Music

B. Cox reviews West Coast hip-hop trio Tha Alkaholiks debut album 21 & Over, as it turns 30. The trio, made up of emcees Tash, E-Swift and J-Ro, formed in the late 1980s and were mentored by legend King Tee. After signing to Loud/RCA, the group started recording their debut […]

B. Cox pays homage to hip-hop as it turns 50 years old. For much of the year, the recognized beginning of the genre, culture and societal phenomenon called hip-hop has been celebrated, lauded and congratulated worldwide for changing the world as we see it. He goes over a brief history […]

B Cox reviews Lauryn Hill’s classic debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill as turns 25. After a a breakout classic album The Score with The Fugees and a worldwide successful tour, the singer-emcee found herself at a crossroads as she found herself not only in a new relationship with […]

In this bonus episode, B. Cox looks back at one of the greatest and consequential hip-hop release dates on the last 25 years: September 29, 1998. On this date, five highly anticipated hip-hop albums hit the stores: Jay-Z’s Vol 2…Hard Knock Life, Outkast’s Aquemini, A Tribe Called Quest’s The Love […]

B. Cox and Domo review Jay-Z’s third album Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life as it turns 25. Looking to improve on his commercial success from Vol. 1…In My Lifetime, Jay-Z looked to bring on new producers to give his album the commercial shine without the sound being overglossed. In for this […]

B. Cox and J.Owe look back at Oakland rap group Souls of Mischief debut album 93 Til Infinity as it turns 30. In the midst of a coastal emergence and commercial recognition in both southern California and the Bay-Area, the teenage group became major players in the Oakland underground scene. […]

B. Cox and J Owe look back at Black Moon’s debut classic album Enta Da Stage as it turns 30. The Brooklyn trio made up of DJ/producer DJ Evil Dee and emcees Buckshot (fka Buckshot Shorty) and 5ft began their journey in high school, shopping around demos and looking for […]

B. Cox and J. Owe look back at OutKast’s classic third album Aquemini as it turns 25. After the success of their sophomore album, 1996’s ATLiens, Andre and Big Boi both had major life events that affected their outlooks and artistry, included breakups and the start of fatherhood. Given more […]

B. Cox reminisces about Jay-Z’s eight album The Black Album as it turns 20. Heading into this album, it was being touted as Jay-Z last album as he was to “retire” to take up the mantle of president of Def Jam Records after the album was released. The news and […]