http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/articles.sec-56-1-hip-hop_rap.html Fans of the comedy classic Friday may recognize the name Big Worm, but the Big Worm behind Bench All-Stars is rooted not in South Central L.A., but on the streets of Oklahoma City. ]]> It's odd that in this hyperpolitical cross-section of American history, the voices of socially conscious rappers à la Public Enemy or A Tribe Called Quest are being drowned out over the sound of poppin’ bottles, smackin’ booties and the jangle of diamond jewelry.]]> Oklahoma City's own Breezy Burnz is tough to pin down, but that's half the fun of his latest mixtape, Product of My Enlightenment, a top-to-bottom solid effort that boasts a smattering of hip-hop complete with some of the catchiest hooks the 405 ever has seen.]]> Oklahoma City’s rap revolution continues with Mr. Metaphor from Spyda “the Wise Musician,” a self-proclaimed “worldwide producer” with a style that’s “more doper than rocks of crack.”]]> Tulsa rap export Johnny Polygon made a splash with 2010’s Rebel Without Applause. Now he’s back with his most fully realized effort to date.]]> Harlem, New York, rapper A$AP Rocky has released his highly anticipated debut album, Long.Live.A$AP.
]]> A lot of hip-hop is pure escapism: fantasies about fast cars, attractive women and having more money than you know what to do with. High Character is not that; it’s about as real and down-to-earth as it gets, while still taking the time to appreciate the small things the world gives us.]]> Atlanta rapper T.I. has released Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head, his eighth studio album and the first since his most recent stint in prison. The title is no doubt a reference to his legal troubles on federal weapons charges, but it also makes reference to the Marvin Gaye song of the same name, which is sampled in the album’s opening track.]]> If Norman’s Myke Brown keeps making music as good as he does in Don’t Forget the Y, Myke with a Y is sure to be a household name.]]> Atlanta rapper and one-half the legendary duo Outkast, Big Boi has released his new solo project, Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors. It’s far from a typical hip-hop album; every song has a different feel to it, sometimes even stepping outside of the genre. ]]> Rapper The Game has released his fifth studio album, Jesus Piece. The project is the Compton, Calif., MC’s attempt to rebound from his lackluster fourth LP, last year’s The R.E.D. Album.]]> West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar finally has dropped his major-label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d City.
]]> Seattle-based rapper Macklemore has once again teamed up with producer Ryan Lewis to cook up an album that is nothing short of fantastic. ]]> Lupe Fiasco, trying to rebound from his disappointing third album, Lasers, has released his highly anticipated fourth album, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1.]]> Kanye West and his G.O.O.D. Music crew have finally dropped their long-awaited compilation album, Cruel Summer. It has its moments, but overall falls short of the high expectations that come with any Kanye project.]]> Philadelphia-hailing rapper Privaledge, who is known more locally for his affiliation with Oklahoma City Thunder superstars Kevin Durant and James Harden, released his new mixtape, JoeWorld, last week. The project, a free online release, does not disappoint. 
]]> The last we heard from Moore emcee Jon Tefic (formerly Methotrexate), he had put out the stellar Camelpacks & Battlerapz, a smart full-length that acted as a tribute in equal parts to A Tribe Called Quest and Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All. Half a year later, Tefic is back, but with producer Shawn C at his side. Meet The Strangers.]]> If I had to guess what field of medicine Moore-based rapper Double R (of Purple Mouth Bandits) had in mind for Dr. Digital, I’d have to go with psychiatry. Frankly, this album is pretty crazy.]]> It’s pretty obvious that local rapper Josh Sallee graduated college between his debut album, Return to Sender, and his second full-length, Probable Flaws.
]]> My favorite hip-hop moment from 2011 was when the speed-rap once-superstar Busta Rhymes, now almost 40, resurfaced from the 1990s on Chris Brown’s excellent “Look at Me Now” single, as confident as if he’d been around all this time. ]]>