AltWeeklies Wire
Born Identitynew
Tom Shimura, aka Lyrics Born, doesn't look, live, or front like a rapper, and that may just be the key to his crossover success.
East Bay Express |
Eric K. Arnold |
07-11-2005 |
Profiles & Interviews
World Cliquenew
DJ Cheb I Sabbah globalizes the dance floor with club-oriented world music that blends modern technology and ancient tradition.
East Bay Express |
Eric K. Arnold |
06-06-2005 |
Profiles & Interviews
On Lockdownnew
Speaking from a prison phone, C-Bo, aka Shawn Thomas, estimates he's been arrested 40 or 50 times. In some regions, he's regarded as one of the realest, hardest and most authentic pushers of gangsta rap.
East Bay Express |
Eric K. Arnold |
04-18-2005 |
Profiles & Interviews
Author Traces Hip-Hop's Past to Reveal Its Futurenew
Chang's thick book reveals that hip-hop is inherently socioeconomic and sociopolitical, and is linked to activism's double-edged sword of violence and peace.
East Bay Express |
Eric K. Arnold |
02-08-2005 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Frontline Spearheads a West Coast Rap Renaissancenew
Frontline's recording, "What Is It," became an anthemic call to arms for what the upstart underdogs optimistically called the "New Bay" movement. A year and a half later, that movement is huge, and they're on top of it.
East Bay Express |
Eric K. Arnold |
02-08-2005 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: MTV, Def Jam, East Coast, grunge, Baby Jaymes, Frontline, hip-hop duo, left, Locksmith, Raphael Saadiq, Reignman, Shock G
Bay Area Alt-Rock Station Becomes Hip-Hop Tastemakernew
San Francisco's Live 105 is giving rappers like Outkast their mainstream breakthrough.
East Bay Express |
Eric K. Arnold |
11-08-2004 |
Music
Celebrity du Jour Visits Oakland High Schoolnew
Rap artist Kanye West stopped by an Oakland high school to talk in rhyme to kids, many of them representing the young-artist-run label Youth Movement Records
East Bay Express |
Eric K. Arnold |
10-05-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
João Gilberto’s Daughter Becomes a Star in Her Own Rightnew
The artist from a famous Brazilian musical family is hotter than São Paulo in the summertime.
East Bay Express |
Eric K. Arnold |
09-07-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Mobb Music Prospers Onlinenew
Be afraid, America. Be very afraid. Young rap thugs have discovered the Internet.
East Bay Express |
Eric K. Arnold |
08-31-2004 |
Music
The Jazz Tortoise: Charlie Hunter Simplifies the Equationnew

Hunter has a reputation as an absolute monster live. There's a killer instinct within him that comes out in a stage setting, despite his penchant for laid-back grooves.
East Bay Express |
Eric K. Arnold |
08-23-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews