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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.

SPOTLIGHT

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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.

BEST OF

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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.

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