Hip-Hop/Rap

The multi-talented Mos Def plays a police officer in the new indie film The Woodsman, also starring Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, about a pedophile who moves into a suburban neighborhood. He also has a new rap album, The New Danger. Mos Def has appeared in the films Bamboozled, Monster's Ball, and Brown Sugar. He made his Broadway debut with the play Topdog/Underdog, and has also won an Obie Award. Mos Def will be in the upcoming films A Confederacy of Dunces and A Hitchhiker s Guide to the Galaxy.

Music critic Ken Tucker gives us his top picks in pop for 2004. He runs down his 10 best albums, and then talks about some trends of 2004, such as the return of punk, the year of the hip-hop producer, crunk music, and the potential end of an era as iPods and single song downloads replace album purchases.

Music critic Milo Miles tells us about a New York group of hip-hop DJs known as the X-Ecutioners. Their new CD is called Revolutions.

He's part of the free-jazz movement in New York City (along with saxophonist David S. Ware, bassist William Parker and violinist Mat Maneri). One of his influences has been avante-garde pianist Cecil Taylor. Shipp's style has been described as "a distinctive combination of Mr. Taylor's percussive attack and Chopin's languid rubatos." He's been recording since the early 1990s, and has over 20 albums to his credit as leader and sideman. Since 1999, Shipp has been artistic director the Thirsty Ear Records' Blue Series.

Critic Milo Miles reviews two new DVDs which document the history of hip-hop: Charlie Ahern's feature Wild Style from 1982, and Doug Pray's documentary Scratch from 2001.

He is also known as "Questlove" of the hip-hop group The Roots. The Grammy award-winning sextet has six albums to its credit. Their latest CD is Phrenology. Their first single from the album is "Break You Off." One reviewer writes, "To fully savor the sound, you've got to commit to spending time with The Roots, to wallow in both the music and the message.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews The Headphone Masterpiece, the new CD by singer/songwriter Cody Chesnutt.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews rapper Paul Barman's new CD, Paullalujah.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Under Construction (Warner) the fourth album by Missy Elliott.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new CD by hip-hop artist Cee-Lo Green, Cee-Lo Green and his Perfect Imperfections.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the third album by Marshall Mathers (otherwise known as Eminem) The Eminem Show.

Critic Ken Tucker reviews the new CD by hip hop artist Princess Superstar. Its called Princess Superstar is...

Film critic John Powers reviews 8 Mile, starring rap star Eminem.

Rock critic Ken Tucker Reviews Even In the Darkness, the new release by the hip-hop group, The Dungeon Family.

Will Smith is starring in the new film Ali as fighter Muhammad Ali. The film begins in 1964, the year that Cassius Clay became world heavyweight champion, announced his conversion to Islam, and took on the name Muhammad Ali. The film is directed and co-written by Michael Mann who also made The Insider. Smith also starred in the films The Legend of Bagger Vance, Men In Black, Independence Day, and Six Degrees of Separation. Smith got his start as a rapper, making his first record in high school.

An interview with hip-hop entrepreneur Russell Simmons.

Rock Critic, Ken Tucker Reviews the New Album from Missy Elliot, Miss E...So Addictive

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews 2 new albums: “Just Push Play” by Aerosmith and “Crown Royal” by Run DMC.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the recordings Live at the Fillmore by the group Cypress Hill, and Restless by the rapper Xzibit.