Terror Squad MC Prospect collaborates with D.I.T.C.'s Lord Finesse for am unforgiving view of the streets on "Make Something Outta Nothing". From the powerful and dark edge of the music to the aggression delivered through lyrics, this song is reflections of a struggle from the concrete jungle. From Prospect's mixtape "First Blood" available now at DatPiff.

Providing the remedy for all your cornball raps and thirst for original boom-bap is Perth, Australia producer Kid Tsunami. A beast on his MPC2000XL, the kid is a wax fiend, sampling ‘70s jazz, soul and funk to formulate his ‘boom bap’ style concoctions. Signed to Brooklyn’s Headbop Music, the kid likes to think he is bringing real hip hop back, keeping himself open to work with hip hop’s greats.

This lyrical showcase by The Rhyme Inspector Percee P is one of the many entertaining moments of "The Chase" which features appearances by an all-star cast of veteran and legendary MCs. Percee's flow is as slick and witty as ever as he joins Kid Tsunami for "Down Pat".

When I discovered this mural of DJ Premier and The Guru was being created in my hometown of New York, I knew I had to make the trip to see what turned out to be a nice work of street art proudly displayed in a borough of New York which remains true to it's traditional elements.

On my arrival at the 174th St. station of the Bronx, I was happy to discover a part of the community that has remained more socially and economically unchanged over time than my own neighborhood of Harlem which is undergoing large changes by corporate America. To witness a Gangstarr mural in the heart of the Bronx also brought back a sense of reality to where I was standing, this is the home of Hip Hop and a place like none other which for the most part still belongs to the people. I can only hope this mural which serves as a true symbol of Hip Hop remains untouched by outside corporate forces who threaten to exploit inner city culture rather than support, which is similar to how I feel about the treatment of Hip Hop in mass media.

After walking awhile through the neighborhood I finally arrived between Webster and Park in The Bronx to find the mural located in a small, non-commercial area between 2 buildings near the underpass of a highway known as the Cross-Bronx Expressway. It was unexpected to find it in such a secluded spot but I guess as a graf artist this is an ideal place to concentrate on creating a work of art without distractions. As a huge Gangstarr fan I was hoping it would be more exposed to the public view like a number of other murals dedicated to Hip Hop I've witnessed over the years. The artists did a good job in capturing the likenesses of Premier and Guru, the color scheme of purple and the accuracy of the famous chain & star logo is well done.

As I made my way back home on that hot day I caught a vibrant sunset towards the west which was nice. The experience was memorable in visiting a part of The Bronx I hadn't before, seeing some great art and getting a sense of the thriving community who created a culture which DJ Premier and The Guru represent to the fullest.