Keith Murphy
French Montana: ‘Teachers Call Me’, Drake’s Beef ‘Happens’
French Montana signing to Sean "Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy Records in December 2011, was an eyebrow-raising yet worthy move. There were reported deals on the table for the Bronx, N.Y., MC to link up with not only Jay-Z's Roc Nation, but Kanye West's G...
David Guetta: Nicki Minaj Has ‘Different Talents’ — Exclusive
If by chance you suddenly get violently ill while listening to a David Guetta production then it may be best to avoid the radio all together. Actually you should also trash your flat screen TV, take a self-imposed hiatus from all dance clubs and sequester yourself from all pop culture obsessed Internet sites...
Mateo Says Alicia Keys ‘Ups My Standards’ in the Studio
You could say Iman "Mateo" Jordan is a hopeless romantic. "I know it sounds cliché," the Ohio singer-songwriter-pianist tells The BoomBox with a hint of amusement in his voice. "But I have to describe my music as love. I think everyone can relate to that."
Ind...
Betty Wright: Lil Wayne Has ‘Total Recall,’ LP Is a ‘Movie’
If Betty Wright comes off as no-nonsense, abrupt even, she's not in a rush to apologize about it. "When I'm in recording sessions, I'm real good for saying, 'Child, y'all are going to have to slow that down,'" muses the 57-year-old soul singer-songwriter-producer...
MC Lyte Grammy Committee: Jimmy Jam Encouraged Position
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In the late '80s and early 90's, MC Lyte became one of the first female MCs to find lyrical respect and authority within the male dominated artform of hip-hop. To say that the raper, born Lana Moorer, could match two-fisted rhymes, sneering braggadocio and cool wit with the best of them would be an understatement...
The Roots Say ‘Undun’ Taught ‘Patience,’ TV ‘Made Us Better’
The concept album. It's a nebulous, musical roll-of-the-dice that can garner both awe-inspiring returns -- Marvin Gaye's genius 1971 protest statement 'What's Going On' -- and laughable, self-indulgent-plagued scorn -- Garth Brook's 1999 laughable, Ziggy Stardust-biting 'The Life of Chris Gaines...
Keith Sweat: Lil Wayne Is ‘Ridiculous,’ Album Is ‘Younger’
"You know who I respect work ethic-wise?" queries Keith Sweat. The veteran R&B singer is attempting to explain just why a multi-platinum artist with 25 years in the rearview is promoting his latest album, 'Til the Morning,' out now, with the hunger of a newly signed act. Sw...
Mannie Fresh Accepts Drake’s Juvenile Remake, Talks Beef
When music from Drake's sophomore album, 'Take Care,' leaked earlier this week, the standard critique, buzz and discussion flooded the hip-hop universe. But there was one particular song that truly ignited chatter.
To say that 'Practice,' the emo Toronto MC's clever re-working of Juvenile's 1998 classic club workout 'Back That Azz Up,' was a surprise is an understatement...
A$AP Rocky Has ‘Pizzazz,’ Says Drake Wants World to See Him
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A$AP Rocky sees the absurdity of his current situation. Just how did a 23-year-old kid from Harlem -- who rhymes over smoked-out, dusty beats that sound like they were crafted in a shotgun house in Houston and looks like the East Coast, gold teeth-stunting cousin to Midwest rap giants Bone Thug-N-Harmony -- become the Big Apple's most prized newcomer since the days a young 50 Cent was
Tristan Wilds Sings and Rhymes on New EP, Fan of Mos Def
On the popular CW reboot of the '90s television classic '90210,' actor Tristan Wilds plays Dixon, aspiring hip-hop producer and DJ. Now the 22-year-old thespian is turning fiction into reality. Wilds, who first garnered fame as the layered character Michael on the critically-acclaimed street drama 'The Wire,' is gearing up to release an independent EP in late November...