Awesome Hip Hop

(PG-13: Language) “Confrontation ain’t nothin’ new to me. You can bring a bullet, bring a sword, bring a morgue, but you can’t bring the truth to me.” From one king to another. All the Stars is from the soundtrack of the upcoming Black Panther movie.

Following up on their alternative and electronic music blueprints, Dorothy is back with a circuit-style chart of the connections between more than 700 important MCs, DJs, producers, turntablists, musicians, graffiti artists, b-boys and b-girls. Measures 80x60cm (~23.6×31.5″).

“I’ve always felt like shoes are like 90% of your outfit.” Complex met with Eminem at Detroit’s Burn Rubber sneaker store to talk shoes and do a little shopping. Slim, it’s hard to laugh at your jokes when you’re that intense.

Pop hiphop “boy band” Brockhampton closes out an insane year of productivity. We love the raw vibe of the previous LPs, but Saturation III is proof that these young men are growing in confidence and talent. Though producer Romil Hemnani, has been on fire since day one.

(PG-13: Language) Odd Future co-founder Tyler, The Creator graced NPR Music’s first ever nighttime Tiny Desk Concert. He and his band performed Boredom, See You Again and Glitter from his amazing new album Flower Boy.

(PG-13: Language) “Can’t erase the scars with a bandage. I’m hoping maybe we can come to an understanding. Agreed or disagreed, we could have an understanding.” Rapper Joyner Lucas speaks from both sides of white and black America in this necessary song.

(PG-13: Language) “Looking for justice and it’s just us. It ain’t fair. There’s a riot going on out there, and it ain’t fair. When your protector is your predator – it ain’t fair.” The Roots and Bilal dropped by NPR to perform their contribution to the soundtrack of Detroit.

(PG-13: Language) “They criticizing the lyrics, guess everybody’s a critic, look: I push the limit while rappers is pushing gimmicks. I use it to push my pen and then add it to the premise hook.” Wu-Tang. New album. ‘Nuff said.

(PG-13: Language) From Migos to Chance the Rapper, the triplet flow has defined 2010’s rap. Vox looked at the flow’s origins and how it works. We think they missed Snoop’s point though. It’s overuse combined with mumbling that makes for a homogenous sound.

(PG-13: Language) An appearance on Netflix’s Luke Cage is propelling Jidenna to the mainstream. Good thing the rapper and singer has more than enough charm and wit to sustain his success. Watch him perform songs from his album The Chief on NPR Music.

(PG-13: Language) NPR Tiny Desk Concert chose the perfect guest for its first DJ set. DJ Premiere and his live musicians The Badder Band performed some of the producer’s best hits, including tracks from KRS-One, his buddy Royce Da 5’9″ and of course Gang Starr.

(PG-13: Language) Oo-oooo! A$AP Ferg dropped by Hot Ones to talk about Nando’s, trading A$AP Rocky to Top Dawg or OVO, do-rags and more while contending with numb lips and a burning throat. Ten hot wings like I’m Sea-Sean Evans.

(PG-13: Language) If you gotta spin DAMN. you should make it look sexy. Previously an Interscope Records exclusive, HHV got their hands on 2,000 copies of Kendrick Lamar’s instant classic album pressed on a pair of translucent red vinyl records.

What the devil? Socks on another level! The unbeatable MF Doom let Stance use his trademark mask and his logo on a mini collection of socks. Latverians and the rest of EU can get the socks from Overkill.

(PG-13: Language) Chance the Rapper finally got around to visiting NPR Music’s office. He performed Juke Jam from his latest album, recited a poem that he wrote just for this set, and finished with a cover of Stevie Wonder’s They Won’t Go When I Go.

(PG-13: Language) Hov is back. The stereotypes in the video for Jay-Z’s single complements the song’s message about how even successful African-Americans can’t escape, and should not, turn their backs on racial issues. From his sick new album 4:44.

(PG-13: Language) Mass Appeal Records compiled 14 tracks used throughout the four seasons of Silicon Valley, including the title track Stretch Your Face, Nas and DJ Shadow’s recently released Systematic, and Wu-Tang’s new track Don’t Stop.

(PG-13: Language) “And we be saucin’, I love her so you know I got to floss, and I’m not a dentist but a man flossin’, I’m fresh to death, they say I should be coffin.” Young Thug grows up with this mainstream summer banger. He’s still trollin’ Weezy though.

(PG-13: Language) We already know that rapper Mac Lethal has mad skills. Here, he takes on some of the many different sub-genres of rap and hip hop from the lighthearted braggadocio of the 1980s to horrorcore to Miami trap and everything in between.

(PG-13: Language) “How y’all let a conscious man go commercial while only makin’ conscious albums?” Kung Fu Kenny invades Metro Boomin’s chill beat for Future’s mega hit song and quickly makes it his own. Damn. Just skip to 1:54.

(PG-13: Language) From Biggie to Beasties, and KRS to Kanye, The Hood Internet presents a fantastic, but far too short tribute to the first four decades of hip hop music in just under four minutes. Stream/download available on Soundcloud here.

DJ and Producer Chris Read of the awesome website WhoSampled dropped by London’s Point Blank Music School to provide an in-depth workshop on the origins of sampling in hip-hop music, modern sound layering, and how music has been derivative for hundreds of years.

(Flashing images) “JVC is nice; I’ve been around Japan; It’s electronic, calls me Viktor; High on the scales, off the Richter.” Director Kris Merc’s dope visual feast is the perfect complement to hip hop legends Kool Keith and MF Doom’s track about a rapper with super powers.