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Underground Chicago rapper Jelani Lateef (J Fury) has been grinding for the past 10 years, trying to get his brand of hip-hop out into the world. In 2011, he founded Manhood Entertainment and released his debut album My Soul to Keep on the independent imprint in 2013. A year later, he dropped My Soul to Keep 2 and quickly followed up with 2015’s Cold Days and Dark Nights. With thought-provoking and introspective lyrics, his soulful brand of hip-hop aims to enlighten the listener. Much like Kendrick Lamar and The Roots’ Black Thought, Lateef is another breath of fresh air in the often soul-less genre of mainstream rap. With each release, Jelani has garnered more critical acclaim. With album reviews in the Source, Allhiphop.com, Black Minds Magazine, and

Brooklyn-based artist Santigold isn’t hip-hop, she isn’t soul, reggae, pop, or electronica, nor is she dance music. As a matter of fact, she’s nearly impossible to contain in a neat little box, which is exactly the point. After debuting her self-titled album in 2008, she blazed a new trail for her own genre-less style of music by working with a variety producers (sometimes multiple producers for just one song) and keeping the audience engaged with her unique sound. Her sophomore album, 2012’s Master of My Make-Believe was heralded as a masterpiece by critics and fans alike. Recorded in Jamaica, it features guests vocals by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and production by Diplo, Switch and Nick Zinner, also of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. “I think music is a communal thin

Canva$, or Canva$ Cope, is a Vermont native from the city Brattleboro, and he later moved to Goldsboro, North Carolina. His passion began at the age 9 but he truly began recording his music during sophomore year of high school in his own bedroom. His musical obsession continues to grow and he hopes to drop his EP that is in progress early 2016. Much of his inspiration came from the late 2Pac and Jay Z. The flow they delivered as artists are what he “fell in love with” and the support of his family and friends made it easy for him to pursue his dream of being a rapper. His name came from wanting something that “could represent him as an artist,” and Canva$ coincides with his desire to paint visuals through his music. Pulling from artists like 2Pac, Jay Z, and Nas with his favori

Idris Goodwin On His Hip-Hop Inspired Play, How We Got On: A Break Beat Play Award-winning playwright, emcee and educator Idris Goodwin never stops grinding. When he’s not teaching a hip-hop class at Colorado College, he’s writing lyrics, penning a play or spending time with his family. He is the true definition of an artist, often times suffering for his art, but ultimately embracing his passion so he can share it with the rest of the world. His most recent play, How We Got On: A Break Beat Play, combines elements of hip-hop with a storyline that takes the audience on a journey back in time when hip-hop was just beginning to breathe new life. In the RAPstation interview, Goodwin talks about the concept behind the play, how hip-hop fits into it and the next two plays in th

In a Facebook post the morning of Thursday, February 4, editor-in-chief Andre Torres announced his resignation from the beloved music magazine, Wax Poetics.  “While some of you may already be aware, today it's with a heavy heart that I officially announce my resignation from Wax Poetics. It's been the honor of a lifetime building this tiny magazine into a globally respected media company with my partners in crime Brian DiGenti, Dennis Coxen and Freddy Anzures,” he wrote.  He went on to say, “My departure doesn't signal the end of the road for Wax Poetics. The squad will continue to bomb newsstands with the best music magazine on the planet.” Wax Poetics was established in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York. It covered not only hip-hop, but also Latin music, sou

Keeping up with the shots being fired back and forth between Ghostface Killah and Martin Shkreli, with Ghostface Killah calling Shkreli the “Michael Jackson-nose kid” Shkreli has responded with threats of his own. In a video received by TMZ, the owner of Wu-Tang Clan’s Once Upon A Time In Shaolin is seen being surrounded by masked men demanding an apology from Tony Stark and saying he will erase Wu-Tang’s Once Upon A Time In Shaolin album if Ghost doesn’t follow through. “Most people don’t ever try to beef with me, know why?” he asked. “Because nobody’s that dumb…For whatever reason you think it’s okay to beef with me but that’s a big mistake. At the end of the day, I feel very sorry for you. You’re an old man who has lost relevan