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CHRIS FARAONE

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Blank slates splattered with neon

Santigold, Amanda Blank at the House of Blues
I’m not sure what kind of set list Santigold brought, but I’m guessing that she scrapped it after the crowd remained limp three tracks in.

By: CHRIS FARAONE | June 03, 2009

Old gold

The Dunnas and Wasted Talent are in it for life
If everybody else can be a Toys "R" Us kid until he or she qualifies for discount coffee, why the hell should rappers have to grow up?

By: CHRIS FARAONE | June 05, 2009

Busdriver | Jhelli Beam

Anti- (2009)
For a guy whose layered rhymes are less accessible than Hilary Duff's muff, Busdriver designs relatively people-friendly hip-hop.

By: CHRIS FARAONE | June 02, 2009

Marco Polo and Torae | Double Barrel

Duck Down (2009)
Duck Down has reached beyond its Brooklyn-grounded rap roots in recent years, signing such acts as Kidz in the Hall and Boston's Special Teamz.

By: CHRIS FARAONE | May 27, 2009

Last biscuit in the oven

Nuestra's culinary misadventure
On that next trip to Whole Foods or the farmers' market, your favorite small-batch cookies, jams, and jellies might be hard to find.

By: CHRIS FARAONE | May 20, 2009

Booming in Boston's underground, Caribbean riddims are about to burst back into the mainstream
The climate is tropical, sweet skunk fills the air, and reggae jams are hitting such lofty decibels that I can't even feel my phone vibrate.

By: CHRIS FARAONE | May 21, 2009

Reggae: Upcoming shows in Boston

Boom shakalaka
Upcoming reggae shows and club nights in and around Boston

By: CHRIS FARAONE | May 20, 2009

He shall overcome

Amadeus the Stampede keeps on pushing
There’s nothing lamer than articles that lead with cheap metaphors inspired by an artist’s stage name. But I can’t avoid this one: when Amadeus the Stampede rushes, get the fuck out of the way.

By: CHRIS FARAONE | May 19, 2009

Timeline: Reggae in Boston

1968 - 2009
A timeline of reggae milestones in Boston

By: CHRIS FARAONE | May 21, 2009

Come clean

Jeru the Damaja doesn't hate pop after all
Jeru the Damaja vocalized underground agony before RZA declared that R&B stands for "rap and bullshit," before Dead Prez blasted "monotonous material," and way before Immortal Technique announced that he would soil a Def Jam development deal.

By: CHRIS FARAONE | May 18, 2009

Review: Atmosphere at House of Blues

Game changer
There are two things about Atmosphere MC Slug that provoke endless fury in linguistically thugged-out Internet rap snobs everywhere.

By: CHRIS FARAONE | May 18, 2009

He's not a doctor . . .

. . . but he plays with one in LA. As hip-hop's newest secret weapon, Dawaun Parker is helping resuscitate rap's biggest stars.
Around this time four years ago, contemporary hip-hop tastemaker Dawaun Parker faced the same dilemma that most soon-to-be music-school grads negotiate: should he become a performer, a songwriter, or a barista?

By: CHRIS FARAONE | May 18, 2009