broken cool.

Revolutionary but Gangsta: Tracy Chapman's Self-Titled Debut Album

Few albums reach the perfection level of Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut album. Not only was it a commercial success selling over 6 million copies in the US, but the album was heavy on social and political commentary.

Take for example the song's smash hit single, "Fast Car." The song reached as high as #6 on the Billboard charts but it was anything but a shiny, happy Pop single. It was a tale of a hard life filled with dead end jobs, alcoholism, and poverty:

Killer Mike: Underground Atlanta

Underground Atlanta, a mixtape with an all-star ATL line up lead by Killer Mike drops on September 1st. Boasting of appearances by TI, Princess of Crime Mobb, B.O.B, Gucci Mane and other ATL-iens, Killer Mike has pulled together a group of his city’s finest to tell the story of its people. The predecessor to the Georgia native’s Grand Hustle debut, Underground Atlanta is designed specifically for those who rep their city.

Inspired by an appearance on MTV’s My Block-Atlanta, Killer Mike bore the idea out of a need to create a space where artists from the same city could come together and create something diverse and unique to each of their demographic. The two disc, 32 track set covers all sub-sets of Atlanta Hip Hop and remains true to the story-telling thematic nature Killer Mike is known for. The aim is less about making a Hip Hop statement as it is the coming together of a city united for success.

Killer Mike talks with Brokencool.com writer Maxine Ross about society, money, hoes, and clothes.

Killer Mike on gay marriage in the black church:

"I think the black church has been too quiet when it comes to police brutality and things of that nature. I’d rather argue less about whether homosexuals can get married and join the church. I think we should just let them in and accept their marriages and get down to the real business of saving black lives."

Mayer Hawthorne: Believe The Hype

Ann Arbor, Michigan bred Mayer Hawthorne bringing the fundamentals of Hip Hop, Soul, and Doo Wop into the game at this time is the equivalent to bringing water to the desert. The immediate comparisons made to an already established music head such as Mayer have included Robin Thicke and the not so recent recording artist, Remy Shand are evidence as such. Yearning for fresh crops grown from scratch but using familiar ingredients, there is a hopeful nature surrounding the hype of the Mayer Hawthorne brand.

With his debut release "A Strange Arrangement", Hawthorne’s music is more accurately compared to that of Smokey Robinson, Frankie Lymon, and other greats of the Doo Wop and Motown era. Combining the elements of Hip Hop with the stamina and creativity of J-Dilla, Hawthorne has drafted blue prints reminiscent of Detroit days and vocal tricks not seen since, well since Motown.

Mayer Hawthorne sits down with brokencool.com writer Maxine Ross to discuss the manifestation of greatness, through music.

Mayer Hawthorne on future projects:

"I’m always trying to push the envelope and stay creative and try to experiment and try new things. I just did a track with Freeway, we just talked to Snoop Dogg about doing a song together."

Mack 10: I'm A Nice Dude

West Coast icon and lyrical gangsta Mack 10 is back with a new single, ‘So Sharp’ and a new vibe. Vowing to keep his music both current and consistent, if the single's features, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross, are any indication, Mack 10 uses the Left Coast as his canvass and the lyrics as the brush.

The album ‘Soft White’ (yes it means exactly what you think it means) will be released September 29th via Hoo-Bangin'/Fontana/Universal and is, according to Mack Dime a masterpiece.

A label boss and a Hip Hop heavyweight in his own right, Mack 10 talks with Broken Cool about The Game and DJ Quik, Westside Connection, how the West is more than 40’s and khakis, and why he’s really a nice guy…despite what you’ve heard.

Mack 10 on the current west coast scene:

"Ain’t nobody walking around here with khakis and shit like that, shit, it's 2009."

Justin Bieber: One Time

Justin Bieber stepped onto the R&B scene with one of the industry’s biggest co-signs. Singer/songwriter/producer Usher signed Justin to a deal with Island Records after the 15 year old phenom blew the veteran away with a rendition of ‘U Got It Bad.’

With a story similar to some of music’s biggest, albeit youngest names, Bieber’s claim to fame comes largely by way of YouTube. Giving further padding to the argument of the internet as a method of operation in success, Justin’s Chris ‘Tricky’ Stewart produced single ‘One Time’ is already in heavy radio rotation.

One Time - Justin Bieber

Justin talks with broken cool about the pressures of new fame, growing up listening to Stevie Wonder, and how he managed to catch the eye of two of R&B’s biggest stars.

Justin on his debut album "My World":

"It’s just a world of just having fun. It’s a good world. I talk a lot about girls and having fun. It’s a journey that’s R&B pop. It’s my world and a journey through my eyes while I’m telling my story."

Jagged Edge: Are U Still Down?

One of the most consistent male groups in R&B, Jagged Edge is back with a new deal and a new hustle. After a wavy departure from Def Jam, the group has signed with Slip-N-Slide Records and is prepared to usher in a new blend of Hip Hop and R&B.

One-fourth of Jagged Edge, Brandon Casey talks with Brokencool.com about the perception of R&B music, vocal integrity and the group’s relationship with former boss Jermaine Dupri.

Brandon Casey on the group's relationship with Jermaine Dupri:

"...we rolled with So So Def. We stayed down until we couldn’t stay down no more. I feel like, and we loved Columbia, we had a lot of different things on the table but as an artist some of what we do is definitely for respect and for recognition or acknowledgment of being good at what you do. I think JD never gave us that respect."

Johnnie Cabbell: Hitt Afta Hitt

Johnnie Cabbell is the business man’s business man. With several titles, affiliations and a ton of artists on his booking roster, Cabbell is likely the driving force behind a lot of music you hear on the radio. From being Gucci Mane's official booking agent to directly working with Shawty Lo, Cabbell has witnessed, driven and crafted some of the most talked about PR campaigns in this past year.

While he makes it look easy, there’s a method to his madness. Sit back and take notes as the Atlanta native and Crunk/Snap/Swag pioneer gives broken cool a look at the blue prints of an empire.

Johnnie Cabbell on how he adapts to the ever changing music industry:

"I thought what I needed to do is shift gears and adapt to a new situation. It’s like with music when you have different trends come out you can’t do the same music that you were doing before when you see there’s a new fad or a trend. You must be able to adapt to either stay in the game or make way for someone who can."

Pill: Portait Of Poverty

(Interview by broken cool writer Maxine Ross)

Pill is 23 years old and hails from the oft linked city of Atlanta. The city that has become the land of dinner jackets, cigars and Bentleys. Or so they’ll have you believe. Behind the flashing lights, strippers and reality shows lies a harsh world hidden beneath the fabric of the rich and the supposed rich. Say what you may about the method but there is no denying the sincerity and realness captured in Pill’s latest video, “Trap Goin Ham.”

Capturing hood life in a way only before seen on DVD’s sold outside the Waffle House, this is a journey into the slums of the slums. The slums that have given birth to greatness both loved and reviled at the same time. Glorification is too easy a term. What Pill and directors The Motion Family have uncovered is the argument that we have been deadened to the existence of the struggle.

Pill talks with Brokencool.com about the controversy surrounding his new video, his purpose as an Atlanta native, Drake, Michael Jackson and much more.

Pill on Atlanta:

"Everything lately has been so shiny and nice but what about the other parts of Atlanta. We want you to see that. People are letting it die. They pretend like it don’t exist, they just drive by in their nice cars and ignore it."

10 More Ridiculous Rapper Chains

When I wrote the 10 Most Ridiculous Rapper Chains feature I couldn't have imagined that it would end up on the front page of Digg. I gotta give a shout out to my homey Rizoh for helping the shit go viral on that ass.

There was so much response to the feature that I've decided to present to you 10 More Ridiculous Rapper Chains.

Masta Ace: Slaughterhouse

Since the mid 80s, Juice Crew alumni and Brooklyn native Masta Ace has been a symbol of durability in the rap world and is still well respected amongst the current generation of MCs as he continues to put out music that doesn't conform to what is presently popular, but rather sets his own mark within Hip Hop. Brokencool.com had a chance to catch up with Masta Ace at S.O.B.'s in NYC to chop it up about the trends in today's music, the future of the game, as well as his current endeavors.

Masta Ace on Auto-Tune:

"It's just one of those trendy things that will disappear in probably the next year. It ain't gonna be here that long. It'll be here and gone."