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The 75 Best Rap Singles of 1986

August 16, 2026

Thanks to Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C., rap finally went mainstream. But decoding the freshest Black sound in decades would take much longer.

The 75 Best Rap Singles of 1986

August 16, 2026

Thanks to Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C., rap finally went mainstream. But decoding the freshest Black sound in decades would take much longer.

Notable Rap Albums of 2025

January 11, 2026

These albums reflect 12 months of listening to and writing about the music that the genre’s artists have to offer.

Notable Rap Albums of 2025

January 11, 2026

These albums reflect 12 months of listening to and writing about the music that the genre’s artists have to offer.

OPENING ACTS

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First Impressions: Q2 2026

June 30, 2026

Reviews of new albums by Navy Blue, Isaiah Rashad, Latto, YG; Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE and Surf Gang, and more.

Black History Through Rap

February 27, 2025

Before she became a “gangsta rap” antagonist, C. Delores Tucker helped assemble a 1985 rap compilation with Philadelphia youth.

Bars for Gaza

October 29, 2024

Over a year after the Israel-Hamas war began, numerous rap songs have appeared that address the ongoing conflict.

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1986: Year of the Crack Raps

August 16, 2026

In 1986, the rap underground teemed with warnings about the drug’s disastrous effects on the Black community.

The 75 Best Rap Singles of 1986

August 16, 2026

Thanks to Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C., rap finally went mainstream. But decoding the freshest Black sound in decades would take much longer.

Notable Rap Albums of 2025

January 11, 2026

These albums reflect 12 months of listening to and writing about the music that the genre’s artists have to offer.

1986: Year of the Crack Raps

August 16, 2026

In 1986, the rap underground teemed with warnings about the drug’s disastrous effects on the Black community.

The 75 Best Rap Singles of 1986

August 16, 2026

Thanks to Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C., rap finally went mainstream. But decoding the freshest Black sound in decades would take much longer.

Notable Rap Albums of 2025

January 11, 2026

These albums reflect 12 months of listening to and writing about the music that the genre’s artists have to offer.