MD Semel

Droppin’ Knowledge: 03CAS, Hip Hop’s Monet, Creates Painterly, Impressionistic Music That Defies Easy Categorization

When the musician and experimental hip hop iconoclast 03CAS emigrated from South Africa to the United Kingdom, he landed at London’s Heathrow Airport with little more than the clothes on…

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Droppin’ Knowledge: Behind The Boards With Santa Cruz Sound Czar Eddou XL

And we back…and we back…nah, nah, nah… Santa Cruz sound czar Eddou XL joins today’s version of Behind The Boards. The California-based producer, beat maker and instrumental hip hop creator…

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Droppin’ Knowledge: On His Latest Album, McKinley Dixon Keeps It Real & Brings It Home

If you asked hip hop artist McKinley Dixon to name the greatest rapper of all time, you might be surprised by his answer. The Richmond Virginia-based musician, who grew up…

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Droppin’ Knowledge: Behind The Boards With Baltimore’s Zen Master Of Sound, Shine

And we back…nah, nah, nah… Veteran Baltimore, Maryland producer Shine recently released his new album, As The Beauty Became, a lovely and luxuriant collection of mostly instrumental hip hop that…

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Droppin’ Knowledge: New York MC Rouge Releases His Sonically Dense, Lyrically Rich Debut – War! – A Review & Conversation

Staten Island, New York emcee Rouge recently released his debut album, War!, a sonically dense collection of music, with crisp writing and a rich, full sound. On the album, Rouge…

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Droppin’ Knowledge: On His LP Border Patrol, Singer-Songwriter Farees Turns Trauma Into Art, With Humor, Grace and Righteous Anger

When Farees, the singer-song writer, released his stirring debut solo album in 2015, Mississippi to Sahara, (under the name Faris), he did what many artists do; he planned a tour…

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Droppin’ Knowledge: In Chi-Town, Rashid Hadee Is On The Beat. And The Mic, Too.

In hip hop, a sample can sometimes lead you on an unexpected journey. Rashid Hadee’s first box of vinyl records came from his uncle. The Chicago rapper and producer discovered…

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Boston MC Billy Dean Thomas Reminds Us That “Hope Is A Song In A Weary Throat”

Last year seemed like the year that Billy Dean Thomas would finally break through. The Boston-based hip hop artist, poet and writer had accumulated a steady list of accomplishments. Thomas…

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Droppin’ Knowledge: Behind The Boards with Boston’s Musical Polymath, Rilla Force

And we back… Boston music scene stalwart Rilla Force is a musical polymath and a man with a distinct sound and vibe to his art. He is equally at home…

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Droppin’ Knowledge: Despite Life’s Ups & Downs, Virginia MC Chuck Dolo Is Doing “Aight”

Late last year, the rap artist Chuck Dolo released his first official music, the single “Late Nights,” and the EP Amnesia. Both are atmospheric slices of hip hop, with trauma…

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