This month we present enough new content to fill your holiday stockings. We get up with Black Sheep for what was likely their last interview together (they recently broke up) to talk about their come up and new projects. We threw on our detective hats and followed the trails to Nine who's featured in the Lost & Found Section discussing his disappearance from the rap game and pending lawsuit with Jeep. In addition we chat with artist extraordinaire Justin Bua, mixtape DJ of the year J-Period, check in with another unsigned hype in 'Hush The Crowd' and mad reviews including Nas, AZ, AG, Sadat X, Nas' baby mother's tell all and more. We also get serious with an Australian hip hop blowout with an overview of the scene down under, an interview with Australian artist Muph (Muph & Plutonic), reviews from Def Wish Cast, Art of War and The Tongue, and a DVD review from our peoples at the Rap Cella. It's Halftime kid so take a break from shopping for presents and check out the Dec/Jan update.

Hip Hop Icons Series

Black Sheep:

"Mr: Lawnge: I was in a small town with turntables and that’s pretty much what I focused on. Anybody who put scratching on a record that’s where my whole style came from. I was stepping my skills up to whoever was putting scratches on wax since I wasn’t in the mix at the time being in Carolina. I wasn’t around the nicest DJs in Philly or NY so I had to work with what was distributed by those dudes."Click here for more

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Slick Talkin'


Justin Bua:

"My work is more influenced by the rhythms of breaking than by graffiti. Graffiti is very flat and graphic and some of my pieces like ‘El Guitarrista,’ ‘Blues Man’ and ‘Piano Man 1 & 2’ are very painterly and the way that the compositions flow are more influenced by breaking and popping. There is a certain kind of rhythm to the way that I paint. A lot of characters look like they are in mid dance. It’s a snapshot of a certain dance in a frozen moment of time and they happen to be in this popping posture. It’s one of those things that is very hard to articulate because it’s dance. It’s abstract. With graffiti the bold outlines and the very flat structure influence my work but dance influences my work first." Click here for more

J-Period:

"My allegiance is to the artist. Every artist knew about what I was doing, endorsed what I was doing, said I could do what I was doing and in some cases out of thank you I would send them the tape. Here is a perfect example we’re out here on tour with Kane and at the shows of course we’re gonna sell the mixtapes but out of respect to Kane we’ll split the profits with him. It’s a partnership with the artist. They know about it and it serves a purpose for them. Three years ago before I did the best of Kane he had fallen out of the limelight. I put the best of Kane out and it starts popping up places and then it’s not just about me you see Kane on Hip Hop Honors and he tore it down." Click Here for More

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Lost & Found

Nine (9MM):

"What happened was Profile wouldn’t let me go. Then they got sold to Arista and it took four years for the deal to go through. Then the guy who was interested in all of the acts from Profile got fired in the interim. I think Profile was trying to keep the RUN DMC catalog and sell everything else but Arista wasn’t going for it. So they were negotiating. Then Arista wouldn’t let me go right away. They wanted to hear something first so I gave them some bullshit little demo. If it was the days like today where you just go up in the label and kick in the door I might have done that. I was tempted to do that but I felt I could just wait it out because I knew the skill wasn’t going to leave me." Click here for more

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Sickwidit

Albums: Nas, AG, AZ, Dan the Automator, Jake Lefco, Slept on Fam, & Sadat X

Books: It's No Secret by Carmen Bryan (Nas' Baby mother)

Shows: Big Daddy Kane & DJ J-Period @ Club Sonar

DVDs: Preserving Efforts VOL. 1 (AUS)

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Hip Hop International

Country Profiles:

Australia:

"The Australian hip hop scene’s inception can be traced back to the late ‘80s when several groups began dropping vinyl singles. In 1988, Just Us, a group from Sydney (NSW), dropped the 1st 12” called "Combined Talent." They were soon followed by the AKA Brothers who dropped a 12" the same year. The biggest achievement of the early Australian hip hop scene was the 1st official album release from Def Wish Cast, a 4 man group out of Sydney (NSW). When the "Knights of the Underground Table" hit stores in 1993 it had great success domestically and in Europe. Def Wish Cast became legends as the album went on to sell over 5,000 copies and the crew became the first hip-hop group ever to tour Australia. " Click here for more.

"I suppose with this album there was a lot more back and forth with the actual process of creating each song. Instead of me just taking a beat and writing a song to it, then recording it, we did demo versions of almost all the songs. We would then critique the demos and re-write, re-edit and so forth. We put a lot more pressure on ourselves and each other. Overall, there was a lot more attention paid to detail than with ‘Hunger Pains’." Click here for more.

Reviews: Def Wish Cast, The Tongue and Art of War

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To all the aspiring journalists, Halftime Online is looking for new writers to assist with new artists interviews and feature series. If you have some ideas for an interesting interview series or column let us know. We are looking for well though out ideas so take some time before contacting us. Send all correspondence and writing samples to hnic@halftimeonline.com.

HalftimeOnline.com International Network:

Halftime online is always looking for fans and writers around the globe to help report on the international hip-hop scene. We're looking for correspondents in each country that can accurately describe their local hip-hop scene, it's history and how it's changing today and list the major contributors, magazines, and websites in the country. Albums, singles, and show reviews along with music links would also be appreciated. If you feel that you can contribute or have questions get at us @ hnic@halftimeonline.com.

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At this time Halftime is considering advertising partnerships. If you'd like to advertise at Halftimeonline.com contact us @ ads@halftimeonline.com if you think we would be a good match for your product.

This month we return with another banger. On the heels of the release of his new album American Me we get to sit down with CL Smooth in an exclusive interview (audio included). CL speaks about it all including his much publicized issues with Pete rock, the new album, his time outside the rap game and more. We also catch up with Grand Daddy I.U. in the Lost & Found Section as he discusses his career and life outside of the limelight. In addition we got a chat with the Spitkickers, J-Zone, and launch our newest section for all you unsigned hypes called 'Hush The Crowd' along with some new reviews of Jay-Z, Lupe, The Roots, J-Dilla and more. It's Halftime kid so take a break from whatever you're doing and check out the Nov/Dec update.

Hip Hop Icons Series

CL Smooth:

"I don’t think the fire would really be there if he didn’t spark the disappointment of not doing that reunion album. I wouldn’t have even felt this way but ultimately I have to thank this dude for sparking me. For making me so angry that I’m going to get this dude back by making the best album I could possibly make so his peers gotta say you know what Pete you fucked up buddy. You know what Pete you should have done his records what’s wrong with you? You could sit at home and barricade yourself but why can’t you make money off of that dude? Why can’t you give the people what they want?" Click here for more

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Slick Talkin'


The Spitkickers:

"How do you become a spitkicker is the most frequently asked question. There is no set criteria, nor are we limited to just musicians. We have a Chef named Marcus Samuelsson and we have a hockey player named Anson Carter that is apart the Spitkicker Family as well. It’s just a vibe or relationship that develops with the people in SK. A majority of the people down with Spitkicker were already cool with one another. For example we already had a relationship with Dave Chappelle and Michael Rappaport because both of them did skits on Talib Kweli’s albums. They both help promote our movement and in kind we always help push any projects that they are working on." Click here for more

J-Zone:

"The J-Zone character began to take over my life. Then when I’m out I put pressure on myself like what would J-Zone the rapper be doing in this situation. I’m tired of chasing hoodrats. As you get older different things become important to you even though some of those things will still be within me. I’m still cheap and I’ll still cuss a bitch out but sometimes I just wake up and I don’t want to be that way. Right now in my life I don’t feel like getting on records and upholding that image. I’m trying to go somewhere else in my life professionally and personally and that character might hold me back from going where I want to go. So it was also a personal decision to fall back off that rapping shit." Click Here for More

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Lost & Found

Grand Daddy I.U:

"I lived around the corner from Blimpie’s. He was like yo where do you live and that was the landmark right there. So he’s like meet me there and I’m like this ain’t no motherfucking Biz Markie on my phone man. Me and my brother went down to Blimpie’s with baseball bats and everything like we gonna fuck somebody’s ass up for playing this trick on me. But that nigga Biz pulled up driving a 740 way back then. I was like ok this nigga is serious." Click here for more

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Sickwidit

Albums: Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Black Sheep, Inspectah Deck, The Roots & J-Dilla

Shows: Method Man, Inspectah Deck & Masta Killa @ Towson University

DVDs: Awesome...I Fuckin Shot That!

Hush The Crowd: Maleet, The Coalescence, & Fresh Daily

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Help Wanted

Looking for a few good writers:

To all the aspiring journalists, Halftime Online is looking for new writers to assist with new artists interviews and feature series. If you have some ideas for an interesting interview series or column let us know. We are looking for well though out ideas so take some time before contacting us. Send all correspondence and writing samples to hnic@halftimeonline.com.

HalftimeOnline.com International Network:

Halftime online is always looking for fans and writers around the globe to help report on the international hip-hop scene. We're looking for correspondents in each country that can accurately describe their local hip-hop scene, it's history and how it's changing today and list the major contributors, magazines, and websites in the country. Albums, singles, and show reviews along with music links would also be appreciated. If you feel that you can contribute or have questions get at us @ hnic@halftimeonline.com.

Advertisers

At this time Halftime is considering advertising partnerships. If you'd like to advertise at Halftimeonline.com contact us @ ads@halftimeonline.com if you think we would be a good match for your product.

This month we bring you the second half of our super exclusive two hour interview with the God MC himself, Rakim Allah (audio included). In part two of one of the most revealing Rakim interviews done to date we get at Ra about a bit more about Aftermath, have him detail another writing style, talk about family and give us the concept behind his new album the Seventh Seal. Do not miss this one! We also catch up with Mic Geronimo in our new Lost & Found Section as he discusses his career and life outside of the limelight. In addition we speak with production team Street Radio, J-Math and Jimi Kendrix, as they tell us about their new rap and poetry program aimed at at risk youth, grab some time with Lupe Fiasco, drop an introduction on the Swiss Hiphop scene, and hit you yet another incredible art piece from Kagan Mcleod along with some new reviews and editorials.

It's Halftime kid so take a break from whatever you're doing and check out the August update. Don't forget to bookmark us and subscribe to the hip hop icons podcast and RSS feed so you don't miss any updates. Also please be aware Halftime has a new address for anyone sending in material.

Hip Hop Icons Series

Rakim:

"What I'm doing is taking the Seventh Seal and making it relevant to hip hop and life itself. You see it everyday with the tsunamis and the earthquakes its evident man. The glaciers are melting, global warming, we at war, planes crashing into the jump off, the flooding that's the seventh seal. I'm gonna make it similar rap and let them know the same thing and at the same time why the seventh seal is coming about. I'm gonna have some fun with it but at the same time I'm gonna open some people's eyes. That's the concept of my next album. So back to that hip hop is dead thing it's like if it keeps in the direction its going, not saying that the Dirty South, East Coast, Midwest or Cali is killing it, but if everyone keeps saying it there must be some truth to the statement. We're nearing the end. It feels like the same thing is happening to hip hop." Click here for more

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Slick Talkin'

Hip Hop & Community: Rap, Poetry and Word

Street Radio (J-Math & Jimi Kendrix):

"I have always had this class Rap, Poetry, & Word. Ive been making beats for about as long as Ive worked there. So I always liked to bring my tracks to the center and use the kids as a test market. So the class is for potential rappers. We start studying poetry and then transition to rap lyrics. They learn about flow, delivery, cadence, how to count bars, song structure, and everything like that. Then they get to writing. We really try to use the lyric writing as self-exploration, and do a lot of life story type of tracks." Click here for more

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Spotlight

Lupe Fiasco:

"Some people think that Im actually arrogant because theyll ask how it felt to be on such and such and Ill be like it was aiight. What they dont understand is that I did it two or three years ago but since Im a new artist they think that Im supposed to be ignorant to the facts or situation so they chalk it up to arrogance. Im like Im arrogant because I dont want to sit up at these awards? Even though I was here two years ago, know everybody here and this isnt really my cup of tea? Its weird because Im always balancing and trying to give people a little bit of my history like Ive done all of this before. Ive been back and forth to different countries around the world just chillin." Click here for more

Mic Geronimo:

"I'm human so Id be lying if I said that its not times where you sit back like damn all these niggas is poppin whats up? But the older you get the more mature you get so now I look at it in the sense of that it might not have ever been meant to be for me. Maybe my records might change somebodys life rather than sell thru the roof. Maybe my records might make the next Ja Rule or Jay-Z want to rap. Everybody plays their part in this world and not all parts are the same. So I look at it like whatever I was put here to do thats what the outcome is. I never really looked at it like how come they are popping and Im not. I came to terms with it. I get hit everyday with people everyday saying I remember this record from that, this changed my life or this record was playing when this happened so Im thankful for that." Click here for more

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Sickwidit

Sweat the Technique: "Sing a Simple Song" - A visual breakdown of the various breaks that have come from this classic.

Albums: Chords, Sciencz of Life, 7L & Esoteric, Project Move and Boot Camp

Shows: LL Cool J @ Ram's Head Live Baltimore

Editorials: Hip Hop Conciousness

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Hip Hop International

Country Profiles:

Switzerland:

"The first official LPs were released around 1989. In the early days, although most Swiss speak German, French, or Italian, everyone rhymed in English. Later on, around 1988, French speaking MCs were the first to switch to their mother tongue with German speaking artists following soon after in 1992 after the release of the bilingual track Murder by Dialect by P27 featuring Black Tiger. Rappers from the French-speaking part (where the traditional dialects died out in most parts) and the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland (where most people mix dialects and Standard Italian freely) generally only rap in the standard languages." Click here for more.

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Help Wanted

Looking for a few good writers:

To all the aspiring journalists, Halftime Online is looking for one or two new writers to assist with new artists interviews and feature series. If you have some ideas for an interesting interview series or column let us know. We are looking for well though out ideas so take some time before contacting us. Send all correspondence and writing samples to hnic@halftimeonline.com.

HalftimeOnline.com International Network:

Halftime online is looking for fans and writers around the globe to help report on the international hip-hop scene. We're looking for correspondents in each country that can accurately describe their local hip-hop scene, it's history and how it's changing today and list the major contributors, magazines, and websites in the country. Albums, singles, and show reviews along with music links would also be appreciated. If you feel that you can contribute or have questions get at us @ hnic@halftimeonline.com.

Advertisers

At this time Halftime is considering advertising partnerships. If you'd like to advertise at Halftimeonline.com contact us @ ads@halftimeonline.com if you think we would be a good match for your product.

This month we get a super exclusive two hour interview with the God MC himself Rakim Allah (audio included). In part one of one of the most revealing Rakim interviews done to date we get at Ra about his writing style, production, family life, Aftermath, and all points in between. Do not miss this one! We also catch up with Smoothe Da Hustler in our new Lost & Found Section as he discusses his career and life outside of the limelight. In addition we got a chat with Hot 97's own Miss Info, drop an introduction on the Norwegian Hiphop scene, and hit you yet another n incredible art piece from Kagan Mcleod along with some new reviews and editorials. It's Halftime kid so take a break from whatever you're doing and check out the June/July update.

Hip Hop Icons Series

Rakim:

"Ive been writing rhymes for so long I got like five or six different ways I write a rhyme. It might be from the last word in the verse to the first or sometimes I sit there, toy with it and I might come up with sixteen of the illest words I can and write the rhyme to fit in. Thats just when Im fucking around or when its a little slow for me and Im not in the mood to write I know how to force it out. How can I make it seem like Im not writing a rhyme today. Those are just some things I do. People bug out when they see me grab a paper and start writing from the bottom. People be like what are you doing? Just slow down. By the time I get to the top Im done. They like done with what and I be like this is sixteen bars. I just wrote a rhyme nigga. Its crazy man." Click here for more

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Slick Talkin'

Hip Hop & Radio

Miss Info (Hot 97):

" Coming Soon "

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Lost & Found

Smoothe Da Hustler:

"Im real deep with family and thats all Ive been fucking with since I first came out. And I listen to r&b. I dont listen to rap. I tune in every now and then to see whos hot and whats popping. But for the most part Im on my own thing. For the street shit I take it to the rap and thats what I do but my leisure time is r&b. Im a cool dude I like to chill. When I came into the game I was 15 or 16 but I just turned 31. Im a single father and all that. Its real grown man shit going on. If I aint saying gun, nigga, slap you in the face and all that crazy shit its r&b. Haha." Click here for more

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Sickwidit

Sweat the Technique: "Atomic Dog" - A visual breakdown of the various breaks that have come from this classic.

Albums:De La, Mr. Lif, KRS-ONE, Lord Jamar, and Busta Rhymes

Shows: Rakim @ Sonar Club Baltimore

DVDs: Who?Mag DVD Volume 1

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Hip Hop International

Country Profiles:

Norway:

"The hip hop scene in Norway actually started twice. The first wave followed the Beat Street and Wild Style movies in the early eighties which generated a small wave of break dancers and writers. However, that movement died down quite a bit and then reappeared just before 1990. After 1990 a lot of groups started to appear and more and more writers got up. This was a period where basically anyone who wasn't a complete nerd had a tag." Click here for more.

_________________________________________________________________

Help Wanted

Looking for a few good writers:

To all the aspiring journalists, Halftime Online is looking for one or two new writers to assist with new artists interviews and feature series. If you have some ideas for an interesting interview series or column let us know. We are looking for well though out ideas so take some time before contacting us. Send all correspondence and writing samples to hnic@halftimeonline.com.

HalftimeOnline.com International Network:

Halftime online is looking for fans and writers around the globe to help report on the international hip-hop scene. We're looking for correspondents in each country that can accurately describe their local hip-hop scene, it's history and how it's changing today and list the major contributors, magazines, and websites in the country. Albums, singles, and show reviews along with music links would also be appreciated. If you feel that you can contribute or have questions get at us @ hnic@halftimeonline.com.

Advertisers

At this time Halftime is considering advertising partnerships. If you'd like to advertise at Halftimeonline.com contact us @ ads@halftimeonline.com if you think we would be a good match for your product.