Killer Mike

Top 10 Twin Cities hip-hop venues

It's hard to believe with the reputation it now holds that there was a time when the Twin Cities wasn't booking too many hip-hop acts. Once we were still flyover country to many of the national touring acts, and the local underground scene had yet to rise to prominence and prove the power of homegro ... More >>

Pitchfork Music Festival releases full 2013 lineup

The Pitchfork Music Festival lands at Chicago's Union Park July 19-21, and after the initial tease of R. Kelly, Björk, and Belle & Sebastian, the full lineup is now here!One of the main curiosities for Twin Cities music fans is how the acts announced might filter into First Avenue's music festi ... More >>

Jennifer Lawrence and SNL remind us Minnesota radio still lacks hip hop

Saturday Night Live still thinks the state of hip hop radio in the Twin Cities is laughable. Over the weekend, we returned to the fictional studios of B-108 in Shakopee, "Minnesota's home for blazing hip hop," for another early morning joke at our scene's expense. This time, guest The Hunger Games s ... More >>

The 2012 Pazz & Jop poll, including my ballot, is live!

The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics' poll officially signals the death knell for any more opinions on 2012 music. But before we spend too much time evaluating Justin Timberlake's return and the ascent of Willow Smith, here's a last, fond look at the year that just concluded.On the one hand, raw ... More >>

Best Twin Cities concerts 2012

The Gimme Noise crew attended a lot of concerts, festivals, events, gatherings, and what have you this past year. As is the case with every year in live music in the Twin Cities, the cacophonous noises etched history into the walls of our storied venues and into our minds. There were a lot of firsts ... More >>

Best Twin Cities concerts 2012: Staff lists

Here are the raw lists from many of City Pages' contributing writers and photograghers for the finest shows they attended this year. Hint: It's all over the place!See Also:Best Twin Cities concerts 201250 Awesome Concert Photos from 2012Best Twin Cities songs 2012: Staff lists Best Twin Cities album ... More >>

Craig Finn's top 10 albums of 2012

Making lists of things is important. Lists are great for grocery shopping, keeping track of irresistable kisses if you're Daryl Hall, remembering things you're supposed "To Do," and the corralling of the finest albums of a musical year. The Hold Steady's Craig Finn knows this, and has added an extra ... More >>

GZA at First Avenue, 9/20/12

GZA with Bear Hands, Sweet Valley and Killer Mike First Avenue, MinneapolisThursday, September 20, 2012Without a word to the cheering, three-quarters full audience, dressed simply in baggy jeans and a grey, Pringle of Scotland sweater, Wu-Tang Clan heavyweight GZA (neé Gary Grice) stepped onstage a ... More >>

Critics' Picks: Deerhoof, Built to Spill, GZA, and more

GZA

DJ Abilities on Summer Set, album with Jel and new mixes

See Also: Summer Set Festival 2012 lineup Prof on Summer Set and his pre-show ritualLegendary Twin Cities turntablist DJ Abilities has been spinning heads with innovations behind the wheels of steel for over a decade. A two time DMC regional champion, as well as one half of Eyedea and Abilities and ... More >>

Prof on Summer Set and his pre-show ritual

See Also: Summer Set Festival 2012 lineupProf brags incessantly with Yelawolf on "New Kid" First Listen: Prof, 'King Gampo' (Free Download)One of the Twin Cities' favorite homegrown talents, Prof is gearing up to end his summer with a bang. With his new Yelawolf-assisted single "New Kid" already a m ... More >>

El-P and Killer Mike at Fine Line, 7/5/12

El-P, Killer Mike, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, and DespotFine Line Music Cafe, MinneapolisThursday, July 5, 2012See Also:Slideshow: El-P and Killer Mike at the Fine LineEl-P on Prince, his mother, and full-band rap shows as "dusted out Phish concerts"Killer Mike on being unhappy with Obama, and zombie ... More >>

El-P, DeVotchKa, Santana, and more

Killer Mike on being unhappy with Obama, and a zombie apocalypse

See Also:El-P on Prince, his mother, and full band rap showsKiller Mike might be the most dangerous MC spitting right now. This isn't to say that modern hip-hop lacks for dissenting, uncompromising voices or agit-prop ideas, but given the visibility the Atlanta rapper born Michael Render commands ri ... More >>

El-P/Killer Mike

El-P on Prince, his mother, and full-band rap shows as "dusted out Phish concerts"

Independent hip-hop trailblazer El-P is currently riding his career's highest critical wave. With his new album Cancer4Cure, as well as producing the new Killer Mike album R.A.P. Music, and a well-received performance on Late Show With David Letterman, things are coming together for the Brooklyn nat ... More >>

Bambu on the L.A. riots' 20th anniversary, his Soundset debut

Related:*How Rhymesayers set up the Soundset Festival*Danny Brown on XXX, almost signing to G-Unit*Big K.R.I.T. on country rap, dream cars, and playing SoundsetBy Mike MaddenRealizing Bambu deliberately released his debut album, self untitled..., 10 years after the 1992 Los Angeles riots, it's ... More >>

Five songs that sound like screws tightening

Sometimes pop and rock songs are at their best when the grooves are especially spiral-like or boa-constricted, when melodic ecstasy and sonic claustrophobia combine to create something amazing. This week, 5ingles explores that idea with five recent jams that aren't trying to make you listen passivel ... More >>

5ingles

Best nationally released albums of 2011

​It's a good thing we waited until the last week of 2011 to publish our final best-album lists, since a few bands managed to eke out stellar releases just this December (the Roots' undun and the Black Keys' El Camino in particular made their way onto a few staffers' lists). With only a few da ... More >>

Owl City and Big Boi collaborate on new record

​We're still sifting through the onslaught of interviews and other coverage that took place over the week of SXSW, but this caught our eyeballs: Apparently Owl City's next record is going to feature some sort of collaboration with OutKast's Big Boi.

5ingles

The songs we can't escape

Ten Great Rap Albums from 2006

Donuts, fishscales, and bigger weapons

Top 100 songs of the 2000s