VibesAndStuff

Flex Mathews and Damu the Fudgemunk’s Dreams and Vibrations feels like a continuation of the spirit that groups like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul opened up-jazz-rooted hip-hop focused more on feel, groove, and atmosphere than spectacle. Damu’s production is warm and unhurried, full of dusty drums, live instrumentation, and mellow jazz textures that feel lived-in rather than overly polished.

What really stands out is how naturally Flex Mathews fits into that world. He’s ... read more

Hip-hop was at a crossroads in ’92. Boom bap was exploding in New York, but the genre was stretching its boundaries—Dr. Dre was about to flip the soundscape with The Chronic, the Pharcyde were bringing a playful West Coast weirdness, and nearly every week, a new artist or group was adding their unique twist to the culture.

Enter Showbiz & AG.
Runaway Slave was solid, no doubt, but I always felt like the duo stayed too close to the traditional blueprint. While the scene was ... read more

A slept-on gem that deserves way more recognition.

By the time Das EFX released Hold It Down, they were dangerously close to being remembered as one of those novelty one-hit acts — largely due to the diggity-iggity gimmick that defined their debut. They tried to pivot on their second album, but it arrived with little buzz and quickly faded from conversation.

So when Hold It Down dropped, I was honestly surprised.
What immediately stands out is that they lose none of their creativity or ... read more

Black Sheep’s sophomore album, Non-Fiction, was one of the most disappointing follow-ups I can remember from back in the day. After A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing came out of nowhere with its creativity, humor, and effortless chemistry—especially Dres’ laid-back delivery fitting perfectly within the Native Tongues movement—I expected them to push hip-hop forward again.

To be fair, Dres still raps his ass off here. There are moments where his wit and smooth, ... read more