Coolio’s Sound Master Crew
September 29, 2022
Contrary to reports, L.A, rapper Coolio’s career began in the mid-80s, when he floated through several short-lived electro-rap ensembles.
ALL: Sample Packs
P4K’s 250 Best Songs of the 90s
September 27, 2022
Pitchfork’s latest retrospective list, a ranking of the top 250 best songs of the 1990s, embraces a girlboss theme. The top five slots belong to women.
Jean Grae and Hip-Hop Heresies
September 14, 2022
In light of Jean Grae’s identification as nonbinary, Shanté Paradigm Smalls’ Hip-Hop Heresies, a book about queer identity in hip-hop culture, is enlightening.
Futura 2000 on Basquiat, Haring, Warhol
August 31, 2022
A recent Futura 2000 interview in Artnet is full of memorable details.
Fake Musicians and The Source
August 31, 2022
ProPublica’s story about internet clout chases contains a detail about The Source magazine, a famed example of golden-era rap journalism.
Sammus on AI
August 23, 2022
With controversy surrounding “augmented reality” act FN Meka, it’s worth reading Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo’s story on AI in the rap industry.
Cadence Weapon, Teen P4K Critic
August 11, 2022
In a long-ish essay published in The Walrus, Cadence Weapon recounts his time penning reviews as an enterprising Edmonton teenager.
UHHM and Russell Simmons
August 9, 2022
It remains unclear why disgraced rap mogul Russell Simmons is associated with Universal Hip-Hop Museum, which is scheduled to open in the South Bronx in 2024.
Blockhead on “Drumless” Rap
August 9, 2022
On July 6, Blockhead launched a fascinating Twitter thread exploring the phenomenon of “drumless rap.”
Rob Swift’s Tips
August 9, 2022
Inspired by a Wiz Khalifa tirade, Rob Swift has gathered some helpful tips for navigating a rapper’s ego.
“Lune TNS (Lyric Video)”
July 26, 2022
A recent lyric video of Big Juss of Company Flow’s 1997 track “Lune TNS” pays tribute to the golden age of New York graffiti.
Pusha T ≠ Martin Scorsese
July 18, 2022
In a recent interview, Pusha T equated his coke-rap focus to Martin Scorsese’s mob flicks. The comparison doesn’t quite hold up.