We hate to say it, but there are critics out there in the world that claim hip hop is on the other side of its apex and that it’s quickly becoming a genre made for history. That’s kind of why we loathe the term ‘critic.’ It’s not only because most of them smell bad and their faces are probably asymmetrical, but we feel that a lot of them aren’t really experiencing music as it’s experienced by the fan. Once it turns into a 9-5 music has a funny way of morphing itself to into non-relatable hogwash and the reviews or theories coming out of entertainment writers prove that some of them need to start loving their job instead of spending every waking hour critiquing it.

We say this because we don’t believe hip hop is dying. It’s changing, sure, but therein lies the subtle beauty within it. It was a genre made because of oppression, because of hardships and as an outlet to express social complications. As far as we know the world still sucks, and there’s still a lot to be said about the state of society. As long as there is something to say, hip hop will presumably be there to say it.

End tirade.

The issue of whether or not hip hop is dying was brought up in one of our upcoming interviews for the magazine. We spoke with Grieves about a lot of things: South by Southwest, the Rhymesayers label and whether or not he agreed with the smelly and misshapen critics of our times.

I’m not seeing the pulse weaken at all from my side, I’m actually seeing it grow. This happens to everything. Maybe people thought rock ’n’ roll was gonna die in the 80s when everyone started dressing like women and pushing their hair up big. You know, it didn’t die. It just transforms.

This post isn’t all about that though, but it should get you hyped for what he has in store for us in the future. Grieves has just launched his music video for “Shreds” this morning, and it's a working vision to what we can expect from his upcoming album “Winter & The Wolves.” You can pre-order it here – and be sure to pick up next month’s Rooster Magazine for an exclusive with Grieves.

End gratuitous self-promotion.

…and while you're down here, check out his newly announced tour. 

April 4 – Mesa, AZ – CycloMesa
April 29 – Portland, OR – Branx
May 1 – Reno, NV – Knitting Factory
May 2 – San Francisco, CA – Slim's
May 3 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy
May 4 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
May 5 – Tucson, AZ – Congress
May 6 – El Paso, TX – Tricky Falls
May 7 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
May 9 – Durango, CO – Animas City Theatre
May 10 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
May 13 – Austin, TX – Stubbs Jr.
May 14 – Dallas, TX – Cambridge Room at HOB
May 15 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Conservatory
May 16 – Lawrence, KS – Granada
May 17 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird
May 19 – Columbia, MO – Mojo's
May 21 – Cincinnati, OH – 20th Century Theatre
May 22 – Columbus, OH – The Basement
May 23 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean
May 27 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
May 28 – Rapid City, SD – Sports Rock
May 29 – Billings, MT – The Carlin
May 30 – Jackson, WY – Pink Garter Theatre
May 31 – Salt Lake City, UT – In The Venue
June 1 – Boise, ID – The Reef
June 2 – Spokane, WA – The Bartlett
June 7 – Seattle, WA – Showbox