Karmaloop rapped it up with Slick Rick backstage a day before his pardon.

Elsewhere on the Web:
The homey Corey Bloom interviews Slick Rick

Sacha Jenkins of Mass Appeal TV interviews Killer Mike.

[Shout out to Chelsea @ Karmaloop]

[Photo of Bun B and El-P © virexmachina]

Picking up right where we left off, I give you the 2nd part of my chat with Bun B where I ask him about the new UGK album and the possibility of collaborating with the legendary DJ Premier. Plus, you won’t believe who he picked to win the 2008 NBA championship. (User-submitted questions are in italics.)

Peep game. (more…)

What began as a regular interview translated into a protracted back-and-forth with Bun B when the topic drifted to Pimp C’s legacy. I made the mistake of asking Bun what measures he would take to keep his friend’s music from being exploited a la B.I.G. and Pac. I don’t know if it was his diplomatic tact at play or the hectic schedule he was working with that day (he was on a flight back to Houston for a Louis Vuitton/II Trill listening session), but for whatever reason Bun took issue with one question and passionately defended Pimp’s family over a crime they haven’t even committed.

Here’s a transcript of my conversation with Bun, raw and unfiltered. (more…)

All you have to do to retain your artists is let them sleep in your couch? Who woulda thunk it?
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I’ll never forget the first day I saw Rich Boy up close. It was at the 2006 BET Hip-Hop Awards, in Atlanta. “Throw Some D’s” was the biggest hit on the radio at the time. But because I hardly listen to radio, I almost paid a hefty price. I was busy taking pictures on the Red Carpet alongside other journalists and photojournalists when some skinny dude in a modest outfit strolled out and struck a pose. I watched in confusion as 50 cameras shuttered simultaneously. An older shutterbug next to me, who had been relying on my “hip-hop expertise” to ID the rap stars the whole time, leaned over and asked, “Who’s that guy?” I had no clue this time. But, I decided to snap “that guy” anyway. “Who knows,” I thought to myself, “he might end up becoming famous.”

Fast forward to 2008. Rich Boy is not just famous, he’s so popular that if you placed him side by side with the mayor of his city in a classroom full of teens, the students would easily identify Rich Boy and wonder if the other guy is their new substitute teacher. Oh wait, that’s the inspiration behind Rich’s upcoming mixtape, Bigger Than the Mayor (April 15th). On the heels of his re-up album, Buried Alive, and a spanking new mixtape, I caught up with Alabama’s favorite son to pick his brain on music, politics, and life.

Pull up a seat and enjoy the conversation. (more…)

Lupe Fiasco - Live Lounge
Lupe and Matthew Santos stopped by BBC’s Radio 1 for an interview awhile back. They also performed an acoustic version of “Superstar” live. It’s worth it to listen to the end for their funny rendition of the Frosted Flakes theme song.

[Props: Feroz Gajia for the link]