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Quote:   "Now it's time to hit you with force, from original sources - No incognito names, no comparison to mafia bosses - No trumped up scenarios of how I get loot - I stay broke, still I maintain my roots..."

A skilled speaker, poet, and singer, who also teaches class on MCing. Yejide brings lyrics with thought and substance, delivered clearly, melodically, and rhythmically. Sometimes mystical, sometimes political, but never predictable, her sound is uniquely smooth, graceful, organic, minimalist, pronounced and articulate.

UndergroundHip-Hop.net interview with Yejide the Night Queen

My Radio-Free Brooklyn cd disappeared after I played it in my car with some of my friends. If I remember the cd right, I'll probably never see it again. Pete Miser has turned out polished album exhibiting his various skills as a musician. Pete emcees, produces, and even scratches on this album - and it's even released by his own record label. How's that for do-it-yourself music.

Overall, Radio-Free Brooklyn has a funky, almost old-school sound filled with ear-catching sampling and drum breaks. Pete shines behind the boards, cleverly arranging the sounds within the beat, and coordinating interactions between the beat, scratches, and verses. I hear a playful, free-willing inventiveness in his style. And a lot of hard work.

Here's a piece of his bio from PeteMiser.com: Pete Miser (real name, Pete Ho) is a fiercely independent m.c. who has been rocking all forms of hip hop expression since 1985. A native of Portland, Oregon, Pete fronted and managed the Northwest's most prominent hip hop band, 5 Fingers of Funk, touring the nation and performing with acts such as Maceo Parker, the Roots and Run DMC. It was during this time that Pete created Ho-Made Media, his one man independent record label that released both 5 Fingers of Funk releases and Pete's 1996 solo album, “What It Be” for combined sales of over 20,000 units. After six years with 5 Fingers of Funk and the Northwest region on lock, Pete made a move to New York to immerse himself in hip hop culture in its birthplace.

Exit is a truly unique and enlivening musical experience. You can't help but feel passionately moved when you listen to this album. The acoustic freshness and melodic singing are not what you would expect from a hip-hop record, but this is not your average hip-hop. K-os unites his love for hip-hop with a blend of soul, rock, and reggae, giving birth to a liberating musical pilgrimage.

I've always had a special respect for diverse musicians. Exit is mostly a one-man show, from the ground up. K-os produces, raps, and sings on this eclectic collection of songs. It took me several listens to realize that there are no guest singers or mc's. K-os moves so freely from singing to rapping that it sometimes sounds like there are two different vocalists. The moods of this album express a range of emotions and thoughts. Soothing inspiration, contemplative spirituality, and a childish, playful romanticism. You won't hear much greed, hate, or self-worship in this album.

Chase is Georgia mc who is giving you another reason not to stereotype that down south hip-hop. Several hot tracks demand airplay on the new Dead Poets full-length. Chase proves not to be a one-sided mc, he's got the whole arsenal: metaphors, punchlines, storytelling, intelligence, aggression, rhythm, and a clear, articulate voice.

"Visitor" is a social commentary from an alien's eye view - a good song concept, executed consistently throughout the song without falling out of the role. This Redd Menace produced track compliments the lyricism well. This song and several others on the Dead Poets LP have that crucial balance between instrumentation and vocals. In "Regrets", Chase speaks from the grave, as a victim of mistaken identity. This tragic story is a powerful and solemn expression of death's irrational and unpredictable nature. I'm glad to see that Chase doesn't avoid the difficult topics, and he doesn't just repeat the same played-out cliches, either. I find this album impressive mainly because of the interesting ideas and thoughts that went into the lyricism. But even if you're not the type of listener to examine the words closely, you'll still be satisfied by the fluid, even-metered flow and bangin beats on tracks like "Tenacious" and "Kaotic Cipha". This album is full of witty one-liners as well as developed concepts, thoughtful insight as well as passionate expression. Chase has proven his ability to create music from more than one angle, and if he can continue to do that, then the possibilities are unlimited.

A'sista's words come as a relief from the typical big-headed mc trying to prove something. This Chicago mc brings her unique perspective to the studio, using her own personal struggles and experiences as inspiration. "What If" is a hard, strong cut - a definite stand-out track. You might be caught off guard when you hear it, maybe because an assertive female mc rapping about sexism (among other topics) isn't considered "marketable".

A'sista's "Uncut" speaks on the influence and control that sex can have on both men and women. This track could bang on the radio or in the club - it's catchy hook had me nodding in agreement as I recalled all the captains and psycho bitches that I've had the disfortune of meeting. This track is a collaboration with featured mc Heathen, who also makes an appearance on the less potent "Promise Life". I like the feel of "Promise Life" - up until the Heathen verse when the song takes a rough 3-point turn. I'd like to hear a version of this track without the extra verse, and with a little more flavor added to the beat. But overall, the What If... EP is a strong showing: a hint of feminine thought, a touch of consciousness, and love, all enclosed within raw and passionate lyricism.

There is always a part of me that feels uneasy whenever I write about an artist's music. This is especially so with 8.bliss - I feel like nothing I can say about his album will truly do it justice. I believe that a work of art should be approached with an empty mind - without any preconceived ideas about what it is "supposed" to be. And here I am telling you what to think about "A Train of Events." With this in mind, I'll do my best to describe this piece of auditory artwork by 8.bliss and company.

Hip-Hop, spoken word, poetry, philosophy, spirituality, life. These labels are less useful when you hear something that is a mix of all of these things. Sometimes a verbal diary, sometimes a message, sometimes rational, and always thoughtful. 8.bliss lyrics could stand on their own, without music and without a speaker. This is pretty uncommon today, when kindergarten rap often hits platinum. The 32-page lyric book is available for the more visually oriented - you might call "A Train of Events" something like 'hip-hop poetry'. I'm stricken by the openness and honesty of this album. Throughout the album, 8.Bliss wrestles with inner turmoils, while always recognizing his own weaknesses. A gift for clear and direct communication makes this man a refreshing change of atmosphere. I noticed an odd but sincere request that is printed on the back of every cd: "Please, at least once, lie on your back headphones on, and listen to this recording in it's entirety." To me, this shows that we have a man who is after something else besides the usual (American) dream: fame, dough, women, etc. Clear your mind and listen closely.

If you aren't already familiar with Russian DJ and Producer DJ Vadim, then you are missing out on one of the greatest hip-hop artists outside of the USA. His latest album, USSR: The Art of Listening is his most mature and finished LP to date. His earlier release USSR Repertoire broke new ground with its curiously structured rhythms and drum patterns. 1999's The Isolationist is Vadim's immortal collabo with Anti-Pop Consortium. DJ Vadim has made music with many respected artists from around the world, and the new album is no different. USSR Repertoire features Gift of Gab, Slug, Motion Man, Phi Life Cypher, Yarah Bravo, Demolition Man, and several others.

USSR: The Art of Listening feels to me like a further development of a sound that is uniquely DJ Vadim. Some of Vadim's songs can sound deceivingly loose and unstructured when you first hear them, if you are expecting to hear a traditional, tried-and-true brand of hip-hop. It always takes me several careful listens to slowly absorb the subtle musical tactics that make DJ Vadim one of today's top producers and songwriters. The cello melody and drum arrangement on "She Who is Tested" are especially impressive. (Yarah Bravo makes two outstanding appearances on this album: in this song and on the elegant "The Pacifict")

DJ Vadim's abilities shine through in the absence of vocals in "The Harp Song (Part 2)", where his unconventional approach makes other hip-hop tracks sound like cardboard cut-outs. This song's unpredictable twists and turns will steal your concentration, and leave you hungry to hear it again. A lot of music out there sounds hot at first, but gets played out the more you hear it. USSR The Art of Listening doesn't reveal itself all at once, it has depth, sophistication and harmony, and in some unlikely ways. The closer you listen to Vadim's music, the more appreciation you'll have for it - this is not background music, it is a prodigious mutation in the evolution of music.

Audio Samples:

"Edie Brikell" featuring Slug - Soulful and moving. Smooth blending of the horns and guitar at the hooks. Slug rips it, as usual.
"Ghetto Rebels" featuring Phi Life Cypher - Aggressive, reggae-influenced, and suspicious of authority. Fat synth-sounding bass line and more flow than Niagara.

Prepare yourself for something a little different from what you're used to, and take a trip into the percussive soundscape of the Oddjobs new album, Drums. DJ/Producers Deetalx and Anatomy create an unusual blend of live drums and sampled constructs. MCs Crescent Moon, Advizer, and Nomi have proven themselves to be skilled wordologists on this album. Oddjobs are one of the few hip-hop artists that are bold enough to be different - they refuse to be limited by a "style". Sometimes reflective, other times comical, sometimes inspiring, and always from the heart - love for music isn't something that can be faked.

Oddjobs make music for real human beings. Don't expect Oddjobs to come at you with stories of trigger-pulling, turning out hoes, or riding on chrome. Oddjobs have the ability to be straight-forward and true to life (Back in elementary school when it was cool to be dumb / I rocked my wisdom on the inside as a simple rule of thumb) yet they can also set off a party right with jams like "Hit Em With A High" and "Blue Collar Hollar". The metaphor-rich "Naked City" has a poetic quality that takes this song in another direction. Oddjobs are versatile musicians with something for everyone in this release.

Kimani Rogers and Tarik Holder (Oracle) are the two gifted musicians of the Masterminds. Since their first release together in 1997, they've continued to improve and progress. Consistent, but unpredictable, the Masterminds are a complete hip-hop group. Kimani and Tarik have full creative control over their music, and the results are like nothing you've ever heard.

Their latest album Stone Soup is a blend of 60's psychedelic rock, 70's afro-funk, 80's electronica and 90's hip-hop that will have you rushing to your chiropractor with head-nod syndrome. Masterminds have put together a new classic single with "Subliminal", an audio experience that might have what it takes to wake your ass up from this state of media-induced hypnosis. The ingenious lyrics on this track force you to ask yourself how your listening habits were shaped, and how the music you listen to affects you. The guitar sampling on this album is executed with mastery - something you don't hear often. Stone Soup is strong in both lyricism and production. Their truthfulness is the only thing that keeps them off the Top 40.

Undergroundhip-hop.net recently had the opportunity to ask Kimani a few questions about the Masterminds, and here's what happened:

UndergroundHip-Hop.net interviews the Masterminds

You may know Jaysonic from his impressive work with Time Machine ("A Million and One Things To Do") and his 2000 solo debut "Hot Air". His latest release titled "Apple Pie" is a personal, intimate look at the reality and tragedy of American life:

"...Where you would go you don't know - And for now it's irrelevant - But you like to daydream and scheme - Just for the hell of it - It ain't a story if nobody's tellin it - It seems the American dream is delicate"

This song is a lyrical and production masterpiece. The music fits the vocals perfectly, and his rhymes make several clever references to common problems that Americans face today. Jaysonic presents us with some the irony, comedy, and failures of American culture with examples that many people can relate to and understand. And to complement the music, Jaysonic delivers his words clearly and melodically. "Apple Pie" and the B-side "The Obituary of Hugo D. Naranja" are both written and produced by Jaysonic himself. You can listen to a sample or purchase this record from:

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