The unsigned flavor of the month came unquestionably from the dynamic duo of MCs, Prodigy and Havoc, better known as the Poetical Prophets. Straight outta Queens, New York, these two little 5’3” sixteen year olds are fast making a big name for themselves in talent shows and radio stations in the New York area.      Yes they’re young, and they look...Learn More

”Peer Pressure” b/w “Flavor For The Non Believers” 4th & B’Way Production: DJ Premier, Paul Shabazz You will remember ’92 as the year when the shorties rocked the mic. But none of ‘em ever got as raw as these kids. Though Havock and Prodigy look young, they are far from being bubble gum pop sensations. On “Peer Pressure,” Mobb Deep kicks the real...Learn More

”Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like That)” Pendulum Production: Butterfly Taking native tongue grooviness and jazzy hip-hop styles to the next level, meet Digable Planets, three “ghetto dwelling insects” with sound smuggled to you from sector six in the colorful ghettos of outer space. Digable is two guys and one female—Butterfly, Doodle-B and Mecca the...Learn More

“Come On Wit The Get Down” Big Beat Production: artists, Buckwild, Redman Something about the Artifacts brings smoky visions of concrete eating MCs and ritualistic ciphers to mind. Accurately representing the street ghetto essence during every minute they manifest themselves on wax, the group continues their winning streak with “Come Wit the Get...Learn More

”Half Time” Columbia Production: Large Professor This MC has slowly been collecting props on the down low in NYC. He added flavor to the Main Source’s “Live At The B.B.Q.” and recently went “Back To The Grill” with MC Serch. Now, after years as a guest star, Nasty Nas gets the chance to wreck a entire track without havin’ to pass the...Learn More

“Front, Back & Side To Side” Jive Records Production: Pimp C UGK are nationally-renowned for placing gritty crime & drug scene tales over slower-than-average tracks. For “Front, Back & Side To Sid,e, however, they approach lighter-hearted themes. Instead of gunplay and tragic violence, they deliver an ode to their ride, a prized possession loaded...Learn More

Being born on May 8th and rhyming since the age of eight, the 8-letter name, “Eight Off,” came automatic, he admits.      When Legion Of DUME (Unsigned Hype—June ’92) member Schott Free first introduced me to Eight Off, I wondered what this little 18-year-old, skinny Puerto Rican kid could really do. Later that day, in a cipher on the roof, I...Learn More

Hollis, Queens is a legendary spot for hip-hop thanks, of course, to Run DMC, but there’s a whole new generation out there waiting to blow up the spot. For about a year now, one new Hollis crew that has been catching wreck throughout the five boroughs of NYC is Total Package. The two MCs, Kamal B Wise, 21, and Cestyle, 22, got their start back in...Learn More

”Ya’ Mama” b/w “I’m That Type Of Nigguh” & “Soul Flower” Delicious Vinyl Production: J-Swift This extremely animated and wacky West Coast group pays tribute to the foundation of ghetto humor: the “mother joke.” Finally, there is an entire song dedicated to the art of breakin’ on someone’s moms. Packed with quick mic changes and punchlines galore,...Learn More

Sleepless in Seattle? No problem. On our Man Of The Year cover we find Macklemore standing defiant against all odds, which is indicative of his entire 2013 from start to finish. His now platinum-selling Grammy nominated album, The Heist, spawned several hit songs that sold a combined 13 million (and counting) units. The banner single, “Same...Learn More

“Can’t Stop The Prophet” PayDay Production: Premier, Pete Rock For all of the unfair criticism Jeru caught over “Bitchez,” the fact that he’s a hip-hop philosopher with long term visions on how to master and improve the game was never lost on anyone who got past Premier’s beats on The Sun Rises in the East. If the original version of “Prophet”...Learn More

”Ex Girl To The Next Girl” remix b/w “B.Y.S” and “Dwyck” Chrysalis Production: DJ Premier If you are looking for something to invest your hard earned money in, you can’t go wrong with this megaplate by Gang Starr. “Ex Girl To The Next Girl” is song that best exemplifies the “Gang Starr sound.” Its lovely horn loop, coupled with DJ Premier’s...Learn More