On May 5, 1998, Rawkus Records released Lyricist Lounge, Volume One, a groundbreaking double-disc compilation that amplified the raw lyricism and creative depth of underground hip-hop at the time.

There was a time when the pairing of rapper Common and producer Pete Rock would easily be my most anticipated album of any year. Common, the Chicago rapper turned multihyphenate, has long been one of ...

To be an MC — at least in the way expressed above — is an arduous and relentless endeavor. Even if you have the gift of gab as a lyricist, there’s still a discipline necessary to craft the words one ...

The prodigious producer was up for a Best Rap Album trophy for his collaboration with Common, “The Auditorium Vol. 1,” and Best Rap Performance for “When the Sun Shines Again” featuring Posdnuos. On ...