sessions

	Livin' legend B.G. has been a steadfast representative of the New Orleans hip-hop scene for years, twelve to be exact. After starting out on a then fledging Cash Money Records, Gizzle rose to prominence with the Hot Boyz and helped put the crew on the map, showing that there was more to the N.O. than just Mardi Gras.
	Raps can be referential, territorial and scintillating in kind. Peedi Crakk is North Philly. He has no qualms expressing his proximity (in style and geography) to his hometown. Although he’s undergone the customary name-change, there’s no eponym that describes that region better. It’s cold and neglected at times but there’s liveliness in the cracks. And his flow infuses it. An original.
	Lil Scrappy is ATL all day. From his family history traced through his mother's roots in the streets to the music he makes, I've always gained a sense that even if I hadn't visited Atlanta, Scrappy would be the prototypical ATLien and the New South hospitality - simulataneously laidback and brash. Cool as a fan but, at the same time, capable of highly aggressive behavior. Hospitable but harsh.
	Sean Price’s 2005 release Monkey Barz gave the Boot Camp Clik soldier much to brag about, but it’s his humility and round-the-way humor that gains him attention. Couple those qualities with lionhearted lyrics, and the credibility of his illustrious crew, and the Rapper formerly known as Ruck has made a bigger mark in this decade than he did in the last one. Even as the raffish John Brown (White Rapper show) jokes about a “ghetto revival,” the rap world is experiencing a renaissance coming from the performers who parallel street smarts and bookish tendencies. Ghostface has written several albums that dive into fantasy and extravagance, interspersing hood stories and lively skits. Nasty Nas and Lupe Fiasco have also managed to offset their supposed high-mindedness with a periscope that looks out on their humbler surroundings.
	Take a look as Bed-Stuy's Papoose speaks on the meaning of his album ’s title, The Nacirema Dream, the overwhelming response to “Change Gone Come (50 Shots)", why he signed with Jive instead of other labels, his future artistic direction, i.e. will he continue with the “game”-themed songs, as well as how he plans to craft is album
	In what proves to be one entertaining and informative interview, The TSS Crew takes a few minutes with Stat Quo and The Alchemist to discuss their participation in Eminem's The Re-Up album, gun charges, Dr. Dre's beatmaking prowess, stereotypical styles and a host of other things.
	TSS takes a few minutes with the one DJ who singlehandely transformed the way we view the role of the DJ in hip-hop, one mixtape at a time.
	The multiplatinum album Lord Willin'. The predictions of future greatness and high expectations. Then, the label fiasco. The infamous merger with birthed the oft-referred to hiatus. Two solid mixtapes to keep the fans fiendin. All lead us up to, finally, Hell Hath No Fury by The Clipse, set to finally release on November 28. Clipse and The TSS Crew More…
	A few months ago, I stumbled across Darien Brockington's music and was definitely feeling it. Not too syrupy like some R&B but at the same time not pushing to hard to appeal to the hip-hop crowd. It was refreshingly humble and far from trite. After listening to his music, The next thing I did was start the process of reaching out to him. The connection was made and we promised to hook up when the time was right.
	seperating from his former crew, coming from under the Aftermath/Interscope umbrella and switching to Geffen, and now, on the heels of releasing his sophmore album, The Doctor's Advocate, The Smoking Section Crew member Cam had a chance to speak with the Game...and, as expected, an interesting conversation ensued...
	TSS Crew takes time to talk with perhaps the most unheralded member but arguably the most talented, Young Buck who is a product of Cashville, TN. aka Nashville.

	It’s safe to say that the rep you have now sprung from the classic verse you dropped on Nas ’s “Life’s a B___.” AZ: (Laughs) It’s funny. I wasn’t really meant to be on that [song]. I was a filler, that’s what I felt. " Hip-hop legend, AZ, take a few minutes with The Smoking Section to speak on his legacy, his present and what's next...
	A street poet, who spit ridiculous during the Bad Boy era, backing B.I.G and his L.O.X cohorts on the "All About The Benjamins" remix, not to mention coining the phrase "jiggy" way before Will Smith used it for a silly comeback, 31-year old Styles P, aka Styles Pinero, aka The Ghost, aka SP, aka Holiday, is set to drop his followup to to 2002's Gold certified A Gangster and a Gentleman. Once the most overlooked third member of the trio is getting his just due shine.
	The TSS Crew catches a few minutes with Lloyd Banks & Obie Trice as they speak on the pressures of sophmore releases, following the footsteps of larger stars, and the like.

	The TSS Crew catches a few minutes with DJ Drama after the VMA's to discuss his work ethic, relationship with Jeezy, upcoming projects and other interesting info.
	Hustlin is the key to success © Fat Joe. Some way, the TSS Crew managed to track down and touch bases with seminal producer 9th Wonder of hip-hop's media darlings, Little Brother. Sit back, relax and read while 9th waxes poetic on life, family, music, et.
	The sensibilities of our rappers usually include a penchant for dionysian indulgence. Louis Logic's 2003 record Sin-a-Matic veered into the repugnant hilarity of alcoholism all while blending quick-witted punchlines and sharp lyrics.
	Bobbito Garcia, as my ex-girlfriend once described him in a WKCR interview, is hip-hop incarnate. Even through her shy questions about the magnitude of his career, which began at WKCR on the Stretch and Bobbito Show, one could tell it was no presumptuous label.
	Remember when every hardbody in the club chanted in their deepest bass to the tune of "So I'm outside of da club and you think I'm a puuuuuuuunk." Thought so.
	Daz has contributed to the history of hip-hop as a whole with classic production and vocal collaborations with Tupac Shakur (All Eyez on Me), Daz’s cousin Snoop Dogg (Doggystyle; The Doggfather; Murder Was the Case) and Dr. Dre (The Chronic; The Chronic 2001). His first release with Kurupt, Dogg Food (1995) , remains as one of the greatest contributions to hip-hop, bar no region. His solo albums have hit the Billboard charts high and hard as well
	Listening to DJ Jamad is an extravagant affair. The mentality of Afromentals is a soulful journey through the inner mind of crate a digger. What this AMG (Aphiliates Music Group) spin-meister brings to the game is an expert ear for sounds that will make you tingle, and tracks you haven't bopped your head to since junior high (if you were lucky enough to be a shortie during hiphop's Golden Age).
	We like to take risks & embark on different adventures. Honestly though, all of this is new to us though because we don't have any formal experience & it's not like there's a Blogging For Dummies book that we can refer to. **First Smoking Session, ever.**
	You probably remember the Slip-N-Slide affiliate's first appearance on the Miami smash "Shut Up," the Trick Daddy and Trina radio track that exploded onto airwaves. But Deuce wasn't one to rest on his laurels. As he says, "I'm the total package of the music. I make beats, I'm a ghost writer, a writer, and I'm just an all-around real-ass nigga."
	Around 2002, when I was sacrificing synapses at the substance altar, I chose hip-hop to be the real injector of profuse ecstasy. Between cloudy rooms, NBA 2k wars and eviscerated Dutches, I sloughed my swishing jeans to a local mixtape stand in Atlanta searching for New York grime. A fellow New York-to-ATL transplant, Rahbib, noticed how involved I became in searching for the new hot shit. He gave me a CD called "Autografh" with a NY upstart viciously killing beats and doing much more with the format.
	Turns out my guy here has been one of the coolest folk we've encountered while doing this blog shit.
	Little Brother and the words critical darlings seem to go hand in hand...and they make damn good music. As members of the larger collective the Justus League, the group consists of two MC's, Big Pooh & Phonte, and DJ/producer 9th Wonder.
	But things changed quickly...first thing was I looked @ his disc and noticed features and production credits that stand w/the best of them - tracks with Kanye, Jae Millz, Scarface, John Legend, Joe and Akon and beats by Jazzy Pha, 9th Wonder, Hi-Tek, Buckwild, Streetrunner and Scram Jones.
	There's power in words and even more power in the names that we take on. Taking on the name of the 1939 song performed by Billie Holiday, which focused on black men being lynched throughout the south at a time when people of color had not rights in the United States, is a weighty task unto itself.