Awesome Hip Hop

(PG-13: Language) The rumored collaboration between T-Pain and Lil’ Wayne actually happened. We don’t know when exactly Teddy and Tunechi recorded this mixtape, but it certainly sounds like a late 2000’s throwback. Nothing more, nothing less.

(PG-13: Language) Run the Jewels’ Killer Mike managed to score a one-on-one interview with legendary funk musician and producer George Clinton, and hung out in one of his barbershops to chew the fat about hip-hop, doo-wop, haircuts, counterfeit cash, and more.

(PG-13: Language) Many musicians create alter egos that are hyperbolic versions of themselves. But Channel Criswell argues that Kendrick Lamar’s characters are not necessarily based on himself. Instead, they’re artful investigations of the things that define us.

(PG-13: Language) Killer Mike and El-P have been murdering ears their whole careers, but they became something more when they teamed up as Run The Jewels. Scott Green looked at the hip hop duo’s interviews and lyrics to see why they’ve become so relevant.

(PG-13) “Bitch that phrase don’t make no sense why can’t fruit be compared?!” With the help of Giant Propeller, Lil Dicky finally released a music video for one of the best tracks on 2015’s Professional Rapper. It’s about LD and his brain being dumbfounded by his date’s beliefs.

(PG-13: Language) “I got power, poison, pain and joy inside my DNA. I got hustle though, ambition, flow, inside my DNA” Kendrick Lamar is about to f your s up. He dropped jazz and funk for more conventional beats, but his tongue is as sharp as ever.

“I was that kid that wanted the Jordans.” The latest episode of Complex’s Sneaker Shopping was with none other than The Answer. Iverson talked about his first pair of sneakers, the NBA’s silly “dress code” back in his day, and more.

(PG-13: Language) Go Fozzie. It’s your birthday! America’s favorite stand-up comic bear parties his ass off in Mylo the Cat’s latest Muppet remix video. The clip got us wondering just how does a Muppet ingest liquor and weed, since they have no esophagus or windpipe.

(PG-13) “I blew cool from AC, ayy, Obama just paged me, ayy, I don’t fabricate it, ayy, most of y’all be fakin’, ayy, I stay modest ’bout it, ayy, she elaborate it, ayy” Kendrick Lamar advises listeners and competitors to know their place, sit down and be humble.

Brit rockers Kasabian talk about an unexpected source of inspiration – rap and hip-hop music – and turn in a dialed down cover of the Cypress Hill classic Insane in the Brain during their recent appearance on Triple J’s Like a Version.

“If someone should come collecting sooner than we’re all expecting, at least the life you lived was one for you.” Drizzy continues to dip into dancehall and grime in his latest album, though he’s still moping and boasting with other rappers.

Return to late 1970s New York City for the continuation of Baz Luhrmann’s colorful and fantastic series about the evolution of the music scene from disco to hip-hop, and the impact it had on so many young lives. Drops 4/7/17 on Netflix.

(PG-13: Language) “Doctors of death, curing our patients of breath, we are the pain you can trust.” They’re a bit out of breath themselves, but Killer Mike and El-P still made NPR go RTJ! as they performed songs from their third album.

(PG-13: Language) “I got money, you got money too, so let’s go half on rent. When I buy you a new purse it’s cause you bought my kicks.” The charming Shelley Massenburg-Smith dropped by NPR Music to perform tracks from one of our favorite albums of 2016, Big Baby D.R.A.M.

(PG-13: Language) “That whole comparing and eating rappers, like, it’s starting to get weird. I don’t wanna say that no more.” The man who ruined Cool Ranch Doritos talks about Adult Swim cartoons, serving meals in jail, food references in songs and more.

(PG-13: Language) “I’m Draymond Green – anything I kick is nuts.” Natural born impressionist Jay Pharoah brought bars when he dropped by DJ Whoo Kid’s radio show. Comedy bars, that is. Watch him rap like Eminem, Jay-Z, The Weeknd and more.

“The jewels come quick, all gold and bricked. Click, click, boxer cutter spit.” Killer Mike and El-P’s Holiday gift is their highly anticipated third album. They also uploaded the entire album on YouTube and are giving it for free if you subscribe to their newsletter.

(PG-13: Language) “Gotta get it together forever.” The late Phife Dawg’s message reverberates throughout A Tribe Called Quest’s sixth album. This is a palate cleanser not just for hip hop fans but for society at large. This is the sound of MCs having fun and calling for unity.

(PG-13) “La vida or I vida either way you need a visa, I ain’t talking ’bout MasterCards, debit cards either – credit cards, Kermit the Frog, margaritas” A$AP Rocky raps over Lovesick, the 2015 hit of 20-year-old soft trap artist Alex “Mura Masa” Crossan.

(PG-13: Language) Actually, this one’s more like Hot Ones vs. Action Bronson. The rapper, chef and host was fully baked and had no pretensions whatsoever. Watch Bam Bam talk about his favorite celebrity chefs, his glass pipe collection, his dream restaurant and more.

Pay what you want for the debut album from Air Credits, the collab outfit of indie mashup specialists The Hood Internet and rapper Showyousuck. Like their solo pieces, Broadcasted is filled with pop culture references, humor and energetic remixes.

GQ’s early Christmas gift to music fans is Rick Rubin’s unfiltered and free-flowing interview of rapper Kendrick Lamar in the legendary producer’s Malibu home. K-Dot talks about growing up to his parent’s music, admiring Eminem, meditating and more.

(NSFW: Language) “What I lack in tact and morals I make up for in metaphors like a cosmetic store.” Slim Shady throws everyone under the bus and refuses to apologize for his brash words in this menacing freestyle.