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Matthew Deapo is a Philadelphia-based arts critic and founding writer for Hip Hop Top 50 (hiphoptop50.blogspot.com) and Kinetoscope Film Journal (www.kinetoscope.org). His essay on Awesome Dré was recently included in Heaven Was Detroit: From Jazz to Hip-Hop & Beyond, and his personal obsessions include popular culture, tall pints of beer, and his beautiful, supportive wife.

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Articles by this author

lifestyle Apr 2 2017

Honoring The Best Hip Hop LP’s: Jurassic 5 – Quality Control

Falling somewhere between nostalgic and progressive, Jurassic 5 blends the house party energy of Hip Hop’s first wave with a heightened social consciousness and disinterest for mainstream success. They stress fundamentals like a high-school basketball coach, interested only in the core elements of a genre currently too enamored with narcissistic greed to rock a party or have a positive […]
Article Mar 29 2017

Honoring The Best Hip Hop LP’s: OutKast – ATLiens

It’s hard to imagine Antwan Patton and Andre Benjamin as anything but household names. In contrast to their current fame, 1996 saw them low on cash, fearing a sophomore slump and struggling to fully realize a unique identity. They certainly had the opportunity to dive headfirst into the mainstream, but they wanted to develop their ambitious […]
Article Mar 27 2017

Honoring The Best Hip Hop LP’s: Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury

Hell Hath No Fury is materialism incarnate. Pusha T and Malice fetishize porcelain showerheads and European two-seaters like de Sade ruminated over sex, fanatically cataloging their financial conquests and proudly laughing at those they’ve corrupted in order to attain wealth. Their blank amorality and epicurean compulsions would bring to mind the teachings of Anton LaVey, if only they […]
Article Mar 23 2017

Honoring The Best Hip Hop LP’s: Del The Funky Homosapien – I Wish My Brother George Was Here

Teren Delvon Jones defies categorization. He’s not a gangster rapper, despite his zip code and family ties. He’s too contrary and antagonistic to fit in with the Native Tongues Posse. His affection for George Clinton makes for a**-shaking grooves, but don’t dare ask him to dance. He’ll point fingers at mainstream, derivative rappers (“Crumbsnatchers”), but […]