Detroit hip-hop poised for another day in the sun

Local music writer William E. Ketchum III says hip-hop’s elusive pendulum of influence is swinging back to Motown, offering five reasons rap enthusiasts across the nation need to tune in to Detroit’s musical offerings (and no, Eminem isn’t one of them).

Noteworthy artist Royce da 5’9″ has a new album, Big Sean is cracking Billboard lists with his Finally Famous LP, which came out on Kanye West’s G.O.O.D label; while indie rock and rap fans alike found much to like about Black Milk’s collaborations with Jack White. Up-and-comers FowL and Danny Brown also made the list.

Excerpt:

“It started out as an individual thing. Now, I think all of us realize it can’t be an individual thing,” says Royce Da 5’9″. “We’ve all been self-contained over the years, but now we realize there’s strength in numbers. It’s good to be unified, as opposed to everyone on their own agenda.”

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