Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals gives Mountain View some ‘Malibu’

In 2016, the world was blessed by Anderson .Paak’s critically acclaimed second studio album, Malibu. Since then, he has brought on several projects, like NxWorries with producer Knxwledge, Silk Sonic with Bruno Mars, and his DJ persona Pee.Wee. .Paak has established himself as one of the most critically daring modern musicians. Even with all these […]

Quinn XCII cooks up a savory San Diego show for ‘Lunch’

Quinn XCII (pronounced “92”) brought his All You Can Eat Tour to San Diego’s Cal Coast Open Air Theater on September 20th, giving fans just a taste of new music on the horizon. The Detroit native brought singer and rapper Kyle (or “Superduper Kyle”) to start the night off right in a big way — […]

Reminiscing on Rhymefest LA 2024

The 10th Annual Rhymefest LA — held at The Torch at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — felt like a hip hop head’s version of the When We Were Young Festival: a nostalgic homage to the underground and old-school hip hop that shaped the culture. Founded by Rafael “Scooby” Dos Santos, 2024 was a celebration of […]

Celebrating Nujabes “Luv(sic)” series in LA, with Shing02 & OMA

The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles was the place to be for hip hop heads, as Shing02, OMA, and Spin Master A-1 delivered an unforgettable performance — all in honor of the late and great Nujabes. The Luv(sic) Hexalogy Tour celebrates Nujabes’ six-part song series, “Luv(sic)” — a tribute to love, parting, and uniting. The […]

I Prevail & Halestorm deliver show of the summer to St. Louis

If you’re looking to add some excitement to your end-of-summer and want to do so through a heavy rock show, one with a lot of bands playing in an outdoor ampitheatre… and the bands are actually good? Well then, let me tell you about a show I went to the other night. I Prevail and […]

San Diego Bayfest 2024

San Diego Bayfest brought their 5th annual installment to downtown’s beautiful Waterfront Park on July 20th, 2024. Headlining the event was Sublime, with original members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh reunited alongside Jakob Nowell (son of late frontman Bradley Nowell). Accompanying this legendary performance was Atmosphere, Goldfinger (with an insane special guest appearance), Barrington Levy, […]

Tech N9ne’s ‘Class of Strange Music’ is now in session

Get ready for a summer banger! Rap pioneer Tech N9ne brings us fresh ear stimulation that will shake your world upside down and rock your soul! Tech has earned his status as one of the world’s most legendary rappers, with chart-topping multi-platinum success in the hip hop, rock, and metal industries! Tech has no boundaries […]

I Prevail & Halestorm rock Michigan like a hurricane

Clarkston, Michigan went absolutely wild on July 13th. Four bands collided for the ultimate rock show — the likes the city has never seen. Fit For a King started off the night strong, with Ryan Kirby not holding back on anything. He immediately started screaming in everyone’s face. Bassist Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary also kept up […]

Tropidelic drops new beats on St. Louis

Six-piece Ohio-based reggae band Tropidelic made it out to Old Rock House — one of my favorite venues in St. Louis — on June 27th, bringing along with them electronic reggae-dub trendsetters Jon Wayne & The Pain and fellow Ohio rockers, The Quasi Kings. All three offered the people of STL their unique fusions of […]

California Roots 2024: Day Two

Day Two at California Roots Music and Arts Festival 2024 resumed on Saturday, May 25th, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. The sun was shining and folks were smiling as they lined up early for another fun-filled day, kicking off with The Wide Eyed Kids on the Bowl Stage who played songs off their album Beautiful […]

Wonderfront Fest 2024: Day Two

Despite the persistent May gloom, Wonderfront Festival 2024 in San Diego managed to keep spirits high, enveloping fans in its unique and captivating atmosphere. The festival grounds buzzed with a sense of community, a shared excitement and joy, as attendees delved into a myriad of vendor booths and interactive installations, each offering a distinct experience. […]

Experiencing the earth-shaking Welcome to Rockville 2024

Welcome to Rockville Fest conquered Florida once again this year! It has become Top Shelf’s annual trip to the NASCAR International Speedway by the shores of Daytona Beach. This festival is produced by the one and only Danny Wimmer Presents: one of the most riveting and largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.   […]

Bryson Tiller turns up the heat in San Francisco

In the heart of San Francisco, amidst the vibrant energy of Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Bryson Tiller brought his electrifying stage presence to the third stop of his 2024 world tour. With four albums, five mixtapes, an EP, and a multitude of singles under his belt, Tiller had more than enough material to share at […]

Atmosphere reissues iconic & out-of-print ‘Strictly Leakage’ LP

The rhyme-slinging duo of Atmosphere is reissuing one of their greatest albums, one that’s been out-of-print for YEARS! Dropped originally in 2007, Strictly Leakage is — without question — a milestone within Atmosphere’s extensive discography that should be revisited often. The album is aptly named, playing a pivotal role in the band’s trajectory. Between 2007 […]