Before Kendrick Lamar, Dom Kennedy and YG, it was Nipsey Hussle who was dubbed the next big L.A. MC. The Crenshaw neighborhood native was called the next Snoop Dogg and featured on XXL's Freshman cover in 2010 with Freddie Gibbs, Big Sean, J. Cole, and Wiz Khalifa. That same year Hussle left Epic ... More >>
The rapper built a huge fan base through Darwinian promotional methods
A slight guy in nondescript white t-shirt and baggy Nike basketball shorts is bent over the vintage jewelry case at Fairfax's Dope Couture. Bracelets encircle both of his wrists; nevertheless, he points to a YSL piece whose thick links glint. It pairs nicely with the well-polished chain already slun ... More >>
See also: Meet Iggy Azalea, the Street Smart Blonde Bombshell Behind "Pu$$y" Iggy Azalea The Roxy 5/12/12 Iggy Azalea's last L.A. show was something of a catastrophe; she didn't go on until after 1 am, and the performance was marred by theft, arrests, and a fight. This time, however, she let every ... More >>
Also, New Multitudes, Cool Moms, Alpha & Omega, Cloud Nothings and others
In the beginning ... As announced in a trailer released this morning, MTV will air a weeklong look at L.A.'s hip-hop scene in a segment "we're calling 'The New West: An In-depth Look at L.A. Hip Hop.'" Though we're much obliged to them for referencing N.W.A.'s LA Weekly cover, we think the ... More >>
Also Rise Against, Piney Gir, Deradoorian and others
Break out the champagne, Cali, your rappers are set to run the game once again. New York's XXL magazine today revealed the cover of its third annual "Freshmen Class" cover -- spotlighting the publication's top 10 emcee up-and-comers for the new year -- and artists born or based here on the West Coas ... More >>
Thursday's cover story on Gary, Indiana-raised rapper Freddie Gibbs, engendered a substantial response within the hip-hop blogosphere, with prominent sites Rap Radar, Nah Right, Fake Shore Drive, and The Smoking Section, all taking note. Even Wale twittered a congratulations message. Cons ... More >>
