Before everyone was equipped with camera phones--readily snapping Hipstamatic and Instagrams to share with the world, Ricky Powell made his mark in street photography back in 1985 with an old fashioned Instamatic camera. During the early days of NYC hip hop, Powell was following around the pioneers of the genre, turning out candid shots behind the scenes at elite clubs and on urban streets. more ›

15. Mogwai - Mr. Beast (Matador) As ever, Mogwai manage to blend unadulterated post-rock weight to their shoegazer tendencies with tracks like "Glasgow Mega Snake" and "Folk Death 95," showcasing their ability to create anthems with no words. This is where Mr. Beast really shines, in between blistering chord progressions and gradual swings into corybantic climaxes. In some ways a throwback to earlier (and heavier) Mogwai material, Mr. Beast isn't merely a rock album.... more ›

Nas Hip Hop Is Dead (Def Jam) Nas' 8th studio album (and first with Def Jam) marks the end of the Jay-Z feud and the beginning of post-hip hop recording, should we believe his figurative burial scene. As one of rap's more prominent figures, the imagery begs the question: What exactly is Nas doing with this album if hip hop is dead? Are we listening to the birth of something new, or the funeral... more ›

Merry Christmas kiddos, just about all you have to look forward to this week record shopping is a stocking-ready collection of reissues and collections. Oh, and Ghostface. Ghostface Killah More Fish (Def Jam) Wu Tang member and Staten Island resident Ghostface has indeed delivered more fish. In a manner somewhat reminiscent of the good old days (now nearly ten years ago, making Ghost a near AARP card holder among rappers), More Fish provides the... more ›

New releases by Comets on Fire, Matthew Friedberger, Midlake, and more more ›