The bar for underground hip-hop music has been set for 2011. “Heroes In the Healing of a Nation” is the newest collaborative album by Zion I, comprised of producer and DJ AmpLive and MC Zumbi, and the Grouch of Living Legends. The album, which drops on March 22, is the follow-up to the first Zion I/Grouch collaboration, “Heroes In the City of Dope.” Zion I and the Grouch will be touring to share the album from March 19 to May 1, making a stop in Sacramento at the Tropicana Club March 21 thanks to FUSE and TheMashUP.net. The album is a working masterpiece, blending elements from all sides of the musical spectrum: Latin ,dubstep, reggae and more with the traditional but eccentric hip-hop

Nestled between a Party City and a Sports Authority on Arden Way, Tropicana Nightclub hosted one of the biggest names in underground hip hop Wednesday. Brooklyn’s Talib Kweli performed for a diverse, crowded and engaged audience. The line to get in to Tropicana formed 15 minutes before the announced door-opening of 7:30 p.m. and maintained for over an hour as the nightclub filled out. Stepping in the door, visitors entered a large, open space with vendor booths along the back and side walls and a large stage with two DJ booths. Also on stage was a Roseville tattoo artist named Jonas, piecing together a large, painted portrait of Kweli that reached its completion right as he took the stag

Corey Scoffern, a.k.a. The Grouch, an Oakland-native rapper and representative of the iconic rap group, Living Legends, will perform Tuesday night at Tropicana Club for this year's installment of the "How the Grouch Stole Christmas" tour. Joining him on stage will be Brother Ali of the independent hip-hop giant, Rhymesayers Entertainment, label-mate and long-time music associate, Eligh and up-and-coming Oakland via Panama hip-hop duo, Los Rakas. The Grouch spoke with The Sacramento Press about the tour and his recent work. Sacramento Press: So this is the second, “How the Grouch Stole Christmas Tour,” is this something you plan on doing annually from now on? Grouch: This is actually th

Bass rocked the hallways of Sacramento State Wednesday night as Minneapolis-based hip-hop label Rhymesayers Entertainment showcased some of its best artists. DJ Budo and rapper Grieves opened the show and were followed by Blueprint and DJ Rare Groove before headlining rap group Atmosphere took the stage. Sacramento State's University Union UNIQUE Program put on the show. The show sold out at 1,500 tickets Monday, September 20th, according to UNIQUE program advisor, Zenia LaPorte From beginning to end, the show offered something unique, unexpected and personal to each member of the audience. As the line formed to the University Union Ballroom more than an hour before the doors were open

When you think of a “rap superstar,” what words come to mind? Gaudy? Violent? Subjective to women? How about humble, loving, and community-oriented? All of these words and many more could describe hip-hop duo Atmosphere, which will grace the University Union Ballroom stage at Sacramento State Sept. 28. This unique outlook on music production and life in general has pushed Atmosphere, composed of Sean Daley (Slug) and Anthony Davis (Ant), to the forefront of the international hip-hop scene. Working together for close to two decades, the duo has produced dozens of EPs, tour albums and collaborative albums with outside artists, traveled the world and started the wildly successful independent