G-Unit

Could Dr. Dre Save KDAY?

As we reported in April, local gangsta rap oldies station KDAY -- the best station in L.A. -- has been sold, for almost $20 million. The buyer is RBC Communications, which is largely owned by a Chinese-American entrepreneur named Anthony Yuen. Word on the street is that KDAY's format will switch to ... More >>

Where Have All of Diddy's Bad Boys Gone? (To Prison, Mostly)

At a concert in New York this past weekend, Bad Boy Records presented its recent signee King Los. Other members of the crew, including MGK, are currently getting some shine as well. But what about the Bad Boys of yesteryear? What are they up to these days? Glad you asked! Here's a rundown.

How's That "Millennium of Aftermath" Going?

See also: *Here Are Pictures of Dr. Dre's New $13 Million House *The Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2012 Thus Far It was November of 1999 and we were on the cusp of the millennium when Dr. Dre famously proclaimed that the next one thousand years would be "the millennium of Aftermath," on the song "Forgot A ... More >>

Five Bizarre Social Networking Sites From Musicians

Remember about a decade ago when every rapper had to have his own clothing line? And then remember about four years ago when every rapper had to have his own social networking site? Surprisingly, it turns out that artists from all across the musical spectrum have been impersonating Mark Zuckerberg f ... More >>

The Worst Rapper Names Of All Time, Besides Shorty Shitstain

Why not Royce Da 5'9" 170 pounds, 10 shoe size?​See also: *Top Five Worst Ironic Indie Rock Band Names, Besides Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. *There's Three Of Us, But We're Not The Beatles: The Ten Most Illogical Rap Lyrics In History In the tarnished annals of rubbish musician names, rappers have ... More >>

Music Picks: Ravi Shankar, Marilyn Scott, Duran Duran, Burkina Electric

Also, Emmylou Harris & Her Red Dirt Boys, Odd Future, Gillian Welch and others

Compton Rapper Game Returns to an Industry That's Gone Soft

Will his old tricks still work?

Top Five Rapping Basketball Players Phil Jackson Might Actually Like

​Phil Jackson, of all people, recently had some harsh words for "Fix The Knicks," the odd, showtuney-tune penned by New York Knicks owner James Dolan. (You can hear it here.) Dolan needs either "a better lyricist or a better musician," Jackson said. Ouch! Of course, it's hard to disagree with ... More >>

Eight Potential Outcomes of Impending Collaboration Between The Game and Tyler the Creator

​Last Friday, L.A. rapper cum professional scapegoat The Game revealed plans to collaborate with fellow local Tyler the Creator on a track ostensibly titled "Martians vs. Goblins." It is unclear as to whether these two have forged a genuine rapport, or if Game is simply trying to arouse public ... More >>

Top 8 Twitter Tools: Threatening Thugs, Homophobic Hip Hoppers and Musical Idiots Who Are Worse Than Courtney Love

8 Threatening Thugs, Homophobic Hip Hoppers and Twitter Idiots Worse Than Courtney Love

Music Picks: Phosphorescent, Bomba Estereo, Gangi, Pablo Heras-Casado

Also, Jimmy Cliff, Suzy Williams, Funeral Party and others

The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs

In 2009, rap is no longer dangerous. Meet an MC wrestling with capital-letter issues: blood, dirt and death

If the Lakers Were Rappers: A Study in Similitude

Prediction: If Kobe doesn't grow a mullet, the Lakers will take it in June. Kobe Bryant = Kanye West Raised in more affluent circumstances than their peers, Kobe and Kanye are not only among the best in their respective fields, they share a severe lack of humility and empathy. Mutually ol ... More >>

Beards, Blazers & Backpacks: Pacewon, Mr. Green & Outsidaz Nostalgia

Prior to Lee Perry and the technicolor Lucky Charms Coat taking over that Mormon bastion, the El Rey theater, I watched Pacewon and his DJ/producer/token white boy, Mr. Green deliver a capable, simple set of beats and rhymes. It was fine, but the entire time I couldn't help but wish I was watching ... More >>

Downtown's Always Open (Mostly) Open House

Photos and text by Luke Y. Thompson “On June 6, 7 & 8, we’ll swing the doors to Downtown LA wide open!” Thus spake the full-page ad in the recent Weekly, and who was I to doubt, or to need a better excuse? I always enjoy myself downtown, yet the last time I spent any time there was a year ago ... More >>

Wale Realizes the Full Potential of the Mixtape

Last November, Zeus wrote a post dissecting the differences between albums and mixtapes for the benefit of crits and fans who had been mistakenly conflating Pusha-T rhyming over old G-Unit beats for high art. It happens. The post may have been a tad heavy-handed, but its point was salient. More of ... More >>

An Interview With Pete Rock

Pete Rock needs no introduction. His new album NY's Finest drops on Tuesday. While it might not be a classic on the level of a Soul Survivors or Mecca & The Soul Brother, it's a strong record with occasionally great moments. But buyer beware: Jim Jones yells "floooosssssiiiin'" no less than fo ... More >>

Decision 2007: Kanye West vs. 50 Cent

A voter’s guide to the most important rap election in a generation

The Brand New Grind

Choc Nitty�s All-Star Ghetto Mixtape Tour... starring Six Reasons, DJ Ayah, Fleshless, Jay Rock, Jay Ridah, Fatso Fasano, Grown Mo and many more

Rock PIcks

For the week of Nov. 24 - 30

Music Picks

For the week of May 25 - 31

10 Albums That Stank Up the Room

Inside the Box With the Super Dope Cops

Hustlers, gangsters, addicts and narcos are all trying to get their chippy on where it’s always Mardi Gras on crack

Live in LA

To Be Real

Is The Game playing for keeps?

East Vs. West, Part II

February 24, and Tangier, February 25

California Love

The Game and Daz bring gangsta back where it belongs

Styles of Beyond

Riff-Boom-Bap