Underground Hip-Hop

Jean Grae Talks Jeanius Re-Release Plans, Prepares to D-Town Boogie

The best show you had no idea was going on this week is almost upon us. Tonight, Heroes Sports Lounge weekly Paid In Full Fridays emcee battles will feature a very special guest headliner. A legend in the game, and arguably the most talented female emcee to ever pick up a mic- Brooklyn's own Jean Gr ... More >>

Murs

Friday, February 8, at The Prophet Bar

The 10 Best Rap Albums of 2012

10. The Idea of Beautiful, Rapsody The black mamba of super producer 9th Wonder's Jamla Records team reached a new pinnacle in her career, and in her evolution as an artist this year. Sprinkled with collaborations from Big Remo, BJ the Chicago Kid and Childish Gambino, Rapsody takes us on a journey ... More >>

Kool Keith at Trees

Thursday, July 26, at Trees

El-P, Killer Mike - Granada Theater - 6/21/12

El-P, Killer Mike, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Despot The Granada Theater Thursday, June 21 Listening to the recorded works of El-P, it's easy to get the feeling you're dealing with a robot who has somehow discovered the emotional razor wire that is living a human life. Last night, El-P pushed back t ... More >>

El-P: "I Have the Same Questions As Everyone Else. I Am Just a Fucked-Up Guy."

"I'm not writing about politics. I don't give a fuck about that shit. I'm trying to write songs about getting from the train station to home without crying." Jaime Meline, better known as El-P, didn't say those words to me. He said them to Wired, but when I read the quote, it stuck. I caught the ra ... More >>

The Problem With... Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend"

See also: In Defense Of... Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" Ever since I started this column, I've dreaded going after any track by Justin Bieber. On one hand, the stuff with his name on it is too predictable and manufactured to deride in a unique way. Also, I've always feared that if bash his work, his ... More >>

MURS

Sunday, March 27, at Hailey's, Denton

SXSW Interview: LL Cool J and Z-Trip Talk About Their Collaboration, Their High Esteem For The Hip-Hop "Blueprint" and Their Thoughts On Rap's Up-And-Coming Talent.

Marco Torres, Houston PressLadies Love Cool James​ Don't call it a comeback: Despite having been absent from performing in the hip-hop world for some time now, legendary rap originator LL Cool J has been around for years, rocking his peers and putting suckers in fear. And, at last night's Red Bull ... More >>

Last Night at 35 Conferette: Cut Chemist Wowed With His World-Class Abilities.

Cut Chemist​Cut Chemist1 a.m. at Hailey's ClubBilled as the first hip-hop event of the 35 Conferette, Thursday night's show at Hailey's was the most illustrious lineup Denton has seen in the genre for a very long time.And, given the festival's proclivity toward indie rock and folk music, it was po ... More >>

Giveaway: A Pair of Tickets To See Wu-Tang's Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios on Wednesday

​The Wu-Tang Clan is one of the most influential hip-hop groups in history, and their music has come to exemplify underground hip-hop to the point that, if you don't know Wu-Tang, you don't know hip-hop. Almost all of the original members have also moved on to successful solo careers since coming ... More >>

Erykah Badu Formally Announces New Amerykah, Pt. II Details--Which Pushes Its Release Date Back Till Late March, Oh Well.

Cooler than the other side of the pillow.​The formal press announcement concerning Erykah Badu's upcoming New Amerykah, Pt. II: Return of the Ankh release just came through the inbox and, well, some bad news: The disc, originally slated for a February 23 release, has had its date pushed back a mon ... More >>

Over The Weekend: Aesop Rock at the Granada Theater

Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, DJ Big WizGranada TheaterSaturday, December 5, 2009 Better than: studying for an essay exam.Gloria LevarioAesop Rock--a little less live than you'd expect?​Easily one of the most eccentric and talented wordsmiths in the world of hip-hop, Aesop Rock has been giving undergroun ... More >>

Gig Reminder: Mos Def at House of Blues Tonight

Straight from the dead tree edition, courtesy Observer contributor Nate Patrin...Ten years after Mos Def's solo debut, Black on Both Sides, fans might've looked at his subsequent uneven catalog and started to wonder if their fondest memories of him in the '00s would consist mostly of his Chappelle' ... More >>

Mos Def

Tuesday, August 18, at House of Blues

Gig Alert: Mr. Lif Tonight at The Loft

Hibbard NashMr. Lif questions your thoughts of not seeing his show tonight.School's not ending for most districts until Thursday, but those wanting to get an early start to their summer concert plans can do so this evening at The Loft as heralded wordsmith Mr. Lif (a.k.a. Jeffrey Haynes) brings his ... More >>

Last Night: Dr. Dooom vs. Dr. Octagon at The Loft

Dr. Dooom vs. Dr. OctagonThe LoftMarch 6, 2009 Better Than: Getting to the show when the doors open, only to wait three-and-a-half hours for to Keith actually get on stage. I thought I was playing it safe when I arrived at The Loft close to 10 o'clock. As I got to ticket win ... More >>

Dr. Dooom vs. Dr. Octagon Friday, March 6, at The Loft

Friday,March 6, at The Loft

MURS, Kidz in the Hall, Rapper Big Pooh, Isaiah

Wednesday, November 19, at Hailey's in Denton

Del Tha Funkee Homosapien

Thursday, September 25, at the Granada Theater

Writing on the Wall

We try—with very little luck—to get to the bottom of why Del Tha Funkee Homosapien isn't touring with his old cats in Hieroglyphics

Local DJ Rob Viktum Remixes Hangar 18; Def Jux Offers Free Download Of Album

Erykah Badu Has Returned

The songstress burst through her stuggles with writer's block and created a solid record

Last Night: DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist at House of Blues

Z-Trip

Sunday, August 19, at the Granada Theater

Hot Chip

Thursday, April 26, at the Granada Theater

J Dilla

Ruff Draft (Stones Throw)

El-P

I'll Sleep When You're Dead (Definitive Jux)

Peanut Butter Wolf Presents Stones Throw Ten Years

(Stones Throw)

Various Artists

Stones Throw and Adult Swim Present: Chrome Children (Stones Throw Records)

Cut Chemist

The Audience's Listening (Warner Bros.)

D Does Dilla

Dr. Octagon

The Return of Dr. Octagon (OCD)

Lyrics Born, Pigeon John, Tahiti

Monday, October 17, at Hailey's

Felt (Slug and Murs)

Felt 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet (Rhymesayers)

Lyrics Born

Saturday, April 16, at Hailey's

MF Doom

MM..Food (Rhymesayers)

On the Down-Low

Shovel away all that Usher, Prince and Lil Jon you've been jamming and dig this year's buried black-music treasures.

RJD2, Lyrics Born, Diplo

Wednesday, December 8

Okay, Player

Rap has always been about community. Now the community is online.

The Definitive Take

Indie hip-hop label Definitive Jux plays kingmaker for the underground

Wake Up!

A year-end rant or rave for the rap music industry

Prefuse 73, Nobody and Beans

October 16

Beyond Good and Evil

Rapper MF Doom's new works of hip-hop fiction reinvent the hero principle for the modern age

Gang Starr

The Ownerz (Virgin)

Various Artists

Constant Elevation (Astralwerks)

El-P

Fantastic Damage (Def Jux)

J-Live

All of the Above (Coup d'Etat)

Nathaniel Merriweather Presents...

Lovage: Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By (75 Ark)

Deltron 3030

Deltron 3030 (Ark 75)