What is RapWax.com all about?
There are plenty of blogs out there on new releases. This is not one of them. My purpose for this blog is to recommend the new releases I believe are worth checking out. In addition, I will provide mini-reviews, comments on related news, and updates on upcoming projects I feel might be good. While many other bloggers spend minutes on a posting (link + blurb), I try to add a little muscle to each post, but stray away from filler.Why visit RapWax?
Anyone who thinks Hip-Hop is limited to the crap they hear on the radio is a fool. Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't even call half the stuff they refer to as rap as true rap. The underground rap music scene is vast and thriving. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with all the releases (I certainly can't), and even the underground produces some questionable quality. By routinely visiting RapWax, you at least shouldn't miss out on some of the more exceptional releases.
Why so much on underground rap and so little on the mainstream?
Underground rap isn't a subculture of Hip-Hop, it is Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop is the entire culture of rap, and that culture dies when it reaches the condensed corporate world. Granted, there are some top-level rappers who can spit, but are they rapping for Hip-Hop or for an LLC? To find the truest rap you have to go to the roots, which is on the streets where it came from. That being said, I am not blinded by the purism. If I hear a really good sounding album by some suburban group or a label whore I won't shut it out like it doesn't exist. Good music is good music.
Just rap albums released on vinyl then?
Most of the posts are on recommended new rap albums that are released on vinyl, but I'm not limited to that. I also post some albums that never got a vinyl pressing, recommend a few non-Hip-Hop vinyl picks, and even recommend a few albums worth copping, regardless of their release type. While vinyl is a focus of this blog, Hip-Hop is the main focus.
You missed an album!
I am a student who runs this blog part time. I have no regular source of income. There will obviously be times where I am busy with other stuff and will miss or be late reporting on a release I should have reported on. Since I am poor, I cannot purchase every single album I recommend, so not all my posts will be accompanied by my own pictures. If you ever feel like helping out, it would be greatly appreciated to receive recommendations on the site or an album. You can e-mail me anything at admin@rapwax.com. Exposure helps a lot, too, so if you want to trade links for your own blog or something, just let me know.
Picks + Reviews:
I don't review albums the traditional way. I feel numerical and star-system ratings are misleading, which is why I don't apply them to albums. I have a "cop or not" style of rating (sort of like Ebert's thumbs up/thumbs down). Critics are often full of shit, and the final decision on the quality of an album should be up to you. I use a "picks" system. Simply put, if an album is displayed on this site as a pick, then I liked it (thumbs up). If I didn't like an album, I just don't bother posting it at all (or I didn't listen to it, but I stay up-to-date on most bigger releases). Here are the different types of picks:
Just rap albums released on vinyl then?
Most of the posts are on recommended new rap albums that are released on vinyl, but I'm not limited to that. I also post some albums that never got a vinyl pressing, recommend a few non-Hip-Hop vinyl picks, and even recommend a few albums worth copping, regardless of their release type. While vinyl is a focus of this blog, Hip-Hop is the main focus.
You missed an album!
I am a student who runs this blog part time. I have no regular source of income. There will obviously be times where I am busy with other stuff and will miss or be late reporting on a release I should have reported on. Since I am poor, I cannot purchase every single album I recommend, so not all my posts will be accompanied by my own pictures. If you ever feel like helping out, it would be greatly appreciated to receive recommendations on the site or an album. You can e-mail me anything at admin@rapwax.com. Exposure helps a lot, too, so if you want to trade links for your own blog or something, just let me know.
Picks + Reviews:
I don't review albums the traditional way. I feel numerical and star-system ratings are misleading, which is why I don't apply them to albums. I have a "cop or not" style of rating (sort of like Ebert's thumbs up/thumbs down). Critics are often full of shit, and the final decision on the quality of an album should be up to you. I use a "picks" system. Simply put, if an album is displayed on this site as a pick, then I liked it (thumbs up). If I didn't like an album, I just don't bother posting it at all (or I didn't listen to it, but I stay up-to-date on most bigger releases). Here are the different types of picks:
- Definite Pick: An album I have heard most/all of and have decided it is worth getting. Equivalent to a thumbs up.
- Possible Pick: An upcoming album by an artist who is either consistent, an underground favorite, or expected to be releasing a good album that is worth pre-ordering. I try to keep these limited to vinyl releases, but that info is not always available before the release. Usually, these end up being thumbs up.
- Digital Pick: An album only available on CD or download that is worth getting regardless of the crappy format. Equivalent to a thumbs up.
- Missed Picks: Whenever I hear some releases from a week or month ago (because I either ignored it, was too busy for it, or did not hear about it) OR a release that was solid but not spectacular, it gets this label. These releases are definitely worth considering.
- Single Consideration: Everyone I know who buys vinyl loves buying singles. These are singles worth owning, usually due to their novelty value. Buying every good single that comes out will leave you broke, which is why I call it a "consideration."
- Re-Issue: If a classic album gets a repress, I'll try to let you know. There are certain albums every Hip-Hop vinyl head needs in their crate, and oftentimes they are just too rare and expensive. Buying re-issues of the classics definitely makes your collection look better.
