma can be manufactured. What's special about Lupe is the honesty and clarity of his lyrics. He's a war emcee: he raps about the war on terrorism, the war on drugs and the war on the poor. "This has been brought to you by genocide, sponsored by crack," Lupe declares. Over the course of his debut drug dealers with tears rolling down their eyes man funeral processions. Cops roll by laughing at the misery they've sworn to police. The "game" is the "belly of the beast," the streets a "demon in a dress with dollar signs in her eyes and semen on her breath." There's "blasphemy for prayers," "Hennessey tears" and "hollow tips for teeth." For Lupe, "Righteousness is a father teaching his kids/ That what's better than wealth is respect for yourself." - Sam Chennault

Atmosphere

A hip-hop trio from Minneapolis, Atmosphere comprise Slug on the mic, Ant on production, and Mr. Dibbs on the wheels. Founders of the Rhymesayers collective and label (which also includes Eyedea & Abilities and Brother Ali, among others), the group has been steadily on the grind since the mid-1990s, playing countless shows for rabid underground heads at events like Scribble Jam and Coachella. Often dubbed "emo-rap" because of Slug's heart-on-his-sleeve lyrical approach, they've been embraced by legions of kids (especially young girls) and critics alike, regularly selling out large venues in both the U.S. and abroad. Their albums include Overcast!, Lucy Ford, God Loves Ugly and Sevens Travels. In 2004, they hit radio and MTV2 paydirt with the single "Trying to Find a Balance." - Brolin Winning

Gang Starr

Unquestionably one of the most influential groups in the game, Gang Starr have been serving up treats for over ten years. The dynamic duo of emcee Guru and superproducer DJ Premier dropped their first album in 1989 and they have yet to release their stranglehold on the ears of hip-hop's faithful. They were among the first groups to fully embrace jazz in their work, and over the years they've maintained and refined their distinct style. Guru's trademark monotone rhymes flow like gravy, educating listeners with intelligent and sophisticated lyrics. Primo is arguably the hottest beat-maker in the industry, peppering heavy drums with piano loops, scratched hooks, and finely chopped samples. They've also helped launch the careers of artists including Jeru and Group Home. Guru spearheaded Jazzmatazz projects in '93, '95, and 2000, while Premier has produced for heavy hitters like Biggie, Nas, and Rakim. Their 1999 quadruple album Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr contains many classic cuts, including "Mass Appeal," "Ex Girl To The Next Girl," and "DWYCK." For consistently high-quality hip-hop, look no further than Brooklyn's finest. - Brolin Winning

Common

Something about the rhythm of Common's flow -- the way he phrases his intelligent rhymes -- turns his voice into an instrument. He started out as Common Sense, releasing two excellent albums filled with sparse beats and dizzying rhymes that were unusual exports from the pop-focused hip-hop scene in the Midwest. Though he's been pigeonholed as a mellow Jazz Rap minimalist, he's got enough consciousness-stirring lyrics to make a listener sit up and think as they nod to his thick grooves. The album that broke him was One Day It'll All Make Sense, a record with rich, organic beats that balanced his unorthodox vocal style. Touring with a live band (often the Roots) seasoned him for his next effort, Like Water For Chocolate. Stretching hip-hop's boundaries, Common has drawn on everything from thick, Fela Kuti-inspired afro-beat to jazzy live backing, with tracks produced by DJ Premier and the Soulquarians (including drummer/mastermind ?uestlove and singer/keyboardist D'Angelo). In 2002, his sound grew considerably more experimental, and the Jay Dee-produced Electric Circus somewhat alienated fans of his earlier material. After taking a few years to regroup, Common returned triumphantly with Be, teaming up with fellow Chi-town native Kanye West for an exceptional back-to-basics album that many critics have hailed as a modern classic. - Jessy Terry

The Roots

Originally formed in 1989, this Philadelphia supergroup is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Pioneers of the live-rap movement, the Roots use traditional instrumentation in lieu of samples and drum machines. Their distinctly jazzy sound is the direct result of highly skilled musicianship, as demonstrated on their high-quality albums and always impressive live performances. In addition to their signature, organic sound, they are also known for their positive and conscious lyricism. Emcees Black Thought and Malik B always give you something to think about, dropping verses on such heavy topics as politics, equality and respect for fellow man. The Roots have opened the door for a new breed of artist, stressing the importance of original music and intelligent content, a refreshing contrast to hip-hop's glut of party-thug rappers. They are without a doubt one of the most important bands around, not just as emcees, but as musicians and role models. - Brolin Winning

A Tribe Called Quest

Following the lead of De La Soul, their friends and comrades in the "Native Tongues" rap collective, A Tribe Called Quest blazed alternative rap trails with a laid-back, witty, progressive style as well as innovative beats and enlightened lyrics that paved the way for the "jazz rap" of Digable Planets, Jungle Brothers, Us3 and other outside-the-box hip-hop artists.

Q-Tip (nee Jonathan Davis), Phife Dawg (Malik Taylor), Ali Shaheed Muhamed, and Jarobi White (who only played on the first album) met at New York City's Murray Bergtraum High School for Business Careers. Q-Tip's association with De La Soul [see entry] and the Jungle Brothers and a four-song demo led to a 1989 deal with Jive Records. The singles "Description of a Fool" (1989) and "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo" (1990) were followed by their debut album, People's Instinctive Travels (Number 91, 1990), the first rap work to fuse jazz samples with hip-hop structures. A follow-up, The Low End Theory (Number 45, 1991), had a harder edge and extended the group's jazz leanings, featuring jazz great Ron Carter on upright bass. Low End's "Scenario" was a minor hit (Number 57, 1991).

In between their albums, Tribe appeared on MTV's Unplugged; Q-Tip guest-rapped on Deee-Lite's "Groove Is in the Heart" and on Lenny Kravitz and Sean Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance"; all three Tribe members contributed to the Jungle Brothers' Straight Out the Jungle and to De La Soul's "Buddy." In 1993, while Tribe was recording its third album, Ali contributed extensive production work to jazz saxophonist Greg Osby's 3-D Lifestyles. Released at the end of that year, Midnight Marauders (Number Eight pop, Number One R&B, 1993) yielded "Award Tour" (Number 47 pop, Number 27 R&B, 1993), with backing vocals by De La Soul's Trugoy the Dove.

During summer 1994, the group took the hip-hop slot in the Lollapalooza festival, and in 1996 released Beats, Rhymes and Life (Number One pop and R&B). Two years later, The Love Movement (Number Three pop and R&B) proved to be Tribe's finale. Q-Tip pursued a solo career, releasing Amplified (Number Four R&B) in 1999 and scoring hits with "Vivrant Thing" (Number 26 pop, Number Seven R&B) and "Breathe and Stop" (Number 21 R&B). He also was one of the guest vocalists on Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott's R&B chart-topper "Hot Boyz."

In 2002, Q-Tip attempted to move beyond conventional hip-hop with Kamaal the Abstract, an experimental jazz-hop album that predated OutKast's equally ambitious polyglot sound. When Arista Records, the label of both Q-Tip and OutKast, rejected Kamaal as being not commercial enough, fans created a Web-based petition to persuade the company to release the album. Q-Tip eventually retained ownership of Kamaal and another aborted Arista project, and signed with Universal Motown. He announced a 2008 release for his second official solo album, The Renaissance. In 2000, Phife Dawg released the solo album Ventilation: Da LP, which featured a track in which he criticized Q-Tip. In 1999, Ali Shaheed Muhammad joined the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl along with former Tony! Toni! Toné member Raphael Saadiq (née Wiggins) and ex-En Vogue singer Dawn Robinson. In 2004, Muhammad released the solo album Shaheedullah and Stereotypes.

In 2006, Q-Tip, Phife and Muhammad reunited Tribe for a series of sold-out concerts in Mexico, Canada and the U.S., including a co-headlining spot at that year's Bumbershoot festival in Seattle. In 2008 ATCQ headlined the Rock the Bells tour along with Nas, De La Soul, Pharcyde and Mos Def.