This week, we attended a concert at SOBs featuring Wu-Tang icon, Raekwon. Among the openers, the buzzing Dave East, the Harlem spitter with the Nas co-sign. We'll discuss his rise, as well as the others on the bill, including Kris Kasanova and the blisteringly entertaining Wordsmiff.

From new jacks, to old school, we'll talk about The Breaks, the VH1 movie that looks at the rise of 90s hip-hop, loosely based on Dan Charnas' tome, The Big Payback, which chronicled much of the explosive growth of the business of hip-hop that occurred at that time.

We'll talk (issh?) about year-end lists, and some events coming up.

As always, we welcome your calls.

The NY Hip Hop Report. Like sports talk radio. Just hip hoppier!

This episode is brought to you by The Spinning Wheel, an interactive, multi-media, hip-hop theater event happening all through January at the BRIC House in Brooklyn. 

Visit Birthplace Magazine for more information about this genre and generation-bending extravaganza.

Tonight, we'll preview the Downtown NYC release of Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives, the documentary film that looks at the duo's highly influential radio program that helped launch the careers of rap's most iconic artists, and indeed, helped explode rap into public consciousness.

We also have a pair of tickets to give away to the Downtown premiere, Q&A and after-party, happening Dec. 8 at Le Poisson Rouge.

We'll also be previewing other area hip-hop events of note, including the collaboration between Brooklyn's BRIC center and The Spinning Wheel, taking place in January.

Lastly, a special announcement regarding the formation of a new hip-hop-centered non-profit, The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy.

Genesis Be is a hard-working, talented, beloved member of the New York City independent artist community, and she is releasing her 7th full-legnth project, Poli Trap, with a Live Nation-backed show at Santos Party House on November 20. Her blend of style and substance is exactly what many rap fans have been clamoring for for years, and we're excited to have her join us.

Genesis Be will join us to talk about her Mississippi roots, her time here in New York and what Poli Trap: The Escape Tape is all about.

But first, wee speak with Curtis Sherrod from the Hip-Hop Culture Center in Harlem, who has developed a new mega-event kicking off November 19. A simultaneous celebration of hip-hop and holiday spirit, DJ-CON and Rapacon will be going down right on NYC's famous 125th street. With 125 DJs spinning outside of the Apollo, setting a Guinness World Record in the process, and Rapacon, a series of panel discussions, artist showcases, karaoke, networking and an after-party just down the block, the 2015 Harlem Holiday Light ceremony will be a great way to kick off the hip-hop-holiday spirit.

Tune in as we speak to Genesis Be and Curtis Sherrod.

Hey all! We're taking it from hip hop, back to the Blues, and kicking it with Beareather Reddy and Nadii about the upcoming Big Eyed Blues Festival. They are kicking the 10th annual event off with a discussion about the Blues and Hip Hop, that our host Manny Faces is participating in, so tonight,we'll chat a bit about that connection.

Plus, event previews and more.

As we do every week, we're here to bring you the best of New York's vast hip hop music and culture, in a talk radio format. Tune in to catch timely topics, and hear about new music, upcoming events and more.

Tonight, we'll go over some recent releases by area-artists, review events, preview others and as always, we'll be keeping the phone lines open for your calls on any topic related to NY-area hip hop music and culture.

Tonight's episode is brought to you by www.BirthplaceMag.com, New York hip hop's #1 website, and by group DJ lessons being offered by world-renouned artist, host and DJ, Illspokinn, held at midtown Manhattan's Funkadelic Studios!

Tune in, call in. Visit www.NYHipHopReport.com for past episodes, our email mailing list and more information.

Grammy award-winning artist Macklemore recently dropped a song, "Downtown," which featured hip hop pioneers including Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers, Melle Mel of Grandmasster Flash and the Furious Five, and Kool Moe Dee, know for hits like "Wild, Wild West" and "Go See The Doctor."

While many praised Macklemore for putting veteran hip hop architects on a song -- something few have seen fit to do -- there were plenty who looked at the situation differently. Some felt that the collaboration seemed like Macklemore was pandering for hip hop cred. Some say the pioneers were relegated to the role of backup singer, and that the whole situation was beneath them.

Big Daddy Kane, who helped orchestrate the pairing, was very defensive about the collaboration, as was Melle Mel, who, in an interview, expressed disdain at others who, in his mind, haven't seen fit to show love to their elders.

Many took offence at this airing out, pointing out the many artists who have. Our host Manny Faces also disagreed wth the commentary, claiming it made the pioneers seem close-minded and bitter to disparage an entire generation of artists, and fail to understand why some might question their involvement with Macklemore.

Regardless how you feel, the incident has brought up the discussion of ageism in hip hop that we'd like to explore.

We'll discuss the sides of this debate, and as always, welcome your calls.

On tonight's episode, we welcome Ron Killings, also known as WWE wrestler R-Truth, to The NY Hip Hop Report. In town for the 2015 SummerSlam being held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Ron Killings is also promoting the release of his new single, "What Cha Do To Get It?" as well as his upcoming album.

If you watch the WWE, you'll know that Ron Killings, as R-Truth, is known for rapping his own entry into the ring with the crowd favorite, "What's Up!." But Ron is not your typical athlete-who-decided-to-try-his-hand-at-music. We hear that music was Ron's first love, and he had to be talked into entering the wrestling game! 

Also, we're joined by Brooklyn's own Jadon, who recently beat out a nation's worth of contenders as part of the Jack Daniel's "Jack'N For Beats" MC competition, copping a $10,000 prize and a studio session with DJ Khaled.

We're excited to hear from these world-class champions and hear about their ventures in music and more, and of course as always, we'll also bring you other New York hip hop news, event previews and take YOUR CALLS thoughout the night!

The NY Hip Hop Report. New York's #1 hip hop talk show. Like sports talk radio. Just hip hoppier!

This episode of The NY Hip Hop Report is brought to you in part by:

YOUNG THUG & TORY LANEZ at The Paramount, Huntington, LI

FREESTYLE MONDAYS at Meridian 23

The hip hop world received another shock this weekend, as news spread about the passing of veteran rap artist Sean Price. The Brooklyn rap heavyweight has been making braggadocious, clever, hard-hitting music as a member of Boot Camp Clik's Heltah Skeltah, with Black Milk & Guilty Simpson as Random Axe, and as a successful solo artist. The Duck Down Music representative reportedly passed away in his sleep on Saturday, August 8, 2015.

We will, as we have in the past for other fallen members of our musical community, speak on the life and times and music of Sean Price, and we expect to hear from some folks who knew him and worked with him through the years.

Of course, as always, we'll turn the phone lines open to the people, and welcome your calls to discuss the legacy of Sean Price.

We'll take some time to go over some recent NY-area hip hop events and some upcoming ones as well.

Please join us to come together as we remember Sean "Ruck" Price.

The hip hop music world has been abuzz for the last couple of weeks as explosive, divisive events have spurred conversation and controversey.

Queens-bred upstart Action Bronson's flippant response to a question regarding what many consider the father of his style, Wu-Tang's Ghostface Killah, received backlash from many hip hop purists and Tony Starks himself!

Meanwhile, Meek Mill's assertions that Drake resorts to the use of ghostwriters, with the help of NY's own Funkmaster Flex backing it up, set off an explosion of discussion and debate on ghostwriting's place in rap music.

Lastly, fresh off the "black women have an attitude problem," Hot 97's provocateur-in-chief, Ebro Darden, stoked the flames of hip hop fans with the assertion that the legendary Nas was in fact, "not a lyricist." 

All three of these situations once again veered the hip hop world away from the actual conributions by those involved in the music and culture, but did touch on some interesting topics.

As always, our show opens it up to the people. What are YOUR opinions on these revelations. Tune in and call us up with your thoughts!

Did hip hop save your life? We're talking about what that means and welcoming calls on the subject.

We're also speaking with the folks from Supreme BARS, the monthly MC & producer battle that pits lyricists and beatmakers against each other!

Tune in, call up!