Its been another good week for hip-hop writing and journalism, with many of the usual suspects writing the best material. Here’s a round-up.
DJ Screw: A Fast Life in Slow Motion by Lance Scott Walker
Whether you are a fan of his music or not, the impact DJ Screw had on rap in his all-too-short life is huge. In this well-researched and extensive article, the writer pays proper tribute, telling the full story of Screw’s come-up, without focusing too much on his abuse of Lean and subsequent death. Read here.
The Selective Memory of Rap Fans by Robbie Ettelson (Unkut)
At a time when a lot of classic albums are celebrating their 20th or so anniversaries, Unkut points out how others are being forgotten. He singles out the X Clan album To The East, Blackwards as a prime example, and how it was a project of way more significance than most care to remember. Read here.
GZA Speaks: The Lost Art of Lyricism by GZA
He may be pointing out what most of us already know, but its interesting to have a first-hand opinion about the state of rap lyrics from one of the best rappers still working today. The highlight comes at the point where GZA explains how two different artists would interpret the same simple subject matter. Read here.