“I ain’t lookin’ for a one-night stand and I’m not tryna be your man.” And there you have it, Cal Ripken makes his intentions clear on the hook to “Spose 2 B.” It’s kick it music. Not quite the jump off track, but more on the Musiq Soulchild “Just Friends/B.U.D.D.Y.” [...]

After hearing a few of Jo’son Johnson’s tracks last week on Streets Is Talking Radio  promoting his EP To Be Continued…, it was clear that he was good at making mood music. Formerly of the group FiveTen, Johnson has been working as a solo artist [...]

Nova Boy has been busy building buzz. From “Better Chick” hitting the airwaves to releasing the street single “Put My Tongue in It,” it’s clear that The Hit Man is always working. This weekend he premiered the video for “Regular.” The latest single from [...]

Daveed Diggs is a beast. He’s an eclectic savage with a mouthpiece fit for a philosopher pimp. He raps circles around lesser wordsmiths, but he’s also a dynamic stage actor who recently starred in Chinaka Hodge’s amazing play Mirrors in Every Corner. [...]

Erk continues to gas on the heels of The Hood Nerd 2 and The Right Here EP with a Traxamillion produced slumper, “Can’t Stop Now.” P-Child provides assistance on the hook as Erk discusses the hustle that has allowed his assent.Overcoming hate and derision [...]

Ms Netta Brielle shows her versatility by reprising The Jacka and Andre Nickatina’s local hit “Glamorous Lifestyle.” She has been introducing the song at recent performances and stealing shows despite being the lone diva on a roster of rappers. Netta [...]

My love for Los Rakas is a strange one. I can’t understand what the PanaBaynian duo saying in damn near any song, and yet I can’t deny their talent. “Tu Gial Esta Ready” is the latest Spanglish slap from Dun Dun and Rich, and actually features more English [...]

There was a time during the big band era of the 1930s when folks packed small theaters and cabarets in downtown Oakland. There was a time during the 1940s when 7th St. in West Oakland was rocking with west coast blues every weekend. There was a time in [...]

Do D.A.T.’s Duke Ellington-themed album Oakland In Blue is about to piss on your misconceptions of what jazz and hip-hop can be. This isn’t Jazzmatazz or 808-powered elevator music, this is Oakland In Blue–a dynamic reinterpretation of The Town through [...]

I’ve had “Certain Special Way” in my personal rotation for about a month now. I love the sentiments, the way it lulls, swoons and serenades. There is something beautiful and timeless about it. Joyo Velarde sounds a bit like a multi-generational Rose Royce [...]