Hip hop journalism aint dead. And it surely lives in the south. Roni Sarig’s tome Third Coast: OutKast, Timbaland, and How Hip-Hop Became a Southern Thing is one of few books to trace southern musical roots from Mc Shy D to booty shake.

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Hadar’s new EP, aptly titled She’s 4 Months, takes you from first seductive kiss to the 3am “where are my panties” orgasm.

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Sadly, it’s a wrap for Chris Brown. Even if the allegations prove to be false, the damage is done. He has already lost endorsements (Wrigley’s Gum and the Got Milk? campaign) and is losing a heated battle in the court of public opinion. There are old school rules. Hitting women, or the implication that you may have, puts you on the wrong side of the law.

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Lil Wayne’s statement about altering his name– to disconnect from the legacy of his father– had the resonance of a Langston Hughes poem. Who’s name is James, but used Langston to separate from his father. Lil Wayne is obviously in a bit of pain. Not sure who is the blacksmith of his shackles, but as it’s always been, he’s using music to break free.

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Everybody needs a soundtrack. I bet you Obama would bump these joints from Outkast, Marvin, Gaye, Erykah Badu, and Gil Scott Heron in his Presidential Caddy!

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We don’t know if Ms. Wallace is getting some undisclosed payments from Bad Boy, but it did take The Lox making a public stink on the airwaves to get their publishing. Damn, why they tryin to stick me for my paper?

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Before Street Lights Call Us Home
(A Tribute to Jazz Legend Freddie Hubbard)

By Edward M. Garnes, Jr.

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Chrisette Michele has been here before. Inheriting the vulnerability and matchless vocal character of queens like Billie Holliday and Phyllis Hyman, she plainly personifies loves vacant assurances as well as its soul stirring potential. Michele’s musical gifts vacillate between the sonic mysticism of smoky jazz clubs and the boomin’ system vigor of hip hop. In this exclusive with Ed Garnes, Michele represents for everyday sistas.

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The following joint is an exclusive excerpt from award winning writer Edward M. Garnes, Jr.’s long awaited collection Other Side of The Game: Rare Testimonials On Music & Black Cultural Production to be published by Home Grown in 2009. This was the first story ever written on Anthony David way back in 2000.

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Celebrating his Definitive Collection release, Kuti talks freedom, black music, and second slavery in a rare interview with Ed Garnes. The following interview is an exclusive excerpt from award winning writer Garnes’ long awaited collection Other Side of The Game: Rare Testimonials On Music & Black Cultural Production to be published by Home Grown in 2009.

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Hayes music will still be the soundtrack for a groovy Friday night with your foxy lady, a funky good time at a modern day juke joint, or theme music to your Saturday afternoon cleaning ritual. He is still our past and present all in one. Future generations should take notes from Black Moses’ ability to let the music speak, even though he no longer can.

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There is hip hop outside of the billboard charts. Artists like Killer Mike, Little Brother, Dead Prez, and Jean Grae–to name a few–are dope but rarely get their just desserts when it comes to folks ‘best rappers” lists. Lil Wayne’s flow is sick, but to say he saved hip hop discounts the contributions of so many underappreciated hip hop heads keeping the spirit alive.

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