"Mask Off": How Future, Evidence & Janelle Monáe Build Community
“We are all wearing masks. That is what makes us interesting.”
Editors Picks
From 40 to Dilla: The Beauty of Raging Against the Dying Light
What will never change, in sickness or in health, is the desire to do what brings us joy.
'4:44' One Year Later: Reframing a Legacy Through JAY-Z's Short Films
One year later, we revisit JAY-Z's '4:44' with the added context of the album's confrontational short films.
Frank Ocean, Saba, & the Cycle of Bravery and Insecurity
Often, we are at our most brave when we are in tears.
‘Scorpion’ Finds Drake at a Crossroads—Will It Be Death or Rebirth?
Following a defeat at the hands of Pusha-T, Drake's career begins a new chapter with 'Scorpion.'
XXXTentacion, Social Media, & the Policing of Grief
The idea of separating someone’s art from their reality has never been viable or realistic.
‘KIDS SEE GHOSTS’ & The All-Consuming Mythos of Kanye West and Kid Cudi’s New Album
Sometimes you fall in love with an album, and other times you free fall into an album's universe.
The Pursuit of Forms: Five Years of ‘Watching Movies With The Sound Off’ with Mac Miller
“Who the fuck is Mac Miller?” Five years ago, the answer to that question started to take shape.
Listeners in the Hands of a Projected God: ‘Yeezus’ Five Years Later
“As soon as they like you, make ‘em un-like you.”
Canceling Kanye West Is Like Canceling Your Grandfather
Kanye West is our problematic grandpa.
I Agree With Kanye, Bipolar Disorder Is My Fuckin' Superpower
Kanye's commentary about his mental health diagnosis aren't offensive, they're badass.
Kanye West's 'ye' Fails as an Album, but Succeeds as a Coping Technique
'ye' is not beholden to traditional song structure because mental illness is implicitly inconsiderate.
Price of Fame: The Invisible Weight of Artistic Success
Capitalism reinforces the illusion that money is the answer to all problems. As many of our favorite artists have learned, it's not.
Beat Break: T-Minus Shares the Story Behind His 5 Biggest Songs
The Canadian hitmaker talks J. Cole's "Kevin's Heart," Kendrick Lamar's "Swimming Pools," Drake's "The Motto" and more.
5 Ways to Talk About Spotify’s Hateful Conduct Policy & Its Implications
Let's properly steer a conversation that is both contentious and crucial in our contemporary moment.
We're Only Mad If You Don't Make a Dope Album
It's easy to cancel an artist like Kanye on social media—that is, until he has a brand new product for us to consume.
Roscoe’s Wetsuit: Searching for the Meaning of Childish Gambino’s “This Is America”
Childish Gambino's "This Is America" begs for us to search for meaning, but Donald Glover never makes the search easy.
Memphis' Hip-Hop Takeover Is 25 Years In the Making
The most known unknown city won’t be that way for long.
Janelle Monáe & Kali Uchis Pivoted to Love Their Bodies—Thankfully, So Am I
"Healing is neither immediate nor linear, but music certainly helps."
Beat Break: !llmind Shares the Story Behind His 5 Biggest Songs
We picked !llmind's brain about producing songs for Kanye, Drake, J. Cole and more.
5 Years Later, ‘Acid Rap’ Showed Us What a Little Happiness Can Do
Five years on, Chance The Rapper's breakout project is proof that happiness is a potent form of resistance.
Provocateur Turned Self-Saboteur: Why Kanye West's Support of Trump Is His Biggest Misstep
With Taylor Swift, it was Kanye West vs. The People. With Donald Trump, it's Kanye West. vs. His Own People.
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."
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.