Awesome Hip Hop

Amen, Brother is an obscure B-side from a 1969 record by The Winstons, but it’s also the source for a six-second, 4-bar drum and bass sample which has found its way into literally thousands of hip hop, techno, dance, and pop songs. It’s even in the Futurama theme.

Freestyle hip hop dancer and So You Think You Can Dance season 10 champ Fik-Shun Stegall shows off his incredible muscle control, balance, and precision in this performance from the 2014 World of Dance in Las Vegas.

Blue Monday Press offers this fun take on tarot cards, replacing the traditional imagery with famous rap stars. The deck includes all 22 Major Arcana cards, with illustrations of RZA, MF Doom, 2PAC, Drake, and others to help predict your fortunes.

Lamar + Nik created this clever music video for Taylor Bennett f/Mr. Hudson’s soulful hip hop track Don’t Wait Up. Rather than shooting on location, they placed the musician into scenes using the screen from an iPhone. They made the sets from cardboard, hot glue, and assorted miniatures. Behind the scenes here.

Leo Moracchioli covers Run DMC’s 1986 hip hop hit It’s Tricky, taking a rap metal approach not dissimilar to Red Hot Chili Peppers version of the Ohio Players’ Love Rollercoaster. We love how Leo still managed to work in some scratching.

With the NPR offices temporarily off-limits, they’re continuing the Tiny Desk series with new episodes recorded at musicians’ homes. Here, MC Sa-Roc brings her smooth blend of hip hop, soul, social commentary, and spiritualism to bear, with a set of four poetic tracks loaded with meaningful messages. That’s Sol Messiah on DJ duties.

(PG-13: Language) Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia melds pop, disco, and funk into a chart-topping dancefloor banger. But Kyle Brauch gave the album a whole new sound by deftly remixing every track with 1990s hip-hop. The mashup includes raps from DOA, Xzibit, DMX, Dre, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, and more.

Let Beastie Boys members Adrock and Mike D walk you through their story in “revealing and funny accounts”, from their amateur days to the release of their classic albums. Also features contributions from their friends such as Spike Jonze and Wes Anderson.

“Now I slay beats… ‘member when I would slay freaks.” Houston rapper Tobe Nwigwe’s smooth sound and positive vibes are a breath of fresh air, complemented by soulful backing vocals and jazzy instrumentals as he performs Houston Tribute, Caged Birds, Against the Grain, Shine, and I’m Dope. at the NPR offices.

(PG-13: Language) “Somewhere in the middle of all that s**t was the hope that one of us was gonna make it.” Showtime’s Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men is a four-part documentary series about the rise and the legacy of rap’s one true supergroup. Premieres Spring 2019.

(PG-13: Language) The Wu-Tang Clan celebrated the 25th anniversary of Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) with this live set at NPR Music. They performed a medley of their hits, both from their discography as a group or from individual releases.

(PG-13: Language) Eminem produced this upcoming comedy film about the world of battle rap. In Bodied, a Berkeley grad student accidentally competes and wins a rap battle. He continues to find success but alienates the people around him. Premieres 11/2/18.

“Success brings sacrifice. And if you thinking it’s a piece of cake, you can have a slice.” Hall of fame MC Rakim dropped by NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert to perform King’s Paradise from the Luke Cage Season 2 OST, as well as his classics Paid in Full and Know the Ledge.

“And yes, my kicks is 50% off on clearance but I never half-step.” Los Angeles-based rapper Ill Camille has that sick old school flow and verses with vivid imagery. Watch her perform four tracks from her latest album, Heirloom.

“I don’t waste ink, brother, I think. I drop megaton bombs more faster than you blink. ‘Cause rhyme thoughts travel at a tremendous speed.” Watch the Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA perform three tracks from his classic album Liquid Swords alongside brass band The Soul Rebels.

(PG-13: Language) Adult Swim keeps churning out hits. This time Rick and Morty unleash hell on gromflomites in an action-packed and stylish music video for Run the Jewels’ Oh Mama, from the duo’s latest album Run the Jewels 3.

The Wu-Tang Clan teamed up with StockX for Charity Rules Everything Around Me, a raffle where all proceeds will be used to help children in marginalized communities. The pieces are clothes, shoes and gear that have been used, signed or both by the members of the group.

(PG-13: Language) “Said my grace now, my light is still on, so why would I pray now?” Big K.R.I.T. dropped by NPR Music to perform tracks from his latest album 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time, and share a sweet moment that he had with his late grandmother.

“So just swing or fling a gathering, try to cling, ’cause It’s a Big Daddy thing.” The Juice Crew’s Big Daddy Kane showed NPR Music that swag is immortal with pared down renditions of Smooth Operator, Ain’t No Half Steppin’ and Raw. Long Live the Kane!

(PG-13: Language) “I am Killmonger, no one’s perfect, but no one’s worthless. We ain’t deserving of everything Heaven and Earth is.” Kendrick Lamar enlisted both established and up-and-coming stars to create music for and inspired by the upcoming Black Panther film.

“Sex, money, murder – our DNA.” King Kenny opened the 2018 Grammy Awards with a hell of a set. He used his verses from XXX., DNA, New Freezer and King’s Dead to talk about war, hip hop, the media, and the crowd admiring the messenger while missing his message.

With his natural beatboxing skills, godly knack for hooks, and the people he grew up with, it was almost impossible for Timbaland to not blow up. But he also fell into the trappings of success. He sat down with Complex to look back on his career.

(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.