Hoist the boom box on your shoulder and turn up local rapper Spikaboxxx

Nas ends his long silence by declaring 'Hip Hop is Dead' - and then tries to prove himself wrong

Rapper Talib Kweli teams up with producer Madlib for the record 'Liberation'

Leslie and the Lys rap about kitsch culture and, most of all, gem sweaters

Duluth band Low returns with 'Drums & Guns,' an album that speaks of wartime with lullabies

MC Frontalot strings rhythms and algorithms in his nerdcore hip-hop movement

Local rapper Brother Ali returns with an excellent sophomore album, 'The Undisputed Truth'

Local group Cloud Cult release their new album inspired by the Day of the Dead celebration

LCD Soundsystem creates seamless blends of rock and dance music on the latest 'Sound of Silver'

Amy Winehouse takes cues from Spector and Motown but adds her own bad-girl lyrics