Hip-Hop

Hard Knock TV celebrates the world of hip hop music, from the mainstream to underground sounds. I appreciate its holistic approach; its interviews, profiles, live performances, and music videos give us a fairly complete view of what's happening in hip hop music. It might not make any fans out of the haters, but it should satisfy people with a passion for urban sounds.

After stalling some time ago, The Friday Hip Hop Report has been rebooted. Hopefully this time around host Valerie Lora will deliver on her promise of weekly hip hop news, interviews, gossip, and other industry updates. This kind of show only works if it’s timely, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that the creators can get episodes out on time.

The Next 48 Hours is a fascinating documentary series which gives us a look at the world of hip hop music as we've never seen it before. Rather than simply focusing on the major events in the stars' lives, this series looks at the day before the milestone, and its aftermath as well. This holistic view of the hip hop high life reveals much about the celebs it profiles.

JUMPOFF.tv has built a loyal following amongst hip hop fans keen to learn more about their favorite musicians and their latest tunes. Its YouTube channel builds on this, with music videos, interviews, and the weekly round-up program The Friday Hip Hop Report. With several videos posted every week, there's plenty to see.

Before the Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, and Flo Rida were even thought of there was Yo! MTV Raps. This hip-hop show was MTV's first, a celebration of the genre's heyday.

This channel lets us relive the glory days, with clips from hip-hop pioneers like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Salt-N-Pepa.

Buzzin' takes us on the promotional trail with up-and-coming hip hop star Shwayze and his mentor Cisco Adler. But if you're after a revealing look at the music industry, this isn't it.

Shwayze and Cisco are dull characters, with little more than girls and beer on their minds. I can't imagine sitting through one episode of this drivel, let alone an entire series, but each to their own!

As a music buff, I appreciate an acoustic performance. This is music at its purest, stripped back and raw. In this world of over-produced sounds, a music channel like Studio U.G.O. is a real find.

It serves up two exclusive mini-concerts every month, with two or three acoustic performances and an interview. With an exhaustive back catalogue, sifting through the site can be a little addictive.

Our hip hop music category just received a dose of cred with the addition of Hip Hop Music Videos. The title of this channel says it all: it offers nothing but hip hop film clips.

But this is no VH1: the music videos steer away from the mainstream, offering a fresh take on the genre.

Critics who love to bash MTV for the lack of music should check out one of its latest creations, FNMTV Premieres.

Every Friday night Ashlee Simpson's baby daddy Pete Wentz brings you the latest music and the hottest new artists. All the best bits are included online here, and you can even add your own videos to the archives.

There's so much great music out there, but unless it's on the radio a lot of us never get to hear it. Our latest music channel Scrambler looks to broaden our horizons.

It focuses on some of the hottest new bands from around the world. My favourites are Australia's Cat Empire and Augie March and Swedish singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez. Check them out and you won't be disappointed.