2009 HipHopDX Awards

The DX staff takes a look back at Hip-Hop in the year 2009. Read to see who topped our lists, including Raekwon, Fashawn and Drake.

HipHopDX's Top 25 Albums Of 2009 Pt. 1

Read the first half of DX's 2009 picks, including a Brother, a Jada, a Thugga, and a Bun with a Pimp, plus a Marshall. What are yours?

HipHopDX's Top 10 Albums Of The '00s

African Dream: The Global Impact Of Distant Relatives

To fully appreciate the epic event that occurred last week at the headquarters of the venerable National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., one has to put things in a worldly context.

HipHopDX Shop Holiday Staff Picks

Despite what Shawnna said, 'tis better to give than to receive. DX goes '90s video rental clerk style and picks our favorite gifts and goodies from the DX Shop.

Album Swap Meet

HipHopDX's staff rearranges some album titles that should have been, including 50 Cent, DMX, Lauryn Hill, Ray J and Big Lurch.

The 5th Annual Turkey Awards

For fifth year in a row, DX hands out turkeys to Lil Mama, Rick Ross, Lil Kim, Mariah Carey and Buckshot?

Aliya Ewing's DX Farewell

Veteran journalist, blogger and DX personality Aliya Ewing says "Peace out HipHopDX, take me out with the fader," in this compelling letter to her readers.

Welcome To HipHopDX Version 7

Get the scoop on the new look, new site features, and stroll memory lane with us over the last 10 years.

Get Your Mind Right: Hate

Professor Brian Sims looks at the evolution of "hating" from Rakim to Nas to Peter Gunz.

Game Recognize Game: Hip Hop And Race In America

One writer analyzes America's race issues through the reaction to Kanye West and Congressman Joe Wilson recent outbursts.

Remembering Roc Raida, A DX Obituary

Roc Raida was to the turntable what Angus Young and Jimmy Page were to guitars, and he kept scratching street for all of us to listen.

"You Sampled It Wrong..."

From Black Moon vs. Jay-Z, to Busta Rhymes vs. Diamond D, and Nas vs. himself, J-23 looks at the supreme sample-flips.

I Wonder If C-Murder Wanted Me Dead?

DX

Hate It Or Love It: A Hip Hop Analysis Of Drake

One industry commentator makes a case why Drake's success is a bad representation of Hip Hop, and says it don't mean that he hatin'.

The Right To Remain Silent: The Best Way To Stay Out Of Jail

One law student and Prodigy from Mobb Deep break down what happens after an arrest, and how your future may depend on it.

Parkbench Studies: The Graveyard

How Koch Records/E1 Entertainment resurrected itself in 2009, with help from Slaughterhouse, M.O.P., Slim Thug and the Wu.

Get Your Mind Right: The Depressed Leaders Of The New School

Professor Sims looks at depression in today's Rap, and whether 2Pac and Scarface had better reason to be lonely stoners or so far gone.

Murdered On Your Own Shit

From Em over Jay, to Nas over Rae, to the arrivals of AZ, Canibus and Big L, a look at upsets in Hip Hop collaboration from HipHopDX's J-23.

Parkbench Studies: The Myth Of The Executive Producer

A look at the various failures and few gains in the position, and why Russell and Suge be the only real ones, ever.