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BeatTips Hip Hop Archive
BeatTips Beat Breakdown: The Game – “Ol’ English” (Prod. by Hi-Tek)
I was confused upon my first listen of "Ol' English" (Doctor's Advocate, 2006) by the Game, produced by…
One of The Best Yet: The State of the Gang Starr Legacy Remains Strong
This interview was carried out in November 2019 when DJ Premier visited London.
Mainstream Rap Is Not The Boogeyman: Why The Mainstream Imbalance Argument Falls Flat
Departures from traditions usually lead to new traditions, which are themselves reimagined (repurposed…
Timeless Music: Isaac Hayes – “Soulsville”
"Soulsville," from the movie Shaft. This is my favorite Isaac Hayes joint. The scene in Shaft where this…
LL Cool J – ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’: A 30th Anniversary Retrospective
After the success of LL Cool J's double Platinum selling 1987 album Bigger And Deffer, LL was on top of…
Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…: A 25th Anniversary Retrospective
The year was 1994. We were in the midst of a Golden Era, but we had no idea at the time. Within it, a new…
Eric B. & Rakim — Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em: A 30th Anniversary Retrospective
Eric B. & Rakim released one of the best Rap albums of the Summer in 1988, which was quite a feat…
Stevie Wonder’s Reworking of “Happy Birthday”
Singing Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday,” with the pulsing, rhythmic refrain: happy birthday to you,…
Wiley vs. Stormzy: The Long Awaited Clash
Nobody wins when the family feuds, except for all of us on the outside who need a bit of entertainment…
How Black British Music Survives Through Collective Memory
The lineage of Black music in Britain exists in the collective memories of all the sounds that enrich our…