Wu-Tang Clan

Hip-Hop Hybridist Moe'Z Art Isn't Short on Ambition.

Money Power Respect Entertainment Pushes Local Hip-Hop on a Large Scale

Cahleb Branch, head of Money Power Respect, works at his desk.​How much does it cost to book GZA from Wu-Tang Clan? Or Lil Jon? Or Nicki Minaj?Cahleb Branch knows, because his company, Valley-based Money Power Respect Entertainment, books international shows for them, among a slew of other well-kn ... More >>

Top Ten Songs About Dust

July 5, 2011: The day everyone's cars were rendered absolutely filthyI was going to say that unless you were living under a rock the past few days, you probably heard about Tuesday night's massive dust storm -- known as a haboob in some parts of the world (parts that aren't home to Republican presid ... More >>

Tumblr of the Week: Swag or No Swag?

swagornoswag.tumblr.comHaving enough money to wear this while doing this: swag or no swag?Whether people think they're talented, brilliant, obscene, or all of the above, there's no disputing the fact that Odd Future has got the whole "fuck everything, let's offend people with our shock rap" thing pr ... More >>

WU LYF: Go Tell Fire to the Mountain

WU LYF - Go Tell Fire to the MountainThese days, a band often needs a gimmick to get recognized. Often, that gimmick can be something that a group of artists or a band truly believes in -- something that becomes a way of life. Such is the fate of Mancunian quartet WU LYF.I came across the band's deb ... More >>

The Top Ten Lamest, Most Overplayed Hip Hop Songs from the Late 90's

Can't stop, won't stop​​Inspiration comes from many different places, the radio being one of them. While carousing around town in my hooptie the other day, the Notorious B.I.G./Puff Daddy/Mase 1997 classic "Mo Money, Mo Problems" came on over my speakers, much to my odd delight. After I was done ... More >>

DJ Decipha Talks 101.5 Jamz, House Music, Bam Bam, Chuckie, Tiesto, and More

DJ Decipha​Name: Chris Hernandez AKA: DJ Decipha Best Known For: DJing on 101.5 Jamz Current gigs: Right now I do Fridays at Airia and Saturdays at Lucky Strike. Genres spun: I like old school hip-hop and R&B. Lots of New Jack Swing too, like TLC, SWV, and Jodeci from that era. That ki ... More >>

Rebecca Black's Only Fan Lashes Out at Writer

​​Thank you, dear readers, for occasionally taking the time to give us at Up On The Sun some feedback on our writing. When I was growing up, my parents always told me that it's impossible to please everybody. Boy, were they right. Unfortunately it's impossible to please all of our readers, whic ... More >>

Brother Ali and Islam's Other Great Rappers

​​Thank you, dear readers, for occasionally taking the time to give us at Up On The Sun some feedback on our writing. When I was growing up, my parents always told me that it's impossible to please everybody. Boy, were they right. Unfortunately it's impossible to please all of our readers, whic ... More >>

Top 10 Celebrity Cameos in Indie Rock Videos

These days, the lines between indie and mainstream music are difficult to pinpoint. With indie artists featured prominently in mainstream media (I'm looking at you, Twilight soundtrack), it's hard to see what makes indie music, well, indie. When you add celebrities to the mix, it becomes even more d ... More >>

Incoming: The Swell Season, Brett Dennen, Ghostface Killah, A Fine Frenzy, Grand Archives, and More

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová of the Swell Season are scheduled to perform on November 17 at Mesa Arts Center.​Life's filled with second chances. Case in point: If you weren't able to get into last year's sold out appearance by the Swell Season at the Orpheum, you've got another shot. The Os ... More >>

Passing the Torch

Hip-hop's Cheech & Chong are still smokin’

June 23 In Blogs: Handguns, Queen YoNasDa, Christopher Gross, and the Arizona Republic

In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Feathered Bastard: Mad Max Rules: The Arizona Legislature's Mandatory Handgun Ownership Laws Up on the Sun: Queen ... More >>

Wu in the Family

In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Feathered Bastard: Mad Max Rules: The Arizona Legislature's Mandatory Handgun Ownership Laws Up on the Sun: Queen ... More >>

Cappadonna

In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Feathered Bastard: Mad Max Rules: The Arizona Legislature's Mandatory Handgun Ownership Laws Up on the Sun: Queen ... More >>

Killah Instinct

Wu-Tang affiliate swings a mighty sword of lyricism

Grayskul

Wu-Tang affiliate swings a mighty sword of lyricism

Power 98.3's Sexy Saturdays Moves to Chinese Cultural Center

Hip-hop mixmaster extraordinaire DJ M2 will work the wheels at the Golden Buddha during Power 98.3's Sexy Saturdays. If you're looking for a place to get your swerve on this weekend, we advise you to seek out the Golden Buddha. No, we're not dispatching you on some spiritual journey to seek o ... More >>

The RZA Provides Epic Soundtrack to Samuel L. Jackson's "Afro Samurai: Resurrection" Anime Series

What do you get when you combine the talents of Samuel L. Jackson, Lucy Liu, manga artist Takashi Okazaki, and hip-hop guru The RZA? We're betting on one of the most amazing television experiences of 2009.

The Wisdom of the Metal Gods Vs. The Meditations of Hip-Hop MCs

I just received a book titled Time Flies When You're In a Coma: The Wisdom of the Metal Gods (A Plume Book), a funny little tome filled with lyrical adages from the world of heavy metal music. Edited by Mike Daly (formerly of alt. country band Whiskeytown), the book is divided into four sections: Me ... More >>

Concert Schedule For This Weekend: Method Man, A Cursive Memory, Torche, Matisyahu And More

I just received a book titled Time Flies When You're In a Coma: The Wisdom of the Metal Gods (A Plume Book), a funny little tome filled with lyrical adages from the world of heavy metal music. Edited by Mike Daly (formerly of alt. country band Whiskeytown), the book is divided into four sections: Me ... More >>

Ear to the Street: The Game's new joint "LAX"

I just received a book titled Time Flies When You're In a Coma: The Wisdom of the Metal Gods (A Plume Book), a funny little tome filled with lyrical adages from the world of heavy metal music. Edited by Mike Daly (formerly of alt. country band Whiskeytown), the book is divided into four sections: Me ... More >>

The RZA as Bobby Digital at The Brickhouse, Wednesday, June 18

I just received a book titled Time Flies When You're In a Coma: The Wisdom of the Metal Gods (A Plume Book), a funny little tome filled with lyrical adages from the world of heavy metal music. Edited by Mike Daly (formerly of alt. country band Whiskeytown), the book is divided into four sections: Me ... More >>

RZA (as Bobby Digital)

I just received a book titled Time Flies When You're In a Coma: The Wisdom of the Metal Gods (A Plume Book), a funny little tome filled with lyrical adages from the world of heavy metal music. Edited by Mike Daly (formerly of alt. country band Whiskeytown), the book is divided into four sections: Me ... More >>

Local Label Spotlight: 5Fith Coast Records

I just received a book titled Time Flies When You're In a Coma: The Wisdom of the Metal Gods (A Plume Book), a funny little tome filled with lyrical adages from the world of heavy metal music. Edited by Mike Daly (formerly of alt. country band Whiskeytown), the book is divided into four sections: Me ... More >>

This just in: Musicians also use performance-enhancing drugs

I just received a book titled Time Flies When You're In a Coma: The Wisdom of the Metal Gods (A Plume Book), a funny little tome filled with lyrical adages from the world of heavy metal music. Edited by Mike Daly (formerly of alt. country band Whiskeytown), the book is divided into four sections: Me ... More >>

A Big Rock Sandwich: Mind’s Eye Digital 15th Anniversary Party @ Venue of Scottsdale on November 16

I just received a book titled Time Flies When You're In a Coma: The Wisdom of the Metal Gods (A Plume Book), a funny little tome filled with lyrical adages from the world of heavy metal music. Edited by Mike Daly (formerly of alt. country band Whiskeytown), the book is divided into four sections: Me ... More >>

Test My Balls of Fury

The prize is the satisfaction of a job well done

Word Play

It’s easy, m’kay

N.W.A

The Best of N.W.A: The Strength of Street Knowledge (Deluxe Edition CD/DVD)
(Priority Records)

Dabrye

Two/Three
(Ghostly International)

Hip-Hop Sans Hova

Still no Jigga, but Kanye, some lovable Limeys and a great Beyoncé substitute held it down

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Still no Jigga, but Kanye, some lovable Limeys and a great Beyoncé substitute held it down

New discs from local artists

Trench, Dolphins Kill for Love, The Eleven Forties, The Secret Life of Painters, Longshore, Split the Enemy, Intrinzik, Goliath Monsignor, Shelby James & The Crying Shames

N.O.K.

Live From Streetside Vol. 2: The Prequel
(Mindspit Records)

Wiley

Treddin' on Thin Ice
(XL)

Casket Life

That's one for new Stomping Ground Records

Method Man

Tical O: The Prequel
(Def Jam)

A Good Buzz

Hopped up and hip: Coffee and Cigarettes brings the cool

Ghostface

The Pretty Toney Album (Def Jam)

Leggo My Alter Ego

Off-the-wall rapper Z-Man busts out with another persona and a whole new vocabulary

Raekwon

The Lex Diamond Story (Universal)

Raising the Stakes

Pokafase risks taking Phoenix hip-hop on the road

Atmosphere

God Loves Ugly (Rhymesayers)

Afu-Ra

Life Force Radio (Koch Records)

Ascended Masterz

Masterz of Ascencion (Self-released)

Rave Review

Witty dialogue, driving music keep Human Traffic jammin'

Recordings

Witty dialogue, driving music keep Human Traffic jammin'

Calendar for the week

Witty dialogue, driving music keep Human Traffic jammin'

Recordings

Witty dialogue, driving music keep Human Traffic jammin'