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BEN WESTHOFF

Latest Articles

Interview: Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx on acting, singing, comedy, and controversy
"Until you get a chance to define another side of your career, people will always say, 'You're doing it as a hobby.' "

By: BEN WESTHOFF | August 11, 2009

Interview: John Legend

A different kind of R&B star
Despite being one of the most successful R&B singers of the decade — with six Grammys and three top-selling albums — John Legend is something of an oddball.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | August 05, 2009

East Coast Avengers wrong the right with ‘Kill Bill O’Reilly’
Rapper Esoteric has been getting lots of death threats via e-mail recently. But he’s not too worried about them, if only because of their elementary character.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | September 02, 2008

The call of the wild

Wolf Parade get instinctual
It’s not easy being in a band whose two primary songwriters have quite different ideas about how to write an indie-rock song.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | July 28, 2008

The silent rapper

What the hell has Rakim been up to?
One of the most influential hip-hop MCs of all time, Rakim brought rap from its sing-songy beginnings into its late-’80s golden era with his dense lyrics and virtuoso internal rhyme structures.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | July 21, 2008

Green initiative

Hip-hop’s heads go on Wale watch
In an era when the major labels ignore just about everybody without a nickname that rhymes with “sleazy,” it was no small feat for Wale to land a deal with Interscope Records earlier this year.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | July 21, 2008

Wolf Parade

At Mount Zoomer | Sub Pop
At Mount Zoomer will give you those same goosebumps you felt when you heard the band’s debut.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | June 24, 2008

Lil Wayne

Tha Carter III | Young Money/Cash Money/Universal
All rappers ride on the claim that they’re the best, but on III Wayne makes his case.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | June 17, 2008

Mates of State: Re-Arrange Us

Barsuk
For their fifth album, Mates of State sought out and found the perfect pop tune. Ten of them, actually.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | June 03, 2008

Ready to wear

Enough respect — Jamie Lidell wants you to like him
It’s difficult to keep up when Jamie Lidell is talking.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | June 02, 2008

Identity crisis

Black Kids know who they are, even if you don’t
Black Kids lead singer Reggie Youngblood is relaxed and focused, articulate and unpretentious, polite with a sharp sense of humor.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | May 06, 2008

Solid gold

Atmosphere’s Slug grows up. . . . sort of
One of the biggest names in indie rap for the better part of a decade, Minneapolis duo Atmosphere have just released their latest album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | April 22, 2008

9th Wonder and Buckshot

The Formula | Duckdown
Although the term is often bandied about, 9th Wonder has become a true super-producer in recent years.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | April 22, 2008

Fat Joe

The Elephant in the Room | Terror Squad
For a 15-year rap veteran who brought the world the late Big Pun and has penned a long string of hits, Fat Joe sure has an inferiority complex.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | April 02, 2008

Rick Ross

Trilla | Def Jam
It’s easy to hate on Rick Ross for his sub-standard flow and tired materialism.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | March 25, 2008

Everyday MC

Masta Ace and eMC fly without a Learjet
Since Masta Ace got his start with the legendary NYC Juice Crew (Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Biz Markie, etc.), he’s had only a few minor hits.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | March 18, 2008

The French are coming

Justice and Busy P bring the Ed Banger sound to Boston
The launch of an extensive North American tour sponsored by MySpace that comes to the Paradise this Saturday.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | March 10, 2008

Shiko Mawata

Kimbanda Nzila | iMak
Featuring Congolese rumba tinged with Afro-Cuban rhythms, Shiko Mawatu’s debut CD is compelling enough to transcend the oft-dubious distinction of “world music.”

By: BEN WESTHOFF | March 12, 2008

New day rising

Mr. Mould goes to Washington
As a member of alternative punk band Hüsker Dü and crunch-pop outfit Sugar, Bob Mould became legendary for blissful guitar melodies and personal lyrics that explored his inner angst.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | March 04, 2008

Jeremy Lowell

No Arms | Self-released
Jeremy Lowell is a 24-year-old Allston singer writing vulnerable lyrics in a folksy mode and delivering them with garage-rocking grit.

By: BEN WESTHOFF | February 20, 2008

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