The NY Hip Hop Report continues into its third year, delivering a great assortment of news and views that relate to the expansiveness of hip-hop music and culture in the New York-area, focusing on all aspects of hip-hop in the region, including new artists, event previews, reviews and insightful commentary.

This week, we attended a concert at SOBs featuring Wu-Tang icon, Raekwon. Among the openers, the buzzing Dave East, the Harlem spitter with the Nas co-sign. We discussed his rise, as well as the others on the bill, including Kris Kasanova and the blisteringly entertaining Wordsmiff.

From new jacks, to old school, we talked about The Breaks, the VH1 movie that looks at the rise of 90s hip-hop, loosely based on Dan Charnas' exhaustive tome, The Big Payback, which chronicled much of the explosive growth of the business of hip-hop that occurred at that time.

We chatted a bit about Martin Shkreli, the "bad boy of pharmacy" who reportedly bought the one of a kind Wu-Tang Clan album, and then subsequently was arrested for securities fraud. We talked about the idea of an album being "fine art."

We spoke a bit about whether the breakthrough of artists like Kendrick Lamar are making it easier for other conscious/substance-styled artists.

Manny broke down why this might not necessarily be the case, and who will be to blame.

We also called out NPR for their ridiculous assertion that "Frank Sinatra is the Godfather of Hip-Hop." (Yes. They really said that.)

Check out the full episode above!

The NY Hip Hop Report. Like sports talk radio. Just hip hoppier!

This episode is brought to you by The Spinning Wheel, an interactive, multi-media, hip-hop theater event happening all through January at the BRIC House in Brooklyn. Visit Birthplace Magazine for more information about this genre and generation-bending extravaganza.

Also, brought to you by The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy, working to improve public awareness and perception about hip-hop's great artistic and cultural contributions. Visit www.hiphopadvocacy.org to find out more and support this mission.

Dave East, The Breaks on VH1,

Journalist. Founder and EIC of Birthplace Magazine. Creator and host of The NY Hip Hop Report radio show/podcast. Creator and host of The Manny Faces Show radio program/podcast.

New York hip hop advocate. Music producer/remixer. New media professional. Polymath.

MannyFaces