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Brooklyn-based producer and DJ Statik Selektah recently released his fifth album Extended Play, a lengthy collection of the Massachusetts native's latest instrumentals that showcases why he's one of the most sought after beatmakers in hip-hop right now. With verses provided by Raekwon, Prodigy, N.O.R.E, Styles P, Action Bronson, Flatbush Zombies, and Joey Badass, among others, there's seemingly not an MC on the East Coast that doesn't want to work with Statik, while appearances from Texas's Bun B and Indiana's Freddie Gibbs sprinkle on some flavor from different regions. According to Statik, though, geography doesn't play a part when selecting collaborators - just chemistry. "Someone who is on the same page as me musically," says Statik when asked what he looks for in a rapper.

"Project 1.0" is John Wize' first official release, even though he has been making music for over seven years now. John Wize, member of the Stereo Crew, is a producer and occasional vocalist from Detroit and has lend his production skills to not only his crew members Stereo Boyz but also local artists Supa Emcee, Valid, Side Notes Marvin Winans and others. John Wize did not only want to make a beat tape, but wanted to introduce his music all around, so he put together a compilation of instrumentals and full tracks (featuring Stereo Boyz, Perfect Eclipse, B-Side and more), with every song on the project produced by him. John Wize is a fan of 90s Hip Hop as well as Soul Music and anything that he feels will make a good sample. His influences are the likes of Curtis Mayfield, J Dilla, I

After turning heads with the AR-AB assisted track, "Hold Me Down" and the feel-good summer acclamation, "Good Mood" featuring Glasses Malone, Ricky Rude is quickly becoming known as hip-hop's 'problem child.' For that reason it's fitting that his latest single personifies this moniker. Featuring a stellar verse from Drag-On of the legendary Ruff Ryders crew, "Problem Child" is an ode to Ricky's various influences, ranging from The Notorious B.I.G., to illicit substance, to the almighty dollar. Over an intense beat produced by Brainwave, Ricky and Drag-On trade compellingly aggressive verses, that will soon be accompanied by a cinematic music video directed by Joe Green Films. For those who aren't up-to-speed, Ricky Rude is a Southern New Jersey lyricist whose style is as eclectic

Kanye West Yeezus By David Amidon for RAPstation.com If all those summers in the late-‘90s wasted away in front of a television airing Saturday Night Live reruns taught me anything, it was to never trust the SNL stage. The best statement you could ever hope to make was a provocative, meme-like stage show that capitalized on the essence of the times. If not in physicality, Kanye's performances of "New Slaves" and "Black Skinhead" certainly embodied the spirits of predecessors Sinead O'Connor, Ashlee Simpson, Fear, Eminem, and Kanye himself. Unlike many of those performances, the awkwardness of the moment was overpowered by its mere presence: why is Kanye screaming at us, and how did the Occupy Movement get control of SNL's projectors? Are these songs kind of good, or am I

P.O.S (real name Stefon Alexander) is the atypical rapper. He never sports ice, spits about getting 'crank' or brags about how many Bentleys he owns. He could be your best friend, brother or classmate. Yet underneath his humble demeanor lies a verbal assassin armed with rapid-fire delivery and passionate lyrics.     Since co-founding Doomtree Records in Minneapolis over a decade ago, he has been as DIY as it gets. Initially, Alexander was involved in several punk rock projects around the Twin Cities that drew influences from acts like Minor Threat, At the Drive In and Fugazi. Once he bought his first drum machine, those influences slowly seeped into his newfound love of hip-hop. Suddenly, he was a rapper. It was his hard work with Doomtree that caught the attention of the bigwigs at

"Moving out of your parents' basement in your late 20's is always a good thing," jokes Ben Haggerty. Better known as Macklemore, the Seattle-based musician is also partly serious, which is kind of how he is as a person. He plays around a lot, but there's another side to him that is revealed in his music. True, that's like most people, but with the kind of reach Haggerty is beginning to have; his words carry the potential to have a lasting impact on a massive audience. Since emerging in 2000 with the Open Your Eyes EP, he has been on a steady grind to share his style of hip-hop with the rest of the world. However, after his 2005 debut, The Language of My World, Haggerty was forced to go on hiatus to address a menacing drug problem that was spinning out of control. Then,