FEATURED
The 125 Best Rap Singles of 2003
The 60 Best Rap Singles of 1984
Hip-hop in 1984 brought Fresh Fest superstars Run-DMC and Whodini, Melle Mel’s breakout year, and the beginning of the Roxanne wars.
The 60 Best Rap Singles of 1983
The 50 Best Rap Singles of 1981
The 125 Best Rap Singles of 2002
The 125 Best Rap Singles of 2001
The 125 Best Rap Singles of 2000
SPOTLIGHT
Joseph Rathgeber on Caltrops
New Jersey writer Joseph Rathgeber discusses his zine Caltrops, which has become a key document of the underground rap renaissance.
The #HipHop50 Parade
The yearlong #HipHop50 celebration has become a microcosm of the myths and reality that continue to define the culture.
Dancing with Sinéad O’Connor & MC Lyte
In 1988, the late Sinéad O’Connor and Brooklyn rapper MC Lyte enjoyed a brief but memorable cross-cultural exchange.
A Year of Inspiration: Rap Visual Homage in 2022
Every year brings a fresh crop of album art clearly influenced from various sources. This season brought covers from Metro Boomin, Joey Bada$$, Boldy James and Nicholas Craven, and more.
BEST OF
The 60 Best Rap Singles of 1984
Hip-hop in 1984 brought Fresh Fest superstars Run-DMC and Whodini, Melle Mel’s breakout year, and the beginning of the Roxanne wars.
Notable Hip-Hop Albums of 2023
In 2023, hip-hop fans found themselves wondering whether small leaps in evolution can be as satisfying as the giant steps of the past.
The Best Rap Singles: Former Entries
The Best Rap Singles series began in 2020 and has undergone changes in the years since. This list of entries shows what’s been removed.
Best Rap Singles: Class of 2003
In an era when hip-hop was at a commercial peak, it was common for vital new voices to spend years working towards international attention.
The 60 Best Rap Singles of 1984
Hip-hop in 1984 brought Fresh Fest superstars Run-DMC and Whodini, Melle Mel’s breakout year, and the beginning of the Roxanne wars.
Notable Hip-Hop Albums of 2023
In 2023, hip-hop fans found themselves wondering whether small leaps in evolution can be as satisfying as the giant steps of the past.
The Best Rap Singles: Former Entries
The Best Rap Singles series began in 2020 and has undergone changes in the years since. This list of entries shows what’s been removed.
Best Rap Singles: Class of 2003
In an era when hip-hop was at a commercial peak, it was common for vital new voices to spend years working towards international attention.