Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip-hop trio from Queens and Brooklyn, New York. The group, consisting of Salt, Pepa and DJ Spinderella, was one of the first all-female rap groups. “Push It” was released as the B-side of the “Tramp” single in 1987, and as its own single in 1988. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot […]
Learn English Vocabulary with Gang Starr
Gang Starr was an influential hip-hop duo that consisted of MC Guru and DJ Premier. Although they are not as popular as mainstream artists, they are regarded as one of the best groups by underground and alternative hip-hop fans. DJ Premier is still a successful DJ/Producer, but Guru passed away on April 19, 2010. In […]
Speak Better English: Idioms and Pronunciation with Mia-X
Mia X is an American rapper who first encountered success when she became the first female artist to sign with Master P‘s successful No Limit Records. Although born in New Orleans, Mia began her rapping career in Queens, New York as part of the hip-hop group New York Incorporated, which disbanded after only four years. After her […]
Learn British Slang with Skinnyman
Skinnyman is an English rapper who was born in Leeds and moved to London at a young age. He formed the Mud Family with Mongo and Chester P, a hip-hop group which released a number of EPs. These included such records as Itchy Town and Lash Suttin, a reworking of Redman‘s Smash Something. Skinnyman released a solo album, Council Estate of Mind in 2004, and it […]
Learn English Vocabulary with De La Soul
De La Soul is a hip-hop trio that formed in 1987 on Long Island, NY. They are known for their unique sampling, playful lyrics and humorous skits between tracks. They contributed to the rise of alternative hip-hop in the 1990s, especially to the beginning of jazz rap. The members are Kelvin Mercer, David Jude Jolicoeur and […]
2Pac Fridays: Keep Ya Head Up
“Keep Ya Head Up” is a 1993 hit single by Tupac Shakur. The song is dedicated to a young African-American girl named Latasha Harlins, who was shot and killed by a Los Angeles store owner in 1992. The shooting occurred thirteen days after the Rodney King beating, and many people believed it was one of the causes […]
Learn New Vocabulary and Idioms with Jay-Z
Jay-Z is a rapper, record producer and entrepreneur from Brooklyn, New York City. In addition to being one of the most talented and best-selling MCs in the world, Jay-Z is also one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists. He owns several companies and was even the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings. In 1998, […]
10 New Idioms You Must Learn Now with Yasiin Bey
Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, is an American MC and actor whose lyrics often focus on political and social issues. In 1998, he formed the duo Black Star with Talib Kweli, and they were a major force in the 1990s underground hip-hop scene. In “Mathematics” Yasiin Bey cleverly discusses social problems using numbers […]
Celebrate Mother’s Day with Kanye West
Kanye West is a rapper, record producer, film director and fashion designer from Chicago, Illinois. He made his first big break as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records where he worked on Jaz-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint. In “Hey Mama” Kanye West dedicates the song to his mother, Donda West. He praises her for raising him in […]
Learn How to Chill with Souls of Mischief
Souls of Mischief are a sub-group of the hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics, which is based in Oakland, California. The members are A-Plus, Opio, Phesto and Tajai. In “93 ‘Til Infinity” they discuss their daily lives in the year 1993, which includes women, money and just hanging out. Read the lesson and learn 8 new vocabulary words […]