The 100 Best Rap Singles of 1990: A Tribe Called Quest
July 21, 2020
A Tribe Called Quest formally introduced themselves to the MTV audience with three classic singles marked by infectious optimism.
ALL: Opening Acts
2020 Protest Raps: Music for the American Spring
June 6, 2020
These protest songs fulfill a tradition: when a crisis hits the Black community, the musicians shift to address it.
Rap Songs for Home
April 26, 2020
As the coronavirus epidemic continues to roil the globe, this playlist of rap songs is assembled the meaning of the word “home.”
Rap Art in the Coronavirus Era
April 26, 2020
As the world adapts to life under a global pandemic, the album art of several recent rap releases is having a noticeable impact.
10 Great Artists I Saw Get Booed/Heckled in Concert
March 31, 2020
A list of famous artists that I saw get booed and/or heckled in concert.
Focus On: Boom Clap Bachelors
March 28, 2020
This brief history tells the story of Boom Clap Bachelors, the enigmatic Danish electronic soul collective.
First Wave Hip-House: 1988-1990
March 17, 2020
As a shotgun marriage between two hot springs of black innovation, hip-house’s reputation lies between unalloyed club bliss and pop kitsch.
Madlib, the Instrumentalist
February 20, 2020
Madlib is one of the most acclaimed hip-hop producers of the past two decades. But his instrumentals often go unnoticed.
Star Wars Funk
February 12, 2020
George Lucas’ Star Wars hit America like a pop culture meteor in the summer of 1977. The R&B scene wasn’t immune from the impact.
Stanley Crouch on Jazz and Negro Americans
March 18, 2018
In the Ken Burns miniseries Jazz, Stanley Crouch comments on the dynamics of Duke Ellington’s Famous Orchestra.
The House List ep. 68: A guide
January 27, 2018
A cheat sheet to my extended discussion about indie rap with Peter Agoston for his podcast, The House List.
Cover Art Gems: Tish Hyman, Trap Bisney Fairy Tales
August 29, 2017
A spotlight on Tish Hyman’s artwork for Trap Bisney Fairy Tales. Illustration by Andrew Adames.