hiphop Archives

Heds and Dreds: Sterling Simms, Nas, Kanye + ’80s Dancehall Samples

Words by Jesse Serwer— This week we're reviving our long-dormant hip-hop x reggae column Heds and Dreds to discuss the growing trend of '80s dancehall samples in rap songs. Remember a few years back w... Read More...

Live at the BBQ: Nas Performs “The Don” at South by Southwest

Words by Jesse Serwer— Nas' new, Super Cat-sampling banger "The Don" has created quite an uproar—on the radio, on blogs and definitely in the LargeUp offices. We think it's just about the best rap song o... Read More...

Honor Thy Uncle: Exhibit Celebrates ‘Video Music Box’

Words By Nico Simino— Throughout the next two-plus months, Brooklyn's Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Art, or MoCADA, will play host to an exhibit celebrating the life and culture of the show tha... Read More...

Lunch Money, “Jah Army Remix” Video

Words by Jesse Serwer— Rapper Lunch Money has been a known presence in Miami for years, working with people like Ace Hood and doing much ghostwriting behind the scenes, and recently he's started to gain ... Read More...

Impressions: Rasta Queens x Rita Marley x Snoop Dogg

Words by Martei Korley, Photos by BenGee— The granddaughter of the greatest reggae artist, Donisha Prendergast is taking a page out of her granddad's book with her energetic activism. When not busy wor... Read More...

Watch: Heavy D Gets the Documentary Treatment

Words by Jesse Serwer— Heavy D's death in November at age 44 was sudden and surprising, but BET's Centric network has already sprung into action with a documentary celebrating the late MC's life. Be Insp... Read More...

Throwback Thursdays: Piccalo’s “T Shirt”

Words by Scott Brown— In December, I wrote a list of the 50 greatest Miami rap songs for Complex Magazine. Scott Brown wrote a very thoughtful response on his Miami-centric site, Black Beans Blogue, ... Read More...

Not Too G to Soca: Kes the Band x Snoop Dogg, “Stress Away (Remix)”

Words by Jesse Serwer, via Kitchen Sofa— Can't say we saw this coming. In what is sure to be bring broader attention to soca as we get closer to T&T Carnival later this month, Snoop Dogg has hopped o... Read More...

Throwback Thursdays: DJ Autograph on Foxy Brown and Baby Cham’s “Tables Will Turn”

Words by DJ Autograph— During the 90s Dave Kelly's Madhouse records and its sub labels dominated the dancehall scene with hit riddims such as Showtime, Bruckout and Stink. Cham, then going by Baby Cham, ... Read More...

Heds and Dreds: Remembering The Big Belly Gorgon, Heavy D

Words by Jesse Serwer Yesterday came the sad word that Dwight Errington Myers—Heavy D—died suddenly at the young age of 44. The news stings on several levels. Coming up on hip-hop in New York in the la... Read More...

Rumours Has It: Maffew Ragazino x The Mad Stuntman = “City of God”

Words by Jesse Serwer Last week, up and coming Brownsville, Brooklyn rapper Maffew Ragazino dropped his Rhyme Pays album. If you're a fan of good, old-fashioned New York street rap, then you should get i... Read More...

Throwback Thursdays: Shinehead’s “Jamaican In New York”

Words by Jesse Serwer If you were getting your music information from MTV in the late '80s, you might have thought that Shinehead was the only reggae/dancehall artist out. The square Cazal aficionado was... Read More...

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