If the dominant strain of US hip hop thrives on bravado and boasts, then Minneapolis duo Atmosphere may just represent the flipside. Laden with self-critique, introspection and the minutiae of daily life, their music is unapologetically intense. [more]
This is what it sounds like when an angry white boy (and I use that term with conviction) gets a record deal. 11:11 is a cynical, thought provoking and hard hitting album about beer, religion, kissing girls and Kansas City. [more]
Brother Ali is one of the top ten emcees from the US, probably in the world, wit, charisma, passion, honesty and straight up technical brilliance are his calling cards [more]
Do you know any female chemistry students? Do they rap? This one does. Psalm One has ditched the Bunsen burner for the mic, despite graduating university since her debut with the Nacrobats in 2003. [more]
This album was the epitomy of Roller Coaster ride. I hated it, then I loved it, then I tolerated it and now there are a few tracks I couldn't live without. From the confusing camp at Rhymesayers let me present to you P.O.S, not Point of Sale, Pissed Off Stef. [more]
Album number five from Atmosphere, this one is bound to polarise fans. Their sound, in particular the production, is the most accessible it has ever been. As a result many of the backpack wearing nerd rap lovers are up in arms, complaining on message boards worldwide. [more]
For 'A Tribute to Lisa Bonet' Atmosphere's Slug and Living Legend's Murs, two of America's nicest underground rappers, have teamed up to make a whole album dedicated to the ups and the downs, as they say it, of the fairer, curvier, sex. [more]
The Boom Bap Project are a hip hop trio out of Seattle. Yes, Seattle! Don't exit this review, believe it or not Seattle is good for more than grunge, so read on and chances are you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was. [more]
The latest to sign to Atmosphere's label Rhymesayers, Grayskul have been pegged as some of the most depressing hip hop around. It must be the weather in Seattle that breeds this bored hatred and speculation, I'd be interested to see what they came up with if they lived in California. [more]
Blueprint has been around the scene for a while, has worked with some big names (as both a producer and MC), but finally with 1988 he has created an album that is a must have for hip hop fans worldwide. [more]
Atmosphere is probably best summed up as the antithesis of commercial hip hop, buried in the underground back pack firmly over their shoulders and pouring their soul through music. Headshots Se7ven is somewhat of a wholly grail to their legions of fans. [more]
One of hip hop's most twisted yet most loved personalities, MF Doom is back with a new album full of exactly what you expect - tight beats, strange samples and clever rhymes. [more]