Happy Fucking Friday! Its Friday, its pay day (for some if us) and time for sexy time (for the lucky ones.) Here are some things to consider before you get freaky this weekend: (more…)

Breaking into any business is hard, but the music business is particularly difficult offering a set of unique challenges. It’s an insular field with many gatekeepers who guard the gates carefully. It’s one of the few industries where nepotism runs almost unchecked, and what you know isn’t as important as who you know. Fortunately, there are some enterprising minds who are working to open the gates to up and coming talents, both behind the scenes and on stage. iStandard Inc. has earned a reputation for seeking out the newest producing talent through their website and producer panels and showcases in New York, Lads Vegas, Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix, Philly and Chi-town, and they’re now partnering with Miami-based DBHH Management to produce the first annual Beats on the Beach conference this October in Miami Beach, an event we here at Alumnah are proud to support. 

I recently had the opportunity to chat with organizers J Hatch and Don Di Nappoli about their work and what attendees can expect at the first annual Beats on the Beach Conference and why it’s important to climb every rung on the ladder to success. (more…)

As you may be aware, Barack Obama finally chose a running mate. The pick was promised to be delivered first to his supporters via text message, but somehow the news leaked, so many supporters received text messages about 3am EST on Saturday morning with the announcement. I wasn’t one of them; I’m of the opinion these politicians have more than enough money and mine is better spent paying my own bills.  His choice of Biden wasn’t much of a surprise to politicos and those paying even slight attention to the presidential race. Barack has faced a great deal of criticism for being too young, too inexperienced in foreign policy and national security. And the whole he’s Black thing. A natural and seemingly wise choice to combat all that criticism was Joe Biden, a career Democrat, and an old White guy.

You may already be voting for Barack because you are a staunch Democrat, you like him, he’s Black. You may already have decided to vote for McCain because you’re a Republican, you like old White guys, you have a POW fetish. Or you may be of the opinion that the Illuminati has already decided the fate of the election so the actual act of voting is futile, and therefore you’ll spend election day eating Cheerio’s and watching Cartoons and Porn. Regardless, you should all be a bit informed, so to save you from searching through websites, newspapers and books to learn about Joe, we here at Alumnah have worked tirelessly to compile this (hopefully) helpful Joe Biden primer. (more…)

T.G.I.F.F. we did it again! We made it through another week, and as a reward here’s some sexy fun stuff for that ass. (more…)

As many of you, I’ve been paying attention to the Olympics.  I’ve been reading about the events more than I’ve been watching, because, let’s face it, there’s a 16 hour time difference and I need my beauty rest.   But I’ve caught Olympic fever- there’s something about witnessing goals achieved, athletic perfection achieved, sportsmanship, and the coming together for a common goal that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Perusing the Olympics website, I found myself rewarding about a number of rather obscure sports (to me at least) and wondered who some of the champs may be of rappers competed. Athletic prowess aside, I drafted a list of Hip Hop medalist, and called in my Alumnah partner in crime, Crazy88, for his thoughts. The process was simple, take the brief definition (cut and pasted for your viewing pleasure) written about each sport on the official Olympics site, and match it up with the Hip Hop equivalent. Some we got pretty well, others we guessed at (the sports and definitions really are rather obscure). Take a look and chime in below if you agree of who your picks would be. (more…)

T.G.I.F.F. We made it through another week! Hallelujah.  Whether its pay day, lay day or just another Friday for you, here is your latest dose of freaky fuck factoids I’ve scoured the net for: (more…)

Dear Isaac,

I can’t believe you are gone.

You were from an era where men where MEN, capital M-E-N: strong, dynamic, undeniably sexual, sensual and flawed. A bygone era where artists weren’t afraid to stand for something besides their jewelry box. A time when artistic excellence was unparalleled.  You represent an era where songs where 10 plus minute long opus’ were the norm, music wasn’t rushed to fit a playlist; your music was robust, sensuous, frenetic, flush with instruments. With every key stroke and horn blare, your body responded to his music as if it were an ancient language, deeply ingrained in every fiber of your being.  When the horns swelled, so did your soul. (more…)

T.G.I.F.F. Its been a helluva week for me, probably been a rough one for you as well. Something about August is just draining; it’s hot and humid and we’re probably all carrying childhood scars and memories of how August represented the end of our free summers and school was fast approaching. However, now we are responsible adults (or we pretend to be on occasion)  so all Fridays in August signify is a possible pay day and a possible lay day.  In honor of the possible laying, here is your latest installment of fun and freaky sex factoids: (more…)

In numerology, the number five signifies coming to life, invention, vitality, enjoyment, play, and creativity. The Grammy nominated Kentucky rap quintet Nappy Roots is the literal personification of all that the number 5 represents. From a 2003 appearance in Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar as one of the few Hip Hop acts (and one of the most requested!)  to participate in a USO tour, to artistic collaborations with everyone from Kanye West to The Dave Mathews Band, Nappy Roots has come a long way from throwing house parties as undergrads at western Kentucky State University. True entrepreneurs, Nappy Roots have been steady grinding, releasing mixtapes and touring, staying in touch with fans and creating music that has been a southern stew of blues, rap, politics, alcohol, weed, sex, soul and fun. After taking the industry by storm with 2002’s platinum selling Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz, and following that up Wooden Leather a year later, Nappy Roots earned themselves a plethora of accolades and fans across the globe. They are the epitome of grown ass men, unapologetic and true to themselves with their word as their bond.

Those words have kept them bonded to diehard fans as they navigated the often tumultuous music industry. An exit from Atlantic Records and down a member (R. Prophet left to pursue a solo career), five years later, official Kentucky Colonel’s Skinny Deville, B. Stille, Ron Clutch, Scales and Big V have spent the last 5 years grinding hard and with the August 5 release of their 5th CD looming, and a new deal with Fontana/Universal, Nappy Roots is poised to establish themselves once again as a force to be reckoned with.

I recently had the opportunity to have a very candid conversation with Skinny Deville about where Nappy Roots has been, why the fuck the rap biz is all sorts of fucked up and what’s on the horizon for one of rap music’s most creative groups. (more…)

Dear Justin,

Die you ignorant Cracka ass cracka. I’m sorry, that was rude. To the point, but rude nonetheless.

Frankly you don’t deserve much more. You are the kind of talentless douche bag that I generally try and ignore, however you have seemingly wormed your way into the word talented and are spreading your craptastic doucheness and racist antics in a rather broad way. (more…)