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Reviews
In 2009 I discovered Fresno, CA rapper
Fashawn and his incredible indie debut
Boy Meets World. The
Exile-produced album was one of the year’s strongest, and like so many great hip hop albums, it was a stunning life-up-until-now story. Ever since, dropped Fashawn has faced the
Nas-like challenge of matching his debut whilst trying to tell the slightly less interesting story of his life as it is
now. Unlike Nas, the West Coaster has shown a remarkable degree of consistency with his post-
Boy Meets World releases.
Recent projects such as
Higher Learning 2 and
This Generation, his collaboration with
Murs, are testimony to his role in a New West movement that’s actually a lot wider (and older) than many people think - and proof that it’s not merely a New Los Angeles wave. At the same time, the good music hasn't changed the fact that he has some work to do to be considered a household name outside California.
Champagne & Styrofoam Cups is an important step in his transition from the Cali underground of the past to the brave New World.
2012 saw life totally transform for Cameron Thomaz, aka Wiz Khalifa. A native of Pittsburg, his grapple hold on the underground rap scene not only cemented him a spot in the limelight on a national scale but globally as well. A cult hip-hop hero on the indie scene, Khalifa’s many mixtapes earned him all types of noteriety on the come up.
However his debut album Rolling Papers didn’t appear to live up to the hype, despite the multi-platinum selling single "Black & Yellow." After taking some time out, recruiting a new crew in the form of the Taylor Gang, prepping to become a father, and filming a movie with Snoop Dogg, the trees and tattoos enthusiast returns with O.N.I.F.C..
With the festive season already offering up classic material [Common, The Roots], there is still a hankering from a few for something more... Something motivational. Whilst the aforementioned may offer a whole heap of realness, ATL's supremo Young Jeezy offers an intriguing dosage of uncompromising street tales and reality which keeps many heads drawn to him.
With Mr West focusing his energy on shutting down festivals and working on the impending Jay-Z collaborative effort, a vacancy has arisen in the G.O.O.D Music camp to take the musical baton and run with it. Of the array of young and old talent within the ranks, it’s the Detroit young lion 
Every year we have at least one rapper to emerge whose wit, talent, charm and drive steals the limelight and shoots an underground favorite to mainstream superstardom almost immediately. In 2009, we saw Drake woo the panties off the ladies, 2010 was J. Cole’s turn to ‘Hit It In The Morning’ - and now for 2011, this career ascension story belongs to the Pittsburgh-based rapper 
Since his last studio album, Graffiti, Chris Brown has worked on a host of features and mixtapes and kept his PR machine turning, trying to repair the damage done by the infamous incident with Rihanna. Now, Breezy puts forward his latest effort in the form of his fourth studio album, F.A.M.E.
Unfortunately, this album doesn't do much to reinforce the promise Brown showed in his early days. His debut and sophomore albums suggested he had a lot to offer and would take up the mantle of one of the world of music’s best performers and artists - however, this album is not an example of someone who could carry on the legacy of the likes of Michael Jackson or even Usher. 
Emerging Pittsburgh Hip Hop artist and the newest signee to the house that homes Wiz Khalifa (Rostrum Records), 19-year old