AltWeeklies Wire
Rappers With Low Self-Esteem: Bragging About Going Brokenew
In our ironic age, it shouldn't be surprising that a new crop of MCs is boasting about a lack of cars, women, and riches. San Francisco actor and comedian Erik Weiner can genuinely hold his own on the mike.
SF Weekly |
Ben Westhoff |
01-21-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Kanye's Latest is a Singular Testament to Indescribable Sufferingnew
Thematically, 808s and Heartbreak plunges deeper into West's usual neuroses (insecurity, spiritual unease, and the difficulties of celebrity). The death of his mother and a relationship fissure have brought these concerns into sharper focus.
The Knux: From Street Warfare to Soirees with Socialitesnew
Krispy Kream and his brother Rah Al Milio have morphed from Cajun survivalists to Hollywood up-and-comers, becoming the toast of the underground rap scene in only a few years.
SF Weekly |
Ben Westhoff |
11-13-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Motley Crue Stages a Motley Crue Broadway Musicalnew
The band's new album, Saints of Los Angeles, is a song-by-song chronicling of the members' days of debauchery, from coming up on the Sunset Strip to their various failed centerfold romances.
N.E.R.D. Shows All Technique and No Soulnew
Human emotion cannot be created using ProTools.
Rapper Buckshot Thinks, Talks and Records for Successnew
Few rappers give better interviews than Black Moon and Boot Camp Clik alum Buckshot.
SF Weekly |
Ben Westhoff |
06-11-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Usher's Latest Doesn't Break the Rulesnew
On Here I Stand, Usher claims to be a player no more, making the album a bit of a snore.
The Roots Still Fight the Fightnew
The state of "conscious" rap is in serious flux right now, which is why the Roots' aggressive, disorienting Rising Down feels timely and urgent.
Jamie Lidell Riffs on the Absurdnew
Though the native Englishman — who was once, believe it or not, vegetarian — is a goofy ad-lib machine in person, Jim is a fairly sober work.
SF Weekly |
Ben Westhoff |
05-23-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Foxy Brown Gets Too Predictablenew
Since her days as a 16-year-old prodigy on her multiplatinum debut Ill Na Na, her voice has lost all traces of vulnerability, and here she's morphed into a law-evading, fucking, materialistic caricature.
Inspired By Who?new
The press release for Alopecia claims that Why? ringleader Yoni Wolf was inspired "as much by MF Doom and Lil' Wayne as J. Newsom and Big Dylan."
Young Vet Bow Wow Advises the New Young Rappersnew
Bow Wow, the pint-sized novelty act who made preteen girls swoon with his 2000 debut, Beware of Dog, has somehow evolved into an elder statesman in the hip-pop genre.
SF Weekly |
Ben Westhoff |
12-27-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Little Brother Splits with Atlantic Records and 9th Wondernew
Getback is largely a personal reflection on the past year's events, which also includes the duo's parting ways with producer 9th Wonder.
Tags: Getback, Little Brother
Is Ghostface as Dumb as He Wants You to Think He is?new
Ghostface Killah is a brilliant storyteller and lyricist, and is the only Wu-Tang Clan member still making relevant solo albums. He's also a cry baby.
