Kid Cudi's 'Man on the Moon III' Has Caused Me Unparalleled Emotional Distress
That lonely stoner turned professional humming enthusiast has caused me unparalleled emotional distress.
Opinion
The Ballad of Jay Park, Who Is Fighting to Be Hip Hop’s First Asian Star
The Roc Nation signee has the talent, but it's an uphill battle.
Two Years Later, 'Endless' Remains Frank Ocean’s Overlooked Masterpiece
'Endless' seems destined to remain an overlooked drop in the bucket of Frank Ocean’s ultimate legacy. It's much, much more than that.
5 Best and Worst Rapper Hand Gestures in Hip-Hop History
Without further ado, the best and worst visual orators of all-time…
5 Years After “Control,” Ranking the Relevancy of All 11 Rappers Kendrick Called Out
From Drake to Jay Electronica, we tracked the course of 11 careers since that game-changing verse five years ago.
“MILK”: How BROCKHAMPTON Helped Me Find My Place Again
The song has maintained an enduring relevance.
5 New School Artists Break Down the Impact of Their Favorite Classic Rap Songs
“Hip-hop is anything you want it to be.”
Stop Trying to be God: On Travis Scott & Celebrity Worship Masquerading as Fake Love
Love at the top is fake and fragile.
21 Savage Is a Book to Be Read, Not a Cover to Be Judged
Giving back is a decision, not a requirement.
It’s in the Game: A Brief History of Rap Music in Video Game Soundtracks
From 'Rap Jam' to 'Def Jam: Vendetta' to 'Fortnite,' hip-hop and video games have had a long, intertwined history.
Tyga, Bow Wow & the Never-Ending Chase for a Hit Record
What do you do when the hits no longer hit?
Anderson .Paak and the Art of Album Pacing
That’s Anderson .Paak’s speciality: taking us everywhere without lifting a finger.
Is Rapping Really Fast Cool or Uncool? An Absurdly Detailed Investigation
The verdict on the coolness level of fast rapping is complicated, but with fairly simple guidelines.
Mac Miller, 'Swimming' & Why It Feels Good to Drown
Self-destruction feels good, but "a life ain't a life 'til you live it."
3 Burning Questions Before Travis Scott Releases 'Astroworld'
It's almost time to strap in and head to Astroworld, but first, we have a few questions.
Meet Octavian, the Drake-Endorsed UK Rapper Bound to Explode in 2018
It seems Octavian's explosion is imminent.
The Sound of Silence: How the Quietest Albums Make the Loudest Noise
"The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between." —Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ghost Stories: The Four Greek Humors Connecting 'DAYTONA' and 'KIDS SEE GHOSTS'
What if 'DAYTONA' and 'KIDS SEE GHOSTS' were actually one 14-track album?
DJBooth Staff Reacts to DJ Khaled's "No Brainer" Featuring Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper & Quavo
"Is DJ Khaled becoming a parody of himself?"
10 Rap Songs Overdue for Retirement
Though they no longer have anything to offer from a cultural standpoint, these songs remain a fixture within the popular zeitgeist, taunting us with their lasting ubiquity.
Rostrum Records Enters a New Era With Caleb Brown
If you thought the label was done without Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller in the fold, think again.
The Art of the Coming-of-Age Album
From Kendrick Lamar to Lauryn Hill to Chance The Rapper, we break down the three essential elements of a coming-of-age album.
Johnny Rain is Back and Better Than Ever
On his second studio album, Johnny Rain moves closer to realizing the potential that earned him the attention of Roc Nation.
How a Terrifying $500 Investment Turned Into a Six-Figure Beat-Selling Business
Three major takeaways to rewired the way you think about money.
Revisiting Rapsody: "Power" and Accepting I Will Be Powerless
The only way to process pain is head-on.
The Best Intro & Outro Tracks From 10 of Our Favorite Rappers
From Kendrick Lamar to J. Cole, Drake to JAY-Z—here are the best opening and closing tracks from 10 rap superstars.
How The Internet, The Carters & 6LACK Are Singing My Pursuit of Presentness
Don’t forget to enjoy life before you’re out of life to enjoy.
Bridging the Gaps Between The Internet's 'Hive Mind'
Tracing the path to The Internet’s Megazord through each of the five members' solo projects.
Bobby Sessions Wants You to Get Mad
The Dallas rapper's major-label debut, 'RVLTN,' revels in necessary discomfort.
One Year Later: How Tyler, The Creator's ‘Flower Boy’ Delivered the Greatest Gift of All
A year later, and for years to come, Tyler's album will be known for the space it creates.
15 Best Nelson Mandela References in Hip-Hop History
It's no surprise Nelson Mandela is referenced heavily across all eras of hip-hop.
'A Kid Named Cudi' Turns 10: An Oral History of Kid Cudi's Debut Mixtape
A-Trak, Emile Haynie and Emeka Obi reflect on the mixtape that launched Cudi's career.
Denzel Curry's "CLOUT COBAIN" Highlights the Difficulty of Shunning Fame
“CLOUT COBAIN” is an unsettling journey into a troubled mind, but a valuable reminder of our responsibilities as listeners.
The Price of Hip-Hop Authenticity
Atlanta is a city where authenticity is currency, but authenticity comes with a tax.
Childish Gambino Finally Has Everyone's Attention, But He Doesn't Know What to Do With It
Seven years since his debut release, Childish Gambino is still searching for himself as a musician.
10 Best Rap Album Sequels, Ranked
Many sequels are awful. These 10 rap album sequels, however, are great.
How Mac Miller & Denzel Curry Are Fighting Death
Life will remain in bloom for as long as we remain willing to fight for it.
20 Years Later, the Beastie Boys’ ‘Hello Nasty’ Proves Time Is an Illusion
Check back in another 20, and we’ll likely be reporting more of the same.
From the Kid in the Back of the Studio to Solo Success: Demrick on the Real Grind
The real grind isn't the one you see on social media.
What Is the Difference Between Producing for Yourself vs. Producing for Others?
Great question, right? That's why we asked four producers.
These Rappers Are Not Rich, Bro
Rap is deeply rooted in outspoken, unapologetic braggadocio, but the extravagance that comes with the entertainment is often misleading.
"Mask Off": How Future, Evidence & Janelle Monáe Build Community
“We are all wearing masks. That is what makes us interesting.”
Imagining a Universe Where Mumble Rap Is Old School & Lyrical Rap Is the Latest Trend
It was on August 11, 1973, at a party in the Bronx, that Lil Pump debuted "Gucci Gang," the first rap song of all time.
Cardi B Is Right—She Is the Current King of New York
Even Cardi's rags-to-riches story is a modern distillation of the American Dream, and what could be more quintessentially New York than that?
The Starter’s Guide to Gunna
Gunna is a Young Thug protégé who is racking up features with some of Atlanta and trap's biggest names. Here's everything you need to know.