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Three years and five mixtapes into his career,
Wale's debut album,
Attention Deficit isn't offered as an introduction to Olubowale 'Wale' Folarin – instead, it seems to be announcing that he's always been here and you've only just caught up.
Named one of XXL Magazine's Hip Hop Freshmen of '09, Wale's over-confidence in his position as a leader in contemporary Hip Hop's new movement isn't baseless. “I asked Mr West for a little bit of help...” Wale raps on the energetic opening track, “Triumph”. Of course,
Kanye West isn't the only musical powerhouse behind Wale; he is in company with
Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams and label-boss
Mark Ronson. However, on “Triumph” and closing cut “Prescription,” Wale seeks respect from his audience based off of his own merit.
The latest emcee to emerge from 9th Wonder’s Jamla Records roster, former NCAA baller GQ sounds as if he’s going to be setting off with some serious offence if the lyrical talents displayed on Death Threats and Love Notes: The Prequel are anything to go by. Preceding the final version of his Death Threats and Love Notes series [the second volume should drop later this year], everything from the project's title, lyrical content and cover artwork [depicting Eldridge Cleaver and his wife] has been carefully selected to give listeners a better understanding of the California rhymer's subject intricacies.
The Idea of Beautiful. You could write an entire essay on such an intriguing matter. Snow Hill, North Carolina native Rapsody did write an essay on the topic but did it in the musical form. In her debut LP, Rap decided to take all that she learned from her previous three projects in which she explored different avenues and combine into a rare introspective effort. Rapsody’s ode to cultural assent and narration of her own heartbreak transforms The Idea of Beautiful from complex portrayal to personal abstraction and human-dignifying advancement. 
It's become quite apparent that even in 2011, some years after the Carolina based group Little Brother called it quits, their spirit still remains ever present. Not just because the die-hard fans continue to bump The Listening, The Minstrel Show and the rest of their cult classics but because two thirds of the former trio have released solo albums. 9th Wonder took listeners through a glorious musical journey on 
There are just certain artists that evoke a special feeling from fans and fellow musicians alike. An artist that, no matter the battle plan, you'd still opt to musically walk into war with them blindfolded. It's a trust that very few artists are able to get from their fanbase - but somehow
Flying through London en-route to performing at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, Little Brother are performing in London on Wednesday night at the Jazz Cafe. I get on the phone to Big Pooh who, sounding relaxed, talks to me about the status of Little Brother, why they really split with 9th Wonder - and the fickle nature of the music industry...