www.BombHipHop.com
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the San Francisco-based Bomb
Hip-Hop is one of the underground’s most informative
resources, both as a record label and a magazine. The Web site
carries that tradition over with tons of articles and video and
audio media. The articles are the most extensive part of the Web
site. With various categories “representing the four elements
of hip-hop (DJ, graffiti, breakin’ and rapping),”
viewers gets a taste of the variety and depth of hip-hop culture
both past and present. Interviews with top-notch artists, such as
Jurassic 5, Ice Cube, Run DMC and Jedi Mind Tricks, display the
magazine’s knack for feeling the pulse of hip-hop. Artists in
Japan, Australia and Denmark are also covered, all interviews being
intelligently conducted. The magazine doesn’t shy away from
the bizarre or the hardcore. In an interview with Eyekon of Jedi
Mind Tricks, Bevan Lee asks about the lyrical emphasis on
government conspiracies and extraterrestrials. Eyekon replies,
“What I know about these things could fill a library.
Let’s just say that in 2003 a ship called Niburu is coming
for the 144,000 chosen.” A great resource is the collection
reviews of classic hip-hop records from the 1980s, when hip-hop was
in its nascent stages. The Bomb Hip-Hop record label is represented
on the Web site through a complete discography as well as samples
of the music on Real Audio and video clips on Quicktime. A large
photo album displays Bomb’s exploits around the world, from
Tokyo to Brisbane to Sydney. This Web site is an essential visit
for fans of hip-hop. As an increasing cultural force, hip-hop finds
a kindred spirit with Bomb Hip-Hop.
Howard Ho www.Rapdict.org
Essential to every culture is language, and the hip-hop culture
is no exception. This rap dictionary came to the Internet in 1999
with a huge makeover. It now has easily accessible information on
major hip-hop artists, and over 250 entries in the dictionary. Who
would have known Snoop Dogg used to be called Calvin? Viewers can
look up the real names of a variety of artists, even though other
facts are scarce. The albums of the artists are also listed, giving
fans a look at how their favorite artists have progressed. The site
features a list of rap-related items to explore via the Internet in
order to “find your thang.” Recommended books include
ones about artists such as the Beastie Boys and Tupac Shakur; there
are rap-related magazines and miscellaneous links in this category
as well. Most useful and educational is the dictionary of rap
jargon, home to “ballers,” “eses” and
“peeps” familiar with this language. However, people
more unfamiliar with the terms are the likely target audience,
giving them an understanding of this unique language.
“Shorty,” a word in the dictionary, is a noun referring
to a female, similar to words of affection like “baby”
or “honey.” Learning words like this can aid listeners
as a number of songs, like Shaggy’s hit “Angel,”
include “shorty” in their lyrics. A few word entries
can also be useful as abbreviations. A-Town refers to Atlanta, and
D-Town refers to Detroit. There are abbreviations and substitutions
that leave sex- and drug-related expressions and words sounding
more tasteful as well. Viewers can be aided more directly by asking
for album suggestions, and they can return the favor by clicking to
the site’s wish list of words with definitions still being
debated or unknown. Even if the Web site is just a review,
it’s an entertaining site that provides a view of how rap has
influenced the prominent hip-hop culture.
Sophia Whang
Madsoulonline.com
Madsoulonline.com, strictly speaking, is a dotcom, created to
exhibit and recruit graffiti artists. Yet Madsoul shows definite
signs of life with its connections to Yellow Rat Bastard, the
influential hip-hop clothing store and magazine, and Madison Square
Garden, where its New York Knicks merchandise is exclusively sold.
Perhaps most indicative of Madsoul’s longevity is that it
actually creates a product. The opening of the Madsoul credo reads,
“Madsoul Clothing Company was founded on the idea that the
world’s top graphic designers are graffiti writers.”
With that mindset, Madsoul hires street artists to design apparel
from which the artists receive royalties. The online store shows
the fruits of Madsoul’s mission. As of yet, Madsoul mainly
offers T-shirt designs, although they promise to expand. Buying
online requires signing up for an account, which is actually quite
simple and painless. The most interesting page is the gallery,
which exhibits artists from around the world. At the time of
writing, works by EonOne from Florida and The Royal King Bee from
New York were being displayed. While Madsoul’s founder Marc
D’Amelio no doubt wants to make some money, another goal of
his is to get graffiti artists off the streets and into the
mainstream. At least one graffiti artist, Zoom One, has graduated
from art school after being caught by police. The Connecticut-based
company sure has its work cut out for itself, but so does graffiti
art in general. Madsoul is another step in the direction of
legitimizing an art form that many perceive negatively. The Web
site remains rather sparse, but if Madsoul makes good on its
promises, it could be an influential graffiti resource.
Howard Ho