Killer Mike might be the smartest rapper since the Genius. And although his namesake speaks to his rhyme ability, when he speaks, you don’t think about him rhyming. Lord SHR recently sat down with the conundrum that is Killer Mike and chopped it up about a number of things. That conversation is now available in the Mass Appeal TV player to your right. Oh, and on a related note, he got joints!

There may not have been more “love in the club” last year than when Justice’s D.A.N.C.E. used to drop. This time around, however, the real cool kids return with a clip for “Stress” with a bit less affection and a little more aggression. Révolution!

Words: Kel Murphy

If you’re in NYC, more likely than not you’ve been to a party where Melo-X has rocked. He’s opened for hip-hop heavyweights like Clark Kent and 9th Wonder, but for the self proclaimed “renaissance man,” spinning records is just the beginning. Besides moving the crowd via turntables, Brooklyn-born Melo raps, writes songs, photographs, produces and even pimps (yikes). At 22 years old, he cites J-Dilla and Erykah Badu as inspiration for his recent instrumental album, “Dusty Time Warped Vibes.” We recently caught up with the Jack-of-all-trades to talk about the project, why he dissed the Jay-Z on it, and how reggae vibes make him get damn near butt-naked. (more »)

911-is-a-joke-cop-killa.mp3 The Game - 911 Is A Joke

In the wake of the acquittal of the police involved in the Sean Bell shooting, a lot of rappers have had a lot to say. But where are the doers? Of those thoroughly disappointed by the trial’s outcome, the Game strikes me as someone who just might end up on the front lines. Check him out addressing the situation from what looks like a pretty dope video shoot after the click through. (more »)

In a recent interview with MTV, the ever enigmatic Weezy F. revealed some details from the heavily anticipated Carter III.

“I’m not gonna have skits on the album. [The different versions of ‘A Millie’] will be where the skits would be,” he explained. “It’s gonna be like I’m calling home and the person who’s on that track is gonna be, like, inside Tha Carter at that time. Only people I put on there is all new artists — artists I think is gonna be in this music sh– for a long time. Tyga, Corey Guns, Hurricane Chris, Lil Mama — it’s gonna be ill. On the video, I’m introducing my artist, Lil Chucky. He’s 13 years old. He’s hot in the South. He’s got his own part for ‘A Millie’ too.”

With the exception of Hurricane Chris, I’ve almost forgotten all of these artists since reading that sentence. Now its not uncommon that artistic genius implodes on itself to where as said artist is completely out of touch with even his fans, but the question here was probably best posed by the Wayne himself; is he “Crazy for being Wayne, or is Wayne just crazy?”

killer-mike-ft-shawty-lo_-_2_sides.mp3Killer Mike - 2 Sides

If you made it out to the 50th issue release party, you saw a number of amazing things, Killer Mike included. One of the highlights of Killer Mike’s performance, however, besides him pouring vodka shots for everyone in the crowd who wanted one, was this Shawty Lo sampling banger. Turn it all the way up and go to your happy place. It’ll be like you’re right back at the party.

Ooh wee, Prodigy is crazy! Good crazy though. Not the kind of crazy you try to avoid getting trapped in the same subway car with. The kind you trap in the booth before an impending jail term to squeeze bangers like this out of. HNIC 2 is in stores as of yesterday. Go got that!

bun-b-thats-gangstathe_amps_remix.mp3Bun B - That’s Gangsta (The Amps Remix)

First of all, remixing any song with Sean Kingston on it by not including him on the remix makes it instantly better, but the homies over at The Amps also happen to have skills on the boards. They’ve somehow added more Bun B, to Bun’s first single, also giving it sensible reggae undercurrent. Speaking of Big Bun, II Trill is dropping mid-May and includes an incredible track called “You’re Everything” with a Jodeci sample. Do you remember Jodeci?!?

the-game-ft-keyshia-cole-pain.mp3

On “Pain”, the latest from our issue 50 cover-boy, Game remembers the days of yore, with dookie rope gold chains and Cazal glasses, and gets a little assistance from the hood’s Miss America, Keisha Cole. At this point, I guess we can’t help but notice his pain, and he’s more thank willing to share it with us.

This vid for “Hold it Down,” shot by main man Rik Cordero is exceptionally dope, even for dependable creatives like 9th and Buck, but I can’t seem to get over Kweli with his hat off. The Formula is in stores April 29th.