Hip-Hop Isn't Dead: The SEO Rapper spits web design knowledge on "Design Coding"

If 50 Cent was more concerned with XML coding than gats - and personally, I think one day he will be - "Design Coding" is pretty close to what he would produce. This is The Poetic Prophet (aka The SEO Rapper), hitting that little-catered to niche, tech-hop. Or hip-design? Whatever, it is highly amusing and pretty darn hooky.

[video: m0serious]

Posted by Stuart Waterman on April 3, 2025 12:17 PM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Video
Permalink | Comments (1) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Hip-hop isn't dead: Lupe Fiasco feat. Nikki Jean - "Hip Hop Saved My Life"

This is Lupe Fiasco's new video, this is. It is set in some kind of hood. To be honest the clip is not the most exciting collection of moving images you'll see this year, but the track's good. I believe Mr.Fiasco is in possession of what some people refer to as "quite a pleasing flow".

[video: OnSmash]

Posted by Stuart Waterman on March 19, 2025 11:38 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Video
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

More rave-hop for your ass: The Count & Sinden - Beeper (featuring Kid Sister)

A wee while ago I did a post about Kid Sister's "Pro Nails" track, which - like most things these days - featured Kanye West. Her latest appearance is on a track called "Beeper" by some slightly sinister-sounding people called The Count & Sinden. Nails and beepers - it's fair to say Kid Sister only puts her name to songs that tackle the big issues. Do people even have beepers anymore, anyway?

Whatevra, "Beeper" is a ramalanga ding-dong rave-up hip-hop mash-up, and is so bloody hopped up on something or other that, on first listen, you may suspect your drink has been spiked. With the stuff they put in glo-sticks.

Check the quite excitable video after the beep.

Posted by Stuart Waterman on February 29, 2025 10:32 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Up-And-Coming Acts| Video
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Hip-Hop Isn't Dead: Turns out Lil Wayne isn't just an alleged drug fiend

Yesterday's Guardian blog directed me to a track by recent drug-related arrestee Lil Wayne and his friend Flo Rida called "American Superstar". It is rather good, a mid-paced banger with foreboding backing vocals and plenty of "interesting" imagery.

Example: "I got guns for the snitches and roses for the bitches". I think what the chaps are trying to say here is that they don't like tattle-tales, but they do like ladies. They don't like them enough to not call them bitches, but one step at a time.

Also of note lyrically: "F*ckin' like a rabbit, smokin' on lettuce". This line shows a disconcertingly poor grasp of the way the natural world works, but it has made a weird part of me want to try smoking all manner of vegetables. Blaze up yo' turnips and check over the page to hear "American Superstar".

Posted by Stuart Waterman on February 28, 2025 10:12 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Video
Permalink | Comments (1) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Forwarding Fodder: Mos Def rips it up in Dave Chappelle's car

My mate sent me this as he's a) A huge Mos Def fan, and b) A huge fan of Dave Chappelle. So, with Mos Def in Michel Gondry's new flick Be Kind Rewind, it seems apt to chuck this up now. Basically, the video you're (hopefully) about to watch is Mos Def performing "Close Edge" in Dave Chappelle's car. It's a cracking rendition and, better yet, check out Chappelle's fanboy face throughout. You'd be the same, wouldn't ya?

[video: jk9117]

Posted by Mof Gimmers on February 21, 2025 11:16 AM in Forwarding Fodder| Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Video
Permalink | Comments (1) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

It's electro-grime time: Wiley's "Wearing My Rolex" is going to be massive

While listening to Kiss 100 this morning, I heard something I've never heard before. That would almost be worth posting about alone, given how many mornings I've cursed the radio after hearing the same nonsense all damn week.

It came from Wiley, who, last I knew, was coming a distant second to Dizzee Rascal in the "First Grime Superstar" contest a few years back.

But my God, this is very very good. Or "heavy". Or "heaveee blud". Following the likes of Kanye West and Dallas Austin adding house stylings to their hip-hop, this track sees the same kind of thing being done with grime, I suppose - although that particular genre gets the smallest look-in really, if we're honest. The track might remind you pretty strongly of Bodyrox and Luciana's hit "Yeah Yeah" from last year, but when Wiley's rhymes come in it takes it to a whole other level, in my opinion.

This is going to be huge, so you might as well get used to it by giving it a listen over the page.

Posted by Stuart Waterman on February 20, 2025 10:09 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| I Thought You Were Dead!| Music News| Pop Heaven / Pop Hell
Permalink | Comments (3) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Hip-Hop Isn't Dead: Dallas Austin's "Hot Girls In The Bathroom" takes you to the electrotoilet

So first that NERD track "Everyone Nose" leaked, with its not-so-subtle lyrics hinting at girls in clubs taking drugs in the toilets. And now Dallas Austin, producer extraordinaire and probable Joss Stone nemesis, has come up with "Hot Girls In The Bathroom", which is about... well, pretty much the exact same thing. I wonder if Pharrell, Chad and Dallas were all at the same party. I'm sure there can't be that many shindigs with rappers, producers, models and drugs all in the same place.

Anyway, Dallas's track - which you can hear here, with your ear - is a bona fide club banger which quite possibly takes a bit of inspiration from Kanye West's adventures in electroland. And, as Popjustice remark, it's very different to anything he's come out with previously.

But you know what? Let's just hand over to Mr. Austin here, and see what he has to say about how he composed this piece.

Read over for his ENTIRELY CAPITALISED MYSPACE BLOG POST ABOUT "HOT GIRLS IN THE BATHROOM".

Posted by Stuart Waterman on February 13, 2026 10:53 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Raekwon and Ghostface up the beef with fellow Wu-Tang Clanster RZA

Ghostface Killah and Raekwon of the Wu Tang Clan are not happy rappers. Hell no. They well don't dig fellow Wu-Tanger RZA and his production on their latest cut, 8 Diagrams. I don't know if you've seen the bilious video with Rae-K going off on one (click here) but he's gettin' pissed off with the state of Wu play.

And he's not finished - speaking to the Times, he said: “The album didn't really have that energy that everybody knows the Clan for. Plus RZA on the production, he wasn't coming with the heat. It's like giving somebody a sandwich and him saying: ‘Yo, I love the way you make those sandwiches.' Then you give the nigga a sandwich again, nigga spits the shit out and says: ‘What kind of cheese is this? This bread is all hard and crunchy.'"

Posted by Mof Gimmers on February 8, 2026 1:04 PM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Naughty Rappers
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Hip-Hop Isn't Dead: Public Enemy to tour It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back around the UK

Oh man! In a day when hip-hop has become a parody of itself, turning into the black equivalent of misogynistic 80s poodle rock, it's good to see Public Enemy coming along to remind us why the genre is so essential.

Public Enemy will be performing It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back around the UK in May. The LP is one of the most influential and essential cuts ever made in any genre, so book now as tickets are sure to sell out fast! Where can you go to witness "Don't Believe The Hype" and "Rebel Without A Pause" performed live? Read over for details. What's more is that the incredible Kool Keith will support. I'm-a-gonna faint...

Posted by Mof Gimmers on February 5, 2026 3:10 PM in Gig / Tour News| Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

New NERD track, "Everyone Nose": you can virtually snort it

Let's try and work out what NERD's new leaked track is about, shall we?

- There's the title.

- There's the repetitive use of the line "All the girls standing in the line for the bathroom".

- There's the repetitive reference to "hundred-dollar bills".

- There's the line "Cut you open and you're just white".

- There are a couple of not-so-subtle uses of the word "blow".

Nah, beats me. Whatever it's about, it is pretty bloody good, a jazzy, bass-y banger (obviously you kind of ignore Pharrell's rapping) which raises hopes that The Neptunes' own stuff might finally match the material they've produced for others. Listen to it over the page. LISTEN TO IT.

What do you think "Everyone Nose" is really about? Vote on our poll over at Polls Boutique.

Posted by Stuart Waterman on January 23, 2026 10:57 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News
Permalink | Comments (1) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

ATP gets De La Soul, Battles and Iron and Wine for May

You're gonna love this fans of All Tomorrows Parties! Battles and hip-hop behemoths De La Soul have been confirmed for the Explosions in the Sky-curated weekend of May 16-18. That's right, you can git git git down to some downright seedy wonk-rock, or get hip with the Daisy Aged styles. Better still, you can do both! Also featuring are the brilliant Iron and Wine and Adem.

Posted by Mof Gimmers on January 14, 2026 1:52 PM in All Tomorrow's Parties - Nightmare Before Christmas| Dispatches From Beardsville| Festival News| Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Hip-Hop Isn't Dead: Mark Ronson + Rhymefest + Michael Jackson = mixtape of the year?

OK, I'm taking a deep breath, because any post relating to Michael Jackson tends to bring out the nutters, even when you bloody agree with them. But sod it, this is too good not to bring to your attention, and is almost certainly a lot less depressing than next month's Thriller 25 is going to be.

Man In The Mirror is a "Michael Jackson dedication album" brought to you by Chicago rapper Rhymefest and the ever-elusive Mark Ronson. It basically sees Ronno chopping up classic, mainly lesser-known tracks from Jacko and the Jackson 5, with 'Fest doing his thing over the top. If that sounds like the recipe for a disastrous studio piss-about, you're likely to be pleasantly surprised.

Posted by Stuart Waterman on January 11, 2026 9:00 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Online Music
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Under The Covers Special: A look at how Dr Dre's "Bitches Ain't Shit" became an acceptable t-shirt slogan

One of my, shall we say, "quirkier" presents this past Christmas was a t-shirt with the legend "Bitches Ain't Shit" emblazoned across it (see right). Aside from the fact that I work in an office full of women (making it off limits for daywear) and feel a bit old for hip-hop sloganeering, even of the ironic variety, it was a most thoughtful gift.

As I panicked over the thought of getting the sack should I wear the garment to the office, it struck me that this might be an ideal time to take a look at the post-modern nonsense that led to me receiving said item for Jesus' birthday.

"Bitches Ain't Shit" was a Dr Dre track featuring, among other chaps, Snoop Doggy Dogg (as was). Apparently it's a diss at the now-deceased Eazy-E, although to be honest this reading passed me by mainly because virtually every line of the track seems preoccupied with either a) bitches, b) hoes, c) bitches and hoes.

Posted by Stuart Waterman on January 10, 2026 9:29 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Naughty Rappers| Under The Covers| Video
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Hip-Hop Isn't Dead: Kid Sister ft. Kanye West - "Pro Nails"

Have to be honest - a large part of the reason I've posted this is because it's in lovely shiny HD. Oooooh. You can thank whizzy new video site Vimeo for that.

Kid Sister is a Chicago MC, which goes some way to explaining Kanye's presence, although Kanye has been scientifically proven to have appeared on 87% of all recorded material in the world over the last year. Anyway, this is pretty good I reckon, in a day-glo acid-y kind of way, even if it is mainly about, um, fingernails. It's from Kid Sister's forthcoming album Koko B Ware.

Clearly the best bit is the fingertip breakdancers - some of them even appear to have little tube socks. Attention to detail, that is. I might ask the folks at Brandish what they think of Kanye's distinctly Auntie-ish cravat, mind you.

Kid Sister ft. Kanye West - "Pro Nails" from Ruben Fleischer on Vimeo.

Posted by Stuart Waterman on January 7, 2026 10:53 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Up-And-Coming Acts| Video
Permalink | Comments (1) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

M.I.A rails against "Paper Planes" video censorship

Hey, guess what! M.I.A is annoyed at something! Yep, despite being the critics' darling, ending up near the top of most end of year lists, and attaining the kind of success Stateside most artists would kill for, don't think she's going to stop fighting the... well, the world, pretty much.

Her latest blog entry on MySpace, as reported by Drowned In Sound, rails against MTV and / or unidentified individuals who have "sabotaged" her latest video. See, the thing with her "Paper Planes" track is that, while it's a delightful track with a lot of crossover appeal, it also uses gunshots in the chorus. Uses them very well, if you ask me, alongside the ring of a cash register. See what she did there?

Well, MTV don't like it.

Posted by Stuart Waterman on December 18, 2025 9:24 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Video
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Wu-Tang's Ghostface gets his blog on

The latest music star to get in on the blog action is Ghostface from Wu-Tang Clan. He's been guest blogging at SOHH.com recently. You probably won't be surprised that he doesn't really go in for the Lily Allen-style selp-pity vibe. Something tells me that his words may be slightly edited, mind you. I don't think Ghostface would be too bothered about asterisking.

Choice quotes from his guest blog over at SOHH.com include:

On blogging: "Aight it’s your man Pretty Tone. I’m going to f**k with this blog thing-thing for my peoples at SOHH."

Posted by Stuart Waterman on December 17, 2025 9:54 AM in Gone To The Blogs| Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Maybe Hip-Hop IS Dead - Snoop Dogg channels Rick James for "Sensual Seduction"

In case you were in any doubt that electro-funk is back, check this out. Snoop Dogg is SINGING. About SEDUCTION. Of the SENSUAL variety. And not even in that intentionally out-of-tune way that's been big in rap the last few years. Somebody's been listening to Chromeo (which is only ever a good thing).

Chuck in a vocoder and a video that owes a considerable debt to the late 70s / early 80s, and it's a surprising but refreshing change from the Doggfather. I reckon it works, although it does take a couple of listens to get your head round it... You really need to see this, so click through!

Posted by Stuart Waterman on December 3, 2025 10:54 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Video
Permalink | Comments (1) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Hip-Hop Isn't Dead - "Superstar" Lupe Fiasco returns with "The Cool"

Following his Grammy-nominated debut album, Food and Liquor, Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco is due to return with his new album next month. Called The Cool, it's supposedly going to be (eek!) a concept album which acts as a "sequel" to his debut effort. Hmm, sounds a bit prog-y to me.

But then Mr. Fiasco (not his real name), while operating outside the hip-hop mainstream, isn't averse to the sort self-mythologizing moves beloved of his more commercial contemporaries.

For instance, in a recent interview with Billboard he pulls the old "this might be my last record, you know" move. Which, I'm sorry, is old and tired. Nobody believed Jay-Z when he said it, so why would we believe a talented 25-year old with just a couple of albums and a fraction of the sales behind him?

Posted by Stuart Waterman on November 29, 2025 9:00 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Video
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Hip-Hop News Update: Mos Def teams up With Kanye West, RZA talks about Wu-Tang Kung-Fu samples, new Dizzee Rascal video

- Bit of a treat for hip-hop anoraks over at Wired at the moment. RZA of Wu-Tang Clan takes them through many of the kung-fu movie samples he's used over the years

- Meanwhile Wu-Tang also feature in MTV.com's top five "Awesomely Bad Music-Inspired Video Games"

- Lupe Fiasco is due to follow up the stellar Food & Liquor next month - The Cool is schedule for a US release on December 18th

- After appearing on Kanye West's Graduation album, Mos Def has enlisted West to produce some tracks on his next release

- Apparently Dizzee Rascal has been hitting clubs with Chanelle from Big Brother. Wonder he got her to "Flex" to his new tune, the video for which you can check out over the page (watch out for the odd vaguely interesting cameo)

Posted by Stuart Waterman on November 16, 2025 11:08 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Video
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Lethal Bizzle goes to the Gallows

Remember the early noughties, when it was all rap-rock / nu-metal, and "collabos" between people like Diddy and Jimmy Page / Dave Grohl? The legacy of these genre-hopping days, used to successful effect by Klaxons recently, seems to be manifesting itself in a few pretty exciting records at the moment.

First there's Hadouken!'s "Leap Of Faith", which retains a few of the bleeps and bloops you'd associate with their dayglo-hoodied racket, but for the most part is a great slab of ROCK.

Then there's the new collaboration between Hemel Hempstead punk nutters Gallows and grime mainstay Lethal Bizzle. It. Is. Brilliant.

Posted by Stuart Waterman on November 13, 2025 10:29 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Up-And-Coming Acts| Video
Permalink | Comments (1) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Hip-Hop Isn't Dead: Jay-Z - "Roc Boys"

The new video from Jay-Z, "Roc Boys", pulls in a few favours from his A-List buddies (I won't spoil the surprise, you can see for yourself after the jump). Really though it could be a blank screen and it would still be worth it for the song itself, which has an irresistible hook and effectively erases memories of the slightly lacklustre material from his previous album "Kingdom Come".

It seems like the Jigga Man is back on top form, which is no mean feat when he basically never needs to work again. As he says in today's Guardian, he's doing it because he loves it and feels creatively stimulated again. And, judging by reports coming through for both the new album, American Gangster, and his current club tour of the States, people are glad to have him back.

Click through to see the "Roc Boys" video.

Posted by Stuart Waterman on November 9, 2025 10:05 AM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Music News| Video
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Hip Hop Isn't Dead - Aesop Rock

Quasimoto once spat "you're tryin' keep it real when you should try keepin' it right", and one man definitely keepin' it all correct is the mighty Aesop Rock. Aesop Rock (aka Ace Rizzle aka Ian Matthias Bavitz) was the spearhead of the new wave of underground acts that emerged during the late '90s and is signed to El-P's brilliant Definitive Jux label. Like all good rappers, Aesop Rock is a demon behind the desk too, creating slow burning jams that are more infectious than blue tongue.

Click through for the stocky funk of Ace Rizzle's Fast Cars... lyrically aware and hard as nails... perfect!

Posted by Mof Gimmers on November 7, 2025 3:19 PM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Video
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |

Hip Hop Isn't Dead - Madlib

It's easy, when looking at the "hit-parade", to believe that hip-hop is dead and buried. Too many artists like to focus on their floor length mink coats and posturing. However, there are those on the fringes keeping rap music well and truly alive. One man single handedly taking to the challenge is the bizarre genius Madlib (which stands for Mind Altering Demented Lessons In Beats).

Madlib is a California-based DJ, multi-instrumentalist, rapper and producer who, like all good rappers, has a vast array of pseudonyms. His main output is through the amazing, funky shuffles of Quasimoto, which sees Madlib taking on two personas, one in his normal voice, and the other in an oddball squeaky drawl. Everything that Madlib touches turns to gold... so click over and witness some of his incredible work.

Posted by Mof Gimmers on October 30, 2025 2:48 PM in Hip-Hop Isn't Dead| Video
Permalink | Comments (0) | digg this | del.icio.us this |