Hip-hop is a celebration of diversity. From gangsta rap to conscious rap, here's an annotated guide to hip-hop genres and the key artists in each genre.
Jay-Z has dethroned last year's Hip-Hop Cash King, 50 Cent, to snag the title for the 2nd time. According to Forbes, the Brooklyn hip-hop mogul raked in a whopping $35 million between June 2008 and June 2009.
Forbes' 2009 Hip-Hop Cash Kings list is remarkably identical to the 2008 lineup. Diddy comes it at #2 with $30 million. Kanye West checks in at #3 with $25 million. 50 Cent and Akon round up the Top 5 with $20 million apiece.
Check out the list in its entirety: Read more...
BBQ season is in full effect. This month ushers in a batch of new music that will surely grace speakers at pool parties and summer concerts. Notable up and coming new rap music include: Fabolous' Loso's Way, Alchemist's Chemical Warfare, and LMFAO's Party Rock. Enjoy your trip to this store, but not without checking out July's Top 10 New Rap Releases.
Is Wale the greatest new rapper since Shawn Carter? We'll know in September. That's when Wale's eagerly awaited debut LP, Attention Deficit, is scheduled to arrive. The album includes his collaboration with Lady GaGa, "Chillin', and a recently leaked summer jawn titled "Pretty Girls."
I understand why everyone is high on Wale right now. He's arguably the No.1 draft pick of 2009. However, it's laughable to crown as him "the greatest rapper since Jay-Z." Is the print industry hurting so bad that GQ needs to pull a stunt to keep circulation rolling? In fact, Lupe Fiasco had a much better track record as a rookie MC. Lupe's deadly combo of lyrical competence and commercial viability made him an instant threat. You could say the same for Game and his first outing.
Though Wale hasn't had a chance to fully prove his mettle, he's shown flashes of brilliance on his mixtapes and guest verses. 2008's A Mixtape About Nothing was more compelling than most people's albums, and he almost stole the show from veteran Black Thought on "Rising Up." Still, I'm not drunk enough on the Wale buzz to crown him the "next great" anything. I'm withholding my judgment until we see how much of his mixtape skills and guest features translate to an album worth shelling out 15 bucks in these hard times for.
As for GQ's claim, well, GQ should stick to fashion.
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