BKS1 Radio Network

Artist Review: Ghostface Killah

Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success.

Ghostface Killah debuted his solo-career with Ironman in 1996, which was well received by music critics. He has continued his success over the following years with critically acclaimed albums such as Supreme Clientele (2000) and FishScale (2006). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film Mystery of Chessboxing. He is the founder of his own label Starks Enterprises.

Ghostface Killah is critically acclaimed for his loud, fast-paced flow, and his emotional stream-of-consciousness narratives containing cryptic slang and non-sequiturs. In 2006, MTV included him on their honorable mention list of The Greatest MCs of All Time, while the editors of About.com placed him on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007), calling him "one of the most imaginative storytellers of our time." Q magazine called him "rap's finest storyteller.

Read more Ghostface Bio: www.wikipedia.org/Ghostface_Killah

Special Guest: Robbie Maxx

From State Championships to college recruit, From a College student/athlete to College dropout, Robbie Maxx has revamped his past into an unexpected Musical/Lyrical/Personable artist through determination, patience, and that same 'Never Back Down' mentality that has traveled with him through his competitive past.. Finally Robbie Maxx and Airplay Entertainment proudly introduce to you an 'Industry Beast' ready to tackle what too many take for granted, LIFE!

A young athlete, Robbie has dabbled with music since freshman year in college where he began with simply putting up a myspace.  After friends began to catch on and see some talent, he began running into producers and others working hard like him looking for a come up.  In his third year in college, Robbie met Airplay Entertainment by chance at Montclair State University.  He soon found his way to their studio in Bloomfield, NJ called 'The Booga Basement' where legendary artists such as The Fugees, City High, and Akon made their come up!  After dropping the "The Universal Milkyway" mixtape and doing shows at SOB's, Don Hills and more, in a trio group with Keith "Lil Wonda" Duplessis and B. Madison, Robbie soon found himself revamping his solo career after the group parted ways.

A year and a half later Robbie Maxx dropped his debut solo mixtape "Industry Beast Volume 1: The Alter Ego" which got great reviews and had some classic visuals and anthems!  He is now ready to embark in his second project which comes out 12.21.12 and is called "A Different World".  Robbie considers this project "the start of his career" and "a maturity unheard of in less than a year".  The world needs to prepare themselves for one of the most cool, unique, and lyrically talented up and coming artists New Jersey has seen in a while!  Robbie Maxx is on a mission to prove that hip hop can come from anywhere, and it's those who keep it real that succeed!  Enjoy and Embrace a new look and face of Music and Art! Robbie Maxx is here to FUG SH*T UP! #bxxbSwaggerific

Artist Review: Papoose

Whether from the pages of popular magazines or from the regular folks hanging on the street corner, Papoose received countless accolades before the release of an official album. Equipped with his signature, hard cadence, he managed to release over a dozen mixtapes under the guidance of high-profile mixtape-slinger DJ Kay Slay between the years 2004 and 2006, which in 2005 earned him the Justo Mixtape Award for Best Underground Artist. A more striking fait accompli was the endorsement in a Village Voice interview by hip-hop's original god MC, Rakim, that Papoose was one of the young N.Y. rappers best carrying his legacy.


Born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the same section of Brooklyn that spawned his rap elders, Jay-Z and the Notorious B.I.G., Shamele Mackie was nicknamed Papoose (a word used to mean Native American baby) by his grandmother. Based on his rhyme acumen, rap veteran Kool G Rap invited Papoose to be on his Roots of Evil album in 1998. After a failed record deal, Papoose decided to press his own mixtapes in order to build his reputation from the ground up, leading him to meet DJ Kay Slay. There is no interesting coincidence or some wacky back-story as to how the two hooked up. Papoose simply approached the DJ as he was leaving his eminent post at New York's Hot 97 radio station -- a couple of times actually -- in 2004 and aggressively promoted himself. Not only did DJ Kay Slay start placing Papoose on his Streetsweeper mixtape series, but he essentially founded the Street Sweepers Entertainment imprint to help gear up the unsigned artist to be New York's next legend MC.


Papoose particularly enthralled the mixtape circuit with the songs "Alphabetical Slaughter," a lyrical onslaught of vocabulary running down the letters of the alphabet, and "Sharades," a narrative about the hip-hop police that oscillates from a first- to third-person viewpoint. He patiently took his time to find the best label situation but did broker promotion deals with Violator Management and Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Squad. After guest appearing on a few tracks in 2006, including the remix of Busta's Top 20 pop-charting single "Touch It," he finally signed a 1.5 million contract with Jive Records in August 2006. His debut album, The Nacirema Dream, was practically already finished, but in the meantime, he held over fans with The Best of Papoose: The Mixtape, a succinct synopsis of his prolific mixtape run.

Read more Papoose bio: www.naciremadream.com

Artist Review: Trinity ( Sadat X, AG, & DJ Jab)

Few artists in hip-hop have afforded the longevity that Sadat X has. Where so many off his peers have faded into obscurity, Sadat somehow continues to write innovative songs, deliver relevant contemporary commentary, and effortlessly staying tuned to trends of the day. Having enjoyed an outstanding career in hip-hop, spanning nearly 3 decades as one of the genres most distinctive voices, his undeniable twang has commanded songs not just as 1/3rd of the fabled Brand Nubian (5 group albums), but alongside our genres greatest from Jay Z, Notorious B.I.G., Nas, & Common (to name a few).

He’s even been tapped by the likes of popular singer/songwriter Jack Johnson, legendary House-producer Miguel Migs and MC Lyte all in recent months for collaborations on their respected albums. And not just vocalists fiend for a good X verse; extraordinary producers from The Neptunes to Primo to Madlib to Prince Paul have all called in lyrics from the self-proclaimed Dot Father to accentuate their sound scapes.

When you hear the name Andre the Giant, your initial thought is a great, larger than life, ground-breaking, strength defying man. A.G. (Andre Barnes) was born in hip-hop’s originating borough - The Bronx. AG was asked to contribute to Lord Finesse’s LP, titled The Funky Technician. On that fateful session, A.G. met Showbiz. Bringing back some much-needed swagger and soul, the forming of Showbiz and A.G. is what some might call the rebirth of the Bronx. Show and A.G. became a collaborative intricate part of the superb Diggin’ in the Crates Crew; an elite team of MCs and producers who can claim much influence on genuine East Coast Hip-Hop.

In 1992, A.G. and his counterpart Showbiz, released their debut single “Soul Clap”, a self-titled EP. Their debut album, Runaway Slave, followed and is seen to date as a hip-hop essential and they followed up with Goodfellows in 1994. In 1999, A.G. released his much antici-pated first solo debut, The Dirty Version. A.G.’s second solo album, Get Dirty Radio, was released in 2006. Flash-forward to 2011 and almost two decades after A.G. not only made an impact but a dent in hip-hop; A.G. continues to release quality Hip Hop albums. A.G. is also an intricate part of the group Trinity, gearing up to their dedication to hip-hop purity.

Read more Trinity bio: www.last.fm

Live in the cipher will be reviewing Lil Wayne’s latest release I Am Not A Human Being II. Join the cipher team as we rate and review this hip hop heavy weight. Known for his witty word play and ability to produce hit songs, can Lil Wayne keep up the success he has been known to deliver?

Artist Review: Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.

In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included rappers Juvenile, B.G., and Turk. Hot Boys would release three albums, “Get It How U Live!” in 1997, “Guerrilla Warfare” in 1999, and “Let 'Em Burn” in 2003. In 1998, Lil Wayne appeared on the hit single “Back That Azz Up” by fellow Hot Boys rapper Juvenile, which reached #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and #5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.

Lil Wayne's debut solo album, 1999’s “Tha Block Is Hot” at age 17 featured significant contributions from the Hot Boys and was certified double platinum, debuting at #3 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. It also went to #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The lead single was “Tha Block Is Hot” which peaked at #24 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

His 2000 follow-up album “Lights Out” failed to attain the level of success achieved by his debut but was certified gold by RIAA. The lead single was “Get Off The Corner” which was followed by the second single, “Shine” featuring Hot Boys.

Lil Wayne's third album “500 Degreez,” released in 2002, followed the format of his previous two, with significant contributions from the Hot Boys and Mannie Fresh. While certified Gold like its predecessor, it too failed to match the success of his debut.

Beginning in 2003, Lil Wayne began recording a series of mixtapes titled “Da Drought” that led up to his 2004 album “Tha Carter.” “Go D.J.,” the lead single from “Tha Carter,” reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album went on to peak at #5 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, eventually the album was certified gold by the RIAA. Lil Wayne also made a guest performance on another Top 10 single, 2004’s “Soldier” by Destiny's Child.

Read more Lil Wayne bio: www.starpulse.com/lil_wayne