The genre of hip hop in the 1990s was all about storytelling. No one was better at that then Notorious B.I.G. With only two studio albums under his belt, Biggie Smalls is still considered to be one of the most…
TV Review: Supernatural 12×03 “The Foundry”
Three episodes into season 12, and Mary’s gone. Not gone, gone, but gone to find herself, presumably. She was dead for 33 years, so Mary feeling out of place and unsure of herself makes sense. She’s needs to rediscover the…
From the Record Crate: Jay-Z – “The Blueprint”
The summer of 2001 was Jay-Z’s make-it-or-break-it moment. His penchant for escalating tensions and engaging in endless lyrical boxing matches with the likes of Jadakiss, Prodigy, and Nas had eventually led him to become one of the most publicly-dissed rappers…
TYF Rates the Hot 100: Week of July 26, 2016
Since 1958, the Billboard Hot 100 has been the definitive chart gauging the biggest singles in the United States, with particular attention paid to the top 40 positions. Top 40 is so ingrained in music culture that an entire radio…
Album Review: DJ Khaled – “Major Key”
Alright kids, time for the million dollar question: Who is DJ Khaled: Rapper? Producer? Hype man? Motivational speaker? Untouched presidential candidate (Kanye/Khaled 2020, anyone)? After years of deep analysis and think-tank discussions with top scientists, the world has given up…
From The Record Crate: Jay Z – “Reasonable Doubt” (1996)
The funny thing about Jay Z — arguably the biggest and most successful rapper of all time who made a monopoly out of music, clothing, technology, the record industry and marriage — is that he always sounded like he never needed it. Most…