As some of you might have noticed, we've decided to stop updating Germs. We have our personal reasons and basically we're really tired of the way that hiphop is being represented on the internet. Commercialism taking over, webmasters getting egotripped of whatever. To put it short, we think that hiphop music in many ways should be strictly for the stereo and not for the computer. Peace to those who supported Germs from day one. Represent what you feel, that's what's keeping things real. We're out.
- Kardeem & Peter
The Roots 990418
Swedish heads, beware. The Roots is on tour and on Wed 21th April, they're performing at Palladium in Lund. Be there! Their live shows are incredible... Also, there's a release coming from the Roots crew later this year. Instead of hiding five different secret songs on the five different versions of "Things Fall Apart" album, they've now decided to put these cuts on an EP. This EP, entitled "Soy", will also feature several live tracks.
Loop Troop 990418
Finally, Loop Troop has decided to release an album. The tentiative title is "Modern Day City Symphony" and is said to be released sometime this year. But before, Promoe will release his solo 12-inch that'll feature "Off The Record", "Poor Lonesome Homeboy" and the brand new cut "It's Promoe", produced by Mighty Mi.
Wu-Syndicate 990418
The duo Wu-Syndicates, consisting of Myalansky and Joe Mafia, is about to release their debut album "Syndicate" on Wu-Tang Records. The tracklisting goes like:
01. Thug War
02. Pointin' Fingers
03. Global Politics
04. VA Cats
05. Metropolis
06. Golden Sands
07. Crime Syndicate
08. Where Was Heaven
09. Ice Age
10. Ghetto Syringe
11. Young Brothas
12. Weary Eyes
13. Muzzle Toe
14. Ask Son
15. Wings Of Life
16. Lutunza
17. Bust A Slug
18. The Hit
Veteran return 990418
And a few words on some interesting returns from hiphop veterans. Kool Moe Dee has been signed to KRS-ONE's Black Music imprint on Reprise Records. An album is said to be on its way. Grandmaster Flash and Chuck Chillout are said to be joining Chuck D and the rest of the crew at www.bringthenoise.com. The two veterans are said to be having their own radio show up there within soon.
EdO G. 990418
EdO G. (formerly known spelling his name "Ed O.G.") is on the Groove Attack compilation "Superrappin" with the DJ Spinna produced cut "Let's Be Realistic". As we've reported before, EdO G. is working on his new EP. New confirmed producers are DJ Scratch and DJ Premier.
Wu-Tang Records 990418
Shyheim has changed his name to Man Child and he's releasing a new album on Wu-Tang Records soon. Besides several appearences by Wu members, Man Child's album will also feature Cocoa Brovaz, Sticky Fingaz and the late Big L. Also new from the Wu camp: DJ Big Kap, known from the click around Funkmaster Flexx, is working on his album set for a summer release on Wu-Tang Records.
Hieroglyphics 990418
The Pharcyde has an EP out on whitelabel with some brand new material. The new stuff are more relaxed than before and really well produced so pick it up if it hit your record store. The Pharcyde is currently working on more new stuff, including a project with collegues Souls Of Mischief. The S.O.M.'s are also working on their own third album. From the Hiero click comes also the duo The Prose, consisting of Pep Love and Jay Biz. They'll release their album "Shamen Stories" in the beginning of the summer.
Jersey Kidz 990418
K-Tel Records has recently signed a distribution deal with Queen Latifah's imprint Jersey Kidz. This means that Lords Of The Underground finally is gonna make their return to the hiphop scene. Their new album, "Resurrection", has been completed for months but have been held back due to label problems. Now, the L.O.T.U. is the debut release for Jersey Kidz, out soon.
Superrappin 990418
There's an awesome hiphop compilation out now in your stores. "Superrappin - The Album" features all new music by the very finest line-up of underground hiphop artists and the production is very well made. The new New York indie imprint Groove Attack releasing this joint is definately picking up competition with Rawkus, even though the two labels are working together often. Anyways, check the impressive tracklisting of this album:
01. Rasco f/ Planet Asia - How Many
02. El Da Sensai f/ Organized Konfusion, Mike Zoot & FT - Frontline
03. Frankenstein f/ Choclair - So I
04. The High & Mighty - Sun, Moon & Stars
05. Walkin' Large - Self
06. Naturel - Naturel On Top
07. Newwork Reps f/ Punch & Words - Games, Dames In Automobiles
'
08. Lootpack - New Years Resolution
09. Eddie Brock - Relax, Relate, Release
10. Brixx f/ Mos Def - If It's Allright Y'all
11. Da Grassroots f/ Mr. Roam - Price Of Livin'
12. Consequence, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Mike Zoot & FT - Nobody
13. Square One - Dayz To Come
14. L-Fudge - Dimmin' The Life
15. EdO G. - Let's Be Realistic
16. Jigmastas - Threat
17. Matt Fingaz f/ The League, P Dap & FT - Shoot Out
18, Mathematik f/ Bahamedia - Following Goals
Slick Rick 990418
Slick Rick is releasing his brand new album on Def Jam real soon. This time he's safing his possesion on the hiphop throne as one of the best storytellers ever. "The Art Of Storytellin'" features these cuts and guests:
01. Jail Skit
02. Kill Niggaz
03. Street Talking (f/ Outkast)
04. Me & Nas Bring It To Your Hardest (f/ Nas)
05. I Own America
06. Bugsy Radio Edit
07. Who Rotten 'Em
08. 2 Way Street
09. King Piece In The Chess Game (f/ Canibus)
10. Trapped In Me
11. Impress The Kid
12. Q-Tip & Peter Gunz Skit
13. I Run This
14. Frozen (f/ Raekwon)
15. Fresh (f/ Jermaine Dupri)
16. Why, Why, Why
17. Adultsway
18. Rick & Cleff Skit
19. Memories
20. Unify (f/ Snoop Dogg)
21. I Sparkle
22. I Own America Part II (f/ Allure)
23. CEO Outro
Domingo 990418
Domingo's album is out and if you're into heavy hiphop you should definately pick it up. The vocals on the album is handled by a lot of interesting guests, from newcomers like Feel-X and Maniac Men to veterans like KRS-ONE and MC Shan. Here's the tracklisting:
01. Not The Ones To Sleep - Bamboo
02. Official - God Suns
03. Interlude #1 - Domingo
04. Life - Sinz Of Reality
05. Got You Too Hot - Ras Kass, Hurricane Gee & Diezel Don
06. One Time - Feel-X & J. Getm
07. From The Get Up - Bamboo
08. Watch What You Say - God Suns
09. Unfinished Business - Big Ben
10. Sinz Of Reality - Sinz Of Reality
11. Hustlers & Hardcore - Feel-X & Eminem
12. Mecca - Maniac Men
13. Interlude #2 - Domingo
14. Line Of Fire - KRS One, MC Shan, God Suns, Ras Kass, FT, Bamboo,
Feel-X & Sinz Of Reality
Naughty By Nature 990406
There's a greatest hits album coming up with Naughty By Nature on Tommy Boy. But they're also about to release the brand new "19 Naughty 9 - Nature's Fury" on their new label Arista. The first 12-inch is "Dirt By My Lonely" and the album is said to be the group's roughest one by far. Here's the tracklisting:
Holiday (f/ Phiness)
Now I Know Da Time
Jamboree (f/ Zhane)
Wicked Bounce
The Blues
On The Run
Media Assassins
Would've Done The Same For Me
Live Then Lay (f/ Phiness)
Dirt All By My Lonely
Family Tree
Live Or Die
We Could Do It (f/ Big Punisher)
The Shivers
Ring The Alarm
Radio (f/ Rustic Overtones)
Groove Attack 990406
Look out for an interesting special 12-inch from the underground imprint Groove Attack. Consequence, Mike Zoot and FT (of Street Smartz) get together for the A-side cut "Nobody" and SPK produces the B-side which features Naturel with "Naturel On Top".
Ed O.G. 990406
Hiphop veteran Ed O.G. is coming up with brand new material. He's about to release an EP with three cuts on it featuring "Just Because", "Don't Talk About It" and "Understand". Ed O.G. is said to take his new material to more underground areas and the production of the EP will be handled by Rawkus' DJ Spinna among others.
Marley Marl 990404
As hiphop gigant producer Marley Marl's fourth (!) version of "The Symphony" is out, another classic hiphop cut has been created. "The Symphony 2000" features KRS-ONE, Kool G Rap, Big Punisher and Truck Turner. "The Symphony 2000" is yet only out on whitelabel but will probably be out on some of the apearing artists' albums or on a soundtrack since there are no Marley Marl album yet scheduled for release. Check out this incredible cut in Germs 2 reviews sections.
Jeru The Damaja 990404
Jeru's upcoming album will be out on London Records this summer and the final title is "Armor Of Gold, Dirtier Dan Ever". It's known that Jeru will handle most of the production by himself and now, he's putting together his own production label - KnowSavage Productions. Newcomer Miz Marvel, who appears on Jeru's new 12" cut "Bitches With Dicks", will release her own material through Jeru's KnowSavage Records as well as several other upcoming acts. Read more about Jeru in an interview with him at www.thesource.com
Domingo 990404
April 20th is the date to look for if you're interested in picking up producer Domingo's new album. The album features several tracks with MC's KRS-ONE, The God Sunz, Street Smartz, MC Shan, Ras Kass and Eminem to name a few. Domingo's album will also introduce us to several NY underground newcomers, like Bamboo and Feel-X. Be on the look-out for this joint.
Soundbombing 2 990404
There are two different dates circulating on the release of Rawkus Soundbombing 2 comilation. We've heard April 27th as well as the Rakwus official May 18th. Anyways, this interesting joint is out very soon and shouldn't be slept on by anyone. The final tracklisting of Soundbombing 2 goes as follows:
01. Eminem - Any Man
02. Common f/ Sadat X - 1999
03. Sir Menelik f/ Grand Puba & Sadat X - 7XL
04. Lyricist Lounge Allstars (Mos Def, Pharoahe Monche, Rag Digga, A-Butta & Talib Kweli) - Talkin' To You
05. Pharoahe Monche - Mayor
06. Talib Kweli f/ Bahamadia - Chaos
07. Eminem & Thirsten Howl III - Get Deez
08. Shabaam Shadeeq & Cocoa Brovaz - Brooklyn Reps
09. B-1 feat. Kool G Rap - Cardinal Sins
10. High & Mighty f/ Mos Def & El-P - B Boy Document
11. Medina Green - Crosstown Beef
12. RA The Rugged Man - Stanley Kubrick
13. Company Flow - End To End Burners
14. Pharoah Monche & Shabaam Shadeeq - WWIII
15. Thirsten Howl III - Brooklyn Hard Rock
16. Talib Kweli - Freestyle
17. Mos Def - Home
18. Thirsten Howl III - Spit Boxer
19. Medina Green - Fla La Lashi
Tommy Tee 990404
Not only Rawkus has busy time right now. NY independent label Guesswhyld are responsible for recent releases by Atrifacts' El The Sensai among others and soon, they'll have new interesting stuff out. There are several 12-inches coming up with Tommy Tee on which he's got some of the dopest underground MC's guesting. Look out for "World Reunion" by Tommy Tee along with A.G, Large Professor, Mike Zoot and Pete Rock. The most recent release to come though, is Tommy Tee's collabo 12" with "Day By Day" (f/ Punch & Words, Talib Kweli & A.L) as title cut and "International Connects Remix" on the B-side with guests El Da Sensai and Mike Zoot appearing.