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Hip-Hop, Jemele Hill, Music, Rap, Snoop Dogg - November 23, 2018

On the 25th anniversary of Snoop Dogg’s ‘Doggystyle’ — a look back at his life and times A hip-hop prodigy, in a pop culture maelstrom — on trial for murder

Big Boy is a connector. “You need to speak to Dogg?” That’s what the Los Angeles-based syndicated radio personality asks when the topic of 1993’s Doggystyle comes up. “I mean I can help you … I’m with him right now.” Before you even get a chance to respond, he’s already calling Snoop, born Calvin Broadus […]

Aux Cord Chronicles XVI: 28 times hip-hop hailed LeBron and Wade’s Miami Heat Rick Ross, Big Sean, Drake, Jay-Z, Meek Mill — the rap that made the Heat a cultural powerhouse

Sunday night in South Beach will likely be an emotional one. Not only because, with stops in Miami and Cleveland, it’s the beginning of a flashback tour for LeBron James. But because it marks the first of the final two occasions he and Dwyane Wade will share the court — pending a Lifetime Achievement Award […]

When it all falls down: The twisted nightmare of Kanye West and Trump West is making his hall of fame career irrelevant by pushing his musical genius to the footnotes of his legacy

Imagine one of the biggest rappers in the world standing in front of the president of the United States on live television with free rein to say whatever is on his mind. Imagine that rapper advocating for more mental health institutions to curb black incarceration rates. Imagine he or she arguing for the freeing of […]

Lil Wayne’s ‘Carter V’ is triumph over trauma The new album stands head and shoulders above recent work from his peers

“Go suck Lil Wayne lil’ d—.” By his own admission, in 2009’s The Carter documentary, it was these words (the speaker of which remains unknown or unsaid) that led to Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.’s first sexual experience. He was the only preteen in a large room full of older men, including Baby, aka Birdman, his […]

Kings’ Marvin Bagley ready to shine as NBA rook and rapper The No. 2 pick was studying the likes of Tupac since he was a young baller

SACRAMENTO – Sacramento Kings rookie forward Marvin Bagley walked out in front of the crowd. There was an introduction and a warm welcome. But instead of a basketball in his hand, the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NBA draft was holding a microphone, confidently rapping original music in front of his Kings co-workers. “My […]

Outkast’s ‘Aquemini,’ the blueprint of the Southern black renaissance, turns 20 In 1998, Big Boi and Andre 3000 lived up to their promise: ‘The South got something to say’

Before the era of Southern rap dominance. Before Ludacris and T.I. and Lil Jon became household names. Before the Migos and Young Jeezy. Before Atlanta became the hub of hip-hop, there were the Source Awards. The second annual Source Awards took place on Aug. 3, 1995, and gave hip-hop one of its most iconic nights. […]

For Death Row’s Suge Knight — violent bully, music executive — it seems the ride is over Knight had Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tupac, and now he will serve up to 28 years in prison for manslaughter

An unnamed Death Row Records employee had messed up. Really, really bad. Botched flights? Incorrect hotel bookings? Who knows. Any mistake made under the perpetually lit cigar of Marion “Suge” Knight could spawn violent and humiliating consequences. The rapper Kurupt, when he visited Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club earlier this month, couldn’t remember the exact […]

Jay-Z Tops Forbes List of Highest-Paid Rappers; Soulja Boy Snubbed Again

Despite ignoring The Root’s calls to become our employer, the hip-hop artist responsible for killing the spiders and taking out the trash at the Knowles-Carter compound managed to make enough money last year to purchase the 64 box of Crayons with the sharpener included for Sir and Rumi and also managed to top the list…

After Kanye, Pusha T and Nas, Teyana Taylor’s album is next up — but has the G.O.O.D. music rollout been good to black women? Between Kelis and Whitney Houston, women seem to be last and least

I have edited myself for nine years and I woke up this morning and said, ‘Not today.’ I remember so clearly when the pictures came out with that whole thing that happened with [Rihanna] and Chris Brown. — Kelis Rogers There are, unfortunately, two factors that determine how intently society as a whole holds a […]

Aux Cord Chronicles XV: Lil Wayne’s 20 most classic sports references From “Swag Surf” to “Cannon” to “I’m On One,” Wayne stays on one

Have Baby and Wayne finally made up? Well, while the exact amount remains a secret, it looks like Wayne has “scored a big win in his ongoing legal battle with Cash Money Records.” It’s about time, as the bad blood was keeping Wayne from creating his usual sports-laced lyrical miracles. Let him free has been […]

Drake’s much-anticipated album is called ‘Scorpion,’ but Pusha T has delivered the stinger Does Drake have a ‘Blueprint 2’ in him, to set the record straight?

Rap beef in the age of social media is a lot like a NBA playoff series — the narrative changes with each momentum swing. And as it stands right now, in light of Pusha T’s scathing “The Story of Adidon,” Drake’s in need of adjustments heading into Game 4. Recorded over JAY-Z’s “The Story of […]

Royce Da 5’9” on sobriety, boxing and why he stopped watching NBA games The Detroit rapper is at his best yet with a new album, ‘Book of Ryan’

In 2002, Ryan Montgomery — who you know better as Royce da 5’9” — unapologetically rapped, If you hate me, you hate the D on track two of his debut. He meant that. “Rock City,” which also featured his best friend and frequent collaborator Eminem, was a Detroit battle cry. It was an anthem for […]

How Meek Mill opened Sixers owner Michael Rubin’s — and so many others’— eyes to a broken criminal justice system From counted out to counted on: The rapper’s new freedom comes with reality’s nightmare — and a chance to change lives

And why I’m rappin’ like I got somethin’ to prove… — Meek Mill, 2017’s “1942 Flows” Meek Mill told him. Meek made clear the harsh realities of the criminal justice system. Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin only wishes he had believed Meek sooner. But now of course, Rubin — billionaire entrepreneur and minority owner of […]

Drake hollers at everybody as LeBron & Co. edge his Raptors The shiny Scorpion jacket also makes an appearance

WHO: Drake and his friend/head of security Nessel “Chubbs” Beezer GAME and ARENA: Game 1, Eastern Conference semis; Air Canada Centre. WHHW: Drake, in his black satin #Scorpion bomber — the one that garnered close to 1.3 million Instagram likes — hooted and hollered from courtside as his Raptors let LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers steal […]

Superproducer Zaytoven’s gospel truth about trap music: It needs to be ‘spontaneous and unorthodox’ He’s a man of faith, plays the organ and the keytar — and creates huge hits with stars like Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj and the Migos

It’s an unlikely one, but the combination of church music and trap music has been a flourishing formula for Xavier Dotson, known in music circles as Atlanta superproducer Zaytoven. Since the mid-2000s, he’s been the visionary behind tracks for artists such as Gucci Mane, Future and the Migos, and he is widely regarded as one […]

Kendrick Lamar’s win proves black lives matter to the Pulitzer board Or at the very least, the concept of black lives

Kendrick Lamar, on Monday, was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 DAMN. It is but rather the first nonclassical or jazz work to win the award. The Pulitzer board’s reasoning? DAMN., they said, “captured the complexity of African-American life.” History, made. Since 2012, with the release of his good kid, m.A.A.d city — and […]

A new Drake song is landing tonight? A new album can’t be far behind Reading social media tea leaves to predict the musical release dates of albums from Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kanye and Drizzy

Those on the East Coast might not believe it, but warmer weather is approaching. That means day parties, cookouts, summer vacations — and a tsunami of Instagram Stories and photos with oceans of song lyric captions. It’s not like there’s a shortage of options. This year alone has already produced a plethora of releases from […]

Aux Cord Chronicles XIV: When R&B hosts hip-hop From Total and Biggie, Mya and Jay-Z to Rihanna and Drake, 54 of the best R&B songs with hip-hop features

Two things: One, last month I helped launch The R&B Club with two friends, Ashley-Dior and Marcus, in Washington, D.C. A monthly meeting that essentially serves as nostalgic listening sessions for classic ’90s R&B (Jodeci’s Diary of a Mad Band in February and Aaliyah’s One In a Million in March), the events have already hit […]

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Cardi B, Hip-Hop, Music, Rap - March 29, 2018

Cardi B releases ‘Be Careful’: ‘The karma for you,’ she warns, ‘is gon’ be who you end up with’ With her bodacious new single, the new star proves her authenticity — and love — are not to be taken for granted

I wanna get married / Like the Currys / Steph and Ayesha s–t / But we more like Belly / Tommy and Keisha s–t. — Cardi B Here’s the reality about potential they don’t tell you about — eventually you’re going to have to cash in on it. That, or be etched in history as […]

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Hip-Hop, Migos, Music, NCAA Tournament, Rap - March 20, 2018

Migos madness: the ultimate bracket of Migos songs The best Migos song ever? Here’s the Skrrrt 16 — you decide

There’s no denying it at this point. If Quavo, Offset and Takeoff, collectively known as the hip-hop supergroup Migos, woke up tomorrow and decided they were done with rap, they’d already have more than enough material for a greatest hits album. We’re pleased to report they aren’t, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun […]

I’m a heathen and even I caught the Holy Ghost listening to Snoop’s gospel album

Find out why this hip hop fan and self-proclaimed heathen found himself vibing to Snoop Dogg's new Gospel album, 'Bible of Love.'

The post I’m a heathen and even I caught the Holy Ghost listening to Snoop’s gospel album appeared first on theGrio.

All Hail the Queens: 7 female hip-hop pioneers

Female emcees have always moved the culture forward with amazing lyrics, standout feature performances, and overall swag that has helped hip-hop grow and evolve for over 40 years.

The post All Hail the Queens: 7 female hip-hop pioneers appeared first on theGrio.

Good luck with #FreeMeekMill, but I’m not caping for him

Find out why this writer is not caping for Meek Mill. He hopes Meek gets out and everything, but he also hopes he has learned a few lessons during his time in the clink.

The post Good luck with #FreeMeekMill, but I’m not caping for him appeared first on theGrio.

Diddy Doubles Down On Hip-Hop Comments After Being Blasted By Fans

Diddy speaks abbot the message he was sending yesterday in regards to hip hop. A […]

From Struggle Raps to Real Bars: 7 NBA players turned rappers

Lonzo Ball fouled out with his new rap album and It should come as no surprise that most of these rap “careers” from NBA players flame out quickly like the dumpster fires that they are. But not all of them are terrible. Here’s a look at just a few NBA rappers and their varied levels of success.

The post From Struggle Raps to Real Bars: 7 NBA players turned rappers appeared first on theGrio.

It’s 25 years old: Tupac’s ‘Keep Ya Head Up’ is hip-hop’s definitive ode to black women ‘Tupac cares, if don’t nobody else care …’

Tupac Shakur’s 1993 sophomore album, Strictly 4 My N.-.-.-.A.Z., was his last “pure” album. The project predates the cultural controversies, his sexual assault case, his incarceration, the 1994 Quad Studio shooting and the Death Row era that became his life’s final chapter. Released Feb. 16, 1993, S4MN is a fluid, aggressive, emotional and erratic project […]

Rappers DID build careers off nasty Black male stereotypes–but it’s complicated

Raven-Symoné isn't wrong, but she's not exactly right either.

The post Rappers DID build careers off nasty Black male stereotypes–but it’s complicated appeared first on theGrio.

Migos don their ‘CRWN’ in exclusive, intimate interview As Grammy weekend heats up, the rap supergroup basks in success — while respecting the grind

“We the young kings of hip-hop right now,” said Quavo. He was laughing, and playful. Yet serious. Their new album, Culture II, had hit all streaming services less than 24 hours before. The 24-track double album boasts verses and production from Drake, 2 Chainz, 21 Savage, Big Sean, Metro Boomin, Mike Dean, Kanye West and […]

It’s showtime: The Apollo welcomes the Grammys back to New York Fat Joe, Doug E. Fresh, Elle Varner — Harlem’s iconic theater hosts an artist-studded luncheon

One doesn’t just see Harlem, New York. You feel Harlem. You smell Harlem. You vibe with Harlem. From the backseat of a Lyft, you pass the stalwarts of the community — the Duane Reade pharmacies, General Grant Houses, the countless delis — many of which will sell you a delicious “chopped cheese” sandwich — […]

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Drake, Hip-Hop, Music, Rap - January 19, 2018

With new songs, Drake says his ‘Diplomatic Immunity’ is all in ‘God’s Plan’ Drake’s sabbatical appears to be officially over

2010 was when I lost my halo/ 2017, I lost a J-Lo / A-Rod a damn trip, had me on front page though/ I had to lay low. Drake, “Diplomatic Immunity” Call Drake a man of his word. The final lyrics on 2017’s More Life set the stage for this very moment. Maybe getting back […]

Ready for a ‘Swaecation’? Rae Sremmurd star Swae Lee confirms solo debut Fresh off the duo’s gig narrating the NFL Playoffs, Swae preps a spring soundtrack

Swae Lee, one half of the award-winning duo Rae Sremmurd, let the cat out the bag on Twitter shortly after midnight. His solo album, Swaecation, is on the way and will be arriving very soon. This will be Swaecation Vol 1 as well as some on melodies on SremmLife 3 know I won’t leave you […]

Why Migos’ ‘Stir Fry’ is the perfect song for NBA All-Star Weekend Hip-hop’s Big 3 are pop culture and they’re truly doing it for the culture—of the NBA

Music’s hottest supergroup consists of three MCs known as Quavo, Offset and Takeoff. In the past year, the Migos have a Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit, a Grammy-nominated No. 1 album and their own brand of potato chips. This past November, between group efforts and individual guest appearances on other artists’ songs, the Migos had nine […]

Sean Combs as an NFL owner? We check Diddy’s receipts His record in music, clothing, liquor and beyond shows the mogul’s leadership style

Nothing would do more “for the culture” than Sean Combs buying the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. From changing the power balance on player protests to addressing echoes of plantation labor, Combs would represent a quantum leap for the movement of African-Americans from playing field to owner’s box. It may seem like a Hail Mary for the […]

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