Rap

Professor Green

Hackney rapper loves a Nando's

12 Aug 2010

Professor Green knows how to party. When his debut album, Alive Till I’m Dead, charted at number two last month, the East-London rapper let it rip: ‘I was so over the moon that I celebrated with a full chicken platter, two large sides and a refillable…

Tinie Tempah planning Adele duet

Music Gossip

7 Jan 2012

Tinie Tempah wants to record with Adele this year. The 'Pass Out' hitmaker has been discussing a collaboration with the singer - who was hit by a string of vocal cord problems last year that led to the cancellation of many tour dates - for some time…

Secret rapper Kelly Clarkson

Music Gossip

1 Sep 2011

Kelly Clarkson loves to sing Eminem's 'Lose Yourself' at karaoke. The 'Since U Been Gone' hitmaker is a huge fan of the rapper and loves to perform his back catalogue with her friends, although she worries she looks ridiculous when she does. She…

Dappy ready to change face of rap

Music Gossip

20 Aug 2011

Dappy thinks his solo album will change rap forever. The N-Dubz rapper releases 'No Regrets' later this month and thinks he will surprise people with his "M-singing". He said: "Lots of people who rap get people to sing on their hooks, but when I…

Nicki Minaj 'awkward'

Music Gossip

9 Aug 2011

Nicki Minaj believes she and Lady Gaga are both "awkward" and "non-pretty". The 'Roman's Revenge' rapper feels she and eccentric 'Poker Face' hitmaker Gaga have much in common and that they both promote the idea that it is alright to be…

Flo Rida ready to sleep rough to achieve rap dream

Music Gossip

3 Dec 2010

Flo Rida wasn't afraid to "end up living on the streets" if it meant he could be a rapper. The 'Club Can't Handle Me' hitmaker said his journey to stardom started with his bible and that he was never afraid of the consequences of pursuing his dream…

South Africa's rap/rave Die Antwoord on UK tour promoting $o$ re-release

Blaring synths, pounding beats and South African accents

2 Nov 2010

When a video featuring South African rave/hip-hop crew, Die Antwoord surfaced late last year, a lot of head-scratching ensued. Is this for real? What’s up with their hair? And why is that guy shaking his penis? Whatever you thought of that video and…

Snoop Dogg delivers a more intimate set at the Glasgow Academy

The rapper performed a series of newer and classic hits.

22 Jul 2010

What is this, rap week in Scotland? A few days before Eminem and Jay-Z landed at T in the Park, another superstar of the genre played what must count as an intimate set by his standards here. Even those other icons would have trouble outdoing Snoop…

Eminem - Recovery

7 Jul 2010

(Polydor) Originally intended as a sequel to last year’s Relapse, Recovery looks to re-establish Eminem as the strong, inescapably bratty voice of modern rap he once was. Fully embracing his struggles – drug addiction, loss and the mixed response to…

Big Picture: Uffie

16 Apr 2010

Expect looping electro-heavy hip hop from Hong Kong via Paris rapper Uffie (aka Anna-Catherine Hartley). Signed to taste-making label Ed Banger and frequent collaborator with Feadz, Justice and Mr Oizo, she heads another Annie Mac special at Death…

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip

19 Mar 2010

(Sunday Best) Like listening to Russell Brand or Simon Amstell rapping about Britain’s flaws, and preaching about safe sex over uninspiring drum & bass beats. Painful polemics. Light years away from ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’s glory.

Eminem: Relapse

28 May 2009

Eminem’s sixth album, isn’t his jump the shark moment: it’s the continuation of a long leap that started with his previous album Encore. As a rapper, he remains an unstoppable force, but topically, he’s running on empty. Relapse is Marshall’s rehab…

Xplicit

14 May 2009

Wander through the doors of Edinburgh Uni’s Potterrow on 22 May and you might be in for a bit of a surprise. Over the last year or so the venue has once again started to host a growing number of club nights and large events run by some of the capital’s…

Social networker

13 Nov 2008

How many times have you heard some over the hill rap star attempt to dismiss any attempts at innovation and excuse creative treading water by claiming their doing it ‘old school’? I still hear it a lot. This rosy, Ray Ban-ed view, which in actuality was…