Anniversary
We Must Honor Raekwon, Rap’s Godfather: Interview
“When we got that record deal, I went back and told my moms, ‘Yo, I got a job, Ma.’”
One Year With Tyler, The Creator’s ‘IGOR’
“The statement of ‘IGOR’ means more to me than any one song.”
Havoc Interview: Celebrating 25 Years of Mobb Deep’s ‘The Infamous’
For the 25th birthday of Mobb Deep’s ‘The Infamous,’ we speak with Havoc about the record and growing up in Queensbridge.
Earl Sweatshirt’s First Moment of Artistic Clarity
Five years later, we look back at ‘I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside,’ the album that helped Earl Sweatshirt see through the dark.
Speaking for a Generation: 5 Years with Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’
‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ wasn’t made to be ordinary, it was made to be exceptional.
Smif-N-Wessun’s ‘Dah Shinin’ Is a Testament to an Era That Defined Hip-Hop
A quarter of a century later, all heads realize.
One Song Defines Tyler, The Creator’s Career-Long Search for Love
On the tenth anniversary of ‘Bastard,’ we break down “VCR Wheels,” the song that has defined Tyler, The Creator’s search for love.
J. Cole’s ‘2014 Forest Hills Drive’ Turns 5
We celebrate J. Cole's ‘2014 Forest Hills Drive’ on its fifth birthday.
Earl Sweatshirt’s Imprecise Words: ‘Some Rap Songs’ 1 Year Later
With ‘Some Rap Songs,’ rapper Earl Sweatshirt figured out how to gather an audience on his own terms.
Rihanna's Dark & Deeply Personal ‘Rated R’: 10 Years Later
One time for Rihanna's fearlessness.
Dr. Dre’s Immeasurable Influence: ‘2001’ 20 Years Later
The success of Dr. Dre’s ‘2001’ was hardly guaranteed.
Method Man’s ‘Tical’ 25 Years Later: An Imperfect Experiment
For the expanded Wu universe to have existed at all, the noticeable missteps of Tical had to come first.
20 Years Later: Lil Wayne’s ‘Tha Block Is Hot’
We break down Lil Wayne’s ‘Tha Block Is Hot,’ 20 years on.
20 Years Later: Mos Def’s ‘Black on Both Sides’ Captures the Rhythms of Black Expression
Mos Def understood that hip-hop was a culture built on connectivity.
25 Years Later: The Timelessness of The Notorious B.I.G’s ‘Ready to Die’
“Behind every great fortune, there lies a crime.”
Ibrahim "IB" Hamad Reflects on Launching J. Cole's Career
In celebration of 'The Warm Up,' the mixtape that launched a career.
The Wild, Wild Western Story Behind Warren G and Nate Dogg’s Classic “Regulate”
“Regulate” sits alongside the greatest hip-hop narratives of all time, but there’s more to the story than just the exploits of Warren and Nate.
The Spry Spirit of the Beastie Boys' 'Ill Communication'
25 years after the song’s release, “Sabotage” still makes fans want to throw elbows with reckless abandon and put fists to drywall.
MF DOOM's 'Operation: Doomsday' Is the Blueprint for Independent Hip-Hop
In the face of great loss, rapper Daniel Dumile perfected a formula.
25 Years Later: Writers Reflect on Nas' 'Illmatic'
We spoke with seven highly respected individuals in the music journalism space to hear their first impressions of 'Illmatic.'
J. Cole's Saving Grace: 'KOD' One Year Later
There are many ways to deal with the pain that life brings. Choose wisely.
'Piñata,' 5 Years Later: How Madlib Brought the Best out of Freddie Gibbs
The essence of 'Piñata' is found beyond Freddie Gibbs' seemingly endless tales of cocaine-slanging and gangbanging.