Groove
Gazette
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Read →New Hip Hop This Week: Oct 16
Statik Selektah with Raekwon and Freddie Gibbs, Che Noir & Black Thought, KXNG Crooked, Zacchae’us Paul, Illa J, Lucky Daye and GUIO’s 25-song playlist.
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Read →MPC One G2 vs MPC Live III: Which Should You Buy?
Same 8-core engine, a $900 gap: pads, inputs, battery and the Pro Pack, and which MPC fits how you make beats.
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Read →Hieroglyphics: All Said and Done
Del, Casual, Pep Love and Souls of Mischief return after 13 years: the story, the best tracks, the critics and where to get the vinyl.
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Read →Best Studio Monitors for a Home Studio (2026)
Ten picks from a $100 desktop pair to the Neumann KH 120 II, with room size, 808 bass and setup tips for hip hop producers.
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Read →How to Record Rap Vocals at Home
Ten steps from room to backup: mic distance, gain on your loudest bar, buffer size, headphone mix, doubles, ad-libs and comping.
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Read →EST Gee: Bigger Than The Devil
Seven years after surviving five gunshots, the Louisville rapper doubles down: the singles, the Jeezy sample, the charts, the tour and our verdict.
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Read →Best Audio Interface for Rap Vocals
Top 10 from $139 to the Apollo Twin X I use every day: gain for the SM7B, Clip Safe, UAD and how to choose.
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Read →Rakim, Kurupt & Masta Killa: The Godbody LP
Tupac’s One Nation idea, 30 years later: Rakim behind the boards, the Jay-Z and Eminem interlude, the best songs and the vinyl.
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Read →New Hip Hop This Week: Oct 9
Ovrkast.’s STRIKING, Strange Fruit Project’s full EP, Souls of Mischief with Phonte, Johnny Venus, Adrian Younge & ALA.NI and GUIO’s 25-song playlist.
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Read →Quavo: QRÖMELIFE
Pharrell on every beat, Takeoff in his heart, a daughter in his arms: the story, the songs and the backlash.
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Read →MPC Sample vs SP-404 MKII vs EP-133
Feel, effects or fun: which portable sampler fits the way you make beats in 2026?
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Read →The Alchemist Discography Guide
From Mobb Deep to Alfredo, VOIR DIRE and Erykah Badu: every key album explained, and where to start.
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Read →Best Headphones for Music Production
Closed for beats and vocals, open for mixing: the 10 best studio headphones, including the pairs I use.
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Read →Best Mics for Rap Vocals at Home
From a $99 AT2020 to the Shure SM7B and Neumann: the 10 best microphones for recording rap in a real home studio.
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Read →Akai MPC Key 37 G2 Review
Four times the power, 37 keys and 16 pads: is the keyboard MPC worth $999, and should you get it over the One G2?
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Read →Black Milk: CEREMONIAL
One man, one Detroit studio, twelve tracks: the story and sound of 2026’s most overlooked rap album.
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Read →Best Akai MPC in 2026
MPC Sample, One G2, Key 37 G2, Live III and XL compared: which MPC should you buy?
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Read →Busta Rhymes & J Dilla: DILLAGENCE II
300 unreleased Dilla beats, Ma Dukes’ blessing and a last song with D’Angelo: the story behind the sequel.
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Read →New Hip Hop This Week: Sep 25
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo, Kiefer’s Blue Note debut, Blu & Fate, Strange Fruit Project with Rapsody and GUIO’s 25-song playlist.
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Read →J Dilla: Donuts, Explained
31 beats, a hospital bed and a goodbye letter: the story, samples and legacy of hip hop’s most influential instrumental album.
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Read →Akai MPC One G2 Review
Four times the power, 4GB RAM and USB-C audio in the classic MPC One body: is the $799 G2 worth it?
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Read →The Game: The Documentary III
24 songs, a surprise drop and Drake, Kanye and Lil Wayne on board: the third chapter of The Game’s signature series.
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Read →Larry June: Who Coppin
Jazzy West Coast funk, fresh orange juice and passive income: Larry June’s highest-charting album yet.
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Read →Rick Ross: Set In Stone
His first solo album in five years: caviar, Maybachs and a new chapter of the Maybach Music series.
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Read →Erykah Badu & The Alchemist: Before The World Blows
Badu’s first album in over 15 years, built with The Alchemist: a slow, smoky record finished before the world ends.
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Read →Akai MPC Live III Review
8-core power, 3D MPCe pads, step sequencer and clip launching: is Akai’s most powerful standalone MPC worth it?
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Read →Apollo Brown & Skyzoo: Luxury Tax
Ten years after The Easy Truth, the Detroit producer and the Brooklyn emcee return with an album about the price of ambition.
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Read →Akai MPC Sample Review
The $399 portable sampler that brings back the classic MPC workflow: specs, updates and how it compares to the SP-404 MKII.
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Read →Kendrick Lamar: The Life, Career, and Discography
Explore Kendrick Lamar’s life, career, and discography, from Compton to GNX. Discover why he’s hip hop’s king in 2025!
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Read →Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 2
Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 2 is a chaotic hip hop epic. Read our 2025 review for its cultural impact and raw energy!
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Read →Akai MPC Live II
The Akai MPC Live II is hip hop’s ultimate standalone studio. Discover why it’s a 2025 must-have for producers!
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Read →“Butcher Shop”: a Hip Hop Masterpiece
Awich, A$AP Ferg & RZA’s “Butcher Shop” is a 2025 hip hop beast. Discover why this global banger slays!
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Read →Roland TR-808
The Roland TR-808 is hip hop’s iconic drum machine. Read why it’s still king in 2025 and how to use it!
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Read →Kevin Gates’ “No Names” Video
Kevin Gates’ “No Names” video is a Southern rap banger. Read our review and see why it’s a 2025 hip hop essential!
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Read →The History of Hip Hop in New York
Explore the history of hip hop in New York, from Kool Herc to Pop Smoke. Discover why NYC is the culture’s heartbeat!
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Read →B.G.’s “My Hood” Video
B.G.’s “My Hood” video is a Dirty South banger for fans and creators. Read our review and see why it’s a 2025 hip hop essential!
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Read →Arturia KeyLab Essential mk3
For music producers seeking a versatile, affordable, and feature-packed MIDI controller, the Arturia KeyLab Essential mk3 is a standout choice. This keyboard controller combines intuitive design, powerful functionality, and an impressive software bundle, making it ideal for both home studios and professional setups. In this article, we explore why the KeyLab Essential mk3 is a must-have for producers in 2025, diving into its features, DAW integration, and unbeatable value.
