RapStation

It's that time of year again when musicians, publicists, managers and fans head down to Austin, Texas to experience one of the music industry largest festivals, SXSW. In honor of this tradition, Rap Station interviewed dozens of hip-hop artists headed south this year to talk about hip-hop and what makes the festival important for them. First up, The Chicharones have been making people laugh since 2001 with its humor-infused brand of hip-hop. Comprised of Sleep (Oldominion) and Josh Martinez, The Chicharones actually met at SXSW. The rest is history. The duo’s last album, 2012’s Swine Flew, is further evidence of its uncanny ability to transcend genres and write ridiculously witty rhymes. According to Spin Magazine, The Chicharones are "the best bar band in America, delivering an

Brooklyn's Joey Bada$$ stretched his wings on A$ap Rocky's recent posse cut "1 Train," skilfully rapping over a beat that should have been out of his comfort zone. The 18-year-old can be considered one the premium young rappers out there right now, perhaps only behind Kendrick Lamar and Rocky himself in terms of recognizability, but he can certainly count Rocky, Kendrick, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson and Big K.R.I.T (all of whom also appear on "1 Train") as his contemporaries, despite all of the above having more releases under their belt and Joey forging a very different sonic path. For many, the guest spot will have been the first exposure of the young rapper who occupies a very different space in New York's new wave of artists being tipped to bring hip-hop supremacy back

Former fellow G.O.O.D. Music representer GLC returns with his latest video, "My Downfall," from his recently released Silence Of The Lames mixtape which is nearing 30,000 downloads now on Datpiff.com. "Any addiction can be one's downfall! The wish to ball can be one's glory, or the end of their story. I share a story with you based on cause & effect." Please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r55k8gHSeq0&feature=em-share_video_user to check out the new video for "My Downfall" featuring Nico Segal. GLC is currently working on a new mixtape (The Pulpit) which he hopes to have out by April and also working on his sophomore LP The Book Of St Ism, which is slated to be released this spring. Head over to http://www.datpiff.com/GLC-Silence-Of-The-Lames-mixtape.428101.html to downloa

On the heels of his latest project, Bizarre Tribe; A Quest To The Pharcyde, it has been announced that Amerigo Gazaway will be a part of this year's South By South West line up! Hailed as one of the largest, most influential music events of the year, Gazaway will soon join the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Big Krit, A$ap Rocky, Action Bronson, The Pharcyde, and countless others who will leave their mark on the stages of SXSW. In honor of this monumental event, Amerigo has put together a 35 minute mix of funk jams, original mashups and remixes, featuring tracks from Kashmere Stage Band, Gummy Soul's Wally Clark x Kanye West, The Meters, Q-Tip, Grover Washington Jr., Blowfly and much more. Please visit http://gummysoul.com/2013/01/the-gummy-soul-show-freak-the-funk/ to listen/download t

Cannibal Ox wants to give their true fans a chance to be apart of their musical revolution and artistic expression by having an international art contest for a forthcoming maxi-single due this spring! Here are the official rules & conditions from Cannibal Ox: 1. Must be 18 years of age to enter. 2. All art must be original, completed with no text or words {Black & White is allowed} 3. CONTESTANTS must draw up whatever comes to their mind when they hear our music and say our name CANNIBAL OX! We want a raw gritty pic based off of our first cover The Cold Vein. Use your imagination don't be sacred. 4. Subject in email should read; Cannibal Ox Art Contest- Artist name 5. Inside your email give a simple background story of where you are from, why you love art and how you got into C

LOCAL LOVE CORNER This Week: Omaha, Nebraska The Evolution of Buck Bowen By Kyle Eustice For five years, Buck Bowen was a constant fixture on Omaha’s hip-hop “scene,” but all of a sudden, he bowed out of all his responsibilities and took off. He sold his car and his possessions then simply vanished. Turns out, Bowen was on a sort of self-imposed exile from America and globetrotting around Mexico, El Salvador and Costa Rica. At this point, he had already become disenchanted with hip-hop and essentially, anything having to do with it. After a year south of the border, Bowen settled in Long Beach, California. It was here that he finally felt he was able to come out from behind the mask he’d been wearing in Omaha for so long. He was free to be himself. I remember an arrogant