RapStation

Idris Goodwin's Top Three Songs Off His New Album, Rhyming While Black By Kyle Eustice As the promo for Idris Goodwin's new album, Rhyming While Black, gets underway, the Colorado Springs-based artist may need a bit of an introduction. The HBO Def Jam poet, award-winning playwright, author, professor, and emcee grew up in Chicago, but has spread his wings to New Mexico, Michigan, Colorado, and beyond. His first book, 2011's These Are the Breaks, shone a spotlight on his incredible writing talent and garnered significant accolades from NPR, which is no easy task. His play, How We Got On, premiered at Actors Theatre of Louisville's 2012 Humana Festival and was nominated for an ATCA Steinberg New Play Award and published by Playscripts, How We Got

Consisting of 5-Star, O'Nill & Nivek, Dezert Eez formed at Western Michigan University, located in Kalamazoo, MI (the "Microbrew Capital") and after performing on the local circuit for a year, the trio began making waves in Detroit's underground scene. In early 2005, Dezert Eez released its first mixtape, The Realness, which won widespread critical praise that focused especially on the group's lyrics. The buzz helped them earn a raft of high-profile outside gigs, including shows with KRS-1, Dead Prez, Slum Village and a mini tour with Wu Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck. Dezert Eez leapt to a bigger stage in 2008 when 5-Star teamed up with C-Rayz Walz, Killah Priest, and Bronze Nazareth to form The Almighty. The album also featured hip hop legends Canibus, Keith Murray, and Planet Asia. In

Blockhead’s Top 10 Hip-Hop Tracks By Kyle Eustice (and Tony Simon) New York City-based producer Tony Simon, better known as Blockhead, has to know music inside and out to even function in his chosen field. As the architect behind albums such as 2004’s Music By Cavelight, 2009’s The Music Scene and his most recent, 2014’s Bells and Whistles, Blockhead has proven himself over and over again to be a master of musical genres. He’s also lent his talents to good friend/collaborator Aesop Rock to help him deliver an Aesop masterpiece, 2009’s None Shall Pass. While the music he makes is mostly instrumental, it’s hip-hop he prefers to listen to while mobbing around Manhattan or whatever city he may be in that day. Here Blockhead shares his top 10 favorite tracks as of January 30,