Mike Mezeul

Lil Wayne has just released his 10th studio album, I Am Not a Human Being II. It's been 18 years since his first album, True Story, as one half of The B.G.'z. In that time, he's been a lesser-known member of an embattled Southern hip-hop group, a scrawny kid, a mixtape hero, the greatest rapper alive, the world's biggest pop star, a crossover cautionary tale, a completely non-discriminatory shill, and an old man playing catch-up in a style he practically invented. That style would be the free association that people once reverently described as "Dadaist" but now more commonly refer to as "stupid." And he deserves it, really: In 2007, we were getting vivid genius like "I'm so motherfuckin' high, I could eat a star." Whereas now we're just getting whatever lazy nonsense wanders into his addled brain ("'Cause when it Waynes it pours," which come on).

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Gangbangin' doesn't excite Brotha Lynch Hung anymore, nor does the topic of his cult following, one that's grown exponentially throughout his 27-year career. At 42, the seminal Californian rapper lights up when talking about his upcoming barbecue cookbook or the screenplays he's working on. But make no mistake -- Lynch, who goes by the name Kevin Mann when he's not on stage -- is more popular and motivated than he's ever been, currently showcasing his talents on Strange Music's "Independent Powerhouse" tour.

"I've been around people who weren't inspired, who were ready to give up, and that kind of weighs me down, so being around these young guns and really getting out inspires me," Mann says, backstage at Tucson's Rialto Theatre. "I'm ready to go home and do another album now."

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Hope Nasser

IROC

Twenty-five years ago, the Phoenix hip-hop scene was virtually nonexistent. That's when Irin Daniels -- taking the name IROC -- got involved, and since that time, he's become one of the most respected hip-hop entities in Arizona. If you have had any semblance of a hip-hop career in this state, there's a very good chance you've heard of the man. He formerly managed the G.O.O.D. Music-affiliated hit maker Lifted (producer of last year's smash hit "Mercy " by Kanye West) and has released his own critically acclaimed projects, including his album as Roca Dolla, Roca Is a Classic.

Now, IROC plans on applying his golden touch to a new hip-hop-inspired film, Blood Ink. "I think this will be one of the biggest projects to ever come out Arizona, especially one that revolves around the hip-hop community," IROC says.

See also:

-Roca Dolla, Roca Is a Classic

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onlyfuturistic.com

Futuristic

Listen, I'm a sore loser and a sore winner. I used to cry after losing my elementary school chess matches, which thankfully directed me away from competitive pawn-pushing and into the soothing subjectivity of the arts. However, I also love to gloat when proved right: I put my chips down on Tempe rap prankster Futuristic last year as a local artist to keep an eye on, and he's back with a promising new album.

See also:

-Futuristic: Tempe Rapper Isn't Afraid to Dream Big

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Hobo Stew

Thanks to the popularity of the programs such as Photoshop, everyone in this day and age feels like they can become a media design mogul with purchase of a camera and a few ideas.

What very few realize is that it takes much more than a few hours in front of a computer to really set yourself apart from the crowd. Tucson graphic design artists Marco Oliva and Tommy Haskins, also known as the duo Hobo Stew, know that it takes not only talent and style but also an unique approach and finesse to climb to the top of the business. Over the last couple of years, the duo has produced videos and graphics for rising hip-hop greats, including Tucson-based artist, Isaiah Toothtaker and underground legend Murs.

I got a chance to catch a quick interview with the two young artists to get the lowdown.

See also:

-Arizona's Murs Bridges Hip-Hop's Divide

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After signing a three- million dollar record deal with Sony Music in 2011, A$AP Rocky, the 24-year-old Harlem-based emcee had a hell of a 2012. Already considered to be on front line of the new wave of hip-hop artists, A$AP lived a life that many aspiring musicians only dream about. He delivered outlandish interviews and copped a feel on Rihanna at the MTV video awards. And let's not forget that he tagged along with Drake and Kendrick Lamar on the "Club Paradise" tour, one of the biggest tours in recent hip-hop memory.

Amazingly enough, Rocky achieved all of this without dropping his long awaited debut album. Anticipation has built to a fever pitch, and last week A$AP dropped his record, LONGLIVEA$AP. The amount of time, pressure, and hype that has been put into the young emcee has us believing that he would be able to deliver nothing less than a stellar album. Indeed, Rocky has managed to find a balance between the current trends of mainstream hip-hop, the diversity needed to set him apart from the pack, and the subtle nuances of the golden area hip-hop sound that he was brought up on.

See also:

-Why Is Everyone So Pissed About the EDM Reality Show?
-Dumperfoo on Impressing Vanilla Ice, Hanging With Snoop Dogg, and Other Hip-Hop Hijinks
-10 Kanye West Lyrics the "Kimye Baby" Will One Day Be Embarrassed About
-10 Favorite Local Hip-Hop Tracks of 2012

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Editor's Note: We'd like to welcome local hip-hop artist and writer Jaron Ikner to Up on the Sun. You're probably familiar with his Black One project, and now he's bringing his voice to the music blog here at New Times. Salute!

Longevity and consistency are two things that are considered a rare find in hip-hop music, especially in this current climate. As a veteran to the scene, Marlos Hill, A.K.A. Blaze Rock, has contributed more than most.

With a staggering 22 musical projects under his belt since becoming active in the Arizona hip hop scene in 2002, Blaze Rock has a more clear and pronounced perspective then most when it comes to not only hip hop as a whole, but the still developing Arizona hip-hop scene as well. After taking a long break from releasing music, Mr. Hill has returned with his aggressive and hard hitting project The Misery.

See also:

-10 Favorite Local Hip-Hop Tracks of 2012
-Kanye West's "Mercy" Explained By Phoenix Producer Lifted
-Download Frank Ocean's Django Unchained Outtake

In recent interview, I sat down with the articulate emcee/maven in hopes to gain a little more insight about hip-hop and more from someone who has been around the block.

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One of the brilliant things about collaborative music groups is that there's always work to be done. Accounting for half of the super group Writer's Guild, Mr. Miranda and Random a.k.a Mega Ran hit the road earlier this month to tour with fellow local emcee Mouse Powell, allowing group member RoQ'y TyRaid time to work on his latest solo project, The Dichotomy of RoQ'y TyRaiD.

"This is the "TyRaiD" side of RoQ'y TyRaiD," he says.

For his latest single, "Royale with Cheese," RoQ'y finds inspiration in Jules Winnfield, the character made famous by Samuel L. Jackson in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.

"This is the, 'you're going to respect it, even if by force,' side of me," he says. Now that's some cold-blooded shit to say.

See also: Random, Mr. Miranda, and Mouse Powell: Phoenix Hip-Hop Trio Announce West Coast Tour
See also: Writer's Guild: Don't Call Mr. Miranda, MC Pennywise, Mega Ran and RoQ'y TyRaiD a "Supergroup"

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Ben "Macklemore" Haggerty has quickly become an unlikely and conscious voice in hip-hop. His name may seem new, but this is really Haggerty's second wind, and he's using his newfound platform to speak out -- but also to have some fun. Speaking by phone from his native Seattle, Haggerty picks up in an exaggerated British accent, briefly maintaining the persona of his British alter ego, Sir Raven Bowie, the spandex-clad star of Haggerty's viral hit "And We Danced." Yes, Macklemore can be as silly as he is serious, and it's that dichotomy between party tunes and introspection that have a younger demographic enamored with him.

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See also: Carnegie of Silver Medallion Killed in Car Accident
See also: Driver In Accident That Killed Silver Medallion's Carnegie Indicted for Manslaughter
See also: Silver Medallion's Oren J. Struggles to Create a Fitting Legacy for His Late Partner Carnegie

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Silver Medallion was very different four years ago.

Back then duo, Oren J (Oren J. Schauble) and Carnegie (Abay Lattin) made party music about the ladies of Scottsdale. The two hip-hop heads mined electro sources like Chromeo, Spank Rock, and Santigold. Their first single, "Scottsdale," was as cynical as it was fun, a biting account over clubby beats of the city's club scene (trashed Barbies, fake tits/cocaine, collagen lips/trust funds, SL6/Catholic school, sucks dick).

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