AltWeeklies Wire
Major-Label Misfit: Mistah F.A.B.new
Oakland rapper Mistah F.A.B. would be the first to admit there's a problem when it comes to rap music: If you're identified with the streets, you're not supposed to be lyrical; and if you're lyrical, how "street" can you really be?
SF Weekly |
Eric K. Arnold |
01-16-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Mistah F.A.B.
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
OG Icon B-Legit Reflects on Pre-Hyphy Rapnew
Few artists can say they've recorded with Mac Dre and Daryl Hall. In fact, B-Legit might be the only person who can make that claim.
SF Weekly |
Eric K. Arnold |
12-20-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: B-Legit, Throwblock Musik
Too $hort's Latests Falls Shortnew
Get Off the Stage's ten songs mostly regurgitate past work; it's hard to believe the rapper has never made a song called "Broke Bitch" before.
Tags: Too $hort, Get Off the Stage
The Best CDs of 2007new
Here is a list of my most favorite discs coming with me into 2008.
Wu-Tang Producer RZA's Balancing Actnew
It's hard to think of a more ubiquitously iconic figure in hip-hop, or a more visionary individual: RZA doesn't just make beats and spit rhymes, he captures moods, drops depth-charge metaphors, and creates epic mythologies.
SF Weekly |
Eric K. Arnold |
12-05-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: 8 Diagrams, The Wu-Tang Clan
Rademacher Alchemizes Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse for Pure Indie-Pop Goldnew
If you've yet to hear of Rademacher (or to pronounce the name: raw-duh-maw-cur), the group is doing its damnedest to change that -- in S.F., in Fresno, and in Los Angeles.
SF Weekly |
Jennifer Maerz |
11-29-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Rademacher
Spiritualized's Severely Diminished Grandeurnew
The problem is that without the usual instrumental bombast, the audience focuses on the lyrics -- and Pierce can be a very mediocre lyricist.
SF Weekly |
Jennifer Maerz |
11-15-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Spiritualized
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.
How SMC Recordings Built an Indie Rap Empirenew
In the past five years, Will Bronson, 25, and his partners Ralph Tashjian, 59, and George Nauful, 56, have built an impressive roster of hip-hop talent, hosting regional sensations looking to make a wider impact and major-label castaways no longer deemed profitable by the suits.
Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' Leads to Digital Goldnew
San Francisco producers, label heads, and distributors say the biggest music story of the year isn't taking place onstage at the Fillmore or in the racks at Amoeba Music this week. It's happening on everyone's computer at Radiohead.com.
Tags: In Rainbows, Radiohead
Love Like Fire Aims For the Massesnew
Sounding like equal parts Muse and the Cure, Love Like Fire represents San Francisco's pop-obsessed shoegazer aesthetic.
Is MF Doom Getting Advice From Lauryn Hill?new
The indie rap star misses another gig, which isn't helping rumors that a fake Doom appeared at a San Francisco show earlier this year. But he's not the only artist whose strange behavior is disappointing audiences.
Tags: MF Doom
Jack Johnson's Label Hosts Rogue Wave's Moody New Albumnew
Asleep at Heaven's Gate, the group's surprisingly hopeful new record, marks a fresh luck streak and a release from the band's collective emotional damage.
SF Weekly |
Jenifer Maertz |
10-03-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
