Kill Our Darlings: J. Cole, Kanye, & the Problem with Rapper Role Models
"It turns out our heroes aren’t false prophets, just humans. It turns out so are we."
Editors Picks
All Your Favorite Rappers Are Essentially Just Working Office Jobs
If there’s one common thread shared by all professionals, it's that we'll do whatever it takes to keep our paychecks rolling in.
Amy Winehouse, Biggie Smalls & Death Giving Albums New Life
Whether it's one album or 12, every album is a gift, but death makes the gift a sacrament.
How Tyler, The Creator’s ‘Wolf' Planted the Seeds From Which 'Flower Boy' Bloomed
On the album's fifth anniversary, we explore how 'Wolf' sprouted so 'Flower Boy' could blossom.
How 'Atlanta''s Paper Boi Is Highlighting the Warped Reality of Newfound Rap Fame
'Atlanta' and Paper Boi are displaying the most authentic rapper's journey to ever grace television.
The Curse of Crooked I's Critical Ear
The veteran MC tackles the difficulty of listening to rap music for enjoyment—as a professional rapper.
Life Told Through Rap: 25 Years With A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Midnight Marauders’
This is a work of fiction. The only thing real about this story is the music.
Meet Adrian Daniel, a 'Flawd' Alt-Soul Singer From Brooklyn
We caught up with the rising star at SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
Aggression & Desperation: How Three MCs Use Their Edge to Take the Edge Off
Danny Brown, Jazz Cartier & Nolan The Ninja are helping listeners work through aggression and desperation in three very different ways.
Kendrick Lamar is Hip-Hop's Trojan Horse
One of hip-hop's very best, most popular MCs has one of the darkest, mainstream discographies.
Life Is Like an Airport: My Journey to Washington DC for Mannywellz' Homecoming Concert
Yoh flew 630 miles to watch Mannywellz perform live. He ended up learning a life lesson in the process.
"Everything I Know Is From Making Mistakes": A Candid Conversation with Royce da 5'9"
The Detroit native sits down with Yoh to discuss the new PRhyme album, his next solo album, and life as veteran MC.
Evidence, Phonte & the Struggle to Accept Life’s Fragility
Two new albums are soundtracking the horrifying prospect of impending death.
Biggie’s 'Life After Death' is a Master Class in the Art of Album Sequencing
Nearly two decades after its release, the brilliant sequencing of ‘Life After Death’ ensures its legacy will live on forever.
Sadness & Reflection: A Soul-Baring Conversation with Phonte
We spoke with the veteran MC one week after the release of his second solo LP, 'No News Is Good News.'
East Coast Boom Bap Was the Trap Music of the '90s
People like to complain that all trap music sounds the same, but was boom bap really that much more diverse?
7 Habits of Highly Effective Music Producers
GRAMMY-nominated producer Illmind hands out free game.
Why Hip-Hop Needs to Be an Inclusive Artform—Not an Exclusive Culture
Change doesn’t stop happening.
10 Types of Drake Songs, Ranked
Drake’s catalog is DEEP, but nearly every song can be slotted into one of 10 categories.
The 'Get Out' Soundtrack That Could Have Been
We continue probing the many layers of one of the most thought-provoking cinematic takes on race in America yet.
Black Milk Shares the Story Behind His 5 Biggest Songs
With his new album 'FEVER' out this Friday, we sat down with the esteemed Detroit producer.
How Sleep Deprivation Impacts Rapping and Creativity
Two MDs break down the pros and cons of rap's "grind mentality."